19th November 2008 Sandy's Open Mic

Sandy started off with a couple of nice gentle ballads - a Beatles song - 'I'm looking through you' followed by 'a fearless heart' before getting Stevie Osbourne, accompanied by Bob Leslie, to sing 'The Eastender Blues'.

Bob then sang a couple of his own compositions 'It'll last another day' followed by 'The tune that was broken won't mend'.

Sandy then asked young Brian up to the stage where he sang a Bob Dylan classic 'Maggies Farm'.

Next up was Elspeth Durkin accompanied by Bob Leslie, singing 'Autumn Leaves' and then 'After the Goldrush'.

Joe MacAtamany came next with 'A Powerful Song' and then 'Lily of the West'.

Sandy then asked Bob to join him on a Townes Van Zandt song 'Caroline'.

Stuart Workman, through from Alloa, then joined Bob and sang 'Cocaine, and then the Leonard Cohen song 'Manhattan', at which point we had a very enthusiastic dancer up on the floor!

Brian then got back up to sing 'By a newspaper stand' and then an old classic which had the audience joining in - 'Be my Baby tonight'. Stevie O and Bob then got back up when Stevie sang his song about beating addiction - 'Good to be alive'.

Sandy and Dennis then sang a Sam Cook song 'Another Saturday night', and then 'Bright, sunshine day'.

Duncan Adams then performed a Travelling Wilburys song 'End of the Line' with Sandy joining in the harmonies, followed by 'Where am I gonna Live...?'

George Campbell got up to sing a couple next 'Everybody's makin it big but me' and then 'Hey Nellie, Nellie' by Shell Silverman.

Brian and Sandy then sang 'Its a lesson to late for the learning along with about half the audience!

LP George then got up and did a Bob Dylan song 'Dear Lila' before Sandy got Jenny and Stuart up to sing 'Pharoh's army'.

Johnny T Miller had arrived a little earlier and he and Martin Gilmore got up and performed 'Put on your Red Dress, Mama' followed by 'Shame, shame, shame'.

Final singer of the evening was Ian Adie with accompaniement from Sandy and Martin - to sing the classic Eagles Song 'Take it Easy'.

A very enjoyable evening as usual.

Wednesday 5th November - Sandy's Open Mic

Sandy started as always, this time with 'Early in the morning'

and then he got Bob to join him on acoustic guitar and he sang a Townes van Zandt song 'Caroline'. He then got Aaron Hewitt up to the stage where he sang 'Sweet Carolina'

and then with some accompanyment and harmony from Bob and Sandy he sang 'Come pick me up'.

Sandy then performed a Kate Brusby song 'The Lark'. Bob Leslie then performed a lovely new song 'Her eyes' followed by another of his ballads 'It'll last another day'.

Next up was Bert - a fantastic blues player who gave us a Seasick Steve tune played with a bottleneck. It was mesmorising, and reminded me of the late Joe Durkin.

Joe MacAtamany was next up singing 'Up the Northern Water' followed by 'Lily of the West'.

Sandy then got back on stage to sing a request - the tim harding song 'If I were a Carpenter', before getting Bob Leslie and Elspeth Durkin up to perform. They sang the duet 'Love Hurts' followed by 'Dixie Chicken' - but a slow version this time! Sandy then did another request 'Pancho and Lefty' before getting Stevie Osbourne up to the stage with Bob to sing 'The Eastender Blues'.

Bob then played along with Johnny T Miller on 'Mojo Working' and then 'Hoochy Coochy Man' - which had everyone singing and dancing.

Stuart Workman and Bob then did a LEonard Cohen song 'Manhatten' and then Stuart did the Ballad of Billie the Kid'. Jenny then joined them on stage where they sang 'Eeire Canal' and then 'I'll remember you'.

Stevie Osbourne then got back up and sang his song 'Good to be alive' with Bob.

George O then got up and did a slow acoustic version of 'Pinball Wizard'for everyone.

followed by Duncan Adams then sang 'Where am I gonna live..?' which had a few people up dancing.

before Ian Adie then decided to sing the Eagles song 'Take it Easy' with help from Sandy on guitar, before Andy the Dandy Logan got up and played his unique version of the Steve Earle song 'Copperhead Road' with some accompanyment from the audience.

Final act of the night was Carl Bridgeman who performed a song 'Say It' on the acoustic guitar

and then his song 'The things I've seen' with his Bass.

An excellent evening, enjoyed by all.

3rd November 2008

Monday Night at the Clutha with Kate and George

I arrived in about halfway through the proceedings and Kate and George started to perform 'The Wait'. They then asked Elspeth Durkin up to perform with George and she sang 'Autumn Leaves'. She performed the next song accapella [unaccompanied] which was 'The Last Leviathan' about the end of the whales, and it was not until after she had left the stage she discovered that a tableful of tourists [ladies] were actually from Norway - a whaling nation!!oops!

Kate and George filled in with another song before getting Joe MacAtamany up to sing 'Lily of the West' followed by 'Broom of the Cowdenknowes'.

Kate and George once again took the stage and sang 'Valerie' with some participation by some of the audience. They then asked Elspeth up again , when she sang 'Fields of Gold' with George accompanying, and then two accapella songs 'Home is behind' from the film Lord of the Rings - Return of the King, and then a traditional ballad 'Our Wedding Day', all well recieved by the audience.

Kate and George then performed another couple of numbers 'The Cherry Tree' and then 'Love the one you're with' before getting Joe Macatamany back up again. He sang 'A powerful song' and then 'Haul away'. Kate and George then finished off the evening with 'Time after Time' and then 'Big Yellow Taxi'.

29th October 2008 Sandy’s Open Mic

Sandy started off the evening as usual with a couple of lovely ballads, ‘To live is to fly’ followed by ‘The Lark’.

First guest up of the evening was Bob Leslie who sang another couple of gentle songs ‘It’s all in the game’ which he had discovered that the tune had been written in 1914 by the vice president of the United States -- but the lyrics were added in the 1960’s. His second song was a new one of his own called ‘Her eyes’ a haunting little ballad.

Jer McDade was next up although he did say he was recovering from a hand injury [ which was why he had not attended the sessions for a while]. He did two of his relatively slow songs, ‘Mr Isbister’ and then a newer one ‘Moonbeams’.

Sandy then got back up to do a request ‘South Natural Blues’,

after which he asked Elspeth Durkin up to the stage, along with Bob Leslie on guitar.

She sang two of Bob’s favourites ‘Autumn Leaves’ and then ‘After the Goldrush’. Joe MacAtamany was next to the stage and he sang ‘Coorie Doon’ followed by ‘Fancy Free’.

Sean was next singing in an Oasis style, ‘Standing Strong’ and another which I did not get the title of.

Tony then got on stage to sing a Bob Dylan song ‘It ain’t me Babe’

Next up was Stevie Osbourne with Bob Leslie on guitar, to sing Eastender Blues.

Joe then sang ‘Sam Hall’.

Allan Stewart was there, and he got up on stage with his mandolin, and sang a Rory Gallagher song ‘Going to my Hometown’ and followed it up with a singalong version of The Who’s ‘Magic Bus’.

Dennis then got on stage and did ‘Another Saturday Night’ with some added vocals from Sandy. Graham then sat up to sing the Oasis tune ‘Wonderwall’ played by Sandy on guitar. Bob Leslie then got back up on stage to sing ‘How sweet it is to be loved by you’

and then was joined by Stevie O singing his song ‘Good to be Alive’.

Carl Bridgeman had arrived by this time and he sneaked in to join the on Bass guitar. Robert then got to the stage to sing ‘Killin’ the Blues’ joined by Carl.

Joe then got back up and sang ‘House of the Rising Sun’ joined in with by a large number of the audience!!!

Stuart Workman then took to the stage along with Bob Leslie and Carl Bridgeman and they performed ‘King of the Swingers’ to which a few people got up to dance! Andy Logan then played guitar for Izzy and Amanda who gave a beautiful harmonising duet.

George then gave an unusual version of ‘The Time Warp’.

Final performance of the evening came from Carl with two songs - his own ‘Fate and Circumstances’

followed by ‘Mustang Sally’ with good audience participation. A good evening all round.