Last night’s Celtic Connections Open Stage set was one of the best. The trip didn’t start auspiciously when we missed the sound check due to two train cancellations. We ended up standing all the way from Edinburgh to Glasgow; as the train crawled into Queen Street the driver announced in funereal and almost tragic tones over the intercom ‘We are now arriving at Glasgow Queen Street. This is ….. the last ………….. and ……… final ………….. stop…….!’ When we got on stage the sound crew were very attentive and despite misgivings (and Mary losing her voice!) the set went like a dream. It’s such a luxury to be on a big stage, with crystal clear monitors, and well over a hundred seated, appreciative, friendly audients.
Afterwards we found ourselves in a pub whose stairs to the toilet were
papered with the pages of Daily Expresses from 1953. Fascinating.
(Churchill shocks the House of Commons by praising Erwin Rommel.) I
thought it was the current owners’ idea to create a nostalgic theme,
but I was told they have been there since the pub was opened in 1953.
I most surely enjoyed it too, I was starting to question why I spent so much time doing music. But last night I was reminded of the reasons: It’s FUN, and when you’re part of a band that’s entertaining a large crowd, you’re sharing something together. Now, what could be better than that?
(If you were going to say, “sex”, I would reply, “not always”)
Yes, music is less messy and cheaper.
I am he known as Ronnie (McCorrisken)who bought the CD at the Open Stage Gig which Norman and the Innocents kindly autographed and dedicated to my 6 3/4 year-old son Struan, who was attending his first ever Celtic Connections.
Not only was Tom Morton blethering on about ex-chancellors when he read out my text message about the previous evening’s performance, he seemed to think that there might have been some mercenary motivation behind me writing positive comments and providing him with the website address. Tsk Tsk. As if I would……