Here's the trailer for the Pieta Brown and Bo Ramsey film I've just completed - The full version will be up within a day or so.



Today was an eerily similar repeat performance of the last time we played Bergen, for me anyway. I woke in Oslo, the alarm blasting out 'Night Rider' by Speedy West at 5am as my good friend Vidar Ruud had arranged for another appearance on 'God Morgen Norge' the ever popular breakfast TV show here in Oslo. The viewership has risen steadily since the last time we were here and is now over 200,000, not bad for a country with a total population of merely 4 million. Two years ago I woke even earlier but I guess they start a little later nowadays, plus I had only agreed to perform one song plus a brief interview. I must say, the whole experience was fun and Vidar had faithfully learned my steel guitar slide parts as we mimed the instruments and I sang a live vocal. A lot of the same crew were there at the tv station and they all recognized me from last time, the sound man complementing me several times on the music saying it was a lovely way to start the day. I performed and actually enjoyed very much singing 'Flame of Blue' from the 'Natural Selection' album and the hosts, who's names escape me..again, chatted to me about the album, Mark and other irrelevant stuff. We were all done by 9:40 so I shook Vidar's hand and walked back to the hotel and went straight back to bed where I slept for two hours. By then it was time to pack, I had rather cunningly written and compiled the day's diary entry at the TV studio so could spend the available time catching up on sleep.



We checked out of the Grand but were not allowed to exit via the front of the hotel as the French prime minister was there and the place was swarming with police. We made a discreet exit via the tradesman's entrance, if you catch my drift.

The final trek to the airport and we were on board the Legacy once more west-bound for Bergen. This is one of the most beautiful flights across Norway we've ever done but today there was too much cloud to really appreciate it but I did manage to get a few shots on our approach.



We landed into the strong northerly wind and taxi'd slowly to what looked like a little cul-de-sac next to some logs,



Bernie and the team collected us and we set off for the venue. Traffic is always an issue here as geographically, there's only one way to get to the gig, which is right across town but today there seemed to be more tunnels than last time and the journey was pretty pain-free. We arrived and decided not to sound check, the last three shows have been sound check-free and the sound has been brilliant with the crew really in their stride now. It was nice to play indoors again as the outside temperature was a little low. The cavernous football arena had all the hallmarks of a potentially difficult sounding hall but I asked Dave Dixon about it and he said that last time it sounded pretty good in there. Maybe something to do with the GIANT back cloth hanging at the rear of the venue, serving as a visual shield and a slap-back preventer. The photo doesn't quite illustrate the size..





Chris, Angus and Mike in catering



The show was another good one with some 'different' versions of the same songs. The crowd seemed a bit more reserved but were as warm as anything and by the end they were all up on their feet an applauding like mad. We left and were police escorted slowly away from the venue through the departing crowds with many fans waving in at us in the cars as we crept away. Once clear, it was a speedy run to the plane where we met a customs official who was there to see our passports on departure??? He stood at the foot of the steps to the plane and refused to come onboard to check our documents, which is the norm, insisting we come and greet him individually. Very strange behavior.




The flight back in the still bright sunshine was as pleasant as it could have been. Because of the early showtime (7:30pm) it was only 10:30pm when we took off. We gained an hour too, so by the time we arrived in Luton, it was just before 11:30pm UK time. Immigration at Luton used to be a breeze but for some obscure reason they have clamped down and now insist that all private (GA terminal) passports must be processed by the officials in the main terminal, pretty infuriating as we are all kept on board the plane for an hour. Still, it is amazing that we have the opportunity to fly home for the day which of course the private plane allows. I share a car with Dan and on the way home we talk about how fortunate we are and how unique our modes of transport really are. I know I talk a lot about the plane in the diaries and the luxury of the cars etc. but it all comes at a price and Mark chooses this option. Very few artists are fortunate enough or indeed actually prepared to fork out on these things which ultimately mean that as a band, we are in as good a shape as possible when we take to the stage each night. Judging by the reports, I think it's working.
Show/Hide
14th June - Bergen - Vestlandshallen

Get Lucky Tour 2010