Hi, Folks.

Great to see so many of you again at our 15th annual bash at the Guildford Arms for the Caley Folk and Blues Festival, which was one of the best yet. Although surrounded by scaffolding and somewhat obscured by temporary signage, the Guildford attracted it’s usual share of tourists and fringe goers. Our guests all did a wonderful job which kept the place buzzing every night. We were too busy having a good time to feel the strain and our voices, although a wee bit ropey at times, didn’t get too hoarse.

Val Valiant joined us on bass guitar once again. He’s a glutton for punishment.

Sandy Tweeddale played a stormer, Bedford Falls gave their usual, no nonsense, song packed performance and On The Wagon revelled in their new Saturday night slots.

Eddie Walker proved again to be the mid-run stalwart of the festival with his own inimitable style and character whilst FCUkulele just grabbed the moment and had a ball.

Our thanks to everyone who donated their loose change to the Teenage Cancer Trust buckets. On the last night, when we heard that the total collected was nearing £1000 pounds we auctioned off our sponsored shirts and did a Half Monty at the end of the show. Not a pretty sight, but we made our  target.

Due to personal commitments, we’re not playing in October but there are plenty dates thereafter and as you can see from the Gig Guide, you can get over the New Year blues at “T in the carPark” at the Aberdour Hotel on the 2nd of January. Remember, it takes place in the afternoon and, more importantly, it’s outside, so wrap up well.

All the best.

Alistair

Reviews

Quote from www.threeweeks.co.uk
 

MUSIC REVIEWS: Caledonian Folk & Blues At The Guildford Arms 
 
Yard Of Ale & Guests - 15th Year 
 
You can't say you've experienced the Fringe until you've seen a ukulele group play an eight-minute version of 'Sultans Of Swing'. That might not be strictly true, but that experience captures the spirit of the folk and blues shows at the Guildford Arms. After an entertaining set of folk classics from hosts Yard Of Ale, guests F.C. Ukulele put in an energetic performance, full of memorable covers, from 'Mr Brightside' to 'Baker Street'. Artistically, the music you're likely to hear at the Guildford Arms is unlikely to change the face of the music scene, but it doesn't aim to. The atmosphere is lively, and the bands serve a valuable purpose in keeping the traditional British pub culture alive and vibrant. 
 
TW RATING: 4/5 
 

Pedro Hit By Credit Crunch!

(Mainly Around Left Knee Joint)

“Didn’t we have a lov-erly time when we sang in the Guildford,

 Laughing away getting drunk every day confusing all the happy tourists…”

Yes, we had a grand time at this year’s festival with all our old and new sparring partners in great form and lots of familiar faces from far flung-oot places. Professor John Intelligentsia O’Dublin even took everybody out to lunch before he left. This occasion was made even jollier by the fact that I was otherwise disposed of. The Prof thought I’d been out to lunch for years anyway-a good point well made.

Any road up, ‘twas a relief for me to escape the massive disaster area known as the “Apache Junction Estate South Wing Development” for a couple of weeks. As well as mounting debts, injuries and dodgy machinery our construction adviser the trustworthy and legal Cowboy McHooligan lent his usual sterling support by disappearing off the face of the galaxy at every attempted consultation. Never mind-my grandsons Rory Gallagher Stanton and Dean Martin Sauzee have shown quite an aptitude (with attitude) for the more creative aspects of the project. Dino is helping by making-quote-“the biggest muddy puddle in the whole world”, while Rory, just to be different, likes washing things thoroughly with lots of water. Combined with electricity this had predictable results. I can only say that if there’s a TV show “Celebrities Electrocuted on Wet Concrete” I might be in with a shout. Still, it’s nice to see them laugh so much-Hank Williams Zidane Obama is still officially classed as “too wee” to help. But he laughed too.

Now everybody (else) has had a holiday we can get back to tormenting audiences again. Some interesting trips are already unfolding as we speak, though I have selfishly kept the best one as a solo pre-formance, a stadium gig!! Well, the home of the mighty Musselburgh Athletic is undergoing refurbishment so a fareweel shindig, sing-song, cairry-oot and ding-dong is plotted before the Nissen hut gets bulldozed featuring myself and local crooner Jock McOck. Exciting times at the field of dogdoo!

Hope to see youse on our travails this winter and remember, in the words of the great writer Rosco Wildlife, “we are all lying in the gutter but some of us are looking at the stars”, where I remain…

Yours Aye, Pedro.

Next edition: January 2010