{"id":1934,"date":"2019-09-07T16:54:50","date_gmt":"2019-09-07T15:54:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/millarandspencer.co.uk\/blog\/?p=1934"},"modified":"2019-11-14T17:39:04","modified_gmt":"2019-11-14T17:39:04","slug":"moray-jazz-club-braemar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/millarandspencer.co.uk\/blog\/archives\/1934","title":{"rendered":"Moray Jazz Club & Braemar"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

We started September with two concerts that we had been looking forward to for a long time. The first one was at the Moray Jazz Club<\/a> in Elgin. It was our first appearance at the club, situated in the social club at Elgin City Football Club’s ground. The journey up to Moray took us through the Malt Whisky Trail. We passed signs for many, many distilleries: Ballindalloch, Glenfarclas, Glenlivet, Aberlour, Glen Grant, Knockando, Cardhu, Glenfiddich, Glen Moray, Strathisla, Speyside…..to name a few!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

See Elgin City Football Club on Google Maps<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The audience at the club were very warm, friendly and appreciative. An encore was duly supplied! It was very weird waking up in our Tour Bus inside a football ground! I managed to fit in a 4 mile run the next morning through Cooper Park and along the cycle paths following the River Lossie. Very nice!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Distillery Road Signs in the Rain


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Elgin City Football Club from the road


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Elgin City FC from the pitch


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Our Tour Bus at Elgin City FC
(Moray Jazz Club was in the building behind us)


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Unfortunately, our sat nav broke. So we had to use an ancient system of navigation called “a map<\/em>“! We set off at 9am, since our next gig was at lunchtime in Braemar. It was a very scenic journey, taking us through Glen Fiddich – the valley this time, not the drink! We passed through Ballater with all the giant Royal crests on the outside of shops and businesses that the Royal Family use (the Queen’s Highland residence of Balmoral is nearby). Then continued on past Crathie Kirk, where the Royal Family are always seen going into on New Year’s Day, and past the entrance to Balmoral itself. Its the first time we’ve been in the area when the Queen was actually staying there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We were told a story that happened a couple of weeks ago at Balmoral. Apparently, the Queen was walking around the grounds with her (plain clothed) police body guard, wearing her “civvies” (i.e. headscarf and coat). Not recognising her, an American tourist asked her if she had ever met the Queen. She said she hadn’t but (pointing to her body guard) he has!!!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Click here to see Crathie Kirk and Balmoral on Google Maps<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Crathie Kirk near Balmoral


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Crathie Kirk


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This sign was 9 miles from Braemar!


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As we neared Braemar there were many road signs warning of queuing traffic. This one was 9 miles away! The Braemar Gathering was on the next day. This is the Highland Games that the Royal Family always attend. They expect 15,000 people or more to attend. Some famous people are there too. Here’s Dame Judy Dench<\/a> arriving at a hotel in Braemar. Not the best photos of her, I’m sure you’ll agree!!! She was facing me, but by the time I got my camera out…..<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here’s a newspaper feature about her trip to Braemar<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Click here to see Braemar on Google Maps<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Dame Judy Dench arriving in Braemar


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Dame Judy Dench
(or “M” from James Bond, as Dom said rather too loudly!)


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Our concert was in the afternoon at St Margaret’s Arts Centre.<\/a> Brian, who is part of the committee, came to see us play in the Edinburgh Festival Fringe last year (2018), and asked us of we would like to perform in Braemar. We of course said “yes”! We were booked very soon after that. Fantastic! (and we’ve been asked back next year!). It is a truly beautiful performance space. An old church with absolutely amazing acoustics. The saxophone almost played itself!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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St Margaret’s Braemar & our Tour Bus


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Notice board with our poster


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Another notice board in Braemar with our poster


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The stage area inside St Margaret’s, Braemar


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Guarded from above!


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On the floor in the Green Room


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The view of from the door of the venue


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Professional photographer, Dale Johnson<\/strong> took photos and video of us performing:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ian on soprano saxophone
photo by Dale Johnson


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photo by Dale Johnson<\/em>


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photo by Dale Johnson<\/em>


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photo by Dale Johnson<\/em>


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You can watch a video of us performing too, courtesy of Dale Johnson:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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