Keith's First 3 Gigs

Keith’s first 3 gigs

Wednesday night at the Roda Tavern, and the bar is packed, (40 people) waiting in anticipation for me to start my first set.

On Stage at the Roda Tavern



The strange thing about gigging over here is that you set up in the afternoon when the bars are empty, sound check then go and do whatever, in our case we usually go to the beach for a couple of hours. 4 till 6 because it’s not too hot (28degrees) After the gig the owners are quite happy for you to leave the gear till the following day, to pick it up!
So our typical days seem to be spent getting up about 10am, having breakfast by the sea and pottering about running errands like going to the supermarket, going to the internet café, setting up, going to the beach, eating a meal, gig, night-cap bed by 2am.

Anyway, the gig felt very successful & got invited back again next week, straight after the Roda gig we packed everything into the car and went back to Our village (Acharavi) because I had been asked to play at a wedding at midnight this went on till 1.30 when the police arrived poolside & we were told to stop or risk a $700 euro fine.

Jon the bar owner serving us one for the road, just before the police arrive!

Thursday nights gig was in Sidari at Buddies bar. Buddies is situated at the start of he town, the trade is mainly passing into & out of the hot spots of Sidari, so the audience are popping in on their way out for the night, or on there way home for a night cap. Still a good night, I played well, people danced, got invited back.

Sidari is a strange place, lot’s of accommodation spread out over a couple of miles, the town is in the middle, a single strip of bars, shops, restaurants, arcades & McDonald’s! A bit like Blackpool’s golden mile & catering almost exclusively for Brits.

Saturday night was in the Acropolis bar in Sadari, right in the heart of Sidari, the owner George is a Corfu famous bazooki player so when he watched me set up and sound check on Saturday afternoon it was a bit unnerving. But he was very complementary and had a go on my guitars.

This was a great gig right from the 1st song people were into it, the bar filled up as the night went on. Played from 9.45-12 with 10-minute break about 40 songs, all covers. At the end of the night George was very impressed, asked me if I could play there 2 nights a week! I’m tempted to do it but would probably mean dropping a night somewhere else. We left there @ 12.30 ish just as the karaoke kicked in, back to our villa for a nightcap @ the poolside bar, in bed by 2am.

Back home again after another late night

We haven’t got maid service in the villa so Liz spends a lot of time in a black dress and baggy black tights sweeping the verandas and spitting at tourists. Just like home really, she’s a bit smug at the moment about the UK smoking ban coming @ the end of the month, as Greece will possibly be the last place in the world to ban smoking. Ashtray salesmen must make a fortune over here.

Today we busy are preparing for our first visitors, Jema, Barry, Caitlyn and Finley and Pippa & Lena are all arriving tomorrow for a week, so I will sign off now and blog again in a week or so.