Barndance.biz

No, this isn't a case of me being paranoid about 9/11 or moon landing conspiracy theories.

In fact, it's an amazing book by the hugely influential author Robert Kiyosaki, who wrote the amazingly successful Rich Dad, Poor Dad series.

Kiyosaki actually lets us in on the reasons why only 1% of the world's population control 96% of the wealth. It's a fascinating (and infuriating) read.

Check it out!

I can't believe it's October already! Where does the time go?

Tonight, I'm gigging with the Derbyshire Volunteers for a two-hour ceilidh in the Great Hall at the Derby Assembly Rooms. Our fee will go, as usual, to a worthwhile charity decided on by the whole band.

The band tonight includes the legendary John Tams, together with his singing partner Barry Coope, who will be treating the audience to some great songs nestled in amongst the dance tunes. Not a song spot, but maybe even better!

I believe Stone Monkeys will be doing a rapper dance spot somewhere along the line, which will be fun to watch.

Then, when we finish at 10, we hand over to Edward II, currently on the last leg of their year-long reunion tour. Late to bed tonight, then!

Tomorrow, Saturday, I'm doing two half-hour spots of children's entertainment in the afternoon, followed by an "unplugged beginners' ceilidh" in the early evening from 4:30 till 6 pm. Look out for the Boomwhackers! (more on that later)

OK -- maybe see you there? Hope so.

Last night (Friday, 4th September) I gigged with the Derbyshire Volunteers at the Derby Festé Grand Ceilidh on the Market Place. We started at 9 pm, but by that time, the Market Place was absolutely teeming with people. They were all curious as to what was going to happen. There had already been something happening over by the Old Silk Mill, but we'd been setting up so I didn't see any of that.

What I did see was various artists walking about on stilts, some dressed like circus acts, others like something out of Doctor Who. Fantastic!

On the stroke of 9, we got going with a circle dance involving a random sequence of figures, such as "right-hand turn" and "do-si-do" and there were easily a couple of hundred people dancing - of all ages and sizes. It was great to see the ethnic diversity as well, especially as barn dancing (or ceilidh dancing) is often thought of as something old-fashioned and quaintly "English".

We were due to play till 11, and were cracking on at a fair old pace till it started to rain with 20 minutes still to go. As the stage had been put up without any roof or covering, we had no choice but to stop the show in order to avoid being electrocuted!

At least we left the audience wanting more!

Look out for the video, which I'll be posting in the next day or two.