Latest Dakotas Related News

June 2006 - February 2007

Click here for archive of news from January 2005 to May 2006

This page contains the latest news, gossip, and snippets, month by month, since June 2006, with the most recent at the top of the page. The Dakotas are : Eddie Mooney, Toni Baker, Alan Clare and Pete Hilton.

February 2007

The Solid Silver 60s Tour gets under way at Southport Theatre on Wednesday 21st February, followed by dates in Harrogate, Carlisle, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee and Aberdeen. The Dakotas new album "Evolution" is released on 21st February to coincide with the tour

Other shows in February included appearances at the Freddie Garrity Tribute Concert at the Willows, Salford (see image) and with Wayne Fontana. Acts appearing at the Freddie Tribute show included Brian Poole, the Tremeloes, Dave Berry, Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich, the Fortunes, Hermans Hermits, the Merseybeats, Mike Pender's Searchers, Mike Sweeney, and the Swinging Blue Jeans. Also on the bill was Pete Maclaine, who was backed by the Dakotas after doing their own spot. Pete, of course was the original lead vocalist of the Dakotas between 1960 and 1963, and this was his first historic live appearance with the band for 44 years! For more information on Pete see the Dakotas History Section , "the Early Years".

January 2007

The Dakotas new album "Evolution" is completed and mixed by producer Toni Baker and sound / pro-tools engineer Andi Churchill (Fat Sounds). It is due for release on February 21st, the first date of the Solid Silver 60s Tour.

Shows in January 2007 included appearances with the Merseybeats and the Union Gap.

December 2006

The main announcement this month is the departure of guitarist Richard Benson from the Dakotas. His guitar teaching and solo concert commitments meant that he was unable to commit to the upcoming 54 date Solid Silver 60s Tour and tight recording schedules. Richard did his last gig with the band at Kidderminster on 2nd December and after two and a half years successful years with the Dakotas we wish him well for the future. His replacement on guitar is Alan Clare (see the DakotasToday section for more details and Alan's MySpace site). Alan is a former member of Freddie & the Dreamers, along with drummer Pete Hilton. Alan's first gig with theDakotas was at Sinah Warren Hotel, Hampshire on 27th December 2006. He has also contributed guitar to the new Dakotas album "Evolution", and, in particular, to the featured track "You're My World". Alan is looking forward to meeting the fans during Solid Silver 60s tour.

Eddie Mooney has his own 60s and 70s music show on Manchester's ALL FM 96.9. The show is broadcast between 9pm and 11pm (GMT -UK time) on alternative Mondays (this will be subject to change during the 2007 Solid Silver 60s Tour and announcements will be made later). The programme also streams wordwide on the internet (click HERE). Eddie did four shows in December, including Christmas Day.

November 2006

Recording sessions commence for the new Dakotas album, working title, "Evolution". In addition to the tracks currently being recorded, the album will contain tracks recorded in 2004 for Peter Kay's "Max &Paddy - The Road To Nowhere" TV series and tracks recorded in 2005, such as "Standing In The Shadows of Love". Due to public response to the YouTube clip of "She's Not There", this will be a featured track, along with original songs from Toni Baker, including "Fallin' From Heaven" and a new version of Cilla Black's 60s classic, "You're My World". The album is being produced by Toni Baker (with additional production from Mike Maxfield and Eddie Mooney) and engineered by Andi Churchill.

Shows in November included appearances with Wayne Fontana and the Swinging Blue Jeans.

October 2006

Eddie Mooneyfinished mastering the compilation album for the Beat Magazine, entitled "Going Back". As well as tracks from the Dakotas ("I'm Gonna' Be Strong", "Trains and Boats and Planes", "Waterloo Sunset"), there are tracks form Peter Sarstedt, Dave Berry, Brian Poole, Keith Potger (Seekers), John Walker (Walker Brothers), John Leyton, Mike Berry, the Barron Knights, Jet Harris & Billie Davis, Jess Conrad and Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich. The album is due for release in February / March 2007.

Shows in October included appearances with Peter Sarstedt, the Swinging Blue Jeans, Bev Bevan's Move, Love Affair and comedian Roy Walker.

 

September 2006

Tour dates are announced for the Solid Silver 60s tour (click here for Flying Music site or go to the concerts page). The tour commences on Wednesday February 21st at Southport Theatre and finishes 54 dates later at the London Palladium on Sunday 29th April. The Dakotas are currently working on the new album, which will contain new tracks and some already in the can, and is scheduled for release in February 2007 to coincide with the tour.

Eddie Mooney is mastering a CD compilation on behalf of the Beat Magazine called "Goin' Back", which will include two Dakotas' tracks, as well as tracks by Dave Berry, Dave Dee and the Dozies, Mike Berry, Billie Davis/Jet Harris, Jess Conrad, the Barron Knights, Peter Sarstedt, Brian Poole, John Leyton, the Rip Chords, Keith Potger (the Seekers) and Peter Williams. The CD should be released late Autumn.

The YouTube video clips have been a great success, with almost 3,500 viewings to date. New clips added are "I'm Gonna Be Strong" and "Bad To Me", both from the Southport show on the 2004 Solid Silver 60s tour and also a vintage clip of "I'll Keep You Satisfied" from 1964, featuring Mike Maxfield. Mike was also featured in a national Daily Express Magazine article, where he talks about the Dakotas and his own life in music (see pic on the right).

Shows in September included an appearance with the Swinging Blue Jeans.

Last, but not least, the Dakotas are appealing to anyone who knows the whereabouts of any next of kin of the late former bassist Ray Jones, who passed away in January 2000. There are royalties that are due to his family, so if anyone can help please email this website.

 

August 2006

The Dakotas are pleased to announce their participation in the 2007 "Solid Silver 60s" Tour and dates can be found either on the Concerts page or at promotion company Flying Music's website, www.flyingmusic.com. The Dakotas will be doing their own spot as well as backing John Walker (of the Walker Brothers) and Wayne Fontana. Also appearing are the Searchers and the Merseybeats. Work is already under way on the new Dakotas album to coincide with the tour.

Shows in August included an appearance with the Fortunes.

June / July 2006

The Dakotas have three video clips available for viewing on the very successful "YouTube" website. In addition to the 2006 clip of "She's Not There", there are archive clips of "Hey Jude" (recorded in front of 40,000 people at the Chelmsford Festival in 1996) and "Bad To Me" (from an appearance on Irish RTE Televsion also in 1996). Click on the song titles to view. A new page link is also available with the embedded files.

Toni Baker has written the new opening title music for a pilot TV comedy show starring Patrick McGuinness (of Phoenix Nights and Max and Paddy ). It's called "The Unknown Stuntman" and was seen 4th August on digital TV Channel E4. Channel 4 may commission a full series from it. Click here for more details and visiit the music page of Toni's website here for a preview of the music theme.

Negotiations are nearing completion for the inclusion of the Dakotas in the 2007 "Solid Silver 60s" tour, thought to be starting at Southport on February 21st 2007 and finishing at the London Palladium on Sunday April 29th. Other artists in the frame are the Searchers, Wayne Fontana, John Walker and the Merseybeats. Plans are already under way for a new album to coincide with the tour. Some tracks were recorded last year (including material from the Peter Kay series) and new recordings, such as "She's Not There" will be recorded at former Dakotas guitarist Mike Maxfield's Stockport studio. More details on this studio to follow soon.