Skegness Magazine

After the success of Skegness pop group, “Marbles,” who reached No 3 in the charts with their record “Only One Woman” are the “Switchback Show Group,” going to be the next local-based performers to hit the highspots ?
Four Skegness lads, the group in its present line-up has only been formed for eight weeks. However, they have already played several clubs n the Nottingham area, and hope to have turned professional by next summer.
The name “Switchback” first came into being in January, 1969, when two of the present members, Sid Dennis and Mick Beard, and a drummer used to practise at an old barn in Wrangle.
“Our very first booking was to play at the 21st. birthday party of a chap who used to sing with us when we practised in Waiinfleet a few months before,” said Sid.
That summer the group, still a trio, played occasionally at the Ship Hotel on Roman Bank and then local Country and Western singer Chuck Ford asked them to appear for a weekend at the Chuck Wagon Bar in the Parade Hotel. Chuck was appearing there backed by his own group, but then he split with them and asked “Switchback” to back him every so often. This they did until Christmas.
Early this year the group split up for several months and re-formed at Easter.
They then began to play Sunday nights at the Chuck Wagon Bar until they split up yet again eight weeks ago.
Within two days the remnants of the old group, Sid Dennis and Mick Beard, were joined by a new drummer, Pete Latham and rhythm guitarist, Shane Dalmain.
“We had three hours’ practice together on a Sunday afternoon and then played our first date together that night, recalled Pete.
The group now play regularly at the Chuck Wagon and have had several bookings in the Nottingham area.

On August Bank Holiday Monday they appeared in front of a crowd of 1,200 people at the Clifton Entertainment Centre, Nottingham, which is in the middle of Europe’s largest housing estate. At the centre they feature many of the top names in northern clubland.
Originally purely a beat group, they are now moving towards becoming a show group, entertainers rather than musicians.
“The audience we intend to aim at is not so interested in the technical quality of the music. They don’t care what the chord structure is as long as the sound does not jar. They are more interested in the words and being entertained,” explained Sid.
This change means that they had to work harder, as now their act must include jokes, wisecracks and a greater song repertoire. “We do any anything from twelve-string folk to old blues. Depending on the audience and what it wants, we can sing Trini Lopez, Rolling Stones, Johnny Cash, Canned Heat and current pop songs. In these clubs we have to gauge the audience to see what they want to hear, commented Pete.
Sid and Pete agree that. One of the strengths of the group is the vocals of Shane Dalmain, “His Gene Pitney-type numbers go a bomb.”

Photo: Quoting a line from a song they wrote themselves, “Hey, Hey, it’s the Switchback” (left to right) Mick Beard, Pete Latham, Shane Dalmain, with Sid Dennis at the back.

Source: Skegness Standard 1970

Sid Dennis later went on to form the “Seasaw” pop group.