Franz Ferdinand's Secret Gig (with cake)

Kelly Murray

Photo credit: Jade Danielle Martin

It's official; Clint and Charlie Boon are getting my dental bill. Super popular 'Mrs Boon's Tea Party' is back after a wee break and TinCan popped down to check out the cake. Err, I mean music.

A packed out and mega cosy Ruby Lounge was decked in homely elegance as pretty tea cups (way too delicate for my gob) and fairy lights cluttered the tables where mums and kids were seated for a top secret performance by Franz Ferdinand at the weekend. Far from the usually loud-as-hell stage area, the venue was snug and prepared for an afternoon of acoustic delights.

Sonic Boom Six made an appearance minus their plugs for a wicked set of handclap infused reggae stylings. Lead singer Laila Kahn looked gorgeous as always and dare I say, became a kid's communication expert. I'm generally terrified of small children. Not in an 'Arr! What if it's like that evil Chucky doll and is carrying an implement of death?' kinda way, but in the same way a bird watcher might panic if it had to baby sit a Terradactyl.

Anyway SBS are still a genre-bending, ever-evolving reason to make us proud they're from Manchester. They played stripped down versions of 'Play On', 'Passing Through', 'Through The Eyes Of A Child', 'Rum Little Scallywag', 'Scatter' and Boney M's 'Rasputin'. Yeah, seriously mint. We've nicked it off Youtube so you can see for yourself:

Photo: Jade Danielle Martin

By the time hush, hush special guests Franz Ferdinand were let loose on the situation, I was sat on the kids rug at the front. Where as I thought I was getting into the social mix with young music fans, my friends (stood at the back with the majority of adults) thought otherwise and were texting things like this: "You look like a big kid sat there. Literally, your head is MASSIVE next to that four year old", however, this did little to kill my secret-show-vibe; I'd eaten a slice of Victoria Sponge AND a chocolate brownie. Yeah, in your face 'adults'.

Photo: Jade Danielle Martin

Half of the band in the form of frontman Alex Kapranos & guitarist Nick McCarthy nipped in to see how Manchester takes her tea just before their gig at the Apollo later that night. The radio-friendly Scots played 'Do You Want To', 'Walk Away', the now classic 'Take Me Out', latest single 'No You Girls', 'The Dark Of The Matinee'
and 'Ulysses' all in polite acoustic fashion.

Photo: Jade Danielle Martin

Check out the video for 'Do You Want To' at Mrs. Boon's Tea Party:

Mrs Boon may have been absent at this gig due to morning sickness (congrats! I'll start practising now in case you want me to baby sit...no?) but with surprise acoustic shows, and some mighty yummy cakes on the go, not to mention the free tea, she's giving a far tastier meaning to 'Shut yer cakehole!'