Andy's Gig Diary - Xmas Bash #2 - Winchester

Three things in life are certain, thats Death, Taxes and Bluehorses playing the final gig of the year at The Railway in Wincester. We always get a warm welcome from the staff.....It wouldnt be chrimlodle without the Bluehorses here.

Having crammed all the vehicles in to the car park, and a fare bit of shunting we managed to get round to unloading the gear. Setting up is all pretty routine and doesnt take long before the sound check can start.

After the sound check it was time to chill out. Jay, Ruth and myself went to find a takeaway....it was going to be a long night. Then we crammed up stairs to get changed.

It was great to have Joe and Paul from Mary Jane supporting us. A much respected and loved band not only within the Bluehorse camp, but with the Railway in crowd.



They played a great set and went down well. http://www.maryjane.biz

The gig was a sell out, and soon it was heaving. To get from the dressing room to the stage you have to walk through the crowd, so it was best to let Stan go first and follow in his wake. Id got about 10 foot, when i felt a hand shoot up my kilt and the voice of all round top blokey....Mark. He decided to see if i had gone commando...much to his joy....i hadnt, as my shreddies were yanked down in one smooth action, then shoved down the back of my shirt.....bless him.

With my tackle flapping in the breeze i made it to the front. Stan retreated to his post, the band got on stage and that was it.....they soon ripped into Cabbage Train.

The band have been playing in this area for years, its nearly their spiritual home. A large following of fans who we see year in and year out, at any of the gigs done in this area. So of course, they knew the words to the songs, and they danced and jumped the night away.

It was more or less the same set as Derby, and the crowd loved every second. The band were having a blast as well.


At the end of the main set the band did the prizes for fancy dress. The lovely Ange won, and also a prize went to regular BH fan in this area...Fruitbat.

Katie, Steph and Buffy also won prizes.

The encore continued, and the set was brought to an end with Twmballwm.


The band signed CDs and DVDS after the gig and chatted with old friends and new, but after a while we had to vacate the live room so it could be cleaned, so, who was left piled into the main bar. A late night was had with chatting.

Most of us stayed overnight in the pub. im glad we did, cos we were al shattered.

It was a great way to close what has been a hugely successful year for the band and a great time was had by all.

Set list - Xmas Bash #2 - Winchester

Set List - Xmas bash #2 - Winchester

• Cabbage Train
• Witch in Wedlock
• D'Ya
• Billy Boy
• Blackleg Miner
• Ostara/ Morrison's
• Barbara Allen
• Haslams Bits
• Skyclad
• Night Visit
• Sitting Pretty
• Gravel Walk
• Hoedown

__ Encores __

• Dark Circle
• Twmbarlwm

Pictures from the show are available in the photo gallery here

Andy's Gig Diary - Xmas Bash #1 - Derby

Another year gone, another Chrsitmas theme, and yet another dress to buy. However, this year i get away with a kilt. Nic, Jay, Mike and myself all had proper kilts on....black of course. Rob was going for the Mark Bolan/Justin Hawkins look. It has to be said that the backstage area before the gig looked rather suspect. Half dressed men fighting for space to put on skirts, Stan having make up put on and Lizzie supping her Diamond White in fluffy pink.

Mike and myself both had the same wigs and beards, however, Mike had a different idea on where to put his wig, either that, or he had a serious bikini line problem or a grizzly bears arse was hanging out of his pants.

I was actually unsure if my kilt was going to fit, id given my measurements to Nic over the phone who ordered them from a shop in Edinburgh...none of your tat. However, the room was cramped, so i went out into King street and stripped off in a shop doorway. Poor Sid the sound guy copped an eye full of me in nothing but my welsh flag shorts...he needed a strong drink bless him.

The venue itself was packed out as always, a a few had turned up in fancy dress. Rach and Paul were there at the front dressed in the spirit of tonights theme, as were a few other of our regular friends at the Flowerpot.

As always, Cabbage Train started the show, and the dancing and jumping rom the front started off straight away. Witch in Wedlock soon followed up much to the joy of the crowd who sang along.

Dya, Billy Boy, Ostara all had an airing, Haslams Bits kept the bouncy people at the front bouncing away. The mighty Skyclad followed...a great live track.

Night Visit, Sitting Pretty,Gravelwalk was followed by Bluehorses live classic Hoedown.
When the band returned it was time to go the prize for best fancy dress. Lizzy n Nic did the choosing and gave out the prizes.

Rach got first prize and got a copy of the DVD.


the night came to a close with Dark Circle and of course...Twmbarlwm .

The fans had a corking night. It was really hot and sweaty, and everyone really got into the spirit of it all.
After the band had left the stage they soon came out to say hello to the fans. Then it was backstage and time to pack up.

Some where staying overnight, but myself was heading home.
A huge thanks to the staff and fans for all their help and support in 2006.

Setlist - Xmas Bash #1 - Derby

Set List - Xmas bash #1 - Derby

• Cabbage Train
• Witch in Wedlock
• D'Ya
• Billy Boy
• Blackleg Miner
• Ostara/ Morrison's
• Barbara Allen
• Haslams Bits
• Skyclad
• Night Visit
• Sitting Pretty
• Gravel Walk
• Hoedown

__ Encores __

• Dark Circle
• Twmbarlwm

Pictures from the show are available in the photo gallery here

Mike's Gig diary - Xmas Bash #1 - Derby

Its raining, its dark, the traffic has tailed back in long queues and there are road works on the one way system. Welcome to Derby on a Friday night near Krimblydoddle. Luckily I had some time in hand, having cancelled my mythical afternoon meeting in Sheffield, and arrived at the car park, before anyone else.

Next up was the removals van with all the fancy dress costumes, prizes for this and the next gigs, along with the gear stacked in one small corner. We had emptied the van and set-up the gear on stage, and most things were wired for sound when bluehorse 2 made re-entry at the second attempt - there was a minor delay immediately prior to landing due to brain failure - could not remember the right road. Jay had just filed a land speed record from Cardiff to Derby, after picking Rob up from work.

Sound check done and dusted, and things calmed down. We were all discussing the various merits of the different costumes, what should go under a kilt, and trying to remember which sumptuous accommodation we were heading for afterwards - it was in the area, but the exact location was unknown at this point.

My usual assistants were not available to run the cameras this time as the teleport device was not available and they could not get time off for good behaviour during the afternoon to travel up. This meant we were working with 2 fixed and one operated, and also meant that I had to remember to set them recording just before the start, and also change tapes half way - did prove to be interesting.

Having done my rounds and set all the cameras, I settled down stage right just as the band came out to a rapturous shout. Straight into Cabbage train and we knew the evening had started.

Witches, D'Ya, Billy Boy, Ostara, Haslam's followed swiftly and we were soon at my next cue ..... Skyclad. This was my prompt to dive through the crowd to the first of the cameras and change the tape. The same process after Night Visit with the second camera, then the final one after Sitting Pretty.

Then the big ramp for the finale .. (fill in when I remember)Gravel Walk , leading into Hoedown, and all too soon it was end of the main part.

Back on for the encores, it was also time to dish out prizes for the fancy dress.. mainly kilt wearers this time around - Rach got the first prize - I think i was because she was the only one who admitted to being "commando"

The crowd insistently yelled out for more, so the band came back with Dark Circle and finished up with the usual Twmbarlwm. All too
soon the house lights were on and there were people to catch up with.

Soon after midnight we had everything piled back in the van and we were off to find a bed, a swift coffee and we were all claiming tiredness and looking to be pushing out the "Zzz"s - Rock n Roll lifestyle

....... to be continued at Winchester

Setlist - The Robin2 Bilsdon

• Cabbage Train
• Witch in Wedlock
• D'Ya
• Billy Boy
• Blackleg Miner
• Ostara/ Morrison's
• Barbara Allen
• Haslams Bits
• Skyclad
• Night Visit
• Sitting Pretty
• Gravel Walk
• Hoedown

__ Encores __

• Twmbarlwm

Pictures from the show are available in the photo gallery here

Mike's Gig diary - The Robin2 Bilsdon

The Robin2 .... I really like this venue plenty of space, good crowd, easy to find, etc. This time we have a support act - 6 day riot - for a change.
So.. It's Sunday afternoon and we are heading for Bilsdon ... simple journey, around the M25, up the M40, across on the M42, up the M5 and turn left. We arrive early and select a prime spot in the car park.. ideal for watching the raindrops bouncing off the windscreen. Before long Jay and Ruth turn up with Rob, Andy hot on their heels, and minutes later Bluehorse 1

The set-up goes well and this time there were no missing pieces to the jigsaw (see review for previous gig). The only fly this time around was not being able to find a fly lead to connect the mini disc and the sound desk (I have 10's of leads of various combinations just not the particular one needed this time - so a day with the soldering iron is called for).

Sound check in full swing - 6 day riot waiting their turn - everything going great. Luckily there is no Buts here - even the turkey dinner was very tasty. After the problems last time I kept looking over my shoulder for a problem to creep up

6 day riot completed their set and the next bustle commenced .. they were off to do a spot on the radio so needed to pack up quick and all the PA settings needed to be adjusted for the change in equipment.

I only had one assistant this time, so we also had to find a good slot for the drum cam, where we could get some good still footage, but also be able to change the tape at halftime! Eventually we settled on a ledge behind and above the drum podium looking down, if only we had the sound this would make a good video!

Before I had got back to my usual position, these days, - with the sound engineer - the band were already starting off into Cabbage Train

..... to be continued

Being a Sunday night everyone was on a mission to have the gear packed up quickly and get away, however by the time all the chatter had finished it was no different to normal

The drive back was uneventful and pleasant - the roads are so much better in the wee small hours of the morning (as long as you stay alert for the ones nodding off at the wheel). I got home well in time for several hours kip before the business of Monday kicked off.

Stan makes 50

This year Stan reached his half century. The last 12 of those he has been deeply involved around Bluehorses, doing the driving and the backline technician roles, however he is fondly viewed from the fans side as "the person who swaps Lizzie's instruments during the live shows.

On the 28th October his friends in Weston-Super-Mare arranged a party, and some of the Bluehorses entourage blagged their way in.

This is a general recollection from the event, giving an overview of the people, and finishes with a little of Stan at the mic!

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More dodgy video from the event - this time Liz and Stan singing Karaoke to "Stand and Deliver".

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and finally Jakey doing his party piece (for all those who remember Saul 2004)

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Happy 50th Stan!

Andy's Photo tribute to Stan

Andy created a tribute to Stan for his birthday.

He collected a number of photographs from the previous 5 years, and there was no need for words, as the memories came flooding back.

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