So how have my predictions for 2023 gone so far? Here is the six month review!

 On the 1st January, I gave my predictions for the year. I thought it may be fun to see how they've gone at the half way mark in the year. My comments now are in Red Italics

Here is this years predictions.

January

The year starts as the year ended. We have the funeral of Pope Benedict. In some ways, this draws a perfect line under a terrible few years. The Weather starts mild, but by the 21st we are back to freezing temperatures, snow, ice and train strikes. Normal politics returns with Labour leader clobbering Rishi Sunak at PMQ's on a weekly basis. Tory MP's, especially those on the right start making noises. We see the start of Nigel Farage's return to front line politics, with his land grab for that area formerly known as UKIP. The weather wasn't actually that bad, so no cigar there! As predicted Sir Keir Starmer has been regularly battering Sunak at PMQ's - The Tory right did make a fair bit of noise. Nigel Farage did as well. Whilst he see's himself as the saviour of the UK, it seems less and less people agree with him.

February 

Cold weather continues, petrol prices soar. To celebrate the 1st anniversary of the Ukraine Campaign, Putin announces a new offensive in Ukraine. This starts with a massive bombardment of Ukraine, but peters out as half trained conscripts decide that death in a futile war is a bit silly. 

The False Dot's perform the Burnt Oak Boogie live in Burnt Oak at the Bacon Lane Club on Saturday the 11th February, seeing the most exciting night of the year so far in the Borough of Barnet. Agian the weather was not that bad.  Putin used the anniversary to fire a few missiles and murder a few poor Ukranianes, but it is clear that his army has little apetite for fighting his war. The Gig at the Bacon Lane club was a hoot!

March

In March we have Jeremy Hunt's first proper budget. Hunt is stuck between a rock and a hard place. He knows that the Tories are doomed if he doesn't do something to boost their popularity, but are even more doomed if he spooks the markets. He opts mainly for economic sense, but cuts tax on beer, wines and spirits, with measures to help the hospitality trade, on the basis that this can be sold as boosting the economy and is always popular. Labour clobbers him, whilst privately agreeing a Knighthood for him after they take over, as he's just about single handedly saved the UK's reputation for sensible management of the economy. He will have bequeathed them a basically functioning economy. After months of disruption, deals are struck with transport unions, as the Tories try and fix the problems before the council elections in April.

March also sees The False Dots Triumphantly return to The Dublin Castle on the 15th to  celebrate our amazing drummer Gray Ramsey's 60th Birthday!  As predicted Hunt gave a rather boring budget, no rabbits, a few concessions to people who drink. I was way off the mark in my assessment of the Tories ability to strike sensible deals with the Unions. The Dublin Castle gig was a great night.

April 

Good weather arrives, just in time for local elections. The Tories suffer swinging losses. Labour takes a swathe of never held before councils. A few Tories resign and a series of by election follow in seats that the Tories would have lost at the next election anyway. They are clobbered and Rishi Sunak's regime is on life support. Boris Johnson is making noises that he needs to return to save the Tories and Nigel Farage is stating that he is now the soul of the 'Real Tory Party' with is new incarnation. As predicted, the Tories were clobbered at the local elections. I was wrong about Boris, his past finally seems to started to catch up with him. My weather forcasting skills are clearly so poor I could work for the BBC. The predicted Tory resignations came later than I anticipated, but I was pretty close on this

May

Better than expected trade figures give a brief period of respite for Rishi Suank, he claims the hard work is paying off. Mortgage rates have stabilised and the continuing good weather makes the mood in the country better. Petrol prices drop as the oil price stabilises. In a big shock move, having had a wonderful season at Arsenal, Mikel Arteta departs to Real Madrid, causing tears across North London. Patrick Viera replaces him. This was way off the mark. Mortgage rates are still shooting up, Viera has no chance of becoming Arsenal Boss and The weather wasn't amazing!

June

In June we have a wonderful Mill Hill Music Festival. However the bad news at By Elections  continues. Tory MP's start putting letters into the 1922 commitee. Boris is on manouvers and Nigel Farage is claiming he is the saviour.  I was spot on about the Mill Hill Music Festival, it was amazing!  Nigel Farage is planning to leave the country as the banks are closing his accounts. The Tories are restless, but with Boris being exposed as a Pork Pie Merchant of the Highest order has put paid to any ambitions he had in the short term. 

So all in all a mixed bag. Zero out of ten for weather forecasting, 7.5 out of ten for politics and zero for sport! I suspect that Boris being found out has wiped out any chance of my predictions for the rest of the year hitting the button!

Sovereignty is a pipe dream

The message from Brexiteers, now that it is clear there is no economic benefit from #Brexit is that it was never really about making us more wealthy, it was always about regaining sovereignty. For the sake of clarity, here is the Google definition of it.

Parliamentary sovereignty is a description of the extent to which the Parliament of the United Kingdom has absolute and unlimited power. It is framed in terms of the extent of authority that parliament holds, and whether there are any sorts of law that it cannot pass.

The bus with the £350 million a week was 'nuffink to do with me guv, it was that other bloke'. Brexit was all about the UK 'taking back control of our country'. In truth, this is an even bigger whopper than the £350 million a week for the NHS. The difficult truth is that the UK has no independence and no sovereignty. It hasn't had such a thing for a very long time, and it most likely never will again. 

Very few countries truly have any degree of 'sovereignty'. You have to be a superpower such as the USA or China or a pariah state such as Afghanistan or Iran. The rest of us have little say over our future. When the UK abandoned plans for its own independent nuclear deterrent, opting for a system the USA has a key for, we gave up the last vestage of being a truly soveriegn power. As a member of NATO, we are legally obliged to enter a suicidal war in the event that Russia were to attack any other NATO member. Whether or not you think this is a good thing, you cannot pretend that we are truly independent, if a third party can drag us into a war that will annihalate us, with us having no say at all. I'm not arguing that we shouldn't be in NATO, just pointing out the blatently obvious.

Then there are our finances. We have no control over our economy or our interest rates. We rubber stamp decisions, but as Liz Truss so wonderfully demonstrated, if a UK PM decides to 'buck the market', they get unceremonially sacked. We can't start wars on our own, the USA taught us that during the Suez Crisis. Ironically the current small boats crisis has shown us we've even less control of our borders than we had when we were in the EU.

Parliament may have the authority to pass laws, but in truth, when you pass laws and make rules that are unenforceable, they do not mean you have sovereignty. We do not need laws to stop people entering the country illegally, they already exist and they don't work.  All they do is illustrate that you have a dysfunctional government. The only way to enforce such policies is to work with neighbouring countries. Brexit has made that harder. The reason we have high immigration is because it is official UK government policy and has been for decades. The Conservative party are the party of high immigration for the simple reason that the people who fund them want cheap labour. The Labour party are less well inclined to immigration as it forces down wages, which sits badly with the Unions that fund them. Neither party will tell you this truth as it sits badly with many of their core supporters. With falling birthrates in the indigenous population, immigration is the only way to keep the UK functioning. There is talk about AI replacing the UK workforce, but until AI can unblock toilets and wipe bums in care homes, there will be a shortage of people to do the UK's dirty work.

The truth, which you may or may not find sad, is that in a world where you can make a million pounds investing in a virtual (ie it doesn't really exist) currency, can buy and pay for a vinyl record in Australia in one second, pay a someone in Germany to take there clothes off for you in real time, buy viagra from India without leaving your front room, you cannot believe that the UK will ever again have true sovereignty, or not until we live through World War Three and welcome back the stone age.

So next time someone tells you Brexit was all about reclaiming sovereignty, I suggest you ask them whether they 

Why depopulation theory is bonkers and the WEF are not out to pauperise us

 The wonderful, whacky world of Twitter and the Social media seems to have started a pandemic of bonkers theories. Two of the most interesting is that the one that there is a massive conspiracy that involves getting rid of 95% of the worlds population and leaving only the mega rich and a few lackies to wait hand and foot on them. Another is that the World Economic Forum (AKA WEF) are coordinating all this and will do it by ensuring all of us are pauperised. These theories can seem quite compelling based on what has happened over the last few years, but when common sense is applied to the process of assessing their claims, it all starts to fall down.

Firstly, lets consider who would be orchestrating the plan? Well it is the rich and powerful. This is the big weakness in the idea of depopulation. Think about it logically. What is the point having lots of money and lots of power, if there is nothing to spend the money on and no one to exercise power over. It's all very well imagining the super wealthy living in big glass domes, protected from radiation, poverty and famine, but the whole point of being rich is the ability to visit swanky restaurants, punch above your weight with far more attractive sexual partners, visit the best resorts, stay in the best hotels. Once the workers are gone, then there will be no nice food, as there will be no one to harvest and transport it. There will be no one to unblock your bog when it blocks, no one to mend the fuse when it flips, no one to service the Bentley, no VIP enclosure at LeMans, no doctors, nurses and cleaners to look after you when you get ill. What is the point of being super rich, if you live on ten year old tins of sardines and the bog is blocked.

The reason we have out of season strawberrys, Wagu Beef and Kiwi fruit is because we have a massive population, which provides the infrastructure to deliver it. Most developed countries are seeng falling and ageing populations and economies are only propped up by immigrant workers. China is about to be overtaken by India as the most populous country, as China has had population limiting policies for decades. It's economy has been highly successful in this period. This has been done by encouraging people to have less children. A centralised communist economic planned economy can do this. In the UK, our indigenous population has also fallen, but we've kept things running by encouraging immigration. Brexit has affected this and we now have labour shortages and an ageing population with massive structural imbalances. As the rich and powerful tend to be older, it is in their interests to have younger people to do the work, which is why the establishment does not really want imigration controls to work.

The richest and most powerful don't give a damn about us, but they are lumbered with us, if they want a decent diet, good sports, music,TV and Radio and nice holidays. 

As to the idea that the WEF want to pauperise us, abolish small business and pauperise us, I am sure that many of the more cerebal types in the organisation do think that the fact that you can't control human behaviour is a terrible thing. The problem with dealing with human nature means that all such schemes end in failure. All Empires fall. When you push people too far and the inequality gets too bad, people revolt. Anyone who has read history books will know this. The idea that we will all have only electronic cash that can be deactivated and no shops to rob, because all of the produce will be in warehouses is all very well, but there is an old maxim that when the people miss three meals they riot. When revolutions happen, they usually don't end well for many of the most well off. It's all very well having a gated house, with a well stocked larder, but when the mob comes, who will the blokes you pay a pittance to guard you side with? The reason the UK is prosperous is because we've had trades unions that fight for the rights of working people. As people get better pay and conditions, they have a vested interest in obeying the law. If obeying the law stops delivering, then you get problems. 

I run a small business and I've noticed that recently there has been a lot of talk on Twitter about the WEF wanting to stop people running companies such as mine. It is undoubtedly true that the past three years have been tough, but it is also true that economic activity is picking up in the music sector and we have made a small profit this year so far. Banks only make money, when people have money. If we are all in debt, the whole system collapses. There is also talk of a 'great reset', where all the little guys get wiped out and the super rich take the lot. The problem with this is that when things crash, those with the most cash lose the most. In most stock market crashes, the most wealthy still take a hit. Their wealth means most can ride it out, but invariably some come unstuck big time. Make the wrong call and all of a sudden you are back on the slag heap with the rest of us. The conspiracy theorists think the WEF will coordinate this so that their rich benefactors will be spared, but as Harold MacMillan said, and Vladimir Putin found out this week "Events dear boy, Events" can derail the best plans of the cleverest people. 

I have no doubt that the many of the richest, cleverest people would shaft us all if they could, but unless they are insane, they should see it's a zero sum game. If you wipe out the music business, then there will be little or no new quality music to enjoy. If you shaft family run restaurants, you will only have bland chains, if  you block independent food growers and wholesalers, you will be left with tinned sardines. The world is not perfect, but if you are rich and powerful enough to attend WEF summits, you are doing alright. Attending these from a bunker in Slough by Zoom as the world burns is not an attractive proposition and I know very mega rich people who go on retreat in trappist monastry's for a holiday, which is what their life would be like in their bunkers after the world burns.

Humanity has  one saving grace It is that the mega rich and powerful are vain and narcissitic, so they find it hard to work together. They are far more interested in shafting each other than they are in shafting us. 

I suspect that the the WEF plans ultimately unfold, we'll see a world that is a lot better for them and just about good enough for the rest of us that we don't kick off. If the plebs started to starve, then we'd all kick off and there is no guarantee how that would end as esperate, hungry people don't make rational decisions and don't care and the powerful know that only too well.

But hey what do I know, I only run a studio in Mill Hill. 

Don't let failing NHS bureaucracy derail your cancer treatment - Rog T's Cancer blog

I would have probably posted this blog last week, but I had dedicated the blog to the Mill Hill Music Festival diary for the duration of the festival, so regular features did not appear. Regular followers of this feature will know that I had some less than welcome news in May. The HIFU team at UCLH had told me that in light of an aggressive development in my prostate, I was now going to need either surgery or radiotherapy. This was dependent on the result of a PET scan. This was required to ascertain whether the cancer had broken out of the Prostate.If it had, then the option would be hormone therapy to manage the condition. I was passed to the Oncology department of The Royal Free for a consultation and told that the PET scan would be arranged withing 2 weeks. An appointment with the Oncology team was arranged for Tuesday 13th June. I was advised that the PET scan would be done before this and the surgery team would book an appointment once the results were available.

The only problem was that the PET scan wasn't booked. Apparently the doctor who raised the order 'made a mistake' and the order expired. This meant that I hadn't had a PET scan by the time I saw the team at the Royal Free. I am not one to sit around waiting. I had been actively emailing and phoning, all to no avial. The team at the Royal Free saw me, laid out the options. If it had spread I'd be under them having a life on hormone therapy. This would hopefully keep the cancer at bay, but is in effect chemical castration, as prostate cancer is a hormone driven cancer. If it hadn't, I'd have six months of hormone therapy then six weeks of intensive daily radiotherapy. After that, it would take up to a year for my hormone levels to return to normal. The side effects are a 1-2% chance of a radiuotion linked cancer in 10-15 years. There is also a 30% chance of incontinence/impotence/infertility as a lasting effect. 

The Royal Free said they'd chase UCLH for the PET scan. Eventually I got a pet scan on the 15th. This involves being injected with a radioactive dye. I was informed that it was completely safe but I should avoid pregnant women and children for a minimum of six hours, as I could damage them. Once I'd been injected, I had to wait 90 minutes for the dye to work it's way around my body, then I had the scan. It took nearly an hour and was not particularly comfortable or pleasant, but it is a necessary evil. 

The waiting for the test and the cock ups with the booking had caused me a significant degree of stress. Once I had the scan, I then had to wait until the following Tuesday for the results. In the meantime I'd received the results of my latest PSA test, up from 10.6 in March to 12. All in all, my anxiety levels had risen to a very high level. In some ways I was glad to have the festival to think about. The PET scan will detect other, non related cancers as well, so I was actually very paranoid about the matter. 

On Tusesday UCLH called to book a surgical appointment. They could only offer me Friday last week, which was a day I was fully committed to the festival, so I deferred until this coming Friday. I was told the appointment was at 9am. I then received a follow up call. Because I'd had HIFU, the procedure was more complicated and I needed to speak to a surgeon qualified to do the procedure. The appointment was shifted to noon. I asked about the PET scan results. They said they were in but couldn't tell me. This was rather frustration. On Weds morning, I received an email to say that it was good. 

With this, my anxiety levels returned to normal. In some ways, I'm lucky. My MRI was originally due to take place in July, so I am ahead of the game. It has taken me three months to get to the position of having my consults, as biopsys and PET scans were required. I am ahead of the game, but I have to say that I am not happy with the bureacratic cock ups and the talk of 'backlogs'. I have always been of the opinion that the NHS was good at dealing with serious issues. I am starting to think this is no longer entirely true. My advice is to make sure that you are not fobbed off by the bureaucrats. It is your life. The medical staff are wonderful, but to the people scheduling appointments etc, you are just a number.

--- About this feature
For those of you who are regular readers and have read the previous posts on Cancer, there's what this is all about. I write this blog because knowledge is power and if you know what you are dealing with, you have more weapons in the locker to fight it. It is a personal view, I'm not medically qualified. This is for the sole purpose of information for those who are interested.This is the latest installment in my occasional series about how I'm adjusting to living with a big C in my life.  For those of you who aren't, here's a quick summary. I'm 60 years old and in October 2011 I  had a prostate biopsy following two "slightly high" PSA tests - 2.8 & 4.1. The biopsy took ten tissue samples and one of these showed a "low grade cancer" which gave me a 3+3 on the Gleason scale. I was put on a program of active monitoring.  In early February, I got the results of the a PSA test - down to 3.5 and an MRI scan which found absolutely nothing, two more tests in 2012 were at 3.5 and 3.9, in 2013 my test was 4.0, Jan 2014 was 3.8, August 2014 was 4.0,  February 2015 it was  up to 5.5  and my latest in August 2015 was down again at 4.6. In October 2015 I had a transperinial Prostate biopsy, that revealed higher grade cancer and my Gleason score was raised to 3+4 (Small mass + more aggressive cancer). On 22nd Jan 2016 I had HIFU (Hi Intensity Focused Ultrasound) treatment at UCHL). My post procedure PSA in May was 4.0 which was down, followed by 3.7 in August, and 3.5 in October  which means that the direction is positive . However in January the follow up MRI revealed "something unusual which requires investigation" After a follow up biopsy, it appeared this was nothing to worry about. My two most recent PSA tests were Ok (3.7 and 4.6) and an MRI scan in March was very positive. A  PSA in October 2019 was 4.6, so stable and good news, the last in May 2020 was 5.45 a small rise, so worrying, however after a review against the most recent MRI, it was decided that this was fine. My two latest ones in February 2022 was 6.7 and October 2022 was 6.6 was stable. My MRI in March 2022 showed 'a change' so I am now awaiting a biopsy. I had a PSA test in late March which also showed a marked increase to 10.3. I had an MRI scan that showed 'significant change'. This lead to a biopsy that indicated a tumour of 4mm that had a gleason score of 4+4. A PSa test in June saw a rise to 12. I've seen the oncology team and am awaiting a visit to the surgical team to discuss the next step. Thnis are not great but they are not dire either. 

 I've no symptoms apart from needing to wee quite regularly and sadly for a few people, if I'm gonna die soon, it (hopefully) won't be from Prostate cancer. Got the picture?

The Mill Hill Music Festival Diary - Day six

 The week has flown by. All of our events have exceeded our expectations and most were complete sell outs. The music at all has been amazing all week, as I hope the clips posted here have demonstrated.

Yesterday was a busy day for me. It was an early start to get the gear off the van from Friday night's gig at the Golf club. I took the van to the studios and got the boys to unload, whilst I manned the front desk, I'd done enough lifting. We left the stageing panels on the van as they were needed for the final night at Hartley Hall. I had much running around to do, not least as we hired a PA system to St Pauls School on the Ridgeway, for their Fete (which was most successful on a beautiful day). 

At 4.30, I dropped off the stageing and then nipped to St Pauls to collect the PA after the fete. Then back to Hartley Hall to complete final preparations. I don't have too much input as the only PA requirements is for an announcements mic, which uses the in house PA. There was however drinks etc to drop off, banners to be put up etc.

The final night was the BBC Elstree Concert Band. As my missus plays clarinet with them, we have a family connection. They are wonderful players. Everyone knows I'm a musician, but Clare is far the better player, having reached Grade 8 on the clarinet and having played with the band for over 30 years, she has a huge experience of gigging in some of the most wonderful venues in London and abroad.

Bang on 7.30 the band kicked off with a rousing version of the theme tune to Thunderbirds.

It’s a wrap, we finished with an amazing sell out concert from @BBCECB - see you all in two years pic.twitter.com/D4ls8bQh3J

— Mill Hill Music Fest (@millhillfest) June 25, 2023

It was a wonderful selection, with music from Bond films, the Avengers and a tribute to Bert Bacharach, amongst the highlights. The show finished at 9.45. We broke down the stage, packed the chairs, washed the glasses and were having a pint in the Services club at 10.15. 

This morning, I dropped the van and the staging back and that is me done for another year, apart from writing this blog!

Thanks to Paul and Mary at Kitchens with Elegance for the van, Mill Hill Wines for the box office, Hartley Hall, Frith Manor School, St Pauls Church, The Adam and Eve Pub and  Finchley Nurseries for hosting the festival, thanks to all of our committee and helpers for there efforts as well as the staff at Mill Hill Music Complex, who also put themselves out no end to ensure the festival is a success. 

My Mill Hill Music Festival Diary Days 3-5

Firstly an apology. I've just been too busy over the past few days to update this. So here is a quick round up. On Wednesday, we had the Recital on the Ridgeway, by the Regency Quartet, with  a guest spot by harpist Huw Boucher. This was an evening with some incredible music. My involvement was pretty minimal. I simply transported the drinks from Hartley Hall to the venue and gave some moral support. But I did get to see some fantastic music. The event was well attended, with over 60 people turning up. The festival tries to cover as many genre's as possible and giving a showcase to some of the best students from the Royal College of Music. We had the Regency Quartet last year, they were so wonderful we asked them back. 

To my surprise, they were even better. At the end of the show, I loaded all the drinks we didn't use back into the car. It was an early night for me!

Jamie Howe on viola and Huw Boucher on harp at the recital on the Ridgeway - part of our amazing evening of classical music pic.twitter.com/HzBKLxdKm5

— Mill Hill Music Fest (@millhillfest) June 21, 2023

Thursday was a busy day. I was working a shift at the studio, as we had a recording session and I needed to cover for Fil. This was quite handy, as I was doing the sound for Emma Kershaw at Frith Manor Primary school. I had borrowed a van from our friends Paul and Mary Dawson, who run Kitchens with Elegance. Such logistic help makes a huge difference and means that we can keep prices low and make the festival as accessible as possible. They are a great Mill Hill company, so if you need a kitchen, CHECK THEM OUT! (They did my kitchen 25 years ago and it still looks wonderful). Our sponsors can only sponsor us if they have a business! I must also give a shout out to Mill Hill Wines who run our High St Box Office. They get nothing for doing it. Please nip in, buy a bottle of wine and say thanks to them, if you enjoyed the Festival!

Anyway, on with story. So being at the studio meant that I could load the van at my leisure, with our 1000 watt PA. I also had to pick up glasses and drinks from Hartley Hall. Having collected the gear, I arrived at the school at 3pm. I set up the gear and stage dressing, switched it on then BANG. One of our speakers burnt out. All of our gear is regularly inspected and PAT tested and the PA had been used the previous day. As the band were arriving at 4.30 pm for a sound check, I had to quickly go back to the studio and collect another PA system. Luckily we have spare systems, so I was able to get it all ready and the band were none the wiser. The concert was a sell out and many punters came up to compliment me on the sound at the end, which is always nice. The show finished at around 9pm, we broke the gear down and I was back in Mill Hill for 10pm, which meant I had time to grab a kebab at Cobans and a pint at the Services club. 

Tonight @TheEmmaKershaw sings the Carpenters song book at @FrithManor primary, and it sounds rather spiffing. Another sellout crowd pic.twitter.com/liPupIu1cp

— Mill Hill Music Fest (@millhillfest) June 22, 2023

On to Friday. The Party night at the Mill Hill Golf Club is always a full on day. We have to build a stage and cover it, set up lighting, put up fences, set up gazebo's. So at 10am, I arrived at the studios, loaded up the stage and gazebos and other equipment and delivered it to the golf club. The team started to assemble it and I went back for another load. By 3pm, everything was ready for our sound guy Vince, who always does the bigger events as he has a 10kw PA system. Vince rigged his PA and the Pogue Traders arrived for the sound check at 6.30pm. That went well, the support band, The Sundays (not the girl band), featuring festival founding organiser Paul Amsterdam on sax then arrived. They soundchecked, and the crowds started to arrive. The music kicked off at 8.30, with The Sundays putting in a stonking funk set.

Tonight at @millhillfest the Sundays warming up the crowd nicely for the Pogue Traders pic.twitter.com/8rzwYUsoU5

— Roger Tichborne/Rog T (@Barneteye) June 24, 2023

As the Sun went down, the Pogue Traders went on and put in a blistering set, The whole place had a bop. The event was well attended with around 200 people at the event.

We celebrated Xmas six months early at @millhillgolf club last night, with the Pogue Traders pic.twitter.com/p6iluJBJpj

— Roger Tichborne/Rog T (@Barneteye) June 24, 2023

Once they finished, it was all hand to the deck and by 12.30, the whole gig had been broken down and was in the van. I got home and had a chat and a glass of wine with a couple of friends. I was in bed by 2am!

Onwards and upwards for the final push tonight!

The Mill Hill Music Festival Diary 2023 - Day 2 - The Mikado with the Charles Court Opera

 Our festival team has a very diverse skill set and an equally eclectic programme of events. This means that each of us has a different work level at each event. Our opening night was all about my forte, live contemporary music, with a PA system, lights and stage management required. This meant I ran the event and the team were there for moral support and to dish out leaflets, with some lugging at the beginning and end. We didn't provide a bar as it was at the pub and was free entry with the pub paying the band, so no need for  a door crew.

Last night, the second event, was The Charles Court Opera at the Hartley Hall. They have their own stage crew, no requirements for a PA system, a bar was required as well as door management. My role was to pick up and drop off the refreshments and offer a bit of moral support. We always buy our wine from Mill Hill Wines, who support the festival by providing wine glasses and running our box office. The beer and soft drinks we get elsewhere. As my shop does a weekly cash and carry run, we simply added the festival order and picked it up. I was able to drop it straight to the festival and then pick up the wine and glasses with Dan, another festival organiser. 

After that, I was done with the event. I had some last minute logistics to sort out with other events, so I was at the studio doing PA checks and sending emails. I also had a couple of calls with the cancer clinic at UCLH, which were about sorting out appointments. Once that was done, I had more paperwork for the charity I am the chair of to read and a meeting to chair at 7pm. All was good there, so by 8pm I was able to come along and watch the performance. If I am honest, Opera is not really my thing, but I always thoroughly enjoy the shows at the festival. The companies we use are extremely professional and I've learned a lot over the years about good production by observing their methods. The shows we've had are also the fun end of opera and assuming we do a festival in two years, I'd recommend it. 

Once the event finished, it was all hands on deck to put away the chairs. Our team of helpers had 200 glasses to wash up. Our treasurer had to reconcile the cash and Dan had to stay late to ensure the hall was left spick and span. I snuck away for a crafty beer at around 10.15 with friends, a job well done and everything under control. 

Tonight we are off to St Pauls on the Ridgeway for the classical music recital.

The Mill Hill Music Festival Preview - The Pogue Traders and The Sundays - Fri 23rd June at the Mill Hill Golf Club

 Today we are looking ahead to what promises to be an exciting and fun night on Friday. The Festival has always put on music that reflects North London and the diverse communities. After a break of several years, we decided that it was high time we once againg featured Irish music on our our programme, albiet with a strong North London influence. The Pogue Traders have become established as the no 1 tribute to the music of the Pogues. I've known the tin whistle player, Paul Evans for many years and when he joined the band, he asked me along to see them, as he knew I was a big fan of the Pogues. I was blown away and have seen them almost every time they've played in North London since, including several appearances at the legendary Dublin Castle. The band are a tribute to the music, they do not pretend to be members. 

Anyone who knows the story of the Pogues will know that Shame Macgowan is an excellent songwriter. He is perhaps, rather unfairly in my opinion, better known for his drinking, but this never stopped him from writing beautiful and brilliant songs. The best known of these is of course Fairytale of New York, but songs such as Rainy night in Soho and a pair of Brown Eyes are classics in their own right and stand comparission with the work of the greatest songwriters of the 20th Century. 

Here is a clip of Rainy Night in Soho from The Water Rats in 2022, a gig I was at and as you see the whole audience had a good old sing song and dance

The band also do a selection of well known traditional songs, such as The Irish Rover and a few of the Pogues covers such as Dirty Old Town. It is often overlooked that the Pogues contained some excellent musicians, such as Phil Chevron and Jem Finer. The Pogue Traders are similarly blessed with excellent players. I am really looking forwarad to seeing the band again. I've dragged many friends to see the band over the years and they all become firm fans, this is a great opportunity to see why, without travelling too far at all.

The support band are the Sundays, a rather fine soul party band, featuring local legend Paul Amsterdam on sax. Paul was one of the early committee members for the festival and was responsible for roping me onto the committee, so if you don't like the music, please buy a ticket and come up and tell him!

Assuming the weather is good, the gig will be outside in the amazing grounds of the Golf club. Beer is good value and there will be a barbeque. 

Here's a few quotes about the Pogue Traders

“The Best Pogues tribute band I’ve ever seen” – Andrew Ranken (Drummer with The Pogues)

“I’ll come straight to the point: The Pogue Traders are absolutely fantastic. Seriously, if you ever see these guys and leave without an ear-to-ear grin spread across your chops and a song in your heart, stop and check your pulse – you may very well be dead.”– Neil Skinner – The Watford Observer

£15 (£18 on the door)

 PARTY NIGHT WITH THE POGUE TRADERS quantity

The Mill Hill Music Festival Diary 2023 - Day 1

 As is the way, during the Mill Hill Music Festival, my normal blogging activities are suspended and I write a festival diary. Last night was Day 1 of the festival, so as is tradition, here is my first diary entry. For those of you interested in what it is like to run a music festival, this is what I got up to during the day and my observations.

Whelligan perform at the Adam and Eve

On Friday night, went to see my mates in The Silencerz up at The Bull Theatre in Barnet, we had a good evening, but I wasn't as fresh as I'd hoped on Saturday Morning. The first job of the day was to check the weather. We had planned a Jazz lunchtime Fathers day gig at Finchley Nurseries, but there were severe weather warnings, so we had to postpone this. Calls with the garden centre and the band ensued.

I then collected the van we've been lent for the week, by local kitchen design company Kitchens with Elegance. The festival works on a not for profit basis. If it wasn't for the kind efforts of people such as Paul and Mary at KWE, we'd have to almost double ticket prices to cover costs. It would also be unfesable to stage gigs such as yesterday's free entry gig at the Adam and Eve. 

At around mid day, I took the van to the studios and loaded up our stage, lights, PA system and backline (drums, amps etc). It is a full van full. I left the van at the studios and went home for lunch and a snooze.

The MHMC crew relax after the set up Fil and Matt 2

Fil prepares the stage

At 5pm, I met my chief engineer, Fil Ross and trainee engineer Matt at the studios, and we drove to the Adam and Eve to assemble it. It was up and ready in under an hour, no drama's. We then did a soundcheck with Whelligan, John Shillibeer and Subverse. Again, no drama's. As I was driving, I only had a couple of shandies. At 8pm, Subverse kicked off. Singer Maddy has a wonderful voice, one of the highlights was her version of Joan Armatrading's love and affection. It gives an idea of her talent that she more than held her own with such a great song. Guitarist Al Pascal is a local guitar teacher and session player. He's a great player and has a good feel to his style. He'd just bought a new guitar pre-amp that sounded amazing, so as a guitar nerd, it was interesting to compare notes.

Next up was John Shillibeer. I've known him since he was a kid. He's the younger brother of Brian, a mate since St Vincents, who I grew up with and has been involved with the band since it started. Brian would turn up to gigs and help us lug gear. Johnny is a few years younger and I used to play football with us and and hang around. I guess that he decided he liked the idea of some rock and roll in his life, as he's become an accomplished solo artist. He moved to New Zealand a decade ago and this was his first London gig for a long time. As ever, he was brilliant.

Last up were Whellighan, a seven piece band featuring a friend, Tom from Hadley on trumpet. Any Hadley regulars will know Tom. He's a wonderful musician and a lovely bloke. I saw Whelligan last year and was determined to have them at the festival. They didn't let us down. Jamie Whelligan is an amazing songwriter. Like many musicians originating from Merseyside (he's from Birkenhead), he has a great melodic feel. Several punters told me they were the best band we've had in all the years of the festival. The band finished at 11pm. I put on my Ska playlist for the last 30 minutes, giving the hard core boogie crowd a chance to dance. At 11.30, we packed down the gear and were out by midnight. I got home, had a glass of wine and watched an episode of Narco's Mexico on Netflix, a job well done.

The Saturday List #309 - My top ten moments from the last 14 Mill Hill Music Festivals

 I've been involved in organising the Mill Hill Music Festival for over 20 years. The Festival is a biannual event (although we got out of sync during covid, so we are having a 2023 festival following the 2022 festival, which should have been the 2021 festival, if you get my drift).

Today, the festival starts, so I thought I'd do a recap of some of the best moments.

2009

SUNDAY 21 JUNE from 8.00pm
'LATER' AT THE ADAM & EVE
GARDEN PARTY WITH THE GOOD OLD BOYS
The Adam & Eve Pub, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, NW7 1RL

 The band featured Alan Barratt (ex Jo-Jo Gunne, Cliff Bennett); Nick Simper (ex Deep Purple); Pete Parks (Rick Wakeman, BB King); Simon Bishop (ex Renaissance, The Monks) and Richard Hudson of The Strawbs. It was a brilliant night, with a stellar line up. Sadly, due to complaints from neighbours, we can no longer do live music in the pub garden.

2011

SATURDAY 25TH JUNE - FROM 7.30pm

SOUND OF THE SUBURBS PARTY

Connie A with The False Dots, The Ron Lewis Partnership, Angels with Enemies + Special Guests

Mill Hill Sports Club, Grahame Park Way, NW7 2AL

This was an amazing night. Connie A, who was singing with the False Dots was a force of nature. She performed at Barack Obama's inauguration with Emmanual Jal, which gives some idea of how good she was. We finished with a mega Jam. which is one of the best moments I've had on a stage.

We made a little video to commemorate it

2013

SATURDAY 22ND JUNE
The Polecats plus Loaded Dice
Allianz Park, Greenlands Lane, NW4 1RL

 Rockabilly band, The Polecats started life in Mill Hill in the late 70s. In the early 80s the band began carving out a name for themselves to become an integral part of the British rockabilly revival scene. Fronted by Tim Polecat and Boz Boorer (who has toured with Morrissey and has played with Adam Ant and Edwin Collins) the Polecats  played many of their hits such as Rockabilly Guy, Big Green Car, Marie Celeste, John I’m Only Dancing (Bowie cover), Jeepster (T-Rex Cover), as well as a smattering of rock ’n’ roll covers. Boz, Tim and Phil Polecat, were all born and raised in Mill Hill. The band have toured the world having hits on nearly every continent but after 35 years together they wanted to mark the occasion with a homecoming gig.

It was great to see my mates all back where they started!

2015.

Saturday 20 June

 

Party Night with Joe Angel & the Pamodzi Band

The Three Hammers Pub, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, NW7 4EA [Map]

This year our party night was at the Three Hammers for an evening of great rocking reggae with Joe Angel & The Pamodzi Band. The band built a big following on the London reggae scene with their big roots reggae sound. It was great to hear such music in Mill Hill.  Joe’s soulful lead vocals and self penned lyrics, two backing vocalists, three guitars, and double keyboards gave us another night or great music. With support from Misdemeanour (featuring False Dots drummer Gray Ramsey) playing hits of the 60s and 70s, our final night was an great party. The busiest night ever in the history of the Three Hammers. 

Saturday 13 Jun 

Film Music Gala - BBC Elstree Concert Band

2015 saw the first performance at the Festival of the The BBC Elstree Concert Band, who have become regulars. They treated us to a feast of movie favourites from the silver screen such as John Williams’s thrilling Star Wars and Raiders of the Lost Ark themes. With the band’s grass roots originating from the world-famous Elstree Studios, film scores are a regular feature of all their performances, including music from movies that were actually made at Elstree. Formed in 1984, the 40+ piece band has a repertoire of light classics, show music and contemporary wind band arrangements. Their performances have been broadcast both nationally and internationally through the BBC World Service. They have given concerts in aid of The Voice of the Listener Trust, North London Hospice and several other charitable organisations and further afield in France and Germany. They are playing again this year, this thrilling concert is not one to be missed.

http://bbcecb.weebly.com/

2017

Friday June 23 -  

The Silencerz + Recollection

 

Mill Hill Golf Club, 100 Barnet Way, Mill Hill, NW7 3AL
Our evening began with 5-piece cover-band, Recollection playing favourites from the 60’s to present day. Then we danced the night away to the rockingest, rock-steady beat of the The Silencerz. One of country’s top ska bands, bringing the house down with a fun and energetic night, featuring ska classics, along with a selection of originals. 

 The band were joined by special guest Lee Thompson, renowned Madness saxophonist. 

2019

Friday June 21st -  

The Foundations 

Mill Hill Golf Club, 100 Barnet Way, Mill Hill, NW7 3AL

Our party night featured 60's soul legends, The Foundations, best know for no 1 hits such as Build Me Up Buttercup and Baby, Now That I found you at The Mill Hill Golf Club. This was an amazing night, and it was an honour to host my old mate Alan Warner (Foundations guitarist) doing what he does best

2022 

THE ALAN WARNER BAND + THe FALSE DOTS

Saturday 11th June - from 8.30pm

The Adam & Eve Pub, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, NW7 1RL

This wasa great night. Aforementioned guitarist Alan Warner of 1960s band - brought his own band to Mill Hill, with a brilliant mix of rock, blues and pop covers plus original songs. For me though, it was also the first gig of the new line upp of The False Dots as a three piece. It was also the first gig in my 44 year music career on lead vocals. I was very nervous, but it was a blast. Here is one of the highlights for me

.

AN EVENING WITH JOE STILGOE

Thursday 16th June

Frith Manor Primary School, Lullington Garth, N12 7BN

Older readers will remember Joe's Dad Richard from BBC classic series that's Life. Joe has all the talent and sense of fun, with a huge dollop of contemporary Jazz sensibilities. He gave us a wonderful night and was a massive highlight of the festivals three decades. 

PARTY NIGHT @ MILL HILL GOLF CLUB

WITH THE BRIT FUNK ASSOCIATION

 Friday 17th June 

 Mill Hill Golf Club, 100 Barnet Way, Mill Hill, NW7 3AL

A great evening of Brit-Funk, with this Supergroup  made up of legends from the world of Brit funk, featuring members of Hi-Tension, Light of the world, Beggar and Co and Central Line. The whole of Mill Hill Golf club had a boogie. Another absolutely brilliant festival night

The Friday Musical Joke and a few musings on the Mill Hill Music Festival

 It's Friday, the sun is shining, the Mill Hill Music Festival starts tomorrow and all is well with the workd.

As is a long standing tradition on the blogs of Barnet, started over a decade ago by former Citizen of this Parish, Vicki Morris, we start the weekend with a Friday Joke, and fittingly it has a musical theme. I am endebted to Robert Wilkinson for a cracker!

pic.twitter.com/CWwtqPIMoh

— Robert Wilkinson (@robertwlk) June 15, 2023

As the festival starts tomorrow, we are on the final preparations,  big worry is the weather for Sundays lunchtime open air gig at Finchley Nurseries. The forecast is heavy rain and thunder storms. If this does not change, then unfortunately, we'll have to postpone this, which would be a real shame. Please pray for sunshine or do a sun dance for us around the garden!

I am very excited. My old mate Johnny Shillibeer, an amazing singer songwriter, with a real George Michael voice hs come over from his home in New Zealand to appear at the Adam and Eve on Saturday. Johnny is the younger brother of one of my best and oldest mates. He grew up hanging around at our gigs and rehearsals and developed into a great musician, he moved to NZ a decade ago and I've nit seen him since, so it will be a treat. Hopefully a few old mates will also show up.

Anyway, onwards and upwards. 

The Big Barnet Music Quiz - with Answers

 Yesterday, we posted the big Barnet Music Quiz. Today, we give you the answers! We hope you enjoyed it. If you missed it and want to do it without seeing the answers CLICK HERE

1. Name the Glam Rock legend, who before rising to fame was a member of legendary 60's Mod band Johns Children, and is buried in Golders Green cemetrary. This was of course Marc Bolan

2. What iconic Golders Green venue, no longer hosting music, has a place in music history for hosting keynote gigs by both Jimi Hendrix and AC/DC? They both played at The Golders Green Hippodrome  

3. What is the name of 60's Soul Legend the Foundations guitarist, who lives in Edgware, and used to run a recording studio in Hendon, where UK Rockabilly legends The Polecats recorded their first single? It is Alan Warner. He ran Lane Studios, where the Polecats and many other local bands did their first recordings

4. Which founder member of Madness attended Finchley Catholic High School? Chas Smash AKA Carl Smythe

5. Which Edgware School did Sex Pistols manager Malcolm MacLaren, Adam and the Ants/Bow Wow Wow Guitarist Matthew Ashman and  Polecats guitarist Boz Boorer attend? This was Orange Hill School

6. Brit Funk Legends Patrick and Paul McClean played at the Mill Hill Music Festival last year with Brit Funk Supergroup The Brit Funk Association. What legendary Brit Funk outfit did they first rise to fame with? Hi Tension

7. What British Soul singer and Barnet resident, first saw chart success with a song called Toast with The Streetband? Paul Young

8. British Rock and Roll legend Ronald Wycherley is buried in Mill Hill Cemetery. What name is he better known by? Billy Fury

9. What is the name of the former Mill Hill resident, who wrote the lyrics for Born Free, as well as over 200 other hits (my sister Valerie used to babysit for him as he lived over the road from us). He does occasional work as a radio presenter? Don Black

10. Three best selling female artists/groups, all of whom started their career rehearsing at Mill Hill Music Complex studios, have won BRIT Awards, the most recent this year, can you name them? Amy Winehouse, Kate Nash and Flo

11. What legendary Finchley venue, now a Starbucks and a Barbers, hosted regular gigs, including Steve Marriott, Dr John and Amy Winehouse? The Torrington

12. If I said Steven Sieger, Loppylugs, Mill Hill Television and Soundtraxx, why would a local music lover who lived locally in the 70's/80's ears prick up. What do all of these have in common? They were all local record shops

13. The family of the guitarist Stuart Taylor owned the garage at Holders Hill. Stuart played on the first UK single to become a no 1 record in the USA. What band did he play in? The Tornados

14. When the Stranglers first came to public attention, they had a devoted group of followers. This group had a strong connection with the London Borough of Barnet. What was their name? The Finchley Boys

16. The New Vaudeville Band recorded an album in 1967, who's title celebrates which tube station in the London Borough of Barnet? Finchley Central

17. Which female Rap artist/singer caused a furore at Mill Hill Public School, when they filmed a video featuring drug abuse and scene's of a sexual nature in the school grounds, leading to the head getting the boot? Steflon Don

18. Clarence Mitchell is an esteemed journalist, who regularly used to pop up on the news as the official spokesman for the family of Madeleine McCann. What is his association with the music scene in the Borough of Barnet and why were local musicians always so keen to buy him a beer? Clarence wrote the music page in the Barnet Times for a year or so, before moving on to greater things

19. In 2013 Reggae Artist Bitty Mclean collaborated with Lee Thompson to record a version of the Ska Cassic Fu Manchu. The video featured a scene at which famous Mill Hill drinking establishment? The Mill Hill Services Club

20. In 2008, esteemed and much missed Jazz musician John Dankworth performed at the Mill Hill Music Festival. Who was John's partner? The fabulous Cleo Lane

And on the subject of the Mill Hill Music Festival, if you knew these, then you love local music, so mosy on over to the Festival website and get yourself some tickets.

https://millhillmusicfest.co.uk/

The Big Local Music Quiz - Test your knowledge of local music + Mill Hill Music Festival opening night Saturday

So how is your local music knowledge. To celebrate the start of the Mill Hill Music Festival on Saturday, here is a music quiz to test your knowledge of our local music culture. Twenty questions, which any self respecting local music afficionado will have no trouble at all putting to bed.

1. Name the Glam Rock legend, who before rising to fame was a member of legendary 60's Mod band Johns Children, and is buried in Golders Green cemetrary.

2. What iconic Golders Green venue, no longer hosting music, has a place in music history for hosting keynote gigs by both Jimi Hendrix and AC/DC?

3. What is the name of 60's Soul Legend the Foundations guitarist, who lives in Edgware, and used to run a recording studio in Hendon, where UK Rockabilly legends The Polecats recorded their first single?

4. Which founder member of Madness attended Finchley Catholic High School?

5. Which Edgware School did Sex Pistols manager Malcolm MacLaren, Adam and the Ants/Bow Wow Wow Guitarist Matthew Ashman and  Polecats guitarist Boz Boorer attend?

6. Brit Funk Legends Patrick and Paul McClean played at the Mill Hill Music Festival last year with Brit Funk Supergroup The Brit Funk Association. What legendary Brit Funk outfit did they first rise to fame with?

7. What British Soul singer and Barnet resident, first saw chart success with a song called Toast with The Streetband?

8. British Rock and Roll legend Ronald Wycherley is buried in Mill Hill Cemetery. What name is he better known by?

9. What is the name of the former Mill Hill resident, who wrote the lyrics for Born Free, as well as over 200 other hits (my sister Valerie used to babysit for him as he lived over the road from us). He does occasional work as a radio presenter?

10. Three best selling female artists/groups, all of whom started their career rehearsing at Mill Hill Music Complex studios, have won BRIT Awards, the most recent this year, can you name them?

11. What legendary Finchley venue, now a Starbucks and a Barbers, hosted regular gigs, including Steve Marriott, Dr John and Amy Winehouse?

12. If I said Steven Sieger, Loppylugs, Mill Hill Television and Soundtraxx, why would a local music lover who lived locally in the 70's/80's ears prick up. What do all of these have in common?

13. The family of the guitarist Stuart Taylor owned the garage at Holders Hill. Stuart played on the first UK single to become a no 1 record in the USA. What band did he play in?

14. When the Stranglers first came to public attention, they had a devoted group of followers. This group had a strong connection with the London Borough of Barnet. What was their name?

16. The New Vaudeville Band recorded an album in 1967, who's title celebrates which tube station in the London Borough of Barnet?

17. Which female Rap artist/singer caused a furore at Mill Hill Public School, when they filmed a video featuring drug abuse and scene's of a sexual nature in the school grounds, leading to the head getting the boot?

18. Clarence Mitchell is an esteemed journalist, who regularly used to pop up on the news as the official spokesman for the family of Madeleine McCann. What is his association with the music scene in the Borough of Barnet and why were local musicians always so keen to buy him a beer?

19. In 2013 Reggae Artist Bitty Mclean collaborated with Lee Thompson to record a version of the Ska Cassic Fu Manchu. The video featured a scene at which famous Mill Hill drinking establishment?

20. In 2008, esteemed and much missed Jazz musician John Dankworth performed at the Mill Hill Music Festival. Who was John's partner?

--- Make a note of your answers. We will publish them tomorrow. If you email me with all of the correct answers you win the Pot Noodle of your choice at Mill Hill Music Complex for free!

MILL HILL MUSIC FESTIVAL PREVIEW 

FESTIVAL KICK OFF WITH WHELLIGAN + THE JOHN SHILLIBEER EXPERIENCE + SUBVERSE

 Saturday 17th June - Music from 8.00pm

 The Adam & Eve Pub, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, NW7 1RL

We kick off the festival with a free event at the Adam & Eve Pub with music from Whelligan. This great 7-piece pop band is fronted by James Whelligan with comparisons to XTC, the Rutles, Syd Barrett, Peter Gabriel and Genesis. The band’s sound will take you on a harmonic journey that is sure to have you up on your feet. Whelligan’s songs mine that English vein of quirky, psychedelic guitar pop that Merseyside bands are famous for. With songs spinning effortlessly from one to another, you won’t be disappointed by this amazing band. Whelligan’s work is also a firm favourite on BBC radio.

“Amazing” – BBC Radio 2
“Soothing the working man” – BBC Radio 4
“Outstanding” – BBC Radio Merseyside

Supported by The John Shillibeer Experience – John Shillibeer is a singer songwriter from Auckland, New Zealand, playing solo in the UK for the first time in 10 years. He plays with an Auckland based indie rock band, Fear of Ghosts, and has continued to produce his own solo music, blending alternative pop, acoustic guitars, beat boxes and electronica. Having grown up in London, John played many solo gigs acoustically at the Mean Fiddler, The Borderline and the Marquee to name a few. Originally from Mill Hill, this will be something of a homecoming.

Also supported by Subverse – a North London duo mixing eclectic styles to bring you an array of different vibes and sounds. Soon to release their first House single ‘Figure it Out” Maddy Collins on Vox and Al Pascal on guitar play individualistic acoustic versions of tunes to keep things interesting, stylistic and fresh!

Food available. Free entry.

click here for the full festival programme