On The Road With...

In the finale of Season 6, Gareth chats with his longtime friend and collaborator, Hip-Hop producer, Vice Beats. They talk about, among other things, his reasons for stepping away from the live touring scene a few years back, his early days as an MC performing live and why he now prefers the studio, the J Dilla tribute album project that he masterminded, and much more.

The songs featured in this episode, which can be streamed via the 'On The Road With Songs' playlist on Spotify are 'Lost Time' (Vice Beats feat. Ellie Harris, Kinkai & Thalassic) & That Love (Vice Beats, Audessey, Greg Blackman & Knuf).

The show returns with Season 7 this autumn! In the meantime, join the 'On The Road With Official Community' group on Facebook for updates about the new season and much more!

Gareth sits down with former Level 42 drummer and songwriter, Phil Gould.

Back in February, Gareth caught up with former Level 42 drummer, Phil Gould, to talk about the album he's been working on during lockdown and the creative productivity that has resulted from it. Having left the iconic group in 1987, he talks about his brief return in 1994 and his contribution to the album of that year, Forever Now.

This is also an honest account of his reasons for leaving the band, the nervous exhaustion that his brother, Roland 'Boon' Gould suffered as a result of the relentless touring with the outfit, and an in depth look at the songwriting process within the band during his time with them. They also discuss what he's done since Level 42, his approach to drumming, songwriting, multi-instrumentalism and much, much more.

The songs featured in this episode span Phil's career to date, including his latest single release 'Faint Love', 'The Sun Goes Down (Living It Up)', 'Two Solitudes (Everyone's Love In The Air)' and 'Love Games', all Level 42, and to finish, Stevie Winwood's 'Back In The High Life Again'.

As always, you can stream all of the commercially available music on the 'On The Road With Songs' playlist on Spotify.

For this jam-packed bumper episode, Gareth is joined by Jools Holland's longtime bass supremo, Dave Swift. In one of the widest-ranging interviews ever on the show, Gareth and Dave meander through various topics, such as Dave's advice to those looking to become professional multi-instrumentalists like he is, as bass was not actually his first instrument. Dave also takes us behind the scenes in the Jools camp and talks about the backstage side of how some of the most iconic moments on 'Later' with legendary world class artists, and the mindset and approach one must adopt as a musician when working at that level.

He also entertains with stories of playing at the G8 Summit in 1998 among other things, as well as the experience of recording posthumously with the late, great Amy Winehouse, and much much more! The following songs are also featured in the episode:

Misfits - Jools Holland, Terri Walker

Don't Go To Strangers - Paul Weller, Amy Winehouse & Jools Holland

Snowflake Boogie - Edwin Starr, Jools Holland

Remember, you can have all the tracks played on the show at your fingertips, by following the 'On The Road With Featured Songs' playlist on Spotify. To keep in touch with the show and for bonus content etc, join the 'On The Road With Official Community'.

To kick off Season 6 in style, Gareth is joined by soulful singer, songwriter and contestant on The Voice 2021, Hannah Williams.

Having made her name fronting Hannah Williams & The Tastemakers, Hannah has more recently had global touring success with the awesome Hannah Williams & The Affirmations, as well as reaching the public vote on The Voice earlier this year, a highlight being working and performing live with the legendary Sir Tom Jones. She's also be sampled by Jay-Z on the song '4:44', and is one of the UK's most dynamic performers.

Having first met back in 2014, Gareth and Hannah discuss her experience on The Voice, the story behind the transition from Tastemakers to Affirmations, the latter's future album plans, how the industry bounces back from the double negative of Covid-19 and Brexit, and much much more. This episode also features tracks from the band's most recent release '50 Foot Woman', and their debut 'Late Nights And Heartbreaks.

Follow Hannah and the band's journey @HWAffirmations on all social media platforms, and you can stream all the commercially available music from the show via the 'On The Road With Featured Songs' playlist on Spotify. To get regular bonus content from the show and updates, join the 'On The Road With Official Community' group on Facebook.

For a special bumper episode to mark 30 shows, Gareth is joined by the infamous Smoove, of Smoove & Turrell. Featuring many of the legendary tracks that producer, percussionist creative visionary Smoove has released throughout his solo career, working with collaborators and obviously Smoove & Turrell, this conversation is one of the most wide-ranging ever featured on the show.

Gareth and Smoove discuss everything from the latter's journey from a young producer discovering a sampler (having pursued other performance exploits prior to this), to where he is now; the ever-changing landscape of social media and how Jalapeno Records, the band's label, have helped them massively with this and so much more. Smoove also opens up about the inner workings of the band, the business side, which he has recently taken a bigger role in, and many many other things.

The tracks featured in this episode are:

Do It - Smoove & Turrell (from their most recent chart-topping album, Stratos Bleu)

I Can't Give You Up - Smoove & Turrell

Big Love - Smoove

Without You - Smoove & Turrell

You're Gone - Izo Fitzroy/Smoove & Turrell

I'm A Man - Smoove & Turrell

Coming Back - Smoove (from his debut album, Dead Men's Shirts)

Remember, you can stream all of the commercially available music from the show on the 'On The Road With Songs' playlist on Spotify.

We'll be taking a break for a while now, but will be back with a BANG for Season 6, with an incredible virtual event featuring many past guests. To keep in the loop, just join our Facebook group here - https://www.facebook.com/groups/3077292849040877

To keep up with all things Smoove & Turrell, head to their website - https://smooveandturrell.com/, 'Smooveandturrell' on Facebook, or 'smooveturrell' on Instagram/Twitter. You can also hang out with the guys during lockdown on their weekly online radio show, The Northern Coal Experience. You can also follow Smoove @smooveuk on Facebook & Instagram, and @stevenmoove on Twitter.

Gareth sits down with like-minded comedian, magician and founder of Focused Creatives, Tom Elliott.

Tom is quite literally the perfect guest for this show. He's all about mindset, positivity (especially in these uncertain times) and the belief that you don't have to be world famous to make a good living doing what you love.

In this extensive chat, Gareth and Tom talk about the creation of the Focused Creatives online community, which Gareth recently joined. They also discuss the game-changing but uncomfortable experience Tom had when meeting one his heroes, the valuable lessons he took from spending time with renowned comics Milton Jones and Joe Pasquale, future predictions for the survival of theatres of different sizes, the confidence problems many creatives have, how being on TV talent shows isn't the be-all and end-all, and much much more!

As Tom is not a 'music' guest as such, Gareth has also included a little treat for you at the end of the show, enjoy!

To follow Tom's journey, you can find him @tomelliott_UK on Twitter and Instagram or tomelliottuk on Facebook. To find out more about Focussed Creative, find them @focussedcreative on Instagram or visit their website focussedcreative.co.uk.

You can also find Tom's brand new podcast, 'Get On With It', wherever you get your podcast fix.

In this bumper episode , Gareth is joined by one half of Smoove & Turrell, prolific soulful singer-songwriter, John Turrell. As episodes go, this one is certainly up there with the best since the podcast began, full of laughs and insight about everything from the songwriting process within Smoove & Turrell, one of the most successful outfits in British funk and soul for many years, John's solo album and his thoughts on it, the challenges post-Brexit for artists who rely heavily on touring in Europe, and much much more.

As well as his distinctive voice and funky singing style, John is also known for his refreshing honestly, and he certainly 'tells it how it is' in this chat. Among other topics discussed are the two sides of the argument with regards to streaming, the debate around record labels and which types of labels are the best to work with, and there's also plenty of music, the most there's ever been in an episode of the show! Featured tracks include songs and remixes from S&T's number 1 Dance Charts record, Stratos Bleu, a collaboration between John and Dr. Rubberfunk, a song from John's solo album, 'The Kingmaker', and even a live track from one of John's and Gareth's inspirations to close the show. As ever, all these songs are available on the 'On The Road With Songs' playlist on Spotify.

To keep up with all things Smoove & Turrell, head to their website - https://smooveandturrell.com/, 'Smooveandturrell' on Facebook, or 'smooveturrell' on Instagram/Twitter. You can also hang out with the guys during lockdown on their weekly online radio show, The Northern Coal Experience.

A very special guest for the podcast, today Gareth is joined by former Beautiful South and Housemartins singer and drummer Dave Hemmingway. 

Having known each other since 2012 from their days in The South together, Gareth and Dave's chat is very much like two friends catching up. They talk about Dave's feeling of 'new beginnings' with Sunbirds, who released their debut album 'Cool to be Kind' on Nectar Records last year. The band is collaboration between Dave and guitarist with The South, Phil Barton, as well as session drummer to the stars, Marc Parnell and talented violinist/vocalist Laura Wilcockson.

They also discuss the different levels of touring that Dave has experienced, from early days (even pre-Housemartins) playing locally in Hull, to selling out arenas with The Beautiful South. Dave talks about his eagerness to get back out there and play live with Sunbirds after this enforced pause on their progress due to Covid, the strange relationship he's had with performing on stage throughout his career, his love of the creative process in the studio and much, much more.

The songs featured in this episode are a mixture of Sunbirds releases ('Beautiful People' and 'When I'm Gone') as well as a less obvious Beautiful South choice, their cover of Jeff Lynne's 'Livin' Thing' , and Dave chose the Beatles' 'Strawberry Fields Forever' as a track that inspired him, to close the show. Remember, every commercially available song played on the show can be found on the 'On The Road With Songs' playlist on Spotify.

To keep up with Sunbirds' news, releases and (eventually) gigs, you can follow them on all social media - 'SunbirdsMusic' on Twitter and Instagram and facebook.com/sunbirds.co.uk. Alternatively, you can stream or download the new album on all digital streaming outlets, or via their website - sunbirds.co.uk

To kick off Season 5 of the show, Gareth is joined by London-based singer-songwriter Abi Farrell.

Having known each other since their days at the University of Birmingham a few years back, they talk fondly of that time, as well as the importance of collaboration in the arts, especially in the current circumstances. Abi has recently formed a songwriting with Big AC Records founder, solo artist, former New Street Adventure frontman and guest on this podcast, Nick Corbin. Other topics include her feelings on her first foray into touring, her passion for creating and pushing modern soul sounds and much, much more.

Her first release writing with Nick and released on the label, 'I Will See You Through' is played on the show as well as previous releases 'Ivy' and 'The Only Way I Learn'. Remember, you can stream these tracks along with every song featured on the show by following the 'On The Road With Podcast' playlist on Spotify.

You can follow Abi's journey on all social media (@abifarrellmusic) and Nick's brand new venture Big AC Records @bigacrecords or via their website - bigacrecords.com.

Gareth is joined in this episode by prolific soul singer and songwriter, Myles Sanko.

Myles prides himself on promoting hope through his songs, and is on a journey towards reaching the goal of 15 albums in 30 years. The setting of that goal and why long term goals are important for artists, is one of the many topics that Gareth & Myles discuss. They also talk about the reality of the current pandemic and how different players in the industry have handled it as well as the impending threat of Brexit to live performers who tour on the continent (which Myles has done extensively, including supporting Gregory Porter a few years back) The importance of spontaneity and feeling/looking good when you walk out on stage to do a show is another conversation topic, and much much more!

You can keep up with Myles' continually successful career by going to his website www.mylessanko.com, following @mylessanko on Instagram & Twitter, or search for 'Myles Sanko Fan Page' on Facebook.

Myles' latest single 'Rainbow In Your Cloud', from his 2021 album 'Memories of Love' is also available to download and stream now, including on the 'On The Road With Featured Songs' playlist on Spotify, which includes every song played on the show until now.