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Friday: Ollie and Malc landed on time at lunch time and arrived together having caught the bus down from Cork Airport. Arrived to set up at 6.00 pm but had to wait until 7.00 pm before we could start due to a removal (funeral) which was taking place next door to Hamlets. Keri arrived at around 9.00 in time for a 10.00 pm start. Gig went smoothly finishing a little after midnight. Sharon Crosbie joined us for a couple of numbers. No technical hitches and sound fed into house system. Asked by the Hotel owner to meet for a meeting in the morning armed with the diary. Ended up in the hotel bar and eventually retired at 4.30 am.
Saturday: Met up with Hotel owner at 10.00 who outlined ideas for next year. All sorted and we now have 4 gigs in Kinsale for February 2010. Met the others at 11.00 pm to set up for afternoon gig. Gig went without a hitch and we were joined by John Bates who had a go at Moondance with us but struggled a bit due to the fact that he didn't have his glasses with him. Loaded Lorry at 6.00 pm and went to Folk House to set up for 10.00 start. Parking spaces for the truck had been left for us by Connor and his staff, so we could at least park right outside the venue. Folk House was always small but I think it has shrunk even more since we were there last. Hence no lighting to speak of, just LED's. The gig was just as they used to be - amazing atmosphere and bend well received and rebooked for 2010. Ended the evening in the Musician's bar in The Trident Hotel. Met up with Ian Briggs who has threatened us with coming to play with us on Monday evening. Got back to digs 4.00am t & p! Malc Bill and Tommy got in even later after a close encounter with a Heron who was trying to sleep!
Sunday: Met back at Hamlets to set up for the afternoon. Gig went amazingly well. Different atmosphere but electric and packed even though we were competing with the football that was on in the bar. The owner was present in the bar and I even met his wife who's name I cannot currently spell (but I am working on it!) Finished at 4.00 pm and moved the gear as quickly as our little lorry could manage up to Acton's for the 'graveyard shift' i.e. 6.30 pm to 8.15 pm. Always a good gig at Acton's Hotel in the ballroom as they hire in John with a superb 10kw Turbosound PA. It takes all the pressure off when there is an engineer employed to look after the sound - thanks a million mate! People started coming in at 6.00 pm and by the time we started at 6.30 pm it was very busy with, I guess, 300 people there. Great gig which finished a bit late and we loaded the truck but left it there before heading off into town for a curry. Excellent food and we were in a good frame of mind even though the waitress spilled several bottles of beer over Malcolm. Another late night and after going back to Acton's to find it quiet, we ended up in The Trident again.
Monday: Moved lorry from Acton's to Ned Kelly's (250 yards) and set up for a 2.00 pm start. Parked the truck up at the Fire Station (!!!!) where we have been told in the past we can park it safely. Definitely the quietest gig of the weekend with only 25 to 30 people watching. Possibly not surprising as the management apparently were too late to advertise in the entertainment programme. However for those there the gig went well. Joined by old singer Jo who did River Deep with us. Pushed the gear across the road to the Blue Haven looking forward to a nice chilled out gig the night before everyone goes back to work after the bank holiday Monday; big mistake, it wasn't to be!
Briggsy turned up, as did musical impresario Billy Crosby and also John Bates's singing partner (another name I currently cannot spell) who also sang with us. Ian did a couple of numbers on harmonica, Precious Time and Mustang and John's partner did Moondance without the aid of glasses or a safety net! The gig was manic and I caught site of the owner again in the crowds. We finished about half an hour late and packed the gear up leaving it in the bar ready to be collected on Tuesday morning before we leave.
Tuesday: Collected the truck from the Fire Station (Can you imagine having the fire station forecourt offered to you for free secure parking in the UK?) and loaded at The Blue Haven before collecting the band's personal luggage from Acton's Hotel (couldn't get the truck any closer to the digs than that). Said goodbye to the manager of Acton's and we drove back up the coast to Curracloe where we have done a gig at the same time every year in exchange for accommodation for the night. After an enthusiastic response from a small crowd and a few games of pool, we went to our rooms and were woken up at 6.30 am to leave for the ferry at 7.00 am. Ferry on time and Irish Sea like a mill-pond. Malcolm drove as far as Bracknell and I took over for the last 80 odd miles. Arrived home at 8.30 pm on Wednesday......shattered!
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