My MU colleague Jane Austin and I drove to Brighton today to visit this summer’s Delegate Conference venue, the Metropole Hilton.
Category:News & events
Bebel Gilberto
Mark Batchelor kindly booked tickets for us to catch a rare UK live performance by Brazilian/American vocalist and Bossa Nova specialist, Bebel Gilberto. She is the daughter of João Gilberto and singer Miúcha and has been performing in the family tradition in Rio since an early age.
Go karting Sunday
I was kindly given a present for my 60th by my work colleagues at the MU of 50 laps for a friend and myself at the multi-level 400m Go-Kart Track in Mitcham, south London, and so Mark Batchelor and I drove over to the site early this morning.
Record Store Day
I was kindly asked this afternoon for my contribution to UK Music’s page marking Record Store Day, set to take place across the UK tomorrow, and to recall either my first record purchase or my memories of record stores in days gone by.
Drake Yolanda Award
I could be found tonight at the excellent Under the Bridge venue, Stamford Bridge, Chelsea, for the inaugural Drake Yolanda Award event.
Ivors Academy
The Ivors Academy was launched this week, following the renaming and rebranding of BASCA, the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors.
StradFest
The Strad magazine in partnership with John & Arthur Beare Violins hosted the first ever StradFest at the Royal Institution, Albemarle St, Mayfair today. The event consisted of a series of workshops, presentations, seminars and exhibition stands across two floors, with the MU stand positioned outside the entrance to the main theatre.
BBC Introducing
My MU colleague Sam Jordan and I attended a planning meeting at the offices of the Music Publishers’ Association in Southampton Row this morning, at the invitation of James Sterling, Head of BBC Music. The meeting had been arranged to coincide with the launch of this year’s BBC Introducing Live event at Tobacco Dock, which is to run from 31 October to the 2 November.
The Musician (March)
The spring 2019 issue of The Musician magazine, the quarterly publication of the Musicians’ Union, is being dispatched to members this week and once again contains its award-winning mix of profiles, features, reports and advice.
Whatever you do
The MU launched a ‘Join for £1’ scheme in January and I have been busy booking full page adverts to publicise this discounted membership opportunity. Full display pages using the ‘Whatever you do – Join the MU’ design have been booked over a three-month period in a series of industry-related publications including Guitarist UK; Classical Music; Future Music; Bass Guitar; Rhythm; Music Teacher; Guitar Techniques; Total Guitar and PSNEurope.
John Edney
This afternoon I walked from Eden Park to Elmers End, so that I could attend the memorial service to orchestral trombonist, educator and MU activist John Edney at Beckenham Crematorium.
Showstopper!
Julie, Ben and I caught the train into town this afternoon from Eden Park to meet up with Lisa at Covent Garden station. We walked around the corner to Masala Zone and enjoyed an excellent meal, before Lisa and Ben headed for Charing Cross and home, while Julie and I walked to Shaftesbury Avenue where Julie had bought tickets for the improvisational musical show, Showstopper!
Chandos Arms
I was turning 60 on Monday 18 February and so it seemed totally appropriate to mark the moment with live music. By happy chance, there was to be a Just East of Jazz promotion at the Chandos Arms in Colindale, north London, featuring the legendary sax player Derek Nash from the Jools Holland Band.
UK Americana
I have spent the last two days working at the excellent Americana Conference 2019, hosted once again by the UK Americana Association at Hackney House, Curtain Road. This consists of a series of panels and presentations, all of which were kicked off this year by keynote speaker Rhiannon Giddens, who introduced the 2019 Conference theme of diversity, equality and inclusivity.
Talentbanq
A fun evening at Holborn Pizza Express thanks to an invitation from Ray Jones to attend the December Talentbanq showcase.
Stamford blues
It what is now apparently an annual fixture, AFC Bournemouth were drawn away to Chelsea in the Carabao Cup once again. The timing of the quarter final game, in midweek and just before Christmas, meant that it was relatively easy to purchase tickets from the official Cherries site.
A day in Bath
Another enjoyable and fruitful day with Future Fusion at their offices in Quay House, Bath. The principal object being to work on the 2019 – 2020 edition of the award-winning Musicians’ Union Members’ Handbook.
Google training
I spent a useful day at Media Training Ltd in Borough on a course designed to introduce attendees to working with Google Ads.
The Musician (Dec)
The winter edition of The Musician is distributed to members this week, the 56th issue for which I have been editor. The contents once more include a mix of industry focused items, MU campaigns and advice for working professionals.
Christmas fayre
It’s been a busy social period, as the UK Music lunch was followed by tonight’s annual festive drinks at Republic Media in Highgate Village, superbly hosted as ever by Sue Harris and the team.
UK Music party
My thanks to UK Music today for the invitation to The Library, Shoreditch House, Ebor Street, London E1, for their annual Christmas lunch for communications representatives and journalists in the music industry.
PPL at St James’s
An early sign that the Christmas drinks season is underway, the PPL and PRS for Music December reception, took place this afternoon at its now regular venue, 7 St James’s Street, near the end of Pall Mall.
