It was midnight when we hauled our gear up the hill to the End up, and found a place by the Piano... It started off a little slow with Rudy on Mandolin and me switching between Accordian and Mandolin.... within 15 minutes we had that bar Rocking, no Mikes no Lights just me and Rudy and a Guy whose name I don't even remember turned up to play the piano..... We played mostly old timey songs Leadbelly, Bill Monroe, Jo and Danny joined in on a rew old irish songs and at 1-30 i though man I'm stage in the morning we better knock it on the head. The Next Day I rocked up to the Green man Stage with guitar mandolin and Nokia N95 phone. (I D-i the Nokia N95 to play backing Tracks) Rudy rocks up with Five minutes to spare and a Mandolin... OK I say first track is Anarchy in the UK Medieval Waltz time... just watch my hand for the chords and you will be Ok..,. Fortunately Rudy is A great Guitar and Mandolin Player... so instead of Music he read my left hand through a Set that included all my new Material and the obligatory acoustic version of Sound of the Suburbs... Now whats Great about this show is that people are really digging the new material and altho Acoustic Suburbs gets a Great Response the Real hit of the day is my Prog Folkly piece Caveman TV... I've blogged before about this tune but here is a link to the 7 minute version.... TURN UP the VOLUME on your puter and Groove to this. The other song people relly Dug was ENGLISH GIRLS. So the Set went really well and I had a new collaborator turning up to play that night at the End up. Elliet has been playing violin with me on and off for a few years now and its a real pleasure to play with her as she has an amazing memory and remembers songs that I taught her 15 years ago so after another two storming session at the End up it was time to go home.... I went home via Somerset and played a session the next night at a Great Pub called the Rifleman in Glastonbury.. This is Eliets neck of the woods and although I cant remember everybodies names I would like to that, The other Girl on the Violin the Mandolinist the Guitarist and all the other people that made that such a memorable session. FESTVAL NO3 The FLAT LAKE MONAGHAN- THE CRAIC in The Drumlins The Next weekend it was off to Monaghan, Ireland for Kevin Allen' s and Pat McCabe's Excellent Flat Lake Festival... Flat Lake is once again a completely different kettle of fish, its an arts and literary festival. I Know Kevin from Ladbroke grove and the Warwick Castle when Notting hill used to be a rough tough artistic community, Last years event was the first ever and was a little disorganised this year however they were firing on all cylinders, with wonderfull volunteers and professionals all combining to organise a great event. And what a Great Show it was... Poets Authors Musicians Actors Comedian Charlatans Filmakers Liggers and Bon Viveurs all Collected in the Land round the wonderfull Hilton House to share their talents and drink the Guinness and Eat the Roast Pig and slip off for a pint in the scotshouse....As with The Rebellion Festival I was accompanied by my new Wife Sheila and we flew to Belfast , hired a car and Cruised down on the Friday... After a few Beers in the Village Pub on Friday we headed back to the artists camping area.. where Inigo Batterham grabbed my hand and lead me to a campfire, a session was in session so... It was off to the car boot to grab mandolin and guitar.... the fire was hot the rioja was cold and two young american musicians were rocking... I spent the next hour keeping everybody awake jamming with The Fog Horn Duo an excellent Bluegrass duo booked for ther Next Day. The Next day arrived misty and drizzly with Sumptuous breakfast butties and a nice cup of coffee in Monaghan... I was a little bit worried about my set... well not about the set per se more where I was o