As The Poozies return to the UK stages this month – their first tour since founder member Sally Barker’s success on BBC1’s The Voice UK – Folk Radio UK invite the foursome as guest bloggers. They are: Eilidh Shaw, Mary McMaster, Mairearad Green and Sally Barker.
We are having a great time so far on our November tour – three lovely gigs, in Kendal Brewery, Stirling Tolbooth and Peebles Eastgate. It’s been a few years since we were last in Kendal and we had a great crowd there, who brought us some fantastic presents (mostly chocolate, which we’re not really allowed to eat, and unfortunately no gin, which we are really supposed to have a little of each night….). Somebody brought along Sally’s very first recording – on cassette format! – which he now has that autographed, 28 years later!
Stirling – Dancing Dress Room
It was a fantastic night in the Tolbooth too with another great crowd, which included Eilidh’s mum and dad. There was dancing in the dressing room and we had a very entertaining wine party in the car on the drive back to Edinburgh, with songs from Bugsy Malone being quite a prominent feature. Our sound man Joe taught us a new car game called ‘G’day Bruce’, which shouldn’t be played if you need a pee… less said about that!
Mary’s First Quiff
For this tour, we have a shiny new merch banner, which is beautiful, however our Mrs Merch (Mairearad) is a little too short to put it up – and so requires the help of a strapping young man. Volunteers, come forth! You’ll find her in the foyer a little before gig time – this is also a good time for presents, like gin.
Peebles – Mrs Merch
From Edinburgh, Sally went off yesterday (Sunday) morning to sing some songs at the switching on of Leicester’s Christmas lights, whilst the rest of us pottered down the road and stopped for a delicious meal at a pub near Sandbach called The Legs of Man. We highly recommend it, and hope to stop there again, many times, in the future!
Sunday (Day off) – Mary
And so, we’re on to Sally’s home gig at The Musician in Leicester and then Birmingham’s mac, before more gigs in England later this week. All audiences have been outstanding in their participation of droning (intentional, and indeed tuneful!), joining in choruses and enthusiastically (enpooziastically!!) doing actions for Ship of Love. We will try and get a photo of that for the next blog, because it looks so beautiful from stage.
That’s all for now, back soon, The Poozies.
Joe and Eilidh
November Tour Dates
18 – Birmingham, mac
20 – Bridport, Arts Centre
21 – Havant, The Spring
22 – Newbury, Arlington Arts Centre
23 – Gateshead, Sage Gateshead