Nicole Smit

What happened to November?!

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Last post was all about Carl Marah‘s latest Voodoo Rooms gig, yeah, that post almost three weeks ago, oops; you can now see an eight minute video from said gig on his YouTube channel featuring You’re Always Right and It Takes One To Know One. Oh, and while you’re there do check out the Live at Everyman Cinema video filmed in August, see why I love Carl’s song Cat’s Eyes so much! That’s on there along with Roll the Dice, well worth a peek. You want more? Check out his latest posts on Instagram, I particularly like the ones where the camera is looking down on the piano keyboard, yes, the lad’s tickling the ivories with his tunes! Nice to see a proper old piano being played.

The dark evenings are bringing folk into the pubs earlier now, I’m used to wandering into an almost empty Stramash at the back of seven for the Scat Rats, but now it’s miserable and colder outside, all the best views are already taken by the time Babe Station lures me in (despite my determination to be in before the Rats started on Friday evening, once again I made my entrance to it, haha). They’re playing Stramash again next Friday, can I make it in earlier?!

I also caught Jed Potts and Nicole Smit both times they played at Whistlebinkies this month, always a delight, and oo, they’re back in Binkies next Saturday afternoon (two Saturdays in a row, great stuff!). Jed was back there this evening with his new band Power Denim, yeah, I gave it a miss just to catch you up, but I will be trotting up the way soon for the Louis Crosland Trio at midnight, third time this month. It has been a pretty fine month for me music-wise, I just won’t think about the rest of it.

I’m determined to get back on top of things next month, er, tomorrow. After a lull in my Park meanderings I’ll have to get back out there more, get into practice for going all the way to Arthur’s Seat for New Year’s Day, and probably Christmas Day before that; yes, I’m staying here in my moose cave this year!

Anyhoo, time to toddle off. Toodle pip, mes amis!

Music to a moose’s ears

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And just like that, June was over, four weeks today it’ll be Fringe Eve! I’d panic about my lack of preparedness but my procrastination skills have reached such a level that I’m even procrastinating about panicking. Honestly, I’ve long been Olympic standard, but this is bloody ridiculous now. And breathe. Yes, this year’s Edinburgh Fringe is getting close now (the courtyard at the Pleasance is already taking shape), next [Edit:but one] post will be Fringey, but for now, well, I had the most deliciously musical weekend….

Last post I was down in Yorkshireland, intending to make it back up for Jed and Nicole at Whistlebinkies; thanks to an unexpected road closure, plenty of motorway roadworks and torrential downpours, I just caught their second set. Grrrr. A pint of Stewart’s, some fuzzed up guitar and Ms Smit’s blend of sweet’n’sass and I was fair revived from my journey. Special note for their final number Something’s Got a Hold on Me, always great, but on Friday, woozah, Nicole really went out with a blast 💛

Jed Potts & Nicole Smit

Saturday, after another scrumpy ice cream from Thistle & Churn, followed by scallops from Creelers (I may have a habit taking shape there), I was back at Binkies for The Scat Rats and their usual mix from country to rhythm’n’blues and, of course, the odd original. There was what I took to be a, ahem, “maturer” tour group who had escaped the heat outside along with their tour guides (two wore tartan trews and glengarry hats), a bit of Johnny Cash and they were up! It’s always nice to have a floor show to enjoy, ha.

The Scat Rats, as ever, always a joy, delivered the goods, and I must give a shout out to George on sound; I’ve come to appreciate how differently some sound guys work, and he really brought out the music (loved the echoey bits, Scotty certainly did!) When I went to compliment his work afterwards, George’s modest reply was, “It’s easy to make someone sound good, when they’re that good already”. Nah, he’s good, he really got them, some don’t.

And then it was Sunday, time for the big one….

…… Carl Marah’s Second Single Tour beginning in the Voodoo Rooms, his second single being Roll the Dice (it’s in 4/5 time, you know) But that deserves a post of it’s own, I’ll just say here that I cannot allow Sunday evening to be the only time I get to hear his music in it’s current form on this tour. Those lucky bastards in London on the 2nd! It was a glorious evening, continued with further drinking, finishing back, once again in Whistlebinkies with the Harry Higgs Band, not the trio, a quartet (trio plus keyboards) with an occasional fifth, of guest vocals by Reine Beau.

A great end to a great weekend!

Some musings on music coming soon

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It’s late, very late, but I’m determined to write something before I sleep as tomorrow will be another full-on day here in Yorkshireland. Yes, I’m down again, long-time followers will be aware mid to late June is one of my annual trips. It’s ridiculously hot here, Saturday is promising to be 29°C, I’m melting!

I’ll be pooch-sitting for a few days next week, always happy to help out, just as long as I get away by Friday morning at the latest. Well, Jed & Nicole are at Whistlebinkies at 7pm, sooo, well, you know; Saturday afternoon sees the Scat Rats in there too, sweet, but it gets even better!

On Sunday 29th June Carl Marah kicks off another tour for the release of his second single Roll the Dice, this time in the Voodoo Rooms. After Edinburgh there’s London and Glasgow, then three nights on the trot, Ullapool, Inverness and Aberdeen, a fair bit of mileage there. I was kinda tempted by the Ullapool gig, but early July? The midgies will be out in full force, erm, it needs more mulling.

Then, mid July it’s time for the Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival, sadly there’s no Mardi Gras in the Grassmarket on the Saturday but the Carnival is back on the Sunday in Princes Street Gardens. I’ve had a ganders through the programme, noticed the wonderful Nicole Smit has a show on Wednesday 16th July in the Famous Spiegeltent (this year at St Andrew Square), nice. Her regular music buddy Jed Potts is in there two evenings later, along with the Hillman Hunters.

I was scrolling through the daily schedule on my phone and paused on Those Dangerous Gentlemen, hmm, just something about the name, and then the fact it was at the Leith Dockers, yes, I was right, another pie for Mr Potts! A few weeks later he’s back at this year’s Fringe, five shows with The Blueswater and five with Nicole Smit all scattered through August, so plenty of chances to catch them.

There’s even more chances to see Nicole at the Fringe; she has 1 Gig, 2 Drams, for six nights (I’m intrigued by the song choices to accompany two whiskies!?), and Coven – Major Arcana Energy where the set list is chosen by tarot cards (as its a coven, Nicole is one of three spell weavers). She will also be singing at the next SoundBite evening at Leith Arches, along with Rue Marie and Ailsa & The Seahorses on Thursday 31st July.

It’s really late now, I must away to sleep, just one last thought, Carl’s new single Roll the Dice is released next Friday (Friday 27th June), why not pre-save it now? It’s a great song with an intriguing jaunty rhythm. Honest, you’ll love it!

Another great poster from Mr Marah

Sweet dreams 😴

A few quick quavers

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Oo, November’s almost gone – can I write a quick post before it runs out? Just a few musical notes 🎶 Two quickies for those in Australia: I happened to spot on Instagram that Lord Rochester, an awesome rock’n’roll trio I saw in September are on your shores just now, if they’re near you check them out; and Accordion Ryan is taking his Pop Bangers to Perth, WA, for Fringe World 2025, boy, does that guy travel around!

Jed Potts and Nicole Smit are back playing Whistlebinkies regularly, a real mixed bag of treats depending how the mood takes them, country, soulful, playful, bluesy, always a pleasure! A real treat back in October was seeing The Best Bad Influence playing in Stramash, I do hope they come back again soon, I love me a bit of rockabilly.

November saw the Miracle Glass Company playing the Ballroom in The Voodoo Rooms to a capacity crowd (which included yours truly). A welcome return, an awesome evening. I will get round to putting a reel or two on Instagram, at some point.

Oo, for the first time in aaages, Jed Potts and the Hillman Hunters played Stramash, honestly it has been a long while (and it’s been some time since I saw Nicole and the Back-up Crew there, ahem, just sayin’). They were bloody good, of course. And thanks to Mr Potts diligent media posts, I’m debating whether to head to the Jazz Bar for 9pm Wednesday 9th December to see Blueswater play (ticketed, but there’s usually some at the door); also, tickets are available for this year’s Blue Christmas 2024 at La Belle Angele on Sunday 22nd December. If you’re in Edinburgh it’s a sure way to get into the Christmas spirit with plenty of festive favourites performed by some of the best blues musicians around these parts!

Yes, I know there’s a lot to spend your money on in December but don’t forget to buy a ticket to see Logan’s Close in January. While you’re at it, why not buy another for your best pal’s Christmas present? Really, that gloves and scarf set is a lousy present and you know it!

Anyhoo, it’s now December. Woohoo.

A few more notes

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Music. Not content with popping up a lot in Cabaret & Variety, and on occasion in Comedy, it has its own category and an extra one just for Musicals & Opera. I rarely see anything from either category but, always have a look through, just in case….

Oh my heartses, there’s two shows listed on the first two pages of Music featuring the divine Nicole Smit! On the first Sunday evening of the Fringe, she’ll be in the reopened Jazz Bar, for not just sixty but ninety minutes of jazz; I guess it needs to be that long, the show’s called “26” Songs Nicole Cassandra Smit Wants to Sing. Oh, it’s gonna be good!

Nicole is back in The Jazz Bar mid Fringe, this time with Jed Potts doing their thang with country, blues and jazz numbers; there’ll be some sweet, sad, sassy and maybe just downright silly stuff in there, depend how they’re feelin’! There’s two chances for all the out-of-towners to see Aaaah Look Who It Is: Jed Potts and Nicole Smit, Again! The Jazz Bar also sees the return of The Blueswater for five late night shows spread over the Fringe, yay! Which night to pick?! Another chance to see Jed play, and no doubt Nicole will be up for a number or two.

Much as I love all that stuff, I have other needs, heavy heavy riffs and disco (yes, I’m a moose of many musical tastes). Luckily there’s a show that covers both … in Bannermans, they’re back for two nights, Tragedy: All Metal Tribute to the Bee Gees and Beyond. It’s gonna be hot and sweaty, and gleefully, wickedly OTT!!

But have any Musicals caught my eye? Just three have tweaked my curiosity…..

It’s late, I’m pooped. A look through one of the big ones tomorrow, ooo. Sweet dreams!

Best laid plans of mice and moose

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After my last post a week ago, I fully intended to knuckle down and write every other day about my European wanderings, and make a serious start on this year’s Fringe programme. Unfortunately the gods had other ideas and laid the moose matriarch low, very low, so everything went out the window. It’s been a busy, taut time; thank god for the NHS, they’ve been brilliant. I’m in Edinburgh for just a couple of days to sort some things out, a wee chill out, then back down to Yorkshireland tomorrow.

I arrived yesterday at noon, so was able to trot along to the Farmers Market to stock up on some good quality frozen meats to take back down (for some good, quality, hearty frozen dishes for mother’s freezer). Co Co Co. were at the Market with another new chocolate, Strawberries & Cream, well, I had to, and a packet of Crème Brûlée (mother’s favourites).

Later in the afternoon the R&R really began when I popped in Whistlebinkies to catch Jed Potts and Nicole Smit doing their thing, just what the doctor ordered! Washed down with some Olicana, Stewart’s latest brew. I’ve since checked out their tasting notes, Stewart’s say mango, grapefruit and passionfruit; I say peapod. Honestly, the first sniff was like opening a bag of peapods, the taste did nothing to change that thought. Oh, I did like it in some weird way, but I couldn’t drink a lot of it.

There’s a film in cinemas at the moment with Austin Butler, Jodie Comer and Tom Hardy, oh my heartses. The Bikeriders is one hell of a movie with a soundtrack to match (currently playing on my Spotify). The writer/director Jeff Nichols was inspired by a photo book by one Danny Lyon who took photographs and tape recordings of a chapter of outlaw motorcyclists between 1963 and 1967. Apparently the recordings Lyon made of Kathy, played by Comer in the film, are still around to listen to, gonna have to check them out. All three of the leads are mesmerising to watch, and another accent nailed by Comer! Hopefully I’ll get to see it again before it disappears from the big screen.

Time for my bed, still got a lot to do tomorrow before I hit the road south. Still no sign of a drought in Yorkshireland this summer….

G’night!

If music be the food of love I’m besotted

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It’s Good Friday tomorrow, well, it’ll be good if it doesn’t rain again!! It’s been a very soggy week here in Edinburgh with only short bursts of sunshine to tease us. Sunday is egg-rolling day, but just how far will they roll on the sodden ground? Or maybe more eggs will make it to the bottom without being smashed to smithereens? I shall report back on Monday, okay, maybe sometime later depending on the weather.

It’s been a quiet few weeks on the music front – I was away again and managed to miss my favourite dynamic duo not once, not twice but thrice! They’re playing Stramash on Sunday night but as it’s the graveyard set I’ll probably miss that too. Oo, but it will be a good Friday evening, Jed Potts and Nicole Smit (my second favourite duo) are playing Whistlebinkies at seven, sweet, haven’t seen them there in ages! And according to Binkies website Jed and Nicole will also be back there in a couple of weeks (so it says).

I’ll catch The Scat Rats next Thursday (4th April) at Stramash but only for one set, a pre-gig warm-up before I pop round to the Mash House to see Ol’Times. Yes, the boys from Galway will be back in town! Hallelujah! I’m looking forward to that big time. Hmm, is there something in the air? Two more long-time-no-sees within the following week! Nicole and the Back-up Crew and The Buccaneers are back in Stramash and at reasonable times (am I getting old?!).

It’s all go in April on Sunday evenings too; there’ll be the usual Handsome House Jam on the 7th, but l may save heading out til later for the Harry Higgs Trio in Binkies as I rather enjoyed them last month (rock with a twist of blues and a dash of funky jazz). Yay, The Scat Rats are back in Stramash the next two Sundays in April. Yup, living in the Old Town part of Edinburgh really does have it’s advantages, times like these I feel quite spoilt.

It’s still up in the air about Bremen on the 30th. What do you mean, huh? Go back and read my last post! Missing seeing Logan’s Close at the Heartbreak Hotel in Bremen wouldn’t be too much of a disappointment as I’ll have already seen them twice in April. Oh hell, yeah!! Saturday 13th sees the lads back home in Dunbar for a rare acoustic performance, oh my heartses! That is gonna so amazing. Here’s hoping for good weather so I can make a full daytrip of it.

And there’s more! On April 23rd Logan’s Close head over West to play McChuills in Glasgow, of course I’m bloody going! Then with their sweet sounds still swirling round my head I’ll leave Ol’Blighty for Österreich, before catching up with them again seven or eight days later in Bremen or Berlin. It’s all a tad exciting!

In the meantime do have a happy Easter!

Ghosts from Fringes Past

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Just a quickie (oo, matron)! It’s late but I feel like sharing….

The Blueswater at The Jazz Bar on Friday night were awesome, as expected. I rolled up shortly after showtime (come on, how often are these times accurate?) and was warned it was pretty busy inside – I was even given the opportunity to pop down and check out whether I wanted to commit to going in (there was a £10 entry charge), nice offer but I’d just go for it. Hell, the weather was really bad, I wasn’t going to have a wasted soaking.

It was very busy, but at least towards the back the floor is higher, allowing a better view. I could be wrong but I think there’s a grand piano on the stage, it takes up a lot of space – I was only able to see the heads and shoulders of the band (no dandruff) but I assume it’s still there, otherwise the close huddle of five of the band would just be weird. It kinda looked like they’d all ganged up against the drummer and were refusing to go anywhere near him. Okay, so that was my brain having fun, like, one scenario, Simon was letting loose some lethal gases! (Yes, that’s Simon Gibb, buccaneer and back-up crew) Haha, going along with that line, when Nicole Smit joined them for a couple of numbers, the huddle made her stand closest to him!

Plenty of classic blues was the order of the night and Felipe Schrieberg has the voice and presence to deliver them. Such a great night! Oh, and special mention for their rendition of The Wizard, wow, so, so good. And now, from a wizard to a doctor…

Oh my giddy aunt, how good was Dr Who on Saturday evening? Bloody awesomely good, that’s how good. RTD really threw everything into this episode including an old companion, a very old adversary and a Lethbridge-Stewart! Neil Patrick Harris was perfect to play the Toymaker, the man is such a great performer (apparently he was the first to play Hedwig on Boadway, god, I would love to have seen that!) With RTD back at the helm it was a great story, great script, so many digs at the state of humankind, wonderful – “the lies, the righteousness – that’s human, that’s you …… and hating each other? You’ve never needed any help with that.” He’s right, you know.

Hurrah, we met the latest incarnation of the good Doctor, and what’s this? David Tennant‘s Doctor is still among us, could he make further appearances along the line?! Who cheered with me when Donna stood up to the creepy dolls and bashed the mother doll against the wall? I’m shuddering again just thinking of her babbies; old dolls and puppets are always up to no good when they turn up on anything! The companion show Doctor Who: Unleashed had an interesting section on the filming of the puppet scenes, but I was amused that our guide seemed so unaware about how big puppetry is these days – okay so not huge, but there’s always puppetry of some ilk at every Edinburgh Fringe.

And on that note, yay! Boris and Sergey are back in Edinburgh Boris and Sergey’s Christmas Cabaret on at the Assembly Roxy until 21st December. Two hours of darkly delicious humour, macabre mayhem, oh yeah, I’m going. It’s been a while since I saw them at the Fringe, ah, not since 2016! The first time was in 2012, then 2013, those shows were both at the Pleasance Courtyard; in 2016 they had a new home, the perfect stage for them, the Omnitorium a wonderful, strange, unsettling little world on its own, set slightly away from George Square Garden. They have been back since then, but you know, so many shows to choose from!

Anyhoo, it’s very late now, I must off to bed. Sweet dreams!

Some Tuck, Rats and Hot Blondes!

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This time last week I was in Stramash watching The Scat Rats, another damn fine performance as we’ve come to expect from them. The early evening band was Nicole Smit and Jed Potts doing their thang (the first time I’ve seen their double act outside of Binkies) ranging from country, blues, rock’n’roll, and this week Jed went lounge (honestly, eyes shut he sounded like he should be wearing velvet and ruffles!) on a couple of numbers.

Last night I had been expecting to see The Blueswater but alas they had to cancel, well, some of them, so instead Nicole and the Back-up Crew (there are a few overlaps there) did the late night shift at The Jazz Bar. No, I didn’t go, I went to bed at a reasonable time instead! I do hope things are okay again for their Fringe shows (the first one is Wednesday 9th).

I had been wondering at a seeming lack of Tuck this year, nothing in the programme! Surely he’d be up? What anarchy would ACMS descend into without him? And This Is Your Trial without a single Tuck appearance? Surely not. Oh, and TIYT is with Laughing Horse this year, in The Counting House at half past five in the afternoon. It is very random depending many factors but hey, it’s free, definitely worth a punt!

And then, midweek he shared a pic on Instagram of his Fringe schedule so far, yay! Thom Tuck will be in the building, well, a building, a number of buildings, around Edinburgh during August. I like his use of colours, if a tad rough, but curious what Dom and Wogan mean!? 2110 Ginzel’s I think I’ve figured out, some serious acting? I’ll let you know.

This morning I headed up Moose Ridge in Holyrood Park, after a week of slow ambles with old dogs I’ll have to get back into the long climb up, ready for Arthur’s Seat Comedy Extravaganza on Saturday 19th. If you’ve never been up to the top, then that’s the day to do it! Catch a 45 minute free Fringe show with four stand-ups and the most spectacular view in town (unless there’s very low cloud!)

Hot news of the week, Logan’s Close have released another succulently scintillating single from their forthcoming album Heart-shaped Jacuzzi, for which they have also announced a Release Party date in late December, oh yay! So that’s Hot Blondes In Your Area Tonight available now on Spotify and other music streams; and Liquid Room on 29th December.

Alas, I was away on Monday when they invited fans to go along and be in the video for Hot Blondes, hopefully it’ll be out before too long. In the meantime, I have put a clip on Instagram of The Scat Rats doing an acoustic version in Stramash.

Anyhoo, time for bed, just three sleeps to go. I’ll leave you with the Rats from last week…

Rhythms, blues ‘n’ balls

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The end of another Six Nations Rugby weekend, the end of Scotland’s winning streak. If only they’d bucked up sooner in the second half, for a short time there it looked like they could possibly catch up, but no. Ah well, at least England beat Wales, not a consolation to my Scottish friends but I’m happy with that. Ireland beating Italy was pretty much presumed, at least Italy had a valiant try. They face Wales in the next round, mind, the Welsh won’t want to lose yet again!

No Six Nations next weekend but plenty of good music, on Friday 3rd there’s The Scat Rats in the seven o’clock (or half past six, or going on for eight o’clock) slot and The Moanin Bones in the after midnight slot at Stramash. Also, if my memory is correct I’m sure Logan’s Close mentioned on Instagram that the new single is available to play on the 3rd, alas it was on their storyline so gone now, I could have dreamt it!

Saturday 4th sees Nicole and the Back-up Crew in the ten o’clock slot at Stramash, yay. I had the pleasure of catching Nicole and Jed Potts playing an awesome second set at Whistlebinkies Tuesday gone. I was quite annoyed with myself for turning up so late – what delights did I miss? They really were on excellent form, riding on a country vibe for much of the set, yes, I should have just left the washing-up!

Actually, thinking about it, the line-up for last Tuesday at Whistlebinkies was very confused, the Edinburgh Gig Guide, Binkies own website and Facebook posts were all saying different things, Jed Potts was also publicising a time which was right by one account but wrong with another! Ah ha, yes, it hard to tell what was happening up until quite late on. So far in March Whistlebinkies have The Scat Rats playing twice, I may check that with Mr Marah closer to the dates.

The second weekend in March (the next round of the Six Nations Rugby) has a Carl Marah double on the Sunday night in Stramash with The Scat Rats at seven and The Buccaneers after midnight. Also, the later bands listed for Whistlebinkies look interesting – a possibility for some of the time between nine and half past midnight.

I’ll not see the Saturday matches but I may catch the second half of Scotland v Ireland on the Sunday afternoon if I’m back in time. I’m off on a wee jaunt! No, not to the mother ship, I’ll be heading there the following weekend for Mothering Sunday, but it is down to Yorkshireland (and lots of real cider, oh yay!)

Oh, that rant I mentioned last post has subsided to a grumble, I’ll tell you about it next time. For now I’ll leave you with a couple of pics taken in Dr Neil’s Garden this week. Toodle pip!

Cherry pink……
…. and apple blossom white