The Glasgow PodcART

Its 1.26am, Bank Holiday Monday and I am reading emails and messages regarding PodcART.

I woke up to a thirst like no other after a raucous weekend and milk was calling my name with its luscious dairy temptation. I am addicted to milk I must drink well over the Daily Recommended Allowance.

The last week has been a rollercoaster. Monday we had the beautiful Panda Su and the intriguing Adam in for a live set in the PodcART Hub. It moved me to tears as if everything seems to do these days, I really have to get hold of this emotion thing and push it back into its ‘Shawshank’ black hole. ‘The Song About The Alphabet’ is addictive; I keep skipping the Podcast to the place where it starts and singing along like an excitable child. ‘Pot Kettle Black’ was the song to cause my latest emotional release; we are not talking Niagara Falls crying here, merely a trickling woodland secret stream. It was enough to show that the song affected me though. If you have been in a relationship that someone has cheated on you or their love has gone to another person after the breakdown of your relationship then this will play your body chords with both hands. ‘You swore I was the first thing, now I’m nothing. Well I’d be the last thing on your mind’, frankly one of those simple lines that we can all relate to.

Friday night I went to see the Belfast band And So I Watch You From Afar. They are the best live band I have had the pleasure of witnessing. They are in every sense of the word musicians and their stage presence and I will be writing in full about them at some time in the normal part of today. I was lucky enough to grab an interview with Tony from the band and I will be putting that up. They are playing Captain’s Rest May 7^th and we are there with bells on.

Saturday Will arrived from Belfast (our web designer). It was the first meeting unbelievably with him and the rest of the PodcART crew and he left about 6 hours ago. I miss him already. He is the most wonderful, warm, enthusiastic being. To meet someone that I originally started this idea with right from the word go was somewhat poignant. The rest of the boys and I cannot wait to have him and Paddy over for Hinterland, it cannot come quick enough.

Saturday night also saw our first major gig at Stereo. Burning Codes, Robyn G Shiels and Yahweh. The staff and sound engineer at Stereo were amazing and if anyone is looking for a venue that provides warm friendly staff, great food, a venue that is quite incredible and just a vibe that makes you feel as if you have known these people for ages then this is your place.

Meeting Paul Archer was significant, I have ‘worked’ alongside Paul for about 4 years now but we have never met. He is an individual to never be forgotten and the interest he has for every single word you say makes you feel as special as holding your fathers hand for the first time.

The performances by each act spoke for themselves, Yahweh interpret their perfect debut album on stage in ways that I never thought possible. Lewis Cook on guitar with a cellist, a violinist and drummer play in a way that makes you think they have been gigging for years. You have to see this act live and they are going to be huge.

Robyn G Shiels now has a full band and his new album is going to make the hairs on your neck dance like Dandelion flowers dance on the air when you blow them. His voice is smoother than the Clyde River on days when the air is silent and the moon casts its gaze down on it.

Burning Codes, ‘For All Time’ took the wind from me, Emma Curran performed a duet with Paul Archer and some of us were open mouthed. Two people together that I care enormously about singing such a beautiful song counts as one of those times you do not forget in a hurry. Sid, Dan and Nick who also create this band are funny and magical.

I have to say special words to Sean and Ally. For all that meet Ally he is someone that I understand on a different level and he understands me. Our thought processes are the same and he has this tattoo on his arm with the words ‘smALL gReen tABLE’ I have highlighted some of the letters to show a message. This is Ally’s cryptic way of showing his belief and for me something as simple yet prolific as that makes me smile every time I see it. He is in love with this project more than me I think sometimes.

Sean is my rock; in life in this I could not do it without him. We fight like fuck sometimes but I think it adds to the dynamic and when he makes up rhymes with my name like ‘HiFi, drive by, dry pie’ you cannot really let that leave your life.

We move on now to Hinterland and we are all very, very excited. Claire and the gang have been amazing to us and they really have helped put us on the map.

So (she sighs), it is 9 weeks in. We have achieved an enormous amount of things this week I have started an animal confectionary collection inspired by Panda Su and her presents. I am up to six items now, there was talk of a dog piñata with a real dog but as I explained that is animal cruelty.

A busy week is ahead. I like these quiet moments however to reflect on the busy ones, it means I can collect my thoughts like pennies in a jar and they do not leave me. It also means that I can catch up on things like Come Dine With Me that seems to be a widespread addiction. I want the commentator to dictate my life in a Stranger Than Fiction way. Maybe time for one more glass of milk…….

Halina x