‘Drink Up Thy Zyder’

The Royal Oak Pub in Nailsea held a Cider Festival on Sunday 5 May 2024 from 12 noon to 7 pm to commemorate and raise a glass to the legendary Adge Cutler. Adge was one of Nailsea Finest, and founder member of the ‘Wurzels’ and he sadly passed away 50 years ago on the 5 May 1974.

There was live music with the Twice Dailies and Salvage Crew, as well as fun for all ages and the opportunity to try different Ciders.

Alan John Cutler was born in Portishead, nicknamed ‘Adge’ by his friends, from his initials A.J, and he lived Nailsea for many years. Adge’s songs were largely sung in his own accent, though some are in an exaggerated Bristolian accent. On 5 May 1974, he died when he crashed his MGB sports car on a roundabout in Chepstow, following a Wurzels concert. He is buried in the graveyard of Christ Church, Nailsea.

A bronze statue of Adge was installed outside the Royal Oak pub in Nailsea in October 2016. Several of his album covers were photographed there so it is a fitting place to have his 50-year anniversary.

One Adge’s best known songs is ‘Drink Up Thy Zyder’ which is often regarded as the National anthem of North Somerset and Bristol, if not all of Somerset.

It is very fitting that the live music was from the Twice Dailies who describe themselves ‘A tribute act dedicated to Adge Cutler & The Wurzels’. They will be covering Adge’s songs from ‘Drink up thy Zyder’, ‘Ain’t no ferry to Glastonbury’ to ‘Blackbird I’ll have e’.

The Twice Dailies say “We really enjoyed playing at the Cider Festival at the Royal Oak commemorating Adge Cutler. The Twice Dailies are actually named after one of his songs called ‘Twice Daily’ so it’s really fitting we played at this event”.