As we are currently travelling, this page is under constant development!
The video and images immediately below show the journey we will make across Europe to see the musical acts and their support guests. Plenty of firsts including first time in Zurich, Graz, Munich, Verona, Pompeii, Naples, Lucerne, Cologne and Dusseldorf.
#AtoZMusicTour #RaceAcrossEurope
Holidays have never been a big thing for me however last year, Bronagh Bell convinced me there was a way to look forward to an extended break doing what I love best, attending musical gigs.
Last year we saw artists play in #Hamburg, #Berlin, #Prague, #Vienna, #Milan, #Strasbourg and #London, moving across Europe with our #Interrail pass, happily toggling ahead of each dayโs travel. We even included a celebratory gig to see The Jesus and Mary Chain in #Edinburgh to polish the whole trip off.
The travelling abroad, weโre from #Scotland, was a real eye opener. Maybe we were just lucky, but the whole journey was pretty seamless and some of the views we enjoyed moving from city to city were pretty spectacular.
Moving forward a year and a bit, weโre starting the #EuropeanTour, or #RaceAcrossEurope as we’re calling it, again with a day of travel from #Glasgow to #Paris via #London. This is ahead of a musical journey that is planned to take us to #Zurich, #Graz, #Zagreb, #Munich, #BassanoDelGrappa, #Cattolica, #Pompeii, #Naples, #Lucerne, #Wiesbaden, #Cologne, # Dusseldorf then back home to sunny, I hope, #Glasgow.
5 July – #Glasgow, #London, #Paris, #Scotland, #England, #France #Interrail
Much as I love my hometown city, there isnโt much to crow about our railway stations, there are a few exceptions of course, but #Muirend to #GlasgowCentral can be a pretty drab journey at the best of times.
We can recommend the first class #Avanti Lounge in Glasgow Central though, especially if you only have a short time to spend before moving on.
However, if you do have time to spare there is plenty to see with a bit of research and there are always some festivals or special events taking place..
Itโs the cityโs 850th Birthday this year and to find out more visit https://www.glasgow850.com/
For more information about the city you can also visit https://www.visitglasgow.com/
So thatโs the plug for my city over. Onwards to London and Paris.
#London
Some of the family gathering outside the station to wish us well for the rest of the trip!
Euston and St Pancras may be a short walking distance away, however when it comes to looking at the immediate locality, one remains stuck in the 1970s while the other is at the heart of a prosperous re-development. No doubt the Eurostar service has something to do with that.
Like Glasgow, there is nothing much to keep you inside the fabric of the building in Euston. St. Pancras on the other hand has the look and feel of many European main stations, with high quality shops and eateries aplenty.
Only gripe on this leg of the trip would be that once through passport control you are herded into a crowded environment looking for a space to sit and rest before being called to the gate.
Difficult to travel without some background music and during the trip I’ll also be including an album each day from the collection – #ThroughTheSpeakers #LatestAlbum
6 July – #Paris, #France, Interrail
While a direct #LondonStPancras #Eurostar to #GaredeNord Paris train, we can’t fail but mention the channel tunnel crossing points of #Folkestone and #Calais with the line heading south to #Paris once it reaches #Lille
Reflections of Paris – 5-8 July
The pictures below cover some of the touristy things we done. All the usual suspects were ticked off along the way though heavy rain put a damper on any out of the way spots.
As an unseasoned traveller, I found it pretty stress free despite a total lack of any language skills. It is a bit embarrassing wherever you go the locals at least have a smidgen of English and to be fair even the best of them struggle with my accent so pointing and nodding has just about got me through.
Travelling around the city
We had bought our Metro travel passes on arrival at Gare du Nord and put 20 Euros on to each, which was more than enough to cover the next few days travel and proved to be a bit of a godsend when the heavens opened and walking became a bit of a challenge.
While both Gare du Nord and Gare du Lyon are big by Glasgow Central standard, once you get your bearings they’re just like any other. Very busy and full of tourists scampering about with oversized suitcases and back packs! ๐
As per the pics below, we ended up visiting all the tourist traps in terms of sites around the city, though we had planned to go see Jim Morrison’s grave in Pรจre-Lachaise Cemetery where he is buried with the liked of Oscar Wilde and Edif Piaf. I’d also wanted to visit the steps leading up to and down from La Basilique du Sacrรฉ-Cลur but that was to recreate some of the scenes from John Wick 4!
With rain descending at a horrendous rate (and please take note it’s not just Glasgow that suffers from rainstorms in July), we decided to take the bus tour run by Tootbus as much to get about without getting soaked but also to see some of the places we probably wouldn’t have been able to do on foot. A good decision, though might suggest that if looking for something to eat or drink when leaving at one of the designated bus stops you wander a few streets away for a more relaxed time, and probably a little bit cheaper too.
Food
There’s a recognition that French cooking is amongst the best in the world and, based on our own choices for breakfast, lunch and dinner, there’s no denying the superior quality of food and drink we were served. The staff were always very pleasant and understanding about our lack of language skills and the food was as tasty and healthy as you could hope for. Even morning coffees felt superior.
I’m not that sure about ever recommending eateries as everyone has their own particular tastes, no pun intended, however we were very fortunate in eating at three venues for either an evening meal or extended lunch.
The Restaurant Georgette, 44 rue d’assas, was a lucky find for lunch as we wandered from Notre Dame towards The Luxembourg Gardens. Food was lovely, well served and the staff were great and helpful about the items on the menu we weren’t too sure about. Filled us up too for the rest of the afternoon walk.
We’d already pre-booked an evening meal right beside the Gare du Lyon, The European, 21 bis Bd Diderot, thanks to a recommendation on the Interrail for the Older Crowd, yes I passed that test many moons ago!. Like the Georgette the food was top quality and, being next to the railway station it kind of ticks off two boxes all at once.
Finally, ahead of the going at the Accor Arena for Nine Inch Nails we took a rain break and headed in doors to the Brasserie Valois, 1 Pl. Rio de Janeiro. Succulent I think is how the experts describe good food. Definitely filled a space for the rest of the day.
Vinyl Record Stores
Most record shops only seem to operate Tuesday through Sunday in Paris I was quite Lucky, no pun intended again, to find Lucky Records and an album by French artists, Shaka Ponk. Bought on an absolute whim, the album suggested a bit of a rocking album and delighted to announce that on first listening the album sounds ok.
7 July, #Paris, #France
The first of the gigs on this year’s European leg of our #AtoZMusicalTour took place at the Accor Arena with Nine Inch Nails
8 July, #Paris, #Zurich, #France, #Switzerland, #Interrail
After a superb gig by Nine Inch Nails, we travelled across from France to Switzerland to see Amyl And The Sniffers play at X-TRA
Reflections of Zurich
Another early morning start as we left Paris Gare De Lyon heading for Zurich and the second gig on our #RaceAcrossEurope Tour. A journey full of exceptional mountain and valley views, especially from the panoramic coach weโd managed to book into.
While the train offered a restaurant to enjoy, the food available was fairly limited so again if you are a fussy eater, it would be well worth your while to pick up a bag of savouries and drinks to keep you going throughout the four hour journey.
It was so far so good re the travel plans with the train leaving and arriving on time. Time enough to stroll through one half of the city centre with its upmarket shops. One thing youโll never be short of is time in Zurich. Every other store appeared to be selling watches, with advertising highlighting celebrities from the world of film and sport, happy to put their name to the brand.
Safely arriving and checking in to the hotel, we headed out looking for something substantial to eat ahead of the gig after that evening and substantial certainly describes the meal we had in the James Joyce Restaurant, Pelikanstrasse 8, 8001.
The Irish connection was evident, not an Irish pub we were told! throughout the restaurant and the staff were happy to re-tell the story of why it was named after the Irish writer who lived and is buried in the city.
Where Zurich comes alive though is in the old town, churches as ever are prominent throughout this part of the city, and one houses the largest clock face in the whole of Europe. The St. Peter’s Church has a clock face with a diameter of 8.7 meters (28.5 feet). The church itself is the oldest in Zurich, with parts dating back to the 9th century. The clock tower was completed in 1534.
Iโm not at all religious, but itโs difficult not to be impressed by all the church buildings that abound across Europe. Elegantly designed and built they have lasted hundreds of years and the ones atop mountains have to be seen to be believed. Closer to their God or a method of penitence for each visit on the steep slopes?
A hoped-for highlight was to visit Cabaret Voltaire, as much for the name of the band about to make an appearance in Glasgow later this year as for the place where Dadaism began. Cabaret Voltaire is the birthplace of the Dada art movement, founded in 1916. It was founded by Hugo Ball and Emmy Hennings as a cabaret intended for artistic and political purposes.
Dadaism was an anti-establishment art movement that emerged during World War I. It rejected traditional artistic values and embraced absurdity, irrationality, and chance, often using satirical and nonsensical elements. I might take up Dadaism myself knowing this. Unfortunately, the venue was closed, so no more absurd facts are available at this time.
Vinyl Record Stores
Where would I have been without a search engine and the internet to narrow down the location and stock of record shops across our trip? Zurich didnโt disappoint on this count either.
Katalog Record Warehouse, Weinbergstrasse 31, 8006, looked an interesting place to explore. For any crate diggers reading this, youโve no doubt spent many a happy hour trawling through all the boxes of records available in store in the hope you find something of interest. While not having a whole stack of time, the layout inside the shop made it fairly easy to find a couple of boxes that might spark my interest and I can now admit to owning a copy of An Invisible World Revealed by Krokodilm which was released in 1971.
The Gig
If it wasnโt for the gigs being our reason for taking part in the #RaceAcrossEurope with our Interrail pass I wouldnโt be writing this. Amyl and the Sniffers are an Australian pub rock and punk band with Amy Taylor a livewire who fronts the band and put in an electrifying performance.
The review of the gig can be found here.
8 July, #Zurich, #Graz #Switzerland, #Lichenstein, #Austira, #Interrail
Reflections of Graz
The Journey
#Zurich, #Sargans, #BuchsSg, #Feldkirch, #Bludenz, #St.AntonAmAlberg, #Landeck-Zams, #Oetzal, #Innsbruk, #Jenbach, #Woergl, #KirchberginTirol, #Kitzbuehel, #St.JohanninTirol, #Saalfelden, #ZellAmSee, #Schwarzach-StVeit, #St.JohannImPongau, #Bischofshofen, #Radstadt, #Schmadming, #Stainach-Irdning, #Liezen, #Selzthal, #St.MichaelsInObersteiermark, #Leoben, #Graz
It might only by 325 miles in a straight line from Zurich to Graz, however, Interrailing is never about the straight-line distance and much of the beauty is passing through all the towns, valleys and landscapes that run alongside and beyond the tracks.
In the case of this particular trip, the journey was scheduled to last 9 hours and 34 minutes and we can have no complaints about the timings as we arrived in Graz just after 6pm as expected. An immediate bonus after such a time on the train was the proximity of our hotel, directly across the road from the station.
The usual internet searching suggested that the main city attractions, restaurants and shopping area was in and around the old town area and so it proved. Probably a ten to fifteen-minute walk from the station, across the River Mur and we found ourselves in the โold townโ area. By this time, we were hankering for our main meal of the day, and we settled down at the Peponne Pizzeria, Franziskanerpl. 11, 8010. While the food and service were more than ok, hindsight suggested we should have walked for a few more minutes into the โmodernโ area of the town to get a better flavour, no pun intended, of the local cuisine. Still, when youโre hungry, you donโt always make the best decisions.
Knowing the lay of the land better on our second day in Graz, we were able to see how nice a city it actually is. Plenty of historical sights of interest, plenty of shopping opportunities and a couple of record shops to target in the search for more vinyl.
Like the rest of this #RaceAcrossEurope tour, the visit was organised to see Yamato, The Drummers of Japan. While writing this post we still have over half the gigs to go to, I very much doubt whether any venue will match the grandeur of the Opera House in Graz, with the possible exception of Nick Cave in the Pompeii Amphitheatre.
For anyone familiar with Opera Houses, the exterior of the buildings hides the magnificence and opulence of the setting once inside. Sweeping staircases, chandeliers, gold leafed ceilings and staff only too willing to guide you to your seat. The only downside of this particular show was the inability to photograph the magnificent performance put on by the group.
See the review of the show here.
We had settled into an eating pattern of a late and long lunch on the day of a gig and a late dinner if it was a notional โfreeโ night off.
In the case of Graz, we went to Operncafe, Opernring 22, 8010. Sitting outside, the pace of life seemed to slow to walking pace as we sat back and served with some tasty local food. As the name suggests, it was almost within site of the opera house and would recommend the restaurant for anyone that maybe take in a performance at the opera house itself.
Vinyl Record Stores
Another โaspectโ of our #RaceAcrossEurope is to pick up some vinyl of a local band, local including any band based or formed in the country we are visiting. The first record shop I found, Inandout Records looked like it might be the place to tick off the Austrian selection, however unfortunately it wasnโt to be the case and I was re-directed back to a store Iโd passed earlier in the day Dux Records, Annenstraรe 7, 8020. Iโm sure I asked if they had anything that might be termed post-punk or psychedelic rock. Obviously, the request was lost in translation, and I managed to leave the shop with a punk/metal album from Discure and a compilation of local bands too. On first listening, that old saying โYou win some You lose someโ rings true!!
11 July, #Graz, #Zagreb, #Austria, #Slovenia, #Croatia, #Interrail
#Day8 Zagreb Reflections on the city
As the crow flies the distance between Graz and Zagreb isnโt that great, just over 90 miles. However, we werenโt flying by Crow Airways and instead settled for the long train journey, leaving Austria, touching base with Slovenia and eventually arriving in Zagreb.
The train journey to Zagreb itself looked like this – #Graz, #Maribour, #Pragersko, #Celje, #Sevnica, #Krsko, #Dobova, #Zagreb.
If you intend to make this journey too then suggest you stock up well with food and drink beforehand as there didnโt appear to be any options to buy refreshments when you got on board.
The city itself has had more than its fair share of ups and downs in the past couple of decades including a fairly substantial earthquake in 2020 at the height of the covid pandemic. Consequently, renovation work in the immediate aftermath was severely delayed and now many parts of the city remain building sites with a great deal of the โattractionsโ still closed to citizens and tourists.
Like many cities, everything you might need for a short stay is built around the footprint of the old historical city and once youโve walked around the city centre for a few hours everything seems quite familiar.
The people are very warm and friendly, especially in the restaurants, cafes and bars where they are only too keen to help you choose from the menus available, though as we found out, sometimes the printed menu acts more like a โguideโ to what โmightโ be available on the day. Good food though.
On the restaurant front weโd be quite happy to recommend both Ribice i tri toฤkice and Theatrium by Filho to visit, though Theatrium by Filho is a bit more up market of the two. And for a man who loves his soup, I can testify that the Prawn spicy soup that Theatrium by Filho served up to me was amongst the best I have ever tasted. Top 5 with a bullet as they say! Their version of Tom Kha Gai, coconut sphere, lemongrass, chili, chive, prawns.
Plenty of historical interest if thatโs why you came calling. For me though it was a trip to Woodstock. Woodstock the record store that is, and I found the owner was only too happy to guide me in the direction of Croation bands with a nod to psychedelic/pot punk music.
As a result, both Goran Bare & Majke and Elektryczny Orgazm have been added to the collection.
The #RaceAcrossEurope is all about attending gigs and The Kills performed a great set in the Tvornica Kulture.
Review of the gig can be found here
The pictures here capture some of what the city has to offer with a little fun thrown in for good measure!
13 July, #Zagreb, #Munich, #Austria, #Slovenia, #Croatia, #Germany #Interrail
Reflections of Munich
The Journey
#Zagreb, #Zapresic, #Dobova, #Krsko, #Sevnica, #Lasko, #Celje, #Poljcane, #Pragersko, #Maribor, #Spiefield-Strass, #Leibnitz, #Graz, #Leoben, #St.MichaelsInObersteier, #Selzthal, #Liezen, #Stainach-Irdning, #Schladming, #Radstadt, #Bishofshofen, #Werfen, #Golling-Abtenau, #Hallein, #Salzburg Sued, #Salzburg Hbf, #Freilassing, #Traunstein, #Prien Am Chiemsee, #Rosenheim, #Muenchen Ost, #Muenchen Hbf
The journey reminds me of an old Beatles song, The Long and Winding Road. Over 10 hours of travel, though we did pass through Croatia, Slovenia, Austria and Germany. We kicked off by retracing our #Graz to #Zagreb route, changing trains back in the Austrian city to guide us to #Munich.
Luckily, so far, the efficiency of the rail service was making the journey stress free, and we were again able to enjoy the scenery as the trains cut through the Alpine Mountain range.
There is something awe inspiring about the infrastructure that is built in and around the steep hillsides in the Alpine range and hats off to the people who live and work on these mountain ranges.
Immediately in and around Munich Hbf there is an awful lot of building work going on and you have to be wary of trams, lorries, cars and bicycles flying by you without a care in their world.
Once settled in the hotel room, it was off for a wander around the city centre, take in some of the immediate sites and grab a bite to eat for dinner. Big city. Big crowds of locals and tourists alike. Big monuments reflecting Bavarian history with the centre awash with old churches, local government administration buildings and a bustling shopping hub.
Hungry after a long day travelling, we decided to dine a few streets away from the main thoroughfare Marienplatz. Berni’s Nudelbrett, Peterspl. 8, 80331, an Italian restaurant. Not what you would call local food, but it helped fill the gap as they say! Service could have been a bit better though which was the only fault we could find.
The Hotel we stayed at may have been close to the station and not in a salubrious setting, however what it missed in terms of its immediate surroundings it more than made up for with the room. The Eurostars Book Hotel, Schwanthalerstraรe 44, 80336 is a literary-themed hotel known for its unique design and focus on books. Each floor is dedicated to a specific literary genre, and the corridors and guestrooms feature elements inspired by famous writings. The hotel provided a number of little extra touches that come with much grander and more expensive hotels, so if the budget stretches, then happy to recommend this one.
A good nightโs rest and we were all set up for a busy day, ending with Patti Smith at the Tollwood Festival. A lot of this involved walks on the immediate outskirts of the city centre including the English Gardens, a recommended restaurant the Augustiner-Keller, Arnulfstraรe 52, 80335 which is only a few hundred yards from one of the entrances to the main station too, and of course, a record shop!
Vinyl Record Stores
Keeping to a musical theme the Travis song, Why Does it Always Rain On Me, was in our thoughts as we meandered, at power walking pace, first to Optimal Records, Kolosseumstraรe 6, 80469. As record stores go, I reckon I would happily spend an hour or more every time I was in the city. A fairly extensive vinyl selection, mostly new but with some second hand too. You can even take an album and play it on one of the record players made available for customers to listen to what theyโre buying. Die Goldenen Zirotnen with their 1998 album release Dead School Hamburg duly added to the collection!
Things youโd never expect to see
The Michael Jackson shrine in Munich is actually a statue of the Renaissance composer Orlando di Lasso that fans have repurposed as a memorial for the pop star. It’s located in front of the Bayerischer Hof Hotel, Promenadepl. 2-6, 8033, where Jackson often stayed, and fans began leaving tributes there shortly after his death in 2009.
Surfing in Munich
(Not internet surfing it has to be said!!) At this point the steady drizzle had materialised into a fully blown rain shower as we headed to the English Gardens to watch people surf on the Isar river that runs through the gardens. And indeed, there were at least a dozen or more practicing their skills in an area not more than fifteen yards wide. I donโt think it will take off back home in Glasgow though. We have the weather. We have the River Clyde. Iโve yet to hear of anyone trying to do anything more energetic than a casual paddle downstream.
Recommended Restaurant
At some point in the previous week or so weโd seen a recommendation to visit the Augustiner-Keller, Arnulfstraรe 52, 80335 for lunch and headed there as the rain eventually subsided. By the time we arrived the sun was out, and our hoped-for outdoor dining experience was dashed as all the tables were already reserved. Inside though is a vast dining area across several rooms and the food, yet again, was top notch. Service was keen and helpful too and weโd happily pass on this recommendation too.
Festival experience – The Tollwood Festival
For 32 days this summer, The Tollwood Festival invited music fans, culture enthusiasts and strollers to the Olympiapark, Spiridon-Louis-Ring 21, 80809 under the motto โDare and doโ. The colourful โMarket of Ideasโ sets the scene, fascinating theatre and performance groups meet on the festival grounds, and live music from all over the world can be heard from the tents.
And tonight, we had the godmother of punk, the high priestess of protest songs, Patti Smith performing for our pleasure and she didnโt let us down.
Review of the gig here.
Travel tips for those visiting Munich.
If only for a day or so, invest in buying a ticket for the public trams, underground or buses. Not 100% sure of the process of getting on and off a tram to take us back to the city centre we decided to walk back to the hotel, a mere three miles or so, which ate at night you could do without! The only positive was that the rain had stopped, and it felt like a cool summer evening.
13 July, #Munich, #Germany, #Austria, #Italy, #BassanoDelGrappa, #Interrail
Reflections of Bassano Del Grappa
The Journey
#Munich, #Rosenhei, #Kufstein, #Woergl, #Jenbach, #Innsbruck, #Brennero Brenner, #Bressanone Brixen, #Bolzano Bozen, #Trento, #Rovereto, #Verona Porta Nuova, #Vicenza, #S.Pietro In Gu, #Carmigano Di Brenta, #Fontaniva, #Cittadella, #Rossano Veneto, #Rosa, #Bassano Del Grappa
The journey, with 2 changes in Vincenza and Cittadella, took a little over seven hours to complete with all three leaving just about on time. The Alpine stretch offered the expected stunning views of mountain slopes and deep valleys while latter half of the journey was almost a complete contrast with swathes of flat land showing crops aplenty.
Of all the places we are visiting on our #RaceAcrossEurope, this was the one place Iโd never heard of. However, Queens Of The Stone Age were playing there on a date that suited our travel arrangementsโฆ.kind of. A bit of a detour back north from Verona would be required but we had a couple of days to kill before the next gig in the schedule, and we decided we didnโt have much to lose once the gig tickets were bought.
Serendipity, โthe occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial wayโ was shining down on us as this was, so far, the best of the best place on the tour. No big city environment, a railway station that didnโt give off the grandeur of the others we had visited.
A hotel that at first glance didnโt have a wow factor. And yet, in the following 36 hours or so, it proved to be an absolute gem of a place to visit. And the hotel offered us an immediate wow factor with a view over Monte Grappa, part of the Venetian Prealps from our bedroom balcony. The Hotel Brennero Via Torino, 7, 36061 Bassano del Grappa VI, and the wonderful, friendly staff won over our hearts.
And thatโs before we even walked around the โOld Townโ an area within fortified walls, tight meandering streets, an eclectic mix of quality shopping and, as you might expect food and drink to cherish.
An evening meal in Bar Danieli, P.za Garibaldi, 39, 36061 was superbly filling and an outdoor table is recommended with pre-booking, though dining doesnโt start until 8pm. And the good food followed the following lunchtime in Leoncini, Piazzotto Montevecchio, 29, 3606. Both are within a two-minute walk of each other but there are many more equally fine-looking restaurants to choose from.
Vinyl Record Stores
What I didnโt expect to find in the Old Town was one of the best record shops visited during the tour. Pick UP Records, Via Jacopo da Ponte, 52, 36061 was a treasure trove of vinyl and CDs with a few boxes readily identified as Italian Indie. It also helped that at the front of one of the boxes was an album by The New Candys, a band Iโd recently seen back home in Glasgow. At least I knew the owners were cataloguing albums in a way I could easily understand.
Bassano Del Grappa may be off the beaten track, however there is a railway track that leads you there and can therefore take you further on whatever journey you are on in the northern part of Italy. The fact we had to look it up on the map maybe testifies to the hidden, less well-known, gem that it is. Would we recommend visiting the town? I think so!
As for the Queens of the Stone Age gig? Nick Cave live in Pompeii may prove me wrong in being the best setting this year, however the location for this local festival is spectacular with the mountain range providing the backdrop only a few miles away. As the sun set, we were all left to ponder how lucky we were to be listening to great music, in a wonderful place.
Review of the gig here
17 July, #Italy, #BassanoDelGrappa, #Cattolica #Interrail
Reflections on Cattolica
The Journey
#Bassano Del Grappa, #Rosa, #Rosanno Veneto, #Cittadella, #Villa Del Conte, #Fratte Centro, #Camposampiero, #S.Giorgio D.Pertiche, #Campodaarsego, #Vigodarzere, #Paduva, #Terme Eugan Abano M, #Monselice, #Rovigo, #Ferrera, #S Pietro In Casale, #Bologna Centrale, #Castel S Pietro Ter, #Imola, #Castelbolognesse-Riolo Terme, #Faenza, #Forli, #Cesena, #Savigano S Rubicone, #Rimini, #Misano-Adriatico, #Cattolica-S G-Gab
The latest population data for Cattolica suggests that the town has about 16,500 residents. Iโd estimate there were about the same number of sun umbrellas on the beach as well, assuming that there was indeed sand underneath them!
Yes, Cattolica could best be described as a very popular holiday resort. Popular with people of all ages, young families, teens and early twenty somethings and the older generation too.
Personally, itโs everything Iโd imagined a package holiday to be like and maybe the reason Iโve never been on one!
However, the call of Nile Rodgers and Chic was too loud to miss out on, and we travelled from the beautiful Bassano Del Grappa in the north to the Rimini coastline.
While the journey started pretty sedately with plenty of seating available throughout the journey to Padova where we had our first change of train, from thereon it was very much every women, man and children for themselves as everyone struggled to get on to the train, first to Bologna and then a second and final change to get us to Cattolica.
In many respects, the crowded trains reflect the popularity of the services across the various countries we have travelled across and I think you just have to go with the flow if you want to make any journey, especially where reserved seating is not always an option and even where it is thereโs no guarantee that the seat reserved wonโt already be taken.
Stepping off the train at Cattolica, there was no shortage of taxi drivers, and the one we went with was more than happy to share his recommendations for places to go and see on the relatively short distance to the hotel.
The Hotel Luxor Beach, Via Carducci, 32, 47841, didnโt live up to my package expectations though. The staff were fantastic and any question asked was always met with a pleasant and understanding smile, the room had everything we needed and it was, as we grew to find out over the next 24 hours or so, pretty central to everything we would do.
On the eating front weโd be happy to recommend Ristorante La Cambusa, Via del Porto, 37, 61011 Gabicce Mare PU., though if youโre a bit giddy sitting a couple of feet away from the quayside then suggest you take a table a row or two back! The food though was fantastic and yet again, the staff excelled themselves in explaining exactly what it was you were ordering.
Holiday resorts and vinyl record stores donโt look like being a business idea thatโs likely to take off and the collection would have to wait a few more days to get a new addition.
The gig with Nile Rodgers was everything you could hope for. The award wining guitarist, songwriter and producer has had a wonderful and varied career over the years, working with some of the biggest names in the music business, from Madonna and David Bowie to Sister Sledge and Daft Punk. Heโs also revived a few careers along the way too including Diana Ross.
With all these acts, including Chicโs own hits, we were taken on a Nile Rodgers Greatest Hits Excursion, and it made for a fun and danceable evening of great entertainment.
The review of the gig can be found here.
And so Cattolica gave us everything we needed for a fine couple of days. The Interrail route we took was a challenge at times but one we rose to with a shrug of the shoulders at times.
Reflections of Pompeii and Naples
Reflections of Pompeii and Naples
#Cattolica_S.G.-Gab, #Misano-Adriatico, #Riccione, #Rimini Miramare, #Rimini, #Cesena, #Forli, #Faenza, #Castelbolognese-Riolo Terme, #Imola, #Caster S.Pietro Ter, #Bologna centrale, #Firenze S.M.N, #Roma Termini, #Napoli centrale, #Piazza Garibaldi, #Pompeii Scavi
There was a distinct degree of apprehension as we readied ourselves for this leg of the #RaceAcrossEurope tour given our starting point on the Adriatic Coast and need to be in Pompeii by early evening at the latest. Of all the gigs we had planned for the tour, this was our anchor event. The first tickets we were lucky enough to purchase, the gig that the whole tour revolved around. Nick Cave live at the Pompeii Amphitheatre
Reading various posts of people travelling across Europe and the delays, cancellations and challenges they sometimes faced, we really needed to have a smooth journey to the historical Pompeii Amphitheatre.
We can thankfully report that the Italian train service never let us down.
Cattolica to Bologna, and from there to Naples via Rome was fairly straightforward and once we recognised that we needed to get on the Circumvesuviana train which is not part of the Interrail network of operators it was a fairly painless journey to Pompeii.
Painless that is until we got off at Pompeii Scavi Villa Dei Misteri to take the relatively short journey to our apartment. Short journey that came at a price. However, given the heat and the need to settle in quickly, it was a pain we bore with the shrug of someone who had just been ‘schooled’.
Next day we walked to the nearer, and better serviced station, Pompeii itself only to find a bus replacement was in operation. Still, that bad fortune turned out ok as it gave us a chance to see some more of the greater Naples conurbation.
In Pompeii, our apartment was in a small complex, Oโsole mio, Via Crapolla II, 21, 80045 and was perfect for what we needed with the bonus of a window view straight onto Mount Vesuvius only a few miles away. We were also lucky to have Anna on hand to guide us on everything to make our stay as comfortable as possible.
Not having a great deal of time to have a relaxed dinner, we were grateful to all the staff in the Capri Blu, Via Lepanto, 84, 80045 for serving up a delightful dinner just before the summer crowds began to fill the main thoroughfare in town.
The Pompeii Amphitheatre exceeded all our expectations as a venue for the Nick Cave concert. Iโve been attending gigs since 1974, but this is by far and away the most atmospheric venue and Nick didnโt let us down.
A review of the gig can be found here. https://mygignight.blog/
Having been lucky enough to get a place on the replacement bus service we headed to Naples with an extra skip in our step. And maybe that was just as well. Naples is not for the faint-hearted. To say it was a bustling city would be an injustice to the term bustling.
For any number of historical reasons, Naples is a city of narrow streets where pedestrians, cyclists, two wheeled e-scooters, motorcyclists and any other form of transport seem to have equal prominence on the roads, and in some cases pavements themselves.
Itโs also home to Napoli FC and one Maradona who, according to locals, sits somewhere between God and Jesus Christ in the pecking order of adulation. His image is everywhere and the fact that the team won Serie A for the 4th time this season, with two Scottish internationalists in their team, had resulted in the wildest of parties for which the streets have yet to recover from.
Culturally, itโs different from all the other towns and cities we have visited on the #RaceAcrossEurope this year.
To the uninitiated, you could be forgiven for thinking that the city is dirty and graffiti strewn. Of that there is no doubt, but there are good reasons for both, one to do with the heat emanating from beneath the streets and a desire to minimise that by covering over the pavements. Slightly difficult to understand the logic though. In terms of the graffiti, it is not only tolerated but encouraged as locals see it as an expression of creativity and the hope is that the street creativity will lead to college courses and additional skills for the โartistsโ.
Like most of our accommodation on this trip, we tried to find somewhere within easy walking distance of the main train station and in the case of Naples we had a room in Serendipity, P.za Giuseppe Garibaldi, 39, 80142. The room was really well maintained with all the accessories needed and access to a kettle, coffee making facilities, reading material and games within the common area. Thereโs only a very few number of rooms but Iโd certainly recommend looking at this as a central option for anyone wanting to be close to the action.
We had booked ourselves onto a Naples: Street Food Walking Tour, with our guide Alexander, and would thoroughly recommend this, both from the point of view of tasting some of the best street food in the city but also from the various historical points that are provided to give a better understanding of Naples and why it is โdifferentโ from cities in the north.
Vinyl Record Stores
Unlike many of the towns and cities visited, the Naples record stores appeared to have the Closed signs up. However, while walking to the Circumvesuviana train line I happened to spy a record store in the main Naples concourse, and a quick visit before we headed out later on Sunday night saw me add Diamo Un Calco AllโAloila by Pinguini Tattici Nucleari, from the Feltrinelli Bookstore, Via S. Caterina, 23, 80133.
In summary, Pompeii is on a lot of peopleโs bucket list and itโs probably even better than you can imagine once you get there. As for Naples, itโs a city full of energy, full of noise and, within the very tight street layout, the noises rebound to a crescendo. Providing you go with an open mind; itโs a city that you can grow to love. Forza Napoli as the many street banners proudly displayed.
Reflections of Lucerne
The Journey
#Napoli Centrale, #Roma Termini, #Bologna Centrale, #Milano Centrale, #Monza, #Sweregno, #Como Camerlata, #Como S. Giovanni, #Chiasso, #Mendrisio, #Lugano-Paradiso, #Lugano, #Bellinzona, #Arth-Goldau, #Kuessnacht Am Rigi, #Meggen Zentrum, #Luzern Verkehrshaus, #Luzern
520 miles, 3 changes of trains, a distinct change in temperatures from the stifling heat of Naples to the cooler climate of Lucerne which is over 1,400 feet above sea level and surrounded by stunning mountain scenery. Stunning when the clouds donโt obscure the mountain tops that is. The city is also the seventh largest in Switzerland and comes with the hefty price tags that would stretch most budgets.
The journey from the south of Italy though was fairly routine with changes in Milan, Lugano and Art-Goldau all arriving and departing on time and allowing plenty of time to enjoy the scenery, especially when we reached the Alpine Mountain range.
First impressions
The Waldstaetterhof Hotel, Zentralstrasse 4, 6003 is a few yards from the main station in Lucerne and was handy for everything during our short stay, the fantastic venue where the gig was, local restaurants and the obligatory record shop.
Wandering around the city centre it is obvious that this is a very prosperous city, and the stunning views, historical bridges over the River Reuss, and the general look and feel of the city may make any premium worthwhile.
In truth, this was a one-night stopover. Arriving only a few hours ahead of the gig by the Ezra Collective at the stunning Lucerne Culture and Congress Centre (abbreviated KKL) which is a multi-functional venue with the electrifying performance taking place in the world-famous Concert Hall.
A review of the going can be found here
We โtreatedโ ourselves to dinner on the riverside though we would definitely recommend some prior research about what is on offer in other restaurants outwith the tourist trap area.
Vinyl Records
If I had done as much research on restaurants as I did on record stores and Swiss psychedelic / post punk music then I could have bought an extra slice of vinyl at Co-Mix Remix, Pfistergasse 11, 6003.
Knowing that weโd be tight for time to get our connection towards Wiesbaden, Iโd already worked scanned their website to identify a couple of albums that might be of interest and was outside the shop waiting on them opening to conclude the transaction. There was a sense of bemusement from all the staff that a guy from Glasgow would travel all this way to buy a couple of local bands albums but when I explained about our #RaceAcrossEurope agenda the feeling of bemusement changed to genuine appreciation. Both The Foamies with Liminality and Yer No Yokai with their album Wir Sind Da will now be looking for lodgings in the collection.
In summary, Lucerne, based on a few hours, looks and feels like a lovely city, and certainly the buzz around the venue with a number of other musical activities going on as part of the annual festival looked an ideal setting. Having had an earlier stop on the #RaceAcrossEurope in Zurich to see Amyl And The Sniffers, it would be fair to say that Switzerland in general is an expensive country to visit. Thankfully, the performances of both bands let us forget about the cost.
Reflections of Wiesbaden
The Journey
#Luzern, #Olten, #Basel, #Basel Bad, #Freilburg, #Baden-Baden, #Karlsruhe, #Mannheim, #Mainz, #Wiesbaden
Kicking off in Switzerland, a couple of changes at Basel and Mainz and to our destination of Wiesbaden.
Yet again, we were very lucky in that our trains were on time and apart from the last leg between Mainz and Wiesbaden where we had a twenty minute or so delay. Long enough to get bored but not long enough to go a wander and have a coffee.
The journey itself is fairly scenic, certainly while moving through the Alpine Mountain ranges. Glimpses here and there too of the River Rhine.
Some prior research into Wiesbaden may have been helpful as we werenโt too sure what we were letting ourselves in for other than an outdoor concert with Gregory Porter.
To assist fellow travellers hereโs a little summary
Wiesbaden is the capital of the German state of Hesse, and the second-largest Hessian city after Frankfurt am Main. With around 283,000 inhabitants, it is Germany’s 24th-largest city. Wiesbaden forms a conurbation with a population of around 500,000 with the neighbouring city of Mainz.
The journey into and out of Mainz may be a little off putting for anyone hoping for a tourist trail to follow, but donโt let this put you off. Mainz is an industrial hub and a fairly sizeable one at that. The key in the above description of the city is that it is a regional capital and we were genuinely surprised and taken aback with how lovey and busy the city was. The concert was in The Kurpark and we would certainly recommend a walk around this area with itโs lovely designed buildings and gardens.
As this was another short stop over in our #RaceAcrossEurope there was little time to venture between railway station, our hotel literally next door, the Kurpark and a little detour we took on the way home through what looked like the main central shopping and bar area.
One tip we would like to pass on though is that many of the shops and restaurants DO NOT take card for payment. CASH ONLY was the name of the game in the first two restaurants we tried to have an evening meal and, with time to the start of the concert approaching, we ended up at the very nice Yorora Fusion Sushi restaurant, Rheinstraรe 17, 65185. Maybe Sushi isnโt everyoneโs cup of tea, so best checking in advance of arriving in the city which restaurants and other โsmallโ shops are happy to get paid by card. I also checked to see if we had just been unlucky but the internet search came up with this note.
Many German shops, particularly smaller businesses and restaurants, prefer or even insist on cash payments due to a combination of cultural preferences, cost considerations, and a desire for privacy. While card payments are becoming more common, cash remains deeply ingrained in German society.
As we were away first thing in the morning, the Vinyl Collection missed an opportunity to add some Krautrock!
#RaceAcrossEurope
The penultimate journey with Bronagh Bell and Interrail
Reflections of Cologne and Dusseldorf
The Journey
#Wiesbaden, #Mainz, #Koblenz, #Bonn, #Cologne
#Cologne #Cologne Hansaring, #Cologne-Nippes, #Cologne Geldernstr / Parkguerrtel, #Cologne-Longerich, #Cologne-Volkhovener Weg, Cologne-Chorweiler, #Cologne-Chorweier Nord, #Cologne-Blumeberg, #Cologne-Worringen, #Dormagen Chempark, #Dormagen, #Nievenheim,# Neuss-Allerheiligen, #Neuss-Norf, #Neuss-Sued, #Neuss, #Neuss Hbf, #Neuss Am Kaiser, #Neuss-Rheinparkcenter, #Dusseldorf-Hamm, #Dusseldorf-Voelklinger Str, #Dusseldorf-Bilk, #Dusseldorf-Friedrichstadt, #Dusselddorf Hbf
#Dusseldorf-Benrath, #Leverkusen Mitte, #Cologne-Muelheim, #Cologne
A three-part journey that took us from Wiesbaden to a two day stay in Cologne with an afternoon trip to Dusseldorf to see 999 play in Pitcher โ The Dรผsseldorf RockโnโRoll Headquarters.
Dusseldorf
The last part of the journey first. We seemed to book onto a local service train that took us from Cologne to Dusseldorf. If your interests include travelling through a large petro-chemical plant and looking out at industrial pipelines, machinery, warehouses, etc. then this might just be the trip of a lifetime for you! For us though, we soon realised that reading a book or scanning the internet might be a better way to chill out on this particular journey.
Our impression of Dusseldorf didnโt improve when we reached the main station to find that the heavens had opened up and anyone recently alighting from the trains were congregating around the exit doors. Cue time for a coffee in ne of the numerous outlets on the ground floor.
The venue was off the beaten track so it would be unfair to reflect on the city centre. The exterior of the venue itself gave us an idea what to expect though.
With some time to kill and some food on the agenda we happily found ourselves passing, then eating in, Sly y Sombra, Kirchfeldstraรe 85, 40215. a Spanish restaurant in Dusseldorf that offers a casual and convivial dining experience. The place is known for its exceptional tapas and refreshing sangria, making it a favourite among locals and visitors alike. The staff were very attentive and friendly, adding to our list of serendipitous dining venues during our #RaceAcrossEurope.
Cologne
What Dusseldorf may have lost in character, the caveat being we never reached the centre of the city, Cologne more than made up for it with a towering cathedral almost the first building you see when leaving the main railway station. Given the (lack of) technologies and building equipment when the city fathers begun building these edifices, its little wonder the took centuries to complete. It is a magnificent monument whatever way you look at it.
Like other large cities, if you turn left when you should have turned right you can miss the best the location has to offer and initially our wanderings, although taking us to the Rhine waterfront, managed to avoid the bustling heart of the city with its bars, restaurants and other amenities.
While there will no doubt be fine dining restaurants if you care to look for them, we were pleasantly surprised once again by the quality of food served in a few of the bars we visited for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Maybe not on our top list of recommendations, however weโd happily return to Brauhaus Suenner, Salzgasse 13, 50667 for an evening meal, and Cafรฉ Extrablatt, Alter Markt 28-32, 50667 for a buffet breakfast, certainly a great way to fill you up for the rest of the day.
Thereโs plenty to see if you have the time and if you have a few hours a visit to the Lindt Chocolate Museum, Am Schokoladenmuseum 1A, 50678, is a must.
Vinyl Record Stores
By the time we reached Cologne, the record bag was taking a โheavyโ toll on my shoulders. However, never one to miss an opportunity I headed to Kompact, Werderstraรe 15-19, 50672 to see what German music I could pick up. For those interested in music that are many genres to pigeonhole acts into, country, heavy metal, electronic, pop, indie, etc.
A walk around Kompact however was a truly chastening experience. The list of sub-genres was staggering and even after an hour of looking through the various record boxes available I was as much in the dark as when I first entered. It helped a little that I had some ear pods to scan some of the music via Spotify but in truth I was totally lost. No doubt a serious DJโs paradise lay in front of me. Anyway, one box exclaimed it was the Local bands collection and now Mathias Schaffhรคuser and his 2024 album Singing About It sits at home ready to be played.
In summary, future gigs in Cologne wouldnโt put us off going back. Itโs a really nice city with plenty to do and numerous opportunities to have a boat trip down one of Europeโs great rivers. Dusseldorf might deserve better, but I suspect it would need to be a major act that would draw us back again.
Albums of the day
July 5, #Day1 Album of the Day
One of my best musical ‘finds’ of the last year or so has been Nadine Shah
What a singer. Great music with the moral compass that everyone should aspire to.
Managed to catch her live a few times during 2024 and her passion was evident each time.
#LiveInLondon was released in the past couple of weeks and very apt as we are currently heading there on #Day_1 of this year’s #Interrail Tour
July 6, #Day2 Album of the Day
Today’s sounds come from #Buzzcocks front man #PeteShelley
Another one of those bands I never saw play live in their first incarnation. Unfortunately Pete is with us no more so I won’t be able to see the original band, albeit it they are currently touring within the ever growing retro scene.
#XLยท1 is definitely less strident than the early work of The Buzzcocks Produced by #MartinRushent it is well worth a listen to.
July 7, #Day3 Album of the Day
In truth, I’ve only recently got into the band Nine Inch Nails, though was pretty familiar with a few of their songs.
The Johnny Cash version of #Hurt was an obvious entry point, though watching #TrentReznor in the documentary #SoundCityRealToReel made me more appreciative of all his work.
The sounds being played just now come from the 1994 album #TheDownwardSpiral
Review of the gig can be found here
8 July, #Day4 Album of the Day
I somehow managed to get into the band after the release of their debut album in 2019 and enjoyed seeing how they have progressed into one of the most talked abut bands this year.
Review of the gig can be found here
9 July, #Day5 Album of the Day
Many a year ago, think 1980 or thereabouts, I watched the TV private detective show Shoestring. One of the stories included Toyah singing the brilliant Neon Womb.
Managed to pick this album up recently, Take The Leap with a few alternative versions of some of her better known songs.
Neon Womb maybe not as dynamic on this vinyl offering as the 1980 version, but the album is well worth a listen to.
10 July, #Day6 Album of the Day
Anyone who may have glanced at my various musical posts over the past few years will hopefully agree I’ve a fairly eclectic taste in music, whether buying albums or going to gigs.
Tonight we stretch that eclectic journey a bit further when we go to see Yamato – The Drummers of Japan in Graz Opera House. Not sure if the dress code to see Amyl and The Sniffers will be as equally appropriate here!
I’ve seen many fine drummers over the years, from Bill Ward of Black Sabbath at the Apollo in Glasgow, Hazel Morrison of The Bathers and of course my pal Adam Lawson of Rudebeard.
I think this might be on a different scale though!
Review of the gig can be found here
11 July, #Day7 Album of the Day
Huge thanks to David Luximon for recording this lovely album, A Certain Frame Of Reference. Big shout out too to Last Night From Glasgow for releasing this on their label too at the back end of 2024. I’m sure all the Last Night From Glasgow Members will have warmly welcomed this to their collection in the same way I always do with the label’s other releases.
First time I’ve become aware of David’s album was this morning, though it was earmarked to be today’s album of choice for our travels across Europe.
12 July, #Day8 Album of the Day
Today’s album and gig are from The Kills , a band I’ve been following over the past six or seven years.
The album God Games was released in 2023 and the duo of Alison Mosshart and Jamie Hince have combined to create blues based indie rock at its best.
Tonight’s gig at Tvornica Kulture in the Croatian capital is one we’re really look forward to. Once we bought the tickets and made the necessary travel and accommodation arrangements, it then turned out we’re seeing them in a few days time supporting another act in, another country. You can’t get too much of a good thing though!! ๐ค๐คฃ๐
Review of the gig can be found here
13 July, #Day9 Album of the Day
#Paris no more. #Zurich no more. #Graz no more. #Zagreb no moreโฆ.almost
Sitting on the train heading go #Munich today’s sounds are provided by Preoccupations who recently released this album #IllAtEase.
14 July, #Day10 Album of the Day
If it’s Monday. If it’s #Day10. Then it’s the next stop on our #RaceAcrossEurope tour, Munich and a musical delight to look forward to with Patti Smith
We managed to see her a couple of years ago at the Kelvingrove Bandstand but suspect this might be less intimate!
Today’s album is a compilation album I picked up a few years back.
A lot of fire in the songs here. I’m sure it’ll be equally spikey tonight.
Review of the gig can be found here
15 July, #Day11 Album of the Day
#Paris no more. #Zurich no more. #Graz no more. #Zagreb no more and now #Munich no more.
Heading out of Munich for #Vincenza the sounds coming out of the headphones is from The Moonlandingz. I saw them a few weeks ago at The Classic Grand and they put on a great show.
Interplanetary Class Classics was released in 2018 and is pretty damn good too!
16 July, #Day12 Album of the Day
We’re here in the beautiful town of Bassano del Grappa in northern Italy to see Queens of the Stone Age with The Kills , and The Amazons
Looking through the vinyl collection, I have to confess to not having an album by Queens of the Stone Age though I suspect that will change after tonight!! ๐
Currently the morning sounds are coming from The Amazons and their 2019 album #FutureDust
Doesn’t seem that long ago since this was released and probably added to the collection around the time we saw them play live.
Great line-up and expecting another brilliant night on our #RaceAcrossEurope
17 July, #Day13 Album of the Day
#Paris no more. #Zurich no more. #Graz no more. #Zagreb no more. #Munich no more. #BassanoDelGrappa no more.
After another great gig watching Queens of the Stone Age, The Kills and The Amazons we’ll shortly begin our next leg of the journey south to the Adriatic coast. No doubt further musings and a review of the gig in the blog here.
Music for the journey today being provided by Floral Image and their album Gone Down Meadowland.
Got this recently through membership of the Fuzz Club and like most records off the label is pretty damn good if I say so myself.
18 July, #Day14 Album of the Day
New day New town New gig New album of the day
Starting off with the album, the 9th studio album by Nile Rodgers & CHIC
Its About Time was released in 2018. While it may not have the worldwide classic tunes from their earliest incarnation in the late 1970s and early 1980s the songs still have all the same rhythms that make you want to get up and dance.
Seeing them tonight for the first time too as part of their world tour in Cattolica.
19 July, #Day15 Album of the Day
And today is the gig that became the anchor point for all that’s gone before during this past fortnight, and what’s to follow in the week ahead. The album Idiot Prayer, which is currently coming through the ear plugs, was released in 2020 and is Nick at his sublime best. ‘He performed the 22 career-spanning songs alone in a deserted concert hall, reworking them into haunted piano sermons that glow with unnerving intimacy.’
20 July, #Day16 Album of the Day
Nick Cave, live last night. Deep inside the ruins of Pompeii, in the amphitheatre itself, was a truly humbling experience. The music was sublime, the setting extraordinary, and it reminded me of today’s album and watching the film of Pink Floyd playing in the same arena to only the film technicians and producers. I saw that in 1974 and the memories have stayed with me ever since.
And this year the film was re-released, it’s well worth a watch, and the album had it’s remastering too.
Pink Floyd at Pompeii – MCMLXXII (2025 Mix) is full of memories
21 July, #Day17 Album of the Day
Currently leaving Naples as I write this and heading to Lucerne for tonight’s gig – over 1000Km away. We’re just hoping all the trains on our Interrail pass are running to time!!
The journey will take us, hopefully, to see the Ezra Collective play live and today’s album kicking off the tunes is their 2024 release, Dance, No One’s Watching which in my case is quite good advice!
The group fuses elements of afrobeat, calypso, reggae, hip-hop, soul and jazz, ……. so I promise not to the let the side down with any granddad dancing!!
This will be the 9th of 11 gigs on the #RaceAcrossEurope and, as we head north, we’re also heading home too.
22 July, #Day18 Album of the Day
This year’s #RaceAcrossEurope is drawing to a close and we continue the journey north from #Switzerland into #Germany to the accompaniment of Gregory Porter and this album from 2020. The man certainly has a voice to savour.
23 July, #Day19 Album of the Day
Almost there with the #RaceAcrossEurope only one more gig to go unless I can find one tonight in #Cologne!!
Looking at recent additions to the collection, today’s musical delight s provided by MIEN which landed on the doorstep courtesy of the Fuzz Club
Pretty tasty to chill out to on the train towards #Cologne
24 July, #Day20 Album of the Day
The final gig of this year’s tour will see us head from #Cologne to #Dusseldorf later today to see 999
Having started almost three weeks ago with Nine Inch Nails in #Paris and it seems we have genuinely came full circle with another band with number 9 in it’s name.
Today’s Latest Album is their 2025 album Death In Soho
25 July, #Day21 Album of the Day
#Paris no more. #Zurich no more. #Graz no more. #Zagreb no more. #Munich no more. #BassanoDelGrappa no more. #Cattolica no more. #Pompeii and #Naples no more. #Lucerne no more. #Wiesbaden no more. #Cologne no more. #Dusseldorf no more.
And so, after 21 days of Interrail, all the advice from Interrailing for the older crowd, all the people we’ve met on the trains, hotels/apartments, restaurants, the gigs and and the record stores and, of course, the eclectic mix of musical bands and acts we’ve seen over the past three weeks, we’re heading home back to Glasgow.
It’s been a blast
Today’s album from the collection is the very aptly named Returning Home from Starless, which was released through Last Night From Glasgow in 2024, a musical project headed up by Paul McGeechan
