The Beagles first outing at Scacciaguai

As we published in an article two years ago – after  a long wait as renovations took place ….  the new restaurant Scacciaguai opened the doors for business and started what we then said , would be a long history in Barga Vecchia. The inaugurazione  took place to the sound of music and that tradition has continued ever since with live bands playing to celebrate the Scacciaguai’s second birthday. This year the party took an even more festive colour as it was the first public outing of the new band to rise out of the ashes of the Barga blues band, Jacks Pack.

Geoff and the boys called it a day back at the very start of this year when they played their final emotional concert at the Barga Jazz Club – (article here with probably the best headline of the year so far  – “Jacks Pack Folds”)

We wrote back then in January that “unless the Lazarus syndrome kicks in then this year’s Festa del Centro Storico is going to be a somewhat dismal affair.”

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Well that’s precisely what did happen – Lazarus did rise from the dead and from the ashes of Jacks Pack a newer slimline version has risen up under a new name – The Beagles.

It turns out that the trio, Geoff Collins-White, Jack Nannini and Keane have been in the rehearsal studios all winter and emerged blinking into the sunlight today with a new burst of creative energy and a full repertoire of new songs.

When asked about their name, they were fairly tight lipped about the whole affair expect Geoff who implied that as they now included some Beatles classics along with some Eagles songs, they really ought to be known as the Beagles. Whether the name sticks or the trio continue to make music as long as Jacks Pack remains to be seen.

This evening they played a 4 hour set and looked as though they could have played for another 4 hours without too much trouble. Geoff Collins – White was in what has been described as “diesel mode” – difficult to start, but once he gets going he just never stops.