An evening with the Peatbog Faeries and a day out in York.

[English Bloke]

Hi ho...

Trying this new concept of a picture thread in the "Modern Kilt wear" section.

Went scooting over to North Yorkshire to see my mate Doublewood Dave this weekend and enjoy a gig with the Peatbog Faeries. They are Skye based celtic folk band and pretty knock-out to boot.

Doublewood's daughter Zara and her fella (also Dave) were over too, being as they are both muso's and delight in a bit of contemporary folk, the broad genre the Peatbogs slot into.


Us on the way to the gig. Note walking was the preferred option as the venue was only a spit from Dave's house and our hipflasks were full so no-one had any intention of driving home again...
From L to R Dave the younger, Liz (Mrs Doublewood), Doublewood Dave and Daughter Zara. (I'm taking the picture obviously)


I thought for this occasion I'd pose as a MacKenzie in ancient colours.


On arrival at the place we found there was a delay to the advertised start time due to a missing bit of technical kit that made sound amplification possible. Apparently a Man-in-a-van was hotfoot on his way to York to pick it up and would be back in a jiffy so if we'd all be patient etc etc... We made best use of the time and headed for the bar and grabbed an assortment of brews. (No surprises there then).


Eventually the gig got underway but not having had chance to sound-check prior to coming on there were a few teething problems during the first couple of numbers.
The band consists of (L to R) Greame Stafford on Keyboards, Rick on Trombone, Peter Tickell on fiddle, Stu Haikney on Drums, Peter Morrison on Pipes and Whistles, Innes Hutton on Bass and Tom Salter on Guitar.


The band were awesome, The Drummer and Bassist where absolutely rock solid tight, providing a superb rhythm section for the rest of the performers to excell around. Fiddler Peter Tickell was outstanding and Peter Morrison's whistles and pipes were magnificent. A very slick performance from all but unfortunately let down badly by the "Sound Man". The balance of instruments just wasn't there and on occasion even the pipes (not famously a quiet instrument) were drowned by the synths and fiddle and much of the sublety of some of the music was totally lost. Not sure who the resident sound engineer at the venue was but although he may know how to work the graphic equaliser on his walkman, he doesnt have a clue about operating a mixing desk. Sad really. I'm not saying the gig was ruined, the atmosphere was electric and the musical skills displayed overcame and technical shortcomings. We all had a fabulous time and there was much dancing in the "Mosh Pit" but sound guy not being very sound certainly didn't help for the musical aficionados amongst us...


Some more pictures.


You should have heard that fiddle.


Tremondous stuff....

More to come...

[English Bloke]

There were a few kilties at the do other than just us, none of whom we knew prior to the gig but Andy and Simone, drawn presumably by the "you're safe in numbers" ethos, stood with us throughout the gig and then joined us at the pub for a few scoops afterward... Andy was originally fae Scawtland but had journeyed from Sheffield for the occasion. He was wearing Gunn Modern but the problem with handing your camera to a non kiltie minded bar-lady is she takes pictures of faces and not the Kilts. I mean I ask you?...


I was also accosted (in a nice way) by Mandy who told me She loved me and that my Kilt was making her weak at the knees. She was desparate for a picture which was all lovely good fun...

The following Morning we jumped on train into York to have a mooch about.


Doublewood smiling for the camera(s)


Although rain was predicted, the weather was gorgeous which was fortunate for this large wedding entourage.


Quite a few kilts in this crowd to although I couldn't get a clear enough shot of them to be worth photographing. I did notice though that as I was lining up this shot of the carriages and horses there was a group of Japanese tourists who all had their cameras trained on me. The Kilt really is a head-turner.


We came upon a street performer called "Man With Big Balls" who delivers a highly polished comedy juggling act. About 40 minutes of hilarity and all for a couple of quid. Bargin. We ate cornish pasties from the Cornish Pasty Company (best in town) as we watched.


Borrowed picture, I missed him with his balls in the air. He was juggling three footballs while standing on a big blue ball on the brink... On the very brink I tell you, of "the steps of death"... Immensely entertaining and quite merciless to his audience. He even had a go at us. Fancy that... hehehehe

[English Bloke]

Dave, Me an' Doublewood. Posing on Whip-ma wop-ma Gate. The shortest street in York.


Zara steps in beside her Dad.




Next we wandered up "The Shambles" probably the most photographed street in the city.


Some of the buildings date back to the fourteenth century and it was traditionally a street of butchers shops, once known as "The Great Flesh Shambles" from the Anglo-Saxon "Fleshammels" (meaning "shelves full of flesh"). It now houses pricey gift shops flogging "A souvenir of York", and some very expensive cafes. It's still a lovely example of old english architecture though.... Busy on a Saturday afternoon mind, I had to wait a bit to get these pictures.

Next we broke away from sight-seeing to visit a few music shops. We're all a bit muso as I said and the draw of walls filled with instruments is difficult to resist. I'll not bore you with that hour or two so moving on...


We went up onto the walls for a walk. York is one of the few remaining cities with an intact defensive wall and does have the most milage of walls than any other British City. We did also find that we were the centre of attention with numerous people preferring to take snaps of us...


Than views like this...

We also paused for mutual snaps...


Zara and Dave


Me an' Doublewood. He's a good egg is my mate! We go back a very long way.

[English Bloke]

Before coming down off the wall at Bootham Gate there was one last photo-op for the Minster which we had pretty much encircled.


And a better view of the two towers on the Minster's West side.


We were all a bit tired and in dire need of refreshment. See how he claws at his throat, the poor desparate man.


More thirsty teddies... ("John, Please. Stop taking bloody pictures...")

Anyway, Hope you enjoyed this little sojourn.


Cheers everybody!!

[English Bloke]

Oh yeah... nearly forgot to mention. Doublewood lives outside of York in the depths of the North Yorkshire countryside.

On my way home this morning I stopped off for a brief pause at the cursed Kirkham Priory.






Looking down at the bridge across the river Derwent, it's beautiful country. When I win the lottery I'll move there.


And so to home after a smashin' couple o' days... almost there now.

[CMcG]

Trying this new concept of a picture thread in the "Modern Kilt wear" section.

<snip>

Good call English Bloke. What I imagine would be different about posting pics in the Modern Kilt Wear sub-forum is that we're going to talk about them, right? Pics in the Show Us Your Pics section tend to generate more "nice pics" or "thanks for sharing" comments...

Of the two handsome kilties starring in this photo spread, I think one outfit is more successful than the other. Would anyone care to make a comparison?

[McClef]

Great shots John - even though it's dangerous (allegedly) to be kilted in York (though I believe you also need to be carrying a bow and arrow before the natives can legally kill you)!

[Mike_Oettle]

CMcG invites a comparison between the two kilted gents, but I am not sure that it would be altogether fair.
John is wearing a golf shirt and a T-shirt underneath. Doublewood is wearing a button-up shirt. John is in a denim jacket that seems about the right length for kilt-wearing, while Doublewood has a longer jacket.
Doublewood is wearing hose with very elegant cuffs, but both are wearing proper kilt hose with flashes.
John is in a synthetic sporran and synthetic shoes, while Doublewood is in a leather sporran and leather shoes.
If one is judging according to tradition, I suppose the leather is smarter than the synthetic, but personally I like John’s style.
Finally, Doublewood’s kilt is covering his knees, which is a no-no by my standards, but I am not sure how anyone else will see it.
Regards,
Mike

[English Bloke]

On this occasion we were without our longbows for exactly that reason Trefor. Y'u can't be too careful wi' them Yorkies abaat tha' nozz.

In actual fact, far from being run out of town, the natives were most receptive. We received many a compliment in fact. Lots of light banter such as "What you wearing under there? [giggle-giggle]" but also lots of respectful smiles, impressed double takes and surreptitious photography rather than silly sniggers. The best comment probably was from an older lady (older than me anyway) in a small book shop we were drawn into who said. "Ooooh, I do love to see a man in a kilt. You both look absolutely marvelous by the way". And that was despite my ubiquitous Levi Jacket.

CMcG. I see where you are going and why but I'd hate to draw a comparison between us. This is the modern wear section after all and the rules are put aside so we contemporary chaps may dress as we please... Plus, I already know Dave dresses better than me! Comments are welcome of course, but I'm not playing.


EDIT: Mike. The shoes I'm wearing are leather synthetic mix, cross trainer. Dave's shoes are stout leather walking boots and cost five times what mine did. Both are comfy as anything for a long stroll round town. My sporran is a Stillwater cargo in butter-soft brown leather. It still has the characteristic zips as closures but I assure you it's made from a top-notch leather and very good quality. Dave's sporran is high quality brown leather sporran, based on a military pattern with tassels added (because it's not really a military sporran). It too is a nice bit of kit.

To get back to the point of modern kilt wear, I think my reasoning is, we are wearing what we have and utilising the kilt as an everyday garment. For us at least it's not 'special occasion only' kit. It isn't bound by conventions and rigid dress standards. At least part of the freedom of my kilt is to be free to wear it as I choose. I'm not having a go at anyone here. There are those who may think I look a hummelin' sight and who choose a different path from mine and they are quite correct in what they do. I have no issue with that and have certainly learned much from many people on this forum. I'm just comfortably wearing my kilt as an everyday wardrobe option and hopefully showing others that it's OK to do that.

[Mike_Oettle]

Nice pics, John. You clearly had a good time and did a lot of publicity for the kilt!
Regards,
Mike