Chris Welch

‘Events dear boy, events....’ When Prime Minister Harold McMillan uttered that laconic phrase, he was talking about the perils of political life in the 1960s. But it could also describe the flow of musical events, some wonderful, some sad during the mid-term months of 2023. So let us now cast our minds back to what’s been all happening – dudes. There have been gigs, concerts,

When Peter Dawn published his definitive biography of Phil Seamen, hailed as Britain’s greatest jazz drummer in 2022 his book was given glowing reviews around the world. Fans from America to Australia and from France to the far flung islands of Scotland ordered copies and wrote to the author to sing its praises. Now it will be celebrated at home with a special presentation ‘Phil

Photo Sári Toplek STEVE EGGS BAND at the Oval, Croydon ‘Are there any American girls here tonight? No? Oh bother!’ Steve Eggs seemed seriously disappointed. But the band leader made up for the gals’ shameful absence by launching into the Tom Petty classic with exuberant vocals and gutsy guitar riffs that helped make it yet another great night out at the Oval. The SEBs are

Alert! No, this is not a Government Warning. We just want to let you know about an upcoming summer concert to celebrate the life of saxophone star Barbara Thompson that will be an event, not to be missed and undoubtedly a night to remember. An impressive array of jazz, rock and classical performers will take part in the memorial show, due to take place on

Ana & The Bonzos It might seem like an exciting new concept, but Ana & The Bonzos are not an unlikely tribute band dedicated to Adam & The Ants. They are just two of the star attractions we went to see amidst a whirligig of gigs enjoyed during the mad month of March. First came Ana Gracey performing songs from her critically acclaimed Wicked Games

Rick Wakeman at the London Palladium It was a journey to the centre of Rick Wakeman’s heart and soul, on the historic nights he played two sensational concerts at one of the world’s most prestigious venues, the London Palladium. They came from distant lands to see Rick with a powerful support team including members of the English Rock Ensemble and the English Chamber Choir and

STEVE EGGS BAND at the Sound Lounge, Sutton ‘We are the Music Makers and the Dreamer of Dreams’. That was the philosophical slogan writ large on the wall at the Sound Lounge, one of South West London’s finest venues. But it could also have been the motto of the club’s star attraction, the Steve Eggs Band, performing for the delight of an enthusiastic audience at

A Gallery of the Imagination Rick Wakeman’s musical collaboration with his band The English Rock Ensemble certainly has hidden depths, which incidentally is the appropriate title of the opening track on ‘A Gallery Of The Imagination’ Rick’s latest album release. Imagine this...a collection of songs that might inspire the listener to approach music making in the same way as Mr. Wakeman has set about creating

Books for the Music People Christmas may have come and gone but there is still time to buy presents for your nearest and dearest and those you know slightly in the queue for cat food at Lidl. There can be no greater gift to bestow than a good book, even if it’s only a re-print of the 1939 A-Z map of London, available at all