The MU has today heavily criticised the decision by Arts Council England to make major cuts in public funding to English National Opera and other arts organisations. While the MU supports increased funding for arts organisations outside London, today’s announcement reveals a deliberate decision to do this at a direct cost of London-based companies.
Category:News & events
Record of the Day anniversary
The excellent daily news service for the music industry, Record of the Day (RotD), has just distributed its 1000th issue, which is a considerable milestone for any such service, and I have joined many colleagues in the business in acknowledging this feat.
Brian Blain
I attended the memorial service for Brian Blain this afternoon at Golders Green Crematorium. Brian was an influential music promoter, editor, writer and MU Official, with a particular love of live jazz.
Brodsky Quartet
The world-renowned Brodsky Quartet have been performing at Kings Place in London this weekend, offering a complete Shostakovich Quartet Cycle to mark their 50th anniversary. The group, who started out in Middlesbrough in 1972 as the ‘Cleveland Quartet’, now feature original members Ian Belton (violin)and Jacqueline Thomas (cello) alongside Krysia Osostowicz (violin) and Paul Cassidy (viola).
Guitars at the races
The annual London International Guitar Show is being held once again at Kempton Race Course this Sunday and I dropped in this afternoon to deliver lanyards and tote bags for distribution to the 150 exhibitors.
Brighton Congress
The rearranged TUC Congress has been taking place this week in Brighton this week, so I travelled down to the south coast from Leeds today, upon the closure of the MU Members’ Conference.
Northern Cowboys
It has been a delight working with the superb team from Northern Cowboy Films, led by Mark Lewis and Thomas Dibb, who have been recording our MU EDI Conference in Leeds so effectively.
Langley quiz time
I have always loved a quiz and so was pleased to hear that our local cafe/wine bar, Langley Quarter, were hosting a quiz for the first time tonight.
Drake Yolanda Awards
A very pleasant evening at Boisdale in Canary Wharf for the Drake Yolanda Awards event, which celebrates emerging artists plus offers a rewarding platform for developing their careers.
With the media
I travelled down from Liverpool to Birmingham on Thursday (29th) in advance of the Conservative Conference and the second stage of our representing musicians at the principal party gatherings.
Labour in Liverpool
A very busy two-week period at the party conferences began last Thursday (22nd) for me, as I caught the train from Euston to Liverpool Lime Street and checked in at the superb Hope Street Hotel in the city’s elegant Georgian Quarter.
Herbert and Florence
My father’s parents, Herbert Ames and Florence (nee Hague), were married one hundred and twenty years ago today at All Saints’ Church in Selsley, Gloucestershire. Florence had been raised in the village and her parents – Sidney and Charlotte Hague – lived at the Post Office shown in the photograph.
Response to CMA report
In partnership with Kindred, the MU’s PR agency, we secured encouraging coverage of our release sent out yesterday following the publication of the CMA Report. 145 items in total.
Los Angeles
Our last drive between stopovers saw us head for Los Angeles and our final hotel, The Garland in Vineland Avenue, North Hollywood.
Palm Springs
Tuesday morning’s burning sunshine signalled our leaving Las Vegas and an entertaining drive south west from Las Vegas via Yermo. An obligatory pit stop for lunch at the famous Peggy Sue’s Diner followed, where we were greeted in the lobby by the Elvis Presley fortune-telling machine!
Mammoth Lakes
On Thursday (7th) we left Yosemite and headed for our next stop, the Mountain Inn, Minaret Road in Mammoth Lakes. This journey involved circumnavigating the National Reserve to the north via the R49 and the 108 Highway, which initially proved an intriguing drive along narrow country roads.
San Francisco
Julie, Ben and I arrived in San Francisco on Friday (1st July) and having collected our Nissan SUV for the duration of our visit, settled in at the Riu Plaza on Mason Street, close to the famous Fishermans Wharf.
National Plan for Music Education
The MU has expressed its welcome today for the Government’s plans for music education, at the same time highlighting that this publication represents only a first step in the provision of this key subject over the coming decade.
Black Deer
A superb weekend in the Kent countryside at the third Black Deer Festival. The event was cruelly cancelled at very short notice last year courtesy of an impactful lockdown and it was wonderful to be back amongst the enthusiastic crowd in Eridge Park.
MPG Awards
I was delighted to attend the Music Producers Guild 2022 Awards event at the Tower Hotel tonight and to host the MU table and welcome our guests Gary Crosby, Janine Irons, Tom Gray, Anna Neale, Dave Webster and producer Greg Fitzgerald.
Black Lives in Music partnership
The Musicians’ Union (MU) and Black Lives in Music (BLiM) have announced a 3-year partnership that will see the organisations work together to challenge racism, promote inclusive practices and accelerate change regarding diversity in the music industry.
The Musician (summer)
The summer 2022 issue of The Musician magazine is scheduled to be dispatched in print format to MU members this week. This is the 70th edition for which I have been editor, a role I have fulfilled since spring 2005 when the relationship with Future Publishing was established.
Jimmy Webb
A wonderful night at Chelsea’s Cadogan Hall in the company of Jimmy Webb as he performed a selection of his legendary songs on the first night of a UK tour. The awesome setlist included all my favourites, plus fascinating stories from his inspiring career composing for Glen Campbell, Frank Sinatra, Linda Ronstadt, the 5th Dimension, The Supremes, Art Garfunkel, and Richard Harris.
Spectrum of styles
Mark Batchelor and I drove an Enterprise van up to Springfield Farm in St Albans this morning, to set up the MU presence at Flesh Festival, the UK’s first queer LGBTQ+ electronic music & camping festival.
