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.
Tag: Events
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.
Networking
Jazz singer and business mentor Sarah Eyden hosted her first networking session this afternoon, at Brown’s, St Martin’s Lane. A valuable opportunity to meet aspiring musicians and small business entrepeneurs. My thanks to Sarah and everyone I met, especially David Brooks, perhaps best known for playing keyboards with Gary Numan.
Taverners’ lunch
I could be found at the Oval today, courtesy of a Taverners’ event in the India Room, to enjoy both the venue’s excellent hospitality and a County Championship match between Surrey and Lancashire.
UK Music party
An invigorating night at the IET London, Savoy Place, WC2, courtesy of UK Music and their annual summer party. So many from the music industry and politics were on hand to network and hear speeches from UK Music Chief Executive Tom Kiehl, UK Music Chair Tom Watson, Culture Minister Chris Bryant and award-winning songwriter Michelle Escoffery.
QuizWar
A marvellous evening at the Phoenix Arts Club following an introduction to the captivating music business event that is Quizwar! Definitely for lovers of a madcap approach to testing your knowledge of pop, rock, and industry insider information. Let alone daring to meet the challenges of the lyric karaoke, Japanese horse racing, and wheel of fortune rounds.
Heart full of songs
Class hit songwriter and musician Graham Gouldman performed in Beckenham last night as part of the annual “Arts at St George’s Festival.” Graham, accompanied by an excellent acoustic trio of Iain Hornal and Keith Hayman, and Dave Cobby, delivered a marvellous set of hits including songs he had written for the Yardbirds (Heart full of soul, For your love), The Hollies (Bus stop, Look through any window), and Herman’s Hermits (No milk today).
Cherry Lodge
I enjoyed a very pleasant few hours at Cherry Lodge Golf Club in Biggin Hill, as members gathered for the combined Clare Yonge Memorial Golf and Beckenham Sports Club Days. Over fifty players and members of Clare’s family ensured a moving memorial event to our former President and the sun suitably shone throughout the day.
Members’ Day
PRS for Music held their annual Members’ Day event at the IET in Savoy Place this afternoon. This enables songwriters, composers and PRS staff to usefully meet and exchange enquiries and experiences. The music copyright collective presents a series of industry seminars specifically designed to assist its members with song registration, understanding their rights, and to discuss contemporary issues such as AI and composition.
Wembley joy
An exciting afternoon at Wembley Stadium as Bromley FC won promotion to the English Football League by defeating Solihull Moors in the National League Play Off Final.
Sebright soul
Julie and I drove over the River in the rain this evening to Bethnal Green to catch Mylar performing at the Sebright Arms in Coate Street, E2. This particular live music venue is in the basement of an excellent pub.
Soho moguls
I was recently invited to the latest music industry ‘moguls’ lunch by the highly-respected executive, Jay Mistry, and today I joined a fascinating group of business representatives at Mele e Pere Italian restaurant in Brewer Street, Soho.
Image Awards
I attended the second Image of Music Awards this evening at Amazing Grace in London Bridge. The very venue, in fact, I had suggested last summer to organiser Adam Perry!
Education Expo
I dropped into the Music and Drama Education Expo at the Business Design Centre in Islington this afternoon. Having organised a stand for the MU at this event since its inaugural year in 2012, this was the first time I had been a regular delegate and free to move around the stands and seminars at will with no employee obligations!
Table top clash
A classic thriller at the Hayes Lane Stadium this afternoon, as Julie, Ben and I watched Bromley FC host Chesterfield. The visitors lead the National League by a considerable margin, but Bromley are handily placed in second and the match was always likely to be a close-fought affair.
Glen Barnham
I joined a gathering of former MU and Equity Officials, musicians and actors, plus broadcasting representatives at The Lamb in Holborn tonight, to celebrate the life and work of the late Glen Barnham.
TJ Johnson
My thanks to the charismatic promoter Ray Jones for the VIP invitation to the Crypt in St Martins-in-the-Fields this evening, to enjoy the TJ Johnson band. TJ is widely considered to be one of the UK’s most highly revered jazz, blues and country singers.
Americana UK
I have spent the last two days at the UK Americana Conference in Hackney, hosted once again by the Americana Music Association UK and led by its acting CEO, Charlie Pierce. The launch party had taken place on Monday evening, however I sadly had to miss this, and I arrived early on Tuesday morning at the main Conference venue, Night Tales in Bohemia Place, to collect my delegate pass.
MU farewell
Julie and I visited the HQ of the Musicians’ Union this afternoon for a drinks reception with the organisation’s Executive Committee (EC) to mark my leaving their employment after 25 years.
New Year’s Eve
An exciting and energised New Year’s Eve at the Jolly Farmers in Purley, as Crash ‘n’ Burn delivered a set of rock classics to a lively crowd. Frontman Ian McConnell led the four-piece through songs by AC/DC, Led Zeppelin, Blue, Oasis, Bryan Adams, The Who and many more.
BBC reception
I attended a drinks reception in the Council Chamber at Broadcasting House this evening, hosted and arranged by the BBC Corporate Affairs team.
Groucho Club
A very pleasant lunch in the Gennaro Room at The Groucho Club in Dean Street, Soho, courtesy of UK Music and their annual December event for music industry communications personnel and name journalists.
