I’ve liked the ambitious songs and performances of The Joy Hotel since first seeing them at Great Eastern and also at Hidden Door festivals. My first time seeing them headline. Seems they are a bit polarising and ‘marmite’ though with my gig pals evenly split between like and dislike with no loves or even hates. I still think they are pretty good!
Our last gig of 2022 and first of 2023 at The Bungalow in Paisley last night. It was an absolute blast to play 2 sets before and after midnight. Huge thanks to all those who came along, and danced & sang all night. Another sell out gig. And thanks to Unkle Remus for great support.
2022 was a fun year, thanks to all those who turned out to watch us from Arran to Glasgow to Edinburgh (and Paisley).
Happy New Year and we’ll see you again sometime, somewhere.
A storming sell out gig at The Voodoo Rooms. Thanks to everyone that came along and made it a really special night for the band. Cheers to Jeremy Thoms for a great support set and for spinning the tunes before and after. We debuted Song 2 by Blur, and brought back a few old favourites. (Thanks to Julia and Ellen for pics)
Driving Home for Christmas – thank you to Braw for inviting us through to perform at Room 2 tonight! Merry Christmas to you all from us all and we will see you in 2023
Our now traditional Christmas Bowie fest with the sensational John and the gang. 2 sets of all the best of Bowie, with a few ‘oddities’ as well. The best Bowie tribute band by far. Love on ya!
Only my 9th time seeing the wonderful First Ait Kit since that amazing first time at Sneaky Pete’s in 2010. They’ve come such a long way and gathered many new fans including Stuart who we were delighted to bring along and notice his non-stop beaming smile!
I admit to not being blown away by their latest album, but live that doesn’t matter much and like the rest of the packed audience we were carried along on the joyous wave of love and beautiful harmonies.
Another great night Whistlebinkies on Sunday. 24 songs and a lost voice. Cheers to everyone that came down, to Chris on the sound desk and the folk from Blackburn.
First gig for 2 months last night at the always wonderful Whistlebinkies.
Cheers to Jeremy Thoms for the super band pic. We debuted 4 new songs ; A Forest and Boys Don’t Cry, Enola Gay and Felicity. Thanks to everyone who danced and came and said hello. Sorry to the guys asking us to play Teenage Kicks and Oasis. We’re not that kind of band!
I’d been waiting many years for a new original songs album from Anaïs and though her recent eponymous release is nice, I don’t think it reaches the heights of her incredible earlier works. Still, live is a different prospect, and with a solid band joining her, so it transpired.
Such a beautiful singer, guitarist and person, always gracious and endearing. I sang along with the ones I knew well even though the set was dominated by songs from the new album. Such a varied career she has had including the musical ‘Hadestown’, ‘Child Ballads’ project and ‘supergroup’ Bonny Light Horseman, I wonder what is next for her? More solo original songs I hope!
This was a very special occasion for me and all involved. This was the first time Kirsty Baird and Annette Hanley had presented a show designed to showcase songs featuring both the Hanley & The Baird band and also the amazing Sing In The City Aw Blacks choir (about 50/50). Well what a great idea, and it worked brilliantly with the choir providing spine tingling backing vocals to band songs and the band rocking out in support of the Aw Blacks amazing 4 part harmonies, medleys and dance moves.
In such a beautiful, iconic venue too. An excited and appreciative audience was well into it and participating enthusiastically as well! 2 sets were applauded to the rafters and the atmosphere was electric. I even got lots of room on my bit of stage to myself to bop around like I do to my heart’s content. Got to be our best show ever. The band, the choir and so many supporters and helpers put so much into preparing this epic production … it’s too good to not repeat and Kirsty promises we will take it on tour … hope so!
I have to thank Kirsty, Annette and Kerry in the band, and all the Aw Blacks for being so welcoming and kind to me this year. Many thanks also to all who helped from organisation to setup to merch stall etc. etc. What a night. Glad all there enjoyed it so much too. (PS thanks to whoever took the above photographs, sorry I can’t work out all who’s, but some from Vikki Spence, cheers)