Senior Citizens

Two of my favourite character actors and my favourite band intersect on David Barry's Imaginarium show on Channel Radio. (Listen again here)

Double neat.

"I love bootlegs"

Channeling Jim Morrison as much as Bert Jansch, the prodigious Ryley Walker at Bush Hall.

Show some patience toward the dreamer

An early 2016 pleasure - discovering the Rotary Connection.

A much-needed spiritual pick-me-up.

Fitting

What a great show this was all round.

The Prettiest Star

And just 21. (Via Meet the Beatles For Real blog.)

A bright find in a very bleak week.

Fill your heart with love today

2015: The Stables, Wavendon (various)

This venue, a convenient 20 minute drive away, feels increasingly like a home from home: big enough to attract decent names but cosy enough that performers will routinely mill around before, during and after their shows, happy to sign an autograph, take a pic or pitch their merch and feel utterly unharrassed.

This year I've seen a handful of gigs there (Fotheringay, The Korgis, Focus, Wishbone Ash, Albert Lee) and the trend will no doubt continue into 2016.

Gig of  the year may well have been (today, anyway) Albert Lee in June. Standing room only and a quite astonishing display of virtuosity. At the end Lee announced he was taking a break from touring; am confident (hopeful) it won't be permanent. My expression throughout is replicated here on the face of Dave Edmunds...

2015: Roy Wood at the NIA (December)

Roy Wood.... ROY WOOD! After years of prevaricating and diary clashes the time was right at last.

He and the band didn't disappoint - with the addition of strings for a portion of the show and a muddle-tastic 'Are You Ready To Rock' with bagpipe troupe ("It was perfect in rehearsal!"). With a bit of luck this will end up a regular Christmas rendezvous with the bearded genius - a setlist as amazing as this can't be experienced just the once.

2015: Alan Parsons at Abbey Road (November)

Third time in studio 2 and the thrill doesn't dissipate with familiarity. An hour of photos and drinking in the space, before a two hour career-spanning chat with Alan Parsons, hosted by David Hepworth. Taking place a day after the terrorist attacks in Paris, Hepworth's intro, connecting music and humanity, was spot on. Pink Floyd in surround sound, mixing desk breakdowns by Parsons himself and a glimpse of some rare pics of Pilot recoring their first album - well worth the hefty ticket price.

2015: Slade Convention, Bilston (April)

It may not have impressed on the scale of, say, Beatleweek, but the camaraderie of some very friendly fans (most notably Marlies and her amazing scrapbooks) and presence of  the lovely Don Powell made for a memorable day away.

Members only

A festive, nostalgic wander around counterculture central with Tony and Richard...

It's alright

Alright!

Yeah!

In honour of the dependably ace T.Rextasy, who totally do it justice in their live shows, any excuse to see Marc and his merry band of sessioneers on Get It Together again.

One of the great live Bolan clips...

Birthday

Dreams for me

A Life in Song

Not even initial sound issues and Michael Grade's sometimes ham-fisted interview technique could blight Friday's evening with Burt Bacharach at the Royal Festival Hall. Hearing the man responsible for 'Alfie' performing the song was a 'gulp' moment for the ages. The all-star finale, with the cast of guest singers (Alfie Boe, Laura Mvula and Sophie Ellis-Bextor amongst them) joining Burt for 'That's What Friends Are For', might have been saccharine but was pure unadulterated joy.

A privilege to have been there.

In the Summertime

Judith Owen's Ebb and Flow hitting the spot right now. Wonderful album.

A wizard, a true star

Born 2-12-39. Musician: organist.

Musical tastes ebb and flow but the Doors, for me, have always endured.

Whenever Robbie Krieger and Ray Manzarek came to the UK I made a concerted effort to see them. On each occasion, whether it be at some enormodome like Wembley Arena, or Shepherd's Bush Empire (below, 2010), fittingly, the audience reaction would be frenzied, all whipped up by their greying keyboardist.

And, like the rest of us watching, he looked as though he was having the time of his life.

RIP.