Argyll & Bute

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Hunters Quay Holiday Village, Dunoon

I have been privileged enough to work at this venue for the past four years and , more so, to see the development of the venue.

This is a lovely private Holiday Village situated in one of the most beautiful settings for a holiday.

With a stream running through the grounds, wild deer and rabbits running around, this is as nice as it gets !

With a nice journey over on the ferry from Gourock and accommodation provided free for acts, it sets up to be amongst one of the better gigs for hospitality.

In fairness, some of the gigs have been quiet here, but last year saw them get a bit busier with the new set up in the complex.

The first few times I performed here, it was a wee bit like an open dining hall consisting of an open plan area with a dance-floor and stage in the corner .... well that was how it felt to me anyway.

Now, it has all been converted with a separate dining area, separate play area and a more enclosed lounge for entertainment ... so much better by far !

The man at the front of the set up is a lovely Texan gent called Vern .. a character amongst a great team.

I have nothing but good words to say about this gig. Although I haven't used the provided accommodation every time, it is always very nice and clean, which is a big bonus too.

I am back up here in 2012 so will update again after being there this year.

Glenburn Hotel, Rothesay

That would be some set of steps to carry the gear up ..

Thankfully this is a job where there is a fitted PA and you only have to take your own music player and mic .... phew !

I don't know the history of this building, but a grander building you will not see from a distance, dominating the landscape as you approach Rothesay. This is a hotel now that is operated by Shearrings Holidays and does see busloads of happy travellers heading out for weekend or midweek breaks.

I have did this gig 3 times in the last few years and, due to location on the Isle Of Bute, it is a gig where you have to stay overnight. You have no choice owing to there being no ferry back at night !

That being said, there is always a nice room provided and, indeed, the first time I went over here I took my wife Denise with me for a nice night away.

You have a choice of 2 ways of getting here .. you can take an expensive (but quicker) ferry journey from Wemyss Bay straight over or you can drive around the coast and take the much longer drive but the shorter 5 minute (and cheaper) route just north of Rothesay.

I knew from the start which way I would choose to do it and have to say that I have seen some of the most beautiful scenery in the world whilst embarking on this journey.

Showtime is after dinner and is situated in the grand hall area in the centre of the hotel. I have to say ... it is simply lovely. I have had mixed nights here ..... it is never really busy, and you certainly can't be loud, but none the less, it is a nice wee different gig.

Drimsynie House Hotel, Lochgoilhead

I performed here just once on Christmas Eve a couple of years ago ... but I have since then did various gigs in the sister Hotel, the Lochgoilhead Hotel.

Wow, this is a car journey and a half, not time wise, although that is a factor I suppose, but the last 6 miles downhill into the valley is, to say, somewhat interesting !!

This is nothing more than a single track road with some passing places and at some points these bends are pretty tight alongside the decline ......

Take that into account and then tag on that it was Christmas Eve, very, very icy and a high risk of snow.

Ok you get the picture ..... so I have got there on time but the first hurdle is having to get my ear into the place without breaking my neck due to the fact that the route from the car park to the side door was covered in thick ice.

Having accomplished that and setting up ready to go, I then had to wait for the customers to arrive from their lodges. This took a wee while...... !!!

I was due to start at 9pm but because there was not enough people in, it was 10pm before I started. During my waiting around, I was talking to one of the manager's who said I would be ok for getting out of the valley ,,, if it didn't snow !!! Great, just what I wanted to hear !

I like to be home for Christmas so I had one eye on the windows, checking for snow, and the other on the the hall and my audience.

In a lovely big hall, with a great light show, it all felt a bit lost with the 50 or so people at the gig, but as per usual, I gave it my all and we all made the most of what was a very quiet night by normal standards for Christmas Eve.

Still, gig complete and time to get the gear back out again .... blinking heck, it was worse than earlier. With more than my fair share of sliding about on foot, I could only imagine what it was going to be like going back out of the valley.

I spoke to the Manager before I left and he told me to set my trip computer in the car to zero and when I got to 6.1miles up the hill, that was the steepest part of the road ..... if I could not make it past there then just turn around and come back and the Hotel would put me up for the night.

Now, this would be cool anytime, I like a challenge !!! However, when you leave the town and start heading up the hill you are in a dead area for mobile phone reception, which, if I am being honest, made me a little bit more nervous.

So .... here we go, let's take a good run at it, I thought !

I did and, even though sliding about quite a bit, with lots of wheel spinning, I made it up the 16 degree gradient and got past the 6.1 mile mark ...... only to get around the corner and have a stag jump right in front of me .... for goodness sake ...... just let me get to the main road ha ha !!!!

Home for about 3 in temorning and home for Christmas was a blessing .... but tis is just another example of the things that we entertainers have to endure to provide a night of music for the folks in far off places. The rewards are good sometimes, but the reward of being home safe with your family is so much better !

Lochgoilhead Hotel, Lochgoilhead

The sister Hotel to the above, Drimsynie House Hotel and situated on the shore of the Loch ... what a lovely setting.

I have performed here quite a few times over the last few years and have to say it is always a good wee gig.

Some of the locals are even on first name terms with me ...... well, they know my name to be honest. Sorry that sounded a bit 'prima donna' but it easier for them to get my name off the poster I suppose ?

If you have read my above blog about Drymsynie, you will know about the location and the problems with the weather.

This did catch me in late 2010 wen, after having cleared of snow from the previous weeks, it decided to snow half way through my gig.

The guy behind the bar suggested that if I wanted to finish early and try and get up the hill it was ok with him ... cheers mate .. so I quickly packed the gear and made an attempt at the hill ...... this time it beat me though.

I was struggling at various parts of the road and had to give up well before the brow of the hill .... what made it worse was having to slide down the road for a few hundred yards to find a place to try and turn .... backwards as well !!!

Having did this and getting back to the hotel, they put me up for the night and I managed to get out safely in the morning.

This is a small lounge gig with 2 sections...one that you can see and on that you cant ... kinda like being at the bottom corner of a 'C' shape. With a lovely open fire and a nice atmosphere, the punters will dance wherever they can so they always enjoy themselves.

I believe I am uo there again this year .... I hope it is the summer then lol !!!

Glenmorag Hotel, Dunoon

Another imposing sight on the landscape ... The Glenmorag Hotel. Again, I have not had a chance to look at the history of this building but there must be some for this classic building.

Another hotel that is operated by Shearings Holidays in the Western Isles.

I was happy to do this one-off midweek gig here but must admit I came across a wee hurdle towrads the end of my first half. I did not use the house PA for this job and set up my own, however, even in this big concert room I realised that I could not be too loud.

Even though trying to keep the volume down as much as I could, I soon found most of the assembled crowd drifting off to their beds, or quieter rooms, before the end of the first set !!!

Oh well, the show must go on !!!

There was nothing more really to write about this gig ... oh actually there is a couple of things .....

Firstly, when I asked if there was somewhere to get changed, I was directed to a small damp room that seemed very insecure and was full of clothing from other members of staff. Ok, it is better than the disabled toilets, but the various soiled items etc lying around did not make it ver appealling to be honest !!!

Agaon, however, there is always a good point and tonght was the fact that I got to meet a boxing legend. I had Ken Buchanan, one of Scotland's World Champion Boxers in the audience and I got a chance to chat to him at the end of the night and get my picture taken too.

A wee bonus .. at least he stayed and didn't think it was too loud ha ha