Interesting panel discussions at Showcase Scotland’s Artists’ Day.
MARGARET drops me at the station and I get ona train into Glasgow.
First stop, McDonalds for some breakfast, then a quick gander round GuitarGuitar before heading up to the City Halls to register for Showcase Scotland’s Artists’ Day.
I catch up with a load of folks then the panels kick off at 11am with a session on international festival booking. Lunch is followed by another couple of panel sessions then Margaret meets me at the City Chambers for Showcase Scotland’s civic reception.
Great to catch up with more pals and meet delegates from overseas before we head to the concert hall to catch our pal Grainne playing the Danny Kyle stage. Our pals form Celtic Music Radio are broadcasting live…nice to catch up with them and cameraman Omar who we haven’t seen for a while.
Grainne plays a blinder and we hang out for the final two acts on the stage before the three of us (Margaret, Grainne and myself) make our way to Citizen M hotel for a joint Scottish Music Industry Association.Wide Days networking event with a presentation on the value of music tourism.
Great company and fantastic hospitality.
It’s after 9pm when we head back home. Grainne’s staying with us tonight – have some snacks, drink too much and blether into the wee hours.
Grainne Hunt plays a great set at Celtic Connections’ Danny Kyle stage.
A wee selfie crossing the Danube spur that runs through Vienna. Nice to have some time to look around 😉
A GREAT sleep and a wee lie in…but still up in time for breakfast – doesn’t finish here at the rather swanky Ruby Marie hotel ’til 11am 🙂
John Spillane’s hosting a songwriting workshop at midday at a venue on the other side of the city centre. We jump on the underground and catch the end of the session. Enlightening and inspiring stuff.
We have a wander though the city and stop off at a traditional restaurant for lunch…the food’s good, but the service is awful. We wait 45-minutes for our drinks to arrive and our order to be taken!
We make our way back to the hotel and get stuff ready for tonight’s Schottenfest show. We’re picked up at 5.30pm and soon we;re loaded in and sound man Bobby has my soundcheck nailed.
Upstairs we have some dinner then back into the venue in time for doors opening. Aera is a fantastic room and it’s already filling up nicely when Doug Andrews opens the show.
Next up it’s Grainne Hunt who, like Doug before her, plays a blinder.
The venue’s full when I hit the stage for an hour and a bit. I have a blast and the crowd is fantastic.
Plenty time afterwards to chat with folks round the merch table and enjoy a few drams with everyone before we pack up, load out and share a cab back to the hotel with Grainne. Been an awesome day 🙂
Doug Andrews opens the show….
…followed by Grainne Hunt…
…then yours truly.
