2011-09-08 Frank Winter U Očka

Frank Winter = Andrew Hillard

When we've first encountered Andy (or Frank as everyone calls him after his band), he was backed up by members Peter and Agnes from Živé Kvety, as a guest for their show in Bratislava's punk club "Randal". Later we saw him at another rock venue/pub, battling over and winning attention with a group of rowdy Finnish fans who came over for the 2011 Ice Hockey World Cup.

His unique folk sound wasn't out of place in any of those spaces. But at U Očka (Moe's), he was at his best. Starting as a two piece band with a harmonica player stepping in (mainly to improvise, sadly), continuing as a five piece group, and closing solo on his own after a short break, he was full of energy and ideas. Halfway through the show he even got off the stage to make a round around the venue, at each table giving away a free compilation CD-R, "Memento", made by himself.

When I met him the next day, he enthusiastically described U Očka as - "that place's got popiči [fucking great] sound!" and praised the owner, Rahan, for equipping the venue with American gear and having the sound set up by an American firm specifically for the space. Overall, Andy proved to be a really friendly and talkative chap.

And all that after I mistook him for the owner of the café where I met him, a Canadian named Ben Pascoe. Mistaking Andy was silly on my part, but understandable as I was supposed to meet Ben and it was Andy who greeted me at the place and actually offered me a table and took my order (!). Later I got a five minute chance to meet the real Ben - after he was woken up for a class, fellow teacher as it turns out. In a matter of minutes we managed to agree on a date, music guests and a space to showcase my concert and studio photos of Slnko Records artists (you can already find many of these on photos here at the blog - Longital, Živé Kvety, Kolowrat, Hvozd, Frank Winter, ...)

And, the best part - when I got back to Andy, he agreed to take part in my coming October photo showcase at Next Apache, the S1NK0, as Frank Winter.

More on that this Thursday, when I will officially start promoting the showcase at Dobry Trh on Panenska St, Bratislava, where Next Apache is located, right opposite the square with Presidential Palace.

But you've heard it here first.

"S1NK0 by Ondrej.Ko" at Next Apache, Bratislava, Oct 8 2011