30th Anniversary - Photos
30th Anniversary Sun 31/05/26
Photos by Jack Pilston
“Oh my - what a weekend.
Had a few days just tidying up and getting some shit in order and have been a bit exhausted to be honest.
But now it's time to say THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOOOUUUUUU!!!!
Friend, neighbour and Stroud Football Poet Stuart Butler was the opening act and rewrote the perfect ' Why I Like The Albert' especially for the Sunday celebrations as we unveiled the sign that Eleanor Harper had designed for us. Come see it in the courtyard.
The thanks must mostly must go to Matt Knight and family ( Maisy you really are a superstar) for organising Sunday, stage managing with Mister (Rich) Lucas as well as doing their classics as Like the Jam and Lost Submarines. Great job done by the lovely Alex Watts on sound, always calm and 100% engaged. All the bands were fabulous. Uta blasting out Baxter Dury’s Allbarone was a particular highlight! As was Mia Coke and Keith Allen doing guest vocals with two of the top Stroud bands, I always am blown away by how good Earl Temple Foundation are, and having Albino Tarantino back in the pub was a treat. I will send Katy J Pearson the film of Ben and Lo-HI-Lo doing Alligator, and anyone not moved to tears by Emily Wood and Jack Page singing 'Case Of You' ...well, it was emotional.
I had come up with a list of my faves which was a lot of pop of course ( Lily, Lola, Katy, CMAT), my forever heroes (Weller, Bowie, Costello and Cope) and some dance bangers. The bands choose some and added others. Having Freddie Whittaker back on the stage in the Albert was fun, we are still hoping for that Cuckoo Row reunion….Finishing up with the classic Ronald RimRam and the RimRam Rimmers anthem ' I Like Stroud' will live in my memory for ever and ever.
But the whole Weekend was amazing. Neil Wilson “aka Dubbu’ set Friday off with a great set, thank you always for being the be kindest and lovelist fellow ever. While Blind Yeo brought crowd surfing back to the Albert on Saturday - a packed house going wild as well for this crazy Pysch folk combo, as a great opening show from Wychbury.
And also huge thanks to Jack Pilston for these amazing photos.
We’ve got the greatest staff, and you all worked so hard and with the biggest smiles. Love you all ( missed you Debbs, we really did).
And my family - it's frigging hard work and constant and even though we close once a week it is still a 24/7 life so thank you for understanding and helping with this crazy non stop train that we live.
"Without you people, you're nothing" as one Joe Strummer said - and it's not just us its all of you that makes the Prince Albert such a special space.
Here's to spreading the love, sharing the music and loving living in Stroud for a lot longer I hope.” - Lotte Lyster
