twenty six I know, it's another boring photo but I had to take this in the few minutes I had before getting in a car and driving to Vermont for our last concert of the year. We went to see Grace Potter and the Nocturnals for the 1st of four sold out shows in her hometown of Burlington. I can think of no better way to end my year than seeing one of my very favorite artists, whose album is a lock for my favorite of the year, in her hometown. As expected she was fantastic, probably one of my absolute favorites of the year and coming from me that says a lot. So exactly how many performances did I see? If you count seeing a particular act on a particular night as a performance, I have been to 161 performances this year. That of course includes multiple acts on festival days, opening bands, etc... That's still 73 distinct nights that we went out to live music or comedy. Here's a complete scorecard: 1010-12-28 Grace Potter and the Nocturnals 2010-12-28 Chamberlin 2010-12-17 Big Wreck 2010-12-17 Thornley 2010-12-08 David Usher 2010-11-24 Lights 2010-11-24 Jully Black 2010-11-19 Luke Doucet 2010-11-19 The Beauties 2010-11-16 The Trews 2010-11-16 Tim Chaisson 2010-10-25 Josh Ritter 2010-10-25 Basia Bulat 2010-10-19 Stars 2010-10-19 Young Galaxy 2010-09-23 Norm MacDonald 2010-09-23 Kevin Farley 2010-09-17 Madison Violet 2010-09-17 Del Barber 2010-09-16 Jonas & The Massive Attraction 2010-09-15 Shakira 2010-09-07 Amanda Rheaume 2010-09-07 Graham Greer 2010-08-29 Scissor Sisters 2010-08-29 Casey Spooner 2010-08-27 Honeymoon Suite 2010-08-26 The Irish Descendants 2010-08-22 Helix 2010-08-19 Jeff Martin 2010-08-19 Tara Holloway 2010-08-19 Lindsay Ferguson 2010-08-14 Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers 2010-08-14 Crosby, Stills & Nash 2010-08-13 Gov't Mule 2010-08-13 Jackie Green 2010-08-12 Juliette Lewis 2010-08-12 Dearly Beloved 2010-08-12 The Balconies 2010-08-07 Rihanna 2010-08-07 Ke$ha 2010-08-01 Black Eyed Peas 2010-08-01 Jason Derulo 2010-07-31 Airbourne 2010-07-31 Bleeker Ridge 2010-07-24 Sting 2010-07-23 The Cliks 2010-07-23 Holly Valentine 2010-07-22 Alice Cooper 2010-07-22 Alannah Myles 2010-07-18 Weezer 2010-07-18 Ryan Shaw 2010-07-18 Trevor Hall 2010-07-18 Amos the Transparent 2010-07-18 Ben Cooper 2010-07-17 The Hold Steady 2010-07-17 Elvis Perkins in Dearland 2010-07-17 The Whigs 2010-07-17 Matt Schofield 2010-07-16 Great Big Sea 2010-07-16 Blonde Redhead 2010-07-16 The Budos Band 2010-07-16 MonkeyJunk 2010-07-15 Derek Trucks & Susan Tedeschi Band 2010-07-15 Matthew Good 2010-07-15 Old Crow Medicine Show 2010-07-15 Dana Fuchs 2010-07-15 The Gories 2010-07-14 Soutside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes 2010-07-14 Steve Winwood 2010-07-14 Too Slim and the Taildraggers 2010-07-13 Sarah Harmer 2010-07-13 The Aggrolites 2010-07-12 City and Colour 2010-07-12 Jason Collett 2010-07-11 RUSH 2010-07-11 John Hiatt 2010-07-11 Stripper's Union 2010-07-11 Timber Timbre 2010-07-11 Carolyn Wonderland 2010-07-11 Graham Greer 2010-07-10 Passion Pit 2010-07-10 Metric 2010-07-10 Basia Bulat 2010-07-09 Joan Jett & the Blackhearts 2010-07-09 Hole 2010-07-09 John Butler Trio 2010-07-09 The Planet Smashers 2010-07-08 The B-52s 2010-07-08 The Bacon Brothers 2010-07-08 Lindsay Ferguson 2010-07-07 Robert Randolph & The Family Band 2010-07-07 Jonas & The Massive Attraction 2010-07-07 Gipsy Kings 2010-07-07 Silver Creek 2010-07-06 Faber Drive 2010-07-06 Lights 2010-07-06 Ana Popovic 2010-07-04 Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings 2010-07-04 Richard Bono 2010-06-26 Bettye Lavette 2010-06-26 David Sanborn Quartet 2010-06-20 Melanie Doane 2010-06-19 ZZ Top 2010-06-19 Collective Soul 2010-06-19 Finger Eleven 2010-06-19 Big Sugar 2010-06-19 Gord Downie And The Country Of Miracles 2010-06-19 Danny Fernandez 2010-06-19 Karl Wolf 2010-06-19 Danny Fernandez 2010-06-12 Sloan 2010-06-12 Will Currie & The Country French 2010-06-12 The Balconies 2010-06-11 Sean McCann 2010-05-29 George Thorogood 2010-05-29 JJ Grey & Mofro 2010-05-15 Danko Jones 2010-05-13 Them Crooked Vultures 2010-05-13 Alberta Cross 2010-04-28 Peter Gabriel 2010-04-17 Hawksley Workman 2010-04-15 Crash Karma 2010-04-15 Grace Over Diamonds 2010-04-11 Nickelback 2010-04-11 Breaking Benjamin 2010-04-11 Shinedown 2010-04-09 Hedley 2010-04-09 Boys Like Girls 2010-04-09 Stereos 2010-04-09 Fefe Dobson 2010-04-06 Grady 2010-04-06 Flash Lightnin' 2010-04-04 Matthew Good 2010-04-04 Automatic Love Letter 2010-04-01 Dragonette 2010-03-26 Melissa McClelland 2010-03-26 Jadea Kelly 2010-03-23 Our Lady Peace 2010-03-22 Our Lady Peace 2010-03-17 The Irish Descendants 2010-03-05 Joe Rogan 2010-02-14 Blue Rodeo 2010-02-14 The Dustin Bentall Outfit 2010-02-13 Basia Bulat 2010-02-13 Leif Vollebekk 2010-02-10 Brent Butt 2010-02-06 Chantal Kreviazuk 2010-02-06 Meaghan Smith 2010-02-05 La Roux 2010-02-05 Yes Giantess 2010-01-31 Colin James 2010-01-31 Suzie McNeil 2010-01-29 Steven Wright 2010-01-27 Wide Mouth Mason 2010-01-27 Iconoclast 2010-01-27 The Scarlet Fever 2010-01-23 T

Photo - Fred Adams. 1930's. I lived here for one year from birth in 1943 until moving to 9, Marston Cottages. This address was changed to 2, Ashgrove Gardens. Confusing, what ? Fred Hopkins 1970 :- " This was Adams' barber shop. there used to be so many go up there Saturday nights. Sit there for three or four hours talking ". Arthur Adams 1981 :- " Actually it used to be a snob's shop. An old feller used to mend shoes in there. That was before our family went in there to live. Our family used to live down the bottom of Market Hill where Mrs.Graham used to live. Not in my time. They lived up at Kearton's place ( The Old House ) 'cause Uncle Joe ( above picture ) was born up there. Foster was the snob as used to be there. There was a place in that old wooden floor where he used to put his last. Saturday nights gramp used to shave and that. Well, then my Dad started helping y'see. They didn't use machines, just used to cut it off with comb and scissors. Then Dad started going up on a Wednesday night. That started getting too busy on a Saturday night. They'd be sat in Grandmother's living room, three or four on 'em. Some sat out the back, well, y'know, different weather. They used to sit there for company, y'see. You couldn't see in there for smoke - three or four oil lamps a-going. Well, then I remember they said they'd get a machine. Dad'd go and get it. same week that come - Grampy Adams died. Any rate, his funeral was coming off y'see, an' my Dad said, " I dunno how we're going to get this hair-cutting done, I reckon you'd better have a go at it ". That sort of started me off doing it. Then the girls wanted theirs cut, Elsie and May ( sisters ) so Dad cut it. Well, you never see such a mess in all your life. I said," you made a good mess there , I reckon ". " Huh ",he says, "if you can do better, you have a go ". And I had a go and I must 've been better 'cause all their mates come round. Then some of their mate's mothers said could I cut their hair. Mrs.Porter. I said, " I ain't been used to this ". " That don't matter, boy," she said, " you cut it off, boy, that won't spoil it !". Then there was a woman up Back Lane, she wanted a shingle. " Well, look", I said, " I only done little bits like, an' I dunno about that ! ". " That don't matter ", she said, " you have a go ". After a bit I got the drop of it and then, dammit, I was doing half the women in the village ".