In the first week of March 2008, Aslan played 3 nights at Charlie´s. I have already written about that experience in this post.

Soon after they left we got wind that they were going to play at a different bar here in Lanzarote this autumn. We said nothing and waited. Then the proprietor of that bar came and confirmed this to one of our musicians in person. Still, we said nothing.

A week later Aslan´s agent telephoned me and asked me if I would mind if the band played at this other bar in September, and then they would play at Charlie´s again in March next year. I didn’t let him know that I knew anything about their arrangments and said that they can play at Charlie´s in September as well. He got a little flustered, the poor man, and said that he would ring me back – which he did 3 hours later and told me that it had been all confirmed and there was nothing he could do, and he had to keep this band playing all year round . So he wasn’t asking me if I minded – he was telling me, which I knew anyway. I then told him that the lads are very welcome at Charlie´s for a drink when they are here, but they should play in the other bar in March as well.  I don´t owe Aslan anything and Aslan don´t owe me anything and are obviously quite entitled to play at any venue they like.

I have met and been in touch with plenty of very successful artists and their managers this year, and although I am new to booking such acts, they all told me they respect the man that brought them to town in the first place, and the balls that he had to do this, and they would never play in another venue in that town until such time as the first venue refused them. This is what I would have tought to be the case anyway. But there you go.

I spoke to Christy for a few hours one day he was here and believe that this wouldn’t be his way of going on, and I stand to be corrected in this, but just to let him know that we would be delighted to have him back playing at Charlie´s with our own fantastic resident band Skin & Hide backing him – which we don’t expect he will, but for him to know that he is welcome at any time.

Meanwhile we are “flying” at Charlie´s these days, and the patience, hard work and dedication from us all to build Charlie´s and Skin & Hide to be what has been voted “The Best Live Music Venue in all the Canary Islands” seems to have paid off. We take nobody or anything for granted and know what it takes to keep entertaining at this level. But don’t tell anyone how easy it is for us, because we love it. Shhhhhhh!!

I suppose we might just survive without Aslan, with a little help from our friends!

Our many thanks to our customers for their support, both residents and tourists. We really appreciate your custom and your company.

Cheers.
Murphy