For those who don’t know yet, Spraoi is a free street festival taking place every August bank holiday weekend in Waterford, Ireland. I have written a good few posts about Spraoi, some of them can be found on this page. Spraoi is back once again, and so is Scotch!
Last August I featured the Dutch party band Scotch in one of my Spraoi related blog posts. An established favorite in Waterford, the band is celebrating their 15th anniversary this year. Way to go, Scotch!
This is Tim. He wasn’t with the band in Waterford last year.
Sam and Nathan,
Wouter and Sjoerd,
and Juno ( cute pout, man 🙂 )
I didn’t get a decent picture of Jochem that time, but bear with me.
Hi Wouter! Glad to see you and the guys. How does it feel to be on the Waterford soil again?
We really enjoyed to be back at Spraoi! It’s starting to feel a bit like home 🙂
How was your year since the last Spraoi? Any news?
The last year we’ve been mostly on the road. Have been touring every other month to a total of 12 different countries: The Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Italy, France, Czech Republic, Croatia, England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland.
It is a very impressive list. Delighted for you and for those who were lucky to hear you perform. Sad that Sam won’t be touring Europe with the band any more. Why this decision? Do you have another violinist lined up?
Sam decided there’s no room in his life to play in a band. It’s too demanding to run a family, have a day job and tour all over Europe. It has been harsh but in the last months we’ve found our way to deal with it. There will be a new violinist, and starting next week we will be performing a new show. Looking forward to that!
So do I and all your fans. Thank you!
So, the rest of this post is dedicated to Sam who has been with the band from its first day.
For his solo number, Sam left the stage and mingled with the crowd. It didn’t take him long to make everybody dance 🙂
The band had another two gigs scheduled for the weekend, and I came over to Kazbar to take some pictures in a more relaxed atmosphere.
It is where I had a chance to take a proper picture of Jochem sporting a platinum mane. You can rock any style, Jochem 🙂
More pictures of Sam ( ah it is so so sad)
With his fans, one more time.
There was that sad beautiful stranger who had been standing there and showing no interest in the gig whatsoever.
But who can resist Wouter’s charm? I am sure she smiled back 🙂
Grand finale!
The audience was so large that I decided to take a picture of the part of it that was reflected in the roof mirror.
Thank you Scotch!
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/scotchtheband/
Website: http://www.scotchtheband.com/
Booking info:
Scotch
booking@scotchtheband.com
t+31 6 12 42 70 77
Some more from Spraoi in my blog in November.
Have a great weekend!
Making memories 
What excitement you captured in this post, Inese! I could *feel* the music. They must be fabulous to see in person. I loved every photo. I’m also intrigued by that strange instrument…
Hugs on the wing!
Thank you Teagan! I guess we are intrigued by the same thing 🙂 Stroh violin was invented in 1899, the year my grandmother was born 🙂 I think that Sam is playing the Romanian variety – gypsy trumpet violin. I have never asked.
Huh… now that really is intriguing. Thanks for the info, Inese. What a combination. More hugs.
You have managed to compress so much about the band in so few words. What’s more, I could deeply feel the dilemma of the violinist, the tedium of traveling, and the Herculean efforts needed by the clique to remain relevant. The sad stranger looks quite purposeless and lost in that shot, and yet it must be her quest for happiness that has driven her to the spot. Maybe she wants to join them but is held back by her abilities or earthly bonds?
Thank you for your wonderful comment! The guys are together since 2003. They will hopefully keep playing together in their own country, but the tours take a toll.
That beautiful girl caught my eye from the very beginning. She didn’t really look at the band. She was barely 10, and apparently alone. My guess is her chaperones were busy dancing somewhere in the crowd, and she was embarrassed by them 🙂 Wouter was first to come up to her and play his drum for her 🙂
Nice write up! The photos also tell the story very well.
Thank you! 🙂
Looks like a great fun time with the band. I really like this live street performance especially when audiences can dance along. I just love people do that. I am glad you had pictures of those to show too! A great sharing!
Thank you so much! The festival lasted three days, and more than 200 performers took part. It is a greatly anticipated event in Waterford that ends with a Monster parade and fireworks 🙂
This looks like so much fun! Thank you for sharing the joy of live music:).
Thank you! I love street festivals and always happy to share 🙂
Great band shots! 🙂 Sounds like big fun.
Thank you! Street performers are my weakness 🙂 Cannot miss the opportunity.
What a joyful occasion. I love everything about this band. A group of very handsome musicians and such fun. Thank you for the wonderful photo’s you have captured the atmosphere exactly.
Thank you so much! They are very talented and so much fun.
You did a great job capturing the energy of the festivities!
Thank you so much! There are about 200 performers at the festival, so I had to choose. This year I took photographs of four performers: this band, choir, brass band and act. Hopefully I feel better next year and do more street shots.
You are most welcome.
That looks like a lot of fun! Scotch look like they’re playing some good music there 🙂
Thank you! They are very good 🙂
There’s great energy in these photos. I love your animal and landscape shots, Inese, and you’re talented at concert photos too! Bravo!
Thank you so much Carolee!
Love their pants! You gotta have a good time with a group like that. Impossible not to, I’d say.
Thank you! This summer was so incredibly warm in Europe, that on some stage of their tour they had to wear cut-offs.
It looks like everyone had a great time. These festivals look and sound wonderful and entertaining.
Thank you! They have about 200 performers in the streets over the weekend. It is a very well organised festival, and very anticipated.
What a fun day! Would’ve loved to be there in the crowd enjoying the band.
Poor Sad Face 😦 She probably wanted to be somewhere else with her friends.
Great photos 🙂
Thank you Rosaliene! It was a fun weekend. That poor child didn’t want to be there 🙂 I guess her mother was dancing and embarrassing her 🙂
Wow, Inese, I know you love them AND that love shines out in your amazing images. God, I just want to come to this festival x
Thank you! 🙂 They are touring Scotland quite often.
Photographers, the same as writers, ought to love their protagonists 😉 xx
I am going to find them. I loved your photographs..not just of them but the crows. And yes, you are right re the things image takers must nail xxxxxxxx
Thank you! 🙂
Great shots. It looks like a fun time. Cheers!
Thank you!
More excellent reportage
Thank you Derrick!
Your photos are wonderful, Inese! This looks like such a cool festival. I adore the band’s outfits. Maybe Sam will come back one day. I can imagine it is tough to manage so many things.
Thank you! I hope Sam will play with the band in their own country. Touring Europe and having family is too much, I agree.
I wish I could go there!
Book them for your next party 🙂 They are great lads, no one walks home from their gigs without a smile on their lips 🙂
A nice tour of the festival. Included a link to their website so you can have a listen to their music
http://www.scotchtheband.com/videoclips/
Thank you Joseph! I think their best music hasn’t been recorded yet 🙂 As they are specifically a party band ( and it is how they make their buck), they advertise accordingly. Sometimes they play their country songs, and it is when they really shine, but another reason they are often invited to festivals is their personality. They don’t have a single unkind bone in them. They do behave crazy sometimes, but I have never heard anyone being offended. In my pictures, I always want to highlight the best in people, because it is what I really want to see – their inspired faces, and the merry audience who will remember them and beg for them to come back 🙂
You portrayed them well with photos. I can see why people look forward to their music. The link I provided was only clips and not the whole songs. A taste if you will. I can see why people like them.
Yes, I have seen these clips before. These are the most recognizable songs 🙂 Many people listen to their music while being drunk (party band!), and the catchy music helps to restore the memories 🙂
I bet every performing artist would want you to take the pics, Inese. This is truly a brilliant collection of photographs – so good I felt like I was there at actual the event ~ George
Thank you George 🙂 Just wanted to show their true identity 🙂 They are a great bunch 🙂