Kirsty MacColl | Live Appearances 1987-1990

After her early horrors on the Irish ballroom tour, it took a few years of making guest appearances with the Pogues on the back of the success of Fairytale of New York before she would appear on stage again as a solo performer.

To be fair, until the arrival of Kite in 1989 she had no significant body of new material, and by then was busy being mother, so Kite remained a vinyl only pleasure. The Pogues slots certainly gave Kirsty a lot more confidence in touring, which she would do from 1991 onwards, airing the Kite songs alongside their new Electric Landlady companions.

Coinciding with a “Top of the Pops” appearance on 17th December 1987, The Pogues played a three night residency at Glasgow Barrowlands then toured throughout the first half of 1988 and KM would have appeared at many shows, though we don’t know which, thanks to Patrice Brouhat’s excellent work.

Top of the Pops

February 7, 1985. The promo video for A New England was aired on the chart show. The presenters were Gary Davies and Richard Skinner.

Top of the Pops

December 17, 1987. A TV performance of Fairytale of New York, with the Pogues. Gary Davies again, this time with Mike Read. Since the show was recorded a couple of days earlier it allowed her to “simultaneously” be in Scotland for …

Top of the Pops

July 13, 1988. The promo video for Days was shown. Presenters? Bruno Brookes and Jakki Graham.

Top of the Pops

July 27, 1985. With the continuing success of Days, Kirsty appeared in person two weeks later. Mark Goodier and Simon Parkin were the presenters this time.

Promo spot with the Kinks

August 15, 1988. According to Kinks piano man (1989-93) Mark Haley, Kirsty sang with the band at the Town & Country in Kentish Town (North London). Mark says, “VH1 were filming a documentary all afternoon and Kirsty MacColl who’d just had a Top 20 hit with Days was due to sing with the band.”

“I can't remember much of the filming, however I remember meeting Kirsty and her husband Steve Lillywhite very clearly. She was extremely nervous during the sound check, literally shaking with stage fright. Once the introduction tape started up, there was no time to be nervous and the roar of recognition as we walked out onto the stage was exhilarating.”

BBC Radio 1, Nicky Campbell Show

November 8, 1989. Don't come the cowboy with me, Sonny Jim!, What do pretty girls do?, Don't run away from me now, Still life.

Pete Thomas (drums), Phil Rambow (ac. guitar), Martin Belmont (el. guitar), Pete Glenister (el. guitar), Bobby Valentino (violin), Gavin Povey (piano), Paul Riley (bass). Later released on What do pretty girls do?

Top of the Pops

November 23, 1989. Another TV slot, this time as backing singer with Happy Mondays when they performed Hallelujah. Jakki Brambles and Jenny Powell presenting.

GLASGOW Barrowlands

December 17-19 1987. Kirsty sang on Fairytale of New York and A pair of brown eyes. Tracks from the 17th (Brown eyes and Sally Maclennane) appear on the CD single for If I should fall from grace with God. Prior to this there was an pre-tour outing at the Electric Ballroom in Camden which we might reasonably have expected Kirsty to be there.

Pogues on Tour

The Pogues then played an extensive tour so, on the basis that Kirsty will have played at least some of those dates, they were February 21 Norwich UEA, 22 Reading University, 23 Leicester DeMontford Hall, 24 Birmingham Odeon, 26 Newcastle City Hall, 27 Aberdeen Capitol, 28/29 Edinburgh Playhouse, March 1 Leeds University (a confirmed sighting), 2 Hanley Victoria Hall, 3 Manchester Apollo,4 Liverpool Royal Court, 6 Bristol Studio, 7 Swansea Mayfair, 8 Nottingham Rock City, 9 Sheffield City Hall, 10 Electric Ballroom Camden, 11 Cambridge Corn Exchange, 12 Brighton Centre, 13 Southampton Mayflower.

LONDON Town & Country Club

March 14-19, 1988. Kirsty sang on Fairytale of New York, Lullaby of London, Dirty old town and Turkish Song of The Damned. The March 17 show was videoed and released as The Pogues Live at the Town and Country: St Patrick's Night on Virgin Music Video VVD405. It was part of a six night residency.

LONDON Brixton Academy

March 20, 1988. The Pogues then disappearing over to Europe for the summer (we don't think Kirsty was there?) before doing a gig in Scunthorpe Baths Hall on 4th December.

GLASGOW SECC

December 9, 1988. Fairytale of New York, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Turkish Song of The Damned, Fiesta, A Pair of Brown Eyes, Honky Tonk Women, The Irish Rover.

There were gigs on December 12 at Birmingham NEC, 17 London Wembley Arena and 18 Brighton Centre.

LONDON Brixton Academy

December 19, 1988 guesting with The Pogues. Fairytale of New York, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, A Pair of Brown Eyes, Honky Tonk Women, Waltzing Matilda.

The band played December 22 Dublin Point, and a couple of Brixton dates on March 17/18, 1989. We have no confirmed record of Kirsty appearances in any of those.

READING Festival

August 26, 1989

LONDON Brixton Academy

December 7, 1990. Kirsty sang on Miss Otis regrets, Fairytale of New York (source: RL)

DUBLIN Olympia Theatre

December 9, 1990 ? - Unconfirmed but possible since she appeared at the other 3 legs of this mini tour by the Pogues. Then again they were closer to home.

LONDON Camden Electric Ballroom

December 10, 1990