Neil Oram in conversation with David Eastaugh

In 1956 Oram traveled to Africa where he met musician Mike Gibbs in Salisbury, (now Harare). He played double bass in the Mike Gibbs Quintet with Gibbs on piano, vibes and trombone. A post-concert epiphany where a voice repeatedly told him "Je suis un poet!" led him to take up writing. Oram returned to Britain in 1958 where he ran a jazz café called The House of Sam Widges at 8 D'Arblay Street in Soho, London.The café was known for its jukebox which only had modern jazz records. It attracted many of the top London musicians. Ronnie Scott, Tubby Hayes, Graham Bond, Dave Tomlin and Bobby Wellins were frequent customers, occasionally enjoying a bowl of spaghetti bolognese crafted by Oram. Downstairs was a club/performance space called 'The Pad'.

Oram was now writing poetry, giving readings and painting large abstract jazz inspired paintings. In 1960 he opened The Mingus art gallery in Marshall Street, Soho where abstract paintings by O. G. Bradbury, George Popperwell, Jaime Manzano, Tony Shiels and William Morris the American beat poet/action painter could be seen. Morris's huge, jazz paintings were executed in The Pad to the vibrant sounds of the Graham Bond Quartet, then carried round the corner and hung up wet in The Mingus.

Adrian Shaw or Ade Shaw - bass player with Hawkwind, Bevis Frond, Arthur Brown - in conversation with David Eastaugh

Ade Shaw, is a musician primarily working in the psychedelic field. He has a long history dating back to the 1960s working with such acts as Hawkwind,Country Joe McDonald, Arthur Brown, and the Deviants. Shaw played bass for former Tyrannosaurus Rex percussionist Steve Peregrin Took's band in 1974 and three years later, while appearing with Hawkwind on the former other half of Tyrannosaurus Rex Marc Bolan's TV show, was himself invited to join T.Rex; however Bolan's death very shortly thereafter prevented this.

Shaw co-founded Magic Muscle, and since 1990 has been a member of British psychedelic outfit the Bevis Frond. He has also recorded many albums as a solo artist and co-run the independent record label Woronzow Records with Bevis Frond's Nick Saloman. Since 2011 Shaw has also been a member of the band Hawklords.

Michael Visceglia talking about his life in music with David Eastaugh

"Native New Yorker Michael Visceglia got his professional start as a bassist touring with Welsh rocker, and Velvet Underground alumnus, John Cale. Since then he has recorded and/or performed with artists as diverse as: Jackson Browne, Bruce Springsteen, Avril Lavigne, Jorma Kaukonen, Phoebe Snow, Cyndi Lauper, Bette Midler, and Christopher Cross.

Since 1985, Mr. Visceglia has been, and continues to be the primary bassist for the iconic songstress Suzanne Vega, and played on her breakthrough album “Solitude Standing”, which featured the Grammy-nominated song “Luka”.

John Porter special - The Smiths, Roxy Music & much more - talking about his life in music with David Eastaugh

Porter met singer Bryan Ferry, and was part of his fledgling band The Gas Board. Ferry's later band Roxy Music had achieved success in the early 1970s, but having had some troubles with bass players, Ferry invited Porter on board to record the 1973 album For Your Pleasure. Porter went on to serve as a record producer for many later albums for Roxy Music and Bryan Ferry. Porter is credited with the production of Liverpool's Watt 4 album at Matrix Studios in 1979.

He has since produced for The Smiths, Billy Bragg, The Blades, Microdisney, School of Fish, B. B. King, Los Lonely Boys, Buddy Guy, Ryan Adams, Missy Higgins and numerous other bands. 

The Nivens from Northumberland special with Peter Martin with David Eastaugh 

The Nivens from Northumberland existed between 1987 to 1990. Recording for the excellent Woosh label, Their debut 'Yesterday' hit the indie top ten in January 1989.

Indie pop band from Cramlington, Northumberland, UK. Not to be confused with The Nivens from Norwich, UK who recorded at the same time for the French Danceteria label.

Basti & Globo special with Steve Appleton in conversation with David Eastaugh

Basti was formed in the late 1980s by members of The Herman Herd and Eva Valve. The two bands used to share a rehearsal space and were both very active in the Norwich Venue Campaign at around that time. Most of the members were also involved in The Waterfront. When Basti split up in 1993, four of the members went on to form Globo.

Thea Gilmore also known as Afterlight -  in conversation with David Eastaugh 

Thea Eve Gilmore  also known as Afterlight, is an English singer-songwriter. She has released more than twenty albums since her 1998 debut Burning Dorothy. She has had three Top 40 entries on the UK Albums Chart and one on the UK Singles Chart. Her first album as Afterlight will be released in 2021.

Gilmore has announced two albums to be released in September 2021: The Emancipation of Eva Grey and Afterlight. According to Gilmore's website, "[the two albums'] songs share the same subject matter", with Emancipation being the last album to be produced under the name "Thea Gilmore", and Afterlight being the first produced by the "newly personified Afterlight".

Blueboy special with Paul Stewart in conversation with David Eastaugh

Blueboy formed around 1989 and initially consisted of Keith Girdler (on vocals) and Paul Stewart (on guitars), formerly of little-known band Feverfew. They soon signed to Sarah Records, releasing the home-recorded single "Clearer" in 1991, and took on more members, including singer/cellist Gemma Townley and second guitarist Harvey Williams (of The Field Mice/Another Sunny Day).

"Clearer" was followed by several singles and two albums on Sarah, If Wishes Were Horses and Unisex. In October 1994, Blueboy recorded a session for John Peel's BBC Radio 1 show.[3] Their final release, The Bank of England, was released in 1998 on Sarah head Matt Haynes' new label, Shinkansen Recordings. By then, Girdler and Stewart were the only original members of the band. Girdler and Stewart were also involved in two other bands, Arabesque and Beaumont,[1] and Girdler also recorded with Lovejoy. Townley later joined Trembling Blue Stars, as did Williams.

Power of Dreams special with Craig Walker in conversation with David Eastaugh

Power of Dreams released their critically acclaimed first EP A Little Piece of God,[1] on Keith Cullen's London-based Setanta Records in 1989, while Walker was still at school. Following a six-figure bidding war between rival record labels, the band signed a deal with Polydor Records. In December 1989, the British music magazine NME picked Power of Dreams, along with others such as Carter USM and the Charlatans, as their "stars of tomorrow".

Blue Orchids & The Fall with Martin Bramah 

Blue Orchids are an English post-punk band formed in Manchester in 1979, when Martin Bramah decided to quit The Fall after playing on the band's debut album Live at the Witch Trials. Christened by Salford-based punk poet John Cooper Clarke the band recorded for Rough Trade and acted as backing band for the Velvet Underground's Nico before a 25-year period of intermittent activity and alternative identities.