Recent gigs

[ColinB]

I wasn't at this gig but thought it worth posting this from the Beeb website -

Folk rocker Frank Turner played one of the UK's first gigs with a socially-distanced audience at London's Clapham Grand last night. Performing live for the first time in more than four months made for a "strange, emotional evening", the singer said.

But with just 200 people able to attend the 1,250 capacity venue, manager Ally Wolf said it did not make enough money to cover the operating costs, even before paying a fee to the performer.

"It can't be the future for live music, it can't be the future for venues," he said.

The venue had to be reconfigured, with temperature checks on the door, tables and seats brought in and drinks ordered to the table.

[Bridgwit (Bridget)]

I don’t know what the solution is to this. Beverley Knight did a gig 2 weeks ago in similar circumstances & the promoter said the same - without the numbers the gigs simply aren’t viable.

I’m pinning my hopes on a vaccine. The future is going to be a strange place  

[bassline (Mike)]

I don’t know what the solution is to this. Beverley Knight did a gig 2 weeks ago in similar circumstances & the promoter said the same - without the numbers the gigs simply aren’t viable.

I’m pinning my hopes on a vaccine. The future is going to be a strange place  

It's a pretty weird place in the present, isn't it ?
I would like to respectfully suggest to every one, to look into all aspects of a vaccine, from all points of view.
Look for whatever facts you can find..there's lots of opinions..facts are more essential with this situation than ever.
I hope everybody is doing well.
This is off topic so I'll leave it there.

[mickf]

Have you seen this clip of  Flaming Lips doing a concert where everyone on stage and all of the audience are inside an individual plastic bubble?
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=flaming+lips+bubble+concert&docid=608023002402326502&mid=EFDF5C5B9B15D2616319EFDF5C5B9B15D2616319&view=detail&FORM=VIRE

[PaulT]

Excellent !

[MarkV]

The West End Centre in Aldershot is going to reopen to live music, but the artists will all be local new/up and coming.  Where they would have had 180 for a standing event, they will likely only have a max of 48 or so sat around tables/ spaced chairs.  They are also doing live stream things too and thinking about some outdoor gigs as well .  Early days but hopeful.  

[Bingers (Chris)]

The West End Centre in Aldershot is going to reopen to live music, but the artists will all be local new/up and coming.  Where they would have had 180 for a standing event, they will likely only have a max of 48 or so sat around tables/ spaced chairs.  They are also doing live stream things too and thinking about some outdoor gigs as well .  Early days but hopeful.  

Apparently Frank Turner did a trial gig at the Clapham Grand this week but was deemed unsuccessful. This was because only 200 people could attend sitting around tables when normally 1250 turn up for a standing gig. So venue lost money even though Frank was playing for nothing. Cannot see this as being the answer  

[mickf]

I was in Barry town centre this morning and there was a bloke busking, complete with microphone and amplified guitar.  It was nice to hear some live music in the street, but I thought this was not allowed at the moment (unless I've missed something.)

[davidmjs]

I was in Barry town centre this morning and there was a bloke busking, complete with microphone and amplified guitar.  It was nice to hear some live music in the street, but I thought this was not allowed at the moment (unless I've missed something.)

It's certainly permitted in England (since early June).  Not sure about Wales.

[PaulT]

Permitted in England, unless he/she is playing anything by Oasis or Ed Sheeran. Or Stairway to Heaven.  

[Paul]

I was in Barry town centre this morning and there was a bloke busking, complete with microphone and amplified guitar.  It was nice to hear some live music in the street, but I thought this was not allowed at the moment (unless I've missed something.)

I think it is OK as long as you distance. Our friend Archie has been busking outside old people's homes to cheer up the residents.

Paul

[Adam]

Live message - forgive me for any spelling mistakes as I’m a bit tiddly. First live gig since February, and it’s fabulous - Show of Hands drive in gig at Victoria Country Park, Southampton. It’s really well set up, with 150 cars, and designated area to the left of your car for chairs, picnics, etc (I’m not the driver, hence a few glasses of wine in the sunshine). Really good local singer (Johnny Moody) on stage at the moment, and it feels almost like a festival.  I’m really going to miss Cropredy this year, but this is a good way to still get that festival vibe (ish). Show of Hands soon, which will round off a really fun evening.

[Kevin M]

First real live gig since March on Saturday. Ian Prowse in a marquee in Rainford. Great show, whole place was almost ecstatic that live music was back, even if in slightly restrained conditions. All in all, the social distancing worked, so hopefully more of these type events will start to appear. Big well done to venue and artist for making this happen.

[spooley (Simon)]

Me too for the first gig since March ... Jamie & the Falcons (Jamie Moses, Spike Edney, Steve Stroud and Jamie Little) in the garden of the Kings Arms, All Cannings, Wiltshire (home to the excellent http://concertatkings.co.uk mini-festival in past years).

50 tables, each accommodating up to 6 people, well spaced in front of a small covered stage with a garden-sized PA.
Excellent beers from a garden tent (we settled on Wadworths Horizon) and good snacks from a local event catering stall.

The Falcons, all great musicians with a fantastic pedigree of performing with top-rank bands, play mainly rock/pop/soul covers very well.
They were all obviously having a great time back playing before a live audience, and the afternoon went by far too quickly.

Still a few gigs left in the "Summer at the Kings" weekend events over the next couple of weekends, sadly I missed out on Sweet (local favourites - Andy Scott lives in the village - and those tickets were sold out before I'd read to the end of the initial email promoting the event!).

[Nick Reg]

First gig since February tonight. Gerry Colvin with Marion and Lyndon. Absolutely fabulous. Want more.

[davidmjs]

A virtual attending of a real gig at the Barbican on Saturday night - Erland Cooper.  'Twas very special indeed.

[DarrenWilliams]

A virtual attending of a real gig at the Barbican on Saturday night - Erland Cooper.  'Twas very special indeed.

I've not heard much of his recent solo work, but I am familiar with Erland and The Carnival and The Magnetic North. Did this gig concentrate on the former?

[davidmjs]

A virtual attending of a real gig at the Barbican on Saturday night - Erland Cooper.  'Twas very special indeed.

I've not heard much of his recent solo work, but I am familiar with Erland and The Carnival and The Magnetic North. Did this gig concentrate on the former?

Yep - it concentrated entirely on the wonderful trilogy of solo albums* 'about' Orkney which he has released in the last few years since TMN.  I've seen him 4 times (including this performance) since 2017, and this music soothes my soul like very little else.  Truly wonderful stuff.

*
2018: Solan Goose
2019: Sule Skerry
2020: Hether Blether

[DarrenWilliams]

A virtual attending of a real gig at the Barbican on Saturday night - Erland Cooper.  'Twas very special indeed.

I've not heard much of his recent solo work, but I am familiar with Erland and The Carnival and The Magnetic North. Did this gig concentrate on the former?

Yep - it concentrated entirely on the wonderful trilogy of solo albums* 'about' Orkney which he has released in the last few years since TMN.  I've seen him 4 times (including this performance) since 2017, and this music soothes my soul like very little else.  Truly wonderful stuff.

*
2018: Solan Goose
2019: Sule Skerry
2020: Hether Blether

I need a concerted effort to check these out, thanks.

[davidmjs]

Just watched a great instore with This is the Kit's Kate Stables from a record shop in Paris.  Bloody marvellous - that woman is something very special indeed.