Day 6: Great Big Gaelic Leaf

As we approached the end of the set, and some folks have started leaving in order to get their seat for the 11:00 BNL show, Alan comments that “We’re supposed to finish up at 11:00.” We cry out “no!” Alan responds, “But wait…Gaelic Storm is playing down in the Aortic until 11:30. What do you say we go join them?” We cheer agreement.

Diana and I look at each other and grin – I guess we’re going to be late for the BNL show.

True to his word, as the last note of Rant & Roar fades, Alan says, “To the other show.” They take off. We follow. Some girls near us say something like “they’re not really going, they’re just trying to get out of signing autographs.” Huh? Clearly they haven’t been on the same cruise as us all week… We just tell them to get out of our way. It’s a mad dash from Deck 9 forward to 5 aft. Hopefully no innocent bystanders were injured. They were definitely perplexed. (At this point, the unexpected was the norm. If I’d been standing around, I’d’ve followed just to find out what was happening.)

We work our way through the crowd in the aortic lounge (really the Adriatic Seas Lounge, but it was immediately known as the Aortic). We could see the word being passed amongst the members of Gaelic Storm. After a few songs, Patrick announces that they have guests for the final song. GBS and CL join them on stage – 15 guys on one tiny stage. Patrick and Sean take the lead in a rousing version of Tell Me Ma. It’s an absolutely amazing experience – we’re jumping and cheering; they all have big grins. What a rush.

The band is now known as Great Big Gaelic Leaf or Great Big Carbon Storm

But the evening still isn’t done…