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Friday last week we were at the lovely Auckland arms for a gig in their friendly, receptive hostelry, it was a great gig, lovely audience who were so appreciative and I hammed it up something chronic, so very enjoyable for me  The back again for another lively and fabulously fun jam on the Sunday. I was playing piano here and there as is now the usual thing, enjoying myself again in a most unbecoming way! The most splendid Chris Morley was there also tinkling the ivories and we did a bit of cutting in, switching places during a song. Not done that before, much fun! It can get very loud at the jam so anyone singing needs to sing very loud too and after 3 songs I was nearly hoarse! Back to the piano! 

You never really know how a gig is going to go and it would not be unreasonable to say that we were all experiencing a little trepidation at the booking we had for Wednesday eve. We were requested as part of the local Music In Detention http://www.musicindetention.org.uk/ project to play to the gentlemen in the local Immigration removal centre. It was to be an interactive gig with encouragement to those interred to join in with percussion, voice and movement. So, we went in, very slowly, only one car allowed, picture ID required - (guess who forgot their passport and had to go home to get it - answers in the comments box, here's a clue - who's always the biggest challenge in any band!? ) many gates and doors locked behind us and into the exercise yard. It was, without doubt the most complicated access procedure we have ever gone through to play! We were finally all in and settled in the yard and the detainees began to filter out into the yard after tea. Well, our nerves were all in vain, it was one of the most satisfying gigs we've ever done! They listened attentively, as soon as the percussion instruments appeared about 3 songs in they were immediately joining in and some were dancing too. After about 2/3 of our set a couple of gents decided they would like to sing too so they came and requested the mic and we had some lovely traditional Punjab songs and a wonderful song to celebrate the end of Ramadan. The whole atmosphere was one of collaboration and celebration from start to finish. Such a surprise considering our trepidation. So you just never know which ones are going to be the best gigs and they can be so surprising!