Firstly, a Happy New Year from all of us at one4review. I really hope 2011 is better for us all than 2010.

And what better way to bring in the New Year was the now traditional outside gig entitled ‘T in the Car Park’, hosted by those ubiquitous folk band Yard of Ale in the car park of the Aberdour Hotel in the Fife village of the same name.

Now it is a testament to both the venue and the musicians that in excess of 200 souls braved the near freezing temperatures for three hours, okay the bar was open and the burger and soup stands were doing a roaring trade throughout, but most were there for the music.

Starting off proceedings promptly at 2-00pm Yard of Ale comprising Alistair McDougald, Colin MacKenzie and Peter Gillan were well into their stride and royally entertained with their usual mix of traditional Scottish folk tunes, Irish, American numbers the odd country number, even an excursion to rock ‘n’ roll all interspersed with chat and bad jokes, but what the hell. This was what the gig was all about right?

Having frozen their bits off for 45 minutes, the lads gave way to The Harvey’s Boys, a couple of English based performers who performed a few numbers as they usually do, all to good effect.

An all too short injection of glamour to proceedings followed as a young lady called, er Heather I think, bravely took over with an unaccompanied version of KT Tunstall’s  ‘Other side of the World.’ What a lovely voice she had. I know I could have listened to far more than the one number she sang.

The final guest act was the irrepressible Ian MacFarlane. He is a showman supreme and blessed with a voice that is equally at home doing Steve Earle country rock style or big band classics. In truth he gave us all a selection of both in his segment of the show, a section that was generally well received by the cooling crowd.

With the temperature now hovering marginally above freezing Yard of Ale returned to close the gig and a rousing finale it was. More of their traditional set list with a couple of older numbers thrown in for good measure was the fare and as with the opening set the crowd loved it and virtually all stayed to the bitter end, bitter as in cold of course. I am in awe that they could still feel their fingers let alone play instruments with them.

And that was that. At least for 2011. Hopefully if all goes according to plan we will be back again next year for more of the same. How about you?

Reviewed by Geoff