Last week I shared some of my musical highlights from the first half of the year. Whether or not that was a good idea for a blog or not is irrelevant, because I’m now legally obliged to follow up with part 2.
Before I do though, I kind of feel some additional, honorable mentions are due, but I’m scared of leaving people out, so I’m going to bottle it. If you’re reading this, consider that fact alone enough to get you on the list, fair enough?
August 2023
Victorious Festival, Southsea
Locally this is the big one. This year’s headliners were Jamiroquai, Pete Tong, Kasabian and Alt-J. On a stage somewhat smaller, in a somewhat quieter corner of the common, on the quietest day, just before lunch, Andy and I played some original songs we’d been working on, and some R.E.M. covers. It was awesome.
September 2023
I Hear That Train A Comin’
It’s open day on the historic Watercress Line in Hampshire and 75% of The Alabama Stills are sweating it out playing to a small collection of bemused, beer loving bystanders in the engine repair shed. It is the hottest day of the year, and we’re spending the afternoon in a giant tin box. My favourite gigs are often the unusual one offs though, they're the ones you remember the best. All the gear had to go on bin liners because the floor was covered in oil and engine soot.
October 2023
The Tony Tour Concludes
A few years back, a member of my guitar club sadly passed away as a result of Motor Neurone Disease. We had been taking the club to venues closer to his home as his ability to travel slowly diminished…. We called it The Tony Tour. In October we held a memorial concert for him in aid of MacMillan, featuring past and present members of our guitar and ukulele group, his widow’s acapella group, and his guitar tutor’s covers band. I can’t express how much I’d like to thank everybody
who helped that day.
November 2023
Double Header Tribute Nights
Our band REMbrandt plays double header tribute nights with our friends U2 Tribe. The real R.E.M. and U2 have a fair bit of shared history, both arguably reaching their commercial and artistic peaks in the late 80’s / early 90’s. Whilst R.E.M disbanded in 2011, U2 still record today, and if you haven’t seen any videos on youtube of their current residency in the Sphere in Las Vegas, you probably should.
Our shows are very much “greatest hits” affairs, played in theatres and clubs. It’s brilliant to connect with so many like minded musical fans and share something a bit special. Next up, Dover Booking Hall in February!
www.remgb.com
www.u2tributeband.co.uk
A personal note to anybody who knows me : December 9th in Oving was very special too, but it’s pretty recent history! A heartfelt thanks to everybody who made that happen. Like I said in last week’s blog….I appreciate everything you do, we all need to be told that a bit more often. No maybes about it.
Two thousand and twenty three. Has it been a good year? Well…. no pandemics so, that’s something. Musically, I’ve had one of my most interesting and productive years ever. That’s the positive spin, but in truth the highs have been higher, and the lows have been lower. I know somebody who would attribute that to ‘cosmic balance’ but it’s probably just life proceeding as normal. Some people in my life are having it a bit tough at the moment…. I appreciate everything they do, but maybe we all need to be told that a bit more often.
In the spirit of positivity and celebrating the good stuff though, I thought I’d dedicate a blog or two to some of my musical highlights this year. If you’re a part of anything I do musically, you’re already a highlight! but for the sake of not boring your novelty Christmas socks off before Santa has even arrived, I’m going to try and limit my ramblings to a few specific examples.
January 2023
Grant Lee Phillips, live at The Railway Inn, Winchester.
I always list Grant Lee Phillips as one of my favourite songwriters of all time. His songs are poetic, emotional, and often richly descriptive. He also appears to be such a thoroughly good natured bloke, with an amazing voice and a knack for storytelling, it’s very hard not to like him. This video I filmed is of “Fuzzy” the title track of his band, Grant Lee Buffalo’s first album, which Michael Stipe of R.E.M. described as the best album of 1993, hands down. This was a great gig to see, and it certainly shows that no matter what level you perform at, stuff’s going to happen, and you need to laugh it off.
Find out more...
www.railwayinn.pub
www.grantleephillips.com
March 2023
In The Stables
I haven’t really talked about the bands that I play in, but this was a special, acoustic lineup for The Alabama Stills we pulled together for our friend’s birthday. Mr & Mrs K. are really well connected musically, and loads of people performed, so it was an honour to be asked to perform as the de facto headline act in their half constructed stable block. The unfinished, silver insulated walls gave our Americana & Country set a vaguely 70’s disco feel - never to be repeated! The amount of cake laid on that day is also,
probably, never to be repeated.
June 2023
Different Band, Different Farm
REMbrandt R.E.M. Tribute at The Hanger Farm Arts Centre, north of Southampton. It’s a beautiful venue operated by The Minstead Trust, who do great work with people with learning disabilities. It’s always a special night, a far better than average gig, but next year the band is 10 years old and we’re playing a special anniversary gig there. It’s on Sunday June 23rd. Hit me up for tickets ;-)
Find out more...
www.minsteadtrust.org.uk/hanger-farm
www.remgb.com
July 2023
Hotham Park Country Music Afternoon
Back to The Stills again - this time with the full and proper lineup on the bandstand in Hotham Park courtesy of the Rotary Club of Bognor Regis. It’s a glorious two hours of sitting in the sunshine beneath the trees on a summer Sunday afternoon. This year we were supported by UK country radio star Helena Mace, which is somewhat ironic as she has a far bigger following than we do.
Find out more...
www.helenamace.com
Record Time
...probably isn’t necessary is it? I’ve given you some great artists to check out, some live venues worthy of your hard earned ticket money… get out there in the new year and support some live music! More 2023 highlights next week…… and obviously, Merry Christmas for tomorrow!
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