According to their manager: “The Average White Van Band is a tremendous acoustic band coming soon to a pub near you. Provided you live in Kippen.”
The band consists of:
David Jones – guitar and vocals
Karen Dekker- fiddle, piano and hard stares.
Stewart Carnegie – lead vocals & “best kazoo player this side of The Mississippi”
Michael Flint – vocals, suitcase and percussion
Cliff Hewett – Ukulele & piano
As most good things do, the band started as a conversation after a few drinks:
Cliff: “We should form an acoustic band”
Karen: “Great idea”
Cliff: “We just have to work out how to make it good”
(…thoughtful pause…)
Karen: (wavering) “We’d have to be good???”
Undaunted by this initial clash of ideals, they started playing in 2018 and have since proved a popular hit. In Kippen, anyway.
Playing a curiously successful mix of folk favourites, original songs and the occasional boogie-woogie piano the band notably features excellent vocal harmonies. When asked for the secret of their success, their reply was:
David: “Dedication and hard work.”
Stewart: “Beer.”
Mike (waking up): “Did someone mention beer?”
Mike is American and spends most of his time dreaming up plans to get people to buy the band a drink.
Apart from beer, another of their secrets is to ditch the traditional P.A. system and play acoustically round a table. Whilst generally making for a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere, in a busy pub this sometimes leads to the band not being heard but this “doesn’t really matter” said the band’s manager. When asked why it didn’t matter that the band couldn’t be heard at all he added “Dunno. It adds to the mystery. Now push off, I’m trying to chat up the barmaid.”
Currently recording their “Greatest Hits” album at Sun Room Studios the band confidently expect it to be a worldwide hit. If so, there is no danger of the usual band fall-outs or arguments, as apparently, they have already had a serious, and surprisingly sober, discussion about any future royalties:
“Oh yes, it’s all been sorted out in a very agreeable and positive way.” says Cliff. “They aren’t getting any.”
And with that sorted out, a gig at Wembley Arena is “in the pipeline” with just a couple of details “needing finalised” said their manager, a little unsteadily.
More details, including all the ways you can buy them a drink, can be found on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/AverageWhiteVanBand
The Wee Vine 