Playing at a music session where you’re a stranger just passing through is always a bit nerve racking, but a lot of fun too as everything is new – the people there and their music, and you and your music to them. The acoustic session I went along to on Thursday evening at the Dalriada pub in Portobello, the seaside part of Edinburgh, was such a night – a wonderful room full of great musicians, who had decided among themselves on a reggae theme for the evening, but who were very relaxed about that, fortunately, as my country/Americana style doesn’t readily lend itself to a reggae interpretation. From my first song, ‘Distinctly Blue’, accompanied by a double bass and fab fiddle even though my music was new to everyone on the room except me, I knew it was going to be a great evening. And it was. Later, a brilliant flautist joined the proceedings too. Everyone joined in with everything in a very tasteful and talented way – even I was able to contribute something to the somewhat folk-tinged reggae songs.
Unfortunately, however, I was feeling increasingly bloated and nauseous as the evening wore on (whether it was something I ate, the two G&Ts I’d had beforehand, or the overly gassy diet Coke I was drinking there will remain a mystery), and kept going by sheer willpower and the determination to keep my dinner in my stomach, at least until such time as I could privately offload it. How mortifying would that have been, to have tossed my cookies in the middle of a heartfelt love-gone-wrong song in front of a roomful of strangers? Maybe inspiration for a new song though – ‘Distinctly Peely-wally’, I think it’d have to be called. Anyway, other than that, a brilliant evening, and one I’d love to attend again next time I’m there.
But ever onwards, and I’m now on the isle of Skye – arrived here yesterday rather tired, and too late for the session at the pub at Carbost, and it’s not looking good for any other live music opportunities while I’m here, but I do plan to call in at the session at the Ben Nevis Inn in Fort William on my way back south next Tuesday. For now, it’s looking like a rainy, misty day ahead, which in my view is preferable to a dry, midge-ridden day. The girls and I will hunker down in Rusty for the morning while I do some work on the laptop, and then we head over to the other side of the island this afternoon.
More from dispatches as and when (and accompanying photos as soon as technology allows it!)...
Unfortunately, however, I was feeling increasingly bloated and nauseous as the evening wore on (whether it was something I ate, the two G&Ts I’d had beforehand, or the overly gassy diet Coke I was drinking there will remain a mystery), and kept going by sheer willpower and the determination to keep my dinner in my stomach, at least until such time as I could privately offload it. How mortifying would that have been, to have tossed my cookies in the middle of a heartfelt love-gone-wrong song in front of a roomful of strangers? Maybe inspiration for a new song though – ‘Distinctly Peely-wally’, I think it’d have to be called. Anyway, other than that, a brilliant evening, and one I’d love to attend again next time I’m there.
But ever onwards, and I’m now on the isle of Skye – arrived here yesterday rather tired, and too late for the session at the pub at Carbost, and it’s not looking good for any other live music opportunities while I’m here, but I do plan to call in at the session at the Ben Nevis Inn in Fort William on my way back south next Tuesday. For now, it’s looking like a rainy, misty day ahead, which in my view is preferable to a dry, midge-ridden day. The girls and I will hunker down in Rusty for the morning while I do some work on the laptop, and then we head over to the other side of the island this afternoon.
More from dispatches as and when (and accompanying photos as soon as technology allows it!)...
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