Mrs H and I went to Holland last week in the jalopy. A lovely time was had by both of us, despite the bracing wind lancing in off the Zuiderzee where we were camped. Something very pleasing about bimbling about on bikes where cars have to stop for you at junctions and people smile as you hurtle past. We also went to a small festival, an indoor one I hasten to add. We’re hardy but not insane! This was held in a venue in Alkmaar and again a really lovely place to be. There were two rooms both with state-of-the-art sound and lighting and a bill for all tastes as long as you like Americana. The beer was strong and inexpensive and the food was a BBQ choice – meat, fish, or vegetarian. Even the food tickets gave you a time to collect so there weren’t huge queues. It was extraordinary and perhaps indicative that as the predominant demographic into Americana music creeps its way towards a King’s letter, promoters in the EU are starting to cater to the older audience without patronising or demeaning. The toilets were great, the staff really helpful and everywhere was easily accessible. I’ve not seen much of this sort of thinking at UK gigs, certainly not at the smaller ones (my mind goes back to the crush at the Portland Arms) but it needs to happen more if live music is to survive as its core audience ages.
My live review of Brown Horse should appear any moment so I won’t review the gig other than to say it was sublime. On the journey, we listened to loads of stuff but uppermost in my memory is some new Anna Howie (produced by My Girl The River’s Kris Wilkinson Hughes) and following Ramblin’ Roots some Annie Keating and the song which had the whole crowd screaming obscenities. The radio show was a celebration of the various acts I’ve seen recently as well as a visit to Grant Lee Buffalo‘s debut. As ever….
