Yesterday was a definite blood pressure raiser for sure due to issues with the Internet delaying my uploading of the podcast and forcing me into the decision to quit doing the weekly video on Facebook. However, in the grand scheme of problems, I am lucky and once I have calmed down I realise that my problems usually are not problems at all but mere inconveniences.
I attended a fundraiser last night for the family of my friend Steve McGill, a musician from Nottingham who has not been able to work since the Christmas holiday due to his daughter being in hospital with a brain tumour. I don't feel I am intruding by writing this as the story has been in the local press.
The venue was full to the rafters and despite the running order on stage being a bit of a mess, the artists were brilliant and everyone was there because they wanted to show support. A gig like this could have been a risk as it was on the same day as the inaugural Beat the Streets festival (which I missed due to shouting at my computer). A shit ton of money was raised by bucket rattling, a raffle with prizes donated, and Nina Smith managed to pull £100 in about two minutes by auctioning a hand drawn picture. It was a night of love and compassion that I doubt we'll see the like of again.
Steve understandably looked worn out but the news from McGill HQ is positive and of course everybody wanted to give their best wishes and support for someone who is genuinely one of the good guys. I didn't remember until I was walking home, but Steve recorded a session for my American show a few years ago. At the moment I am re-releasing these sessions on YouTube so as soon as I find it I am going to upload it and add a link to the Just Giving page.
At ten o'clock-ish, Steve took to the stage and after a few words of thanks he sang a stripped acoustic version of 'Stuck in a Moment' which earned him a well deserved standing ovation and thankfully it was captured.
This is usually where I ask for a donation, and I still will. Go to the fundraising page for the McGill family here.
