I am excited to be back in the studio this week, recording some new songs, at Brighton Road Recording Studios, with Jake Skinner engineering and the following fantastic musicians featuring on the tracks:
James Chapman – drums
Dave Coomber – bass
Mishkin Fitzgerald – piano
Simon Yapp – violin, viola
I am really excited to be playing these fantastic gigs in January to kick off 2024, including a gig in Sydenham, South London, where I lived up until the age of 11. I remember the day I was walking to the Bakery, at the bottom of Sydenham High Street, when I was about 4, with my Mum. Just as we were about to go in and get iced buns, my best cowboy hat got blown off by the wind and disappeared down the road. We couldn’t run after it and I was mortified. My Mum did her best to cheer me up with the promise of an iced bun and I stood in the queue in a mix of emotions. Just as we were leaving the shop with our buns, a man, resembling Dick Van Dyck, burst through the Bakery door with my cowboy hat in his hand. He had run about a half mile, he said, down the road and had rescued my cowboy hat. I was so happy and walked back home holding tight to my hat and iced bun, eyes full of tears. So on Saturday evening 27th January 2024 at Ignition Brewery in Sydenham, anyone who comes up to me and says “I was that window cleaner who saved your cowboy hat” will get a free CD and a heartfelt hug 
Ian Roland (guitars, vocals) and Dave Coomber (bass, vocals) just about to play a gig at The Hop Tub as part of new Festival HURSTfolk. Thank you all at The Hop Tub for the wonderful heated outside tent put up for the occasion and the delicious beer and food. Thank you to Debbie and Team at HURSTfolk. presents: Live Music at The Hop Tub for putting it all together. 
11th Nov 2023 (9pm) Acoustic Sanctuary, The Angel of Bow , 17 Devon Road, London E3 3QX
Sat 18th Nov 2023 (12 noon) HURSTFolk, The Hop Tub,113 High Street, Hurstpierpoint
Thurs 30th Nov 2023 (7pm doors) Art & Soul Cafe, 7 New St, Saint Neots, Cambridgeshire PE19 1AE
Here’s the line up for HURSTfolk, a new festival coming soon to Hurstpierpoint, West Sussex.
I will be performing on Sat 18th Nov 2023 (from 12 noon) at The Hop Tub,113 High Street, Hurstpierpoint. More info at www.musicglue.com/hurstfolk-1 Free entry.
I am supporting the fantastic Joshua Ray Walker on Wednesday 6th September 2023 at The Prince Albert, Brighton
Tickets are here: https://www.brighthelmstonepromotions.co.uk/tickets.php
I’m looking forward to playing the following Festivals this August Holiday Weekend and in to September 
…
Sat 26th August 2023 (1.30pm) New Music Festival, Old Reigatians Rugby Club, Reigate. Tickets from https://www.newmusicnights.co.uk/
Sun 27th August 2023 (afternoon) Mid Sussex Music & Ale Festival, Mid Sussex Music Hall, Hassocks. Tickets from https://www.brighthelmstonepromotions.co.uk/tickets.php
Sat 9th Sept 2023 (7.15pm) CranFest 2023, High Street Stage, Cranbrook Music Festival, Cranbrook www.cranfest.co.uk
I am still buzzing on hyperdrive after last night’s gig at the superb Factory Live venue in Worthing when I supported Graham Gouldman and his ‘Heart Full Of Songs’ band. Graham played a lot of his hits, which span six decades, including songs from 10cc, The Hollies, Herman’s Hermits, The Yardbirds, Jeff Beck and his time in Wax with Andrew Gold. Here I am pictured back stage with Graham…
Thank you, Brian Player, Ethan and all the Acoustic Cafe Team for your review of my album, ‘The Wood Wide Web’ and for playing a track from it on your show 18th July 2023. It is much appreciated and thank you for your kind comments about it saying it’s an album that contains “moments of orchestral love and wonder”, that it’s “very thought provoking” and “highly recommended”.
Listen again on Mixcloud. The review starts at around 1:23:00
Monday evenings usually find me playing the excellent Open Mic at The Neptune pub in Hove and there I was this Monday, as usual, playing a few songs. I have come to learn to always expect the unexpected at Open Mics. The positive energy Open Mic nights generate transform the ordinary and everyday and anything can happen… but I am still in shock from the fact that playing that Open Mic last night has led to me being offered a support slot for 10cc’s Graham Gouldman’s Heart Full Of Songs show at The Factory Live, Worthing on July 25, 2023 (doors 7pm).
Yes! A support slot for Graham Gouldman, co-founder of 10CC, and songwriter for 10CC, The Hollies, Herman’s Hermits, The Yardbirds, Jeff Beck, and Wax. I am so excited about this!
