Hayseed Dixie- Live at The Gig Room

The Gig Room is a new live music venue in Perth run by people who love music for people who love music.  Located at 6 Shore Road at the site of The Ice Factory, an institution for Scottish club go-ers it has the capacity for 300 concert go-ers and as such is capable of drawing some really big acts.  Hayseed Dixie are a case in point, they have been garnering praise and selling out venues since their first album of bluegrass covers of AC/DC songs hit the shelves way back in 2001.

Since then they have lost none of their joy for playing live, blisteringly fast picking chops, or ability to combine strong original material with unusual and inventive covers that marked them out as a force to be reckoned with.  On a monday night they had the audience up and dancing from the very first song to songs such as Bohemian Rhapsody, Buffalo Soldiers and even a countrified version of Michael Jacksons Black and White.  

I was front and centre snapping pictures and the band willingly posed and the Mandolin player Hippy Joe Hymas even gave me a slug of his buckfast at one point.  I'd never tried it before and it must have shown on my face as he quickly offered me his single malt Laphroig to wash it down with.  

After an encore the band made their way down to The Gig Rooms courtyard and happily posed for selfies, signed autographs and had a couple of beers with their appreciative fans.  What a great band.  What a great venue.