Saturday 6th December 2008

Last Saturday saw a momentous event - the live debut of Bev’s new hair colour! It played a blinder, went down a storm and fully merited an encore from a rapturous audience.

But seriously - we made our first return to the wunderful Wunderbar in Midsomer Norton, and Bev had to contend not only with a revamped barnet but a two-day migraine and a recalcitrant PA system - but she backed the migraine into a corner with a barstool, and got her knee on the PA’s throat, subjugating it by main force, before heading home for her customary post-gig hot chocolate bath. An enthusiastic and packed crowd responded warmly, Tim and Colin were in great form, I banged away as per usual and on the whole we acquitted ourselves pretty well.

And great news about not just one but two new gigs at the Cheese and Grain in Frome - supporting west coast psychedelicists Quicksilver Messenger Service in March and the legendary Strawbs in May. Particularly excited about the latter, as I remember buying their superb single ‘Lay Down’ in Woolworths in Swansea in 1972 (the same time I bought ‘In a Broken Dream’ by Python Lee Jackson, as it happens) - and they’ve worked with people like Rick Wakeman, who was of course later in Yes, and Robert Kirby, who did the string arrangements for the sainted Nick Drake and also Paul Weller. Wow!

I think I’m going to have to have a lie down now...

Later - Quicksilver Messenger Service gig cancelled. They wanted more money, apparently, and of course there isn’t any left in the UK at present.

Russ