I lived in Lyon nearly 20 years ago. I spent a year teaching English as a foreign language at the Lycée Condorcet in St Priest. It was a great experience living in Lyon and I've cherished those memories over the years. A university friend of mine, Damien, was living in Bourg en Bresse outside Lyon and he used to travel down to Lyon at weekends. We had heard of this pub Johnny Walsh's in Vieux Lyon where I was living and we needed some Guinness. We stumbled upon Johnny Walsh's one Saturday evening and the owner Adrian aka 'Yer Man Ado', was playing. His style was amazing, real folky, blues and trad. I joined him for a few songs. I ended up as his bass player. I played some solo gigs as well at Johnny Walsh's that year, and at L'Antidote (also on Rue St Georges). We also played a load of festivals in the alps that summer of 2000, a few of which have given me great memories over the years. It was great I gigged virtually every Friday and Saturday night when I was there, sometimes solo, sometimes as a duo, and sometimes with the Johnny Walsh's Pub Band on bass. I think the great thing about Ado was that he taught me strumming techniques on the guitar, which I still use to this day.
I visited all the old haunts yesterday and amazing how it all comes back to you. I knew every street, every nook and cranny. The top photo shows Place Bellecour, the statue and the ever impressive Fourvière up above. I lived in a studio apartment 2 streets away from Fourvière, and it brought back the greatest memories.
To top it off I played an absolute blinder, and sold a few CD singles. Now to spend the day testing these 2 harmonicas!
I'll be back in Lyon next Wednesday and I can't wait.
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