Now that my football watching for 2022 is over, a year of uninterrupted football watching, it’s time to look back at my stats.
Not a single game missed due to being played behind closed doors in 2022. Although i’m not hopeful going into 2023, between Rishi preparing to let Covid run wild again or Balloon Unity continuing to make arses of themselves.
Games : 57
Goals : 154
Red Cards : 4
Penalty Misses : 1
Hat-Tricks : 1
Eetu Vertainen (Linfield v Dungannon Swifts)
Teams Seen : 34
Annagh United (1st time), Ballymena United, Bangor, Bodo/Glimt (1st time), Carrick Rangers, Cliftonville, Coleraine, Crusaders, Cyprus (1st time), Dunmurry Rec, Dundela, Dungannon Swifts, FC Zurich (1st time), Glenavon, Glentoran, Greece, Harland and Wolff Welders, Hungary, Kosovo (1st time), Knockbreda, Larne, Linfield, Livingston (1st time), Manchester United, Moyola Park (1st time), Newry City, Northern Ireland, Portadown, RFS (1st time), Sheriff Tiraspol (1st time), St Johnstone, St Mirren, The New Saints (1st time), Warrenpoint Town
Competitions : 10
County Antrim Shield, Euro Conference, European Cup, Irish Cup, Irish League, NIFL Cup, Scottish Premier League, Steel and Sons Cup, UEFA Cup, UEFA Nations League
Grounds Visited : 18
Almondvale (1st time), Ballymena Showgrounds, Blanchflower Park (1st time), Breda Park, Coleraine Showgrounds, Inver Park, Mill Meadow (1st time), Milltown, Newry Showgrounds, Old Trafford, Seaview, Shamrock Park, Solitude, Stangmore Park, Taylor’s Avenue, The Oval, Wilgar Park, Windsor Park,
I’ll save you all the usual boring cliches about what a year it’s been and go straight to the chart.
Put together over an afternoon, here’s the 50 Best Songs Of 2022.
Taylor Swift – Anti Hero
Harry Styles – As It Was
Sam Ryder – Space Man
Wallows – Especially You
Jamie T – The Old Style Raiders
Sigrid ft Bring Me The Horizon – Bad Life
Arlo Parks – Softly
Confidence Man – Holiday
Ed Sheeran – Overpass Graffiti
The Feeling – There Is No Music
Feeder – The Healing
Harry Styles – Late Night Talking
Sam Fender – Getting Started
Liam Gallagher – More Power
Pretty Cartel – Dominick The Donkey
Paul Weller and Noel Gallagher – Birth Of An Accidental Hipster
Griff x Sigrdi – Head On Fire
Paul Weller and Suggs – Ooh Do U Fink U Are?
Simple Minds- Traffic
Tegan and Sara – Yellow
Idles – All You Need Is Love
Lewis Capaldi – Forget Me
Rosa Linn – Snap
Sigrid – It Gets Dark
Alfie Templeman – Broken
Let’s Eat Grandma – Watching You Go
Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – Pretty Boy
Pixey – I’m Just High
The Killers – Boy
Lauren Spencer-Smith – Fingers Crossed
Holly Humberstone – Sleep Tight
Simple Minds – First You Jump
George Ezra – Green Green Grass
Steve Lacey – Bad Habit
Liam Gallagher – Everything’s Electric
George Ezra – Anyone For You
Hot Chip – Broken
Maisie Peters – Not Another Rockstar
Bruce Springsteen – Nightshift
Nina Nesbitt – I Should Be A Bird
Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbott – Too Much For One (Not Enough For Two)
Beabadoobee – 10:36
Jamie T – Between The Rocks
The 1975 – Part Of The Band
Beabadoobee – Talk
Sinead O’Brien – Holy Country
Soda Blonde – Mandinka
Tom Chaplin – Midpoint
Foals – 2001
Warmduscher – Fatso
Congratulations to Taylor Swift, a two time winner having won it in 2012. I know you’re all eager to see if she’ll win it again in 2032.
If you haven’t heard the winning song, the video is embedded below.
And if you wish to look at archive charts, i’ve listed all the previous winners below.
2021 : Maneskin – Zitti E Buoni 2020 : Tame Impala – Lost In Yesterday 2019 : Vampire Weekend – Harmony Hill 2018 : Lovelytheband – Broken 2017 : Liam Gallagher – For What It’s Worth 2016 : The Strumbellas – Spirits 2015 : Blossoms – Charlamagne 2014 : Jamie T – Zombie 2013 : Haim – The Wire 2012 : Taylor Swift – We Are Never Getting Back Together 2011 : Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – AKA What A Life 2010 : Marina and the Diamonds – Shampain 2009 : Little Boots – New In Town 2008 : Sons and Daughters – Darling 2007 : Feist – 1, 2, 3, 4 2006 : Kasabian – Empire
It’s not the turkey or the presents that makes Christmas, it’s the match the next day. For the first time since 2018, Linfield fans will be marking Christmas as a good one.
They arrived at The Oval (two turnstiles in operation for a large crowd again, just like in February) in expectation of that being the case, a perfect storm of Linfied being on a long unbeaten run and Glentoran losing three in a row as part of a run of one win in eight, a change in roles from when the sides met in the League in October.
Linfield were hoping results would go their way and push them up to 2nd. Glentoran were fearing that results could go against them and they could end up 6th.
It’s almost as if celebrating winning the League in October angers the Football Gods.
You know me, i’d rather play a Glentoran side who have won ten games in a row rather than one who have lost ten games in a row. The theory of “They’re due one”.
Linfield’s starting eleven showed two changes, with Daniel Finlayson and Robbie McDaid coming in for Conor Pepper and Chris McKee.
That was probably harsh on both players but the team didn’t feel weakend. That’s why you have a large squad.
There was a bit of a shock as the teams were getting ready to kick off, with a change of usual ends, with Linfield attacking the goal where their support is based in the first-half instead of the second-half.
I presume it was to do with the wind. Linfield would be playing against it when attacking it. Glentoran were obviously wanting to try and score every advantage they could get.
It would also mean Linfield wouldn’t be attacking that end in the second-half if they were chasing the game. Although Glentoran wouldn’t be attacking their own fans either. I don’t know why, but the ball always seems to bounce perfectly for them when they attack that end.
Linfield dominated possession in the opening minutes but didn’t create any clear opportunities.
That looked like changing when Cameron Palmer began a counter attack, fed Joel Cooper and got a return pass but his cross was intercepted at the cost of a throw.
Palmer was to endure more cross related frustration when an interception denied him just as he was making a run to get on the end of a Robbie McDaid cross.
There was even more frustration for Palmer as he tried his luck from range, only to see his effort easily saved by Aaron McCarey.
And then he was beaten to the ball by a Glentoran defender as he looked to get on the end of a Chris Shields.
Despite this frustration, Linfield just needed to keep doing what they were doing and eventually one of them would fall into place.
They really needed a goal to make the most of their superiority.
Joel Cooper was next to be frustrated as he created space for himself but dragged his shot well wide.
Eventually, Linfield would have an opportunity to take the lead when Eetu Vertainen burst into the box but was taken down by Patrick McClean, a clear penalty.
Despite having a lot of the ball in Glentoran’s half, Linfield hadn’t really created a clear opportunity. Thie would be their best chance of the game. They simply had to take it.
It was probably a good thing that Chris Shields missed a penalty against Ballymena United last month. Might as well get one out of the way when it didn’t matter.
This one definitely mattered, and Shields made no mistake to put Linfield 1-0 up.
With Glentoran’s confidence so fragile, and with just under ten minutes of the half remaining, there was still time for Linfield to get a second that would surely kill the game.
Just one, but you’d happily take a 1-0 lead at half-time, especially when the weather was against you.
Early in the second-half, it looked like Linfield were going to get that much needed second goal when Joel Cooper made space from himself but he was at too wide an angle to score, his effort going wide.
Out of nowhere, Glentoran got an equaliser when a header from Jay Donnelly dropped into the back of the net.
It felt like a repeat of the previous season’s encounter.
The game had suddenly changed. Linfield were now sloppy with their passing.
Glentoran almost got an instant second with a shot from Bobby Burns which had to be diverted out by Jimmy Callacher.
Despite having far too much of the ball for Linfield’s liking, Glentoran weren’t creating any clear opportunities.
They were largely hitting speculative shots from distance that were easily saved by Chris Johns.
As we all know, they benefitted from a speculative shot that got deflected when the sides met in October.
It was clear that Linfield needed some fresh injections from the bench, but they were not forthcoming.
Eetu Vertainen had a rare sight of goal but his effort went wide of the post.
Patrick McClean attempted a long range shot which went just over.
Eventually, David Healy turned to his bench, bringing on Andrew Clarke and Kyle McClean for Cameron Palmer and Robbie McDaid.
That was followed a few minutes later by Chris McKee coming on for Chris Shields, who was struggling with injury.
Andrew Clarke thought he was going to win it for Linfield with a few minutes remaining but his goalbound effort was blocked and deflected wide by his own team mate for a goal kick.
As the game set to meander to a draw, some Linfield fans decided to head home early to bizarre chants of “Cheerio Cheerio” from the home support.
Are you not supposed to sing that when you are winning comfortably?
Callacher’s accidental block was a temporary reprieve for Glentoran.
From the resulting goal kick, Linfield won possession and Chris McKee played in Eetu Vertainen to finish with his left foot first time.
Further proof of where Glentoran are at now. Everything that can go wrong is going wrong. How sad.
He barely touched the ball in the second-half. I would have had him subbed by now. Just goes to show that I know nothing,
The goal prompted him to rip off his shirt, getting a yellow card. Worth it.
He couldn’t get his Under Armour back on, and had to play on in short sleeves.
For only a minute or two, with Ethan Devine coming on for him to see the game out.
Which is what Linfield managed to do, getting a massive three points.
Not just in terms of putting pressure on Larne, but pulling away from Glentoran.
The win temporarily moved Linfield into 2nd due to this game being an early kick-off.
As this game was finishing, other games were reaching half-time.
The one that Linfield fans were looking out for was at Seaview, where Crusaders led Cliftonville 2-0, before eventually winning 3-0.
That result that Linfield were now 2nd, two points behind Larne.
It would be three as Larne could only draw.
From where they were in October, it was always going to be a long way back for Linfield.
Even if they went on a winning run, I didn’t expect it to be February or March before they even got close to the top.
The big games keep on coming, with Coleraine, on a nice run themselves, due at Windsor Park on Monday, with Larne travelling to Solitude.
That game at Solitude will see something go in their favour.
What matters most is that they help themselves. It’s all they can do.
When the calendar gives you a Steel and Sons Cup Final on Christmas Eve because Christmas Day falls on a Sunday, it would be rude not to take advantage of it, especially as the next opportunity to do so won’t fall until 2033.
Knowing this, I was keeping a very close on the results of this season’s competition.
Obviously, I was wanting Linfield Swifts to get to the Final again.
I hadn’t been keeping a close eye on the competition in recent years, as I was unaware that clubs from The Championship were taking part.
That meant that Bangor were probably the biggest club in the competition, so I was expecting them to be in contention for this Final.
As soon as Linfield went out, I was pinning my hopes on an Ards Rangers v Bangor Final, with this season being thirty years since North Down invaded Belfast for the Irish Cup Final.
It turned out that Bangor would get to the Final, but their opponents would be Dunmurry Rec. Now I would have to decide whereabouts in Bangor or Dunmurry I am from.
Bangor has a Pickie Pool, Jamie Mulgrew and is Steve Bruce’s Ancestral Homeland.
Dunmurry has, um, err …….
I purchased a ticket for the Bangor end but it turned out there was Unoffitcial Segregation in place, you could walkabout and stand or sit wherever you liked.
As I was attending as a Neutral, both teams had cases to support them.
Bangor had Lee Feeney as Manager, but Dunmurry, and I didn’t realise this until I saw it in the programme, had Noel Bailie’s son playing left midfield.
Naturally, he was wearing 11. He could hardly wear any other number.
I wasn’t the only neutral there. I saw many regular faces from Windsor Park, as well as hats and coats from Larne, Glentoran and Carrick Rangers.
And a Crusaders coat which was keeping Darren Murphy, who I spotted watching the game, warm. I guess he hasn’t been issued with a Finn Harps one yet, or that the saying that the sun always shines in Donegal is true.
I didn’t see Gary Lightbody though. I did see a much bigger star, who I thought would have been too busy today to attend a football match.
Santa Claus himself was there, or it may have been a man dressed as Santa.
Not that it mattered to a child who approached him thinking he was the real Santa, and now the supporter trying to watch in fancy dress was having to get into character.
We was a fair sport and was happy to pose for photos with the child and his dad.
This game had a lot to live up to after the World Cup Final last weekend. Dunmurry were hoping that Argentina would provide some inspiration.
Surely they were destined to be the second team in sky blue and white stripes to celebrate a trophy this week.
It would have been more appropriate if they were playing Linfield Swifts to make it feel like a proper rerun of last Sunday.
If you squinted your eyes slightly, you could have imagined this was Argentina v Brazil.
Bangor dominated the early stages of the game, with Jamie Glover having a shot which forced Dunmurry’s keeper into a save before Seanna Foster hit the bar a minute later. Bangor were out to get an early goal.
As the minutes went by, Dunmurry continued to frustrate Bangor. That was their plan. Their keeper wasn’t exactly being quick to restart the game when he had a free-kick or goal kick.
Bangor’s frustration was such, they were resorting to long range shots in the hope that one got lucky, but they never did.
A header from Michael Halliday fell perfectly for Adam Neale to smash home, until he saw Dunmurry’s keeper making himself big to make a save from point blank.
0-0 at half-time with Bangor being the better team, but unable to convert their possession into goals.
The focus on Bangor’s half-time teamtalk will have been to get those goals to win the game. Inside the opening minutes of the second-half, they were chasing the game.
A sloppy backpass presented an opportunity for Andrew Carberry to score, a low finish putting Dunmuryy 1-0 up with their first attempt of note on goal.
Standing at the side of the pitch not far from the dugouts, I could see a member of Bangor’s coaching staff going ballistic on the touchline.
Ben Arthurs came on for Michael Halliday and had a near instant impact, with an equaliser within a few minutes of coming on.
A shot fell perfectly for him, and he finished from a few yards out.
The goal from Dunmurry had jolted Bangor into life. They might have been better off scoring with two minutes to go rather than two minutes into the second-half.
The pressure continued as Bangor looked to take the lead.
That pressure was rewarded when Adam Neale headed in a cross from close range to make it 2-1.
It was hard to see Dunmurry come back from this, even though they still had twenty minutes to retrieve the situation.
Naturally, their keeper was hurrying up with goal kicks and free-kicks, to ironic cheers from the Bangor support.
As injury time approached, Bangor had a glorious opportunity to clinch the game when Reece Neale won possession and found himself through on goal, and dinked the ball over the keeper.
Just as he was getting ready to celebrate, the ball agonisingly hit the post and went out for a goal kick.
If Dunmurry get an equaliser and then win the game in extra-time or on penalties, that would be the moment that Bangor fans would be reliving in their nightmares for years to come.
The need for a goal prompted Dunmurry to bring their keeper up for set pieces, to more ironic cheers from the Bangor support.
That sort of sarcastic taunting was asking for trouble. It was all set up for him to silence them with a dramatic equaliser.
Not quite, but a robust foul on him did cause a bit of a rammy.
Bangor survived the inevitable late Dunmurry to win the trophy, as they look to kick on and secure promotion to The Championship.
Much as been made of the size of the crowd and suggestions have been made that this game should be moved to Christmas Even in future.
I’ll admit that the match being on Christmas Eve rather than Christmas Day tempted me to go. I’d definitely be up for it. As stated earlier, I wasn’t the only neutral there.
However, there are other factors.
The most obvious one was that Christmas Eve fell on a Saturday this year. It’s still a working day for a lot of people.
Even if you are lucky enough to be let out early, you’re not going to make a 10.45am kick-off.
Also, the biggest team in the competition reached the Final. Bangor were always going to bring a decent size support for a Steel and Sons Cup Final.
2023 leaves room to work with as Christmas Day falls on a Monday.
You could play the Final on Saturday 23rd, with there still being enough time for people to travel to 3pm games that day.
Or you could play it on Christmas Eve, a Sunday. It’s worth testing the water when the calendar falls this way.
If it works, you’ll only have to wait until 2028 for the dates to fall this way again.
2023 or 2033, who knows when my next Steel and Sons Cup Final will be. Bangor will be hoping to be in too high a League to be competing for it by then.
Things are going so well for Linfield at the moment, they moved up a place in the League without playing the previous weekend.
Even though they went out of the Scottish Challenge Cup, which was annoying as they would have had a trip to Dumfries in the next round, if you had to lose one cup tie that week, that would have been it. Even the bumps aren’t that bumpy.
Two Cup Finals to look forward to in 2023, Linfield needed to keep on winning to ensure they would start 2023 still in the title race that they looked out of in mid October.
They were handed an accidental boost by the weather, with Larne, Glentoran, Coleraine and Crusaders all having their matches postponed, giving Linfield a chance to get points on the board while others are inactive, a role reversal from the previous week.
Straight on the attack from kick-off, Linfield were looking to make the most of the opportunity to gain points on their rivals.
They looked like they might get a penalty in the opening minute for a foul on Joel Cooper but nothing was given.
Eetu Vertainen then had a shot blocked, the sting taken out of it to take it out for a corner.
It felt like a matter of time before Linfield scored.
Six minutes was the answer, as Eetu Vertainen was played in out right and his cross was perfect for Chris McKee to finish from close range.
From where I was sat, I and those around me could see him unmarked and onside. You were celebrating a goal before the cross even came in.
A much needed start in a game like this. You don’t want to give the opposition something to hold on to.
Linfield didn’t really kick on as hoped after that, and were a bit sloppy in defence, although Dungannon never looked like taking advantage of any sloppy passes going their way.
Eventually, Linfield got themselves back on track and were soon 2-0 up when Eetu Vertainen made space for himself in the box and smashed home. Even at this early stage, it was game over unless Linfield did something stupid.
It was Linfield who were almost gifted a goal when Joel Cooper capitalised on a loose ball but Dungannon’s keeper was able to get out quickly to make himself big and deny him.
Sam Roscoe was then frustrated as his flick goalwards didn’t have enough power to trouble the keeper as they had to settle for a commanding but not decisive 2-0 lead.
A third goal would have done the job for Linfield and there wasn’t long to wait in the second-half for it, just three minutes in fact.
Joel Cooper played in Chris McKee in a wide position, under pressure from Dungannon’s keeper. No problem, just backheel it for Cameron Palmer to put it into the empty net.
Palmer got a knock for his troubles but was able to continue.
He was one of those who would be substituted with the game won. No need to take risks.
Amongst those coming on was Jordan Stewart, making a long awaited return after injury. He would be joined by Liam McStravick, getting more minutes under his belt.
The rest of the game then meandered without incident, until the final five minutes.
Matthew Clarke went on a run and found himself running through on goal before being pulled back by Caolan Marron, who was sent-off
You could argue that was harsh as there was Dungannon defenders putting pressure on Clarke (something they probably should have done many yards earlier), but, Chris Johns was harshly sent-off at Stangmore Park in October in a game where Marron was lucky not to be sent-off.
It was a bit of a stupid thing to do, as the game was gone as far as Dungannon were concered, i’m not sure if was worth the sacrifice. It’s not as if they were holding on for a win or a draw.
The respite was almost temporary as Kyle McClean’s free-kick hit the bar before being headed in by Jordan Stewart, who was flagged offside.
Looking at replays of the incident, the offside call was correct but it looked like the ball might have been just over the line.
It wouldn’t be long before Linfield made it 4-0, and it was more frustration for Jordan Stewart as his shot hit the post but fell for Ethan Devine to set up Liam McStravick to put it into the back of the net.
If it’s not going to be your day, might as well be continually frustrated in your attempts to make it 4-0. That’s a good kind of bad day.
It was great to see him back in action, at a time when numbers will be needed.
Attention for Linfield now turned to the trip to The Oval on Boxing Day.
Although, there were other things occupying their mind recently.
They drew Warrenpoint at home in the Irish Cup. A bit meh, would have loved it if it was away.
Curiously, if they win the Irish Cup this season, their last three wins in the competition, all in the last decade, will have been on a Friday, Saturday and a Sunday.
Glentoran can also achieve this rather unique treble, but let’s not think about that.
A Sunday Final is handy for me as i’m planning to go to United v Wolves on the following weekend, so there is no awkward clash for me.
Let’s hope Linfield get there in the first place.
Also coming to Windsor Park is Michael O’Neill. A pleasantly surprising development. I didn’t think he’d take the Northern Ireland job as he’d be holding out for an English Championship post (he has enough credit in the bank in terms of reputation from his time at Stoke) so this is a bit of a coup.
A welcome mood boost ahead of the Euro 2024 Qualifiers, just as much as Denmark’s performances at the World Cup.
More good Euro news in the shape of new air routes to Frankfurt and Budapest being announced from Belfast. Possible trips with football thrown in to be explored.
Before my visit to The Oval will be a trip to Seaview for the Steel and Sons Cup Final as it’s on the rather more convenient date of Christmas Eve.
Might as well make the most of it as it won’t be on that date until 2033.
So i’ll sign off by wishing you all a Merry Christmas, even to Glentoran supporters.
Although, I hope they have a shitty day on the 26th.
30 years? Did Ash get together in school? Well, yes, but I was thinking Primary School or Nursery School. Surely they can’t be that old?
Believe it or not, it has been 30 years since Ash formed, so they headed to Ulster Hall to do a celebratory concert.
Exactly a year to the day since their 25th anniversary concert at The Limelight.
Probably should have paid attention in Maths instead of forming a band.
Well, there is a simple explanation for that.
The concert in December 2021 had been delayed by eighteen months from the Summer of 2020, and was originally to celebrate a quarter of a century since they first released music.
When they have a concert in Belfast in December, it gets informally labelled The Ash Christmas Bash.
This was my fourth such Bash, having attended in 2015, 2018 and 2021, although the 2021 wasn’t originally scheduled for that month, or even that year.
You will have noticed they are triennial, so I wasn’t expecting another one until 2024, but such a milestone deserves a rewriting of the unwritten rule.
One thing that is guaranteed at The Ash Christmas Bash is chaos. If you love chaos, then this is the concert for you.
There was the added bonus with the late announcement that this would be filmed and broadcast live on the BBC website and made available in audio on BBC Sounds.
As showtime approached, Gemma Bradley appeared on stage with her back to the crowd to do an introductory piece to camera, then we heard The A-Team Theme over the speakers, but not as we know it.
Seemingly, in 1977, a crack commando unit was sent to prison by a military court for a crime they didn’t commit, and relocated to Downpatrick.
We were then treated to a cover version of Flash by Queen, except it was “ASH!!!! SAVIOURS OF THE UNIVERSE!!!!!”
I would genuinely love it if they recorded this version and performed it live.
You could tell it was a big night as Tim turned up in a blazer, although this was dumped a few songs in. Mark’s idea of formal was to wear his favourite Star Wars t-shirt.
We were informed by Tim that Mark was still vowing vengeance on whoever stole his Princess Leia cardboard cutout at a gig at The Limelight many years ago.
As it was a very cold night outside, we were all relying on Ash to warm us up. It certainly was warm and sweaty in the venue.
The setlist began with a few biggies such as Goldfinger, Shining Light and A Life Less Ordinary.
For some reason, when I go to a concert, I like to stand on the left hand side of the floor. No idea why, I just do.
From where I was stood, I could see who was loitering at the side of the stage. I spotted an Undertone.
However, it would be a Snower (perhaps appropriate for this time of year) or a Patroler joining them next on stage, with Nathan Connolly joining the action, just as he did in 2015.
More biggies followed in the shape of Uncle Pat and Oh Yeah before Tim started asking where the Bass Player was.
I had originally thought he had nipped off to the toilet for a minute, but it turned out he has jumped into the crowd. I only knew that the next day because a friend on Instagram was posting selfies with him.
By now, Mark was back on stage. There was now a guest star entering the arena, Santa Claus himself, coming on during Kung Fu, dancing and doing kung fu.
Kung Fu Santa, now that is a film that has to be made.
Not sure what the plot is, but Santa and Kung Fu is a sure fire winner.
Whilst the weather had been cold all week, the weather didn’t deliver any snow, so Ash brought snow to the crowd, a confetti gun firing off white confetti into the crowd. I was covered in it, some of it was falling all over my house when I got home.
The band let us in on a little secret that i’ll share with you – They’re working on new music for release in 2023.
They then played Darkest Hour Of The Night, a recent song but a favourite for me.
That was then followed by Girl From Mars.
It would be a Boy From Stroke City and a Boy From Coleraine who would be entertaining the crowd in one of the more bizarre musical collaborations ever.
Damian O’Neill, the Undertone that I spotted loitering at the side of the stage came on. He’s appeared on stage with them a few times, he should probably ask for full membership.
On guest vocals, James Nesbitt. Yes, that James Nesbitt, taking off his coat to reveal a retro Northern Ireland shirt with “Ash 30” printed on the back.
I did warn you that The Ash Christmas Bash is chaotic.
As the band finished their set, the chaos didn’t end there, with Jump In The Line (AKA, Shake Shake Shake Senora) by Harry Belafonte playing on the speaker, giving Rick the opportunity to escape from behind his drumkit to showcase his dancing skills.
The rest of the band were making their way to the Dressing Room, came back to join him and showcase their dancing skills.
A rather enjoyable 30th anniversary concert.
Might as well mark Friday 20th December 2052 in the diary.
Analogue Boy In A Digital World 