Two Lane Highway

Two Lane Highway played their first gig at the Belmont Club in Newquay on Saturday 13th February 1982. The duo were an instant success and played numerous venues across Cornwall and Devon.  The photograph to the left was taken at the Foster Hall in Bodmin. This was the evening that we won the "Song for Cornwall" competition.

Two Lane Highway, from left, Ian Crane, (Guitar / Lead Vocals), Graham Hicks, (Guitar / Lead Vocals).

Some of the venues and dates we first played during 1982:-

20th February - Widemouth Manor, nr Bude
3rd April - Cornish Arms, Pendoggett
10th April - Lanivet Inn
11th April - Packhorse Inn, St. Blazey
6th June - Roche Social Club
20th June - Bettle & Chisel, Delabole
21st July - "The Sword In The Stone" - Tintagel
5th December - Cobweb Inn, Boscastle

The name " Two Lane Highway" came from the third album by an American country rock band called the Pure Prairie League, which was released in 1975.

 

The advertisement above is from the Cornish Arms, Pendoggett.

The date of this advert is Saturday 1st May 1982.

 

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“Keeping the Volume Down”

We arrived at one of the local social clubs for our Saturday night gig, and were immediately informed that due to on-going complaints from the neighbours, about the level of noise from the entertainers at the club, we would have to turn down the volume that evening.

I came up with an idea to overcome this issue, and therefore not have to turn down the volume.

There was a telephone box across the road from the club, (this was in the days before mobile phones), and I came up with the idea that as soon as we had played a couple of songs, my wife would go over to the call-box and make a call to the social club, pretending she was one of the local residents.

The telephone at the social club was in the entrance area and we could see the telephone from the stage, so we could observe all that was going on.

The call was made and we watched the club secretary walk over to the telephone. My wife, (pretending to be one of the local residents), informed him that she would like to compliment the club on keeping the volume down that evening, and also would he personally thank the entertainers for playing so quietly.

The club secretary hung-up after the call, and we then watched as he came over to tell us the good news, and compliment us for “keeping the volume down”.

We then played at the same volume level as we had previously at the club, without anyone telling us to “turn down”.

We couldn't believe this ruse had worked so well.

I would like to add that we didn’t play that loud anyhow.

 

Written by Graham Hicks (March 2011)

 

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“All Members Pay.”

My wife, before becoming a member of the local social club, was allowed to come in for free when we were playing there, because “she was with the band”, and the rules of the club allowed her to come in for free.

She joined the club, and having paid her membership fees, is now told she has to pay to come in “with the band, because the club’s rules say that, “all members have to pay”.

 

Written by Graham Hicks (March 2011)