Live music

A week later I did it again, yay

bruceonthefringe 2026, Blues, Live music, Pubs Tags: , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Just how good would the later shows be? I pondered in my last post. Well, dear reader, the gods smiled down, and despite my lack of attempts to get any semblance of an act together, Tuesday early evening I found myself in Inverness, having a scrummy meal before getting up close with the Blues again! Yes, I got to see Louis Crosland playing guitar for blues harmonica player Giles Robson a second time, at the Castle Tavern in Inverness, yay! It was the sixth of eight shows, the last one is tonight in Dumfries.

Aha, checking back to last year, there’s only the vaguest mention of my roadtrip last July, that’s when I first discovered the Castle Tavern, a great wee pub serving a fine selection of ales and very tasty grub. This year’s visit was even better with added blues! To be honest, I couldn’t quite fathom where the gig would happen, ha, in the restaurant space upstairs, they close it for the evening, just serving food in the pub and outside seated area. Still, not a large area, so indeed, the show title Up Close With The Blues could not have been truer.

Perspective! the bowl was bigger!

There was no room to eat inside when I wandered in after six, so I chanced a table just outwith the covered area, only a few spots of rain to perturb me but nothing really. As I hadn’t eaten much through the day, a hearty dish of macaroni cheese (with haggis for an extra £1) with salad and garlic bread seemed a sensible plan, accompanied by a pint of Happy Chappy (to match my cheeriness). I’m not usually a mac’n’cheese kinda moose, but this was seriously tasty and a perfect amount, I was nicely set for more ale, just steady halves, I was being sensible; also, I wasn’t about to miss any of the music having to nip away to the loo.

Seven o’clock, folk started heading up, the show started at eight. Most were able to sit, but a few stood at the bar, mind, they all looked like the types that would have stood, even if there’d been enough seats! So, shortly after eight, two chaps sat in the corner of a pub restaurant and gave the gathered, over two hours of sweet blues bliss (oh, there was a break for more beer). Starting off with the upbeat GR Shuffle, then moving on to the slower swagger of Your Dirty Look and Your Sneaky Grin, a marvellous title! (there’s a performance of this song at Robson’s Fringe show in 2024 on YouTube). It was all bloody brilliant, Where You Been possibly my favourite from the first set; mind, My Babe, what a wowser to finish it with!

the blues up close, no fancy frills required

Town to Town kicked off the second set, wow, like the first half was just a warm-up! Key To The Highway was an utter joy, every next tune had its own brilliance. I’d said in my last post that hearing Louis’ playing the week before blew me away, now five shows on, there was a clear connection between the two musicians; it was so good to catch a later show, to see a subtly more self-assured Louis shine, giving a relaxed, eloquent performance alongside the great Giles Robson. The first encore, an improvisation in the key of G, oh my heartses, sublime! Blow Wind Blow ended a wonderful evening, a big fuzzy hug for the soul kind of evening. Soooo happy to have been there!

Mind, if you’re thinking, that all sounds like something you’d like too. Well, tonight’s Dumfries show may not be the last time that Louis plays blues guitar for Giles Robson ….

Toodle pip!

A spot of blues in Glasgow

bruceonthefringe 2026, Blues, Live music, Live music venues Tags: , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Ever heard of a spider steak? Me neither until today. I saw one as I was glancing through the meats on Brewsters stall at the Farmers Market; not too big, reasonably priced, lots of marbling through it, worth a shot I reckoned. I’ll let you know how I get on with it. Oh, and yay, Thistle and Churn are now back at the market every week, best ice cream around! Today I got a cranachan cone (always a cone, again, best cones around if not ever).

So anyway, I may not have made it over to Glasgow to see the Close, but I did go over on Tuesday to see Louis Crosland play acoustic blues guitar alongside Giles Robson, a blues harmonica virtuoso (and a great singer too). For one, I’ve only seen Louis in pub musician settings so I was very intrigued to hear him really play (you get what I mean, yeah?), and Glasgow, because I faffed too long and the Edinburgh gig got sold out. I’d heard of McChuills where it was happening but never been, so another Glasgow music venue ticked off. It’s easy walking distance from the bus station, a tasty Joker IPA on tap, quite a nice place in all (and there’s a pool table); the venue room is just off the bar, it’s long but not particularly wide, a nice cosy space for an intimate performance.

The show started at eight, no support, just two long sets finishing around half ten, we definitely got our moneys worth! It was Louis’s first night playing with Giles Robson, first of eight gigs around Scotland (by now it’s five down, three to go next week). Well, wow, that first one was bloody excellent, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Besides playing harmonica and singing, Robson is a wonderful, engaging raconteur, so much fascinating blues detail and history (I wish I had the sort of brain that could remember it all!); great patter leading into each piece and cajoling the audience to sing.

Oh, the music? Oh, hell yes, wonderful. A few songs I knew (like My Babe and Key To The Highway) some rang vague bells, whatever, it was brilliant from beginning to end, and Louis? Wow, as I said before I’ve seen him playing in bars, solo and with bands, but this was almost like I was seeing him for the first time, just wow. I now so wish I’d got around to buying a ticket for Edinburgh too, I mean, if that was the first time they’d played together, jeez louise, how good must the later shows be?!? And when Robson would indicate to Louis to bring the guitar right down, oh, the clarity and delicacy of the notes, ooch.

The, ahem, final tune was Shake, Rattle and Roll, no cajoling needed there for a little audience participation. Call me biased, but I’d like to think the Edinburgh crowd outsang the Glasgow audience! The encore was How’d You Learn To Shake It Like That, sir, I was born shaking like that, especially when the music is that good 💛

Waving bye, bye, baby, goodbye

It’s now very, very late, I must away to sleep. In the morning I’ll add more bits on Instagram, and if you’re very lucky, maybe more from the Cinelli Brothers gig.

Thistle & Churn’s Cranachan cone

I dropped into the Voodoo Rooms

bruceonthefringe 2026, Blues, Live bands in Edinburgh, Live music Tags: , , , , , , , Leave a comment

It’s Friday late afternoon, nearly teatime, I’ve just put a nice piece of hoggat chump roast in the oven, well, I’m hoping it’ll turn out nice. I thought it was a piece of cannon, which I know how long to do, it’s not, so fingers crossed. No, I don’t know where the cannon cut is from, but I do know it is totally delicious and almost melt in the mouth when done right. I have my tomato timer ticking away in front of me so I won’t forget to check.

Just earlier I finally got round to sticking a couple of clips of the Cinelli Brothers on my Instagram stories (they played the Voodoo Rooms last Saturday). Yeah, Instagram isn’t particularly instant with me, more when the mood takes me to go through my most recent pile of pics and vids; some get binned, some shared, some umm-ed over but not dealt with, some trimmed to a best bit (and even then not yet shared, I’ll still think about it). This digital age is just a whole new nightmare to hoarders. As I occasionally throw out old photos, I’m building up a music archive, I can’t seem to help myself (an archive of music videos might sound good, but when I’m always losing the impetus to label and sort them, well, it’s kinda messy).

Anyhoo, yes, last Saturday saw local band the Louis Crosland Trio supporting the Cinelli Brothers at their Edinburgh gig. Originally it was going to be Jed Potts supporting, he suggested Louis (pictured left), it would have been him solo, then it became the trio. For once I got there just as they were starting rather than three songs in! I knew there would be some new songs in there, didn’t want to miss anything. Straight up I can say that Marigold is a delight, some interesting lyrics, I love it already, hope it stays around.

Myth of a Man is new but I had already heard it, I knew I had, because, for some bizarre reason the song title pings Man or Muppet into my brain (the close m’s flick a switch?). Oh, don’t think this is a disparagement, it’s the title that does it, not the song itself (and actually, I loved that song in the Muppet movie and it won an Oscar); I do quite like Myth of a Man too. Along with Louis’s own stuff, there were a few from the usual LC3 setlist; Knocking on Heaven’s Door was in there (sounding, erm, different to usual, not sure, a new take?!), and, of course, Hey Joe brilliant as ever.

On to the Cinelli Brothers, oh my, they’re awesome!! How awesome? I was contemplating the logistics of going down to Dumfries two nights later to see them again. No I didn’t, have you seen the price of petrol just now?! It’s not just me who thinks they’re brilliant, they’ve just won Blues Band of the Year at the 2026 UK Blues Awards. The Cinelli Brothers all ooze devilishly mischievous charisma, they know their stuff, and boy, they deliver it with style.

All four of them can sing, there’s guitars, bass, occasional keyboards, harmonica, a drummer who also plays bass, and again those vocals! Be it blues or soul, every song was just another gem of bliss, but when they played Just Dropped In, oh my heartses, purest joy! For much of the gig I was to the side of the stage having relieved myself, then deciding not to wade back into the throng, well, it was a fine spot at Carl Marah’s show. Okay, so I possibly didn’t get the full sound experience, but I could enjoy actually watching the band rather than brief glimpses.

The Cinelli Brothers changing things around

Near the end they called on Louis, and Jed Potts who was in the crowd, to join them on stage for a jam. Apparently its a Cinelli Brothers thing, to get the support back up for a jam, nice touch, the crowd loved it (me too). I fully intend to get round to putting a clip of it on Instagram, honest. I suppose I could just do it after this, before bedtime. Yes, it’s late again. I know I started this hours ago but I took a long break for tea (can you spot the join?), the chump roast was very nice, by the way. I had it, well, half of it with sweet potato mash and lots of broccoli, delicious!

I’ve rambled for so long that I never got round to Louis’s other supporting role this week. Tomorrow, promise. G’night, sweet dreams!

Cool hat, that

Here, there and even on the telly!

bruceonthefringe 2026, Bands, Gigs, Live music, Logan's Close Tags: , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

As promised last post a catch up on Messrs Marah and Rough, oh, they’ve been busy! There’s been the usual Tuesday midnights at Whistlebinkies, I say usual but I’d swear they’ve gotten even better recently, how? I know, right! Maybe it’s from recent activity with the rest of Logan’s Close and the anticipation of summer gigs.

At the end of March, LC played down in Norwich and then Glasgow supporting one Ghost Funk Orchestra; I did consider going over to Glasgow, but after a busy week, yeah, no. But Brucie, it was Logan’s Close?? Ah, but they’re playing two nights in Edinburgh next month, yay (got to get some money together to make the second album, you know). Just one night was announced but the lads already had plans for another gig the following night, and indeed, ticket sales were excellent, all snapped up in less than a month. I’m not sure if they realised the date or decided it would be a funny twist – the sell out and second gig were announced on 1st April, err, April Fools Day, guys!? Did anyone hang fire to make sure it was genuine, I wonder? Anyhoo, the second night is Friday 22nd May at Leith Cricket Club.

Oo, I see badge potential here

Scotty went even further than Norwich with his other band last month. Dr Salad were out playing a few gigs in Cambodia (as you do!?) That was quite a surprise when Scott told me late one night in Binkies, had I heard right? I was like, Cambodia? Huh? Yes really. A trifle bizarre, but then, it is Dr Salad, goes with the territory. When I caught up with him after his return, Scott was certainly buzzing from the whole experience, oh, he’d definitely go back for more.

Carl has also been playing his own music overseas on Mam Talent! Poland’s version of Britain’s Got Talent. He does visit Poland plenty with his Polish fiancée, and last year friends over there suggested he should enter, he did, et voilà …. he’s only gone and made it to the semi-finals!! The live show will be on Polish telly 25th April, like wow. Always busy, the date for the launch show of Carl’s debut Me, Myself and I EP has been announced as Wednesday 10th June, at the Voodoo Rooms, where else?! And it’ll be a four piece band this time – added keyboards. Tickets are available now on Carl’s website (there’s options with a signed cd or signed vinyl, nice).

He did tell me that there’ll be tour dates north and south, but that’s as much as I know, no more details were forthcoming. I wonder if he’s waiting to see how Mam Talent! goes before setting everything in stone? Meantime there’s plenty to watch on Carl’s Instagram, including some great studio diary videos. In a video last Thursday it was mentioned that Carl looks more like George Harrison than the actor in the new upcoming film; I almost choked on my IPA when an hour after I saw it, a chap sat next to me in Stramash exclaimed, “Bloody’ell, George Harrison!” pointing at Carl on stage. Actually, he does do a beautiful version of While My Guitar Gently Weeps at his solo pub gigs.

Time to crash, but I’ll leave you with a couple of pics from the day Carl was shooting a video à la Beatles on the rooftop of an Edinburgh tenement. Next time, when you’ve got the blues make sure you have good support. Toodle pip!

One day fans will flock to this spot
The man himself, or George Harrison?

Some blues with jam and curry

bruceonthefringe 2026, Edinburgh music scene, Live music, Live music venues Tags: , , , , , , Leave a comment

It hadn’t been particularly busy in the Jazz Bar, just nice numbers. Of course, the house band and Louis Crosland were already playing when I got there (I should allow an extra ten minutes into my plans). I find it interesting watching musicians’ playing and interactions outwith their usual; the looks and nods to each other are much more noticeable. It’s like I’m seeing the cogs and wheels connecting inside a musical box (just go with me and my whimsy).

Plenty of the set was tunes that Louis plays with his band, what with them generally being bluesy standards. I was a bit surprised when they played Miss You but it worked well enough (see, case in point, how musicians create structure together) albeit back-to-basics, it had a groove. Hey Joe was pretty fine way to round off Louis’s first stint on stage. After a long break, the house band were back on, with Louis, to kick off the jam part of the evening. I was hungry (I said in my last post that I was going to eat before heading to the Jazz Bar but there wasn’t time to have anything substantial), so after watching the next two assortment of players I ducked out and headed to the Mosque Kitchen (open until ten, yay).

Satiated from a plate of chicken curry and rice, I was ready for more beer and blues. The blues jam was still going when I got back, it was okay, there was no one who made me prick up my ears, but that’s just the luck of how these things go. Eleven o’clock and Louis was back on stage again with his own band, and a few tasty new originals in the set, nice. Naturally we got Miss You for a second, rather zupped up time, yeah, quite a lot of the set seemed overpaced, was it just from being after the slightly pedestrian jam?! There was obviously some thought given to an extra final number – they’d gotten through the planned setlist too soon. I know bands have off nights, yeah, it happens to the best, and the set wasn’t exactly bad, just not up to the standard I’ve come to expect. Hey, I care, bite me!

I was finishing off my drink in the Jazz Bar when an American tourist asked me if the live music was over for the night, he’d only caught the final two numbers, yup, sorry man, but I can direct you to more live music if you’re not fussed what it’s like. So I gave him directions to Whistlebinkies and Stramash too, but wasn’t that a much longer walk? (he’d been there much earlier and had obviously wandered around enough afterwards to make it seem a distance away!) Was I myself going to either? Nooo, I didn’t know who was playing but it wouldn’t anyone I wanted to see or I’d be there. Not to say he and his friend wouldn’t enjoy the music, if they were staying out; always the encouraging tourist guide, me. I was ready to head home anyway, so I wished them well and toddled off into the night.

It’s late, again!! Tomorrow will be another very late night, I’ll away to my bed. Next time, the other LC, Logan’s Close and news on Mr Marah’s solo shenanigans. Sweet dreams!

Blossom ‘n’ Blues

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Yay! The tree in Gullan’s Close is back in bloom, beautiful as always. Had a wander past in today while the sun was out, almost springlike. The temperature is forecast to drop to -1° tonight, just to catch out those fooled by the sunshine, jackets will be required. I’ll be toddling up to the Jazz Bar to catch Louis Crosland, he’s the featured musician at tonight’s Blues at the Jazz Bar, a monthly do to showcase Edinburgh’s Blues scene.

Louis will be on stage at seven for an hours set, then there’s an Open Blues Jam until eleven when Louis returns plus the other two of the Trio to play the night out. Should be fun! I’ve only seen him at the Jazz Bar once before a while ago, it was after midnight, I seem to recall it was one of those bit odd nights, the feeling just wasn’t quite right, know what I mean? Ah, haha, yes, I’ve just remembered more about that evening, no, I’m not going to share.

After this evening, he’s next back playing with the Moanin’ Bones at Whistlebinkies on Saturday at seven, and then the following Saturday at midnight. That’s after supporting the Cinelli Brothers at the Voodoo Rooms, should be another great evening of blues, I have my ticket! Louis’s also supporting Giles Robson on the Scottish part of his UK tour (and playing guitar for him), eight dates from the 7th through to the 18th April, with a Louis Crosland Trio date at Stramash slipped in halfway. I’ve seen that the Inverness gig is at the Castle Tavern (14th April), a cracking pub I discovered when I was up there last year, and the food was divine. I’m almost tempted to pay Inverness another visit!!

After that busyness there’s two more midnight appearances for the Trio at Whistlebinkies in April. I know all this because the dear boy put up a list of his gigs up until the end of April, on Instagram, very handy to know. Of course, there may well be additions towards the end of April, as is often the way of things. I do know Louis is stepping into the studio in May to get some of his new material recorded (apparently twenty new songs to date), nice!

Anyhoo, I need to eat if I’m going to be in the Jazz Bar ’til the small hours. Toodle pip!

Of course, I had a photo took, duh

A pint and a hug, please

bruceonthefringe 2025, Edinburgh bands, Live music, Logan's Close, Uncategorized Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Happy New Year! Oh, the ninth day of 2026 has just begun as I finally get round to writing something. So, circling back round to 22nd December 2025 as promised last post, I went over west to see Logan’s Close at The Hug and Pint in Glasgow for their usual Christmas gig. There were plenty of familiar faces in the bar by the time I arrived, grabbed a pint, a few hugs and headed downstairs to the venue where the crowd were enjoying the Raeburn Brothers, also over from Edinburgh (yes, I quite enjoyed them too). It turned out that one of them was on a double shift, as keyboard player (and occasional percussion!) for Logan’s Close. I wonder, did the guys get the gig then LC went oo, actually, while you’re there, could you, or did they get the gig with that already in mind? Anyhoo, a fine choice, the Raeburn Brothers had the crowd nicely warmed up for LC taking to the stage; I say stage, it wasn’t much higher, more a performance area.

The lads opened with a brand new song Crystal Ball, Scott and Stu looking sharp in suits, Carl had already lost his jacket (it was definitely going to get hot), Gavin was way back in the gloom (shame), while the keyboard guy took the prize for coolest shirt (sadly I didn’t get a pic of it). From there, straight into Babestation, the first of seven songs from Heart-Shaped Jacuzzi; newish songs Chillz and Costume Changes were there, both of which occasionally pop up in Scat Rats setlists, so well-known to some.

The brand new song I presumed to be called Giddy Up, Baby at Leith Arches was there and it is; a stark, sparse song, Scott put down his guitar, picked up his drink and donned a cowboy hat, plenty keyboards in the mix on this one (I have to say it was the LC sound is better with keyboards rather than Carl juggling between instruments). After some outstanding singing from the gathered, along to more Heart-Shaped Jacuzzi numbers (a grand sound!), we were treated to another brand new bouncing baby of a song, Not Love (the prospect of another album is starting to get exciting).

Carl, Scott and Stu in harmony

The guys didn’t bother to leave the stage between the “last” number and the first encore, which was, yay, Lonely This Christmas by Mud. This is one of my favourite christmas songs and have previously loved the Rats doing it, but the full LC treatment, and the crowd all singing, oh, my heartses! Only something big with grandiose could follow it, so that would be Mock Marble Linoleum then. Love that bass riff and Carl gets to have fun with his theremin to emblemish Scott’s tale of a sad loser. A class ending to the evening, well, mine. I know there were plans for where folk would continue drinking after the gig but I headed back to the subway into the centre, happily fuzzed up.

I had hoped to hear Lonely This Christmas once more by the Scat Rats the following evening in Stramash but, well, it was a solo Carl Marah instead! I’m saying nothing. Except that the crowd loved him, Carl was in fine voice (the overall sound was excellent, beautifully rich, well done, whoever was on the buttons). From where I was sitting, I could see a number of folk going over to check the poster of the month’s listing to see who he was. His penultimate song for the evening was the full version of American Pie, well, it’s been so long since I’ve heard it, I had to make that my final advent calendar clip.

It’s now very late, or early?! Time I toddled off to bed. I’ll share this on Instagram tomorrow along with videos of LC in action. I did put one up shortly after the gig but it seems the sound has gone, if it was ever there, I’m sure it was!

Goodnight, sweet dreams!

And the crowd went wild

bruceonthefringe 2025, Live bands in Edinburgh, Live music, Uncategorized Tags: , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Oh boy, that was a great evening last night! I knew the early part would be good but expected to be home by ten-ish, ha. First port of call, Whistlebinkies to catch the first set from Jed Potts and Nicole Smit, mighty fine as usual. Just a shame that once again there were a couple of very loud folk spoiling the music, so good on Jed for his public service announcement that there were other areas of the bar for people who just wanted to natter. They didn’t bother to move but at least they quietened down. They did leave after the first set, but so did I, I had a ticket for Sneaky Pete’s.

The headline was Callum Ford but my ticket was primarily to see Carl Marah on second support. My timing was just nice to get down there, grab a pint and manoeuvre into a good spot (Sneaky’s was heaving, if it wasn’t sold out it was very close to it!) Marah and moustache took to the stage (I mention his moustache because, it’s there, a double-taker on first meeting, I think it might be staying around awhile), no fancy looping this time, just straight forward man with a guitar.

What a cracking set! Opened with the wonderful Roll the Dice and ended with the awesome Cats Eyes. In-between, Carl gave Cold Cold Christmas one more play, the crowd joined in the dah-dah-dahs to Oban, while Stags and Hens somehow sounded better than ever (how is that even possible?). There was more, but I wasn’t taking notes, didn’t video much either, I just blissed out on the sound, especially Cats Eyes at the end, oh, my heartses.

To be honest I wasn’t sure earlier if I’d hang around for the headline band but being there, yeah, plus it was a fairly quick changeover. Callum Ford and his band were worth staying for, engaging and witty songs; with a fiddle-player and one song set in Captains Bar, definitely a folky leaning. The crowd had been lovely and enthusiastic with Mr Marah, now they were turned up to ten and buzzing. Oh my, when the band started the final song the place went wild, Fairytale of New York no better to end a gig at Christmas, the band and audience gave it everything.

Back out on the Cowgate just going home didn’t seem right, so I decided I’d pop back to Whistlebinkies for one more pint. The second band should have been on at that point, nope, huh? Ah, they’d double booked themselves or something and Binkies took second place, who could they call on? Oh yay, the Louis Crosland Trio, how sweet could one evening get?! It may have been because Max, who occasionally plays drums with LC3 was working behind the bar so only two more bodies were needed.

The man himself, Louis Crosland turned up first, the room started to fill more as folk expecting some live music rolled in. A cheer like a mexican wave heralded the arrival of bassist Rob Henderson to the stage, no time to waste, the band cracked on and the crowd, yes, indeed, did go wild. Wow, I’ve seen LC3 plenty of times, that was one of the best, kind of like a giddy joie de vivre from unexpectedly playing; it definitely put Max in top spot of my favourite of the band’s various drummers. The evening really could not have ended any better, well, unless the final band had cancelled too and the Scat Rats were called in, oh yeah (hey, I can dream!)

I’ll be seeing the Rats tomorrow midnight, yes, it’s one of those Tuesdays, I can survive til then. It’ll be a very late night, so maybe having no definite plans for Hogmanay is a blessing, after all, I’ll want to be doing my usual scamper up to Arthur’s Seat bright and early New Year’s Day. I was up there on Christmas Day, I did mean to put something on here about it, just like I’ve been meaning to say how totally epic Logan’s Close were in Glasgow. I’ll circle back round to that next.

Toodle pip!

Mr Marah Plus Two

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Wednesday evening in the Voodoo Rooms was awesome. There may have been fireworks going off outside for Bonfire Night, but inside the atmosphere was sparkling and crackling with fine vibes. Local musician Jack Hinks was support for the evening, some rather lovely tunes there, and a gorgeous voice, rich but not too much (I know what I mean). Tone for the evening nicely set, drink in hand from the bar, good position to see, ready!

Of course, this was the first gig where Carl Marah has played his solo music with a band, which added to the anticipation, not just one man and an acoustic guitar anymore. On drums was Gavin Lamont, like who else was it gonna be? As lovely as he is talented, no 5/4 timings could throw this chap. On bass and occasional backing vocals was one Simon Toner; he and Gavin are in a band Sekoya with Luke Cunningham, who played keyboards with The Buccaneers (oo, how good to have the three of them with Carl some time? make that happen!). A very promising line-up, and how!

It was a gentle start with You’re Always Right and how right was the sound – just perfect. On to Lost and Found, gorgeous but I did find myself contemplating whether, lovely as the band version was, the acoustic solo version had something extra for being less for me. World Keeps Turning next is a tune that’s already one of my accidental hums (oh, I can hum unaware that I’m humming for ages), a cracking song, definitely up a notch with the extra punctuation from the drums.

The setlist was thirteen songs in total, all known to the faithful to some degree. James Gilhooly, the go-to cameraman, was around filming the proceedings. At the start of Long Way To Oban I noticed the array of drumsticks Gavin had to hand, but then I guess that’s how he always gets just the right sound; Holidays with the brush sticks was luscious. The poignant 39 was sooo beautiful, a moment to reflect.

Song of the night for me has to be Cat’s Eyes, oh my heartses. I’d just popped to the loo and came back out into the little hidden area to the side of the stage, it seemed a perfectly good spot to watch the band as the music drove along, taking corners, foot down on the straights. Oh, I’m already there, Cat’s Eyes on the stereo driving along the A702 in the dark, can’t wait! Only Don’t Wanna Love You No More could have followed that, yay, Carl getting down and bluesy, always fine with me!

As it’s the latest single Roll the Dice finished the evening. Yeah, right. Encore! One more song! Hmmm, something that really would really show the whole band off, something by one of Carl’s favourite artists? Paul Simon? 50 Ways To Leave Your Lover, yay, what a way to end, excellent choice. What an evening, I’m looking forward to next time already, hopefully it won’t be too long. Meanwhile, Mr Marah can be seen in the pubs of Edinburgh singing to the stags and hens and mooses.

Such a great gig really deserved better pics for my blog than I could manage with my mobile – many thanks to @hateinacageonfilm for letting me use some of his photos, what a guy!

Carl Marah looking suave with his Movember tache
Gavin Lamont
Simon Toner