A Concert for Andy

Blackheath Halls, February 4 2012-02-08

Battling their way the first snows of winter, they came in their hundreds to honour a friend. But they came not in sadness; there was laughter and warmth, a wealth of good feeling for this man, truly loved. By the time it got started, the Halls were quite packed leaving standing room only for a few at the back.

In 2004 Andy Ropek and Phil Dearing co-founded a forum called The Icarus Club. They would meet every month in the Halls in Blackheath, an informal gathering to nurture new bands. In a friendly, relaxing and informal environment, original singer-songwriters could simply play as they pleased. A good number of acts have gone on to great things and many of the same have been keen to return.

Following Andy's sad passing at the end of last year, his wife Kim and friend Phil chose to honour Andy’s memory in the best way they could; a concert for charity* for all his good friends. Phil opened the evening, a reluctant compere; "Andy should be here, I’m just the technical guy".

The first of the acts - Jespa (James Pepper and Anthony Shepherd) - set the tone for the night, two guitars, two great voices and some stunning results. Formed in 2009, they play all over the world, flying in from China barely three hours before. Despite jet lag and "a serious lack of alcohol" they played with real emotion and fire, "Isabelle" and "Loves Lost Tourists", the pick of the bunch. Groups came - The Carl Picton Cartel, a six piece blues band - and they went - The Misshaped Pearls (with whom Andy had played), sometimes in sequence, Ben Butler, Beaj Johnson, Teddy Bazz and Jack O'Brien, and sometimes alone, Jason James Melville and Dapper Dan.
But throughout it all, Andy remained his life there in pictures on a giant rolling screen.

The acts were as one in why they had come; “to pay my respects – he gave me my first break”, whispered one of the musicians near the end. Like the teacher at school whom you never forget, Andy will stay with them for the rest of their days. Andy of the trilby thanks for the ride.

An appropriate send-off for a clearly popular man.
Dick Morgan
February 2012