I played at St James' Park professionally at the weekend

It wasn't football though it was music. Soul Doubt was playing a charity gig (I don't usually talk about my charity work, but this time I was paid in full at the expense of poorly orphans so I'm prepared to give them a name check) for Children North East.

If you're a musician or performer and are engaged to play at The Magpie Suite in Newcastle's St James' Park, I advise yo to take transport so that you can get your gear from the nearest lift to the room. It's a very long way and we were absolutely shattered before we even started setting up. Badly planned building, yet strangely impressive. Chris Gray our lovely trombone player entertained us all by playing the Close Encounters alien tune to a totally empty stadium, and the echo was amazing. Not sure what the locals thought though.

Also entertaining the posh rich selflessly giving punters was magician, contortionist and escapologist Chris Cross, an 18 year old Newcastle lad who is making a name for himself in the world of entertainment. He showed us a few tricks in the green room, and generally kept us entertained. See a short documentary about him below:

It was a good gig, but we didn't start until 11pm when a totally inebriated Mike Elliott introduced us - just about. We played our fast one hour set, with Chris Cross doing a few shoulder dislocations and straight jacket escapes in the middle. Typical evening really.

Comments

[christine]

despite the late start I really enjoyed the evening. I think Chris Cross should come to every Soul Doubt gig.

[Tim the Enchanter]

I liked that song he used to sing... 'Ride Like the Wind'...