York 24/9/09
Sep. 25th, 2009 03:16 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jaceyWent 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.
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.
