Rum and Not Rum

As if two 6 am rises were not enough for this weekend... Today included about 11 hours of driving, and the culmination of the weekend...

Billy Bragg, at Queen's Hall in Edinburgh.

Supported by Sound of Rum, a rap act with blonde, female vocalist and rapper Katie Tempest - though I am not sure that she is the daughter of Troy and Marjory Tempest, so it's maybe a pseudonym. She kicked off with a nice poem, some social commentary and a little bit of politics. Sort of Barbara Good meets Gil Scott-Heron. Her incidental banter was good too - the Tempests brought her up well. However, I don't see the point in a rap act (especially a politically motivated, message carrying one) that drowns out the lyrics with a poor mix, and too much drum and bass. Hopefully they will improve.

And then the main attraction. Billy Bragg was fantastic. In what felt like a hugely diverse audience, although it may be his normal crowd, he was captivating. He is a poet, folk singer, commentator. I guess he would call himself an activist. But most of all, he is a story teller, and a fine musician. It was almost a greatest hits style gig, with 30 years worth of classics interspersed with chat both personal and political.

If you have not listened to, or witnessed, Billy Bragg then I suggest you make an effort to do so.

A great end to a busy weekend.