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Michelle had set up the gig in Nolan's for 22nd January then just as an extra comment, she mentioned a few weeks later to Mary Nolan "he's still there on Burns night - 25th January" So one thing led to another and the 1st Nolans Burns night was agreed.
Nolan's pub is family run, very Irish and has a name for bringing in good music. My gig on Thursday 22nd was great, normally a quiet night, it was busy and the crowd were in the mood to sing - it was great and everyone was looking forward to Sunday and the Burns night celebration.
Traditionally a Burns night is a dinner commemorating the birth of our famous poet Robert Burns where the Haggis (Scottish national dish) is escorted in by a bagpiper and an evening of food, poetry and music begins. Well try catching a haggis in Florida, there are alligators, snakes, beautiful fish, birds... but haggis live in the highlands and possibly haven't made it this far. So I got the next best thing - a chocolate cake.
I have never given "address to a chocolate cake" ... but it did look the part - and had a delicious wee sonsie face too !!
It was a great night - piper Erik Matson who I had met on Thursday agreed to pipe in the "haggis", People were mesmerised by the poetry, John Nolan, Dorothy, Erik and local Scots lass Gillian (from Bannockburn) all read Burns poetry and the whole pub joined in the singing. A great night all rounded off by "Auld Land Syne
February has been light on gigs - I was let down by an Irish pub in Key West where two gigs "evaporated" ... hence the nice relaxing view from a hammock - March will more than make up for that as I have a heavy St Patricks schedule in Meehans and 4 gigs being set for Savannah Georgia right after that.
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My blogs are lagging even further behind - no excuse - just having too much fun - the year plan is done (see below) and the blogs will be updated soon |
