Fife's Top Quality Singer

Sunday 18th March - The Glen Aden Hotel, Ballater

Ballater can be such an awkward place to get to! I do gigs as far away as Lossiemouth and Hawick, but so far this is the most difficult one to get to. Having said that, I would recommend anyone wanting to see the sights of Scotland to visit this area, it's breathtakingly beautiful. But to come all this way for three hours work is not easy. To make matters worse, when you look out of this pub's window and see snow falling, and you know that you've just travelled across some of the highest roads in the country, you get the idea that you may be looking for a bed for the night.

Despite the difficulties in reaching the area, I'd always be happy to visit and put on a gig. On this second visit to The Glen Aden the audience were again very appreciative and in a party mood.  This time there was probably not a square foot available in the room. That's not a complaint though - it's a lot easier to play to a big crowd than to an empty room, and these people were out for a good time and enjoying themselves.

I had a few people mentioning how "drunken" the audience were. Good! That's what pays my wages and gets the landlord to ask for me again. I let the staff deal with the rowdy and Al tries to shield the equipment, and me, from the wobbly. This was a good day and I hope that I'll be back to the same sort of reception.  Perhaps it would be an idea, however, to have me in the big lounge instead of in a corner of the bar.

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Sunday 14th May 2006 - Glenaden Hotel, Ballater

Hi to Neil and Angela, the managers/owners of this wonderful hotel.  It has a bigger hall area, but I was performing in the main bar area, which was a bit - ahem - bijou.  The staff and punters are very welcoming, and they were all asking when I'd be back. 

What a reception.  What applause!  I rarely get this kind of welcome on my home turf of Fife.  Come on Fifers, prove me wrong!