Saturday 15th December 2018, Christmas Baubles IX

by KATE CANAVERAL

I wake up at 8am with a strange feeling; it's Baubles today and I am not hungover. Quickly check in with the rest of the Canavs and neither are they. This has literally never happened before. We usually "go for one" after a last minute practice and one drink leads to another. And another. And another.

My first job is to go get a guitar amp I've hired as my own is stuck in a Lyceum Theatre truck somewhere. I think my guitar amp is now officially more successful than I am, playing a small but pivotal role in Autumn 2018's must see production of Twelfth Night. I was not needed. I get the amp and do some frantic last minute gathering of stuff that we need for the day. Off to Summerhall where everything seem strangely calm and not even Johnny Lynch has a hangover. Scott texts to say his drum kit is falling to bits. That's more like it.

Scott brings his other drum kit and spends an hour looking for Rose's new house but we still manage to get on stage on time. For the first time ever we are opening up the day! Can't believe the number of people that turned up early to see us. It was lovely to play to a packed room for what is probably going to be the last Kid Canaveral show for a while. We did a bunch of old songs, some of which we hadn't played for quite a few years. It went well. Except that part where I played all the wrong notes for a bit.

Next up is the Lost Map Podcast: LIVE. Johnny is interviewing Malcolm Middleton. They have both turned up in the same outfit which is quite embarrassing. Matching Lost Map charcoal sweatshirts. I miss quite a lot of the podcast because I am packing up stuff in the other room. Lucky for me (and you) we can listen again right now and forever (Apple Podcasts / Spotify / MixCloud).

Jill Lorean (of Sparrow & The Workshop and Bdy_Prts) is next. I have now come to the realisation, after agreeing to do this blog, that I should probably have got someone else to write about the bands. As usual I am rushing about looking busy but perhaps not achieving all that much and don't catch all of Jill's set. It is enough to be supremely jealous of both her talent and her outfit choices. Cannot wait to hear more new stuff this year, it sounded absolutely beautiful.

Edinburgh's own Callum Easter follows in the Main Hall with a bassy, dark, atmospheric, weird and brilliant set on accordion, guitar and a very cool looking thing that I think is a drum machine. Wow. I should write for music mags. Anyway.... his debut album is out in April on Lost Map and it's crackin'.

Happy Spendy end the first half of proceedings with a total party set. I've only ever seen them as a 3-piece and now they are a FIVE. I love them. If you don't have fun at a Happy Spendy gig there's something seriously wrong. And Eimear has the best stage chat ever. If anyone from the band is reading this I still have your bells. Niall from The Spook School makes a special guest appearance on aforementioned bells duty.

DINNER BREAK. As is tradition I've not eaten anything all day due to panicking and running around. We get pizza and I feel a bit less drunk/panicked/weak. Somehow the whole thing is still running completely on schedule and all the bands have arrived and nothing terrible has happened.

Dinner break over and panic again due to having to introduce someone on stage. I usually make David do this but it turns out introducing yourself isn't really on. Broken Chanter is David's new solo project and this is his first ever full band set featuring the very talented Gav Prentice, Audrey Tait and Jill O'Sullivan (also her second set of the day). I've been listening to Broken Chanter stuff for the last few months and am so happy that it is finally a full band thing too! There's a lot going on in the recordings (out next year btw so get excited) and the four of them manage to really capture it live. Really great.

Oh My God. It's Big Joanie next. The first act we booked for Baubles this year and I've been looking forward to seeing them for months. Even more so since their brilliant album, Sistahs, came out a couple of weeks ago. They totally blew me away, and the rest of the crowd too I think. Merch sales were through the roof! I'm so happy they made the trip up from London. Big Joanie are gonna be THE band of 2019. Back in Glasgow in February if anyone missed them.

Pictish Trail is now very drunk, in case you haven't been to enough of our events to know that this is a given at this stage of proceedings.

Oh My God again. Seamus Fogarty is next. Seamus's set at Green Man Festival this year was one of my favourite shows of the year so I was very happy indeed when he agreed to come up with the band. We've all known Seamus for years. He's the best. When I first met him he was selling CDRs wrapped in j-cloths and now he's signed to Domino Records and does dance routines. We were very lucky to get what turns out to be their last full band show with this line-up.

The crowd have been drinking since 2pm. Uh oh. Everyone still seems to be standing. Just about.

What better way to end the live music than a set from Edinburgh LEGENDS The Spook School. I didn't see much because I was having a rather long discussion with someone about where the merch was allowed to be set up for the last bit of the night. FUN. Talking of fun I heard that The Spook School were really, really fun. I am very sad that I missed most of it.

You might think - how do you to top The Spook School? How about getting The Spook School to sing karaoke? And then getting Big Joanie and Happy Spendy and loads of other people to also do karaoke on the big stage? It was such a nice way to end the day, thanks for McGarryoke for hosting. He had only got off a plane in Prestwick about 3 hours before too - an excellent effort! My memory is a bit hazy but these are some memorable highlights:

Opening song was Never Ever by All Saints. Excellent performance by Laura, Johnny, Emily and Charlotte but how is that song SO LONG? Have a listen. You'll think it's gonna end and then somehow it doesn't. And you'll think that a few times. Big Joanie did Jimmy Eat World and it was amazing. Song of the night was probably Chrissie doing Toxic. I don't think she had to look at the words once, which was lucky because her performance also involved a very energetic and impressive dance routine. The Spook School did Carly Rae Jepsen, throwing everyone a curve ball by NOT doing Call Me Maybe. It was the one with Boyfriend in the title which is also a banger. All five of Happy Spendy did Girls Aloud classic Sound of the Underground. David did Kiss by Prince. When I asked him earlier if he could remember what karaoke anyone sang he said he didn't have a clue making this all the more impressive. I did Believe by Cher. Quite possibly the only song in existence that is in my vocal range that I didn't write myself. LOL. It wasn't all plain sailing though. Tragedy struck as Rose sang I Would Do Anything For Love and Clarissa from eagleowl patiently waited for her Lorraine Crosby (yes, I did have to Google that) cameo but it never came!! It was a Meatloaf only version! Disaster. Sorry Clarissa. Our very talented photographer Stephanie brought some much needed class to proceedings with Jolene. And then I *think* everyone piled onto the stage and did a Talking Heads song. Genuinely can't remember which one right now. Apologies to everyone who didn't get to sing - we might just have to do all day karaoke next time....

We get shut down at 1am. Some of us have an ill-advised extra pint at somewhere called B Bar near the Bridges. Probably won't be going back there in a hurry.

And that's the end. One of the most fun Baubles EVER. Thanks to everyone who bought a ticket, came along and made it such a brilliant day. Thanks also to David, Johnny, Laura and all the Canaverals for all your work! And Joe and Richie for the podcast help. And Jamie and everyone at Summerhall. And Merriment Makers for the craft stall. And Ella for running the merch. And all the bands that played. And everyone who donated to the food bank. Please enjoy Stephanie Gibson's photos of the day. See you soon!

Kate Canaveral xx