Before you all watch your videos, episode 5, broadcast on Feb 6th, was not the 'Dave Sharp' episode.

The episode with the hostage situation which was trailed at the end of tonight's episode is the episode Dave is in. It is now scheduled for Monday 13th February.

Apologies to anyone who watched tonight in hope of spotting him, sorry, hope
you enjoyed the show anyway!

www.davesharp.org

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''Decaturville'' is the first Dave Sharp Weekend, organised by Sharp fans for Sharp fans.

A chance for fellow troopers to meet, chat and socialise to the backdrop of Dave Sharp & his music.

The highlight of both Friday and Saturday evenings will be a concert by Dave Sharp. Format of the concerts is to be confirmed, but Dave is considering a number of options including; a UK debut for The Lil' Travellers, a requests only set; the return of The Hard Travellers.

Saturday afternoon, Dave will host a face to face question & answer session - ''No holds barred, no question unanswered''.

Take A Look At The Punks contributors Booze 'N' Daze are confirmed to support. More acts & further activities to be confirmed.

Throughout the weekend, there will be rare and previously unseen audio & video footage from throughout Dave's solo career.

Tickets are on sale now, full details of how to purchase are here.

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As we announced last weekend, Dave is to appear in epidode 5 of the BBC1 drama Life On Mars.

Dave plays a side kick to DC Litton, who shows up to straighten out DCI Hunt's sloppy police-work.

Dave tells us Litton is played by Lee Ross who used to follow the Alarm and was one of the loyalists who traveled to many shows -some Alarm fans may have met him.

Dave says, ''Had a great time on the shoot and was a blast to watch Lee in action, a real pro - much respect!!( Great songwriter too, almost held up the filming whilst jamming on the set!!)''

Episode 5 is due to air on Monday 6th February.

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One new gig to add. Katie Fitzgeralds in Stourbridge on Thursday 6th April. Dave has played Katies twice before in 2002 & 2003 and both shows were packed lively nights with lots of fun had by all.

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The Dave Sharp Tribute CD ''Take A Look At The Punks'' can now be ordered online from www.sharptribute.com. It is due to be available next Monday (30th Jan) and copies ordered now will be dispatched as soon as available.

The CD costs £14 UK or $20 (plus postage & packing). As previously announced, in recognition of Mike Peter's current situation, all proceeds from sales of the disc are to be donated to Cancer Research.

The Take A Look At The Punks crew are looking for assistance in spreading the word about the tribute project to the world. If you are willing to help gather contact information for local newspapers, online newspapers, music websites, blogs etc. who might publish the story, please e-mail tribute@sharptribute.com (include any contacts you might already have).

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In other Sharp news, Dave's tells us he has another small role on TV coming up. This time it's on BBC1 in the drama 'Life On Mars' which goes out on Monday evenings at 9pm. Dave tells us he should be in episode 5 of the series, which should air on Monday 6th February.

We'll let you know more of what to expect nearer the time.

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The songs of Dave Sharp are to be featured on a tribute CD featuring performances from Dave's own fans. The disk is to be titled Take A Look At The Punks, taken from the line in Dave's song Tell Me.

The project began when Californian fan and coffee bar singer-guitarist Damien Riley started entertaining himself by working out his own versions of some of Dave's songs & recording them on his home studio.

Discussing and sharing these songs with friends on the davesharp.org messageboards, Damien found he wasn't alone in his passion. Other musician fans who had been inspired by Dave's writing & playing also wanted to record Dave's songs. The 'Dave Sharp Covers Project' as it came to be known soon had bands across the US, in the UK & in Germany heading into studios to record their interpretations, a way of expressing their thanks to Dave for his inspiration.

When it was first suggested that these recordings could actually be released on CD, nobody too the idea particularly seriously, but as interest and the number of songs grew, it became a real possibility. When in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, it was suggested that the CD could be a charity fundraiser, the project really began to come together.

Then during the final stages of the project, the news of Mike Peter's diagnosis with cancer was announced. With Mike & The Alarm having been as much an influence on many of the contributors as Dave, the decision was quickly taken that proceeds should be donated towards a cancer related charity.

The organisers are putting the finishing touches to the audio & artwork and hope to have the CD available by the end of January. It will be available to order by post and online from a dedicated website.

davesharp.org are working with the organisers to make the CD available to Dave fans everywhere while trying to raise the maximum amount possible for charity. More news of the project will appear here as soon as we have it, but in the meantime, for further info, e-mail tribute@davesharp.org.

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Dave will be playing two shows in February, opening for You2, the most accurate tribute to the mighty U2 (www.you2web.co.uk).

The shows are at The Marr's Barr in Worcester on Saturday 4th February and at Jackson's in Kidderminster on Saturday 18th February.

Full venue & ticket details are on the Tour Dates page.

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The Church Inn, Prestwich is closing shortly for refurbishment. Dave's fortnightly residency is therefore cancelled until further notice.

Dave says ''I'd like to thank everyone who has travelled to the Church to see the shows, for making the trip and for their support. It has been great playing in such an intimate setting and I'll be looking forward to another round of gigs soon, in a freshly renovated Church.''

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Dave is devastated by the news that his good friend Barry Cowsill has been confirmed as a victim of Hurricane Katrina.
Barry was an integral part of the 'family' at The Kerry Irish Bar in New Orleans. Much like Dave Sharp, Barry loved The Kerry & called it his home, a place where he could come and play music, be himself and always find a friend.
The Kerry's owner Doris Bastiansen said ''We all loved Barry and we'll miss him. He was a unique treasure.''

Dave, Erin & all at davesharp.org pass our deepest condolences to Barry's wife Debbie & to all the Cowsill family.

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Hurricane Blamed in Death of Barry Cowsill
By CHEVEL JOHNSON
The Associated Press

Thursday, January 5, 2006; 6:36 PM
NEW ORLEANS -- Barry Cowsill, a member of the popular 1960s singing family The Cowsills, was found dead on a wharf nearly four months after he disappeared when Hurricane Katrina flooded the city. He was 51.
Cowsill's body, recovered Dec. 28 from the Chartres Street Wharf, was identified with dental records Tuesday, said Dr. Louis Cataldie, head of the state hurricane morgue in Carville.

The coroner had not determined the cause of death but believed it was related to the devastating storm, which struck the city Aug. 29.
Cowsill, who lived on and off in New Orleans, had not been heard from since he left phone messages for his sister Sept. 1, his family's Web site said.
''They tell us he'd been dead for quite some time,'' Richard Cowsill, his brother, said in a telephone interview Thursday. ''We love him and we're going to miss him, but he's in a much better place, in my mother's arms.''

The Cowsills - the inspiration for the TV series ''The Partridge Family,'' recorded a series of top hits between 1967 and 1970, including ''The Rain, The Park and Other Things'' and ''Hair.'' They also were spokespersons for the American Dairy Association, appearing in commercials and print ads for milk. Four Cowsill brothers played in the band: Barry on bass, Bill on guitar, Bob on guitar and organ, and John on drums. Their mother, Barbara, and little sister, Susan, eventually joined the group.

The Cowsills got their start in Newport, R.I., where by 1965 they had a regular gig at a club. They were spotted by a producer for NBC's ''Today'' show who booked them for an appearance that led to a record deal. The band broke up in the 1970s, amid acrimony that left some members estranged from each other for several years.
''It wasn't just the end of a business, it was the end of a family,'' Bob Cowsill said in a 1990 interview.

Barbara Cowsill died in 1985.
In addition to his siblings, Cowsill is survived by two daughters and a son.
Richard Cowsill said no memorial service was planned and that his brother would be cremated. ''He always said when I leave this place, you better party. And that's what we're planning to do'' he said.

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Want to wish everyone out in .org world the very very best for Xmas and the holidays.

Thank you very much for continuing your support and for believing in the music. It has been amazing to see so many of you at The Church this last month or two.

All our hearts must go out this Xmas to Mike, Jules, Dorothy, Peter, Dylan, and all at the MPO

We are so happy to know that Mike has found the strength of spirit, in the crossfire of all that the lord is throwing his way right now, to keep on keepin on. We are all thankfull that he shall be going ahead regardless and continuing to play, record and perform, in the eye of the hurricane.

Our finest, bestest and poppermost wishes are with you, Mike....We love you. Merry Xmas

Dave Sharp
www.davesharp.org

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Dave Sharp's residency at The Church Inn in Prestwich, Manchester has been extended into January 2006.

Dave is now confirmed to play at The Church on 4th & 18th January 2006, in addition to next weeks gig on 21st December.

Dave would like to apologise to anybody who was at The Church on 7th December. Due to a calendar mix up, the show did not take place as scheduled. There should be no similar problem with next weeks show.

For anybody travelling any distance to gigs it's always worth checking with the venue before setting off. The Church Inn's phone number is 0161 798 6727

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On Friday 2nd December, Dave appeared in ITV soap Coronation Street. Dave was seen playing double bass in the band at the Weatherfield Traders' Ball.


The episode will be broadcast again on ITV2 as part of the omnibus edition of the programme on Sunday 4th December.

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