Glitz and Pieces

So, last Thursday night was not only Katy's last day in her current job, but also the gig we had been looking forward to for so long ... the night of stars and glamour that was Get Your Glitz Out at Heaven. Topping and Butch, the excellent Four Poofs and a Piano and Jimmy Somerville were headlining, and this meant fortunately that we were on early (8.30 or so) and could spend the rest of the night getting pissed in a good cause. Which we did.

Such was my level of relaxation that I even bought a raffle ticket (first prize queer skiing holiday, second prize two nights in a love hotel ... wish I could remember the name) in the honest and sincere belief that I might actually win something. On the plus side, I did very much enjoy watching Shazia Mirza get into an argument with a transsexual on the front row as to who could lay claim to being the most oppressed minority. And let's face it, you've got to respect a woman who (unlike T&B or Somerville) not only showed up, but showed up willing to confront not just her fears but the audience ...


Shazia: Edgy. Urban. Richard. Judy.

Vast quantities of white wine, technical problems and the disappointment of not seeing extracts from organiser Michael Dresser's new musical Marilyn aside, we had a great time: very few evenings end with Beren and Dave slow-dancing to the strains of the rather fantastic London Swingfonia, and those that do, we usually must not speak of. There was, of course, no payment (this is becoming something of a feature of B&B gigs) because it was all for charidee: namely the 21st birthdays of very good causes GALOP (combating violence against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transpeople) and Stonewall Housing. On the other hand, we did get goodie bags as we left, which contained, among other things, rather posh 2004 diaries generously donated from their stock of unsaleable wares by leathermerchants Aspinal of London.



Good for only two more months they may be, but they are nonetheless rather lovely things which would normally cost you 25 quid. I may use mine for writing down lyrics: it's certainly far superior to the current scraps of paper/back of hand method. To summarise, a good time was had by all and we can now add London's premier gay nightclub to the list of venues we've played. Today the West End, tomorrow Stoke Newington. Of which more later ...