The Story So Far! Sing For Your Supper Tour
Hello and welcome!! here we are then.. yummy stuff here in ireland. Can't wait to put it all together into a film for you all. This is a while ago but will update asap.
Cheers everyone and thanks so much for your support!!
You can see updates on my facebook page and youtube. It's easier from my iPhone to do those.
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http://www.facebook.com/pages/Claire-Nicolson-Music/195039886964?ref=ts
www.youtube.com/clairenicolson
Check out this press article that the Irish Times did on me. How very nice! Everyone here has been amazing actually.
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/features/2010/0428/1224269211850.html?sms_ss=facebook
So, here you go.
For some photos go to this link
http://gallery.me.com/clairenix#100213
Picked up Donald, guitarist, and Sylke, Film maker, in Reading on 20th April 2010.
Drove to Bristol where we stayed with the lovely Dan and Hannah and we met their gorgeous new born baby boy Louis Buster McGavin. Congratulations guys.
Drove to Pembroke, south wales to catch ferry to Rosslare.
Arrived in Rosslare.
Drove into the hills and far away up skinny roads with sheer drops in the dark with only one headlight!! Ah well it was worth it.
Stayed in a beautiful house that belongs to a friend with the most spectacular views called Moongate.
Drove to Kilkenny.
The drive was beautiful, Betsie the camper has been doing extremely well but the bumps are very bumpy, rather like a boat so i can't drive more than around 50mph maximum so getting anywhere is very slow.
We arrived at Ryans bar in Kilkenny to a traditional music night where they very kindly alowed us to play a few songs.
Went down very well. The guys who did the traditional stuff were amazing too. All very young and just superb musicians. Great to meet them.
Stayed in a laybye outside Kilkenny that night. All very comfotable. Sylke, the lovely film maker and Donald the lovely guitarist, george and myself all slept very well.
We then did a very long drive all the way down passed cork to Baltimore. 7 Hrs to be precise! Left Betsie there to get the ferry across to Sherkin Island with the PA and all our gear!
Arrived a bit raggedy but were instantly given a lovely pint of guiness and many more besides!!
I think we played there for probably around 2 1/2 hrs!! We had a great night and Sylke has managed to edit a bit of stuff which is on YouTube now.
Ballydehob next.. good gig. Great venue. Raining though. Not too many people but still smashing.
We then went to stay in a lovely place in the middle of no where near to Skibereen back on the mainland with John Simpson (artist) and his lovely girlfriend Anne and her children Molly and Jim. Parked ol' betsie up in the garden.I think the nettle soup was one of my favourite dishes so far. So easy to make. I'll get the recipe.
Re-group? rather de-group as both Sylke and Donald had to get back leaving me to go on alone. Well not really alone as i have Georgie!!
Over the next few days I fixed the camper van for leaks using some very gooey grey painty stuff. Sorted out the tyre which was slowly getting flatter, tidied and organized Betsie and went on my way again towards Galway through the mountains of Kerry. Absolutely stunning scenery!!
I took a wrong turning, or was it the right one? and ended up having to pull over on the side of the road as it was really misty and darkness was nearly upon us. Georgie and I set up camp and got all cosy. The rain hammered down like nothing before and the wind blew ol' betsie around like crazy but we made it through the night.
The road had a sheer drop on the other side panning out to an incredible valley with the sea behind us. The sun in patches all over the hills and little streams running down from the hills everywhere. Not forgetting the rainbows. Oh i think it was the right turning but very glad we'd stopped where we did!
Drove on through the mountains and on towards Limerick. Found a caravaning and camping site where i could catch up with some washing. The site was right in the middle of a beatiful forest and when i arrived it was all closed up. Thankfully they let us in and we had lucked out as we were the only people there! Hot shower, washing, tidy ol'betsie and off we go in the morning.
Finally make it to Galway to be taken straight to Ciaron Magills place where he has just finished building a fantastic live recording place called "The Live Shed". Check out the website. Straight in to record a couple of songs which will be on YouTube soon.
I was then given some fabulous beef stu and bundled into a car and off to play with a bunch of fabulous musicians one of which is a great songwriter called Noelie McDonnell at Campbells Tavern. Check him out www.myspace.com/noeliemcdonnell That was superb. Lots of lovely people and i shall be going back there to do a gig.
We're there!! that's it for now, gig tonight in Galway at Bar 8 which is a fabulous restaurant so reckon i'm going to eat well again! Thanks to everyone and lets keep on trucking,
love to all,
Claire
