Hi again Folks,

I’m sitting here in my apartment on Tuesday morning the 5th of February writing this. The sun is shining, as it nearly always does here. Walking on the beach this morning reflecting on Sharon Shannon’s first gig at Charlies last night made the sun seem ten times brighter. I’m finding it difficult to express what everyone experienced in the bar last night, but I will try to set the scene for those of you who couldn’t make it…

On sunday I was waiting for Sharon Shannon and the rest of the crew to arrive at the airport in Arrecife, thinking what will they be like to meet? Will they want this, that and the other, what will the week be like etc. etc. etc.! I never organised anything like this before and I was obviously a little nervous! They all arrived through the gates smiling, some with children, some with parents, even “out”-laws!! After chatting for a while we eventually got all 14 of them to their temporary abodes and organised to meet at Charlies later for a drink.

It became obvious very fast that I had nothing whatsoever to be nervous about. Sharon walked in the door, threw her arms around me and said “would you like a pint, Murphy?” That was that! I have seen her play live at the Opera House and the NEC before, and as well as always appreciating her music, I have always been attracted to that fantastic smile of hers. You wonder then what is she like off stage? The answer is in her smile on stage. That’s who she naturally is, just as I expected, but I was very happy to be right and very right. She is a remarkable character, a great craic, and couldn’t be more helpful – just like all the gang that travelled with her…

I was very wrong about one of them though. I have always seen Jim Murray onstage as someone very serious, as he is about his music (like them all), but this guy is a dangerously funny man, down to earth and fantastic company.

Mary Shannon was just as I expected her to be – easy-going, always smiling and friendly, just like her sister, and she completely knows what she is up to. She is just like a very pleasant breeze about the place, and as helpful as you would meet on any road you would travel.

The last of the geniuses that descended upon our humble live music venue here in Lanzarote was Leon the sound engineer. What a professional! And just like them all a great, very capable, friendly and helpful character. The Sound is so important in a music venue like Charlies and to see this man in action, and the way he sets up sound is simply frightening. He offered to help in any way he could while he was here with the sound of our own bands, and we will take him up on that in future. A really very sound sound man!

Last night was their first gig of the week and they played tunes that they had written themselves (which they are renowned for) that are on their new album called “Renegade” along with many other great stuff. For me, and I think I can speak for everyone that was present, it was Sharon Shannon at her best – in an intimate setting, this was a session rather than a gig – and what a session! As I said last night “I could die happy now” after hearing them in this setting and knowing that I was part of making this happen here in Lanzarote.

Talking to them all afterwards, they had really enjoyed it as well. They were so relaxed and cracking jokes between the tunes and they created an amazing natural atmosphere. Jim was telling me that they were playing some tunes that they hadn’t had a chance to play in a long time in their usual lineup, and it had been a session to them as well that they really enjoyed.

I am told there is a friend of Sharon’s arriving here today whom we all know very well, just for the craic, and I’m sure he will join them on stage as well and will add to what is already simply unbelievable…

All I can say from here is “Roll on the rest of the week”!!!