The life of one of Frome’s most influential and well-loved characters, Phil Moakes, will be celebrated on Sunday 10th May with a fundraising concert at the Cheese and Grain.
Phil, who died last year, was a sound engineer who worked on several productions at the ECOS Amphitheatre next to the Merlin Theatre in the 1990s.
He was a town councillor, Somerset councillor and chair of the board of trustees for the Cheese and Grain. He also took on the Frome FM radio station, establishing a studio in the Old Fire Station in Christchurch Street West.
The event, titled The Party at the End of the World, will feature some of the notable recording artists Phil worked with.
One of the organisers is Phil’s long-term friend and colleague, Martin Dimery. He said, “Heading the line-up will be The Utopia Strong, featuring former World Snooker Champion Steve Davis and ‘psychedelic polymath’ Kavus Torabi, a hugely respected musician who has also appeared in the legendary prog rock band Gong.
“The inventive and highly original Arch Garrison, fronted by composer Craig Fortnum of the North Sea Radio Orchestra, will also contribute with their unique and fascinating instrumentation.”
Proceeds from the concert will be donated to Fair Frome, which runs the food bank and provides vital assistance to many in need.
Other performers appearing are well known to local audiences, including Sara Vian, Hodmadoddery, Thee Jolly Rotter and Richard Wileman with Amy Fry and Chantelle Smith.
Martin Dimery will compere the evening, recalling some of their work on stage productions such as Tommy, The Wall by Pink Floyd, Waterloo Sunset (The Kinks) and All You Need is Love – a Beatles musical which spawned the long-running Beatles tribute Sgt Pepper’s Only Dart Board Band.
Phil moved to Frome from his native Wiltshire and immersed himself in the life of the town. Later, he became an IT data centre manager but continued his love of music and sound engineering.
With his partner Maggie Gregory, he repurposed the studio as Visual Radio Arts, a video recording facility producing live and recorded sessions with notable musicians. In later years, Phil and Maggie returned to Wiltshire and moved Visual Radio Arts to Devizes.
The Party at the End of the World will begin at 5pm on Sunday 10th May and run throughout the evening in an informal cabaret style. Tickets are available from www.cheeseandgrain.com
