Support: Allan Savage
Support: John and Dave

It was a cold night but there was a good turn out of Cramlington regulars and a few new faces in the audience.

First up was Allan Savage with 3 songs from Scotland, including club favourites 'Nicky Tams' and 'Skyline of Skye'. John and Dave sang 'The Battle Is Over' (described by Dave as one of their "tree hugger songs"), 'Love Hurts' and the Maurice Dickson song 'Wine & Roses' featuring some delicate guitar accompaniment.

Guest, Robin Laing, told us that the first half would be mainly whisky related! He began with a tribute (not a hymn) 'More Than Just a Dram' extolling the many virtues of single malt. He followed this with an unaccompanied Glasgow temperance song from the 1850s 'A Tall Tale', a comic story of the Glasgow man banned by his wife from drinking in his own house! Next was a lively song 'Whisky & Women' with some interesting wordplay (he even invited us to come up with new lyrics too). 'The Queer Folk in the Shaws' was a cautionary tale about whisky getting the better of one's amorous intentions. Then we had a number of songs written by Robin about Isla distilleries - 'Bruichladdich', 'We Can't Let Al Qaeda Get Their Hands On This', 'Reaching Home' (first public performance of this song which includes references to many of the whisky variants), and a gentle song about our affinity with islands. He finished the 1st half with a goodnight whisky song called 'Tak A Dram Afore Ye Go' which had the Cramlington Choir in full voice.

There was just enough time then for a quick break, a natter and a raffle.

Allan came on for his 2nd set and sang the Matt McGinn song 'Manura Manyah' which had the harmonies ringing throughout the whole room, and he finished with Dougie McLean's 'Caledonia'. For their 2nd set John and Dave sang Eric Andersen's 'Thirsty Boots' and the Gordon Lightfoot song 'Early Morning Rain' which again had the Cramlington choir singing along.

Robin began his 2nd set with two poems by Robert Louis Stevenson which had been set to music - 'The Lamplighter' and 'Shadow March'. The remaining songs were all self penned - 'David & Goliath' about a Clydesdale horse, 'Born In The Blossom Time' written for his daughter Maisie and then 'The Laughing Boy' written for his son Hamish. Then we had the story of Donald Cameron's Victoria Cross followed by a song about the benefits of coffee (another of Robin's favourite drinks!). He ended his set with a new number entitled 'Wedding Song' which he had written at the request of his eldest daughter for her wedding. The lyrics are a fine example of Robin's wordcrafting skills. After Keith had thanked everyone, Robin encored with the much requested 'Black Clothes'.

A grand night enjoyed by all. We look forward to Robin's next visit.

Special thanks to John and Dave on the sound with help from John Redpath and Mike Hughes.