The gig on the Reaper was just great and also gave us the opportunity to get some nice promo shots. The setting was just stunning with such a beautiful evening, playing on a fine historic ship with the backdrop of an amazing sunset over Oban Bay.

The previous evening Pigtown Fling joined forces with the Ceilidh Bandidos to play at a private function. This was a ceilidh for marine biologists from all over Europe. From the very beginning, while playing unplugged, the audience thoroughly enjoyed the music and when it was time for dancing they were all on the dancefloor for the rest of the evening.

With the members of Pigtown Fling involved in other projects, this promises to be a fruitful time for the band and its members.

Next up for the band is a return to Kames to Play at the Kames Hotel, the scene of many good times last year. The staff and locals are always friendly and it can get quite wild at times, but that all adds to an entertaining time. We may see the return of the “breakdancing” displays, which made for an alternative way of expressing yourself to traditional music, but each to their own.

We will be playing on the Saturday night and we will also be inviting other local players to join us on the Sunday afternoon for a traditional session. Hopefully the weather will be good enough to play outside, but whatever the weather, I’m sure our trips to Kames will be as entertaining as ever.

The following Satuday Pigtown Fling will play at the Puffer Bar on the little island of Easdale to celebrate the first birthday of the new ownership of the bar. I’ve had many fine times on Easdale and in the Puffer and it’s always good to be back, and even better to be there playing with the band.

June comes to a close with myself and Stephen travelling to Dent Folk Festival in Cumbria to play on the Friday night and over the whole weekend. Unfortunately Chris is not able to join us for this one. We will be playing fast and furious tunes on the Friday night in the beer tent, just before one of our old friends, Jon Brindley, takes to the stage. Jon was with us on our first trip to Slovenia and by sheer coincidence is on the same bill as us.

On the Saturday we will be inviting players to join us for a traditional session, where we will be joined by Colin Blakey and others. There may also be some pipes and drums over the weekend, so it promises to be an eventful time.

The following months have a lot in store for the band, particularly in August, when Pigtown Fling visit Brittany for a mini tour. Along with this are more trips to Kames and no doubt more opportunities will present themselves. We are also hoping to start recording our first album this year, and with the other projects we are all involved in, it promises to be an exciting time for Pigtown Fling.

We got there around 6 so we had enough time to familiarise ourselves with the surroundings and take our time sizing up what we’d need for PA etc.

Before the gig we sat and had a light refreshment in the beer garden and had a bit to eat. Then we set up the gear and got ready to go.

The Gig

I noticed we should be in for a good night when I saw a small crowd coming in to listen to us.

We tested the water by starting the gig with some good ol Scottish tunes and it went down very well. And it just got better from there. The crowd were great and were appreciative and up for whatever we chose to play.

It had been a day filled with glorious sunshine so a lot of the younger crowd had apparently been at various barbecues, so that meant an older crowd at the start, then all the young ones piled in.

Instantly we were treated to some fine improvised dancing, including a couple of breakdancers. Definitely a first! They were all right up for it and they seemed to really enjoy themselves.

Once the gig had finished we packed all the gear away and we declined the request to join some of the locals and play at a party, so we played a small unplugged set at the bar, knowing our beds were only moments away should we need them.

The Midgies!

When the bar closed Chris went to her bed, leaving me and Stephen to go down to the slipway with a bottle of whisky, a mandolin and a mandola for some alfresco tunes.

As hard as we tried the midgies got the better of us. We tried to ignore them. We even tried in our most desperate time using some of the whisky as lotion to calm the bites down! We did manage a few tunes and a few drams, but we had to concede and head back to the hotel. I thought by 2am the midgies would be in their beds but no way!

The Session

Next morning Chris met some of her family and went sailing while me and Stephen nursed our heads and midge related injuries, went for a walk and headed back to the hotel to exchange some tunes, all before a HUGE lunch.

We then decided to get the session going by playing outside in the beer garden, where we were to be joined by some local fiddlers. Eventually the rain started and we moved inside and continued the session by playing some fine Scottish tunes.

As our first official gig as a trio I think it was a great success. The staff and owners of the Kames Hotel were very friendly, welcoming, generous and appreciative, and we are all looking forward to visiting them again on Saturday, 2nd of August.