Bide My Time

Bootleggers was a great live music venue in Kendal, but it closed in March 2020 (Covid!) and despite many statements - and rumours - to the contrary it remained closed for the next three and a half years.
This year though, there were signs of actual work going on, a Facebook page was set up and a grand reopening announced. And, after a false start due to a problem with building regs, it did indeed throw its doors open for business again. But not the same doors as we used to go in by. No, there is now a brand new entrance off Market Place in Kendal. What was an old bakers (Sayers?) if I remember correctly. That is now a bar and seating area with steps leading down to the “old” Bootleggers. There’s a bit more upstairs space as well, but the stage has been totally revamped with a new lighting rig and sound system. Still got the old chopper above it though. And in a nice nod to the previous owner of Bootleggers (sadly deceased far too young) the stage has been named the Jonty Martindale Stage.
I was delighted to see that one of my favourite artists - Aynsley Lister - had dropped a gig at Bootleggers into his touring schedule. I’d seen him there a few times in the past and one of the first things he said was how delighted he’d been that it had reopened, because it was a venue he’d always loved playing in.
We were treated to a couple of sets of old and new material including - of course - his signature version of “Purple Rain”. I even got to chat to him at the end and he kindly signed my CDs (only one of which I’d actually bought that night from the merch stand!) for me.
Standing there watching, it was all very familiar, yet at the same time different due to the changes to the bar that had been made. I’m sure I’ll get used to it and hopefully get to see more live acts there, just as I used to before it closed. Who knows, I might even get to play on the new stage myself next year if Stu and I can put a band together…