Golden Canter - the continued rise of Gerry Cinnamon

Congratulations to Gerry Cinnamon, his self-released album Erratic Cinematic had gone gold, a brilliant and very well deserved achievement.

A lot has happened in Gerry's world over the last 12-months and it has been amazing, exciting and enthralling to witness live and to follow his trailblazing adventure. I thought that it might be time to write a follow up to my blog The Rise and Rise of Gerry Cinnamon that I published last summer

Gerry's continued rise isn't being documented by the traditional music or mainstream media, but it is being beautifully documented by the people that matter most - his fans.

Whether is it posts/tweets or pictures of love, Cinnamon lyric tattoo's, murals on walls or the many uploads to YouTube that display the passion, euphoria and utter enjoyment that Cinnamon's live shows bring. Someone should bring them all together in a documentary. This kind of rise to this kind of level in this kind of way hasn't happened before. It is incredible to witness.

Uploaded fan films on YouTube can reach tens of thousands, even over 100,000 views - such is the demand to experience Cinnamon-mania. Just search for Gerry Cinnamon on YouTube and delve in to the joy, mayhem and euphoria this guy is beautifully creating for people.

But if you want to start with some professional BBC footage then let's come bang up to date with the summer of 2019 and Cinnamon's sensational TRNSMT festival performance, hot on the heels of his incredible Glastonbury performance (check it on the iPlayer) where he packed out the John Peel tent. Both are sensational to watch, Gerry just keeps taking things to another level - and so do the fans!

Cinnamon-mania took over TRNSMT - again. Just look at the crowd in the video above! And listen to them!

In glorious sunshine artist and audience became one. The audience could feel it, they sang the guitar riff to Sometimes, jumped, danced and sang every word. And Gerry could feel it; the bit at the end of What Have You Done where Gerry just decided to play his harmonica solo and stamp out a beat again was thrilling to watch. And Gerry's rallying cry to young musicians ahead of Kampfire Vampire was heartfelt and pure soul. Surely he'll be back to headline in 2020?!

You can catch the full set HERE in case the iPlayer link above doesn't work by the time you read this.

Since my last blog on Gerry there have been; bigger shows, bringing in the new year by playing Edinburgh,  more festivals - and higher slots, European shows and festivals, a newly announced winter 2019 arena tour that is sold out with the Aberdeen show set to break the record for the biggest ever indoor crowd in Scotland and there is an ever growing fan base that now includes Mani from Stone Roses and Liam Gallagher.

For the fans - there have been smiles, laughs, sing-songs, flares, dancing, new friendships forged and nights that fans will remember for the rest of their lives as they enjoy falling for the songs, personality and soul of Gerry.

Cinnamon has rallied against ticket touts, promoted fellow singers from Glasgow including young Dylan John Thomas who played a sell-out show at King Tut's at the end of June (look out for a future blog on him), become a silver selling artist after a repressing of his debut went into the shops in March, his album has shot back up the charts (and gone GOLD), and Gerry has influenced young kids to pick up acoustic guitars, play, sing and write.... and go their own way.

Picture by Amelia Ward

Gerry at the Barrowland Ballroom

The last year has been mad. There may have been sell-out shows galore but Gerry has remained true to his beliefs and he hasn't sold out. He is still doing this on his own with his small trusted team, there is no record label and Gerry doesn't do media, he doesn't play the game. Word of mouth is the fuel for this (bon)fire.

The hardest part of playing the game

Is no' even playing the game

It's caring enough to care about the things that you're doing

New music has been teased including Dark Days (played at the end of 2018) , The Bonny (played at TRNSMT to a great response) and Canter , released as a summer single, hitting number 3 in the iTunes chart.

Canter is classic Cinnamon; advice, honesty, a dash of cheekiness and beautifully pieced together into sections, starting with plenty of breathing space before Gerry's rhythm guitar playing drives it along. I love when he brilliantly hollers it's a wee crying shame, here comes the rain and the section that flows beautifully;

They tell you it's not easy, they tell you it's not hard

They tell you it's impossible to mend a broken heart

There will be an album at some point and in one of the very few interviews Gerry has done he answered Radio X's Gordon Smart's question of when will the album be out? with as soon as it's ready. The beauty of working without a label!

With a tour scheduled for November there is every chance it will be out before then.

For fellow fans of Gerry, strap yourself in and enjoy the ride. The bonny is burning brighter than ever.

Gerry Cinnamon at the Barrowland Ballroom

Where to start! What a night!

Well my night started and ended in one of my favourite pubs - McChuills, just round from the hallowed ballroom. Pre and post show Gerry Cinnamon was the man on everyone's lips; people talked of how happy they were for him, how they couldn't believe he was playing two sold out night (someone with good info told me it could have been 5) and talked of how welcome Gerry and his songs were being received; like they were needed.

And that kind of hits the nail on the head. There is an honest rawness, an honest soul at the heart of everything Gerry Cinnamon writes and sings about. The fact that he has the talent to tell his stories in such a way and the charm that wins him friends anywhere he goes is an added bonus. In short, his songs have touched people. Gerry and his songs connect.

The queue round the block at the Barrowland was crazy. There were young kids, old gig veterans and pretty much everyone in between.

Inside the atmosphere was one of pure celebration. The upstairs bar was the busiest I had ever seen it and the DJ or playlist built on the mood with Neil Diamond's Sweet Caroline being absolute genius. Top marks to whoever played it, people danced, sung, hugged and at one point there was someone up on a friends shoulders in the queue for the bar. Someone passed him a pint. It was that kind of atmosphere.

On to the main event. I've been attending gigs at the Barras since 1993. I've been fortunate to witness some incredible shows and audience reactions, this was up there.

Walking on stage to KC and the Sunshine Band's Give It Up, with the crowd chanting Gerry Cinnamon, Cinnamon, Gerry Cinnamon na na na na na...... this was going to be some party.

Gerry could do no wrong. Looking cool in a new Adidas trackie top and his trademark cap, he was lifted along on a wave of emotion. Even when his loop pedal cut out, the crowd just kept going and Gerry came back to join them. It was a lovely moment that highlighted that Gerry and his crowd are a team. In fact this blog could easily be titled Gerry Cinnamon and his fans at the Barrowland!

Sometimes is a real favourite of mine, it just flows superbly. There were many brilliant moments where Gerry gave a gorgeous cackle between songs, his happiness was clear for all to see and that was transported to the audience.

A back drop of video footage from across Glasgow was perfect for Gerry's tales of love and adventure from the hills of the 'Milk to the Parade in the East End. Here was a young guy armed only with an acoustic guitar, microphone and a loop pedal taking on the world - or at least his home town!

Keysies is real raw beauty. My favourite song on the Eratic Cinematic album. Cinnamon's voice is rich and soulful and it cracked with emotion before he turned the 90-second song into a 3-minute song by adding a beat and repeating the story of of being late home from school and playing soldies in the park.... it's a gem.

In the field I'm away and running with the wind

The sky cracks open and it rains

On my skin

My t-shirts too thin

To keep out the cold

Pic from Gerry's social media

I wouldn't be surprised if their were major labels in the crowd last night or tonight. After all, they can usually smell money. But does Gerry need a label? His introduction to Kampfire Vampire was defiant - you don't need anyone, go on your own, do it. The lyrics were bellowed back to him by a crowd hanging on his every word.

Don't, don't be scared

To leave yourself open

Dreams, bullshit scenes

Rules were made to be broken

Schools, run by fools

Leave to get education

New song Canter was brilliant, building as it went on and it is set to be another firm fan favourite. And then there was room for cover versions including an inspired Discoland and a stunning Redemption Song that had every single person in the room singing with their hands in the air.....although that was the case for most songs last night!

It's kind of hard to put into words how celebratory last night was, artist and audience were one, there was and there is, a clear connection. And these songs are connecting with more people on a daily basis.

Fortune Favours The Brave .... it does indeed and this was my highlight of the set as the crowd sang heartily on the shoo la la la, shoo la la la la section.

Last night was special. Everyone witnessed someone coming from parties and open mic nights to the Barrowland Ballroom within a few years with his songs, stories and charm.

Gerry will be announcing a tour in the near future, I look forward to hearing where he will be playing and if there is another Glasgow date among them..... it might have to be the Hydro.

Maybe Gerry can explain things better than me, this is what he tweeted ......

Enjoy tonight if you are going.

Never seen, heard or felt anything like it. Body's ringing like a bell.
Loop pedal melted. Broke my guitar. Burst my eardrum. All worth it.
Best venue in the world.
Best crowd in the world.
Take a bow Barrowland Ballroom

Pic from Gerry's social media