Okay, so, the opening of Phantasium in Eindhoven was with a concert of Violet Steam Experience and followed by the band I've been listening to for the past 5 years: Abney Park. And since I haven't heard anything of the festival gang I am with this year, I didn't go.

At least, I thought so. One week before the concert I had a text message of ~Ink--feather that she WAS going, and that it was the last day to pre-order tickets (!!!). I stressed out and IMMEDIATELY bought one too, forgetting to ask my parent if I could go first. Oops. Luckily they were allright with it, so last friday I've been to the first concert of Abney Park on the mainland of Europe!

It was great. There were familiar stands we've seen at Castlefest and Keltfest, a mead and more stand, people with fantastic costumes and the best steampunk band ever. We danced and laughed and sang "Airship Pirates" with them. But that wasn't all.

After the concert there was this signing session, so they went to the tablestand at the side of the stage to put some autographs on cd's. NOT! No, they just walked by that stand and joined the crowd to chat and sign and stuff. And they joined just at the point where I was standing, which means I was pretty much the fourth to step up to Captain Robert, all tense because he was actually standing there and... looking at me. So I blurted out something like: "I've-been-following-your-band-for-5-years-now-can-I-please-have-a-hug?" So captain Robert was like "Of course!" And lifted me up as he held me saying "You're so small! I could take you home!" I hope I didn't squeeze him too tight... He felt surprisingly soft and comfortable, I thougth his clothes would be more stiff and rough and hard than they were.