A very enjoyable weekend at The Guitar Show 2025 at the Cranmore Business Park in Solihull. The event is the leading UK trade show for everyone involved in the manufacture, distribution and retail of electric and acoustic guitars. Plus the event now also features the Bass Guitar Show and ensures a wide offering of trade stands, equipment demonstrations and performances.
Tag: Events
Ripley celebration
Julie and I drove over to Ripley this evening, to join our friends Dave and Anya Williamson in celebrating their birthdays of note and to enjoy performances by two of his bands. Gigs of all types are such an important element of the music industry in this country and bassist Dave is a prime example of a homegrown musician who has delivered sublime playing and stage presence for decades.
Americana UK
I have just spent three very rewarding days at the AMA-UK Conference 2025, the annual celebration of Americana artists and music, which this year has been sponsored by travel business Sweet Home Alabama. 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.
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.
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.
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.
Joanovarc
I drove over to Stratford in the east of London this evening to catch the hard rock of Joanovarc at the Cart and Horses, renowned for being the pub venue where Iron Maiden started out. I know the area fairly well, having lived in Maryland Point and Forest Gate in the early 1980s.
Hadley Wood
A particularly enjoyable day in Hadley Wood thanks to the Lord’s Taverners. A select group of 15 from the charity played at the top class local golf club, including former England cricket captain Mike Gatting and international batter, coach and Strictly winner, Mark Ramprakash.
Abba Arena
Julie and I had a very pleasant afternoon in Greenwich with former work colleagues Roger and Brenda Farley, which included lunch at the Trafalgar Arms overlooking the River Thames. Followed by an evening at the Abba Arena in Stratford for the virtual Voyage concert.
The Beaten Path
I was kindly invited by Castle Art to this evening’s launch of the latest instalment of Bob Dylan’s ‘Beaten Path’ series of paintings. Exclusively available in the UK through the gallery, Dylan’s visual art depicts the American highways, city streets and back roads.
Music Moguls
Music entrepreneur Jay Mistry hosted the 20th anniversary of the Music Moguls’ lunch today in Holborn. Always a valuable opportunity to meet new and existing contacts within the industry.
TUC Dinner
A rewarding twenty-four hours in Brighton courtesy of an invitation from the TUC Comms team to attend this year’s Congress and specifically the Monday night Dinner at the Grand Hotel, which brings together the current and former top brass of the organisation plus major names from the Labour Party.
Day at the races
A wonderful afternoon at Ascot as we celebrated Julie’s turning 60 at the Ascot racecourse. Dinner in the On5 restaurant was delightful and our thanks to all the staff who made the hours fly by. A further highlight of the day was the opportunity to visit the parade ring with former jockey Conor Shoemark and see a number of thoroughbreds at close quarters.
Snake Davis
An engaging evening in Stratford as highly-respected saxophonist Snake Davis played one of the opening gigs at the new jazz restaurant, Soul Mama. Snake and his four-piece line-up delivered a selection of classic British sax numbers, including Baker Street, plus Stateside standards such as Aretha’s Respect and PP Arnold’s I can’t stand the rain.
Snowsfields
I caught the train to London Bridge this morning for a few hours in my old stomping ground, with the principal aim of visiting the MU HQ at ‘Arthur’s Mission’ and to attend the London Regional AGM in the company of members and officials. It was certainly interesting to hear from Organiser Jamie Pullman and his colleagues Graham, Simeon and Helen, as to their wide-reaching and valuable work undertaken on behalf of employed and freelance musicians.
