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July 19, 2009 09:51AM
Well, actually, I don't really want anyone to forget about my 50th because I've had a great time over the past few weeks celebrating it.
Not usually one for birthdays, I do think this one has been special - it's quite meaningful reaching 50 I think. I wouldn't say I'm over the hill but now I've reached the summit, I plan to take my time and enjoy the journey back to base as much as possible!
I've had some smashin' celebrations with family in Falkirk and with friends in Glasgow. And a couple of weeks ago, by old buddy from Alloa, Hamish took me to see the Eagles in Hampden - what a treat that was, a fantastic concert!
Here's hoping the rest of my half centenary year is as good!
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October 19, 2008 07:04PM
Back home after a great concert at the Carling Academy. Manchester's Elbow were the main attraction and they were fantastic.
I first got turned onto the band about 5 years when they were on the Jools Holland "Later.." show on BBC2 and bought their album "Snooks". This year they released to critical and commercial acclaim "The Seldom Seen Kid" and also won the Mercury Music Prize, testament to ten years of slogging away at making albums and performing.
This was my first time to see them live and what a great bunch of musicians. As well as vocalist Guy Garvie, who's the lyricist for the band, Mark and Craig Potter, Pete Turner and Richard Jupp, a quartet of female strings added a wonderful sound to the concert.
Grounds for Divorce from the current album went down a storm but Elbow's music is mostly mournful (but not depressing) and reflective. Guy Garvie really does have a wonderful voice.
I wouldn't be surprised if Sailor's into this band - his kind of music I'm sure and if he's looking to cover someone's song for his next album, he'll find a good 'un among Elbow's collection.
A finer concert I'm unlikely to hear this year.
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September 03, 2008 06:58PM
Last weekend went with a couple of friends to the Connect music festival in Inverary, a small coastal, town in Argyll, about 80 miles from Glasgow. There were two main stages, a mid sized tent venue and some smaller tents. The setting was the grounds of Inverary Castle and the biggest of the main stages was set at the bottom of a slope - so great views.
Weather was grey, but dry on the Friday and Saturday but rained on Sunday, so very muddy to end with - the pic here is my friend Susan squelching in the mud. Yeuch!
Best band on Friday was Manic Street Preachers but special mention has to be given to Sparks!! Yes, remember them! They played in the "Unknown Pleasures" tent and they were fab! It was great seeing living legends like them - if it hadn't been for the fact they were playing at this festival, I wouldn't have made the effort to see them otherwise, But they had so much energy, they didn't want to go off at the end of their slot. And of course they did the hits magnificently - Amateur Hour, Number One Song In Heaven and the unique This Town Ain't Big Enough For the Both of Us!
Saturday, the Turin Brakes were good and Paulo Nutini did a good set. We didn't like Bloc Party - too bloody noisy for us!
Sunday was the best, despite the muddy conditions - Elbow, Goldfrapp, Sigur Ros (hadn't heard of them before but some amazing Icelandic sounds that went down really well with the crowd) and to end with, Glasgow's finest, Franz Ferdinand.
Inverary was a great setting and would be ideal for Bowie if he decides to do some small festival events as he did in 2002.
Thankfully we weren't sleeping in tents. One of Susan's colleagues owns a posh caravan just outside Inverary, and we were lucky enought to be given the use of this for the weekend - three bedrooms, a shower room, central heating and a living room and kitchen. Plus right on the lochside - fantastic. Some pictures above.
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