The tours will often find themselves flowing in fits and bursts. Live music is more in demand around a weekend so to speak as the population is generally more free and available to devote some time to it.
This little burst of 3 shows braggingly boasted to be in the 3 different countries is actually no more than 3 – 5 hours apart from one another as I weave my way along borderlines. Often the change is not dramatic (none more than a EU sign to say you are entering of leaving Germany or France.) However upon reaching the Swiss border one is always encountering queues. No so much for Border checks although they do occasionally happen. But more because of people stopping to invest in an annual highway pass for their vehicle.
As my stay is brief inside the swiss border I try my hand for a 2nd year at avoiding the highways and simply venturing through the smaller roads. Which can prove to be a real a challenge to navigate avoiding the state highway.
Anyway I ramble ahead of myself because first was Strasbourg, France. A sweet little club called Mudd. The owners were hip hop Dj’s among other things and the environment as a whole encouraged me to blare out the electronic material. A couple of familiar faces were there amongst the numbers whom I had met through Dutch bookings a year prior.
One of whom Malika ( a musician and performer herself) gave me some cherished an honest advice regarding the set up of my show. I used to always play with my chimes set to the side. She said that every time I turned side on to play it loses something in the show. I was pleased to be able to show her I have taken her advice and shifted my rig around.
Next came a house concert. In Germany, A small quaint place Markdorff. I knew the house owners who had booked me a couple of times for a festival back in 2013 & 14. To see them again was great and the warmth and familiarity of their characters brought comfort to my road trip mindset. Amazing food was also on the menu and a Vegan feast was had :P.
Finally was onto Switzerland where I returned to Zurich for my 3rd show there in less than a year.
The location was a bohemian bar called Am Damm Fur Dich. The place is small and compact inside but because of the awesome weather I was asked to play in their large outside garden. This was a total joy to do and small panic hit me shortly after I finished when a sudden storm blew in. Suddenly I had to get all my equipment inside double fast. I don’t think there has been any damage.
My first day off since arriving in Zurich has been spent swimming in the river close by. Truly beautiful and almost unbelievable to be swimming in such clean water in the centre of the city.
Truly stunning!!!
Next stop will be playing alongside Damien Rice at the Blue Balls festival in Luzern, Switzerland
Stuart O'Connor 
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