Sounds From The Harbour

Yesterday was one of those rare treats, the sun was shining and I found myself heading out to Cheekpoint to see bands play on a boat. Its not everyday you find yourself saying that or if it is then you clearly lead a more exciting life than me.
The gig didn't start until 7 and I arrived in Cheekpoint just in time to see the boat making its way into the harbour. At this stage I was a little lost due to my appalling sense of direction and while I could see the harbour from the hill I was perched on, it took me just a little while longer to actually find the road that brought me to it. I was down in time to see the boat arrive and a crowd begin to gather. 

Away With The Fairies were the first to play. They are an incredibly talented trad band that most people in Waterford are already familiar with and the lads have a diverse range of talents including acting and songwriting among them as well as obviously being able to sing and play a variety of instruments.
Watching them perform on The Brian Boru ( the boat /stage) I began to think that perhaps all their gigs should be played on boats. I was mentally preparing my pitch to the band when it occurred to me that perhaps the novelty might wear off and also the Irish weather is an unpredictable beast. We were lucky to get the weather we did on the day and watching a band perform on a boat in the rain would be considerably less exciting for all involved. The lads played a fantastic set as always and I'm sure they will go on play many more just like it if Lorcan doesn't give it all up to live a life on the high seas.

The second band onboard the boat were Backroad Smokers Club (minus their keyboard player who was a victim of employment on the night ). Backroad Smokers Club have a totally different sound (funk, rock, psychedelic )but yet it worked really well on the boat. Its great to see such creativity applied to the choice of venue because anyone can arrange for a band to play in a bar but seeing them play on The Brian Boru was real treat. The band is one of my favourites in Waterford, which in itself is a hub of talent, and at this stage I think I know most of their songs but I do try to refrain from audibly singing along. I'm sure they would appreciate this of they ever had the misfortune to hear me sing.

It turned out to be a great night with sun only starting to go in as the Brian Boru set sail again. I left as the crowd was dispersing, feeling the buzz you only get from a magical night.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The darker side of romance

Image
  For some reason I felt compelled to write about a corner of my past that hasn't been part of my blog before. a heads up to anyone who might be upset by this topic I will be delving into emotional abuse so feel free to stop reading now if you don't feel able to carry on. When I was in my late 20's I met a guy on a night out. He was a few years younger than me and honestly looking back threw up a couple of red flags early but I didn't trust my own intuition plus I was only a few months away from finishing college and planned to move to Edinburgh in a few months so it wasn't like it was going to be anything more than a brief fling. However as time went on I became more infatuated with him, there was an intensity there and he seemed sweet but damaged. Like a perfect modern fairytale I thought I would be the one to fix him. somehow plans changed and he was going to follow me over to Edinburgh, get a job there and we were going to live happily ever after. at this point
Read more

Help, I think I'm autistic

Image
 So I, at the age of 41, have come to the realization that I am autistic.  Growing up I always had a feeling something about me was a little bit off. I never quite fit in and I wasn't sure why. It was like everyone had been given a book of rules of how to exist in society but no one had thought to hand me a copy. Looking back with hindsight the signs were there. I was a super sensitive kid, a sensitivity I have not lost in adulthood, I cried very easily and felt every emotion very deeply. I was a picky eater and very particular about the textures of different food. I was very sensitive to light and noise and the feel of different fabrics. I was never a hugger. all of these things are as true about me now as they were when I was younger. I am socially awkward, I don't make friends that easily and will joke I am an acquired taste. Eye contact is something I have to actively work on and small talk feels like torture.  I thrive on alone time, I am incredibly sensitive to the moods
Read more

Sometimes I open my mouth and my mother comes out ..

Image
I have been told on more than one occasion that I'm sarcastic. Often that I'm too sarcastic (as though there could be such a thing) and I have retort up my sleeve for such occasions which is if you think I'm sarcastic you should meet my mother. No, really you should because my sarcasm is but a pale imitation of hers. Every so often though I come out without something that makes my friends or other family members pause because sometimes when I open my mouth, my mother comes out.  It's funny how people always take the words you are turning into your mother as such an insult because the reality of the matter is it's a both a good and bad thing. Obviously there are certain qualities I am perfectly happy to emulate and others not so much and on the whole I am not entirely sure how much control I have over it. It's not quite a pick and mix counter here. I think there are some habits you are not even aware you have picked up until someone else kindly points it out.
Read more