Doolin, Ireland: Beef Stew

Some tasty beef stew we had in a pub while over for the Folk Festival in Doolin, county Clare, earlier this month.  Underneath the beef stew, there was a nice, big dollop of mashed potatoes.

Rura Live at Bury Met (Derby Hall) 21st June 2018

Not often I get round to seeing gigs in my hometown of Bury, Lancashire, but I enjoyed watching Scottish folk band, Rura, at Bury Derby Hall last Thursday night:

The first half of the Rura set seemed to be dominated by their new album,

while the second half focused on older material.  My favourite tune of the night was always going to be 'The Lasher'.

Father John Misty Live at Warsaw Palladium 5th June 2018

This was my third gig in four days so I was kind of shattered.  Still after having seen the Prog giants, Camel and YES (ARW version) over the weekend, it was nice to see something a bit different in the shape of Father John Misty (Josh Tillman):

Thought that 'Mr. Tillman' was the standout tune from the songs done from the recent 'God's Favorite Customer' album:

However, like many people, I guess, I was waiting for 'Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings' and 'Real Love Baby' which came towards the end of the set.

Also have 'Pure Comedy' and 'Bored in the USA' humming in my head after the gig.

Warsaw: Chips and Fried Carrots

Chips (fried potatoes) and fried carrot, quite a nice, little snack I had at the wonderful YES (featuring ARW) concert at the Park Sowińskiego Amphitheatre in Warsaw on Sunday.

YES (featuring ARW) Live at Warsaw Park Sowińskiego 3rd June 2018

A few shots of YES (featuring ARW) from Sunday night's gig at Warsaw Park Sowińskiego, which is an amphitheatre, a wonderful setting for such a summer's eve concert:

Saw the ARW version of YES at Loreley in the Rhineland last summer, but much preferred them in Warsaw a couple of days ago (this may be simply because the 3-day festival at Loreley was too attritional for somebody like myself, in his 50s).

Think that the ARW version of Yes do a good mix of traditional Yes tunes ('Awaken'; 'Roundabout' etc.) and Rabin-flavoured 1980s tunes ('Changes'; 'Rhythm of Love'; 'Hold On' etc.).

SBB Live at Warsaw Park Sowińskiego 3rd June 2018

Some of my Polish friends advised me to catch legendary, Polish Prog band, SBB, opening for the Anderson, Rabin and Wakeman  version of YES (I like both versions), so that's what I did:

And without really knowing anything by the band, although I did check them out on Youtube beforehand, I really enjoyed the SBB set.

Through checking the band out, I was already aware that SBB were mightily fine musicians, of course.

Camel Live at Warsaw Progresja 2nd June 2018

Was really looking forward to this but the Progresja was so packed that I ended up watching the concert through a door from the bar (not actually inside the concert hall itself):

Still, as expected the music was excellent, really enjoyed the whole of 'Moon Madness' in the first set especially 'Another Night' and 'Lunar Sea'.

Of course, 'Lady Fantasy' got a great reception as the encore later on.

Great concert, just wish I'd seen it from a better position, but that's the way the cookie crumbles sometimes, I guess.