What a gig! OMG! I arrived at this crazy wee pub to find about 60 people out on the `randan`. I had forgotten it was a bank holiday weekend. The wall of heat took my breath away immediately, and the noise level had to be heard to be believed.

The very polite young men on the pool table finished up and put the table away soon after we arrived (Thanks guys), and then we got on with setting up. The adrenaline was pumping as I was getting my laptop ready, and I had the shakes a bit. Usually I feel really laid back when I come to the Goth - it's like going round yer auntie's.

There was no quiet warm up for me in the first set - I got right into it, as I think the crowd were warmed up well before I arrived! These gigs are a good test of my stamina - and my hair straighteners.... I looked like Krusty the Clown by the end of the night. Must remember to put hairspray on next time.

I know the very song that gets this crowd going nuts - "Don't Stop Believing" by Journey. I don't often do a song twice in a night, but I thought it'd be a good finishing number.

No boos this time lol..... (For anyone who didn't see one of my previous reviews, the punters booed me for finishing one time)

for anyone reading this review on the noticeboard -

Hogmanay - Kinglassie Miners, Kinglassie - with "Just Grant"

When I asked Grant why he was "Just Grant", he told me that when the agent had asked him what he wanted to be called on his posters he said "Just Grant".  So there you go.  A name was born. A very experienced musician, Grant was actually part of Noel Edmonds' 'Crinkly Bottom' orchestra, worked on BBC's Pebble Mill and has worked in quite a number of projects with many many famous and equally talented musicians over the years. I was pleased to make a new friend on Hogmanay.  So Hi to you Grant, and remember me if you run into someone who needs a singer or backing vocalist!!!

I was delighted to return to the Kinglassie Miners' Club after so long.  One of the crowd told me I was pregnant the last time she saw me in there - that's over 5 years ago! Having said that, it felt like I was welcome from the start, and I was even offered a cup of tea - something that I am rarely offered in pubs these days.  So thanks to Willie, who deciphered my request for '2 and a coo' in my coffee.

Auld Year's Night can be a strange one.  The crowd are generally pacing themselves - unusual for a gig night.  And pacing themselves can sometimes mean not losing any inhibitions, and being a wee bit on the shy side.  Subsequently there's not much dancing or banter to be had. 

This was not the case though.  We started relatively late - 10pm, and the crowd were friendly and wanted to have a good time. Apart from one guy who gave a bit of lip to Grant (he left before he was "oxtered aff" the premises), the crowd were up for it.  They had all brought their own buffet too, so were obviously in it for the long haul.  All that energy paid off, and they were up dancing for most of the night.

Poor Grant was suffering from a bad cold on the night, and struggled a wee bit towards the end of the night.  I was right there willing to take over if he wanted to, but being the consummate pro, he carried on.  I'd like to compliment Grant on his commitment to the job, and especially on his guitarplaying - excellent stuff!  I'd be delighted to appear with him again any time. 

To any of you who may have missed my annual Christmas message, you can view it here

Sunday 31st August - Retrofest, Lanarkshire - performing with Eddie Houston

I was lucky enough to work alongside the great Eddie Houston at Retrofest this year.  Jimmy Gillespie and I were to perform a cover of the Oasis song "Sunday Morning Call"

Eddie had recently been contacted regarding contributing his skills to a new recording in aid of the charity “ The Heartstrong Foundation”. Eddie produced and played on the CD, which gives a very haunting sound encompassing the sudden death of Craig Lunt. The charity was founded after Craig (18) died of an undiagnosed heart condition. and amazingly in identical circumstances as Phil O'Donnell, Motherwell and Celtic star.  He needed a backing vocalist for the day, so a friend of his, John Corson, put me forward.  For this I am soooooo grateful.  Thanks John.

What a rush!  Singing on a big stage is not something I am used to - usually I am stuck in the corner of a pub, so I relished the opportunity to feel like a "real star" for the day.  It was only one song, so I had the chance to listen to the rest of the set, and have a wander around Retrofest for the day. I saw Midge Ure, Boney M and a host of other stars on the big stage.  I forgot my wellies though, so had to buy a pair there for a small fortune.

All in all, I had a great time, and hope to work with Eddie and Jimmy again in the future.  Cheers guys.

Saturday 30th August - Greig Institute, Windygates

This was a great gig. I was charged with leading the proceedings for a general get together of punks and their friends. Three bands played on the night - 13 tombs, Crimedesk and the ever excellent Patrol (my brother in law is in the band, so I'd better keep in with him).

The night went well, although I think the crowd were a bit disappointed in me for only doing a couple of very short sets.  I'd have done more, guys, but I was performing at Retrofest on the Sunday, and didn't want to let the band down by croaking my way through the song. 

I'll not go into the gig in any more detail - suffice to say if you were there you had a great time.  If you weren't, then maybe you should go to a few Patrol gigs and then you might get invited to the next one.....

Why oh why oh why do some singers look like they're a-squeezin out a particularly big poo?  The gripping of the air, the bending double, the pained expression.  All things I have done on the bog (disgusting but true).  Good vocal ability comes from good breathing, and for anyone who has ever breathed it is easier to do when you are in an upright position, and your chest and ribcage can move freely.  So answer me this, oh sage ones - why do a lot of singers (female ones!) wear outfits that squeeze their bazookas til they look about to pop?  Yes, it may look good, girl.  Yes, the guys will be ogling your boobs.  Many men tell me they never tire of boobage.  But unless they have a set of earplugs some are unlikely to stay to listen if you sound like a cow in calf. 

I reckon all those wannabe programs have given a lot of singers the wrong idea.  I can hear them now "I have a no bad face, and I'm sure I could squish these babies here until they are poppin oot.  Maybe if I wail and dance aboot a bit I can be a singer".

Yes, I may be jaded.  Yes, I may indeed be jealous of their youth and lack of fat wobbly bits.  I do indeed hanker for the days whe I didn't have to keep my arms by my side when I lie down for fear of slippage in the boob department.  I have a fat butt.  I have a big belly.  (Sounding sexy, eh?).  But I also have a good voice without resorting to trussing myself up like a good un. 

For those of you who are thinking about sending me some abuse by way of a comment, I can only say I have heard it all.  I am wot I am, as the song goes, and I ain't gonna change.  May I suggest if you have a problem you don't look, or give it a moment's more thought.  Maybe we could all do with a reality check?  Who actually looks like the girls in girls aloud? We read all these magazines, and wind ourselves up til we dare not venture out into the world without a mumu and a mask, just incase someone may see we are a bit fat.  Who cares?  Have a biscuit and shut up about it.....

Saturday 9th August - Silver Sands Leisure Park, Lossiemouth

One thing I have learned from doing this job is that you have to expect the unexpected.  Whether you are greeted by a room full of hens on a night out, or only two people sitting in the corner, you have to do the job. It's also important not to be too much of a diva, but I must confess to having a wee hissy fit this Saturday at Lossiemouth.

My contract said 8 til 11.30, so we took it easy and left ourselves enough time for a couple of pee stops and a trip to Tesco to pick up supplies for the night (we stay over at Lossiemouth).  We arrived at 5.30 to be asked if we were sure we were staying (aargh) and to be told that I was, in fact, on from 7 til 9.30 in the family room.

Now don't get me wrong.  I love kids.  I have one.  But I was unprepared - we had left our lighting rig at home, as the main stage had an excellent lighting rig.  With the price of diesel these days it seemed only sensible to carry just what we needed and no more.  I would have also brought a selection of kiddies' music with me to play for the families that would be there expecting kids' entertainment.  As it was, I had about half a dozen songs that they might or might not dance to. 

So there we are, with an hour and a half til show time, no accommodation, and I had forgotten my hair straighteners and Al's dress shirt.  I was frantically checking the clock every few minutes as we set up our equipment (the aforementioned Tesco food warming up nicely in the car), and there was no accommodation for me to get changed in!  Kenny, the bar manager, kindly suggested I use his office to get changed, but the caravan became available at about 6.30pm.  By this time I was really very hungry and more than a bit peed off. I have my routine, you see.

However - after all that, the night went well (despite the mums and dads asking me when the kids' entertainment would be starting), and I got the families on side.  The kids were dancing and playing their toy trumpets, spinning in circles (as kids do) and having fun.  The adults were enjoying the mix of music and the fact that the kids were having fun.  I had to stop briefly to allow the cabaret show band "Angel Star" to do a sound check, then it was right back into it.  As more and more people began to arrive early to hear the show band at 10, they caught the end of my act, and I must admit to having a bit of a laugh with the families about the others missing all the fun.

I finished at 9.30, and got my tea (at last), a quick wash and went out to have a drink and to hear the band. 

All in all, I reckon the family room is quite good fun, and getting finished at 9.30pm means you can relax and enjoy the rest of the evening.

So - the moral of my tale is this - as I said, expect the unexpected - always arrive well early, and make sure you have all the facts about what is going on before you get settled into your caravan.  Running about like a headless chicken doesn't do anybody any good. 

Oh and take towels, washing up liquid and remember your straighteners! lol

Hi to everyone at the West End Bar, and most of all my good friend Lou.  She runs a tight ship, does our Lou.  You can always be sure of a good reception (I always get a hug), and she has filtered water behind the bar - saves me buying bottled water or drinking tap water.

I am still taking it relatively easy - only 1 gig this weekend - and coming to the West End is like going to "yer auntie's hoose" as they say. 

The pub was quiet, but Lochgelly is such a small place, that when there is a wedding in the village everyone is invited. So a quiet pub is not a reflection on the acts in Lochgelly - don't worry if you are playing here to a smaller crowd than usual.  Just ask what's on elsewhere.  The people who were there were very appreciative, and I even took a request for a ballad at the beginning of the night. I usually keep my ballads for the end of the night, when my voice is at it's best, but you gotta keep the punters happy!

I have been adding in quite a few Alison Moyet tunes lately.  I was thinking of doing a tribute act, but the songs are not going down as well as I would like, so if anyone out there has any ideas for me, please feel free to leave me a message.