Today we are playing for the local press launch for Saturday’s festivities in Raleigh. The highlight here is easily Alan’s Cal Worthington style television advert for the whole shebang. (watch this space for video footage...)

We have to make tracks however for we must sound-check this evening in Charlotte before a five A.M. television spot tomorrow morning. Although we have an early start, there is always time after the sound-check for some gumbo and free pool at Boudreaux’s next to the neighbourhood theatre in Charlotte

We are appearing on Charlottes early morning News and traffic programme with John Wilson who is the sort of “man about town” who informs folk on what is happening. Originally from England, John has been living in the south since he was a kid. He was for some years a radio journalist and is now on television but he also works with NASCAR driver, Jimmy Johnson: This form of auto racing is hugely popular in the south and is the only sport which rivals college basketball for popularity here in North Carolina.

After our early morning T.V. slot it’s off to do some laundry and have a goat biriyani at the excellent and originally named “Kabob House” before heading to the gig at the Neighbourhood Theatre and more pool at Boudreaux’s.

Southern Pines, North Carolina is a golf destination of note – apparently – but amongst all that lays a picturesque small town with a vibrant arts scene. The Sunrise theatre not only hosts concerts but also shows independent films. This is a new gig for us and thanks to Andie and her colleagues it is a great success.

Tonight we are introduced by no other than Craig Fuller from both Pure Prairie League and Little Feat . Afterwards it is off to Neville’s’ bar with Andie and David where Alasdair and Sean host a pool and “car bomb” clinic. I refer here to the American cocktail of Guinness, whiskey and Bailey’s rather than to any semtex related “optional” available on the new Monza that Alan sold you.

As the only waking soul within Coco the cortina, I decide to desist from stopping for any sustenance until my fellow rodeo clowns awake as we pull up to our hotel for the night. Starcho the magnificent – Aly – sniffs out a pho shop just opposite the hotel – this is his forte. Merely driving past a noodle house, Thai restaurant or potato patch is perhaps the most sure-fire way to interrupt his clown-car reveries. “Wake up and smell the tatties”.

Today’s noodle and soup dealer was, it has to be said, a wee bit below par. Perhaps we should have been tipped off to this the moment after we ordered when the Pizza deliveryman arrived with lunch for all the Vietnamese cooks.

We have played the Handlebar in Greenville South Carolina a number of times both at its previous and present locations. This is a great venue which hosts numerous concerts and houses a fine bar and grill. Again we have a support act: This time it is Selkie who are based more or less locally: Another fine night in Greenville.

St. Patrick’s day in Raleigh North Carolina. Annie Nice and all the organisers in Raleigh have done a power of work for today’s festivities and despite the Baltic conditions, there is a huge crowd and both the street party and parade are a great success. The pub is absolutely mobbed so Alan and myself go for a quick bite of scran at Clyde Cooper’s Bar B.Q. around the corner from Moore Square – the epicentre for today’s proceedings. People in this part of The U.S. are fervent bar b.q. Aficionados and while it is a bit of a mystery to us, the pork, hush puppies, collared greens and tatties are mighty fine.

Today we play both outside and in and are free later to enjoy the Dickens, a local multi-genre band who play a great set of mostly covers with a nod towards St. Patrick’s day: Van Morrison, Thin Lizzy, Cyprus Hill, and in honour of their recent induction into the rock and roll hall of fame, “Baby’s Got Back” by Grandmaster Flash.

Thanks again to Annie, Roxanne and the entire mob at Tir Na Nog.