Coldplay entranced the SECC

Coldplay entranced the SECC Glasgow 9th Dec 2008

Classic songs - ’Yellow’ and ‘The Scientist’. Great colours and effects.

This was such a feel good gig, with memories of large yellow balls dancing above the audience and lots of singing - while a slightly middle class, middle aged kind of gig. I went with my lovely daughter, Coldplay were the first band she was ever keen on. Their rapport to the audience was top class and Martin especially, who connected with a highly energetic interaction as he enjoyed leaping across the stage

He gave the audience time to sing and certainly their songs are very singable! They even took to the back of the stage and busked for one song. 

I enjoyed the gig hugely – it was full of life with vibrant energy and hope. When we left everyone was singing their 'La Vida'!

Some moving songs – ‘Fix You’, ‘Those Who are Dead Are not Dead, they are simply living in my head’. 

The support slots were awful though with some guy on electric keys. I said to my daughter what on earth kind of music is that – she replied ‘rubbish!’

The Sundowe Inverness

  *THE SUNDOWE - Eden Court theatre Inverness, 30th Nov 2007

The Sundowe is a musical written by Edinburgh writers and performers John, James and Gerry Kielty, and their band The Martians. Originally written as a radio show, and later as a television pilot, The Sundowe eventually became the basis for a modern musical. The storyline centres on The Martians themselves, as their street busking is interrupted by vampires, the local council and the return of dead souls. The Sundowe spins a spooky tale of ghostly happenings and betrayals - and yet never takes itself too seriously. Set in the backdrop of the cobbled streets of Edinburgh, Greyfriars graveyard, and the Scottish parliament. It is part comedy, part pathos, and with references to modern Scottish politics, Greyfriars Bobby, street busking & Scottish history.

The Sundowe went into rehearsals in October, and was performed in Eden Court theatre Inverness in November 2007. It was produced by Eden Court and the Cameron Mackintosh foundation.

Kilsyth festival 2007

- August 2007

Colzium park is an intimate park for a festival, with people dotting the grassy slopes down towards the main Colzium, stage. There was a Japanese tea ceremony in the Walled garden, an enclosed area for dancers and drummers, the waterside stage surrounded by stalls and rides and the Acoustic stage. KIC was set on 4 stages and fortunately the rain held off. The colourful fun festival provides something for everyone. There were colourful dancers energetic drummers, young rock bands and lots of fun events for families. Billed as a day out for families it attracts a good turn out.

Headlining was in demand Ceilidh band the Peatbog Faeries. 

A highlight is the Parade from the Colzium house and down through the park, including Rhythm Wave drummers, Pipers, dancers and Majorettes. The festival was very pleased to be able to bring over from Africa ‘Gandawi’ from Ghana, who proved a highlight of the day, bringing their African culture to Scotland.

The Peatbog Fearies ended the day’s entertainment with a blistering set of tunes. They mix Celtic and jazz, with a full brass section. They have an energetic fiddle player, and vary this with the flute. The crowd were on their feet dancing to end a fun and colourful festival.

Diwan and Samba Sene Mugdock Festival 2007

Diwan bounced onto the bandstand in colourful African outfits and lifted the looming clouds with African  sunshine and dancing rhythms.
Sene is a charismatic front man backed by a dynamic band. The band played with both a wild, infectious vitality and chaotic beats, both loose and ragged, that resulted in both a laid back and upbeat mood. It was music that came from every angle. They play West African music of soft jazz, swaying bass rhythms and gentle percussion beats with a wide assortment of percussion instruments from Africa, one called the ‘djembe’ drum.

Samba enjoyed every minute, he smiled often and rarely stopped dancing. Catch them if you can!
As Samba commented – ‘Even the midges were dancing!’

Sene was born in Senega and moved to Scotland seven years ago. He writes his own material and sings in French, English and his native Wolof. His style is strongly influenced by the jazzy grooves of Senegal with grooves and beats to get you dancing.

I met their bass player, Kamli N’goni from Wassonlon Southern Mali earlier, when he and their American percussionist were dancing to Partick Beats drums in the courtyard. I asked him about their music and he told me their music was ‘Afro jazz grooves.’

Music is Mali’s most famous export. The level of musicianship is extraordinary – there is even a traditional musicians class known as griots. Throughout Africa, music holds this incredible power; in a place where life hard, it is one of the greatest joys. Mali and Senegal are the two leading places to go for West African music - there is the hypnotic ‘dessert blues’ of the north and the ‘danceable rhythms’ of the south. In the 70s Mali’s government, like others in Africa, funded larger bands to express the culture and vitality of the new nations. For example the ‘Super Rail Band, that mixes Afro-Cuban dance rhythms with the traditional. This is a land of no media, and no Internet, where music can travel by cassette. Mali is a Muslim democracy and while poor is also tolerant, diverse, optimistic and stable. In Mali swords have turned into guitars and music helps to express a feeling of national unity. The arrival of the electric guitar gave young men a new voice. There is a music festival in the dessert, at an Oasis called ‘Essakane’. This is a three day event, where many travel across the Sahara by camel for weeks to attend.