The Printed Word

The warmth in the room had little to do with the sunshine outside, and more to do with the engaging style of the man on stage. Martin Stephenson attracted a full house to the Kings Live Lounge last Sunday, and delivered a gig that was quite simply, wonderful. It must be 35 years since I last saw him play live with The Daintees at the old Picturehouse in Lothian Road in Edinburgh - another great live venue wasted today as a Wetherspoons pub. His albums of the 1980s - Boat To Bolivia, and Gladsome Humour and Blue - were on heavy rotation on my turntable, and lockdown saw me take a deep dive into YouTube and catch up with his musical journey. Stephenson is a fantastic songwriter and story-teller, and on stage he chats away as if we are all old mates. He seemed genuinely thrilled at so many in the audience recognising his songs from decades back, and delivered a glorious set filled with tracks from those great albums and his excellent 1990 set, Salutation Road. His stories and observations...

The 1981 River programme It’s 42 years since Bruce Springsteen last brought the E Street Band to Scotland’s capital city. That long, long wait will finally end this month. Faith (and patience) surely will be rewarded when he steps out on to the stage at Murrayfield Stadium on May 30. I’ve never quite figured out why he continually preferred playing Hampden Park in Glasgow on his UK tours. As venues go, it’s the absolute worst, most soul-less place to see a gig - even a Springsteen one. His music triumphs in spite of the place. So, welcome back to the capital, Boss, it’s been a heck of a long time coming … I guess the gig brings my own Springsteen story full circle. His 1981 appearance at the Playhouse Theatre in Edinburgh -  as part of the original River tour - was my introduction to the Boss. The concerts were actually planned for March and then rescheduled - my ticket stub still shows the original date. Tickets cost £5.50 or £6 (the 50p presumably being a booking fee. If only cha...

Five decades going to gigs, but never before have I been to one in a launderette. The Bank Holiday weekend took us to Durham to see the legend that is John Otway playing with his long-time side, Wild Willy Barrett. The venue was the Old Cinema Launderette which, by day, will clean your clothes, and, by night, serve up some unique gigs. Whispering Bob Harris of Old Grey Whistle Test fame is heading that way soon ... The packets of Daz and Omo which sit above the machines form the most un rock ‘n’ roll of backdrops, but I defy you to find a better small venue anywhere in the UK. We arrive early - ‘come away in’ they said as the set up work was being finished. When the online payment machine went down everyone just chipped in with bundles of change. No-one went thirsty. And on stage, Otway was … well, Otway. You won’t find anyone more engaging or welcoming. Or truly unique. What sparked our travels to Durham was his movie, Rock ‘N’ Roll’ Greatest Failure, on Netflix which celebrates one ...