Friday Fun 11th April 2024

 As ever, in the tradition of Barnet blogs, we start with a joke, this week courtesy of Dad Joke master Robert Wilkinson

In a surprising announcement, Head & Shoulders have decided to discontinue their popular anti-dandruff shampoo line. The decision left many scratching their heads.

— Robert Wilkinson (@robertwlk) April 10, 2025

And on to the local music round up! This week, we see my band, The False Dots hosting a Ska night with Lee Thompson and DJ Rebska at The Builders Arms in Barnet. The pub has been under threat following a massive redevelopment scheme next door. The band and Lee are big fans of the pub, so we thought we'd get together and put on a night, to help them get through the current problems and to introduce a few new customers. If it goes well, we might well do it again. 

We are blessed with a fair few venues in the London Borough of Barnet. This weekly feature is dedicated to them and to get as many people out as we can to watch local gigs. It is very much 'use it or lose it'. Whether it's our gig or any of the others, make sure you get along. 

I was really disappointed with Barnet Council. This week, they released a video promoting Arts in Barnet. There was absolutely nothing about our local music scene. They clearly paid a company a lot money to put this together and they really did no homework at all. When I have a spare moment, I am going to make my own video to do the job properly. This is a scandalous waste of money and shows just how out of touch with the Borough the current administration are.  The video is at the bottom, please have a look and tell me if I am wrong. I was most surprised there was no mention of our amazing local festivals such as The Mill Hill Music Festival and The East Barnet Festival. 

Here is the roundup!

Friday 11th

Moss Hall Jazz Kings (Traditional Jazz, 7 piece) at The Elephant Inn, North Finchley

iles

8pm - 11pm

Denis Cook - Musician, Vocalist and DJ (Musician / DJ, Solo Artist) at The Haven, Whetstone 1.9 miles

8pm - 11pm

The Butchers Arms 9.30pm – midnight Dunk and Disordely (Blues/rock, 5 piece)

The Elephant Inn 8-11pm Moss Hall Jazz Kings (Trad Jazz, 7 piece)

Barrington 8.30-midnight Karaoke with Neil

The Cavalier 7.30pm – 11.30 Karaoke with Iain H

Ye Olde Monken Holt 9pm – midnight DJ Sadie (disco)

The Haven 8pm – 11pm Denis Cook (Musician, Singer and DJ)

Saturday 12th

Sat

Apr

12

Gina Meredith Duo (Covers) at The Three Wishes, Edgware

9pm - 11pm

Butchers Arms 9pm-11.30pm The Beatin' Hearts (Covers)

St James Church 7pm Life & Mission Choir ‘Time for Jesus’ the musical

Ye Olde Monken Holt 9.30pm – midnight James Or (Acoustic Covers)

The Arkley 8pm – 11.30 pm £5 cash on door DJ Doobz (rhythm and beats)

Barrington 8-midnight DJ Costa(afro/UK G Dance)

Sunday 13th

Ye Olde Monken Holt 7pm – 9pm Hannah Harris (Covers)

Butchers 8.30pm – 11.30pm Butchers Arms Jam Electric/Blues/Rock (Full backline available)

The Bohemia 7.30pm – 10pm £10 Gary Baldwin Quartet

Monday 14th

Jan's North London Jam at The Three Wishes, Edgware 4.5 miles

9pm - 11pm

Ye Olde Mitre Inn, High Street 8pm – 11pm (stables room)m Barnet Acoustics Sessions

Tuesday 15th Maddens Bar 8pm Open Mic Jam hosted by Jeff and band

Wednesday 16th Ye Olde Monken Holt 8.30pm – 11pm Open Mic Night

Thursday 17th Ye Olde Monken Holt 8.30pm – 10.30pm Irish Session

Malt & Hops 7.30 Open Mic Night

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Friday Fun 23rd February 2024

 As is the tradition in the Barnet blogs, we have a Friday joke and short list of some of the things you can do this weekend in the London Borough of Barnet. Let's start with the joke. When I was at school, my careers teacher told that the way to impress potential employers was to make sure you go into the interview dressed in a way that will make an impression on the panel and stand out from the crowd. Sadly, when I turned up for an interview at Cricklewood British rail depot for a job as a diesel engineer, the Batman suit I'd bought specially for the interview turned out to be a mistake. 

And on to the round up of great things to do in the Borough.

In this week when Barnet FC announce their intention to return to the Borough, why not  watch some great football at Barnet's oldest club on Saturday, come down to Brickfield Lane (opposite The Gate Pub) for Hadley FC. 

Back at Brickfield Lane on Saturday with the visit of @AylesburyUtdFC pic.twitter.com/1LMMKxbqre

— Hadley FC (@hadleyfc) February 21, 2024

Fancy some smokin' Jazz on Sunday in Finchley?

Other gigs

Sat 24th February

The Looters (60s / 70s covers, 5 piece) at Butchers Arms, Barnet

9.30pm - midnight

Horizon (Rock Covers & Original, 4 piece) at The Black Horse, Barnet 0.3 miles

8.30pm - 11.30pm

Ripple Effect (Pop / Rock, 4 piece) at East Barnet Royal British Legion Club, East Barnet 1.8 miles

8.30pm - 11pm

Dusk Til Dawn (Classic Rock, 5 piece) at The Three Wishes, Edgware 4.5 miles

9pm - 11.30pm

.

Sunday 25th February

Mark Warner in Full Swing (Swing, Solo Artist) at The Kings Head, Barnet 0.2 miles

1pm - 4pm

And finally, a date for your diary, my band  The False Dots are doing a gig on Sat 23rd March at the Beehive in Bow. Check out our trailer for it! - Tickets: bit.ly/42qVHCN

A mega weekend of music on your doorstep !

I am just about to set off to the Adam & Eve pub in Mill Hill for an evening with legendary guitarist Alan Warner. Alan has played with legendary soul outfit "The Foundations" since the 1960's. Admission is free and it will be a great night. This will be the fourth gig I've been to in three days. On Friday night, we went to Kenwood House to watch Suede and British Sea Power. It was a fantastic setting and a great show. Brett Anderson was on top form. There can be few nicer ways to spend an evening than listening to music in the grounds of such a beautiful place with the one you love. It is rather magical.

On Saturday night, I played host to two excellent up and coming local bands at Mill Hill Music Complex. Hamptons are an excellent rock/pop band, headed by documentary film director Charles Honderick. Checkout their track "Peace" - I believe it is a classic


He is an excellent singer and frontman.  On friday, the band will open the Brownstock festival. I predict great things. The other band are Mill Hill Rockers "The Rock and Roll Sons" lead by Fil Ross. They are a heavy but melodic rock band, again picking up widespread interest. They were featured in a radio show on Friday in Newcastle and took over the show for 40 minutes ! If you like your rock and roll they are a band to keep an eye out for. They have a string of local dates booked.

This lunchtime, I went to the Highgate Jazz Festival to see the Scott Hamilton/Alan Barnes Quintet. This festival is staged by Bradely Allen,  a talented Sax player and customer of mys studio. We were official sponsors. The show was at Lauderdale House on Highgate Hill, another excellent venue. It was a most pleasant way to spend Sunday afternoon and the fun continues tomorrow.

People sometimes say that nothing much happens round here. I beg to differ. I have seen some excellent music on my doorstep. You just have to know where to look !

Mill Hill Music Festival - sneak preview number 1

Over the next few weeks, we'll be previewing a few of the artists appearing at the Mill Hill Music Festival, which runs this year from June 2oth through to the 27th. First up is a real musical treat, The Allan Ganley Jazz Legacy, featuring the exquisite Elaine Delmar on vocals.

A chance to see a truly international star on your own doorstep.

Full details are available at the festival website :-

WWW.MILLHILLMUSICFEST.CO.UK

Tickets for the gig are £20

The Barnet Eye is always pleased to give any great local shows a good plug, so let me know if you have something you want our 25,000 readers to have a look at !

The concert will take place at the Quench Cafe in Salcombe Gardens


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