On Friday March 13th I performed my one and only show this year at The Lemon Tree in Aberdeen. Two days later my musicians and crew were disbanded and soon after in lockdown in their respective homes across the UK and beyond. None of us has set foot on a stage since and are unlikely to do so again for quite a while.

Losing all our concert touring in 2020 has been both a huge emotional and financial hit for everyone concerned however I was lucky that, although I didn't qualify for government support, my wife and I had the record company mail order business to get us through the year. My musicians and crew haven't been as fortunate and most of them being self employed qualified for only basic support, others getting nothing at all.

The show on March 13th at the Lemon Tree in Aberdeen was essentially a warm up gig for a tour that was booked with around 50 shows throughout the year and across Europe.

We wouldn't normally record these shows but luckily it was captured by my sound engineer Steve Kent and with a touch of studio magic from Steve Vantsis, my bass player, ‘Weltschmerz' album co-writer and co-producer, we've managed to get together an hour and 30 minutes of the only show performed in 2020. It's a very special memory and means a lot to us all.

I decided that I didn't want to release it as an official live album but to use it in a very different way. This Lemon Tree gig is available to stream free of charge on soundcloud and all I ask is that if you're moved enough by the show that you make a small donation at https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/fishycircus

I personally am taking nothing from anything raised here and funds will be dispersed directly to associated band and crew members who have been struggling financially this year with little or no work outside the live music industry.

Should funds raised exceed expectations then I will pass the remainder on to a similar charity that is supporting the live music industry.

You can read the extensive 'sleeve notes' that tell the full story of the rehearsals and the gig itself and the dramas behind it all at https://fishmusic.scot/news/article/a-fish-in-the-lemon-tree-stream-out-now-read-the-full-sleeve-notes-by-fish/2033

FISH • A Fish in The Lemon Tree • Live 2020

Official Soundcloud page for Singer, Actor, Writer Fish.

FISH

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