And, as the sun reaches its zenith and beats down upon the vast plains of Beacon Park, so we spot three of the rare species Waysidus Serenadus, a subset of the genus Lesser Buskerus, as they seek shelter in the shade, there to unite with fellow Serenadii with whom they will caterwaul and scrabble at primitive implements.

Zoologists believe this is a crucial part of their strange parasitical behaviour, and is aimed at trying to ingratiate themselves with other more successful species who possess more jingly-jangly stuff in their pockets than the poor Serenadii

This weekend it’s the Fuse Festival in Beacon Park, Lichfield, just as it is every year at about this time. And, as on a couple of previous occasions, the Wayside Serenaders will be (almost) there. We’re not at the actual festival – far too sophisticated for us… and too noisy too – but we’ll not be far away, between the festival site and town, playing beneath the shady trees near the tennis courts on Saturday from about 2.30pm for an hour.

Here’s a video from a previous (almost) Fuse appearance:

If you’re heading up to the Fuse, or just ambling around the park, do come and say hello.

Usual place… from 11 till 12.30 or so.

A reduced Wayside Serenaders will be back on the street in Lichfield tomorrow from about 11am till lunchtime or we get tired, whichever comes first. Find us at our usual spot in Dam St.

Do drop by and make a donation to the charity Crisis.

We should be in Lichfield, near the corner with Quonians Lane, this Sunday morning, 15 June, between 10.30 and noon.

We might even try out a new tune or two.

It would be lovely to see you…

… and it’s not on the street; it’s at a jazz festival!

We’ve been asked to entertain the jazz fans in between the proper jazz acts at the Kings Bromley Jazz Festival which takes place on Saturday 17 May at Kings Bromley Village Hall.

Of course, we’ll be dusting off our jazziest tunes, but let’s face it, our main purpose will be to demonstrate what music sounds like when you haven’t even heard of, let alone mastered, all the weird modes and altered scales and re-voiced chords that real improvising musicians don’t even need to think about.

Those real jazz musicians at Kings Bromley will be the Tim Amann Xtet and the Lydia Rae Ensemble. Also performing on the day will be the Lichfield-based community band ASpire and the Kings Bromley Harmony Choir.

I think the Wayside Serenaders will be playing between 5pm and 8pm, or thereabouts.

Booking is here

Seven-strong on the first day of British Summer Time 2025 which was coincidentally that Hallmark event known as Mother’s Day. We couldn’t help bucking the trend with our paean to mean mothers everywhere, Mama Don’t Allow, and it was the first public outing of our version of Loudon Wainwright III’s Swimming Song.

No pic or video, sorry. We were too busy making some roughshod music.

Some of us will be in Dam St from about 11am till 12.30pm today.

A large thank you to the more than 50 people who filled the upstairs room at the Kings Head in Lichfield for our very first indoor soirée last night.

Thanks to the generosity of our audience, who also acquitted themselves heroically with sound effects, droning, singing and kazoo playing, we raised £625 for the Crisis charity which helps the homeless. Lovely to find a very helpful and supportive pub, too.

More pics and maybe some videos soon.

The Yuletide Serenaders wish you all a Very Merry Kazooing Christmas