WE sleep in…and I blame a power cut! Seems the electricity went off around 6am and the supplier’s website indicates that they’re on the case and expect power to be reinstated by 11.30am.Ooofft.
I make coffee on our backup camps stove and go back to bed then, att about 10am, the power comes back on 🙂
In the office I make some wee pegboard shelves for all the Dremel ‘bits’. I’m quite pleased with the result and proceed to tidy the place up a bit more.
A new song is pretty much written but the arrangement is causing me a bit of indecision. If I play on ‘regular’ acoustic guitar it sounds too ‘country’…not a problem in itself, but it’s pushing my stylistic boundaries a little! A slide guitar arrangement is more in keeping with my style but some feel feels and sounds a bit clumsy. I record a demo version on slide guitar to see if I can refine things a little.
Late afternoon I head out on the loch for a paddle and enjoy a an hour or so on the water spotting a beaver and then, later on, a deer on a little island peninsula.
Some of my merch production needs improved…the metal/epoxy loch and guitar necklace process needs not only to be streamlines a little but also made. a little more consistent quality-wise. I do some work.
I GET the studio all tidied up and gears set up/put away then have my first Zoom guitar student of the day.
After downloading the livestream video from Saturday’s garden concert I edit a song from each of us and some “prep “b-roll” and make a wee clip to spin into tonight’s Wildcats’ livestream on Facebook.
There’s some radio idents to record for a DJ in Edinburgh…and a similar kinda thing for a mixture producer in Germany. I get them recorded and sent off.
After lunch I approve the artwork mockups for the Kickstarter backers’ badge and also. run of ‘normal’ badges. They’ll take a few weeks. I also call Jimmy Egypt in Glasgow to check on progress with the detachable neck Fender Acoustasonic Player Telecaster (phew..that’s a mouthful!). Apparently all the parts are in, but they’re still waiting on the base guitar from Fender. They hope to have it in by the end of the week…that’s cutting things fine as we head to Estonia a week tomorrow (Tuesday 8 August).
I edit a promo video on various formats for the Estonia shows and sort Facebook ‘events’ and include everything in some social posts.
Suddenly it’s time for another Zoom guitar session then straight into my Wildcats’ livestream…
ANOTHER lie in then Margaret gets breakfast sorted and we blether round the table for a while.
It’s not raining so we go outside and tidy up the garden a bit, collapse the gazebos and put them under the smoker shelter to dry off.
We take Bill and Dorothy a walk up the lochside ad when we get back they pack the car and head off.
I manage to get a little work done, get the PA system back to the studio then put up the pegboards that Margaret picked up for me in Ikea last week.It’s a bit of a faff but I’m pleased with the end result that will, I hope, help keep the office a bit tidier.
AFTER a long lie and good breakfast we all get to work outside preparing for the afternoon’s garden concert.
The rain’s not started (yet!) and we sort seating, merch, PA system etc. the iPad app to control the mixer isn’t playing ball so I use a laptop. Then there’s weird feedback until I realise the mic is ‘back to front’. There’s no real indication which way is ‘forward’ on the mic but there’s some telltale screws which I’d not seen because of the the windshield. Things improve whenI sort it out!
We all do a quick soundcheck then folks start arriving. Marion and Phil kick things off with a short set then Bill and I take turns on stage and play three sets each. There’s a few downpours, but we have a full house (or should tat be garden?) and a load of fun.
We get some tidying up done and the big ‘gate tarp’ down and laid to dry under the other gazebos. All that can wait ’til tomorrow.
Bill and I head to the studio to tile some promo pix for G7th Capos who sorted Bill’s capo problem by going well over the call of duty on Friday. They make my Devil’s Left Hand signature capo and I’ve had an endorsement/artist deal with them for a long time.
When we go back to the house dinner’s ready and have another grand evening….
Billy gets Margaret and Dorothy tip to help out on his number 🙂
A bit grey on the loch – but really peaceful. Thanks for the pic and company Fiona 🙂
I’M JUST finishing breakfast when Fiona arrives to go for a paddle. To be fair, I had been up a good while getting some work out the way and my paddleboard/gear ready…
It’s a little grey and damp, but the loch is an oasis of peace and we have a grand paddle then back to the house for a coffee.
After lunch Margaret heads into Glasgow to pick up some shopping and stuff form Ikea to help me organise the office which has now evolved into more of a workshop.
With the Kickstarter campaign about to end I do a livestream thanking folks for their support and reminding other that this is their last chance to grab a reward.
The Kickstarter deadline passes and I’m delighted that not only did I successfully reach my target, but exceeded it handsomely. Thank you everyone for your support 🙂
A BIT of a rush to get things sorted before my 10am guitar student…but she doesn’t appear! I text and WhatsApp around 10.15am but get no response. This is her third lesson and there’s been some kind of issue each time!
Plenty to be getting on with tho’…and the Kickstarter campaign reaches its target with two days still to go. Phew! I start thinking about the vinyl masters, revamped artwork etc.
I need to pick up some stuff in the village and get Margaret to drive me there…then I walk back. Nice to get some exercise.
Back home I start the big office tidy/clean up. The place is full of dust from all the merch sanding and it a cluttered mess, so I have to clear everything out and start a deep clean…
UP EARLY on the campsite at Upton – we need to get the tent down and all the gear packed…then into town to pick up all my gear at last night’s venue before the road closes.
The non-stop rain means the tent’s wet, so we bundle it into the spare wheel compartment int he boot. At least the rain’s off when we break down camp!
After picking up the gear we hit the road to Hudderfield, stopping at motorway serve ices for some lunch en route. We drive through torrential rain and get to the Railway Inn, Marsden in good time to load in for the Sunday Blues Train show at 4pm. Our pal Pat – who booked me for the show – and soundman Rico are ready and waiting.
t’s a long time since I;ve played a “two 45s” set and my hastily scribbled set list (I forgot to pick up the carefully curated and printed ones from the studio before we left!) includes some stuff I’ve not played in ages.
All goes well, though, and there’s a packed house for the show.
By 7.30pm we’re not he road home and split the driving stopping. to pick a sandwich and then coffee. We’re home soon after midnight. The gear can wait ’til morning!
BEEN raining all night but we’re all good in the tent. So far.
A few drips come in while we’re making breakfast but nothing too severe.
The roads into town close at midday so although I don’t play ‘til 6pm we get the car and gear down to the acoustic roots venue and load in to avoid the six mile detour.
It’s good to get everything in, car parked and merch sorted before the performances start.
We enjoy the music – particularly duo Sister Bodhi – and it’s great to catch up with lots of pals – both backstage and in the audience.
The venue is rammed for my set and all, thankfully, goes to plan – other than the fact that my carefully prepared set list is still back home in the studio!
We’re back at the campsite soon after 11pm and have something to eat, chill for a while and then bed….
