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| One of the many slightly odd characters around the room, this one right above the performance area! |
I've learnt never to approach any gig with any kind of air of expectation, even ones I've played before, and this one was a delightful surprise.
The Poetry & Pints evenings above The Lodge, Alsager, a fabulously unique den for the discerning real-ale quaffeur and lounge-philosopher, seem to consist of a guest poet on each occasion (several times a year as far as I can make out) plus a musical guest as well as open-floor spots for poets near and far. All this provided an attentive, quirky and knowledgeable audience.
The special poetry guest was Helen Kay, who I originally met through last year's Words & Music Festival. Helen has recently had her first anthology published 'The Poultry-Lover's Guide to Poetry'. So inspired was I by her readings at her book launch a few weeks ago, and my own copy, dedicated as requested, to both myself and my childhood-pet hen, Heather. That I decided to do a song for just this night only.
Fabulous evening, great atmosphere and performances. Also, if this wasn't inspiration enough, a very unusual room...
I played There She Moves, Galleries, Big Low Copper Moon, Toast the Night and Just us Chickens.
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| Among the dashingly attired, decapitated mannequin's were all manner of oddments. |
