Our March session was the best we have had in a while. Our accordionist was back. Leta popped up from Athens. And Panos wasn’t double-booked. We had eleven musicians and a good crowd. I introduced the song Black Velvet Band whose chorus was sung with great gusto.
Antony, the Arhegono manager, has agreed that our next session can be on 19th April, one week after Orthodox Easter. I am pleased with that because a previous attempt to hold the session on Palm Sunday was disappointing. Schools close on the Friday before, so people are gearing up to go on holiday. Unsurprisingly, our last Palm Sunday was low in audience and musician turnout.
When I lived in Riyadh, my band averaged less than one gig a month throughout the year except for March, when we were in demand for various St. Patrick’s Day’s events. It has been similar here this year. Panos managed to get us an unplugged gig in a bar called the Thirsty Dragon Inn. That was on Thursday, 19th March. The following day, five of us set off for Grevena.
The Grevena St. Patrick’s Festival, now in its 11th year, continues despite reduced sponsorship. We didn’t go last year, because there was a dispute over payment. This year we were approached again, and a motley Coalition of the Willing agreed to go provided our expenses were paid. Five of us turned up at a café-bar called Tio Tix. Before that, we had managed one practice without the guitarist plus a short practice involving me and Andy (whistles/harmonicas) with the guitarist. These, combined with the playlist for the Thirsty Dragon, proved invaluable preparation for Grevena.
Tio Tix was full. Then again, it was a very small venue. Surprisingly, the Irish ambassador was there. I don’t know her, but she seems a breath of fresh air compared with the last one. Anyway, we played quite well, and we’re looking forward to making the trip again in 2027.
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