Langholm- Sunday

When I woke up the sun was out. It was a change from the bitterly cold weather in Falkirk. The wind cut through you like a knife and the temperatures dipped to minus 5c on the drive back down the M74.
All too soon we had the call to vacate the room so we went downstairs in time to get our Sunday lunch,which was wonderful. Our destination was only a few miles across the border at Langholm and we drove there after stopping at the supermarket to buy rolls butter and ham for our journey back home after the concert.
The sun was bright and the daffodils were in abundance as we drove along the A7 to Langholm, arriving in good time.
Walter the lighting man was very helpful as he set the stage for us in a bright and modern theatre that served the local rural community. We took some photos of the area around the theatre and Richard had a play on the very nice Steinway piano.
It was a good show with a very appreciative audience and the band were asked to sign the visitor's book afterwards!
They kept us supplied with very good coffee as well. It was much appreciated.
The show started at 7.30 which meant that we were on the road well before 11.00, so as not to annoy the neighbours.
Mike once again drove the van and we sat in the back eating the ham rolls and looking forward to a night off after nine concerts on the trot.
An over-zealous traffic cop stopped Willy who was driving the 4x4 just north of Manchester and issued a ticket for driving with his fog lights on!
We had to dawdle for a while until he caught up and we met up at Lymm Truckstop. We then carried on down the motorway to Hylton Park where we put some more diesel in the van. Mike, Willy and Nina then left us and drove down to South Wales, while I drove us back to Northampton. We dropped Lee off at about 4am.
He rang us a few minutes later to say that his terminally ill father had died an hour beforehand. If Willie hadn't have been stopped by the police, would we have got him home in time? I don't know.

Falkirk- Saturday

Breakfast was wonderful, cooked for us rather than a self service of salty crispy bacon, tired eggs, etc. We had a chance to rest up before the trip up to Falkirk (about 100 miles away) We visited the local Morrisons to stock up on apples, soft drinks etc and the set off down the M74.
Mike went to collect Willy from Prestwick and got to the theatre just before us. Keith and the staff were very helpul and we were soon set up and ready to soundcheck. Once everything was set to our satisfaction most of the group went off to find a pub with a TV screen that was showing the England game while I found some comfy chairs in the green room and relaxed with a cup of coffee. Yes I know it's a recurring theme but it makes a difference when your life consists of long drives, fevered bursts of activity and then hanging around waiting for the show to start. I did go and look at the sea when we were in Worthing at the beginning of the week, but most times we just stay backstage. To cap it all I had no network coverage so couldn't phone home.
The show was great, an almost full house of Patsy Cline and country music fans determined to have a good night out. They knew all the songs and needed no prompting to sing along. One of the best shows we've done.
Oh, and the audience sang "Happy Birthday" to Michael!
Mike volunteered to drive the van back to Carlisle so I sat in the back and dozed. We got back to Carlisle in time to put the clocks forward so we still lost an hour's sleep! Good news though. We've swapped breakfast for Sunday lunch so we can get a bit of a lie in.

Dudley- Friday

After a short but warm night's sleep Cozy and I made it to breakfast. Mike joined us later but there was no sign of Willy, Lee or Richard. I said it was bad news staying up so late. When they finally emerged from their rooms they looked tired!
Willy had to fly to Dublin to take part in a Sandy Kelly concert that evening, so Mike drove him to the airport while Nina joined the rest of us in the van as we set off for the short trip to Dudley. We stopped at and Asda and had a cooked lunch in the cafe which was very welcome as we hade a long night ahead of us.
We found the venue and were unloaded and set up before Mike arrived from the airport. It was soon after this that Pat McCluskey joined us and we rehearsed his two spots.
The show went very well, with a good sized and appreciative audience. We enjoyed the change in the programme as it kept us on our toes. Oh, and there was coffee and tea in abundance!
All too soon the show was over and the van was loaded ready for the long drive north to Carlisle. We tried to find a takeaway but everywhere seemd to be closed so we pulled in at the first motorway service station and bought the usual overpriced motorway food.
It was a bit windy and I needed to concentrate hard on the driving, so I had to pull in at Lancaster services because I was so tired. Richard then took over for the last stretch up to Carlisle.
At last, a family run hotel instead of the corporate boxes that we've been staying in so far. I went to our room and was asleep before my head hit the pillow.

Cannock, Thursday

We set off out of Birmingham bound for Cannock, about 20 miles up the road and as we drove along the M6 I noticed that the van was out of diesel! We tip-toed up the motorway to the M54 junction and got off at the first exit. We found a petrol station a mile or so along the road to Cannock and got some diesel into the tank before it finally ran out.
Our satnav then took us over the M6 (?) and into Cannock. Did it anticipate our needing diesel?
The theatre in Cannock is next to the shopping centre. Up the ramp to the loading bay and a level floor on to the stage. It was a good show with a good turn out.No coffee though.
Once we unloaded and after a stop outside the chippy we met up at the filling station and filled the van to the brim before heading back to Birmingham. The M6 junction was closed so we crawled back to the M54 junction 1 and then it was my turn to find our way through Birmingham to the hotel. We arrived in time to have a drink in the hotel bar. I was feeling tired by then so turned in.
Mike, Willie, Lee and Richard stayed up playing pool until the very early hours.
Bad move.

Lytham St Annes- Wednesday

Mike was late leaving his hotel and rather than wait at the Motorway services we chose to go ahead without him. It was very windy but otherwise uneventful and we arrived at the Lowther Theatre about 30 minutes before Mike, Willie and Nina.
The backstage boys were great, especially the lighting guy Callum, who set some great effects. The audience were appreciative but a bit quiet compared to some.
No coffee or tea backstage again. That's three nights on the trot.
Mike booked us into a hotel in Birmingham (only 100 miles away) so he drove us down the motorway and through the maze that is the centre of Birmingham. We arrived, cold, tired and thirsty in the early hours of the morning. Cozy and I usually share a room and our room was freezing. The fire wouldn't work so we stripped the third bed and added the quilts and blankets to our own two. We made it to breakfast although Lee and Richard chose to lie in. After breakfast we swapped rooms and got warm for a change.

Worthing- Tuesday

I slept in and didn't wake up until after 10 am. That meant I was running late and an accident on the Northern bypass, plus a tractor in front me on the A43 and then traffic lights meant I was about 20 minutes late picking everyone up. We made good time and arrived on the South Coast at about 3.30. We were able to use the house PA system and that saved a lot of time setting up. However, the show didn't start until 8.00 so we still had a while to hang around.
The audience were very friendly and got into the spirit of the evening, singing along with us having a good time. We got everything packed away in double quick time and found a takeaway open on the way out of town. We drove up to Pease Pottage where I got a coffee (I hadn't had a cup since breakfast and was gasping)
The M25 was clear and I dropped everyone off by about 2.00.
Early start later today. We're off to Lytham St Annes (near Blackpool)

Beck Theatre Hayes-Monday

We're well into our stride now. The motorway was clear and we arrived in Hayes in good time. Unloading was an event in itself. The loading bay was at the top of a very steep ramp and I feared that the handbrake wouldn't hold the van. Needless to say there weren't many volunteers to climb into the van to retrieve the kit! The theatre itself was well laid out with a level run onto the stage and a friendly and helpful crew- even if they were all drummers!
The show went very well. Richard's sister came down to see the show and she enjoyed it. Loading the van was great fun (not) but we managed it in good time and got home in double quick time. Next stop Worthing

Basildon- Sunday

A night with a difference. Basildon Towngate Theatre is one of the easiest venues from the touring musician's view. You can drive up to the unloading bay and almost drive onto the stage. No steps anywhere! As you can see from the photos the audience is very close to you which also adds to the expreience.
However, we had to change things around last night because Cosy had another engagement so Willie played drums for most of the set, except when he played his own songs and my son Chris played. Now Chris is a big lad, well over 6 feet tall with dreadlocks down to his waist. He usually plays in rock bands so it was quite a challenge for him, and I'm pleased to say he passed with flying colours.
We had to change the running order slightly, but we've now reached the point where we can take these things in our stride. Which is a long way from where we were two weeks ago!
Next stop Hayes.

Back on the road again- Grays

We drove down the M1 & M25 to Grays in bright sunshine and the traffic was light so we arrived early for a change. We had everything on stage before Mike, Willie and Nina arrived. They'd been stuck in traffic, which just shows how traffic conditions can change. The audience were great, singing along to every song. It makes a difference when the audience want to have a good time instead of sitting back waiting to be impressed. A good night, very enjoyable and I got home by 2.00 as well.
Next stop Basildon, then Hayes in Middlesex followed by Worthing Pavilion before four nights out when we play Lytham St Annes, Cannock, Dudley, Falkirk and Langholm (another long drive home)
Posting may be light if I can't get to a computer

Cosy Dixon- man of mystery!

Is Cosy Dixon Andy Parsons?
I think we should be told!

More WSM pics

Back on the road- Weston Super Mare

Last night's concert was at the Playhouse Theatre in Weston Super Mare. We (the band) travelled down via Oxford, Swindon and the M4/M5 and arrived in good time but couldn't find the back door for about 15 minutes.
Nina drove over from South Wales and hit a tailback on the M4 after a bad accident, then delays caused by roadworks and finally a struggle to find the stage door as well.

Needless to say all that was behind us as the show began and Nina put in a faultless performance to a very appreciative crowd that included her mother. Nina spoke from the stage of how her mother would sing many of these songs to her as a child, and how Nina would harmonise with her, and how she would never have imagined standing on stage singing those very songs back to her mother in the audience.
I gave the camera to Mike and he took the pictures of the show.

Cosy Dixon action man!

Our drummer Cosy Dixon collects Action man figures from the 1960s. I saw him on the phone next to a statue in the lobby at the Rothes Halls and took this picture.
So where's the action? I expect that's exactly what he's asking!

Dumfries- Saturday night

What a windy day! We checked out of the hotel late morning and were blown sideways all the way to Dumfries. Our concert was at the Theatre Royal, Scotland's oldest theatre, which has been staging productions for over 200 years. This theatre seats about 250, but regularly attracts top acts. My all-time favourite band Fairport Convention played a concert there the week before us.
Our Scotland concerts have been in a variety of venues, ranging from the Victorian splendour of the Aberdeen Music Hall where almost a thousand people came to see the show, the recently converted town hall in Rutherglen with its glass and stainless steel extension housing the bar and catering facilities, but with the wooden panelled concert room largely as original. Around 300 people (a sell out) came to see us there.
The Rothes Halls in Glenrothes is a modern complex with wide doors and easy access and state of the art equipment, and the large concert hall was well filled with Patsy Cline and country music fans who new all the words and were in good voice.
Tonight's show at Dumfries went very well, thanks to a friendly theatre crew who made us feel very welcome, and an enthusiastic almost full house who joined in and sang along.
All too soon it was over. We had a great night and everyone got stuck in to ensure that we got away in good time.
As we emerged from the stage door to load the van, we were reminded that it was Saturday night as a crowd of revellers passed by on their way from pub to pub.
Ah well, only 280 miles home!
We made good time down the motorway. Nina, Willie and Michael left us at Hilton Park Services to go down the M5 to South Wales and we continued on to Northampton. I finally got home at about 4.30. We now have a couple of days off before we meet up again in Weston-Super-Mare on St Patrick's Day.

Glenrothes- Friday

We travelled to Glenrothes via the Kincardine Bridge,but managed to come back via the Forth Bridge! Sat-navs!
This time we had the luxury of using the house PA so not so much fetching and carrying. Thanks to Aly and his crew for their help.
Another almost full house and another good show. The Scottish audiences enjoy a good sing along!
Next stop Dumfries and home.

Rutherglen- Thursday

Thursday's concert was a short trip across the city in Rutherglen Town Hall. The concert was a sell-out within a few days of the tickets going on sale and everyone had a great night. Here's a couple of shots of the venue.

Aberdeen Music Hall- Wednesday

Our hotel is just downriver from Glasgow on the banks of the Clyde. Before we set off to Aberdeen, we had a glimpse of how busy the river used to be, as a huge ship passed by the hotel on its way to the sea.
We then had a 150 mile journey up to Aberdeen, arriving exactly on schedule. The venue staff were very helpful and the audience were great. My friend Pat travelled over from Inverness and took the pictures of the show.
It was still busy on the streets of Aberdeen when we finished packing and set off to return to Erskine. I forget that the show ends at around 10.pm most nights, and the pubs are still open. Most theatre staff are very helpful in getting our kit loaded and getting us away in good time. (Is it because they can then catch last orders?)