It was a real honour for me to chat with Don McLean, who is an iconic sing-songwriter and author of masterpieces such as American Pie, Vincent (Starry, Starry Night), Castles in the Air, Cryin, And I Love You So, Wonderful Baby, Since I Don’t Have you, It’s Just The Sun & If We Try.
During the interview (on Zoom) he briefly sang for me to demonstrate how to control a slow song. He…
I reently caught up with keyboardist Alan Clark, one of five members of Dire Straits Legacy who recorded and toured as members of Dire Straits, and was recently inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a significant member of Dire Straits.
Like millions of other people around the world I’m a big fan of Dire Straits and I can recall many special moments of my life that have…
New Music: Ronan Keating journeys through Ireland’s musical history with new album ‘Songs from Home’
A few weeks ago I headed to Prysm in Kingston to a private gig where Ronan Keating was performing hand-picked twelve homeland songs from his new album to test the reaction of a selected audience. My friend Jo and I absolutely adored every single new song as well as his classic tunes. The celebrated international Irish artist has created music that has become our pop soundtrack for the…
Two-time Grammy Award-winning jazz musician and crooner Gregory Porter’s mellow feel-good music is particularly uplifting during the festive season. One of his songs has been chosen for Disney’s Christmas TV advert. The advert celebrates the power of storytelling to inspire imagination and the magic created by reading together.
Photos by ©Erik Umphery
The creation of the advert…
Following another near sell out UK tour and Edinburgh Festival 2019, Tom Stade hit the road with his new show ‘You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet’ – on tour now until the end of January 2022 – and not many people did get to see anything, as along with the rest of the touring world, Tom’s juggernaut of one, had to park up in a pit stop and take a break, while the pandemic wrecked its havoc on…
Last night I attended a super cool event for the Acid Jazz media launch in association with The Arts Council and the pioneering label Acid Jazz, who will be celebrating 30 years in 2022 with the touring art exhibition at various locations next year.
The venue was perfect for this purpose in the vaults at 26 Leake St, Waterloo, SE1 7NN where street artists gather to create stunning big…
Over the years, I have seen Romeo and Juliet – one of the most famous love stories ever written – in London theatres many times, but the latest adaptation Juliet & Romeo by Intermission Youth Theatre is unique and refreshing. Often the word ‘youth’ is associated with amateur style, but let me reassure you that this production is as good as, if not better than most West End shows where…
Oh boy, what a night! La Clique is a unique and inspirational night of entertainment. This production went beyond my expectations with the brilliant live band La Clique Palais Orkestra and a melange of circus and cabaret favourites, performing in the beautiful mirrored Leicester Square Spiegeltent. The acts all had every audience member engaged with them. This is a spectacular festive show set…
Slade is without doubt one of the most exciting bands to come out of Great Britain in the past 50 years. With their unique blend of perfect pop rock ‘n’ roll, outrageous flamboyance and pure fun, and no less than 23 Top-20 singles of which six were No-1 smash hits plus six smash albums, Slade have become a firm favourite in the hearts of pop fans all over the world.
I have seen them live three…
Last night I was one of the few lucky participants who had the chance to experience the Kew Gardens annual Christmas lights trail before it opens to the public. I was totally mesmerised and spent four hours walking like Alice in Wonderland through illuminated trees, flickering flames in the Fire Garden, sparkling tunnels of light, gigantic light-up flowers, fairy-lit beeches, dancing waterside…