Making Real Time return as Gordon gigs go on in Yarrow

Almost a year ago Real Time played a concert at the Gordon Arms, owned by keyboard player Tommy Roseburgh, just before setting off on their annual tour of Germany.

Half-way through the tour Tommy received a call to let him know that the hotel was on fire, so he rushed back to the valley to find the hotel extensively damaged.

That was in May of last year. The fire destroyed the roof and upper floors, but Tommy and his partner, Susan Cree, were always determined to see the Gordon rise from the ashes.

Susan and Tommy received numerous messages of support from the public, many of them from people who had attended the Gordon’s live music sessions.

After nine months of hard work the hotel’s bar and kitchen are open, and now it is ready to start having concerts again. Real Time are off to Germany on March 1, but they were very keen to perform once more at the hotel before the tour.

For this trip the band’s fiddler will be Carly Blain from Kelso, who toured with the band in 2010 and has performed throughout the world.

Completing the line up will be Kenny Speirs, who, along with Tommy, is formerly of the John Wright Band, as well as John Rafferty, and singer Eilidh Grant, winner of a a Danny Kyle Award at the Celtic Connections festival in 2004, and a Scottish New Music Award for best Folk/Traditional recording of year for her long-awaited debut album in 2011.

Kenny says: “The German trip has 10 gigs, so it’s good to get one under our belts in preparation for the tour.

“It’s also important for the hotel to get things going again there, so hopefully we’ll get a decent crowd for the 28th.”

Tickets are £8 available on 01750 82261, and the concert is timed, at 7pm, for those wishing to have Sunday dinner before the show.