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Mini-Tour Blog
Gigs are like buses. None for a couple of months, then they all come along at once. Thus, Mister Doo found himself playing 8 gigs in 9 days recently as he travelled the length and breadth of the country plying his unique style of sleazy blues to an unsuspecting public. This is the blog of that awesome week.
Tuesday, 11th July. ViVa ViVa, Hornsey
I always get lost driving to this place - no idea why. I think the A-Z is wrong. Anyway, got there in time to see the first act who's name I can't rememebr (if it was you let me know!), but who played some lovely stuff in a sort of Jim Croche style - great stuff. Rest of the acts pretty mediocre apart from the fantastic Guitar Fever - those guys rock. And they always seem to be on just before me. Still, Mister Doo likes a challenge, and managed to get some decent response to old favourites "Is That A Monkey?", "Comfortable Blues", "Walkin' Blues" and "She's Funny That Way". Had to dash off early to get some sleep before the madness of the rest of the week, so left straight after the set.
Thursday, 13th July. Native Tongue @ Finnegan's Wake, Ealing
This is a great venue. In the back of the pub, so not millions of punters, but great sound and a really apreciative audience. A great warm-up for the weekend which was well received. Note to self: make sure the pickup is still attached to the guitar if you don't want to sound pants. Took me 2 verses to work out why I was sounding like the guitar was full of cotton wool.
Friday, 14th July. The Arc Theatre, Corby
Arrived in Corby around 5-30 - way early, so decided to go for a drive around the countryside to find a quaint pub for a beer. Just as I started planning the following day in Arbroath, I heard the sound of bagpipes - surreal. There was actually some guy stood in the corner of a field playing bagpipes! Mad. Didn't find a pub, but did find the nest site of some red kites. What beautiful birds, in a tree not 20 feet above my head; awesome! Stayed and watched for about 20 minutes, then went to find some food.
The gig was fantastic; a huge stage, and very civilized with everybody sat around tables eating nibbles and drinking wine. Not sure how they took the blues, but it seemed to go down well.
The drive from Corby to Scunthorpe was extremely relaxing. The light was perfect, if only I'd had my camera, and the gentle rolling hills of south Lincolnshire around Stamford made for an excellent drive. That was all soon stopped by an accident on the A1 which brought everything to a halt. How do people manage to roll a Fiesta? Do they go that fast? Got stuck behind a tractor for the last 40 miles or so, so finally got to Scunthorpe at 10-15pm, luckily, a nice cold beer waiting for me. Great day...
Saturday, 15th July. The Arbroath Smokie Blues Festival - 3 gigs in one day!
Arrived mid-morning and had the inevitable fry-up. The smell of Arbroath Smokies was everywhere, and it was baking hot. Most people were heading for the Seafront Spectacular, but many blues fans around the place to form a crowd.
The Fishemans Arms. Arrived here to be met by Jim and boys who did the PA and looked after me all day. What a great bunch of lads - they wouldn't let me buy a beer, or lift anything all day, and were really into what I was doing. The crowd were appreciative apart from the fact that the route to the garden was directly through the "stage". Lost my place a few times as hoardes of families pushed through dragging pushchairs with them.
The Corner Bar. Went for a "special" fish supper, and a fine jam in Jim's "boys" room - he's got more stuff in his music room than I have in mine! Game on. A great little venue, and a very appreciative crowd, particularly the landlady and her friends..
The Cliffburn Hotel. Final gig of the night in the gathering darkness (hence the rubbish photos!) and not a real blues crowd. Went down well, however. By 12-10, I was so knackered I allowed a local lass on stage to play some of her own songs. Not bad, but my musical appreciation had died by this time...
Sunday, 16th July. The Thornborough 2006 Festival
Well, another 6am start - a bit of a struggle after getting to bed at 1-30am in Arbroath. Kath and Doug, who were kind enough to put me up for the night, never actually saw me, as they got in after me, and I'd gone way before they were up. Cheers anyway, guys - that bed was a life saver.
Got to Thornborough at 11am - many hours before most of the festival goers were up! Played a long set in a massive marquee in the middle of a field. The best sound I've ever had - big thanks to the sound engineer. A small but appreciatve crowd heard most of he repertoire, mainy all the laid back stuff; a stone age site in Yorkshire is no place for the racousness of "Sweet Michelle" or "Snowball".
By this stage a) my fingers were really hurting and b) the passenger footwell in the car was almost entirely full of Ginsters wrappers. Exhausted but happy, I made my merry way back to Surbiton and a cold beer in the garden.
What a top weekend, here's to next year...
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