Psicle: Belfast Kila

Saturday, October 13, 2018

Belfast Kila

Duncan and me are off to Belfast for our brother Matt's (RIP) posthumous book launch and academic celebration of his work. Can't believe it's been three years.

Good start as EasyJet cancelled our flight Thursday evening so had to fly out from City to City airports Friday morning. That was only delayed by an hour. Our plan to hike one of the mountains above Belfast is changed to a walk along the lough so we take the train from George Best airport out to Bangor and walk back to Holywood with our packs on our backs. Lovely walk with great views and we wish we were up higher. Our digs are clean and we have a quiet night with a swift couple at the local where we catch the end of a singer guitarist then back home to cook. Saturday we're up for a walk along the river with rowers and then through the botanical gardens and the newly opened tropical ravine. Quite a shock going into 35 degrees at 90% humidity. In the afternoon we go to Queens University to see Veronique and colleagues at the book launch and celebration of Matt's work. Some lovely things said about him both in the group and after over wine one to one. After a couple of drinks in the pub we go back home to cook. Then we taxi to O-Donnell's GAA a sort of social club to see Veronique and bands. First up a young woman playing various instruments who was very good in a folky way. I guess all tonight is Irish / folk. Jack Mac the guitarist who plays an excellent set ending with a folkified rendition of Teenage Dirtbag. Great stuff. Then a foursome who are known only by the two main attractions Barry & Laura Kerr. Pretty good standard Irish standards, as far as I could tell anyway. Included the evocative and inspiring uilleann pipes, which are a sort of pumped bagpipe I think. By this time there are a few up jigging about in a half hearted way. The place is filling up and the silence for the bands is over with an increasingly noisy drinking crowd. Sorry to those who don't like it but that's the way it goes off the north west of Europe. Next and last up are Kila who don't care about the noise as they drown out chatting anyway and look like they wouldn't whisper whilst downing pints of Guinness and Harp. Kila are a noisy Irish folk band think Pogues rather than, well, Barry and Laura. They are a great mix of world music (I mean that in a good dance way), Irish rock with a decent number of tunes hitting a real funky beat (great bassist). They have an anarchic festival band feel which I hope is good vibes for tomorrow (it ain't). By this time everyone is on their feet and grooving about. Even the kids at the back looking cool in front of their mates and wannahaveasmates. A great end to the day and indeed to the end of Féile Na Carraige 18. Sunday I'm up too early to get Glastonbury tickets failing miserably as are nearly everyone I know but at least the agony is only for 23 minutes not hours like it used to be. I have the same bad luck trying to get Post Malone tickets for Lils later in the week. After that excitement we're off into the Belfast drizzle to walk around St Georges market and down along the riverside. The a quick one in the Crown opposite the bus station before hauling off to the airport and home. A good weekend with a bit of walking and unexpected(ly) good music.