Back at the Angel's Share for another gig with Swing 47 - with video!

Last week my duo @swing47 got a support gig at The Angel's Share, which is a bar in Hitchin run by a lovely Sikh guy called Harpreet. We must have been doing something right as we were asked back to do the same last night.

We play outside the bar, which is located in a pedestrian arcade. They put up the awnings to make it a little cosier and even have some heaters out there. It was a little cool that evening. There were more people behind the photographer.

Danielle and I have not had a chance for rehearsals together, but I did run through all the tunes to get them properly under my fingers. There are some tricky chord changes that I needed to work on. I also switched some of them from guitar to ukulele as that gives my weak right hand a rest. I have some nerve damage that affects it.

This week a few of our friends were able to be there to support us. They got some pictures and video of the evening. Thanks to Anke and Bob for those you see here.

Our duo is named after a Django Reinhardt album, so we have to play some of his tunes. I do like this one.

We also stray into Latin territory and I do not claim to have mastered those rhythms by any means.

We ended with more Django.

I also sang various songs and I found my voice lasted better this time. The beer may help, but Danielle did try to play a little quieter so I did not have to shout. We have her little battery-powered PA system for vocals and my instruments. The clarinet is pretty loud anyway. My right hand also lasted the evening, but I would struggle to play for much more than our one hour set.

The main act was Melissa who was singing to backing tracks. She is very good and we hung around for some of her set. She does a great job of songs by Adele and even something from the Hamilton musical.

The bar serves a nice range of whiskies. I let Harpreet recommend one for me and he picked a Glenlivet which was very nice.

It was a fun evening with a good audience who seemed to enjoy it. I am still fairly new to performing in this sort of venue. Our open mic evenings at the pub were different as it would mostly be people we knew and you would only play around three songs in a set. We get paid a small amount on top of some free drinks, but it is not all about the money.

Rock on!