Last year I started writing my memoirs. It is the story about how a dyslexic herbert, with no talent at all ended up running one of London, if not the worlds, most respected independent studios. It is also the story of my band, The False Dots, which is integral to the development of the studios and also my friends and family who have supported me. Apart from pictures and a few final edits, it's nearly there, so if you are or you know any publishers who might be interested, then please let me know!
As I've some unexpected time on my hands, and you may have too, I thought I'd read a small extract. This features some rather well known musicians in passing, who play a part in the story, including Hank B.Marvin, Alan Warner of the Foundations and Boz Boorer of the Polecats/Morrissey fame.
This takes us back to 1979, when I was 16 years old, just learning to be a musician and putting the band together. This is the story of our first recording and how it came together. More importantly it tells how I developed a love of the recording process.
This is a first for me, I hope you enjoy it.
Have a peaceful and safe day and let me know what up think.
Showing posts with label Alan Warner. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Alan Warner. Show all posts
Tuesday, 14 April 2020
Wednesday, 29 June 2011
Mill Hill Music Festival TV - The Al Warner & Paul Myerson show at the Adam and Eve
Here's a few selected highlights from Sunday Night at the Mill Hill Music Festival show featuring Alan Warner and Paul Myerson at the Adam and Eve. It was a fantastic night. Here is a link to the Adam and Eve's website detailing their forthcoming events (and there are some crackers coming up) - http://www.adamandevemillhill.co.uk/events/.
There are still tickets left for the party Night at the Mill Hill Sports club on Saturday, featuring some of our top local musicians playing hits from the 1960s, 70's, 80's & 90's. There are also tickets left for the BBC Symphony Orchestra players at St Pauls Church. Both events are likely to sell out, so get your tickets ASAP. They are available from Mill Hill Wines - http://www.millhillwines.com/
There are still tickets left for the party Night at the Mill Hill Sports club on Saturday, featuring some of our top local musicians playing hits from the 1960s, 70's, 80's & 90's. There are also tickets left for the BBC Symphony Orchestra players at St Pauls Church. Both events are likely to sell out, so get your tickets ASAP. They are available from Mill Hill Wines - http://www.millhillwines.com/
Monday, 27 June 2011
MIll Hill Music festival - Day 2 - End of the Night
Just back in from the Adam & Eve. Tonight was a resounding success. Every event (4 so far) has had over 100 people, which is truly incredible. The Adam & Eve gig, featuring Alan Warner and Paul Myerson was in the garden of the pub and we estimate over 150 people attended, which is brilliant for a Sunday night. In all we've had well over 500 people at the gigs. The two I didn't attend were at the Three Hammers, fetauring Ian Bameld Dixieland Jazz band for a Jazz lunch, and the Salvation Army at the John Keble Church. So we've had Rock, Rythm & Blues, Hip Hop, Punk Rock, Dixieland Jazz, a brass band and a truly awesome blues/rock guitarist.
As if that wasn't enough, I spent the afternoon at St Vincents School DJ'ing at the school fete. For Al Warner, I was sound guy. I had to pick up the PA, and be the gofer for the night. The pub looked after us very well and fed us and gave us a beer. Twenty years ago that was pretty standard, doesn't happen quite so often these days. They were over the moon with the evening and have promised to talk about more music. Ticket sales this year are well up on previous festivals, which hopefully indicates that live music is on the up. Before the festival, when we discussed it with the pub, being a new venture they were not really sure if we could deliver a crowd. By the end of the night, they were thrilled to bits.
We finally got away at 12.15, although the music finished at around 10.30. Musicians like a beer and a chat with friends before they go home. Al Warner is one of the nicest guys in rock and roll. He's also a superb guitarist. We have a night off tomorrow. Mondays is not a great night for gigs, no one comes, so we've learned that if we have a night off, it helps us pace ourselves and keep fresh.
Rather interestingly, when I arrived home I found a "fight the CPZ" leaflet on the other car. They are clearly ramping their campaign up. But as I'm not blogging about politics, I'm not going to discuss it here.
All in all a great start to the festival. Watch this space for piccies & vid clips tomorrow. And buy those tickets, they are selling out fast !
As if that wasn't enough, I spent the afternoon at St Vincents School DJ'ing at the school fete. For Al Warner, I was sound guy. I had to pick up the PA, and be the gofer for the night. The pub looked after us very well and fed us and gave us a beer. Twenty years ago that was pretty standard, doesn't happen quite so often these days. They were over the moon with the evening and have promised to talk about more music. Ticket sales this year are well up on previous festivals, which hopefully indicates that live music is on the up. Before the festival, when we discussed it with the pub, being a new venture they were not really sure if we could deliver a crowd. By the end of the night, they were thrilled to bits.
We finally got away at 12.15, although the music finished at around 10.30. Musicians like a beer and a chat with friends before they go home. Al Warner is one of the nicest guys in rock and roll. He's also a superb guitarist. We have a night off tomorrow. Mondays is not a great night for gigs, no one comes, so we've learned that if we have a night off, it helps us pace ourselves and keep fresh.
Rather interestingly, when I arrived home I found a "fight the CPZ" leaflet on the other car. They are clearly ramping their campaign up. But as I'm not blogging about politics, I'm not going to discuss it here.
All in all a great start to the festival. Watch this space for piccies & vid clips tomorrow. And buy those tickets, they are selling out fast !
Monday, 13 December 2010
Join us on Tuesday Evening at Hendon Town Hall and the Claddagh Ring
Please come down to Hendon Town Hall on Tuesday 14th December at 6pm. There is a mass lobby of the Council. This is being organised by the NUS & Barnet UNISON. At 7pm everyone is adjourning to the Claddagh Ring for an evening of great music. Alan Warner from the Foundations is playing, along with an up and coming band from Edgware, The Hamptons, my own band The False Dots will be backing up and coming sensation Connie A and we've a guest acoustic performance from Radfax Shaun, who is an organiser of the peace camp and the white flag protest. Barnet Unison have laid on a free buffet. The whole event is free and you'll be able to sign the petition to Save Barnet's Libraries, whilst you listen to great music and eat some nice food.
The whole event will be live streamed across the world by www.gotseen.tv so come down and wave to your relatives around the world. Tell all of your friends to tune in and see how we do things in Barnet. The evening is the launch of a whole series of events to show that the ordinary people of Barnet believe that Education, Public Services and fairness are more important than trimming the tax bills of the rich. We are spreading the message that good humoured, peaceful and well organised public protests are the way to make you voice get heard. We are aiming to bring the whole community together to show that wanton destruction of the best things in Barnet is not the way forward. Cut waste, cut top heavy management structures, cut expensive consultants bills, but leave front line services and education alone.
Here's a preview of Connie with the False Dots
The whole event will be live streamed across the world by www.gotseen.tv so come down and wave to your relatives around the world. Tell all of your friends to tune in and see how we do things in Barnet. The evening is the launch of a whole series of events to show that the ordinary people of Barnet believe that Education, Public Services and fairness are more important than trimming the tax bills of the rich. We are spreading the message that good humoured, peaceful and well organised public protests are the way to make you voice get heard. We are aiming to bring the whole community together to show that wanton destruction of the best things in Barnet is not the way forward. Cut waste, cut top heavy management structures, cut expensive consultants bills, but leave front line services and education alone.
Here's a preview of Connie with the False Dots
Monday, 10 May 2010
Doing anything this Friday ?
I've organised a gig for The MacMillan appeal and The Teenage Cancer Trust this Friday. Headliners are The Alan Warner Band. Alan was guitarist with the Foundations and plays 60-70's Hits We've also got Na Fianna (Irish band). My band "The False Dots" open the show. Doors at 8pm/bar till midnight.
Mill Hill Sports Club, Grahame Park Way Friday 14th May,Tickets £8 (bands start at 8.30pm)
The gig has been organised in memory of Heather Scott who was the childrens welfare officer at St Vincents School. She was diagnosed with lung cancer earlier in the year and sadly passed away just before Easter.
It will be a great night, there will be some excellent music and we'll raise a hatful of money for some very good causes. You can even say hello to one of Mill Hill's most famous bloggers.
EMAIL BY CLICKING HERE FOR MORE DETAILS
Mill Hill Sports Club, Grahame Park Way Friday 14th May,Tickets £8 (bands start at 8.30pm)
The gig has been organised in memory of Heather Scott who was the childrens welfare officer at St Vincents School. She was diagnosed with lung cancer earlier in the year and sadly passed away just before Easter.
It will be a great night, there will be some excellent music and we'll raise a hatful of money for some very good causes. You can even say hello to one of Mill Hill's most famous bloggers.
EMAIL BY CLICKING HERE FOR MORE DETAILS
Thursday, 18 February 2010
Barnet Council War Graves snub - Guardian Exposes Easycouncil Link
Following my blog on Tuesday about Barnet Council shamefully snubbing our local war heroes, The Guardian contacted me to find out more. I am pleased to say that they have done some more investigation and today have today reported the issue as part of a wider report into the whole Easycouncil farce - http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/feb/18/barnet-easycouncil-privatise-planning - a report every Barnet resident should read.
The issue is quite simple. If you serve in the armed forces and you come from Barnet, you should be added to the local war memorial, if you are killed. Full Stop. The concept of a cut price, dodgy memorial, tucked away miles from most of the population is quite frankly insulting. I can think of nothing more inspiring for our youngsters than a public unveiling of the addition of names on OUR LOCAL HIGHSTREET MEMORIAL. Anything less is an insult. If Councillor Lynne Hillan, Mayor Brian Coleman and their dodgy colleagues cannot see this, they are not fit to run the Borough. I can see this, you can see this and the Guardian can see this. Seems like the only people who can't are Barnet Council.
Shame on them.
The issue is quite simple. If you serve in the armed forces and you come from Barnet, you should be added to the local war memorial, if you are killed. Full Stop. The concept of a cut price, dodgy memorial, tucked away miles from most of the population is quite frankly insulting. I can think of nothing more inspiring for our youngsters than a public unveiling of the addition of names on OUR LOCAL HIGHSTREET MEMORIAL. Anything less is an insult. If Councillor Lynne Hillan, Mayor Brian Coleman and their dodgy colleagues cannot see this, they are not fit to run the Borough. I can see this, you can see this and the Guardian can see this. Seems like the only people who can't are Barnet Council.
Shame on them.
Saturday, 14 November 2009
What did you do last night?
I had a hoot last night. John Burgess, the inspirational union convenor for Barnet Unison asked me to help him organise a gig to promote community cohesion and anti racism. Last night was the big night. We had three bands, my band - The False Dots, London's finest Irish Band Seanachie Og and Timeline, featuring Alan Warner from the Foundations and DJ Jack Funk.
There's nothing I love more than playing my guitar to an appreciative audience. The three bands had the audience dancing and singing along from about 8.30 when we took the stage to the very end at about 2am. So how do you fight racism and beat the BNP by having a gig? Well, for a start we didn't have any impassioned speeches, we just had a party where everyone got along. We had all shapes, sizes, colours and ages and everyone had a great evening. We deliberately chose three rather diverse bands. My band are a punky rock band playing original numbers. Our line up last night reflected the diverse nature of our great city. Me half Aussie and half Irish, Fil from Portugal, Rhomi from Slovenia and Adi who is a through and through Londoner. It's very hard to spout racism and xenophobia if you look at the way music has enhanced life in our city. If you took away all of the external musical influences which immigrants have brought, you'd be left with a few people Morris Dancing around a maypole (not that there's anything wrong with that). The Stones and the Beatles were criticised in the early days for playing "black mans music".
To me, music is the strongest cohesive force of all. That's why we sing hymns at church, play music when we get married, play music when we die, go out dancing, when we have a nice dinner with the person we love. When I started the False Dots in 1979, I could hardly play the guitar. It didn't matter then as it was the tail end of Punk Rock. Rather perversely, we never set out to be the "next Beatles or Rolling Stones". We wanted to be a strongly local band playing for the community. Over the years, we've done gigs for CND, Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth, MacMillan Cancer relief, The Teenage Cancer Trust, Save Edgware Hospital campaign, Barnet Unison, The Jade Wallace Appeal and The Burnt Oak Labour party. Last night, someone asked me why we've "never made it" as they thought we were quite a good band. Truth is, it was never a priority for me. Although we toured around Europe a bit in the early 1980's, which was an absolute hoot, I never wanted anyone to tell me what shoes to wear or what songs to sing. Through my studios we've helped launch the careers of a few top artists, who started there career's rehearsing at our place. I'm proud that Amy Winehouse and Kate Nash, two Brit awards winners got record deals whilst using our studio. In some small we we've changed the world.
I love playing gigs for the community. I love seeing 80 year olds dancing with 18 year olds (as happened last night). I believe in the idiom "Think globally, act locally". I can't change the world, but just possibly I can make my little patch of it a bit better. If we all did this, it would be a much better place. I was talking to a friend who's a campaigner for third world trade fairness. She said to me that the best thing everyone could do is follow the 5% rule. You may ask what is this. Well it's not practical to buy fairtrade everything, but if everyone just bought 5% of their shopping basket in fairtrade items, that would make a huge difference to the lives of tens of millions of people.
In the early 1990's I organised a benefit gig for a long forgotten local cause. I happened to bump into a rather obnoxious former Mill Hill Conservative Councillor and asked him (rather politely, as I believe in cross party support for local campaigns). He sneered at me "Your one of those idiots who thinks that you can change the world by organising pop concerts". Well we won that battle and he lost his seat in 1994 to a Lib Dem who supported the campaign.
There's nothing I love more than playing my guitar to an appreciative audience. The three bands had the audience dancing and singing along from about 8.30 when we took the stage to the very end at about 2am. So how do you fight racism and beat the BNP by having a gig? Well, for a start we didn't have any impassioned speeches, we just had a party where everyone got along. We had all shapes, sizes, colours and ages and everyone had a great evening. We deliberately chose three rather diverse bands. My band are a punky rock band playing original numbers. Our line up last night reflected the diverse nature of our great city. Me half Aussie and half Irish, Fil from Portugal, Rhomi from Slovenia and Adi who is a through and through Londoner. It's very hard to spout racism and xenophobia if you look at the way music has enhanced life in our city. If you took away all of the external musical influences which immigrants have brought, you'd be left with a few people Morris Dancing around a maypole (not that there's anything wrong with that). The Stones and the Beatles were criticised in the early days for playing "black mans music".
To me, music is the strongest cohesive force of all. That's why we sing hymns at church, play music when we get married, play music when we die, go out dancing, when we have a nice dinner with the person we love. When I started the False Dots in 1979, I could hardly play the guitar. It didn't matter then as it was the tail end of Punk Rock. Rather perversely, we never set out to be the "next Beatles or Rolling Stones". We wanted to be a strongly local band playing for the community. Over the years, we've done gigs for CND, Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth, MacMillan Cancer relief, The Teenage Cancer Trust, Save Edgware Hospital campaign, Barnet Unison, The Jade Wallace Appeal and The Burnt Oak Labour party. Last night, someone asked me why we've "never made it" as they thought we were quite a good band. Truth is, it was never a priority for me. Although we toured around Europe a bit in the early 1980's, which was an absolute hoot, I never wanted anyone to tell me what shoes to wear or what songs to sing. Through my studios we've helped launch the careers of a few top artists, who started there career's rehearsing at our place. I'm proud that Amy Winehouse and Kate Nash, two Brit awards winners got record deals whilst using our studio. In some small we we've changed the world.
I love playing gigs for the community. I love seeing 80 year olds dancing with 18 year olds (as happened last night). I believe in the idiom "Think globally, act locally". I can't change the world, but just possibly I can make my little patch of it a bit better. If we all did this, it would be a much better place. I was talking to a friend who's a campaigner for third world trade fairness. She said to me that the best thing everyone could do is follow the 5% rule. You may ask what is this. Well it's not practical to buy fairtrade everything, but if everyone just bought 5% of their shopping basket in fairtrade items, that would make a huge difference to the lives of tens of millions of people.
In the early 1990's I organised a benefit gig for a long forgotten local cause. I happened to bump into a rather obnoxious former Mill Hill Conservative Councillor and asked him (rather politely, as I believe in cross party support for local campaigns). He sneered at me "Your one of those idiots who thinks that you can change the world by organising pop concerts". Well we won that battle and he lost his seat in 1994 to a Lib Dem who supported the campaign.
Tuesday, 23 June 2009
Mill Hill Music Festival - Dear Diary Day 3
A day off from the festival of sorts. No sound systems tonight & my beloved was doing a gig in Elstree with the BBC Elstree Concert Band. That went well but it meant I was babysitting. She got home at 10.30, so I shot up to the Angel & Crown to see the end of Alan Warner's show. I've known Al for 30 years. He's a great guitarist - he made his name in the 1960's with the Foundations and like me he still loves playing. He told me he's a great grandad now !
My band, the False Dots recorded our first demo at his studio, as did other local luminaries "The Polecats". They released theirs on Nervous records - "Rockabilly Guy". This got them signed to Mercury records. Funnily enough, I always wanted to get signed by Mercury as "Mercury Blues" by the Steve Miller bands was one of my favourite numbers.
Anyway, their set (what I caught of it) went from George Formby's "When I'm Cleaning Windows" to "Sweet Home Alabama". As ever with Al, it was a great show. Bought him a beer after and had a chit-chat. Three days in & the festival is going great.
Bizarrely in the car home, the news on the radio was that Mike Freer had brought down Boris Johnson's deputy Mayor Ian Clement. It seems Clement claimed for lunch with Freer and Freer said he'd not been there - he'd been at a funeral in Inverness ??? I'd say that it is good to hear that Mike Freer is refusing to collude if some fiddling of expenses has gone on. I'm steering clear of these issues this week, but it seems such a strange story that I had to comment. I believe these two attended the same BT Vital Vison junket in the USA at our expense. Seems a bit odd that Clement used Freer's name like this as these courses were meant to build social networks??? With mates like that ......
Anyway Tomorrow - Tuesday - we've got the Klezmer show at Mill Hill East Church with Stewart Curtis.
Also a quick reminder that if you want to say hello, come down to see my band, The False Dots, at the Mill Hill Sports Club on Friday Night.
Saturday, 20 June 2009
The Mill Hill Music Festival
For the next week, this blog will be exclusively given over to being my diary of the Mill Hill Music Festival. I am one of the organisers of the the Festival and for the next week I'll be busy every single day, rigging up sound systems, puttin up gazebos & carrying drinks and glasses in and out of venues. If any of you want to see me in action playing, I'm appearin with my band the False Dots on Friday 26th at The Mill Hill Sports Club on Graham Park Way. The Tigers of Rushmore will be supporting us. Please come down and say hello.
The full programme is here :- http://www.millhillmusicfest.co.uk/programme.htm
I won't be covering the usual topics at all as I need to focus on the festival. Normal service will be resumed on Monday week. If you want to know how to run a festival keep reading, if you've no interest in the festival, come back on Monday week !
Here's the program for the week
SATURDAYDAY 20 JUNE
8.00pm
ALLAN GANLEY JAZZ LEGACY
with special guest Elaine Delmar
Quench Cafe, Salcombe Gardens, Mill Hill, London, NW7 2NT
Opening this year’s Festival is the seventeen-piece all-star big band directed by Andy Panayi with international star vocalist, Elaine Delmar. The band will present an evening of the late Allan Ganley’s arrangements and compositions to celebrate his immense talent. Allan, a musician for all seasons, performed as a drummer at the Festival a number of times, including concerts with American jazzmen Harry Allen and Warren Vaché, as well as at our own Mill Hill Jazz Club. He was a long-time associate of Sir John Dankworth, playing in his first big band and latterly in the Dankworth Quintet, often with Cleo Laine, until his untimely death last year. Allan won the British Jazz Awards on many occasions and pianists and singers alike appreciated his talent as an accompanist, including local singer Elaine for whom he wrote a number of arrangements and played on many of her recordings. A newly recorded album, June Time, by the band will be available, and the profits from the sales will go to the Allan Ganley Bursary Fund to sponsor a different under-privileged young musician to attend The National Youth Music Camp each year. Certain to be a sensational evening for lovers of quality music played and sung by the best.
Trumpets: Henry Lowther, Martin Shaw, Tony Fisher, Derek Watkins(tbc)
Trombones: Mark Nightingale, Gordon Campbell, Cliff Hardie, Bill Geldard
Saxes: Andy Mackintosh, Julian Siegal, Vic Ash, Alan Barnes, Roy Willcox
Piano: John Pearce
Bass: Malcolm Creese
Drums: Ian Thomas
Vocals: Elaine Delmar
MD: Andy Panayi
Tickets: £20. Cash bar. Doors open at 7.30pm.
TICKETS FOR ALLAN GANLEY CAN BE PURCHASED ON THE DOOR ONLY.
for more information call Daniel on 07946 640 799
SUNDAY 21 JUNE
12.00pm-3.00pm
FATHER’S DAY JAZZ LUNCH AT THE THREE HAMMERS
The Three Hammers Pub, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, NW7 4EA
Come and join us for a spot of lunch as The Three Hammers plays host to the Ian Brameld Dixieland Jazz Band. Playing from a repertoire of unforgettable classics, the Dixieland Jazz Band recreates the golden age of jazz bringing a little Mardi Gras to Mill Hill. Get in early for lunch!
Food served. Free entry.
SUNDAY 21 JUNE
3.00pm
PIANO RECITAL Maiko Mori
The Chapel, Belmont School, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, NW7 4ED
Some of you may remember Maiko Mori’s wonderful Festival performance in 2005, so it is a great pleasure to welcome her back this year. Maiko began her piano and composition studies at the age of five at the Yamaha School with Reiko Amai. Maiko was announced as the first prize winner in the 23rd Robert William and Florence Amy Brant International Piano Competition in England in 2002. She made her orchestral debut in the UK with the RCM Symphony Orchestra conducted by Vasily Petrenko and quickly went on to debut internationally with the Bombay Chamber Orchestra in Mumbai, India. Maiko will play pieces from Bach, Beethoven, Chopin and Liszt.
Tickets: £10 (£8) including a glass of wine/soft drink.
Full/Concession
SUNDAY 21 JUNE
6.30pm
CHORAL EVENSONG AT ST PAUL’S
PLUS THE LONDON SINGLE REEDS
St Paul’s Church, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, NW7 1QU
The recently renovated church of St Paul’s is tonight’s venue for a delightful Evensong, featuring the renowned O for the wings of a dove from Mendelssohn’s choral masterpiece, Hear my prayer and other choral favourites. After some light refreshments, you are invited to stay on to listen to the London Single Reeds who charmed audiences with their woodwind arrangements at the last Festival. The programme will consist of short pieces ranging from classical to jazz. The group likes to interact with the audience and will introduce the various pieces and give brief demonstrations of the individual instruments.
Free Entry
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
From 8.00pm. The band recently sold out at Mill Hill Jazz Club as a Saturday night special. Bringing us the very best of 50’s and 60’s rock & roll and some rhythm & blues it’s time to party in the garden, and these stalwarts of rock really know how to party! The band features 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.
MONDAY 22 JUNE
7.30pm
A PASSION FOR OPERA
The Large, Mill Hill School, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, NW7 1QS
It has become somewhat of a tradition to have opera as part of the Music Festival programme. This year we are very excited to present this extremely talented quartet of up-and-coming professional singers. Whether you shiver to the low snarl of the baritone, swoon to the arching high notes of the tenor, thrill to unrestrained mezzo madness, or melt at the sweet sound of the sighing soprano, there is something here for everyone to enjoy. Centred around the unmatched operatic music of Verdi, with its unmistakeable melodies and high drama, the evening will be presented by mezzo-soprano Katherine Marriott (pictured). Katherine recently sang Ulrica (Un ballo in maschera) at Guildford Opera. Three more glorious voices join her to make this an evening of opera not to miss.
Tickets: £10. Cash Bar.
MONDAY 22 JUNE
from 8.30pm
'LATER' AT THE ANGEL AND CROWN
THE WARNER MANDELL BAND
Angel & Crown Pub, Bittacy Hill, Mill Hill, NW7 1BJ
From 8.30pm. An evening of good ol’ fashioned yee-ha at this newly refurbished public house! Our great band has two of our favourite front men, in the shape of Alan Warner (The Foundations) and Derek Mandell (The 60’s All Stars). It’s gonna be some down-home, bottleneck, rockin’, Southern fried country blues! So our hosts will be complementing the style of music with a special all American BBQ menu.
Free Entry
TUESDAY 23 JUNE
from 7.45pm
STEWART CURTIS’ K-GROOVE
Quench Cafe, Salcombe Gardens, Mill Hill, NW7 2NT
Winners of the 2007 Jewish Chronicle’s Klezmer Idol, Stewart Curtis’ K-Groove brings us an evening of jazz and Klezmer with Latin undertones. The band features Stewart Curtis - saxes, clarinet, flute, piccolo; Paul Jayasinha - trumpet, flugelhorn and percussion; Rob Terry - keyboard; Brad Lang - bass; Hans Ferrao - drums. Stewart and the band have worked with a variety of stars including Nina Simone, Whitney Houston and Michael Ball. K-Groove is firmly established as one of the UK’s finest and most infectious Klezmer crossover bands.
Tickets: £10. Cash bar.
WEDNESDAY 24 JUNE
8.30pm
'LATER' AT THE MILL HILL SPORTS CLUB
HERE COME THE GIRLS
Mill Hill Sports Club, Grahame Park Way, NW7 2AL
From 8.30pm. Wednesday night’s Mill Hill Jazz Club brings us Here Come The Girls. The band is made up of some of the finest professional musicians on the circuit, so you can guarantee that this will be a fantastic night of musical entertainment with a mix of classic swing jazz standards combined with some soulful arrangements. Hilary Cameron on piano and vocals (has worked with The Steve Taylor Big Band); Clare Hirst on saxophone (David Bowie, The Communards, Mica Paris, Maxi Priest, The Bellestars); Julie Walkington on bass (Gillad Atzmon, Anita Wardell, Jim Mullen, Claire Martin) and Michele Drees on percussion and vocals (Marc Almond, Seal, KD Lang, Kirsty MacColl, Susanne Vega). The ladies will be joined by some special guests throughout the evening.
Tickets: £5 Jazz Club Members (£8 Non-Members) on the door only at Mill Hill Jazz Club
Over 18s Only. Cash bar. Seating limited.
THURSDAY 25 JUNE
7.30pm
THE HUMPHREY LYTTELTON BAND
WITH BRIAN PERKINS
The Large, Mill Hill School, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, NW7 1QS
The concert will celebrate the man and his music. It will be performed by his last regular band with a special guest trumpet player, Tony Fisher. 'Humph' was a patron of the Mill Hill Music Festival and this evening’s performance is the Festival’s way of remembering his support with affection. A wonderful evening of jazz from one of the foremost British jazz bands will feature the music associated with Humph during his years as a leader and include many of his favourites. It will be compered, complete with anecdotes in true Lyttelton tradition, by the well known newsreader and broadcaster Brian Perkins. The band comprises Jimmy Hastings and Robert Fowler, reeds; Ray Wordsworth, trombone; Ted Beament, piano; John Rees Jones, bass; and Adrian MacIntosh, drums.
Tickets: £20. Cash bar.
FRIDAY 26 JUNE
7.30pm
VIVA VARIETY
Quench Cafe, Salcombe Gardens,Mill Hill, NW7 2EJ
The Sue Nieto Theatre School presents an evening of song, dance and drama, performed by students and ex-students of the school. Everything from musical theatre to hip-hop will provide an entertaining evening for all ages. The students have performed at the Royal Albert Hall, Her Majesty’s and, in November 2008, at a star-studded charity show for Breakthough at the Savoy Theatre in the West-End. In October 2006 the senior troupe won the “Producer’s Prize” in a prestigious dance competition at Sadlers Wells.
Tickets: £6. Cash Bar.
FRIDAY 26 JUNE
from 8.30pm
'LATER' AT THE MILL HILL SPORTS CLUB
Mill Hill Sports Club, Grahame Park Way, NW7 2AL
From 8.00pm. The False Dots host our indie and rock night (featuring Roger Tichborne, one of the Festival’s organisers, on guitar). We will also have some great rock sounds from The Tigers of Rushmore featuring the superb Lauren Barry on vocals. With special guests joining the bands its sure to be another great evening of live music.
Tickets: £5 (£6 on the door) Over 18s only.
Mill Hill Music Complex is kindly sponsoring this evening’s events.
SATURDAY 27 JUNE
Doors open 6.00pm, music from 7.00pm
PARTY NIGHT
featuring THE BIZZARROS
Mill Hill Sports Club, Grahame Park Way, NW7 2AL
Doors open 6.00pm, music from 7.00pm. The evening is kicked off by the fantastic 5-piece band, Recollection, with another of our Festival organisers, Gerry Keane, on guitar. The band play material from several eras and cover different styles of rock and pop. Our main act of the evening is The Bizzarros, a fantastic 10-piece kicking soul - rhythm & blues - rock band who always get the joint jumpin’. Members of the band have played with: Fleetwood Mac, Aretha Franklin, Jools Holland, Paul Kossoff, and Talk Talk?to name but a few! The electrifying, young front man on vocals is aspiring actor Dan Rosen. Also in the band is world champion blues harp player, Jim Darby, sax man Tony Ardin from Bad Manners and lead guitarist Dave Howman who wrote and produced musically for Showaddywaddy and Monty Python. You’ll be caught up with the infectious power of this hard hitting, brassy little big band from the first note. “Imagine Santana meets Jools Holland...a band that brings the roof down and a must see...” - The Gig Guide January 2008.
Tickets: £6 (£8 on the door). Over 18s only. Cash Bar.
SATURDAY 27 JUNE
7.45pm
FESTIVAL CLOSING CONCERT
The WALLACE ENSEMBLE
St. Michael & All Angels Church, Flower Lane, Mill Hill, NW7 2JA
A programme of favourite classics for string orchestra, alongside Pergolesi’s much-loved work, Stabat Mater, the evocative eighteenth-century masterpiece for orchestra and soprano/mezzo-soprano soloists. Performed by The Wallace Ensemble, a young, professional chamber orchestra comprising former Trinity College of Music students, conducted by Benjamin Wolf. The programme includes the Minuet from Boccherini’s quintet, Mozart’s engaging divertimento in D-major, Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No.3, as well as Samuel Barber’s hypnotic Adagio. The Wallace Ensemble has performed at many of London’s principal concert venues, including the Queen Elizabeth Hall, Purcell Room, St John’s, Smith Square, St James’ Church, Piccadilly, and locally at the Arts Depot in Finchley. Do join us for this now traditional night of sumptuous music and sparkling wine that brings the Festival to its formal close.
Tickets: £12 including a glass of sparkling wine.
The full programme is here :- http://www.millhillmusicfest.co.uk/programme.htm
I won't be covering the usual topics at all as I need to focus on the festival. Normal service will be resumed on Monday week. If you want to know how to run a festival keep reading, if you've no interest in the festival, come back on Monday week !
Here's the program for the week
SATURDAYDAY 20 JUNE
8.00pm
ALLAN GANLEY JAZZ LEGACY
with special guest Elaine Delmar
Quench Cafe, Salcombe Gardens, Mill Hill, London, NW7 2NT
Opening this year’s Festival is the seventeen-piece all-star big band directed by Andy Panayi with international star vocalist, Elaine Delmar. The band will present an evening of the late Allan Ganley’s arrangements and compositions to celebrate his immense talent. Allan, a musician for all seasons, performed as a drummer at the Festival a number of times, including concerts with American jazzmen Harry Allen and Warren Vaché, as well as at our own Mill Hill Jazz Club. He was a long-time associate of Sir John Dankworth, playing in his first big band and latterly in the Dankworth Quintet, often with Cleo Laine, until his untimely death last year. Allan won the British Jazz Awards on many occasions and pianists and singers alike appreciated his talent as an accompanist, including local singer Elaine for whom he wrote a number of arrangements and played on many of her recordings. A newly recorded album, June Time, by the band will be available, and the profits from the sales will go to the Allan Ganley Bursary Fund to sponsor a different under-privileged young musician to attend The National Youth Music Camp each year. Certain to be a sensational evening for lovers of quality music played and sung by the best.
Trumpets: Henry Lowther, Martin Shaw, Tony Fisher, Derek Watkins(tbc)
Trombones: Mark Nightingale, Gordon Campbell, Cliff Hardie, Bill Geldard
Saxes: Andy Mackintosh, Julian Siegal, Vic Ash, Alan Barnes, Roy Willcox
Piano: John Pearce
Bass: Malcolm Creese
Drums: Ian Thomas
Vocals: Elaine Delmar
MD: Andy Panayi
Tickets: £20. Cash bar. Doors open at 7.30pm.
TICKETS FOR ALLAN GANLEY CAN BE PURCHASED ON THE DOOR ONLY.
for more information call Daniel on 07946 640 799
SUNDAY 21 JUNE
12.00pm-3.00pm
FATHER’S DAY JAZZ LUNCH AT THE THREE HAMMERS
The Three Hammers Pub, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, NW7 4EA
Come and join us for a spot of lunch as The Three Hammers plays host to the Ian Brameld Dixieland Jazz Band. Playing from a repertoire of unforgettable classics, the Dixieland Jazz Band recreates the golden age of jazz bringing a little Mardi Gras to Mill Hill. Get in early for lunch!
Food served. Free entry.
SUNDAY 21 JUNE
3.00pm
PIANO RECITAL Maiko Mori
The Chapel, Belmont School, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, NW7 4ED
Some of you may remember Maiko Mori’s wonderful Festival performance in 2005, so it is a great pleasure to welcome her back this year. Maiko began her piano and composition studies at the age of five at the Yamaha School with Reiko Amai. Maiko was announced as the first prize winner in the 23rd Robert William and Florence Amy Brant International Piano Competition in England in 2002. She made her orchestral debut in the UK with the RCM Symphony Orchestra conducted by Vasily Petrenko and quickly went on to debut internationally with the Bombay Chamber Orchestra in Mumbai, India. Maiko will play pieces from Bach, Beethoven, Chopin and Liszt.
Tickets: £10 (£8) including a glass of wine/soft drink.
Full/Concession
SUNDAY 21 JUNE
6.30pm
CHORAL EVENSONG AT ST PAUL’S
PLUS THE LONDON SINGLE REEDS
St Paul’s Church, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, NW7 1QU
The recently renovated church of St Paul’s is tonight’s venue for a delightful Evensong, featuring the renowned O for the wings of a dove from Mendelssohn’s choral masterpiece, Hear my prayer and other choral favourites. After some light refreshments, you are invited to stay on to listen to the London Single Reeds who charmed audiences with their woodwind arrangements at the last Festival. The programme will consist of short pieces ranging from classical to jazz. The group likes to interact with the audience and will introduce the various pieces and give brief demonstrations of the individual instruments.
Free Entry
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
From 8.00pm. The band recently sold out at Mill Hill Jazz Club as a Saturday night special. Bringing us the very best of 50’s and 60’s rock & roll and some rhythm & blues it’s time to party in the garden, and these stalwarts of rock really know how to party! The band features 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.
MONDAY 22 JUNE
7.30pm
A PASSION FOR OPERA
The Large, Mill Hill School, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, NW7 1QS
It has become somewhat of a tradition to have opera as part of the Music Festival programme. This year we are very excited to present this extremely talented quartet of up-and-coming professional singers. Whether you shiver to the low snarl of the baritone, swoon to the arching high notes of the tenor, thrill to unrestrained mezzo madness, or melt at the sweet sound of the sighing soprano, there is something here for everyone to enjoy. Centred around the unmatched operatic music of Verdi, with its unmistakeable melodies and high drama, the evening will be presented by mezzo-soprano Katherine Marriott (pictured). Katherine recently sang Ulrica (Un ballo in maschera) at Guildford Opera. Three more glorious voices join her to make this an evening of opera not to miss.
Tickets: £10. Cash Bar.
MONDAY 22 JUNE
from 8.30pm
'LATER' AT THE ANGEL AND CROWN
THE WARNER MANDELL BAND
Angel & Crown Pub, Bittacy Hill, Mill Hill, NW7 1BJ
From 8.30pm. An evening of good ol’ fashioned yee-ha at this newly refurbished public house! Our great band has two of our favourite front men, in the shape of Alan Warner (The Foundations) and Derek Mandell (The 60’s All Stars). It’s gonna be some down-home, bottleneck, rockin’, Southern fried country blues! So our hosts will be complementing the style of music with a special all American BBQ menu.
Free Entry
TUESDAY 23 JUNE
from 7.45pm
STEWART CURTIS’ K-GROOVE
Quench Cafe, Salcombe Gardens, Mill Hill, NW7 2NT
Winners of the 2007 Jewish Chronicle’s Klezmer Idol, Stewart Curtis’ K-Groove brings us an evening of jazz and Klezmer with Latin undertones. The band features Stewart Curtis - saxes, clarinet, flute, piccolo; Paul Jayasinha - trumpet, flugelhorn and percussion; Rob Terry - keyboard; Brad Lang - bass; Hans Ferrao - drums. Stewart and the band have worked with a variety of stars including Nina Simone, Whitney Houston and Michael Ball. K-Groove is firmly established as one of the UK’s finest and most infectious Klezmer crossover bands.
Tickets: £10. Cash bar.
WEDNESDAY 24 JUNE
8.30pm
'LATER' AT THE MILL HILL SPORTS CLUB
HERE COME THE GIRLS
Mill Hill Sports Club, Grahame Park Way, NW7 2AL
From 8.30pm. Wednesday night’s Mill Hill Jazz Club brings us Here Come The Girls. The band is made up of some of the finest professional musicians on the circuit, so you can guarantee that this will be a fantastic night of musical entertainment with a mix of classic swing jazz standards combined with some soulful arrangements. Hilary Cameron on piano and vocals (has worked with The Steve Taylor Big Band); Clare Hirst on saxophone (David Bowie, The Communards, Mica Paris, Maxi Priest, The Bellestars); Julie Walkington on bass (Gillad Atzmon, Anita Wardell, Jim Mullen, Claire Martin) and Michele Drees on percussion and vocals (Marc Almond, Seal, KD Lang, Kirsty MacColl, Susanne Vega). The ladies will be joined by some special guests throughout the evening.
Tickets: £5 Jazz Club Members (£8 Non-Members) on the door only at Mill Hill Jazz Club
Over 18s Only. Cash bar. Seating limited.
THURSDAY 25 JUNE
7.30pm
THE HUMPHREY LYTTELTON BAND
WITH BRIAN PERKINS
The Large, Mill Hill School, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, NW7 1QS
The concert will celebrate the man and his music. It will be performed by his last regular band with a special guest trumpet player, Tony Fisher. 'Humph' was a patron of the Mill Hill Music Festival and this evening’s performance is the Festival’s way of remembering his support with affection. A wonderful evening of jazz from one of the foremost British jazz bands will feature the music associated with Humph during his years as a leader and include many of his favourites. It will be compered, complete with anecdotes in true Lyttelton tradition, by the well known newsreader and broadcaster Brian Perkins. The band comprises Jimmy Hastings and Robert Fowler, reeds; Ray Wordsworth, trombone; Ted Beament, piano; John Rees Jones, bass; and Adrian MacIntosh, drums.
Tickets: £20. Cash bar.
FRIDAY 26 JUNE
7.30pm
VIVA VARIETY
Quench Cafe, Salcombe Gardens,Mill Hill, NW7 2EJ
The Sue Nieto Theatre School presents an evening of song, dance and drama, performed by students and ex-students of the school. Everything from musical theatre to hip-hop will provide an entertaining evening for all ages. The students have performed at the Royal Albert Hall, Her Majesty’s and, in November 2008, at a star-studded charity show for Breakthough at the Savoy Theatre in the West-End. In October 2006 the senior troupe won the “Producer’s Prize” in a prestigious dance competition at Sadlers Wells.
Tickets: £6. Cash Bar.
FRIDAY 26 JUNE
from 8.30pm
'LATER' AT THE MILL HILL SPORTS CLUB
Mill Hill Sports Club, Grahame Park Way, NW7 2AL
From 8.00pm. The False Dots host our indie and rock night (featuring Roger Tichborne, one of the Festival’s organisers, on guitar). We will also have some great rock sounds from The Tigers of Rushmore featuring the superb Lauren Barry on vocals. With special guests joining the bands its sure to be another great evening of live music.
Tickets: £5 (£6 on the door) Over 18s only.
Mill Hill Music Complex is kindly sponsoring this evening’s events.
SATURDAY 27 JUNE
Doors open 6.00pm, music from 7.00pm
PARTY NIGHT
featuring THE BIZZARROS
Mill Hill Sports Club, Grahame Park Way, NW7 2AL
Doors open 6.00pm, music from 7.00pm. The evening is kicked off by the fantastic 5-piece band, Recollection, with another of our Festival organisers, Gerry Keane, on guitar. The band play material from several eras and cover different styles of rock and pop. Our main act of the evening is The Bizzarros, a fantastic 10-piece kicking soul - rhythm & blues - rock band who always get the joint jumpin’. Members of the band have played with: Fleetwood Mac, Aretha Franklin, Jools Holland, Paul Kossoff, and Talk Talk?to name but a few! The electrifying, young front man on vocals is aspiring actor Dan Rosen. Also in the band is world champion blues harp player, Jim Darby, sax man Tony Ardin from Bad Manners and lead guitarist Dave Howman who wrote and produced musically for Showaddywaddy and Monty Python. You’ll be caught up with the infectious power of this hard hitting, brassy little big band from the first note. “Imagine Santana meets Jools Holland...a band that brings the roof down and a must see...” - The Gig Guide January 2008.
Tickets: £6 (£8 on the door). Over 18s only. Cash Bar.
SATURDAY 27 JUNE
7.45pm
FESTIVAL CLOSING CONCERT
The WALLACE ENSEMBLE
St. Michael & All Angels Church, Flower Lane, Mill Hill, NW7 2JA
A programme of favourite classics for string orchestra, alongside Pergolesi’s much-loved work, Stabat Mater, the evocative eighteenth-century masterpiece for orchestra and soprano/mezzo-soprano soloists. Performed by The Wallace Ensemble, a young, professional chamber orchestra comprising former Trinity College of Music students, conducted by Benjamin Wolf. The programme includes the Minuet from Boccherini’s quintet, Mozart’s engaging divertimento in D-major, Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No.3, as well as Samuel Barber’s hypnotic Adagio. The Wallace Ensemble has performed at many of London’s principal concert venues, including the Queen Elizabeth Hall, Purcell Room, St John’s, Smith Square, St James’ Church, Piccadilly, and locally at the Arts Depot in Finchley. Do join us for this now traditional night of sumptuous music and sparkling wine that brings the Festival to its formal close.
Tickets: £12 including a glass of sparkling wine.
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