The Dawn Chorus / The Retrospective Soundtrack Players - Blogging all over the World

Saturday 27th June 2009
GlastonFerret @ The Mad Ferret

The Dawn Chorus
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This was more like it. It was a bloody long way from North Devon to Preston, but just about worth it. The Mad Ferret had been fully grassed and hay-bailed and was packed out. Very different to the day before. There were also dodgy burgers, just like a real festival. You know the kind where the bun provides greater resistance to the teeth than the meat? It didn't make me sick though, and it did hit the spot, so that's fine by me. We succesfully tackled the intensely hectic 15 minute changeover in which we had to get all our 800 instruments on stage and line checked, and managed to play pretty well. We were paid much less than the day before, drove much further, but played to more people, including some who were listening. As a whole, a very enjoyable weekend which just about paid for itself. I guess that's what doing this is all about. Oh, and Keith was offered to smoke an E. Good, good times.
x

Friday 26th June 2009
The White Horse, Barnstaple

The Dawn Chorus

Good points:

• Neil, Ben, Paul and Keef went silly early in the morning to surf play in the sun in Woollacombe. I say surf, Ben had a go and the other three carried the wet suits and boards and tried to pass themselves off as surfers. They were also kind enough to put the tents up for me and Matt (who had work) and to set up all the gear at the venue.
• The campsite was very swish and had a sauna and steam room. Very useful.
• Had a clotted cream ice cream at Woollacombe beach.
• Got to play 5 or 6 songs for the first time live without bodging anything too badly. 2nd album is pretty much written now.
• Got free food for everyone at the venue, including Joe (our, erm, driver) and Simone (our....girlfriend. well, neil's)
• I sang my guts out for 2 hours and kept my voice
• Nice cheque to pay for the weekend's camping and diesel.

Not so good points

• Neil was a silly boy and didn't sun cream again, leading to extreme lobster boy skin. Paul and Keith also felt it a little bit the next day. Silly boys.
• The gig was a bit of a damp squib, unfortunately one of those where the punters would probably have preferred if we weren't there so they could get their friday drinking done in peace. Ah, well. I had visions of a nice little smokey old pub, but unfortuantely it was a modern, swanky chain-style bar with a recently installed stage. But what can you do?