Allie Bradley

Tour Diary

So I didn’t really keep a very good tour diary so here is a recap of the places I visited and shows I played :)

Dublin

I didn’t think it was possible but I fell even more in love with Dublin during this tour. I played four great gigs on the days/nights I spent there – ruby sessions, the zodiac sessions, Saucy Sundays and an intimate gig at the sky backpacker’s hostel. Each gig was different but I enjoyed all of them and it was great to perform in front of new people who maybe had never heard my stuff. I also got to perform for Balcony TV – my good friends Mark Graham and Thomas Camblin made the journey down to perform an acoustic version of a new song called ‘I will follow’ which will be featured on my upcoming EP ‘Two’. It was a very speedy session, I think we spent about 5 minutes on the roof but it was fun and I am looking forward to seeing the outcome. Dublin is such an amazing city, there really is such a buzz about it and the fact that the weather was great really added to it. I busked in temple bar, drank some wine by the canal near Portabello, heard some amazing music, met up with old friends and met some new ones..can’t wait to go back!

Galway

I have never been to Galway so wanted to make sure I visited there on this trip. We booked into a hostel and got to stay there for free on the agreement that I played a set there. Mm well the hostel was probably the dodgiest place I have ever been in my life…myself Carys and Joe were terrified! haha. So in order to avoid being there for long we spent most of our time there exploring the city and we soon fell in love with the place. Galway is class! There’s music everywhere you go and the bars are packed and live music is everywhere. They also have a great busking culture so I tried my arm at busking – was great craic, though in retrospect it’s good to have amplification as there are so many people busking. Also made a trip out to salthill and went to the beach, visited the amusements (I won jelly babies and a snazzy purple watch circa 1992) the gig in the hostel was …interesting/weird but I honestly don’t think I’ve laughed as much as I did those two days!

Cork

When we landed in Cork is was sooooo warm, I think I picked the best 2 weeks ever to go on tour as the weather has been amazing. It has made the touring even better and driving around Ireland in the sun has actually been so much fun (albeit my brother has done most of the driving – cheers lad!) On the first night in cork we drove out to Clonakilty and played in De Barra’s folk club. What a great venue! It was quite informal and each of the performers took it in turn to perform songs – kind of an in the round session. Really want to go back there again! On the second day in Cork we got up good and early and set off into the city. I picked a spot and busked in the sunshine, the place was buzzing with everyone enjoying the weather – shorts in cork in March…who’d a thought it?! I made enough money to get us some food and a few pints in the sun J I played two gigs later that evening – the first in Bru Bar where I played a mix of covers and originals. I earned a number one fan in the shape of a polish guy who kept shouting ‘wowwwww man that’s some crazy shittttttt…yeahhhhhhh’…carys and joseph had a good chuckle at him while I tried not to break into fits of laughter during each song. I then played in Mr.Bradleys (nope not my da’s house) which I have played before. Was great to be back and despite the small crowd it turned out to be one of my fav performances of the tour as I got to play for 45 minutes playing my usual set list and also trying out some new material. Big thanks to Ray Horgan who was a great host and a gentleman and who treated us to some beamish stout which proved to be delicious yummmmmmmmmmmm!

Slane

The last date on tour was in Boyles Bar in Slane. It was the purple sessions which I have played before and I knew it was going to be great night. And it turned out to be! I was a bit worried as after 12 days my voice was really starting to go and I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to sing the way I would like. Once I got on stage though those worries faded and although my voice was definitely ‘huskier’ lets say, the crowd were great and everyone responded well my set.  It was a great night and I was a felt a little sad that the tour was over. Thanks to Andrew, Peter and Gerry for organising another great Purple Sessions. Until I’m on the road again….:)

Tour Day 1 - 2

So I’m on the road and it is going great! Tour started on Monday and I spent the majority of the day getting myself organised. Leaving everything to the last minute wasn’t the best idea but I finally got ready i.e. threw clothes into a bag, ordered my brother to clean the car and print off maps and gave my mum my best puppy dog eyes so she would donate some supplies for the tour (it worked..helllooo chocolate flapjacks!)

Fist stop was The Spirit Store, Dundalk and despite its rather random location (on a harbour) we found it pretty easily. My brother Joe and my right hand women Carys (who booked the shows) are going on the tour with me so we landed at the venue along with Kris Platt who was providing support for the evening. The other support act Warren Attwell arrived so we all settled in to the relaxed setting and performed sets. Ive known Kris for a while so I knew that the music was going to be amazing..and it was! I hadn’t heard Warren’s music before and I was really blown away. Everyone check them both out! I had a ball playing..even though there weren’t many people about, it turned into a great night. Kris played the cajon along to my songs, we had a sing song until they kicked us out and i even sold a few Cd’s! WIN!

The next day me and my bro set off for Dublin. I was playing at The Ruby Sessions in Doyle’s Pub that evening. After a few pit stops we made it to Dublin….and then got lost. The journey went something like this;

Me: I’m pretty sure you just go straight

Joe: are you sure?

Me: well its beside the docks so maybe we should go to Dublin port

joe: right..so go to the port?

me: well maybe we should go through that tunnel, i think it goes to the 02

joe: you have to pay

me: Pfff f**k dat der

joe: allie do you know where we goin???

me: mmmmmm…maybe just go straight on til we hit the liffey, bound to be here somewhere..

**imagine this conversation on repeat with the volume increasing each time**

We got there about an hour later..the Guinness was much needed by that point! Anyway we got to the hostel, settled in and went to sound check. Nice venue and sound was really good. I was first up and had 20 mins so performed 4 songs. The crowd were so attentive, you could have heard a pin drop! people seemed to dig my music and I got to chat the lots of people from all over and sold quite a lot of CDs. The other acts were really class and it was cool 

because it was an all female lineup - girl power oh yeah!! Had a few gins and then hit the hay..could get used to this lifestyle!!

TONIGHT - The Zodiac Sessions @ Bruxelles, Dublin

Allie xxx

Flashbacks & Reruns

Heyyyyy!

I haven’t blogged in a longtime..my bad! So the new EP is now out and available to buy :) You can get it on iTunes or amazon or any of the major online outlets. You can also listen to it here http://lovegumrecords.bandcamp.com/album/flashbacks-reruns or on any of my websites e.e facebook, reverbnation, soundcloud.

The EP was recorded over quite alot of months and at various times within the last year but I feel the songs work together and encapsulate the general concept of the EP which is ‘looking back and moving forward’. Reminiscing on the past…relationships, circumstances, events..but also looking towards what lies ahead. I think we all do that alot, think back on times when you maybe feel you where happier and wonder if the actions and choices you have made where the right ones and if you could have done things differently. This can be a good and bad thing. Regret is a bitch sometimes! but so is dwelling on what you cant change. So onwards and upwards I say, but its still good to remember. This is what flashbacks & reruns is about (not a record dedicated to the morning after a heavy night on the sauce)…though in saying that that happens me sometimes…ok quite alot… ;)….Anyways rant over, i got in a philosophical mode there..Have a listen to the EP and see what you think, id love to hear :)

Had a great time on tour with label mates and good friends Kiernan McMullan & Aaron Shanley. We did a show in Norwich and London (playing in O2..in the lounge area of the Indigo room…but still the 02!)..twas awesome! Did some irish dates as well which were cool..helped that I was touring with two amazing singersongwriters and despite their frequent piss taking out of poor lil me & my cultchie accent (i held my own) i had a ball! ;) Working on new material now, doing some interesting co-writes with some great folk and making a video for ‘bad’ next week.

Oh and I have swapped the 8-5 job to focus solely on music - big step but the right one for me - so far so good!! :)

Love,

Allie

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