Promoter Angus (right) joins Andres and I…and the rest of the crew…for breakfast
DAI and Lisa give us a hand getting all the gear out the hotel and into the car then we all wander along to another place to meet Angus (promoter) for breakfast.
WE spend an hour eating and chatting then Andres and Siret go for the bus to Abergavenny, Angus heads of and we start o drive to Auntie Glo’s in Bridgend. We’re staying the next two nights with her.
It’s only an hour-and-half drive to Bridgend and we spend the afternoon and evening catching up with Auntie Glo’s and Margaret’s cousins.
I’M UP and out before 8am to move the car to a long stay car park.
I pick up some croissants and orange juice on the way back and we have a lazy morning in the hotel room.
After getting a little work done and some ‘day of show’ promo we go out for a wander and stop at a wee coffee shop for some lunch,
Margaret’s cousin Dai and his partner Lisa have come for the show and are int he same hotel. We see them then Andres and and Siret arrive.
The Muse is just round the corner so we can walk the gear round. Soundchecks go great – thanks to soundman Ian and buddy Billy – then it’s back to the hotel for dinner.
It’s only one ticket short for a sell out and here’s lots of familiar faces in the crowd. Andres and I both have good sets and everyone has a blast.
QUITE a lot of stuff needing sorted before we hit the road to Wales…we want to get to Brecon tonight to avoid any potential setbacks tomorrow,
While Margaret sorts the merch I pack all the music gear then make up some sandwiches for the journey.
We’re on our way by 1pm with Margaret doing the first shift behind the wheel.
I take over just south of Carlisle then we find ourselves in a monster jam. There’s been an accident and the M6 is closed. Our ETA in Brecon goes from 8.30pm to nearly 11pm.
Our hotel booking says we need to check in before 10pm so Margaret spends the next two hours trying to get hold of the hotel…no reply from there or the hotel group’s central booking line.
Eventually Margaret gets through to the central place and they can’t get through to the hotel either. They’ll keep trying until they close at 5.30pm and get back to us.
They don’t.
Luckily the road starts too clear and we look to be on track to get there by 10pm!
We do, and get checked in then wander off to Wetherspoons – the only place in Brecon we’re likely to find food at this time.
Tomorrow night’s gig promoter, Angus, joins us for a drink once we’ve eaten and we have a grand catch up before making our way back to the hotel.
MY pal Alastair arrives just after 9am. I’ve co-erced him into coming over to ‘model’ for some photos to use as a basis for some artwork for the new album.
We go round a few local locations, I set up some pix and Margret checks things out and presses the shutter.
Back home we take some more ‘belt and braces’ photos, have a coffee and a blether.
Once Alastair’s headed off Margaret and I go to the local village hall for a community CPR/defib-training session.
It’s an interesting and invaluable session.
I have an hour or so to catch up on some work before we go to Doune to drop off a present for Aaron. He’s five on Tuesday and we’re away for a week so wanted to see him and drop it off before we go.
AN early Zoom session with a guitar student makes sure I’m up and at it early.
Then it’s back to the recording setup to see if I can get things working and sounding the way I want. I really need to get cracking on the new album!
Having been blanked by West Dunbartonshire Council in my efforts to get PVG/disclosure for the school sessions in Balloch I found a way to get general disclosure for home and location/school teaching via the MU.
An email is asking for certain documents that need certified at a post office so I dig ’em out, go get ’em certified and email them off.
Weather’s not great but it’s not too windy so I grab the opportunity to go out for a paddle and head out round Clairinch doing a couple of livestreams as I go.
Back home in the studio I carry on with the recording and feel I make some headway.
Travellin’ Man from Saturday night at Memorial Hall.
MARGARET’S off early to get the car in for a service in Paisley.
After breakfast I intend to set up and start recording sessions for the new album.
Alas, two important tasks come up that I need to deal with.
First up, a contract and load of info for a summer festival booking. Once that’s done there’s a bunch of stuff to be done for the community hydro society.
After lunch I get the studio pretty much set up and ready to go then nip out for a quick walk while the rain’s off.
Back in the studio I do a lot of tweaking and mic moving before getting a test recording cone. It’s OK, but not what I’m looking for…and it’s getting late…
A BUSY day starts with an online session with one of my guitar students.
No sourdough today ‘cos I was so knackered yesterday I forgot to take the starter out the fridge.
While all the video from the weekend is ingesting into the computer I swap out the neck on the new second hand Acoustasonic tele for the Klos carbon fibre one. It fits perfectly. Phew!
Next job is moving the power pins over then, when I get a chance I’ll remove my custom scratch plate and put it on the ‘new’ guitar.
After lunch I start editing video, taking a break late afternoon when my young guitar student arrives with her mum.
Fantastic opening set a from my special guest Chris Martin
AFTER a relaxed morning and breakfast I pack the rest of the gear for tonight’s show and we all head along to the village hall.
Stage blacks, rails, backdrops, lighting, sound and video cameras….there’s a good few hours set up before soundchecks. Plus all the tables and chairs, tablecloths, candles etc.
We get back to the house in time for some grub then back to the hall to sort a few things out before doors.
There’s a full house – only a few from the village which is a shame. A lot of folks travel from outside the area.
Chris play us an amazing opening set then I take the stage and have a load of fun. It’s a good night.
We get the majority of tidying up done then back home for a wind down….and bed at 3am.
