What happened?

A long time since a post but there’s not a lot to say about the chaos of moving house after 30 years. All best kept to oneself.

So goodbye Moseley, Goodbye Custard Factory and now; new home, new office, all tucked in one building in Kings Heath which also houses a rehearsal and analogue recording studio. Have a look, I love it.

I now have great local artists coming in and out all day both rehearsing and recording so more music than ever but I can’t at this time of year resist a quick look back on my musical highlights of 2010

Started with an amazing surprise, for me anyway. A dear friend called up on a quiet Sunday lunchtime in February with a spare ticket for the Town Hall in an hour’s time. I wizz over, take my seat, feeling rather young amongst this audience and onto the stage come 68 members of Ex Cathedra. They launched into the most amazing music I’ve heard in my life, I was absolutely transported to another place as they sang ‘Spem in alium’ by Thomas Tallis. Then to my further amazement they performed a new work by Alec Roth which sounded as good! Review here from an expert

I stood by Alec Roth at a reception later and knew I was in the presence of a stunning British talent of our time.

I work with the lovely Muchuu so don’t speak of them often on my personal blog but having seen them develop over 18 months now I had such joy when they played at ‘How The Light Gets In‘ a philosophy festival in Haye on Wye in May. Naturally I’d wondered how an audience of philosophers would take to them but they loved them so much that a real roof raising encore was demanded, Muchuu’s first, a proud moment. Don’t have a video of them live yet but if you don’t know them here they are in the fields just behind their house in the Herefordshire countryside

Over Spring I helped the wonderful Anne van Schelle put together the first Firefly Festival at her home just outside Ludlow. Lots of great new artists from around the country and headlined by Scott Matthews. I’ve known Scott and his team for years but the wonder here was to hear him on stage with a kick ass band for the first time. They erm.. rocked is the only word to use and Scott had a ball coming off stage with a great big grin.

September saw my first visit to Bestival with Muchuu to perform on Sunday afternoon. Their fine show out of the way it was time to relax in the sunshine and hear Chic with my old hero Nile Rogers in full control. The youngsters that were with me didn’t know what was coming or why I’d insisted they had to hear this (not Muchuu youngsters by the way, they were having a nice cup of tea in the WI tent) but friends that we’d taken. When one great track after another came along that these friends had danced to for years but never knew who they were by their and my excitement knew no bounds, there was unashamed disco dancing. Long live the Old School

In my new place I’m just around the corner from the excellent Hare and Hounds in Kings Heath where a group of promoters regularly introduce me to new delights and over the summer came The Gentlemen’s Dub Club rocked the joint in the finest fashion. Not well known yet but for a good skank right up there with the greats

My love affair with Birmingham Opera Company will last forever and after the brilliant end to 09 with the stunning Verdi’s Othello in Digbeth which I saw the BBC refer to as the “Critical hit of the season” in their ‘European Opera Best of 2010′ they followed this with a “little outing” of Stravinksky’s The Wedding in the Jewellery Quarter.  Just too inspiring for words. Here’s a little film – I think from the dress rehearsal.

Finally back in December at the Hare and Hounds that rare treat of seeing a band’s first ever show, in this case The Alternative Dubstep Orchestra who hit the stage with such imagination, chaos and confidence that you just know they are going to have some serious fun this summer. I’m off to see them again on Thursday playing with Malpas who I’m loving too. Looking at Alternative Dubstep Orchestra’s  facebook I’ve just realised that I know half of their Dads. Ah well; The Kids Are More Than Alright.

Happy New Year and a great year of music in 2011 to All