Songwriter / music industry
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.
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.
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.’
A busy few days on the road in preparation for the MU’s involvement in the NEU Conference at Harrogate. Mark and I drove to Warminster on Thursday to collect our stand furniture from Neil Davies, our long-term stand installer, before organising and loading the promo and merchandise at HQ in Snowsfields.
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.
Jonathan Stewart and I met up in Soho this evening to attend the inaugural ‘SO.CO Music Photographer of the Year Awards’, an international competition – sponsored by Affinity Photo – to celebrate the best music photographers.
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.
So many important sites in the development of the contemporary British music scene remain unheralded.
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!
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.
Here is the second write-up of the ideas and influences behind the songs on my forthcoming album, plus details of the remaining seven tracks and what they mean to me.
A marvellous afternoon at Casa do Frango, a Portuguese restaurant in Borough Market, London Bridge, in the company of MU colleagues and partners.
The MU has announced the details of the summer’s Delegate Conference today, following the distribution of a printed brochure to all 33,000 members.
The Musicians’ Union together with other music industry bodies has signed a joint letter from UK Music to Kemi Badenoch MP (Secretary of State for Business and Trade), setting out our serious concerns for the future of US touring should the proposed increases in the US become law.
I travelled up to Birmingham on Friday to oversee the installation of the MU stand at this year’s Guitar Show, organised as ever by Jason Hunt and his team. Joining me during the two-day weekend event were the excellent duo of Stephen Brown and Benson from our Midlands office.
Following the customary build up day, when Mark Batchelor and I joined Neil Davies at the Business Design Centre in Angel, Islington, this year’s Music and Drama Education Expo was fully underway this morning.
An impromptu day proved rewarding as I marked my birthday with a trip down the Thames in the company of my wife Julie, my son Ben and stepdaughter Lisa. The destination being Battersea Power Station with a view to seeing what had been constructed, following all its years lying empty since the legendary landmark was decommissioned in 1983.
A superb afternoon at Abbey Road courtesy of Revival, as producer James Reynolds steered the team in completing vocals, bass and piano for their next set of releases. On hand were star names Jools Holland and Emeli Sande, who joined us to add their world-renowned talents to the tracks, plus Mousse-T and choir leader Peyton and his host of excellent vocalists.
Always a pleasure to visit Greg Fitzgerald in Canterbury and to work on tracks in his rurally based studio. Thanks to a quality contribution by session supremo John Thirkell on trumpet and flugelhorn horn, we polished a final mix of Promises at Midnight, which now features a heartening balance of horn flourishes and lead guitar courtesy of the excellent Ashley Blasse.
A productive morning with Steve at Prinststore in Kingston preparing a lyric sheet as an insert for the Waterloo Sunrise album. This gave the opportunity to include more of Jonathan Stewart’s superb photographs on the reverse, as we were able to fit all of the lyrics on one side (albeit at 7 point!)
The UK Americana Awards returned to the Hackney Empire tonight and reminded us all of the huge value and reward of a supportive community and uplifting live music. The Awards ceremony is the culmination of a week in Hackney featuring an industry conference, which was attended by 300 delegates, plus two nights of showcase gigs with 80 artists across six venues.
A relaxing lunch with the MU Comms team today at The Woolpack in Bermondsey St. Great to catch up in real time with colleagues Isabelle Gutierrez, Maddy Radcliff, Autumn Sharkey and Katerina Baranova.
