One of the nicest things about Christmas is being able to surprise someone with a gift they genuinely aren’t expecting. In this case, I managed to surprise Emma twice. First, by revealing that we were heading to Edinburgh’s Usher Hall and second, by telling her we were going to see Ronnie Spector. The fact that she had absolutely no idea who Ronnie Spector was only made the reveal even better.

For those of us who spend far too much time listening to music, Ronnie Spector hardly needs an introduction. As the voice of The Ronettes, she helped create some of the most influential pop records ever made. Songs like Be My Baby, Baby, I Love You and Walking in the Rain weren’t just hits; they became part of the DNA of modern popular music. Countless artists have borrowed from, been inspired by or simply fallen in love with those records over the years.

What I enjoyed most about the evening was the atmosphere. There was something wonderfully nostalgic and uplifting about seeing a genuine music legend performing songs that have brought joy to people for generations. The Usher Hall audience clearly knew they were witnessing something special and responded accordingly.

As the concert progressed, Emma and I noticed a couple of empty seats in the front row. Being the opportunists that we are, we decided they looked far too comfortable to remain unused and relocated ourselves for the second half of the show. Suddenly we found ourselves much closer to the action than we’d ever expected when we arrived. It turned out to be one of the better decisions of the evening.

Unfortunately, it was not such a good decision for the quality of the video footage. Normally I’m fairly disciplined when filming concerts, but this time I became so absorbed in the performance that I managed to spend large sections of the second half filming the ceiling. If you’ve ever wondered what the roof of the Usher Hall looks like while Ronnie Spector is singing, you’re in luck. If not, you’ll just have to enjoy the audio and use your imagination.

The highlight of the evening arrived when Ronnie came close enough for audience members to greet her. I managed to shake her hand, which felt like a genuine brush with music history. Emma immediately decided this looked like a much better idea than simply standing beside me and quickly made sure she got her own moment as well. If you watch the second video, you’ll find the evidence at around the forty-minute mark, accompanied by what may well be some of the worst camera work ever committed to the internet. Celebrity excitement clearly does terrible things to videography.

Looking back, what I remember most is how festive the whole evening felt. Perhaps it was the timing, perhaps it was the music, or perhaps it was simply the joy of sharing the experience with Emma. Whatever the reason, I don’t think I’ve ever felt quite so Christmassy.

The videos and photographs below capture part of a memorable evening with one of popular music’s true pioneers. The filming may occasionally wander towards the ceiling, but the memories remain perfectly clear.