One of the in-places

I did the pilgrimage from Bolton many times as my brother, who sang under the stage name of Tony Desmond, was one of an army of entertainers who plied their trade across the county.

Those were truly wonderful times with a seemingly never-ending stream of musicians and singers, willing and eager to get up and have a 'knock' with the resident lads.

Thoughts of stopping in and watching the telly never entered the argument -- and that was when television could offer something more than an execrable diet of game shows and soaps.

Pub and club audiences were invariably treated to three or so hours of non-stop entertainment.

I doubt those days will ever return. Tastes change and these days most pubs cater for youngsters with enough disposable income to fire an assortment of rocket fuel down their throats before making it to their favourite disco.

Nothing wrong with that, apart from the fact that by dancing to records they are killing the very industry that makes the discs: namely the music business.

Anyway, as I have written before, there are still pockets of resistance and, wonder of wonders, The Grants Arms is once again a venue for the good stuff.

Admittedly it is only once a month but well-known Ramsbottom-based tenor saxophonist Barry Aldous, who fronts his own traditional jazz combo, has taken over responsibility for the bookings and is bringing some excellent bands to the Grants on the second Sunday of each month.

On October 13, for example, it is The Jim Wilkes Stompers, followed on November 10 by Dave Donohoe's Band and the excellent Smokey City Jazz Men, who spent some time as resident at the Ramsbottom pub, return to headline on December 15.

Admission is £3.50 on each of the three nights.

Barry Aldous is doing his best to promote jazz in East Lancashire via a website and tells me that the feedback has been very positive with a number of inquiries from clubs prepared to give 'live' music an airing on nights when they would be struggling to get people into their places.

Keep a look-out for these bands and venues and go along to support them. It's the one certain way we have of ensuring that the music we love will survive in a world gone almost totally potty.

The Rhythm Station at Rawtenstall will feature the brilliant Italian saxophonist Renato D'Aiello's on Tuesday evening next with the resident Tommy Melville Quartet. A graduate from the world-famous Berklee College of Music in Boston, USA, Renato is making a welcome return to the Rhythm Station.