Kenney Jones does a lot for charity, more then I realized.
When going to one of his Hurtwood Park Polo Club shows I got to buy a t-shirt and badge for the Prostate Cancer UK charity and that got me thinking about looking into the work he does.
He even recently got Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood “Faces” back together for a ( another ) one off show and again in support of the Prostate Cancer UK Charity.
List of charities Kenney has helped out with, and while I’m doing my digging, I keep coming up with more !
Small Faces Children’s charity, several memorial concerts, Tsunami Relief Fund, Belmont Preparatory School,, ARMS, Teenage Cancer Trust, Rotary Charities,Ebony Horse Club, Liveaid, Princes Trust, WellChild, national Charity for sick children, Prostate Cancer UK, David Lynch Foundation, Racecourse Sanctuary.Ewhurst Parish Church.muscular dystrophy.He even gives his time to record charity songs, ” We Will Remember Them ” springs to mind but there are many more. And to be fair, I don’t think I’ve even touched the surface.
Kenney had just finished with the Law project and was now looking to get the new site ready for polo. And why not combine it with music.
During the nineties, he was still playing drums, mostly at small charity gigs and around the early 2000’s he was approached about an idea of supporting a local School in fundraising. Belmont Preparatory School would benefit from Kenney’s help , But his kindness had not started here…
Live Aid, was one to benefit, Kenney participated in the Steve Marriott Memorial Concert, The Ronnie Lane Memorial Concert, Oh and all of the ARMS Charity Concerts for Muscular Dystrophy.
Kenney, himself had fallen I’ll to Prostate Cancer and had an operation in January 2014 and while in recovery at home, he and his wife Jayne, came up with this idea of having a small concert in the grounds of Hurtwood.
But as the time came nearer, they thought, Why not get some musical friends along for a laugh. Jayne sent out a few emails and everybody agreed, Word had got out and other musicians also fancied coming along. All in all a fantastic line up were ready to play and all giving their time to charity.
The list of who’s who including The Who is most impressive.
The Cressing Rock open air concert in 2006 had…..The Manfreds, The Animals, Fat cat trio
At Kenney’s Hurtwood Park Polo Club, for Polo Rocks in 2011, he got the Faces with Mick Hucknall together. The Trellicks were guests here. Then came along the Rock N Horsepower Shows.
2014 saw the Hurtwood Park Polo Club, Rock N Horsepower Show include The Who
Seeing Kenney back with the Who was absolutely amazing. Just look at the bill here too….
Jeff Beck, Josh Phillips, Jim Cregan, John Parr, Dave Bronze, Procol Harum, Mike Rutherford with Tim Howar, Nick Kershaw, Judie Tzuke, Mick Hucknall, John Lodge, Alvin Stardust who gave a great performance, to be his last, Rick Wills, Steve’s daughter Mollie Marriott and a special mention to house band drummer Geoff Dunn who kept me transfixed with his playing.
I still pinch myself remembering I was there.
We were given two Rock N Horsepower Shows in 2015
13th June saw, Mark King ,bassist and vocalist of Level 42 fame, Chris Difford of the Squeeze, Ali Campbell from UB42, Jim Cregan, John Parr, Andy Fairweather-Low, Procol Harum, Steve Harley of Cockney Rebel,,Nick Kershaw and our friends Cross Section.. The day was a musical celebration of Small Faces and was fabulously done by playing some obscure tracks.
Kenney want to Los Angeles USA for Rod Stewart’s 70th Birthday celebrations and over a Wine mentioned a Rock N Horsepower Show he was getting together in the summer and that it was in aid of Prostate Cancer research, Ron Wood seemed keen to be involved. And Rod too agreed to it so on
5th September 2015 we got to see The Faces with Rod back.
Also on the bill that day was, Midge Ure Jim Cregan, , Paul Carrick front man of Ace. With a hothouse of musicians, Mick Brown, Noah Francis Johnson, Pat Davey,Geoff Dunn, Jamie Moses, John Thirkell, Josh Phillips who needs a special shout out too as he helps out backstage too.Mick Donnelly, Neil Sidwell, Sam Tanner, Sam Blue, DJ for the day was Annie Nightingale. Remember all for charity.
The last Rock N Horsepower Show was Headlined by The Boomtown Rats on 18th June 2016. Supported by Paul Youngs band Los Pacaminos. The Jones Gang went on shortly before.. Acts included, Mike Rutherford, Cregan and Co, Chris Difford, John Lodge, Tommy Blaze, The Strypes put on an amazing set, Johnson Jay ,Sam Tanner, Jim Stapley and the beautiful Susie and Zoe…The Rock Chicks. I do remember it been a cold evening waiting for the Rats to come on stage.
Trying to think why the shows stopped for a a couple of years and I do believe the weather was appalling so the grounds of Hurtwood could not dry out in time. Health and Safety and quite correct.
The next big event was on 17th August 2019. The Golden Stone Years.
It was an all star cast performing the music of Brian Jones and the Rolling Stones. Featuring the Jones Gang, Headliners The Stranglers, they played a great set including a Stones number. So sad to hear of the passing of Keyboardist Dave Greenfield recently. Stay performances from The Waterboys, Earl Slick,
Glen Matlock and the Tough Cookies, Steve Harley and Donovan played a number. Fantastic day yet again.
It takes an awful lot of planning of these shows and to get all the above artists involved is mind blowing. So thanks to Kenney and Jayne for doing things for all these different charities.
The last time I saw Kenney was, believe this or not was at a charity event in Woking just before this nasty Virus took over the World.
Jones Gang members, Boz Burrell, Danny Bowes, Dave “Bucket” Colwell, Nick Cook , Pat Davey, Gary Grainger, Robert Hart, Kenney Jones. Jim Kilpatrick, Phil Manzanera, Johnson-Jay Medwik-Daley, Josh Phillips, Mark Read, Dean Rees, Jim Stapley, Sam Tanner, Rick Wills. Tom Worrall.
I believe Kenney should be rewarded for all his efforts in getting as much money to were it is needed. My unsung hero in this department.
The Jones Gang Concert list
5.9.2000. Hurtwood Park Polo Club, Open Air
20.4.2001. Steve Marriott Astoria Memorial Concert.
1 3.2003. Big Face take their 1st outing to Guildford Civic Hall, Surrey. Soon change the name of the band to the Jones Gang.
4.1.2004. Guildford Civic Hall, Surrey. This venue was to close soon after.
8.4.2004. Ronnie Lane Memorial Concert. Royal Albert Hall.
27.1.2005. Hurtwood Park Polo Club. For Tsunami Relief Fund.
30.1.2005. Hackney Empire Theatre.The
5.2.2005. Belmont Preparatory School, Holmbury, St Mary, Surrey.
11.6.2005. Picnic and Concert by the Chaple on the lake.Wintershell Estate, Surrey
1.7.2005. The Cartoon, Croydon
22.7.2005. The Cavern Club, Liverpool
9.8.2005. The Jones Gang release the top selling album ” Any Day Now”
3.9.2005.Hurtwood Park Polo Club
19.11.2005. Jones Gang single “Angel” is Top of the USA Billboard Chart
The Album would reach number 4.
15.7.2006 Cressing Temple Barns, Braintree,Essex. Open Air Concert In aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust and local Rotary charities
24.10.2006. Shepherds Bush Empire
23.3.2007. Shepherds Bush Empire.
5.5.2007. The Brook, Southampton.
12.5.2007. Concorde 2, Brighton.
19.5.2007. Countrys Rock Highclere Castle, Newbury.
22.5.2007. Canne Film Festival, Cannes, France.
8.6.2007. The Stables, Milton Keynes.
9.6.2007. Hurtwood Park Polo Club.
14.6.2007. The Hawth, Crawley.
23.6.2007. Harley Davidson Festival, Malaga, Spain
24.6.2007. Indigo 2 Arena, London,.
1.7.2007. Ronnie Scotts Club, London
14.7.2007. Cressing Temple Barns, Braintree, Essex.
19.7.2007. Desert Rocks El Badii Palace. Marrakech. Morocco.
11.12.2008. Hurtwood Park Polo Club
5.9.2009. Hurtwood Park Polo Club. Open Air.
1.11.2009. Kenney along with 200 people including Paul Rogers and co writer of the song “We Will Remember Them” Record at Abbey Road Studios.
11.9.2010. Hurtwood Park Polo Club. ( Danny Bowes on Vocals )
18.11.2010. Private Gig. Asprey Store.
20.5.2011. Hurtwood Park Polo Club.
4.6.2011. picnic and Concert by the Chapel on the lake. Wintershall Estate, Surrey. Joined by Ronnie Wood
23.7.2011.Hurtwood Park Polo Club. Polo Rocks. Faces. In aid of Wellchild, the national Charity for sick children, Princes Trust and Ebony Horse Club
31.8.2011.100 Club,London. Jim Stapley with special Guests the Jones Gang
10.9.2011. Hurtwood Park Polo Club.
2.12.2011.Hurtwood Park Polo Club
15.3.2012. Half Moon. Putney, London. Funds for Muscular Dystrophy Campaign.
2.6.2012. Itchycoo Park Festival, Hurtwood Park Polo Club. Scaled down due to bad weather.
30.6.2012. Hurtwood Park Polo Club. For Armed Forces Day.
17.8.2013. Hurtwood Park Polo Club. Open Air Gig.
14.6.2014. Hurtwood Park Polo Club Rock N Horsepower. The Who. In aid of Prostate Cancer UK
18.7.2014. Camden Round House. London. Mandela Remembered
4.8.2014. Private gig
13.9.2014. Wildlife Rocks. Wildwood Golf Club
27.9.2014. The Ryder Cup, Gleneagles, Scotland
28.9.2014. Private gig. Gleneagles, Scotland
14.10.2014.Private Gig. Larchfield Estate, Belfast.
6.12.2014. Ruskin Arms, East Ham. Kenney takes the time to visit the Small Faces Fan Club party
23.4.2015.Hurtwood Park Polo Club release the line up for the Rock N Horsepower
23.5.2015. BMW, PGA Golf tournament, Wentworth.
13.6.2015. Rock N Horsepower. Small Faces Celebration in support of Prostate Cancer UK.
18.7.2015. Hurtwood Park Polo Club. In aid of Ewhurst Parish Church
3.8.2015. Tickets are announced for the Faces , Rod Stewart, Ronnie Wood and Kenney Jones to play Hurtwood Park Polo Club
5.9.2015.Hurtwood Park Polo Club. Open Air. Faces. In aid of Prostate Cancer UK
10.10.2015. Private gig, Sennheiser
17.10.2015. Private Gig. Kenney’s Back Garden. Birthday Party
4.12.2015. Hurtwood Park Polo Club
16.12.2015. Private Gig. Jagex
16.2.2016. Hurtwood Park Polo Club release the line up for the Rock N Horsepower show to be performed in June.
18.6.2016. Hurtwood Park Polo Club. The Boomtown Rats. In aid of Prostate Cancer UK
2.7.2016. Picnic and Concert by the Chapel on the lake, Wintershall Estate, Surrey.
26.8.2016. Under The Bridge, Chelsea
21.1.2017. Butlins Skegness.
23.9.2017.Hurtwood Park Polo Club, Private Wedding Party.
21.7.2018 Hurtwood Park Polo Club check check check interviewed kj small faces musical cast in support.
19.1.2018. 229 The Venue Great Portland Street.Backstage was spotted ex Sex Pistols bassist Glenn Matlock.
20.1.2018 Butlins Minehead.
9.3.2018. Butlins Skegness
16.9.2018. Hurtwood Park Polo Club. Kenney Jones played a game of Polo. Met up with Family, Friends and Fans .Spending the day chatting to everyone.
23.12.2018 Hurtwood Park Polo Club
1.2.2019. 229 The Venue.Great Portland Street.
2.2.2019. Butlins Minehead
27.7.2019. Silverstone Classic 3 day FestivalCourse
17.8.2019. Hurtwood Park Polo Club. The Golden Stone Years. Supporting the Racecourse Sanctuary and the David Lynch Foundation.
14.9.2019 BMW OF A Championship Pavilion 18th Green, Wentworth Club Surrey. . Kenney Jones and Friends. Featuring Rod Stewart and Ron Wood. To raise funds for The Prostate Project and European Tour Foundation.
22.12.2019. Hurtwood Park Polo Club
6.3.2020. Kenney was very special guest at the charity gala evening at Westend Club, Woking. This was to be the last gig Kenney played ( to date) due to the Covid 19 virus which hit the World
Words By John Fisher
Pictures By John Fisher