Thought I’d try and write as things are actually happening rather than as an after event recall. Intentions are great … following through with the action to make it happen is where it really matters … let’s see what kind of follow up I’m made of shall we? Mmm
So we now have 5 gigs officially under our musical belts … plus … on the last foray into Cardiff to rehearse with Rob, we also did a strange but necessary run-through gig in the heart of Cardiff city centre at a regular gig of Rob’s in O’Neills! This kind of venue is NOT, repeat NOT what I enjoy and when we turned up to set the PA in place, the pub was heaving with hundreds of very drunk 18 year old students who had just finished their exams and were in a fully fledged frenzy of celebration! I was VERY nervous! Their excited collective noise was so loud that even with a PA in full throttle we couldn’t hear ourselves … amazing. Rob assured me that by the time we were due on they’d have all gone on to wreak havoc at alcoholic pastures new … I closed my eyes … a
nd an hour later all was mercifully student-free
There was, in their stead, a delightfully small and perfectly formed crowd of Rob’s friends and musical associates who cheered us on and helped make the process from rehearsal to performance space relatively pain-free. In fact they were fabulously generous with their praise and a good time was actually had much to my surprise. Thanks Cardiff!
A big, big thanks are also due to Andrew Bishop and Mick Wittemoore of Carlsbro PA http://www.carlsbro.com/ who very generously gave us the use of a wonderful Carlsbro set up for those smaller gigs where the PA can sometimes be a lottery. When Loop stations are emplyed to enhance one's musical exploits, a decent and reliable PA makes a huge difference to the performing confidence! We greatly appreciate the help! Thanks guys. XX
I made it home in time for mum’s birthday and a wonderful orchestral concert at the Villa Marina. Mum, dad, Diane (big sis!), Colin (lil bro), Rachel (lil bro’s gorgeous wife!) and Aaron … fabulous nephew who adores this music … all attended. We LOVED the entire experience and tears of joy were a collective bonus! Anna Goldsmith – local musical heroine – had the honour of singing with a full orchestral arrangement of a(yet more local musical heroes!) Bee Gees song – arranged by our very own Dave Armstrong! Anna and Dave’s arrangement were superb.
It was a thrill to spend a little time in the company of Andy Brown,London Metropolitan Orchestra's enthusiastic conductor, after the show.A group of us enjoyed a delightful meal with him a couple of nights later at niarbylcafe . I think he took a shine to the Island! And who could blame him … the sunsets lately have been breath-taking!
There was also time for a little TT outing with the Armstrong clan one day ... culminating in a rare ice-cream treat in Peel ...
And so our first gig was upon us! Sunday June 14th at Erin Arts Centre . We had great intentions of getting there early and having loads of time to sort out any technical hitches but … time sped up and we were scrambling around in a panic trying to sort everything out with little time to spare! We were very ambitious wanting to not only film the show but properly record it as well … some how … we managed it!
Rob and I were a little nervous and many songs found a speedier tempo than we rehearsed. The most memorable moment was our second Loop Station arrangement … where something went horribly wrong … and everyone … after a split-second silence, burst into absolute hysterics! This “feature” my dad assures me should be kept in the show … I think not! Thankfully, enough of our hard work paid off and the majority of songs came through with flying colours – phew! It was a great night and a brilliant way to start the tour. A few very important factors came to light too: there were 2 songs too many overall and a couple of songs didn’t sit as well together as we’d hoped but with a little jiggery-pokery I think it all works fine now.
The next few days were a fraught whirlwind of rehearsals – editing and producing and by the time we left the Island we had in our possession – thanks to the hard work and focus of Dave Armstrong and Christy DeHaven -a fair few copies of our tour cd: “Under Construction”! - available at a show near you!!! ;-)
We left the Island on Thursday June 18th and headed for my delightful friend Lynda Turner’s home, in Chadderton. She made us very welcome and cooked up a storm producing an amazingly delicious risotto, washed down with a generous glass-full of fruity red wine. She began what has become the trend of this tour with her fine food and wine and great company. This is Rob’s first tour and it’s a brilliant starting point … he’s very impressed.
On Friday morning we were due to pick Bob-the-Boyfriend up from Manchester airport. He’d been in New York to be with Davy Knowles and Back Door Slam at the launch of their second album “Coming Up For Air”. All had gone brilliantly well and the signs are more than favourable for a very successful album and tour. Hurrah!
Though his flight was delayed by a few hours he emerged from his travels as perky and positive as ever. It was great to see him and brilliant he made it for the start of the tour. He brought back for me a new video gizmo – an HD Flip camera! A very whizzy bit of kit. So far I’ve filmed a handful of clips at sound check and in the car as we drive through this beautiful country. As I get more familiar with it’s workings I’ll find more reasons to use it and “share” with you.
First Flippin moments! from Christine Collister on Vimeo.
So … we drove up to Knaresborough- our first port of call. The Frazer Theatre is a gorgeous performing space normally used exclusively for the local Knaresborough Players Dramatics Society but for the last year, with the able help of John Haxby (thanks to him for the fab live pic from the night!) they’ve given over a night or 2 a month to music and it’s a wonderful space to perform in. Originally according to Mike (who I kept calling Mark!), one of the Board of Directors, the Theatre was a Dance Hall with a live band perched on a precarious platform way above the dance floor. There are still some original features here and there alluding to it’s colourful past.
Sound check was quick and painless and all technical devices were in good working order! I was very pleased to see our great friend Chris Howarth just before the show … enjoying local fish and chips, as we had ourselves had a little time before.
Sound Check Knaresborough from Christine Collister on Vimeo.
A healthy crowd filed into the auditorium and Rob, taking a deep breath, went on first to do a 15 minutes set – greatly appreciated by the people of Knaresborough. I joined him and off we went on our musical odyssey. Everything went well though I still fell off the guitar several times … having someone else there making up for my chordal faux pas is great! Mr Ben did a roaring trade at half time and the second half went by really quickly. We’ve made a few more changes since then but all was as well as could be. Knaresborough showed their appreciation in no uncertain terms and left smiling.
We met up with friends Andrew and Alison Bishop along with John and Mike from the theatre at a local Wine Bar. I was lovely to relax and wind down with friends. A perfect end to a pretty much perfect day.
I decided that lunch at the Queens Head in Troutbeck, just outside Lake Windermere was the right thing to do on a Saturday in June, so we drove from Knaresborough to the Lake District the following day. Brooding clouds above luscious green rolling hills - wonderful. And the food! Mmm ;-)!
Brooding clouds ... luious green hills from Christine Collister on Vimeo.
I’ve played at the Acoustic Tea Rooms in Kirby Stephen once before and thoroughly enjoyed myself. Penny and Paul who put their considerable energy into running these wonderful events, had since sold off the Tea Rooms where it all began and now set everything up in the local Masonic hall.
Untitled from Christine Collister on Vimeo.
The night starts off with an exceptionally delicious 2 course meal (bring your own wine – everyone does!) and we get to sample dinner before anyone else arrives … once PA has been assembled and sound check achieved of course. We do work you know! Bob and I had the vegetarian lasagne – spinach, pine-nuts and blue cheese – scrumptious. Rob chose the one pot chicken tagine with minted cous-cous. My mouth’s watering again just thinking about it. We held off pudding till after the show.
Untitled from Christine Collister on Vimeo.
While the audience arrives and settles down to eat, we relax back at the ranch a few minutes walk away and make our preparations. Rob’s the only one who uses an iron! Penny often says that her food is the opening act and it’s an easy act to follow as everyone feels so good!
So this is our third show and things are still getting moved about a bit . It was a very warm evening and guitars notoriously hate being that hot but we managed to stay in tune, just about. After a request at half time there was a spontaneous song change in the second half which left me wondering about my lyrical recall! Apart from that … we had the most ecstatic response so far. It was a very special night. Topped off with fabulous cake and wine after the show.
Continuing the culinary extravagance we were treated to one of Penny’s beautiful breakfasts and deep rich coffee sipped, sitting in the front of her shop Sunday morning. Astonishingly the shop next door had been broken into in the middle of the night and the whole village was a-chatter with speculation! We came to the conclusion the thief was not very bright … having broken into an Estate agents Paul was heard to say … they could have waited till Monday to get the particulars!
After a long goodbye we headed off to stay with Jo and Mike (Bob’s daughter and son-in-law) to celebrate Father’s Day. Mike’s family were also there and we all enjoyed yet more amazing food, wine and company! Rob’s definitely up for more touring.
Untitled from Christine Collister on Vimeo.
On Monday Rob and I took advantage of the afternoon by rehearsing some more trying to tighten-up some of our arrangements and getting Rob to add a few more harmonies here and there. We’re getting there.
We called in to see Diane and Bryan Ansell in East Stoke en route to Hempstead and the Bluebell Inn. Introducing Rob to their wonderful family and home. We would be staying with them for a few days in the gap between Hempstead and Maltby.
Return to Stoke Hall! from Christine Collister on Vimeo.
I’ve played the Bluebell Inn several times before and delight in landlord Rod Stokes telling of the story of Dick Turpin’s downfall. How after years of terrorizing the countryside with his evil antics Mr Turpin managed to escape to York – a veritable distance in those days – and lived undetected for years under a different identity. Only to be take to prison for shooting a chicken (presumably someone elses?!). While in prison in York he wrote a letter to his brother, still living in hempstead, to ask for help but the postmaster, who had taught him to write in the first place, recognised his handwriting and so shopped him to the magistrates in York, where he was put on trial for his Highwayman past and found guilty. You just never know the day!
This was the first night we tried out Rob’s brand new stomp box … very high tech! Plus another new gadget in the form of a reverb pedal - just to add a little atmosphere from time to time. It may have added a bit more than we expected as we’re pretty much convinced that Dick Turpin’s ghost was present at the show … several technical shenanigans occurred seemingly for no good reason? Despite that it was a great night with plenty of interaction and joking about and for the first time I turned the Flip on the audience instead of taking the usual snapshot at the end of the night … now we have actual moving, cheering pictures … the circle of friends on the front row were there to represent the other unseen but felt presences!
We were treated to yet another great English breakfast experience courtesy of Rod the following morning and I remembered to take a few minutes of Flipness for your delectation:
Stand and Deliver ... a night with Dick Turpin! from Christine Collister on Vimeo.
We dropped Bob off at Cambridge train station around mid-day, he had several lots of meetings to take in London while Rob and I carried on further north. He met back up with us late Thursday night – bless. I thought Rob might appreciate the loveliness that is The Orchard Tea Rooms at Grantchester. I wasn’t wrong! After our large breakfast with Rod there was only enough room for coffee and a small piece of cake … food maketh the tour.
We arrived at Diane and Bryan’s late afternoon and unloaded the gear from the car and set everything up in the conservatory to rehearse a little more the next day. Always trying to improve! But one thing was missing … the bloody stomp box!!! After scratching our heads over where on earth it could possibly be I decided to call the tea rooms just in case … and lo- and behold someone had found it in the car park that afternoon and thankfully handed it in. Rob had really enjoyed the experience there and wanted to go back … not sure he meant only 24 hours later but that’s what we did!
Grantchester Stomp-box madness! from Christine Collister on Vimeo.
Bob’s train was stupidly late on Thursday night due to another train breaking down just north of Grantham; so while I patiently waited outside Newark station he was, equally patiently waiting outside Grantham. In the end I drove to Grantham and picked him up there. Ah it must be love.
Last night, Friday June 26th, was our fifth show and the best technically so far. All that rehearsing is paying off – who knew?! The Rock folk club has been running many, many years now and I’ve played there on numerous occasions over several decades - gulp! And always loved it. Not least because of Rob Shaw’s presence and energy – he’s been organising shows – formerly at the Rockingham Arms in Wentworth -for as long as the club has been running and now in it’s, relatively new home, at the Wesley Centre in Maltby, that experience continues.
Back stage shenanigans The Rck Maltby ! from Christine Collister on Vimeo.
It’s certainly a beautiful venue and apparently – I only have Rob’s word for it – the beer’s even better! It was a stupidly hot evening … I should be several pounds lighter than I am after the experience – Rob Cross, started the evening a towering 6 foot 2inches … shrank from perspiration! You don’t have to believe me of course. He also broke ahis G string (yes really!) in the 3rd song! So I sang an impromptu Gear jin Ayr ... all in a days work you know.
Dylan Felix and his partner Roger were able to come to the show – Dylan looks after the Myspace site for me and does a great job. It’s always a pleasure to see them. Jo and Mike were there too – Mike was a Collister virgin till last night! They were both very effusive and full of praise – thanks guys!
Bob and I are staying here at their delightful home just outside Worksop and Rob has gone off to visit old friends in Whitby for the weekend. It’s not all slog.
So … 5 down 12 to go! I hope to see some of you out there very soon. Thanks for stopping by. If you haven’t already done so check out the new-look website: www.christinecollister.com – thanks as ever to Christy DeHaven.
Much love
CC XX ;-)
