Steel guitar in the Falkland Islands

[jonshack]

I've been meaning to put a post up for a while. Back in October my band had the unlikely and wonderful opportunity to play at Stanley Town Hall in the Falkland Islands.

We couldn't have asked for a more welcoming crowd – they almost never get bands coming through – the last one apparently was Hank Wangford in 1999 (minus steel)! The islanders LOVE C&W music, we thought this might be an exaggeration but it turned out to be true, so the night went really well, lots of dancing from the off and we were asked to play a couple of pub nights too. We also had time to get up close and personal with penguins and sea lions and learned some proper history of the islands while we were there.

Obviously we were very limited as to what gear we could take. I went with my MSA in one of JD's rifle cases (which raised a few eyebrows at RAF Brize Norton where you have to fly from but nothing serious!). We put steel and tele through Joyo American (amazing sounding but dirt cheap Fender style amp sim) pedals. I wouldn't want to do that at every gig but it was OK. We had the local band supporting so were able to borrow a kick drum. Here are some bits from the main night:



An unforgettable experience which I feel really lucky to have been part of. 16,000 miles round trip! Another highlight from last year was playing at the Tower of London which is another story but I think it's worth saying, to beginners especially: playing steel guitar in a band, even at a low level, can take you to some incredible places that you might not ever get to do as a bog standard six string player. Keep at it and things will happen. You guys might be able to tell me different but I don't think they've ever had pedal steel at the Tower in it's 1000 year history or on the Falkland Islands... ever*. So, that's something.

Let's hear about other far flung adventures or weird and interesting places steel guitar has taken you to!

Jonathan

*No idea if they ever have bands at the Forces base, it's it's own thing and they didn't seem interested in having us play there.

[JohnDavisStringsHere]

Nice one Jon, I thought I had done well gigging in the Seychelles but 16K miles I have never done for a gig. The case that now houses your guitar is not a rifle case , it used to house the " Mine Hound" which is detection equipment for I.E.D's (Improvised Explosive devices.) and the best a man can get for a steel guitar, I can understand them looking sideways at it

[Danny Mitchell]

Inconceivable, Jonathan. That is one bit of 'Drifting' that really takes the biscuit. Was there a convent near that beach?
And, the Tower of London, you have an extremely imaginative booking agent!
The clip was great, excellent sound from those pedals.
Truly entertaining and bizarre post. I thank you.

[jonshack]

Thanks for the correction John! Those cases are tough alright. These are the ones if anyone is interested: https://www.casesuk.com/peli-cases/peli-storm-im3100-case.html
I was sweating it at customs a bit!

Not a little irony taking one of them to the Falklands since we watched them de-mining the last of the beaches from the '82 conflict. We were also taken by a guide through a former mine field on Mt Longdon where one of the bloodiest battles took place and a VC won. I had a lump in my throat up there I can tell you. There's all kinds of wreckage and artefacts still lying around. Army ponchos, shell casings, old Pepsi cans and boots.

I remember your thread about the Seychelles, that's kind of what made me post here. Every so often you get to do something unimaginable. Makes up for the spit and sawdust gigs.

[jonshack]

Danny, the Tower was through an online booking agency. I applied for gigs through them for two years, not a bite. And then playing for the Yeoman Warders' summer BBQ came out of the blue! Still the only gig we've got out of that agency but worth sticking with just for that.

[Stoney]

Wow. some gig Jon
Paul