Dry PO and other adventures

May was massive for us but started really tiny, about as quiet as it gets with a solo performance from me (Isobel) at the Greenwich Yacht Club Poetry night. A few songs without a PA and a ton of poetry, very cultured. Hope Fest Benefit gig is always a blast. It’s the people, great people create a great atmosphere. Held at The Hob in Forest Hill and boasting some of the finest acts booked to appear at Hope festival, we had a top time performing as the electric three piece with Bob Kelly on bass, a proper indication of the joy that Hope held in store. Then our first trip to Folkestone, The Royal George, right on the harbour. Thanks to Richard for the photos and mp3’s from that night. Not quite our kinda place but an interesting evening. Sunday the 13th May we teamed up with the Apache John Band for a double header at The Foots Cray Social Club, a honey sweet night of music and collaboration. We loved sharing the stage with these gentle folk revivalists and the finale of ‘Alright’ (a Bruise song) and ‘Buy Me Some Boots’ (an Apache John song) got everybody smiling. Up to Liverpool for the IPO. Ah but sickness, agew and lurgy brought a blight upon our usually merry group. There were three musicians with six gigs to play under various guises but it became clear pretty early on that powerful forces had other plans for us. I won’t go into details. Suffice to say, we all lost weight, gave the beer a rest (Bob the bass christened it DRY PO) and did actually play a gig or two. Straight back down the motorway to play a private party on the outskirts of London. Happy Birthday Stefan. 20th May we were at The Green Door Store in Brighton. It was our first time at this venue and we really liked it. Some of the funniest graffiti in the ladies that I have read. Directly underneath the station, set in old brick arches, a TOP sound from the engineer and a really great audience. Thank you to Roy Weard at the Real Music Club! Up to Edinburgh for a surprisingly short, but brilliant, set at Whistlebinkies. We had a room full of people really digging it and as soon as we stopped playing the venue emptied. We were astonished to see 3 friends from London had swung by all casual and cool to catch the gig and delighted to see Nifi from Honeybug had made the 1 hour drive to get there. Gawd bless ya! Glasgow was a special treat, to support Graham Skinner (Hipsway, Witness and a long time ago Bruise!). The Sounds in the Suburbs organization had taken over a sports venue and turned it into the coolest, it just was cool. A full room and an up-for-it audience who loved our set and sat spell bound as Skinner sang a blinding acoustic set accompanied by Douglas McIntyre. I found myself behind the merchandise table at the end of the night and we sold tons of CD’s Skinner sold tons of CD’s, everybody happy! Check out Skinner at http://www.grahameskinner.com . Up to Fort William and the Grog and Gruel, rowdy blighters who showed their appreciation (for the most part) by shouting over our set. However when we stopped for a break we were smothered by praise and bright eyed greetings, clawed at for CD’s, requests, odd but fantastic as it turns out. The only blot on this night were the midges, OMG the midges, they drove us mad! Thank you to Mark for opening for us, top stuff! Over a few mountains, along a loch or two and we were at The George, Inveraray for the Bluebell festival. On a stunningly sunny day, all day music. we played at 4 for a little short of an hour and caught some great local acts, folk and covers and generally a great atmosphere. It’s a wonderful place, I’d recommend it to anyone, rain or shine. On the way home we slotted in a rehearsal for the Celebration of Midsummer with a Murder of Rooks and Cathy Lesurf (Fairport Convention, Albion Band, Oyster Band). Though I was a bit fried after 1200 miles & 4 gigs in 4 days I am getting very excited about this gig. If you can make it to Hough on the Hill just outside Grantham on midsummer’s eve, I think it’s going to be magical.