ceilidh review 22-03-08
This was an Easter ceilidh in the Easdale Island Community Hall, North Argyll.
I (Stephen) lived on Easdale Island for 11 years until only a few weeks ago, so it was a wee bit strange to go back and play for a dance (which i have done often) but not as a resident. I had guests staying so I had to leave after the gig, which was a pity cause it looked like the party was going to carry on into the wee small hours.
This was a fairly early ceilidh for Argyll as the tidal conditions meant that the last ferry off the island was at 11pm, so we started before 8pm and finished just before 11pm. Easdale residents are notoriously difficult to encourage out early, so when we started playing just before 8 it was a bit worrying to have a quiet hall with only 5 adults and loads of kids, but when we struck up the first chord of the first dance the people appeared like magic. It was a great pleasure to play for a ceilidh where the floor was full for almost every dance, even the less familiar dances that i called.
Stephen’s Nightly Dance Quota - 0 - atrocious (not one dance… boohoo! 
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written by stephen \\ tags: argyll, band, ceilidh, ceilidh band, community, dance, dancing, easdale, easdale island, easter, ferry, island, north argyll, oban, review, scotland
March 25th, 2008 at 9:57 am
Man, that was a cold ferry journey!
I turned up in my usual standard attire (no, not Fred Perry shell suit!) and everyone else had their winter woolies on. Big bunch a Jessies!
Gig was good though. From kick off the dancefloor was packed, everyone was right up for it right to the end and we left them wantin more. Perfect!
If we can get gigs like that more often than not, I’ll be more than happy.
April 2nd, 2008 at 11:35 am
Who you calling a Jessie?
See back in my day we used to lie awake at night dreaming of cold ferries and the time when we wouldn’t have to swim. And even the most sartorially challenged guitarist should know that winter woolies are the new smart-but-casual, particularly when playing Easdale.
Have to agree about the dance though. It’s always heartwarming to see the young ‘uns taking the lead and hitting the floor like that. They’re the future, man!