Most annoyed with myself that I didn’t get round to writing anything in the last couple of months – as I write this, we’re well into December!
October was pretty much gig-free, although I did manage a guest appearance with local rock band Digg, singing Roy Orbison’s ‘Pretty Woman’ in our local pub….quite nerve-wracking. Although I’ve played hundreds of songs in cover bands over the decades, it’s usually been as bass player or rhythm guitarist. I’m reprising the spot on 29th December, and actually getting to sing two songs this time, adding Chuck Berry’s ‘Never Can Tell’. Rehearsals are very sociable, and great fun.
In early November, we played a headline spot in the inaugural Inverclyde Folk and Roots Festival at the fabulous new Beacon Arts Centre in Greenock. I have to say that the treatment we received from the promoter, Neil Lochiel, was among the best we’ve ever experienced – lovely three-course meal, great dressing room with drinks, snacks, chocolate etc. This was an ambitious event held over four weeks, and I’ve heard nothing but rave reviews from everyone I’ve spoken to who took part or attended. I really hope Neil runs the event again next year, even if we’re not in it – it deserves to succeed, and will get my wholehearted support.
Work was really busy around that time too, taking part in music industry seminars all over the place – Glenfinnan, Skye, Newcastle, Hawick and Edinburgh to name just a few. I love meeting up and coming musicians and songwriters – my job can be great fun, a lot of the time! It’s tiring too, though, so we took ourselves off for a week in Lanzarote in mid-November, which was great for recharging the batteries.
Quite a fair few gigs have come in already for 2014, which I’ll get round to posting up any day now, but one of the most exciting will be doing the opening set at the Tron Theatre on Wednesday 29th January, as part of a Celtic Connections concert called ‘McGinn Meets Seeger and McColl’ headlined by our good pals Duncan and Johnny Cameron, with Andy Hamilton. It celebrates the work of Matt McGinn, and the time he met and worked with Ewan McColl and Pete Seeger in NYC in the 60s. The Cameron Brothers have been touring the show for some time, and I’m just thrilled we’ll be part of it at CC – and, hopefully, a few more venues around the country in 2014. Watch this space for details!
Right, that’s it for now – I’ll hopefully have more to tell you in the December post.
Have a wonderful Christmas, and I’ll try and get somthing posted for December before the year is over!
Duncan x