TAMAR Valley rockers, the Post Modern Troubadors, entertained a lively crowd in the Boot Inn in Calstock recently ? just moments after hearing their lead guitarist had suffered a heart attack.

Frontman Tim Clark decided the show must go on after receiving a telephone call to say Paul Swinbourne had been rushed to Derriford Hospital.

?It was a real shock to the system,? said Tim, who plays guitar and harmonica as well as singing for the band.

?Apparently he was out buying some extension speakers for his amps when it happened. He was carrying two very large speakers from the shop to his van, which must have caused a lot of strain on his heart. Luckily, he?s going to be okay, but he?s off work for the next six weeks.?

Tim and the other band members ? bass player Vanessa Williams from Calstock, ?Sam the Man? on drums, and djhembi player Guy Chalker from the Tamar Valley ? were setting up their equipment when the news came through.

?Fortunately there were some local musicians in the pub and one of them filled in for Paul,? explained Tim.

?We didn?t feel we could cancel the gig at that late stage. It?s certainly not what Paul would have wanted us to do.?

The following day the band, which fuses eclectic blues with Sou?Western Ska, were in the studio recording their first CD.

Tim explained: ?Unfortunately we had to go ahead with the recording without Paul because we had put down a large deposit for the studio.?

The gaps caused by Paul?s absence were filled by David Moses on flute and James Crocker on mandolin. Over two days, they recorded eight tracks for the disc which should be out in time for Christmas, priced £7.50.