Davie Ritchie Benefit Gig

Saturday the 23rd January saw a magical coming together of musicians and bands, and audience in the basement of Blackfriars Bar in Glasgow, to honour and raise some funds for their friend and co-musician, Davie Ritchie, who has suffered from Cancer, and has undergone some very 'heavy' medical treatment over the past year or so.

First up was Waldo - street musician, with an accompaniement on bass, which got the evening started. Next up was 'new' band "The Scimitars" who got the audience into a great mood with some excellent tunes and songs.

Next was a bit of a change - but nothing unexpected in the Glasgow music scene - Gus and Fin gave a good range of rock/blues songs accompanied on their ukelele's!!! Yes Ukelele's! They were excellent especially their rendition of a Gary Numan classic 'Aren't friends electric'!!

The Frank O'Hagan Band then took the stage area and performed some excellent music - getting several people in the mood for dancing, and singing along.

Sandy Watson, who has to be thanked for being the main organiser of the whole occasion, with help from several other people whom he did thank [- but I did not have enough paper to write down any names!!], then announced the winners of the raffle prizes - all of which were enthusiastically collected. They then auctioned off a football, signed by the present Celtic team - which raised £115, and was then re-donated to be auctioned again, raising a further £105!! A slide guitar and case was donated by one of the barstaff, and it raised £115 as well.

After the auction, Donna Ritchie to thank everyone on behalf of Davie [who had managed to attend the gig], before the Vagabonds took to the stage and rocked the evening into the morning, with classic Who, Rolling Stones, and Beatles covers

Many of the musicians from the Clutha Vaults Open Mics attended the gig, including, Bob Leslie, Elspeth Durkin, Suart & Jenny Workman, Jer McDade, Waldo, and Johnny T Miller were spotted in the crowd.

The audience started to disapate a little after the Vagabonds had finished their set. They were followed by the Bottleneckers, with their usual flair, but I am afraid that this was the point when I had to leave with my group of friends.

It was an excellent evening, with a great mix of cover bands, giving a very entertaining evening and raising money for a very worth person - Davie Ritchie.

Davie Ritchie Benefit Gig

Blackfriars Basement [36 Bell Street, Glasgow]
On Saturday 23rd January 2010
from 9.00p.m. until 3.00 a.m.
Admission £6.00 on the door.
[first band 10.00p.m.]

Some of Glasgow's most popular cover bands will be combining for a fabulous evening of live music entertainment, paying tribute to and helping a guru and genuine Glasgow and West of Scotland Rythm and Blues legend, Davie Ritchie - lead singer of the Cobramatics.

Bands: The Vagabonds
Frank O'Hagan
The Bottleneckers
with The Kingpins, The Spooks, The Mohawks, The Mighty Saturns
and of course
The Cobramatics
with special guest stars and DJ's

So come along and support the bands raising funds for this worthy cause and have a great night out - full of live music!!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to one and all!

Hope I get to more open Mics in 2010 than I did in 2009!!

Missed a lot!

Sorry there have been no reviews since April the 1st - just coincidence honest!! - My times have changed at work and I have usually been too 'knackered' by the time I got home to get ready and get out again [ in fact I have often fallen asleep after having my meal!!] Hope to be back soon though as my times are changing again soon!!

I have heard though that the Clutha Vaults have been doing pretty well on Wednesdays, [despite not having MY presence!]!

8th April 2009 - Clutha Vaults

Sorry I was unable to attend this Open Mic so no review.

Wednesday 1st April 2009

- Sandy’s Open Mic at the Clutha Vaults

Sandy's new hairdo

- for April Fools Day!!
Sandy started the evening with a chorus of Happy Birthday to Elspeth who was celebrating yet another year on the planet.

He followed this with a few nice gentle ballads, ‘I will promise you anything’, ‘Mr Mud and Mr Gold’ and ‘Flying shoes’ before handing over to Elspeth, who was accompanied by Bob Leslie - on acoustic guitar, and Johnny T Miller - on Bass. They did a cover of the Eagles favourite ‘Lyin’ eyes’ followed by ‘Will you still love me tomorrow’.

Bob and Johnny stayed on stage and played one of Bob’s songs ‘It wasn’t down in Texas’ and then Bob sang another of his originals ‘Cordelia Jane’ by himself.

Next to the stage was Joe Kidd, also with Bob and Johnny, singing his own songs ‘Grass don’t pay no heed’ and then ‘Good Day’.

Ally and Maria had then arrived and got up to sing ‘You’ve got a friend’ followed by a Jazz version of ‘No regrets’, after which they left the bar.

Sandy then decided to follow them with an excellent rendition of the Walker Brothers version of ‘No Regrets’ with some help from the audience on the chorus.
Next up was Brendan who gave us his version of ‘Moon River’ which had quite a few people joining in.

Brian McGinty then got up to the sing ‘Love makes me feel blue’ and Bob & JT joined in along with Elspeth on the tambourine. It was very popular so he sang another somg in a similar vein ‘Nothin you can do’.

Johnny T stayed onstage to sing ‘Help me’ by Sunnyboy Williamson.

Stuart and Jenni through from Edinburgh then got up and sang ‘Sweet Home Alabahma’ followed by ‘I remember you’ and then ‘The Eirie Canal’.

Final singer of the evening was Ian Adie who had just arrived after being at the big football match at Hamden, [Scotland 2 - Iceland 1 I believe]. Sandy(acoustic), Bob(acoustic), JT(Bass) and Elspeth(tambourine) all joined in with Ian on ‘Go Bonnie Scotland, Go’.

The evening finished with a jam session at the birthday girls table!!

Patch, Elspeth's dog who has now been banned from the bar as the new owner does not like dogs!!!

- and all Patch ever did was sleep under the table and through most of the music !

Wednesday 25th March 2009

Sandy’s Open Mic at the Clutha Vaults, Glasgow

After another lovely spring, blue-sky day, musicians headed for the Clutha Vaults for Sandy's Open Mic.

Sandy started with ‘Must be loved’ followed by ‘Dancing for the Beast’.

First up was Jim with ‘I shall be release’ and then the Leonard Cohen song ‘Manhattan’.

Elspeth Durkin was next up singing ‘Autumn Leaves’ and then ‘After the Goldrush’.

Sandy then sang ‘I’m looking through you’ He then mentioned that he has a new band called Lucky Jim and sang one of the new songs he wrote with them called ‘Ode to blue’. Bob Leslie then sang ‘It’ll last another day’ followed by ‘Her eyes’.

New face Heather then asked Bob if he could play along with ‘Both sides the Tweed’ and then she played and sang ‘Caledonia’.

Duncan then played ‘Hum Drum Days ‘ followed by his own song about St. Andrew’s day - after an inordinate amount of tuning his own guitar!.

Sandy then asked Big Ronnie Simpson to come up and sing ‘The Green fields of France’.

Kate McGee was in the audience and she got up to sing ‘Valerie’ followed by ‘Ain’t no sunshine’. Kate is hosting a new Monday evening Open Mic in the Clutha as from the 30th March.

Sandy then asked Catriona up to sing ‘Can’t explain’ and then she tried ‘Louis louis’.

The incomparable Willie ‘Jukebox’ Mathews was then asked up to the stage - He performed ‘The lady is a tramp’ followed by ‘Flip, flop & fly’ and then ‘How blue can you get’.

George then got up and sang ‘Back to black’ and then ‘Wheels on fire’. Final act of the evening was Bob, Willie and Kate performing ‘Love the one you’re with’.

A very short jam session followed before everyone was being asked to leave the pub at midnight.