Ray's Gigs

Daily news and reviews of gigs bars clubs restaurants product launches films theatre fashion shows books art galleries hotels competitions interesting places to visit ...and much more!

News and Reviews: 2nd November 2019

Friday 01 November 2019.
Do you remember the legendary SEX PISTOLS tv interview with Bill Grundy in 1976?
Check out this great comedy version of it on YouTube to cheer you up.
Type in Google search - YouTube IT'S KEVIN Amish Sex Pistols.
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Will BOB SEGER ever come back to play live in the UK?
This week, Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band played the final show of their farewell tour, at the 20,000-capacity Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, PA. Support came from local band Ghost Hounds.
Seger announced his final tour in September 2018, after returning to the road after back surgery, and after 63 arena shows this year – performing to more than one million fans – the curtain has finally fallen on the singer's live career.
Seger's future plans are unclear, and while he has hinted that it's only the North American part of the tour that's over, he hasn't played outside the continent for nearly four decades. His last UK show was at Wembley Arena in November 1980.
I saw Bob Seger play Hammersmith Odeon in 1977.




Thursday 31 October 2019.
LISA STANSFIELD + JAZZ MORLEY live at The Royal Albert Hall, London.
English singer songwriter Lisa Stansfield returns to the Royal Albert Hall to celebrate the 30th Anniversary
of her iconic debut album "Affection".
The multi-platinum album was released in 1989 and sold over 5 million copies worldwide, winning three BRIT Awards, two Ivor Novello Awards and a Billboard Music Award overseas, as well as two Grammy nominations.
I have seen Lisa play live a couple of times including Ronnie Scott's in 1990.
Lisa had several hit singles in the 1980s and 1990s.
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Not sold out tonight but a decent 90% tickets are sold.
JAZZ MORLEY arrived on stage at 7.35pm and played for around 30 mins.
Jazz Morley is a 30 year old singer-songwriter from Bournemouth.
Great voice & lyrics on tracks from her two albums, with a gentle piano backing that went down well.
She gave thanks to her booking agent who has got her from playing to 100 in a pub 18 months ago
to this major support tour( her booking agent is music biz legend Neil Warnock , who also looks after Lisa).
LISA STANSFIELD arrived on stage at 8.35pm and played for around 90 mins.
Lisa is now aged 53 and has a tiny demure slim frame and between songs came her really strong Lancashire accent.
A nicely paced show where the first half ticked along nicely then everyone got up for a dance from massive hit
"All Around the World" onwards, and Lisa herself moved around the stage more.
Lisa had a great 9-piece backing band that included percussion, keyboards, two brass and two female B/Vs.
An enjoyable show.
Full Lisa Stansfield setlist played tonight...
Affection
Mighty Love
Sincerity
The Way You Want It
This Is the Right Time
The Love in Me
Unknown
When Are You Coming Back?
Poison
Wake Up Baby
You Can't Deny It
My Apple Heart
All Around the World
The Real Thing
What Did I Do to You?
Never Ever
People Hold On
Encore:
Live Together
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If you are a regular at The Royal Albert Hall you will see in the corridors the great photos of
the legends that have played here over the years.
One was to celebrate Sting playing ten nights here in 2000.
I think to myself , i went to one or two of those shows.
Looking at my gig history when i got home, I actually went to FIVE of the ten shows.



Wednesday 30 October 2019.
A NIGHT AT RONNIE SCOTT'S : 60th anniversary Gala show live at The Royal Albert Hall, London.
With appearances by Van Morrison, Roy Ayers, Curtis Stigers, Kurt Elling, Courtney Pine, Madeline Bell, Imelda May , Nigel Kennedy , Guy Barker, Liane Carroll, Ian Shaw, Natalie Williams, Judi Jackson,
The Blue Flames, China Moses,Ian Shaw, Pee Wee Ellis and Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Orchestra led by Pete Long.
Jimi Hendrix last ever stage appearance was at Ronnie Scott's in Soho.
On September 16, 1970 legendary guitarist Jimi Hendrix took the stage with old friend Eric Burdon and California funk act War for the end of their set at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in London. While Hendrix tore it up, his performance is most notable as his last time playing in public since Jimi tragically died just two days later.
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The venue is totally sold out tonight.
On the floor are over 30 round tables of 10, hosting fans who have bought drinks packages.
Loads of hospitailty packages in the boxes as well.
It was a long show of 3 hours 10 mins over two sets of 90 mins and 100 mins.
The show finished well past the 11pm curfew at 11.15pm.
Pretty much everyone singing one or two songs.
The first set was mainly lesser known singers and the second set had the big names.
Clarke Peters hosted the show and would come on every three of four songs and tell us the history of
Ronnie Scott's along to videos and pictures on the big screen from those that had attended and performed there.
There are around 20 musicians on stage including a dozen man brass section.
FIRST SET HIGHLIGHTS...
China Moses sung a song.
Ian Shaw sung a song.
Natalie Williams sung a song.
Curtis Stigers sung a song
Liane Carroll sung a song.
Judi Jackson sung a song.
All the above on stage singing "Rehab" as a tribute to Amy Winehouse.
NIGEL KENNEDY performed two songs , one quiet and gentle and the other nice and loud.
SECOND SET HIGHLIGHTS...
Courtney Pine performed a song.
Kurt Elling sung two songs with The Blue Flames (Georgie Fame pulled out due to illness)
VAN MORRISON sung two songs.
IMELDA MAY sung two songs including a stunning "Black Tears".
ROY AYERS performed his great track "Everybody Loves The Sunshine".
MADELINE BELL sung two songs.
Most of the artists on stage to sing "Let The Good Times Roll".
Finale was a fitting tribute to Ronnie Scott who was a sax player back in the day.
There were 60 sax players on stage and they all walked conga style around the entire stalls seats.
It was a riotous end to the show.
An enjoyable evening.
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I did not get along to Ronnie Scott's until 1990 when Lisa Stansfield played.
By coincidence Lisa Stansfield plays The Royal Albert Hall the following night.




Tuesday 29 October 2019....I went to two events tonight...
7pm to 8pm
MARCO ANTONIO x RANKIN book launch party, 37/41 Mortimer House, London W1.
Rankin Launches New Beauty Book with Make-up Artist Marco Antonio. Marco Antonio x Rankin mixes Marco's pop colour pallets with Rankin's signature sense of photography humour.
Around 150 guests in the fifth floor bar of this private members club.
Marco Antonio and Rankin are both here signing copies of the book.
The book retails for £40 but you can get it cheaper via my Amazon link above.
A dj is playing tunes in the background.
Complimentary Aperol Spritz cocktails, wines and beers for all guests.
then
8.15pm to 11pm
YOUNG CHEF YOUNG WAITER AWARDS - Quaglino's, 16 Bury Street, St James's, London SW1.
Promoting Hospitality as a career of choice, a profession and a vocation. Young Chef Young Waiter is a national competition open to all young professional waiters and chefs from any background.
This renowned competition turns 40 this year and has been revamped with a new, dynamic format, fully endorsed by UK Hospitality and the Restaurant Association.
Around 300 guests are here.
20 young chefs battled it out during the day for the judges and the three winners were announced here.
20 young waiters battled it out during the day for the judges and the three winners were announced here.
Judges here included celebrity chefs JOHN TORODE and THEO RANDALL.
Complimentary English sparkling wine, two different cocktails, wines, beers and lots of hot n tasty
different bowl food along with canapés and Magnum ice-creams for dessert.





Monday 28 October 2019.
THE DAMNED + THE CIRCUS OF HORRORS live at The London Palladium.
"A Night of A Thousand Vampires"
The Damned are coming to The London for a special immersive theatrical experience.
Melding the band’s love of horror with a classic rock show, The Damned will be teaming up with legendary film production company Hammer House Of Horror, in a night that promises shock, awe and gore! The Circus of Horrors will open the night.
Times have changed. I saw them a couple of years ago when The Damned played The Royal Albert Hall
and now they are playing another posh venue....22 July update - show is sold out.
I have seen punk legends The Damned over 40 times since the punk heyday of 1976 onwards.
I saw then 10 times alone in 1977 including when they supported T.Rex at The Rainbow.
I saw them last year at Shepherds Bush Empire.
Rock legend Nick Mason produced the second Damned album "Music for Pleasure" in 1977.
On November 1, BMG plans a representative 2CD collection set entitled Black Is The Night: The Definitive Anthology. This release will feature songs from the entire time spectrum of The Damned that stretches from the band’s beginnings in 1977 through their 2018 set, Evil Spirits. All old, there will be 39 familiar songs including the band’s 1976 single, “New Rose”. All of their five Top 40 UK singles are here as well. Black Is The Night: The Definitive Anthology was fully curated by the band.
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As expected it was very nice to see so many older punk rockin' chums here i know.
Kevin S was here...he has seen The Damned over 500 times....yes over 500 times.
Mainly due to singer Dave Vanian's Dracula like stage look , The Damned gets loads of fans dressed up as vampires and tonight there are more than ever as The Guinness Book of Records are here and fans can get
their picture taken and they may appear in the DVD of the gig that will come out at sometime in the future.
THE CIRCUS OF HORRORS arrive on stage at 7.45pm for their 30 mins set.
I have seen them a couple of times before and always make for good live entertainment.
The Circus of Horrors is a British "Family of Freaks" circus created by John Haze, Gerry Cottle and Pierrot Bidon.First seen performing at the Glastonbury Festival in 1995.Combining horror, comedy and rock and roll with circus acts, the circus uses goth and steampunk imagery, and references victorian freak shows and burlesque. They were finalist’s on the ITV show Britain's Got Talent in 2011. The circus currently holds 20 Guinness World Records.
THE DAMNED arrived on stage at 8.15pm and play for two hours over two sets of 75 mins and 45 mins.
Rock legend JIMMY PAGE was in a box at the side and looked to be really enjoying the show.
They have a very nice stage production that looked like a haunted house with the drums 15 ft up in the air.
Also horror movie clips are being played on a big screen.
The first set was mainly lesser known material and the second set was a very lively bunch of Damned gems.
Dave Vanian wanders into the crowd a couple of times.
The Circus of Horrors team also come off and on and help with the visuals.
The overall sound from the band in this famous venue is really good.
Captain Sensible asks the crowd "who was at The Roxy Club in the 1970s?" (I was).
He then makes some jokey references to Palladium stars Bruce Forsyth and Tommy Cooper.
The classics in the second half were superb and as fresh sounding as ever as we had "Neat, Neat, Neat",
"New Rose" , "Love Song" and "Smash It Up".
A great show.
Full Damned setlist played tonight...
FIRST SET
Wait for the Blackout
Plan 9 Channel 7
Grimly Fiendish
Standing on the Edge of Tomorrow
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
I Just Can't Be Happy Today
Under the Floor Again
Absinthe
Shadow of Love
13th Floor Vendetta
Nasty
Eloise (Paul Ryan cover)
Curtain Call
SECOND SET
Tightrope Walk
The Dog
Neat Neat Neat / Bela Lugosi's Dead (Bauhaus cover)
New Rose
Love Song
People Are Strange (The Doors cover)
Smash It Up (Part 1 & 2)
Black Is The Night




Sunday 27 October 2019.
THE CULT live at Hammersmith Apollo, London.
Ian Astbury, Billy Duffy and co are touring the UK to mark the 30th anniversary of their Sonic Temple album.
I have seen The Cult around 15 times since 1985.
I saw them in 1982 when they were called Southern Death Cult.
With support bands Yonaka (from Brighton) and The Last Internationale (from New York).
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It is totally sold out so around 5000 fans are here and a great atmosphere as stalls standing tonight.
Quite a few folks here that i know
James Stevenson was here...he has played with many bands including The Cult as
a second guitarist on a few tours and The Alarm.
THE LAST INTERNATIONALE arrived on stage at 7.30pm and played for 30 mins.
They are promoting their third album "Soul on Fire".
The group have socially-conscious lyrics and strong vocals from their female singer.
YONAKA arrived on stage at 8.15pm and played for 30 mins.
Another support band here with a female singer and a decent set of tunes.
To date they have released one album, three EPs and several singles. Following a European tour opening for Bring Me the Horizon in early 2019, their debut album Don't Wait 'till Tomorrow was released on 31 May 2019. The album reached 38 on the UK Albums Chart and 10 on the UK Vinyl Albums Chart.
THE CULT arrived on stage at 9.20 pm and played for 95 mins.
Ian Astbury is a proper rock star singer and Billy Duffy plays plenty of superb guitar riffs all night.
He has that great stance that looks a bit borrowed from his hero Steve Jones from The Sex Pistols.
When i saw six Sex Pistols shows in America in Sept 2003, Billy Duffy went to three of them.
The band use a small string section for a couple of songs.
They played a setlist culled from their 10 studio albums, with the centerpiece being a super set that's focused on the core songs from "Sonic Temple"; some of these songs had not been performed since the album (their fourth) was originally released in 1989.
A great show.
Full setlist played by The Cult tonight...
Sun King
Wild Flower
Automatic Blues
American Horse
Sweet Soul Sister
New York City
Edie (Ciao Baby) (With The Leos String Quartet)
Soul Asylum (With The Leos String Quartet)
Rain
Spiritwalker
The Phoenix
Rise
American Gothic
Fire Woman
Love Removal Machine
Encore:
Lil' Devil
She Sells Sanctuary




Saturday 26 October 2019.
HRH PROG 8 - DAY 1 - all-dayer at Shepherds Bush Empire, London.
HRH are promoting a dozen bands over two days at this venue...six each day.
They are alternating with Sheffield - a bit like Reading Festival/Leeds Festival.
I saw headliner The Pineapple Thief headline this venue last year.
Pineapple Thief have released a dozen albums since 1999.
HRH are doing a good job of promoting all-dayers every few months under the titles including
Prog, Metal, AOR and even Punk.
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Prog was very popular in the early 1970s with the likes of ELP and Yes but the kids on the street hated
the long muso keyboard twaddle and so...punk rock came along in 1976 and kicked it into touch for a few
years but Prog fans are pretty loyal and they even have their own magazine these days.
4th LABYRINTH arrived on stage at 2.40pm and played for 45 mins.
The band are from Cambridge and play some decent tracks from their new album "Better".
PEARL HANDLED REVOLVER arrived on stage at 3.45pm and played for 60 mins.
Pearl Handled Revolver are a four piece original Blues Rock band hailing from Bedfordshire.
Some nice vocals and tracks from their new album "Fantasy Reigns"
KRANKSCHAFT arrived on stage at 5.05pm and played for 60 mins.
They played a really good set of psychedelic rock tunes.
The guitarist had a great Hawkwind type sonic guitar sound.
As of 2019 the group have recorded three official studio albums, one special album (composed of music made to poems submitted online by fans) and two live albums.
SOFT MACHINE arrived on stage at 6.25pm and played for 60 mins.
Soft Machine have going since the late 1960s but i have never seen them before live as their type
of jazz rock just does not appeal to me as just too proggy and muso for my liking.
CARAVAN arrived on stage at 7.45pm and played for 75 mins.
Caravan are another band who started off in the late 1960s that I have not seen before.
They played an enjoyable set that was more melodic and closer to folk music and frequently displaying a sense of humour.
PINEAPPLE THIEF arrived on stage at 9.30pm and played for 90 mins.
Pineapple Thief play a good set but some folks start leaving early after such a long day.
A decent enough day of live music.




Thursday 24 October 2019.
GARY NUMAN + KANGA live at The Roundhouse, London.
Gary plays the first of two London shows at the end of his month long UK tour.
Gary is playing a 40th anniversary tour - celebrating his 1979 career start.
Tubeway Army had released ‘Replicas’ in April that year, the album shifting 100,000 upon release and the single ‘Are Friends Electric?’ took Numan to both No. 1 in the UK charts, and into the nations living rooms courtesy of multiple Top of The Pops performances.
Some 4 months later ‘The Pleasure Principal’ was released under the Gary Numan name, the album taking the No.1 position as did the single ‘Cars’, a feat repeated in several countries, so I guess Gary has fond memories of 1979.
I have seen Gary Numan live around 25 times since 1980.
He was a regular at Hammersmith Odeon throughout the 1980s and played multi-shows there on most tours.
I saw him last year at The Royal Albert Hall.
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I have a very nice view , front left looking at the stage.
The very loyal hardcore Gary Numan fans down the front always see multi-shows on each tour.
KANGA arrived on at stage at 8pm and played for 40 mins.
Kanga is a solo project of a Los Angeles based composer, artist, and music programmer who has worked on films that include Nightmare, The Devils Carnival II, Insidious III, and The Conjuring II.
Just her singing and dancing to pre-programmed synth beats.
Chants from his fans of "Nu-man" Nu-man, Nu-man" ring out throughout the evening.
GARY NUMAN arrived on stage at 9.05pm and played for 1 hour 40 mins.
A nice stage production with a big screen showing pre-recorded images.
A nice loud and huge wall of sound from on stage.
Now aged 61, Numan himself was in jeans and a long loose-fitting black top, as ever that huge mop of blackened hair threatening to cascade down his face as he launched into a cavernous ‘My Name Is Ruin’, immediately Numan is traversing the stage, he stoops, explodes upwards, huge dramatic postures perfectly choreographed to the song as the stage is lit by a wall to wall backdrop.
For many years now Gary is making a harder industrial noise compared to his early synth-pop hits.
I must admit the more recent material is good but the heavier versions of old hits are really great including
"Down in the Park", "Cars", "I Die : You Die" and " Are Friends Electric?".
Gary seems to be enjoying playing live more than ever and it was a great show.
Full Gary Numan setlist played tonight...
My Name Is Ruin
Remind Me to Smile
That's Too Bad
Me! I Disconnect From You
Stories
Metal
Absolution
Dead Sun Rising (Remix)
Films
Down in the Park
The Promise
Cars
Here in the Black
I Die: You Die
The Fall
A Prayer for the Unborn
Are 'Friends' Electric?
Encore:
My Shadow in Vain
Halo
Intruder
Jo the Waiter
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Happy Birthday to BILL WYMAN who is 83 today.




Wednesday 23 October 2019.
7pm to 10pm
LOUIS VUITTON MAISON - store re-launch party - 17/20 New Bond Street, London W1.
A massive store launch party for 500 guests over the three floors of their stunning store.
It is a big deal as they have closed the road outside off to traffic.
They have been working on this store for months now, and the hoardings have finally come down.
Game of Thrones star Jason Momoa posed in front of Louis Vuitton New Bond Street’s redesigned and colourful exterior before joining Mark Ronson, Kylie Minogue, Vogue Editor Edward Enninful, Doutzen Kroes, Noel Gallagher, Gal Gadot , Yasmin & Amber Le Bon to celebrate the luxury brand’s relaunched London flagship store. Other celebrity guests included Erin O’Connor, Nick Grimshaw, Alexa Chung, Maisie Williams, Mary Charteris, Poppy Delevingne and Lottie Moss.
Complimentary Ruinart champers,three different cocktails, wines and canapés for all guests.
then
10.15pm to 12pm
EAST 17 live at Tramp, 38 Jermyn Street, St Janes's, London SW1.
In the 1970s and 1980s , Tramp was one of the main celebrity hangouts in London.
Tonight they are hosting a '1990s' theme party.
All the tunes played are from the 1990s and we have a band playing from the 1990s.
East 17 is currently made up of original member Terry Coldwell and newest additions to the line-up Robbie Craig and Terry Bull. In the past, Brian Harvey and Tony Mortimer were also a core part of the group that had many hits in the nineties. Back then they achieved 18 Top 20 singles and had four of their albums make the Top 10 of the charts. One of the most popular bands of their generation, they were often in the tabloids and had a naughtier image than that of peers like Take That. Mixing up hip hop, r&b and pop into their own style, the group had huge hits such as ‘House of Love’ and ‘Let It Rain' and their massive Christmas 1994 number one hit 'Stay Another Day'.
'Stay Another Day' is also the 31st biggest seller of the 90s decade.
Ex band member Tony Mortimer recently said the song still brings in £75,000 royalties every year.
EAST 17 took to the stage at 10.40pm and played for 55 mins.
The trio are on stage singing along to a backing track, and all three are wearing baseball caps.
A nice party atmosphere as folks are on the dance floor.
Even i was swaying along to a pukka version of 'Stay Another Day'.
East 17 setlist tonight included...
House of Love
Let It Rain
Steam
If You Ever
Around The World
Stay Another Day
It's Alright
The band were very friendly after the show and posed for photos with their female fans.
Complimentary champers and canapés for all guests.
www.tramp.co.uk
Visit the Tramp website here for info.
then
00.15am to 3am
LOUIS VUITTON MAISON after-party at Annabel's,Berkeley Square, Mayfair, London W1.
The 500 guests from earlier have taken over all floors of Annabel's (the most famous members club in London).
We missed the four song Kylie Minogue set singing to a backing track as we were at Tramp.
It was a full party vibe here as i have not danced this much for ages.
Mark Ronson was one of the djs for an hour stint.
I bump into NOEL GALLAGHER and his wife again and he is very friendly and full respect
to them for staying until the end.Noel was dancing in the corner table by the dj.
Noel & his band are soon to support U2 on their Australian , New Zealand & The Far East tour.
Alexa Chung and Poppy Delevingne were also doing a lot of dancing.
So many rooms on different floors so not sure how many of the celebs at the store went to the party.
A full complimentary bar including Ruinart champers and different cocktails along with canapés.
A superb evening.





Tuesday 22 October 2019.
The O2 Arena has now sold 25 million tickets since it opened in 2007.
The O2 Arena has hosted over 2,000 individual performances since opening in 2007 and now averages over 200 events a year which cover music, sport, comedy, family entertainment and e-Sports.
Said Bownes: "To reach the 25 million ticket milestone is a huge achievement and we’re so grateful to have hosted so many artists for the first time this year. London has the best fans in the world, and we’d like to thank promoters, agents, managers and our partners for continuing to work with us to help bring the very best performers from the worlds of music, comedy, sport and entertainment to The O2."
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Fact of the day...
On 13 April 1963 The Beatles recorded their first ever BBC broadcast at Lime Grove Studios in Shepherd's Bush. The group returned in 1964 for a further recording. Lime Grove Studios was demolished in 1994 to make way for residential accommodation.




Monday 21 October 2019.
7pm to 8.15pm
The BMI Awards at The Savoy Hotel, Strand, London WC2.
The BMI Awards are annual award ceremonies for various genres and honouring songwriters and publishers,
that have had major success on American radio.
I have been to this awards show several times over the past decade which included some big names getting
the "President's Award", including John Lydon, Sting, Jay Kay and Yoko Ono.
We are here with 300 other guests for the red carpet arrivals drinks reception at this famous hotel.
NOEL GALLAGHER is here to collect the main "President's Award" tonight.
Noel is with his wife and daughter and i get a nice photo with him.
RAYE recieved the "Impact Award" for co-writing many big chart hits.
A dozen others are here to collect their BMI medals for songwriting.
Anne-Marie --- wrote big hits for her band Clean Bandit.
Don Black --- legendary songwriter including three James Bond film theme songs.
Graham Lyle --- Scottish songwriter from Gallagher & Lyle who I saw live in the 1970s.
He wrote many songs including Tina Turner "Whats Love Got To Do With It".
Michael D'Abo ---- wrote "Handbags & Gladrags" and "Build Me Up Buttercup".
Niall Horan --- ex One Direction member for writing songs on his big selling solo album.
Nick Van Eede --- wrote Cutting Crews "I Just Died In Your Arms Tonight" which has just
passed 4 million plays on American radio.
Oh Wonder --- alt-pop duo who released a single a month for a year.
Complimentary Louis Roederer champers for all guests.
then
8.45pm to 10.15pm
TRAVEL MEDIA AWARDS, The Landmark Hotel, 222 Marylebone Road, London NW1.
Around 300 guests in this very nice hotel.
21 awards given out to travel writers, broadcasters and photographers.
Complimentary prosecco, wines, beers, bowl food , canapés and desserts for all guests.
All guests got a goodie bag on departure.
www.travelmediaawards.com
Visit their website here for a list of the winners.
then
10.45pm to 00.45am
...back to The BMI Awards , The Savoy Hotel, Strand, London WC2.
The dinner had finished but the main awards were still being given out.
7 million plays in America - Higher Love by Steve Winwood (picked up by publisher)
7 million plays in America - Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me by Elton John (picked up by publisher)
7 million plays in America - Whats Love Got To Do With It by Graham Lyle
10 million plays in America - Layla by Eric Clapton (picked up by publisher)
15 million plays in America - Every Breathe You Take by Sting (Sting sent a video message)
This song is the most popular in BMIs catalog of thousands of songs.
Serious money comes in when your songs get played millions of times.
At 11pm - The BMI Chairman gave a nice speech about Noel Gallagher's career and introduced a 10 mins
video montage of Oasis and Noel solo highlights...Liam was not seen in any of the Oasis footage.
For the after-party it was a full complimentary bar including Louis Roederer champers.





Sunday 20 October 2019.
JAY PARK live at Olympia, London.
Jay Park brings his "Sexy4Eva" world tour to London.
Jay Park is a Korean American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, dancer, choreographer, actor,
A bit crazy how all these acts from Korea, Japan, Taiwan etc can play big venues like this in London.
I saw BTS headline Wembley Stadium in the summer.
Last year, Jay Park sold out The Troxy in East London.
A couple of his videos have had over 30 million views on YouTube.
In 2017, he became the first Asian American to sign with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation.
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Olympia is still having a few gigs every year.
I saw some great gigs here in 1976/1977/1978 including Status Quo, Thin Lizzy , Bad Company
and six Rod Stewart shows when they were all proper live acts in their heyday.
There is plenty of space at the sides and back tonight as it is a reduced sold out capacity of 5000
instead of the usual 7,000 to 10,000 due to health & safety as 90% of the crowd are very excitable females
under the age of 30.
You can see he has worldwide appeal as all colours and religions are here tonight.
We had a dj playing some tunes as a support to warm the crowd up.
JAY PARK arrived on stage at 8.45pm and was on for 1 hour 45 mins.
There is a huge gold circle that must be holding over 1000 fans.
A great stage production as he had five huge video screens showing live footage and the three
behind the stage would sometimes merge into one massive one.
I cannot see a backing band as he is using backing tapes via a dj console.
Two female dancers and two male dancers help the visuals along with a load of lights.
It is a very slick well rehearsed show where Jay seamlessly mixes pop, RnB and hip hop
For the last 10 mins of the main set Jay Park took his shirt off and perform his track, “Mommae”. Needless to say, the crowd went berserk. His chiseled chest (and abs!) and heavily tattooed body went down a treat with the girls.After performing his last song, “Sexy 4 Eva”, the rapper came back with a short “Nothin’ On You” – which swept all the ladies off their feet.
The music was not really the type i would buy or listen to but Jay Park put on a decent show.




Saturday 19 October 2019...8pm to 11pm...
THE SEX PISTOLS vs THE CLASH
An interesting punk related event in Maidenhead - tickets are £8.00
Norden Farm Centre for The Arts, Altwood Road , Maidenhead
Join host Jeff Lloyd for an evening of trivia, chat and fun!The Sex Pistols vs The Clash – the true heavyweights of Punk Rock go head to head with their respective debut LPs.The audience will vote for their favourite before they are played and then we see who has changed their mind after both have been spun.Hear music in its finest form – on vinyl and in fabulous hi-fi!
They will also be showing some Sex Pistols and Clash video footage.
Will be great to hear both these classic albums played nice and loud.
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These two albums were released over 40 years ago so who would have thought we would be sitting in
this room discussing the albums in the ex prime minister Theresa May’s constituency.Her home turf is full of ancient woodlands, fields of wheat and pretty villages (May lives in one of the most charming examples, Sonning).
The studio is pretty full so maybe 60 are here in four seated rows of 15.
At 8pm we get a few classic punk rock tracks played then at 8.20pm for 30 mins our host Jeff Lloyd does
a great job of telling us the history of both bands along with some band photos on the big screen.
Nice to see an early photo of Steve Jones, Paul Cook and Wally Nightingale being used.
In a hand count before we started, The Clash album just came out in front as the fave here.
We then get side A of The Sex Pistols "Never Mind The Bollocks" along with band video clips and photos,
We then get side A of The Clash debut album along with band videos and photos.
Everyone listens quietly then claps politely as each side finishes.
9.35pm to 10pm was the interval
We then get side B of The Sex Pistols album along with band videos and photos.
We then get side B of The Clash album along with band videos and photos.
Jeff then asked "did anyone see The Sex Pistols in 1976/1977?".I was the only one that put their hand up so I
told the crowd how Steve Jones and Paul Cook went to my school and were three years older than me so
that's mainly how i saw early gigs including The 100 Club Punk Festival in Sept 1976.
Jeff then introduced me as the UKs number one gig goer with over 7000 gigs seen.
Then there was a raffle ticket draw to win the actual two albums being played and i had the honour
of picking the winning two tickets.
We then had another show of hands to see if anyone had changed their minds and it had swung
over to The Sex Pistols as the power of songs like "Anarchy In The UK" , "God Save The Queen"
and "Pretty Vacant" had convinced a few to change their minds.
A very enjoyable unique evening.
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This venue holds this type of event each month so well worth checking out.



Friday 18 October 2019.
Another music documentary is in selected cinemas this week.
MYSTIFY : MICHAEL HUTCHENCE
A look at the troubled heart and soul of Michael Hutchence, lead singer and songwriter of INXS. Deftly woven from an archive of rich imagery, Michael's private home movies and those of his lovers, friends, and family.
Michael sadly died in 1997 in a Sydney hotel room.
The documentary will be shown in the future on BBC2.
Check out this mega video of when Wembley Stadium was bouncing to INXS...I was down the front...
INXS New Sensation (official live video) live from Wembley Stadium 1991 Live Baby Live
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I saw INXS several times with Michael Hutchence...they were a great live band...
INXS,Strangers And Brothers Hammersmith Odeon , London 02.02.1986 First major UK INXS GIG.
Queen,Status Quo,Alarm,INXS Wembley Stadium , London 11.07.1986 all bands did great sets esp Queen .
INXS,Sinead O'Connor Hammersmith Odeon , London 13.12.1987 Michael always looked so cool.
INXS,Sinead O'Connor Hammersmith Odeon , London 14.12.1987 Sineads band inc 2 ex Smiths
INXS + Hothouse Flowers Wembley Stadium , London 13.07. 1991 INXS had a fantastic stage and lights .
INXS Brixton Academy , London 29.07.1993 totally sold out packed 90 mins low key smallish gig .
INXS Brixton Academy , London 28.10.1994 One off UK show sold out in 1 day .Lovely stage set full of antique looking stage props . Excellent 85 mins set .
INXS Wembley Arena , London 18.06.1997 really good 1 hour 45 mins set .Micheal is still the perfect looking rock star but the vocals could have been clearer....Michaels last ever London show...
Blondie + INXS Wembley Arena , London 18.12.2002 For INXS it is their first UK tour since the sad death of Micheal Hutchence .The new singer does a decent job as the band go through a 75 mins hits set but it was nice to hear 2 new songs .Blondie do a great set but they are simply not an arena band and should stick to Brixton or Bush Empire as there are a lot of empty seats tonight .Blondie still have 4 original members with Debbie looking great for age 58 and Clem Burke just stunning on drums .They do a really good 80 mins set .Aftershow party was really good as well .




Thursday 17 October 2019.
THE BOOTLEG BEATLES with orchestra + NEIL INNES live at The Royal Albert Hall, London.
Their UK tour marks 50 years since the release of these final two albums - Abbey Road (released 26 September 1969) and Let It Be (released 8 May 1970), and will explore the journey to the end of The Beatles - celebrating the music of this era and the legacy that endures to this day.
The Bootleg Beatles, the nation’s premier Beatles group, join forces with the award-winning Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra once again to perform beautifully arranged symphonic versions of those timeless classics.
Hosted by writer, comedian and musician Neil Innes, (Monty Python, Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, The Rutles) this unique live staging will be an unmissable event for Beatles fans.
I have seen The Bootleg Beatles three or four times before at this venue as they are playing here
pretty much every year.
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Tonight the venue is totally rammed full sold out , including gallery standing and choir seats.
The show was for around two hours over two sets of 60 mins each.
NEIL INNES was on for 10 mins at the start of the first set and 10 mins halfway through the second set.
His set included "I'm the Urban Spaceman" which was the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band's most successful single, released in 1968. It reached #5 in the UK charts. The song was written by Neil Innes - who won an Ivor Novello Award in 1968 for the song - and produced by Paul McCartney and Gus Dudgeon under the pseudonym "Apollo C. Vermouth".
Neil & his band were recording at Abbey Road at the same time as The Beatles.
THE BOOTLEG BEATLES were on stage for around 1 hour 40 mins over the two sets.
Nice attention to detail as the band have the long hair and the clothes from their late 60s period.
When you add band & orchestra together there is 70 or 80 musicians on stage.
The orchestra sounded fab when the strings and brass kicked in.
They also had a Billy Preston lookalike on keyboards for the second set.
There is a big screen mixing live footage and pre-recorded images.
It was good to hear some of the lesser known album tracks being played live.
An epic version of "Hey Jude" had everyone singing along.
A very enjoyable show.
Tonight's full setlist played...
FIRST SET
NEIL INNES performed his tracks for 10 mins.
ABBEY ROAD album
Come Together
Something
Maxwell's Silver Hammer
Oh! Darling
Octopus's Garden
I Want You (She's So Heavy)
Here Comes the Sun
Because
You Never Give Me Your Money
Sun King
Mean Mr. Mustard
Polythene Pam
She Came in Through the Bathroom Window
Golden Slumbers
Carry That Weight
The End
Her Majesty
INTERVAL then Rooftop Gig tribute
SECOND SET
I've Got a Feeling
Don't Let Me Down
Get Back
NEIL INNES second set for 10 mins
LET IT BE album
The Long and Winding Road
I Me Mine (followed by John's a cappella snippet of Dig It)
Across the Universe
Dig a Pony
Let It Be
Encore:
Hey Jude (with Neil Innes) (singing a snippet of Shangri- La by the Rutles)
The End





Thursday 17 October 2019.
Some very sad news to report on someone i chatted to at many West End drinks party events.
Celebrity photographer JOE ALVAREZ passed away on Tuesday 15th October 2019
after a year and a half battle with cancer...he was aged just 46.
Joe had an online website called IKON LONDON MAGAZINE.
www.ikonlondonmagazine.com




Wednesday 16 October 2019...4pm to 7pm...
Q AWARDS live at The Roundhouse , London.
I have been to this prestigious music awards several times over the past decade.
Around 500 guests are stalls table seated, along with 50 rear stalls standing and 200 seated upstairs.
A few people here i know and plenty of music biz folks from the record companies, booking agents,press etc.
It moved to The Roundhouse three years from The Grosvenor House Hotel.
It definitely does not have that "room of legends" vibe that it had at the old venue but
i presume Q Magazine feel the need to keep up with the new and current artists.
Probably explains why there are 20 or 30 girls outside waiting for a K-Pop star who is attending.
Guests here today included...
Madness, Biffy Clyro, Bobby Gillespie, Jarvis Cocker, Tricky, The 1975, Stormzy, Ella Eyre,
Lewis Capaldi, Christine & The Queens, Kevin Rowland, Pale Waves , Dizzie Rascal, Kano, Foals,
Richard Hawley, Anna Calvi, Anne-Marie , Jimmy Eat World, Little Simz, Michael Kiwanuka, Edwyn Collins,
Kim Gordon, Tim Burgess, Baxter Dury,actress Rose McGowan and Absolute Radio dj Dave Berry and
probably a few others i missed.
Lots of complimentary drinks including spirits n mixers, wines and beers.
Q Awards winners 2019: Full list of winners...
Best Breakthrough Act – Pale Waves
Best Track – Lewis Capaldi – Someone You Loved
Best Album – Foals – Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost (Part 1)
Best Live Act Performance – Michael Kiwanuka – End Of The Road Festival
Best Solo Act – Stormzy
Best Act In The World Today – The 1975
Best Festival/Event– All Points East
Innovation In Sound – Dizzie Rascal
Classic Album – Tricky – Maxinquaye
Maverick – Edwyn Collins
Fender Play Award – Anna Calvi
Outstanding Contribution To Music – Kano
Classic Songwriter – Kevin Rowland
Inspiration – Madness
Icon – Christine And The Queens
Hero – Kim Gordon
Song Of The Decade – Lana Del Rey – Video Games
Best Vocal Performance – Little Simz



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