The annual London International Guitar Show is being held once again at Kempton Race Course this Sunday and I dropped in this afternoon to deliver lanyards and tote bags for distribution to the 150 exhibitors.
Tag: Events
Brighton Congress
The rearranged TUC Congress has been taking place this week in Brighton this week, so I travelled down to the south coast from Leeds today, upon the closure of the MU Members’ Conference.
Langley quiz time
I have always loved a quiz and so was pleased to hear that our local cafe/wine bar, Langley Quarter, were hosting a quiz for the first time tonight.
Drake Yolanda Awards
A very pleasant evening at Boisdale in Canary Wharf for the Drake Yolanda Awards event, which celebrates emerging artists plus offers a rewarding platform for developing their careers.
With the media
I travelled down from Liverpool to Birmingham on Thursday (29th) in advance of the Conservative Conference and the second stage of our representing musicians at the principal party gatherings.
Labour in Liverpool
A very busy two-week period at the party conferences began last Thursday (22nd) for me, as I caught the train from Euston to Liverpool Lime Street and checked in at the superb Hope Street Hotel in the city’s elegant Georgian Quarter.
Black Deer
A superb weekend in the Kent countryside at the third Black Deer Festival. The event was cruelly cancelled at very short notice last year courtesy of an impactful lockdown and it was wonderful to be back amongst the enthusiastic crowd in Eridge Park.
MPG Awards
I was delighted to attend the Music Producers Guild 2022 Awards event at the Tower Hotel tonight and to host the MU table and welcome our guests Gary Crosby, Janine Irons, Tom Gray, Anna Neale, Dave Webster and producer Greg Fitzgerald.
Jimmy Webb
A wonderful night at Chelsea’s Cadogan Hall in the company of Jimmy Webb as he performed a selection of his legendary songs on the first night of a UK tour. The awesome setlist included all my favourites, plus fascinating stories from his inspiring career composing for Glen Campbell, Frank Sinatra, Linda Ronstadt, the 5th Dimension, The Supremes, Art Garfunkel, and Richard Harris.
Spectrum of styles
Mark Batchelor and I drove an Enterprise van up to Springfield Farm in St Albans this morning, to set up the MU presence at Flesh Festival, the UK’s first queer LGBTQ+ electronic music & camping festival.
Cumberwell Park
Another rewarding day at Cumberwell Park, the challenging golf centre at Bradford-on-Avon just outside Bath, in aid of the Bath Cancer Support Group & Dorothy House. I had played in the competition, organised by Sarah and Neil Davies, in 2017 and 2018 and it was very pleasant to compete in its first return after the pandemic.
New season
The second match of the cricket season for Beckenham CC’s Under 17 team, saw a straightforward victory by 71 runs over a youthful but committed side from Bickley Park in delightful early summer sunshine.
Guitar Show
An excellent weekend in the company of photographer Jonathan Stewart, catching up with the UK guitar community at the ‘Guitar Show’ in the spacious New Bingley Hall in Birmingham.
Songwriters’ circle
Another enjoyable evening in town, this time at the Crypt underneath St Martin-the-Fields in Trafalgar Square. The venue has been home to a varied mix of genres and style down the years, presenting acoustic, folk, jazz, blues, classical and ethnic music.
UK Americana Awards
With the UK Americana Music Week in Hackney falling to the on-going health issues, principally the Omicron Covid variant, it was heartening to hear that the AMA-UK team had managed to organise an online/hybrid Awards Show.
UK Music comms
UK Music Chief Executive Jamie Njoku-Goodwin hosted the annual event for its communications representatives today at the Groucho Club in Soho. The attendance list was understandably smaller than usual, courtesy of safety concerns.
Half Moon gig
I have just spent a very worthwhile evening in the welcome surroundings of the legendary Half Moon in Putney, south west London, enjoying superb performances by the award-winning Robert Vincent and the evergreen Peter Bruntnell.
A Great Day
Tomorrow’s Warriors, the exemplary charity set up by Gary Crosby OBE and Janine Irons MBE to support and sustain our up and coming jazz musicians, is celebrating its thirtieth year of operation.
Advertising contacts
A meeting of notable music advertising sales contacts and clients in town this lunchtime.
