I have been in Bath for the last two days courtesy of magazine publishers Future, as I worked on signing off the winter 2023 edition of the MU journal, The Musician.
Tag: News
Guitar Show 24
I met long-term friend and business colleague Jason Hunt this lunchtime in The Rose at London Bridge. Jason has been the organiser of the Guitar Show in Solihull for a number of years and is well-known in the industry for his hugely successful shows, including the fondly remembered Music Live at the NEC.
Remastering
Another decisive day with producer Greg Fitzgerald in Canterbury as we explored the options for delivering my album from the 1990s, Birdcage, as a sister release for the forthcoming vinyl release, Waterloo Sunrise.
Chelsea photo shoot
My thanks to photographer Joseph Branston today as he kindly completed a photo session with yours truly at Pizza Express Live on the King’s Road, Chelsea. This was principally to capture a suitable frame to accompany my farewell column in the forthcoming edition of The Musician, my 75th as editor.
ENO T shirt
Ben and I made a round trip today from Beckenham to Covent Garden via Orpington and back. This ensured, firstly, the dispatch of demo materials to our contacts in the Northern Ballet in the safe hands of A to Z Couriers.
Black History Month
I was delighted to arrange the inside front cover of the Black History Month magazine in recent days. My thanks to the team at SMM Media and designer Chris Stenner for creating a superb design featuring rising star Lady Nade.
Partnership recording
I met MU in-house solicitor Dawn Rodger and Tim Northrop of NMD Solicitors this morning at the studios of producer James Reynolds in Parsons Green, west London, where James has expanded his already superb facilities to include a suite of podcast and video rooms.
Uncle Arthur
During our stay in Scotland, my sister Janet very kindly passed us some notable family photographs. Including this picture of Arthur Ames in his school’s first XI cricket team in 1926.
Melrose week
A lovely few days in the Scottish Borders with Julie and Ben, as we visited my sister and brother-in-law in Bowden. This gave us the opportunity to benefit from a number of hill walks plus take in the Edinburgh Festival.
Secretariat return
A pleasure to invite former MU colleagues to Eden Park as we hosted John Smith OBE and his wife Sandra, Horace Trubridge, Jane Austin, plus David Ashley and his partner Sarah.
Becks at home
The new football season is marked in classic fashion by a series of pre-competitive friendlies across the country and this afternoon saw Beckenham Town entertain Leatherhead in a fiesty clash.
Lower Marsh
Julie and I caught the train into Waterloo this afternoon to drop in at Iklectika and ‘Waterloo’s Paradise’, a collection of artists’ units next door to Archbishop Park.
Mags galore
An extremely pleasant lunch with Paul Geoghegan, Managing Director of the Music & Leisure Division at the Mark Allen Group. A suite of magazines, which includes Gramophone, Jazzwise, Songlines and the newly launched Musicals.
Southbank Saturday
A highly enjoyable afternoon courtesy of Julie, who kindly had bought tickets for us to ‘Witness for the Prosecution’ at the County Hall on the Southbank.
The Musician (June)
The summer 2023 issue of The Musician is scheduled to be dispatched in print format to members from today. The 74th edition for which I have been editor. In line with members’ requests, the journal will also be available in audio, from the MU website as a pdf, and as a large print file in 24 point.
Boot Alley
After many years as a Beckenham resident, I am starting to truly take in those little tucked away corners that can be found in and around the town centre.
Farewell cocktail
I am hardly a heavy drinker, but I thought it would be good to abstain completely for a while. So I enjoyed a final cocktail this afternoon in town (at the Coral Room, WC1).
Otford tea
While Ben was playing for Beckenham CC in Otford, Julie and I strolled around the area, which proved a very pleasant way to spend a sunny Saturday afternoon.
Inside front cover
My thanks to Guy Meredith at Future for the opportunity to promote the MU’s work in royalty collection and distribution in the June edition of Music Week.
Park Regis
A day trip with my colleague Amy to Birmingham to visit the venue for the MU Delegate Conference in July.
Mastering sign off
My thanks to the excellent Mike Thorne at Rimshot Studios, as the mastering of my album – Waterloo Sunrise – has been completed. Recording began on 20 February 2020 and it has certainly been a long, but very enjoyable journey. Mike’s attention to detail along with his professionalism and patience have made this particular stage extremely rewarding.
PR report
The PR agency, Kindred, with whom I closely work on behalf of the MU, delivered a quarterly report on the coverage secured in the first quarter of 2023 to the Union’s Executive Committee today. This featured the extensive coverage delivered on the proposed closure of the BBC Singers and the Union’s campaign and negotiations to reverse this shocking decision.
Stockholm spring
A very rewarding few days in Stockholm with long-term friend Mark Batchelor, as we took the opportunity to visit the ‘Venice of the North.’
Petition to the BBC
I joined Naomi Pohl, MU General Secretary, conductor Jack Apperley and photographer Joanna Dudderidge at BBC Broadcasting House in Portland Place in central London at midday, to support the presentation of the petition calling for the secure future of the BBC Singers.
Sian and Sean
Over the last decade I have arranged for the production of framed covers of The Musician magazine in partnership with our published, Future Fusion. These were hung in the MU’s offices in Clapham Road and provided an ideal backdrop for our workplace.
IBC Studios
So many important sites in the development of the contemporary British music scene remain unheralded.
Waterloo storyline
The idea of the same characters running through the songs on my new album is an intriguing possibility. So far, I have the following in mind. Four males and four females, most of whom are either in relationships – Luke and Sara, Courtney and Jade, Kevin and Carol – and a former couple, Kathy and Ethan. Not set in any particular era, yet!
Maida Vale
A fascinating yet mood-settling visit to the BBC’s historic Maida Vale Studios in north west London today in the company of MU National Organiser for Orchestras, Jo Laverty, and photographer Jonathan Stewart. We were there to support the BBC Singers who received the devastating news last week that the BBC were axing the entire group after ninety-nine years of top class performing and recording.
