Auld Hundred

I’m beginning to feel christmassy

bruceonthefringe 2025, Christmas, Cinema, Edinburgh music scene, Films, Live bands Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

It’s late on a Tuesday evening, not one of those Tuesdays, last Tuesday was meant to be, but it didn’t happen as Mr Rough was unwell, the next of those Tuesdays isn’t ’til the 30th, boo; but the Scat Rats are playing Stramash at the more reasonable time of 9.30pm on Tuesday 23rd, yay. The night before, Marah and Rough will be in Glasgow with the rest of Logan’s Close at the Hug and Pint for the band’s annual Christmas bash; I’ll be there too, of course. Just one downer (apart it being in Glasgow), sadly it’s the same night as Blue Christmas 2025, a wonderful evening of blues, r’n’b and rock’n’roll festive tunes performed by Jed Potts (curator of the event) and a bunch of his friends (honestly, the amount of talent in that one room, wow, only for LC will I miss it). It’s like a warm fuzzy hug of Christmas cheer (and it’s happening at La Belle Angele off the Cowgate, Monday 22nd).

Aw sweet, the night before again (so that’s Sunday 21st), the Louis Crosland Trio are on the midnight slot at Whistlebinkies, well, that’s what the poster says. Oh, but that would be a great three night run of great music, please Binkies, don’t screw it up! At least I know they’re definitely playing Stramash on the 18th, but not as a trio, no, there’s gonna be keyboards too! I’m looking forward to it, I’m intrigued. Up until then things are a tad quieter, no bad thing, I’m recovering from a bad cold and there’s a number of films I want to see. Oh, I may wander into Binkies on Saturday afternoon for Louis Crosland solo; I wonder if there’ll be any Bob Dylan covers. Instagram says the Moanin’ Bones are playing there this Sunday midnight, go on, I’ll believe them.

There’s four films that I want to catch before they disappear from the big screen, The Running Man is a definite, being Edgar Wright’s latest, well, I’ve loved everything else he’s done. It could be good, it could be awful, but I’m willing to give Fackham Hall a shot. The cast looks fun, but will it be funny or a tad cringey? Would I go see it if I didn’t have an Unlimited card? Probably not. Another that I’ll see just because I can is Now You See Me: Now You Don’t, I enjoyed the previous films, how will this one measure up? Annoyingly, Benoit Blanc’s latest investigation, Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery is not on at Cineworld (I’m so not impressed), but it’s still a definite for me. There’s a second Five Nights at Freddy’s coming out on Friday, the first was okay, I thought about it but then I looked it up on Rotten Tomatoes, hmmm, don’t think I’ll bother. Fitting the four in will be interesting enough.

In other pre-christmas news, I’ve finally made jam from this year’s harvest of park brambles, my fridge freezer needed defrosting so it made sense. There’s also new batch of bramble wine just started fermenting! That made sense too. I’m a tad nervous about the jam but my previous attempts have always been well received, so hopefully this lot will be just as delicious. It’s the frozen plate test bit that never works for me, but afterwards the jam sets perfectly well anyway!?

I’m doing another Advent Calendar of music from the last year on Instagram, it’s fun going back over stuff, picking out what to include has been fine so far but I know it’s gonna get harder, too many to choose from, too few days! Haha, I just can’t help going in deep with my silly notions. They’re all still available to view in my highlights, including a clip of Carl Marah singing his new Christmas tune at the Auld Hundred last week! I’m looking forward to hearing it in all it’s full glory!

Anyhoo, it’s very late, I must away to my bed. I’ll leave you with a pic….

My box of jars is now somewhat depleted

Snappy titles aren’t always obvious

bruceonthefringe 2024, Australian bands, Live bands in Edinburgh, Uncategorized, Yorkshire Tags: , , , , , , Leave a comment

Wednesday night in The Jazz Bar was a blast, the Blueswater were out to have fun and spread some joy; after a long, very wet journey it was exactly what this moose needed. Great music and fiery ginger beer, much to warm the soul!

Yes, I’d been back down in Yorkshireland for a week, dogsitting and sorting through more of mother’s things. It’s not the clearing out that’s hard, a tad sad at times, yeah; it’s the siblings later airing their views on everything I’ve done, why, where, who did I ask?! And then there’s particular items that none of us personally want to keep, but neither do we want them gone, so everyone wants another to say they’ll have it (disgruntled airs all round). Mind you, sometimes a couple of days of mulling can help, feelings assessed and resolved; all part of the process.

Whilst down, I was also under instruction to not let the garden birds go hungry! (this will also be pointed out to whoever buys the house) Mother had two bird feeders in a little tree postioned in sight of the kitchen window. The view takes away the drudgery of washing up, it can also slow the job right down as one stands enchanted by the birds. There’s house sparrows, tree sparrows, dunnocks, a robin, the occasional blackbird, blue tits, coal tits, great tits, a whole gang of goldfinches (six or seven always turn up together) and a pair of nuthatches. I was leaving all the evenings washing up to do in the mornings (okay, so I often do, but this time it really made sense!).

a nuthatch, a regular guest

I had thought I’d be playing Christmas tunes on my journey back up, with it being December now – where Christmas music belongs. The inclement weather demanded something more exhilarating and brash to keep me going, so I stuck with my downward choice of Live Forever by The Screaming Jets. I’d grabbed it as something a little different as I was leaving the moose cave. It’s a 2 cd set but I mainly stuck to Part 1, let’s just say, I had all the words down by the time I arrived in the Old Town. I would recommend it as great Aussie rock, but it may be difficult to find as the band released it themselves back in 2001, then again, as it’s from a concert all the songs can be found elsewhere.

A couple of years ago I did my own take on an advent calendar, for the 24 days running up to the Logan’s Close gigs at Sneaky Pete’s, I put up pictures of Close signposts around the Old Town on my Instagram stories. This time I thought I’d have a look back at live music I’ve enjoyed through 2024 (I may make an exception of clips from previous years’ Blue Christmas shows, I reckon that’s allowed). Oh, if you want to check them out it’s @bruceonthefringe and they’ll all be in the Advent 24 highlights for later viewings.

Today’s door is yet to be opened, it is rather late but hey, that’s musicians for you! Today’s clip will be Carl Marah playing one of his own at the Auld Hundred a few weeks back; he’s just announced that there’s solo stuff on the way, so it kinda fitting. This is such a great picture of him from his post (taken by John Mackie), you really have to see it…

Carl Marah, solo

Toodle pip!

A proper Winfrey feel

bruceonthefringe 2024, Bands, Live bands in Edinburgh, Logan's Close, Pubs, Uncategorized Tags: , , , , , , Leave a comment

Who’s Winfrey? And is a Winfrey feel something I’d like?! Does Winfrey ask permission before he goes feeling around? I guess that would be an improper Winfrey feel. Anyhoo, it’s late Monday evening, I’m debating whether to go see The Scat Rats later in Stramash, later as in after midnight. I am still up and for once spotted Stramash’s Facebook post for the week’s line-up before Monday ends. See, despite the line-up poster for the month and the website both saying it’s the Gorms playing tonight, it isn’t, yet again it’s The Scat Rats, they’ve played the slot for a wee while now but I’ve either been away or not seen the Facebook post til too late. Okay, so the poster has a time when it has to be printed, so the odd change afterwards will happen, but what’s the excuse for not correcting the website, huh?

The lads will be back at Stramash at a very respectable seven o’clock on Friday, oh, and at Whistlebinkies tomorrow midnight. Should I stay or should I go? Will it be all bangers tonight or might they stick in a new number? Oh yes, there’s plenty of new LC tunes coming in the near future and the lads told me back at the end of September that they’d be trying some out at Scat Rats gigs, so far I’ve caught one (with being away so much). And did I ever mention the Logan’s Close gig in January? No, I don’t think I did; originally it was to be in December at Summerhall, but with all the problems ongoing there, the show has been moved to The Caves on 17th January. If you’re gonna be in Edinburgh then, treat yourself to a ticket for Christmas!

Also out and about with new songs is Mr Marah! Yes, Carl Marah has decided to do something with all his other non-LC music, watch this space!! And if you’re very lucky, you may catch the odd one during his solo sets around town. I happened to catch him in the Auld Hundred on Rose Street some weeks ago; it wasn’t particularly busy so he played about four of his own, and boy, they were good! The Auld Hundred is a fine wee pub about halfway along Rose Street, there’s often live music on from nine o’clock and an Open Mic night on a Sunday.

You know what? I’m just going to pop out a while! G’ night!

My inner night owl loved that! It feels so long since I’ve been in Stramash for the late night band, but tonight was a wonderful return. If you’re quick there’s a story on my Instagram. So glad I chose to go. Just do it!!

Messrs Marah and Rough doing their thang