More pics from Lakefest 2012...

Chesney Hawkes - What a performance!

Lakesfest Organisers Lee and Martin with our Chesney

Guitarist Jamie

Amongst the crowd

Front man Steve

Mid set... Simon

From back of the stage... Bass guitarist James

Chesney Hawkes with Jamies son Liam

Kickback kick ass at Lakefest!!!

Well, it finally happened... Lakefest 2012 is done and dusted and what a weekend it has been. The whole weekend was such a blast. Some of us arrived Friday night and enjoyed various bands like Toploader, EMF and Reef to name but a few.

We all met up bright and early Saturday morning for a good size breakfast in Tewkesbury before heading off to the festival to get ready for our big moment. We were one of the first bands on, so we were a little worried that we'd have a small audience but they soon came flooding in, once we started playing.

We got to meet lots of famous artists including the 'one and only' Chesney Hawkes. Absolutely top bloke and was definitely Saturdays highlight... The crowd went wild for him and I shan't tell you what got thrown on the stage at him! Ha ha!!!

The final band and headliner of the festival was Athlete. They were bought in pretty last minute to replace The Levellers who unfortunately had to pull out due to one of the band members sustaining an injury.

Finally, a huge thank you to Lee Martin for allowing us the privilege of playing on the main stage. Also a very special thank you to the sound guys who somehow managed to make us sound 10 times better - Jamie didn't sound like he was playing a guitar... More like an entire guitar factory (ha ha) Awesome sound!

A memorable day - Let's hope it is the first of many!!!

Comments from the band:

Jamie: "Lakefest was a fantastic experience enjoyed every second of it!! The only criticism that people have said is that we were on too early, but if that's a criticism then I'll take it as a compliment..... Loved meeting Chesney Hawkes and all the other musical legends!"

Steve: "Amazing, surreal, exhilarating and bonkers fun.  Enjoyed the whole experience from the time I arrived not knowing what to expect, to the time that we graced the stage and watched the main stage area fill with onlookers. Thanks to everyone who organised this event - I know it consumed your lives leading up to the day.  Hopefully you can put yourselves through it again and again - and book us again of course!  Live long Lakefest!!

James: "Just an amazing day playing Lakefest, good fun & great bands especially Missing Andy, everybody should check them out. It's rare to find a faultless event, from the organisation, engineering & just a great bunch of people! I even have my own Lakefest mug, how good is that!
I think Kickback can't wait 'til next time sure we all agree! Thanks All!"

Simon: "Time to put up our rates now we are famous!! First class festival! Great vibe! Started our set with a few people in the front of the stage and by the time we finished it was rammed. A great feeling playing to such a wonderful audience so thanks to everyone that dropped in for a listen".

Check out more photos on our Facebook page!!!

Marshall Amplification say their goodbyes to Two legends

 04/2012 - Bert Weeden 1920 - 2012

It is with much sadness that we learned of the passing of British guitar playing and teaching legend, Bert Weedon – one of the Jim Marshall’s closest and dearest friends. Bert secured himself a place in six-string history decades ago, not only as the first British solo guitarist to enter the hit parade with instrumentals such as “Guitar Boogie Shuffle,” but with his ground breaking Play in a Day teaching book. The list of current British six-string-stars who cut their teeth on Bert’s book reads like a veritable “who’s who” of rock guitar and it is the best selling UK book of its ilk, of all time. No wonder the Shadows dedicated a song to the man. So, in addition to just getting louder with Jim’s arrival, heaven now has another wonderful guitarist up there...and two dear friends are united once more.

Our sincere sympathy goes out to Bert’s wonderful wife, Maggie, and the entire Weedon family for their loss. All at Marshall will miss his friendship, generosity, good natured banter and that ever-present, endearing, trademark Bert grin.

R.I.P. Bert “Mr. Guitar Man” Weedon
May, 1920 – April, 2012

04/2012 - Jim Marshall OBE 1923 - 2012

It is with profound sorrow that we announce the passing of our beloved founder and leader for the past 50 years, Jim Marshall. While mourning the Guv’nor though, we also salute a legendary man who led a full and truly remarkable life.

Jim’s ascent into the history books as ‘the Father of Loud’ and the man responsible for ‘the Sound of Rock’ is a true rags-to-riches tale. Cruelly robbed of his youth by tubercular bones, Jim rose to become one of the four forefathers responsible for creating the tools that allowed rock guitar as we know and love it today to be born. The ground breaking quartet also included the late, great trio of Leo Fender, Les Paul and Seth Lover – together with Jim, they truly are the cornerstones of all things rock.

In addition to the creation of the amps chosen by countless guitar heroes and game changing bands, Jim was also an incredibly humble and generous man who, over the past several decades, has quietly donated many millions of pounds to worthy causes.

While the entire Marshall Amplification family mourns Jim’s passing and will miss him tremendously, we all feel richer for having known him and are happy in the knowledge that he is now in a much better place which has just got a whole lot louder!

Rest in Peace & thank you Jim.

Your memory; the music and joy your amps have brought to countless millions for the past five decades; and that world-famous, omnipresent script logo that proudly bears your name will always live on.

Two Rivers - Four Lads!!!

In April Kickback spend a weekend in the recording studio 'Two Rivers' in Knightsbridge, Cheltenham. Pete Newdeck ripped just about everything he could out of the band during our time there and pushed a lot of boundaries.

We decided it was time to capture a brand new recording of the band for 2012 and get it across the web. The last 6 months, we have spent boosting our online profile with our blog, website and social media activities, so it will be great for people that find us online to be able to sample our sound and hopefully then book us!

We recorded I'm on Fire by Kasabien, Teenage Kicks by The Undertones, Tears of a Clown by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, Chelsea Dagger by The Fratellis and The Last Time by Rolling Stones.

On day 1,we laid down the drum track, followed by guitar and then bass guitar, so basically you can get all of the rhythm tracks down first. Day 2 was all about the main vocals and backing vocals.


I think we did well to complete 5 tracks in 2 days and it was certainly an exhausting 2 days... Oh wait, that doesn't sound very rock n roll does it!!! Ha ha!!

On a serious note, the band are really pleased with the end result and hopefully you'll get to hear some of the recorded tracks soon!Thanks for all your efforts Pete!