Seb Duffy, Spectator, The Crown Hotel, Nantwich, Cheshire

It’s been a long time since I saw it, but Diaspora’s performance at the Crown Hotel in Nantwich on a dark, cold night in late November remains fresh in the memory. The Scottish family of the groom had spent some years living in Mexico, and it was clear to see that they had really wanted to add some tacos and tequila to their neeps and tatties for the evening. We crept sheepishly into the hotel “to support the band”, and sat down on a windowsill at the side of the hotel’s grand Georgian assembly rooms, complete with its 36 vast chandeliers and “el tri” decorations, trying to remain as inconspicuous as possible. It was clear that we were not going to be able to remain hidden for very long. Diaspora immediately got everyone on their feet from the very first song, and the groom’s mother and father grabbed us and started flinging us round the dance floor in the style of an Eightsome Reel. The band’s own song “Move to the Music” was particularly well received, perhaps even more so than the Latino-pop standards of Ricky Martin and The Eagles. The inevitable sight of Scottish country dancing set to Latin rhythms appeared towards the end of the set, an idea further encouraged from the mic by band leader Rory and his Scottish family roots, who joined the wedding guests in a morcilla and tequila (or is that haggis and whisky?) induced circle of joy for the final song.
Seb Duffy, Spectator, Diáspora @ The Crown Hotel, Nantwich, Cheshire, November, 2011