Cara Dillon, Worthing Pavilion Theatre

Earlier in the year I had bought tickets to see Cara Dillon on her latest tour ... back in Worthing, but on the pier this time. As I had bought them early we were in the second row near the middle - so very good seats. Also luckily the people in front were not that large so it was easy to see around them

A calm start and an indication that this would be pared back.

There was lots of chat in-between songs to introduce and also explain the tunes - this time they were to poems written in "lock-down" 

I think this was the set list - I will check later in the year

• The Water is Wide
• Giving
• Carrageen Moss
• Black Is the Color (of My True Love's Hair)
• Apron Strings
• Coming Home
• Clear the Path
• The Well
• White Sheets
• Daughter
• Inishowen
• Mysteries
• The Hill of Thieves

Encore

• The Parting Glass

Steve Hackett, Portsmouth Guildhall

Sue and I went to a new venue to see Steve Hackett ... the guildhall in Portsmouth. The tickets also came with a parking voucher for the nearest multiparking, however we had to wait until 6pm to get in.

We tried to have dinner at Loomies, but the kitchen had closed just before we got there (an hour before the café closing time - need to remember for the future). We then went to the Caffeine & machine pub opposite - the food was limited but OK and expensive for what it was.

We arrived in Portsmouth still too early, but there was queues back up to the M27, so no panic. Then, to waste time, we went down to the seafront at Southsea, and back that allowed us to enter the parking.

Around to the guildhall square and wait for the doors to open.  After a while we went in and discovered a pop music museum which allowed us to waste the remaining time to door open.

Once we could get in we found our seats and did some serious people watching as the crowd moved in.

The show started at 8pm and was in two sections - first a Hackett solo hits section followed by a break. After the break into the Genesis Lamb lies down on Broadway revisit section, and finally an encore.

Apart from the seat being a little uncomfortable after several hours we had reasonable viewing of the stage. The lightshow was spectacular with lots of lights, and the sound was also good, with the exception of the bass pedals which reverberated a lot on the bottom notes.

Solo Set:

• People of the Smoke
• Circo Inferno
• These Passing Clouds
• The Devil's Cathedral
• Every Day
• A Tower Struck Down
• Bass Solo
• Camino Royale
• Shadow of the Hierophant

The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway (and surprises!):

• The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway (Genesis song)
• Fly on a Windshield (Genesis song)
• Broadway Melody of 1974 (Genesis song)
• Hairless Heart (Genesis song)
• Carpet Crawlers (Genesis song)
• The Chamber of 32 Doors (Genesis song)
• Lilywhite Lilith (Genesis song)
• The Lamia (Genesis song)
• it (Genesis song)
• Dancing With the Moonlit Knight (Genesis song)
• The Cinema Show (Genesis song)
• Aisle of Plenty (Genesis song

Encore:

• Firth of Fifth (Genesis song)
• Drum Solo
• Los Endos (Genesis song)

Katie & Lloyd's Wedding

Performing at Katie's wedding - they wanted me to  play the welcome music before the ceremony. I started when they asked me, and played for around 20 mins

•  Kilworth Hills
• Classic tunes
• Skye boat song
• Scotland the Brave.

then as they weren't ready I paused for another 20 mins then played around once again, but only got to one tune before the bridal party arrived.

Swedish Tattoo, Eksjö

The pipe band had been asked to send some players to the Swedish Tattoo in Eksjö (pronounced Ekra) as part of a massed band. We would be one of the bands in the event and as such make a number of performances in the arena as well as several publicity events in the surrounding villages.

Day 1 - 24th

Early morning practice

After breakfast we had band practice to allocate formation positions and finalise the choreography for the arena (without instruments) then dressing for the first road show appearance (polo shirts and kilts).

Nässjö publicity show

We were deposited by the coaches next to the main town square then ushered off for lunch in a hotel on the opposite side.

During lunch it had started to drizzle outside, so we hung around until start time before sauntering over to the busses and getting equipment out. At 2pm and in a muddle, we formed up with Reading at one end and Hampshire at the other with drums in-between. Everyone in a crescent shape on the edge of the square facing the centre.

The audience was gathered under the trees in the middle with a lot of umbrellas.

We played a number of sets based around the show performance, then added in a solo set from Reading and one from Hampshire with Amazing Grace in between as well as Highland Laddie, and Battle of the Somme for the dancers.

At the end we fell out onto the bus to dry out.

Day 2 - 25th

Morning band rehearsal

Into the town for 10am and our rehearsal of the band slot. We had a couple of runs through of each segment - we would come in from the entrance as two sections one after the other, then wheel around to face the main stand, with the two sections separating to line up side by side (position 1) playing the march on set (Rustic Bridge, Erin's Shore slow then fast, Rainbow County, Bluebells of Scotland, and Killiecrankie)
Stopping for the slow tune then marching around in two circles (one each side to come back to position 1). Immediately then the pipe ranks sliding out to form a V to each side (position2).
Being in position 2 for the end of the march on set. A pause and into Moonstar, and immediately into the dance set (Loch Lomond, I Love a Lassie, Stop your Tickling Jock).
At the start of the form up set (10th HLI Crossing the Rhine) we slid back to position 1 before cutting it short.
Finally counter march and wheeling to join together again leaving (out the entrance) using No Awa to bide awa. This was a mess as no one knew when to stop as we left, and would have to work on this.

Afternoon finale rehearsal

The finale had also a need to coordinate the bands arriving and dissipating (3pm). We would come in pipes down and line up beside one of the brass bands, then others beside us.
Next tune - 79th Farewell to Gibraltar played with the brass. then we tried a hymn that failed and the pipes were dropped from that section.
Then into the next part for singing/ trumpet salutes etc., up to the national anthem.
Then finally everyone left in turn (we were the last and played out to Black Bear and Scotland the Brave, going out the exit (this time) and down the road to the coaches.

Evening dress rehearsal

We got ready for the evening performance/ dress rehearsal/ invitation evening in the wedding venue behind the church (we were allocated a room upstairs sharing with a brass band). We were in day jackets, but most of the others were in No.1 uniforms and needed a lot of time to get ready. This was a lot of waiting aroudn for our turn - we went up to the entrance for 8:30pm.
Our set started around 9:10 and followed our plans - a little bit rough with ragged starts and stops. Afterwards we had to wait down the road for the finale. In at our alloted turn and through the program leaving to the exit as the last band. Finishing beside the wedding venue other side.

Day 3 - 26th

Morning city march

The first event of the day (11am) was a publicity march through the town. We lined up as one band in 5 ranks. Down the road to the main square playing Green Hills set. In the square (gates open to the public) wheeling into the centre then playing the main show from Moonstar.
We left the arena playing Scotland the Brave and Rowan Tree, continuing down the main street (one minor issue as it narrowed and we had to drop to 2 ranks then back to 5 causing a huge traffic jam then spaces). The final counter march was a nightmare but we managed through it.

Evening Performance

First main performance was similar to the dress rehearsal, however it was damp and so the feather bonnets were swapped for glengarries. Otherwise our set exit was slightly better but not polished yet. The Hampshire band played an additional set in the hotel behind the main stand.

Day 4 - 27th

Sävsjö publicity march

Another march to advertise the show, in a nearby town. We were dropped just outside the main square and formed up in our main performance groups. Then up the cobbled street to the main square (playing Green Hills set).
In the square we repeated our performance as of the previous publicity show, only this time the dancers had some "canned" music (Highland Laddie, and Battle of the Somme). We left to Scotland the Brave and Rowan Tree.

Matinee Performance

Second main performance was similar but more polished than the first - it was also very warm especially for those in full dress. Otherwise our set exit was slightly better but still some ragged bits. The other bands were definitely more polished and also more disciplined than us - always in ranks and also checking each other's dress before entering.

Evening Performance

Final performance and probably the best one, all to plan even the exit was sorted out. After the finale we continued down the main street to a bar and played outside it for some more tunes. The Drum majors went for a farewell event, Hampshire band went off for a wedding party whilst we played. We played Green Hills set, Battle of the Somme(for the dancers), Highland Laddie (for the dancers), Amazing grace, Old Lang Syne, Highland Cathedral. and some Redding set. then off for the coaches back to the barracks.

Performance for Arthur, Coppice Lea Care Home

One of the pipe bands founding fathers is now in a care home in Merstham - Coppice Lea Care Home www.ariacare.co.uk). We arranged to play a small concert for him and the other residents. 

Luckily it was not as hot as previous days, and also it waited to rain until after we had finished.

Karl, Jim, Iain, David and I turned up for 10am to tune up - as usual all the reeds were different and Jim had to tinker. Everything was coming together as we played.

• My land
• Highland Cathedral
• Scotland the Brave
• Amazing Grace
• I see Mull
• Skye Boat Song

Then into the home for tea and biscuits. Arthur seemed happy for the performance.

Swedish Tattoo, 6th (final) Practice

 The last practice session in the UK ... I wont miss driving around to Henlow.

All the time walking through and then playing through the arena show. Still a challenge to play and march for some tunes, but I can hide in the general noise.

Swedish Tattoo, 5th Practice

More changes to the arena routing ...  but all on the pipes now ( I keep the stoppers in just in case). It is noticeable that with no pipe major for our small group, and as the only piper tuning is not really managed.