Music and Snooker Legends to appear in Phil Moakes Celebration.

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 1990’s, including the exclusive production of The Who’s rock opera “Tommy.”  Shortly afterwards, he moved to Frome from his native Wiltshire and greatly immersed himself in the life of the town, becoming a town councillor, Somerset County Councillor, Chair of the Cheese and Grain’s board of trustees, and taking on the Frome FM radio station, establishing a studio in the Old Fire Station in Christchurch Street West. FromeFM's obituary to Phil can be read here.

Later, Phil 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 latter years, Phil and Maggie returned to Wiltshire and moved Visual Radio Arts to Devizes.

Phil’s love of music led to him working with many notable recording artists in the West Country, some of whom will feature in the “The Party at the End of the World,” a humorously entitled fund raising concert at the Cheese and Grain. 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 who operate the food bank and provide 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. Phil’s long-term friend and colleague Martin Dimery will compere, recalling some of their work on stage productions like “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.”

“Party at the End of the World” will begin at 5pm on Sunday 10th May and run throughout the evening in informal cabaret style. Tickets are available from www.cheeseandgrain.com/events/partyattheendoftheworld

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