Well, it’s been a busy period and I’m not complaining…

TUBULAR BELLS LIVE

TBL has continued to tour with the amazing support and effort of our promoter Nick Taggart and his NETT UK Ltd team (including Kimberly Nolan, graphic designer). We performed at the TB50 anniversary in 2023 alongside Ruben and Ari from the Spanish band Tubular Tribute as well as playing select venues around England since 2015 but are planning a bigger tour in 2026/2027 with an updated setlist and more amazing musicians. http://www.tubularbellslive.com – follow our Facebook page and Instagram for updates!

Visit the Tubular Bells Live blog page here – Tubular Bells Live!

THE GEORGE HARRISON PROJECT

GHP have been touring extensively around the UK (England and Wales) from Exeter to York, Yarmouth to Liverpool and thankfully a few in East Anglia too. Working with the band and the support from the ladies running the merch desk is so much fun and we love George’s music. We have about 40 gigs booked in for each year and are booking gigs into 2027! http://www.thegeorgeharrisonproject.com

ROM THEATRE ARTS

Since September 2023, I’ve been lecturing in Musical Theatre history and music theory, and teaching singing & vocal ensembles for the BA Hons Musical Theatre (validated by the University of Chichester) for the great team at Rom Theatre Arts in Great Dunmow. This includes writing bespoke arrangements and preparing for showcases and productions. The team there and the West End associate lecturers are inspiring and the students work hard to push themselves. Many from this year’s graduating class have got agents and one has headed to train on Broadway! Check out the college here: http://www.romtheatrearts.co.uk

PRODUCTIONS AND CONCERTS

I’m fortunate to work with some amazing musical theatre societies and have my trusted musicians at my side – normally a combo of “Toots, Tings and Toms” – that’s Guy Eade and Hannah Wainwright, but I really get a buzz from conducting a live band.

I’m about to update my long list of productions, concerts, arrangements and compositions as it’s been dormant since Covid. I’ve recently returned to the Chelmsford Theatre to work with Springers after 30 years (!) and we’ve just performed ALL SHOOK UP, which was very well received by the audiences, who danced in the aisles at the end! Also in 2025 I conducted Sister Act in Manningtree and Camelot in Colchester to name two. In 2024, I either conductor and played (or played) Made in Dagenham, Nine, Legally Blonde (twice), High School Musical (which won a Noda award) and The Wizard of Oz. 2023 included Urinetown, Crazy for You, A Tale of Two Cities, Funny Girl, the Iconic concert where I arranged a whole evening of iconic pop singer medleys and I composed the incidental music for Goodnight Mr Tom.

In 2026 I am conducting No No Nanette in May and Ghost in July, playing for Guys and Dolls in Jan/Feb and more besides I’m sure.

ISLAND – THE ORATORIO: My co-composer Jeremy Harmer and I were pleased to give ISLAND its 3rd performance after about 10 years. This year we performed it with a children’s choir, adult choir and orchestra at West Road Concert Hall in Cambridge and hope that it might be on a Cambs/Norfolk stage next year.

ESSEX COUNTY COUNCIL: CHRISTMAS MUSIC: each summer since 2022, I’ve been arranging music for local primary school choirs and the Essex Youth Orchestra to learn from September to December. This means writing enjoyable Christmas medleys in the height of summer – and this year, it was as early as May & June.