Journal: January / February 2004

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Sunday 4th Jan : Lancaster University

Just the job for sweating off all our Christmas excess, first gig and we're off, playing to a band of biologists at Lancaster uni. who swung to the Edge groove. Despite the fact there are two Lancaster Uni graduates in the band, we had a bit of trouble finding the venue. (Carolyn tells me the building was built 'after her time'...) But we'll now know where to go for our re-booking for March! Thanks to Jackie, who organized the affair.

Saturday 17th: Gatehouse: Eskdale

Eskdale is Mecca for the lover of the Lakes, a veritable oasis of tranquility, and venues don't come much better than the Gatehouse! The oak-paneled common room just perfect for that 'intimate' dance. In our experience it never fails to be filled by keen and eager dancers, and tonight was no exception! Two hours of high action dance-floor drama! (Must be all that fresh mountain air.)

Ben (drums) brought a smile to the band at the end of the night by asking if there was a garage nearby he could buy a late night coffee..('!!%**!!) Two of the more 'outdoor-orientated' 'Edge members replied by asking him if he'd ever studied an ariel view of Eskdale area? Moors, crags, yet more moors, crags...the odd tarn...

Friday 23rd: Lancaster Grammar School: Burns Night

Once again the time of the year for 'neeps, tatties, sporrans and wild ceilidh dancing. A large crowd of 120 kilted-ones took to the floor at Lancaster Grammar for this, the second annual staging of an event that just gets bigger and better every year!

'Edge treated the dancers to a rocking version of the Burns classic 'Love is But A Lassie Yet',and a frenetic version of 'The Atholl Highlanders',amongst other Edge classics.
 

Graham from 'The Greggy' took these 'piccies!

Left to right: Carolyn, Mike, Ben, Rick.
 

Friday 30th: St. Martin's College, Lancaster: Burns Night.

Yes folks, not one but two Burns Night's this year, the second one being up the road from the last one, this time at St. Martin's, Lancaster.

Although we have played several gigs at St. Martin's down the years, this was the first Burn's 'do'. After such formalities as 'Toast tae the Lassies' and 'Reply on behalf of the Lassies' , Edge took to the stage. From our opening salvo of 'The Carlisle Reel', we were instantly greeted with a swirl of dancers doing the 'Gay Gordons', without any prompting from yours truly, your friendly dance-caller! From that moment we just knew we were in for an all-action night!

Another cracking do; hope to see you all again next year, St. Martins!

 
     
 

Saturday 7th Feb: Inn On The Lake: Patterdale

Help! Panic! Weather Alert!

The wild, winding way to Patterdale, on the shores of Ullswater, involves an ascent of the illustrious Kirkstone Pass.......

Although the weather seemed so-so in the valley, as soon as Mike had driven up the pass several hundred feet he hit 'the snowline'. After several hundred more, his front wheels were spinning in a fresh flurry of snow.. and the car veering towards a drystone wall. Ah! Brings back fond memories of living up here!(see archive 95/96>>)

Deciding further ascent was just silly, Mike slid back down the pass and phoned Ben and Rick; by now driving through Windermere to the South; urging them to follow him in a wide detour West over the Dunmail Raise to Keswick.

This we did; adding a further hour to the journey! Never been late to a gig for 15 years, but I'd rather get to a gig in one piece these days than end up crashed though a dry stone wall! (We must be 'maturing' or 'mellowing out' or something.)

We finally got to Patterdale to find Carolyn 'holding the fort' and playing some tasty fiddle to the by now amassed crowd. Got the kit set up a.s.a.p. and got on with the gig!

Wow what a great night it kicked off into! A tremendous crowd who got stuck into some wild dancing and 'whooping it up'. Thanks Olivia and Mathew, the newly-weds:our very best wishes for all future happiness!

The show did go well and it was worth getting there in one piece!

Now home: head East and down the M6, which is clear of snow....it was all going swimmingly well until I realised I'd missed the turning to Ulverston and had to keep driving down the M6 to the Morecambe junction!

Yawn! Been a long night, time for shut-eye.......
 

An old Victorian postcard of the pass!