I have just spent three very rewarding days at the AMA-UK Conference 2025, the annual celebration of Americana artists and music. Once again the event was centred around venues in the Hackney Central area, namely Night Tales 1 and 2, Oslo, The Moth Club and the Paper Dress.
Category:News & events
New Year Borders
In addition to our trips to Rome, Liverpool, Jersey. Christchurch this year, we have just returned from a week in the Scottish Borders. Although delayed by 24 hours at Heathrow thanks to the heavy fog last weekend, we finally flew from London City Airport and arrived in Edinburgh on Sunday evening.
Power Pop Radio
My thanks to Simon Lloyd of Power Pop Radio, who played my track Nicoll Road today on the internet based station. Power Pop Radio is a popular Hit Music Radio Station in the East Midlands, broadcasting across Long Eaton, Derby and Nottingham and surrounding boroughs.
Crisis at Christmas
Crisis was formed in 1967 as a response to growing homelessness across the UK. Since then the charity has helped tens of thousands of people out of homelessness and campaigned for change. The organisation now has a comprehensive network of premises designated as hotels and day centres.
West End lights
Julie, Ben and I could be found in the West End today as we had tickets for the Fawlty Towers recreation at the Apollo Theatre in Shaftesbury Avenue. Our seats were right up at the top of the steep balcony and certainly presented a challenging view of the stage!
BBC reception
An upbeat evening at the offices of the BBC in Portland Place for their annual External Affairs drinks reception. My thanks to Vanessa Elliott, Senior Head of Communications, for the valuable invitation.
Carol concert
Each year the Lords Taverners, who have been empowering young people through cricket since 1950, host a fund-raising carol concert. This year the event was held in the glorious surroundings of the ‘Cathedral of the Arts and Crafts’, the Holy Trinity Church in Sloane Square, Chelsea, and I was kindly invited as a guest of the Music Committee.
Music Makers
A packed crowd of names from across the music industry squeezed into The Editor’s Tap in Fetter Lane tonight at the invitation of the Council of Music Makers. Another of the events arranged to mark the year’s end and to bring together members and friends of The Ivors Academy, the Featured Artists Coalition, Music Managers Forum, Music Producers Guild and the MU.
Neighbourhood
A superb evening at the Neighbourhood Church Hall in Beckenham as organisers Steve and Ben hosted a sold out ‘Neighbourhood Session’ featuring the vocal talents and songwriting of Lady Nade and Lydia Clowes.
Across the river
I met the wonderful Debbie Rogerson, BBC music supervisor, over lunch at the Crown & Sceptre, Great Titchfield St, W1 today. Always a total pleasure to catch up with her.
Rosemary Branch
A fun afternoon at the upstairs theatre in the classic Rosemary Branch pub in Shepperton Road, London N1, courtesy of the superb songwriter Robb Johnson and the cast of his musical drama, Murder at the Grange.
Vinyl labels
More news on the vinyl manufacturing front: gracious supplier David Noonan has kindly offered to produce a small run with The Vinyl Factory of my Waterloo Sunrise album with revised black and white labels. The test pressings for these arrived today and once the test discs have been given approval, courtesy of a listening session on 22nd November at Mike Thorne’s excellent studio, this latest manufacturing run will be underway.
John Bishop
A relaxed ninety minutes in the company of John Bishop at Fairfield Halls, as he performed in south London as part of his current lengthy tour.
Dingwalls
An exciting night in Camden as Dingwalls delivered a Planet Rock Blues Power Live event featuring Lauren Housley & the Northern Cowboys, These Wicked Rivers from Derby, and the seven-piece Bywater Call from Toronto. Marvellous to catch up with Cowboys’ Thomas Dibb and Mark Lewis again.
