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.