dougie@dougiemcq.co.uk
I'm sure I should be saying "Happy New Year!" but it doesn't really feel quite so happy. The massive fire which has wiped out Khushis Restaraunt on Victoria Street, Edinburgh, has meant that Finnegans Wake will be closed for at least the next six months & possibly throughout the next year, IF EVER AGAIN? The fire completely wrecked Khushis & the water used to extinguish the blaze has damaged both the Liquid Rooms & Finnegans to the extent that they may never re-open again. As this was a main stay of my - along with many other musicians- income, it means financial difficulties for the coming year. So, we'll be looking for more local gigs in the coming weeks. I'd like to thank the Evening News for their article about our plight on Monday 29th December. To see more pics of the carnage at Khushis click here.
2008 wasn't the best year for most people, myself included but I do have a few highlights from the year. I really enjoyed my acoustic gigs during the Edinburgh Festival & my favorite McQ gig had to be at Murrayfield after the Scotland v England game. I took great delight in watching the "Auld Enemy" supporters staring with horror as I happily sang "Swing Low Sweet Chariot".
Thanks to Tina & Danny, I had a wonderful trip to Portugal with the ABBA Experience where we did a gig just outside Lisbon in what can only be described as a bubble! It was a gigantic clear dome about the size of a football pitch. During the sound check I was wondering if I should have brought a grow bag instead of my guitar. In the mid afternoon sunshine the heat inside the dome was incredible. We didn't go on stage until after midnight by that time the atmosphere was electric. The whole gig was fimed but I haven't managed to get any footage of any of it yet.
I also did a charity gig at the behest of my great friend David Valentine. He put his all into organizing the entertainment and got a few of his friends together to do a few songs. With Dave on bass Bobby Heatlie, drums, Kenny Herbert & myself on guitar & vocals we did some old cover numbers just to get the night started with a bang.
Dave decided to release a limited edition CD with material from all the acts performing on the night. Named "Songs For A Reason" it sold very well on the evening & has been selling since. I believe there are a few copies still available which can be obtained from his Heartbeat Studio site. just click here heartbeatstudio.co.uk all proceeds are going to Cancer Research UK. The CD is well worth a listen with some rare tracks that will never be found elsewhere. Especially the opening track "Someone to Watch Over Me" written & recorded by Dave especially for the event. A previously unreleased K.T.Tunstall track "Talk to Me" and the original demo of the old "Shaking Stevens" hit "Cry Just a Little Bit" written by Bobby Heatlie. Along with a fantastic version of "In My Lifetime", a Kenny Herbert song featuring a stunning vocal from Colin Chisholm, the CD makes a very interesting listen. Both Kenny Herbert & myself have tracks on the album which I hope you will enjoy. Go on, support a good cause!
Should you have problems obtaining a copy from the Heartbeat website, giz a little email & I'll get one off to you. There are more pics of the event on the Gallery Page.
The biggest downer this year was the demise of the budget airlines such as Excel. This meant that it has become very difficult to get flights to my favourite is of Rhodes. Hopefully I'll be able to get back there in the summer. I've missed my friends as well as my gigs in Style Bar in Haraki. Hopefully all will be back on track for 2009!
Till next time
Cheers Dougie