York 24/9/09

[jacey]

Went to York yesterday with Canadian song-maestro James Keelaghan and his trio (David Woodhead, Zav RT plus Nancy - David's wife). Spent the afternoon mooching about my favourite city - including the required walk up The Shambles and down Stonegate and via Barley Hall. Then tea in Batty's cafe with Nancy, a trip round the outdoor food festival where I bought cheeses - a Norwegian Gjetost and Old Amsterdam, though I was really looking for White Nancy which they didn't have.

Then - an hour in Borders checking out their SF/F section.

Yes, of course I succumbed. Though I could have spent a fortune I was quite strict with myself so I bought only: The first of Jim Butcher's Harry Dresden books, Storm Front, and - a complete impulse buy - Joe Abercrombie's Last Argument of Kings. This is the third in a trilogy and they didn't have the first two, but it looked sufficiently interesting to give it a try. So now I'm torn: do I read them out of order and risk spoilers, but make sure I really do like it before buying the first two parts, or trust that I will enjoy all three and splash out on The Blade Itself and Before they are Hanged? Anyone out there read them?

Then - on to the gig at the Black Swan, a longstanding folk club in one of York's oldest pubs (the building was there in the early 1400s but it's only been a pub from the mid 1700s). This was my only chance on this tour to see the James Keelaghan Trio in action. Brilliant night, fantastic music. I wore a big silly grin from start to finish (in addition to my clothes before you lot get all smart-arse).
:-)

I can highly recommend his new album, House of Cards. He's a powerful songwriter and a consummate performer with a rich baritone voice and an assured presence. There are tracks to listen to on his website and a run down of the rerst of the dates on his current UK tour.

Comments

[ferlonda.livejournal.com]

Sigh. Missing England here. Glad you had such a good time!

[birdsedge.livejournal.com]

Yeah. You know I'm a nut for visiting York. I know it's a tourist trap, but I never get tired of it. there are lots of things that being a tourist trap can't spoil.

[ferlonda.livejournal.com]

York is wonderful, as is the Black Swan. We missed it last trip- I hope we can make up for that next time even if we only do the touristy thing.
PS Still working on stuff...

[desperance.livejournal.com]

So far I've only read the first Abercrombie - and enjoyed it thoroughly, and would be tempted from your position to splash out on the other two, on the generic grounds that books are best read in the right order.

[birdsedge.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the recommendation. I generally like reading things in order so that pushes me over the decision-line. Have now ordered books one and two.

[klwilliams.livejournal.com]

I adore York. I'm jealous all around.

[birdsedge.livejournal.com]

Yup. York never gets old for me... err... well in fact it's already old... Oh you know what I mean.
:-)