Hark at Harper

How cool of the lovely Jessica Harper to mention me on An Actors Blog which is a blog that keeps the world up to date with what Jess is doing, as well as features news and reviews of cultural stuff she's come across.

I met Jess through her work at Wolverhamptons Arena Theatre and it has been amazing to slowly discover all the interesting work she's done in theatre, TV and education locally and nationwide.

It's very likely you have seen Jess performing in some thing, especially if you are a theatre goer in the West Midlands.

Have a look at her show reel below to see some of the prime time TV work she has done. I was very impressed to see her on screen along side my favourite ever black country/brummie person, Julie Walters. (listen to the way she says sexual relaaaaations)

Upcoming

Sunday 29th May

Cox’s Yard

Bridgefoot

Stratford-upon-Avon

CV37 6YY

01789 404 600

Thursday 16th June

Tower of Song

107 Pershore Road South

Cotteridge

BIRMINGHAM

B30 3JX

Saturday 18th June

Black Boy Inn, DUO SHOW with Mick Jeynes

58 Cartway

Bridgnorth

Shropshire

WV16 4BG

Saturday 2nd July

Life and Other Art 2011

Coach House Arts Centre 3.30pm

Rectory Road

Oldswinford

Stourbridge

DY8 2HA

Music from The Shed, hosted by Elena Thomas

Saturday 16th July

Bohemia restaurant

23 Oak Tree Lane
Selly Oak
Birmingham
B29 6JE
Call 0121 471 2713 to book a table

Nice Place...

...that Cherry Reds in Kings Heath. I was down there last Thursday performing for a couple of hours. It's a small place on York Road, close to The Hare and Hounds. Hanging out there is a bit like being in a really welcoming friend's front room.

My two hour acoustic set started of as a bit of background form some late evening diners, then by the end of the night was a touch more raucous with singing along and that sort of thing. A good night and only a pound in, I recommend it!

Photographs from Glee Club

London-the music

I visited London at the end of April to check out some venues I’d heard about. I was treating the trip as research, not really expecting to play.

I went along to Aint Nothin But Blues Bar in Soho, where Niall Kelly was kind enough to let me sing a couple of songs in the Saturday evening open mic. What a nice club this is, not unlike Brum’s own Tower of Song, i.e. smallish and rammed with music aficionados. I seemed to go down well with my two tunes (one blues and an original) then had a cool time watching Niall and some regulars Jam.

On Sunday I popped along to The Stage Door in Waterloo which is just down the road form The Old Vic. This was a proper singer songwriters night with some rather wonderful talents appearing. Once again the fella in charge, another Rob, was happy to let me join in and do some tunes which everyone seemed to enjoy.

At both of these gigs I was very kindly lent a Guitar as I was travelling without one, so thanks to the lenders.

Finally on Monday night, at the suggestion of Rob from the Stage Door, I visited The Spice of Life. Everyone told me that being a bank holiday it was a quiet night, but it seemed pretty heaving at times to me. On this occasion the bill was full but I had a lot of fun watching everyone else play.

At one point two rather nice people came and sat by me, and clearly being rather more gregarious than me sparked up a conversation, asking if I was playing. I told them who I was and the reason for my visit, and it turns out that they were the singer and pianist from a London band called Midas Touch. When they got up to do their two numbers they were really great, probably the best thing I heard all night. How strange that they should happen to sit by me, and end up being so good, I thought. You can see/hear some of their stuff here

Glee Club

What an honour/treat it was to play at The Glee Club last Sunday with Matty Pinfield and Mark Jeynes.

Shortly after we arrived we enjoyed hearing two members of Sylvia doing their wonderful two part harmony songs, then set up to play. The Studio space of The Glee is nice and intimate with excellent sound and the forty or so strong crowd were lovely. Probably one of my favourite gigs playing with the band.

Straight after us were Bombdog, who describe themselves as "a mix of post rock and Balkan/Mexican/french influences." A good, tight instrumental band. Chatting to them later it turns out I have a University in common with some of them.

Next up was 4oz of Groove, the coolest bunch of people I've shared a bill with. Three incredibly talented and sympathetic instrumentalists and a wonderfully soulful singer playing lovely originals and funked up covers. Fabulous.

London-the sights

I went to London for a couple of nights last weekend, to play some gigs. I'll blog about that later, but here's some pics of a couple of the sights and Londony stuff me and my mate Lee got up to


So, this is my mate Zeus at The British Museum, which is rather amazing. A proper India Jones type of place, everything in there is two thousand years old, collected (nicked?) by Victorian adventurer types. I only spent a short time in there before getting my train home and I'd love to go back. Below is the rather special reading room.





HMS Belfast....





I haven't got any pictures of our time at The National Portrait Gallery, Buckingham Palace, Covent Garden etc but they were very exciting as well

Today's Gig Changed

Today's Free Love Club gig at The Yardbird has been moved to The Glee Club. I've never played there before, so this is reallly exciting.

The music starts at 4pm and finishes at 11pm. Me and the band are on at 8.15pm for 30 minutes.

It's £4 on the door, first come first served...

The Glee Club
The Arcadian
70 Hurst Street
Birmingham
West Midlands
B5 4TD
0871 472 0400