Main photo Yve Paige
We are Sailing
On Saturday Rod was in the crowd of 322 watching his local side Bishop’s Stortford play Alvechurch.
Rod was supporting Alastair’s mate Joe Nardelli who plays right back for the Southern League team and took advantage of the £10 over 60’s ticket price.
Rod chatted and posed for selfies with fellow fans, Alvechurch won the Pitching In Southern League Premier Central contest 3-0.
When Alvechurch scored their second goal their small group of fans, who were standing in front of Rod, started singing what else… “We are Sailing.”
Rod Stewart Greatest Hits, Vol. 2 &3
The big news this week is that on October 23, 2026 Rhino Warner are releasing Rod Stewart Greatest Hits Vol. 2 on Teal coloured Vinyl
Rod Stewart’s Greatest Hits, Vol. 2 compiles the legendary artist’s best-known songs from the ’80s, blending rock, pop, and heartfelt ballads into one essential set. Featuring enduring classics such as “Young Turks,” “Forever Young,” “Some Guys Have All The Luck,” and “Downtown Train,” this dazzling collection showcases Stewart at the top of his hit-making game.
And also Rod Stewart’s Greatest Hits, Vol. on yellow vinyl
Rod Stewart’s Greatest Hits, Vol. 3 compiles the legendary artist’s best-known songs from the late ’80s and ’90s, including “”Rhythm Of My Heart,”” “”The Motown Song,”” “”Have I Told You Lately”” and “”Reason To Believe (Unplugged Version)””. This timeless collection highlights Stewart’s signature vocals and inimitable style, offering a definitive overview of one of the artist’s most successful periods.
Ronnie Wood’s Fearless tour comes to Kentish Town London.
Ronnie’s band AMMO comprised of *Andy Newmark on drums, Andy Wallace on keyboards, Johnny Lee Schell on guitar and #Willie Weeks on bass.
Support vocals Chanel Haynes (whom Ronnie likened to Tina Turner) and the irrepressible Imelda May, who Ronnie is so often seen playing alongside of.
Review by Colin Baker – Friday 21 August 2026.
Photos By SMILER photographer Yve Paige
There is no denying – Ronnie Wood is legendary.
The two year apprentice alongside Jeff Beck at the age of 20 (even having to play bass) was the foundations that made him the wizard with a guitar today.
Add the stories of him hanging around in Jimmy Hendrix flat, the studio basement at his once home The Wick in Richmond where every “who’s who” turned up to party and jam alongside him made him “A man of the people”.
There is little wonder that nearly 60 years on from teaming up with Jeff Beck and Rod Stewart he is still “The Face” we all love, the man that seems to appear and be welcomed on stage to play a song or two at everyone else’s gig.
What he gets little recollection for has always been his own solo music, simply because he is that “new” guitarist in the best rock ‘n roll band in history – all be it now his tenure extends to over 50 years!
So, on these rare occasions when the paint brush is tuned to designing “set lists” (see below) and he chooses to do a solo tour with some of his old band members from his solo albums, you just have to go along at any price – Don’t you?
Now I won’t ramble on about pricing – but if Ronnie is a wizard with a guitar, the promoters certainly applied a bit of magic on the ticket price the nearer the concert date came. But we all have a value for everything, therefore well done to those that held their nerve.
Arrival at 6:35p.m. at The O2 Kentish Town on a sunny evening, the doors were advertised to open at 7, to our shock, there was a queue stretching around the side of the venue and some 100 yards beyond. We called our friends who were in the Bull & Gate pub to drink up and get themselves in the queue.
Balcony “benches” for 9 of us, with 3 brave souls opting to stand with the masses at stage level.
The advertised support act of Marcus Bonfanti came on at 8, he played a neat rocky short set for half an hour at most before thanking Ronnie for having him perform on the night and said enjoy your night, you’re in for a treat.
Ronnie was scheduled to come on at 8:30 – but that was never going to happen – he’s a Face after all and we all remember they were always late. Unfortunately, due to somebody fainting the start of his show was delayed a little further until 9:10.
Ronnie produced a performance that would have his audience swaying like old times, mixing his rock ‘n roll with a bit of boogie and blues. He danced around the stage making each different guitar purr like a Rolls-Royce engine, flicking plectrums into the audience and all the while giving credit to his band members around him.
The set list was as follows (note where annotated the songs originate plus who played on the original numbers of his solo albums).
It’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll (Stones), Am I Grooving You +, Take It Easy, Flying (Faces), Hey Negrita (Stones), Seven Days $, Remember (Walking In The Sand), You’re So Fine, Wee Wee Hours (Chuck Berry), Show Me, Mystifies Me +, River Deep Mountain High, Country Honk (Stones), Chain Of Fools (Aretha Franklin), Boogie, Spoonful >, Ooh La La (Faces), Can’t You Hear Me Knocking (Stones), I Can Feel The Fire +, Plynth (Water Down The Drain) (Jeff Beck), Gasoline Alley (intro) / Stay With Me (Rod / Faces).
Encores of:- Breathe On Me ^ & Outlaws <. Ronnie’s solo albums comprise of (for those that never took the time listen or buy them):-
I’ve Got My Own Album To Do (1974) +, *# – Now Look (1975) ^, *# – Gimme Some Neck (1979) $, – 1234 (1981) <, – Slide On This (1992), – Not For Beginners (2001), *# – I Feel Like Playing (2010) >. – And not forgetting his band The Barbarians *#.
The voice of Chanel Haynes gave us a powerful different dimension to Flying, plus was the perfect fit for the classics of River Deep, Mountain High and Chain Of Fools.
Whilst Imelda May sang the classics Wee Wee Hours and Remember (Walking In The Sand) with panache in her flowing black dress.
It was no surprise that Ooh La La would captivate the audience into a sing a long of almost never ending “I Wish That I Knew What I Know Now, When I Was Younger” that had everyone joining in.
Personal highlights of the night had to be Flying, I Can Feel the Fire – the song that by a flip of a coin was passed on by Mick & Keith in exchange for It’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll plus of course the combination of Gasoline Alley intro into Stay With Me – no finer tune to allow every member of the band a 30 second solo to show off your talent – Ronnie included of course.
It was passed 11 when they walked off stage – but the 2 encores that Ronnie announced “It’s passed the curfew, but bollocks to the curfew” as his just over 2 hours of strutting on stage came to a close.
The North London boy was delighted to have thrilled a packed auditorium and I made my way home exhilarated with no regret for the cost having witnessed one of the best indoor concerts for some time.
Ronnie’s Forum show setlist artwork now revealed and available
Small Faces
A treat for all the Small Faces fans out there Nice records are releasing the Immediate Singles 1967-1969 on 02 October 2026
PRE ORDER NOW!
Hard-shell box packed with replica Immediate 7-inch singles in rare picture sleeves and on Immediate labels.
16-page booklet with rare photos, memorabilia and track-by-track information.
Strictly limited edition of 500 numbered boxsets only.
Head to the website to pre-order your copy now!
#nicerecords#smallfaces#immediaterecords#thesixties
Jones Beach re-visited
Rod performed at the Northwell at Jones Beach Theater in Wantagh, New York, on July 31, 2026, as part of his “One Last Time” farewell tour. Talented Photographer Chris Nova from Chris Nova Productions was at the show and says he would love to share his work with Rod’s best fans and give us some live shots as we have no more live shows to see for a while…
More shots from Chris next week
This week’s Rod Art
This week we feature the work of Cleveland Ohio artist Aaron Sechrist who drew this set of portraits of Rod
Aaron explains “My mom wore a Rod Stewart shirt that read “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy” religiously when she was super pregnant with me, which should explain a lot about myself to you.
Which should also illustrate the pure joy I felt in getting to draw these portraits as part of a welcome graphics package for Sir Rod Stewart at Rocket Arena for his show scheduled for August 11th.
Unfortunately Sir Rod fell ill and had to postpone his appearance, but I hope he’s feeling better and I hope I can get to see him soon with my mom. At any rate, ‘twas an honor to render the legend for my friends over on Ontario Ave. The man’s got some jams to be sure.”
To see more work by Aaron go to his website okpants.com
US members Jeff Beck Book Comp
US members don’t miss your chance to win a copy of Jeff Beck Stories – The Original Punk: From Yardbird to The Guitar Shop by Steve Rosen
RIP Dolly Parton
On Tuesday it was announced that legendary country singer Dolly Parton had died aged 80
The sad news was confirmed in an Instagram video posted by her nephew Bryan Seaver, who also served as her head of security.
Dolly and Rod famously appeared on the Cher a 60-minute television variety show broadcast on ABC on April 3, 1978,
Dolly performed her hit song Two Doors Down while playing an apartment neighbor to Cher and Rod and Rod sang Hot Legs dressed in red pants and a blue scarf, pacing through a hallway setup and pouring a drink at a bar next to Dolly’s apartment.
Rod and Dolly Parton were framed as adjoining apartment neighbors in a shared hallway gag, where he contemplated knocking on her door before repeatedly getting cold feet and heading back inside.
In 2004 Rod and Dolly teamed up for a duet of the 1944 Frank Loesser song Baby It’s cold outside for his album Stardust: The Great American Songbook, Volume III
Speaking to HELLO! magazine Rod paid tribute to Dolly saying “I had the great pleasure of recording a duet with our wonderful Dolly, Baby, It’s Cold Outside, And it certainly does feel colder now that our Dolly has gone, but the light and laughter she brought will keep us warm forever,”
He also added on social media that Dolly’s death left him “absolutely floored” and that he was just getting over the heartbreaking loss of Bonnie Tyler, who sadly died last month.
The post read “I’m absolutely floored… I’ve just gotten over Bonnie leaving us. RIP, my darling Dolly,”
And Ronnie and Sally Wood also paid tribute posting a photo of themselves with Dolly
Captioned Rest in peace Dolly. We will miss you and your magic vibe🙏✨💕💃
And Finally….
Spotted in The William Morgan pub in Prestatyn, Wales by Les Arnold ..Rod Stewert and no it wasn’t a tribute act!
Rod performed at the Royal Lido Ballroom in Prestatyn, Wales, on October 23, 1965. He appeared as part of the early blues and soul group Steampacket, which also featured Long John Baldry, Julie Driscoll, and Brian Auger. The Royal Lido and Steampacket The Venue: Opened in 1960 in Prestatyn, North Wales, the Royal Lido Ballroom was a major stop for 1960s pop and R&B touring acts, having hosted legendary names like The Beatles and The Rolling Stones earlier in the decade. The Tour: Billed as “The Grand Steam Package Show,” the October 1965 concert featured Steampacket alongside support act The Raynes. The Lineup: Rod Stewart (vocals and harmonica)Long John Baldry (vocals)Julie Driscoll (vocals)Brian Auger (keyboards)
If you spot anything on your travels let us see it
See you next week….