On The Road With...

Gareth sits down with multi-skilled performer, Lucy Littlemore for this wide-ranging chat. Gareth and Lucy talk regularly and have stayed in touch throughout 'lockdown' but here, they cover A LOT of ground, from discussing the key tenets of the 'performance' mindset, to the increased accessibility of the arts due to Covid-19 the different spheres of the Burlesque and Drag performance worlds and much, much more. Lucy offers some valid positive points on the impact of the pandemic, whilst discussing the stress and heartbreak that creative people, especially those who thrive on performance, have experienced this year. This is genuinely one of the most wide-ranging, thought provoking episodes so far, and not to be missed!

Gareth and Lucy first worked together in 2018, with her outfit 'The Darling Creatures Collective' providing backing vocals for Gareth's version of the Earth, Wind & Fire number 'September', on his debut solo album in 2018, which you can hear on Spotify etc. (and it features in this episode). You can stream it and add it to your playlists here: https://open.spotify.com/track/2Jv1gFzkjc8wCXEDptiLK8?si=cVb3vDKkSfqLRLkZCVgypg. The group also accompanied Gareth on stage at his album launch at Hansom Hall in Leicester back in October 2018.

Lucy is a true multi-skilled artist, choreographer, leader and performer in every sense. You can check out her impressive projects at the following links:

The Vixen Trio - https://www.facebook.com/TheVixbookings or thevixentrio on Instagram

The Darling Creatures Collective - https://www.facebook.com/thedarlingcreaturescollective or thedarlingcreatures on Instagram.

The other songs featured in this episode are Christine & The Queens number 'Girlfriend' and Lucy's partner Siobhan Mazzei's new release 'Here's To You (Another Christmas Song)'.

Don't forget all of the tracks from this episode (and the rest) are available for you on the 'On The Road With Featured Songs' playlist on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0AlrYCQE2NECUOnkGLdYk1?si=ZmVbUkFFQBS5ENsYjbpB4A

Gareth catches up with an old University friend, musician, singer-songwriter and sound engineer Nick Jackson. Nick currently tours with Jamrioquai as part of their crew and has worked with many impressive names including Supergrass and Sheryl Crow. Having known each other for over ten years, Gareth & Nick used to perform and record a lot together during their University days and despite both still working in the music industry, they've taken quite different paths.

They discuss, among other things, Nick's movement from musician/solo artist to sound engineer and how the two can work alongside each other, the psychology behind being a singer and performing at the front of a band or on your own, the current situation for touring professionals involved in live events and the possible opportunities (and also challenges) that several industries face next year following the pandemic. Nick also takes us through the complex and impressive set up, which creates far more jobs than you might think, on the road with Jamrioquai, and picks three of his favourite songs:

One More Dollar - Gillian Welch

Deeper Underground - Jamiroquai

Splendor Riot - Julian Lage

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

In the first episode of Season 4, Gareth is joined by performer and booking agent, Lucy Campbell. 

In a jam-packed conversation, they discuss everything from the need for performing artists to diversity but NOT re-train under the current circumstances, to Lucy's Classical Charts number 1 hit with her duo, Eden.

They also look at how the industry has adapted to cope with the pressures and restrictions of Covid-19, Lucy's adventure into the world of 'original' music and the relevance (or not) of the covers v original music artist debate, and much much more.

You can check out Lucy's work with Eden at their website (www.edengb.com) and on social media channels, as well as her successful agency business, Live Entertainment at www.live-entertainment.co.uk.

If you'd like to stream all of the commercially available songs played on the podcast, you can find them on the 'On The Road With...Featured Songs' playlist on Spotify.

Gareth chats with hugely experienced sound engineer, John Chadwick. 

John is somebody very much at the top of his game, having worked with Aerosmith, Ringo Star, Judas Priest, Anastasia, Rod Stewart and many many others. They talk about what may need to happen for live events to resume and be viable, the general lack of understanding of what road crew do on tour, the importance of honing your craft and being personable if you want to go into a touring profession, and much more!

Fittingly, the tracks that John picked for the show are from bands that he has worked with in one form or another:

• 'Road To Nowhere' - Talking Heads
• 'Yes' - Roundabout
• 'Living On The Edge' - Aerosmith

Remember, you can listen to all of the commercially available music from the show by following the 'On The Road With Featured Songs' playlist on Spotify.

In this special 20th episode of the show, Gareth picks some of his favourite moments from Seasons 1 & 2 of the show. Featuring a selection of snippets from the first two seasons with the various wonderful guests, as well as a selection of their music choices from the episodes, Gareth explains why he has chosen them, and provides updates on the shows future plans.

Remember, all three series of the show so far are available on Gareth's Youtube channel, and you can stream all of the commercially available music from the show by following the 'On The Road With Featured Songs' playlist.

In this episode, Gareth chats with established touring artist Aynsley Lister. Having toured extensively for 22 years, Aynsley is built up a highly respectable following, particularly across the continent, with an impressive album catalogue and, in normal circumstances, a very full show diary!

Aynsley and Gareth discuss, among other things, how the loyal and growing fanbase have kept him going all these years, how you grow as an artist and change with each new album release, his beginnings as a young blues-rock singer-songwriter, the double threat of Covid-19 and Brexit for touring performers, the enjoyment he's gained recently from working as a writer and session musician outside of his own music, and much more.

The songs chosen for this episode are 'Straight Talkin' Woman', and 'Broke', both from Aynsley's 2013 release 'Home', as well as Ffion Rebecca's 'Love Again' in which Aynsley accompanied her on guitar, released through the HQ Familia label earlier this year.

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

'I started as a sound engineer because I wasn't a very good musician' - Matt Jones

In a first for the show, with full video on Youtube, Gareth talks to vastly experienced sound engineer and tour manager, Matt Jones. This is the first time we've had a crew member rather than performer as a guest, and Matt certainly has some interesting tales to tell, including when ended up at the last minute doing the front of house sound for the legendary James Brown, his time working for US-based Rock Band Pixies and how that came about, and many more. He has also worked with a 'who’s who' of music icons including Radiohead, Sister Sledge, Dionne Warwick, Katherine Jenkins, Will Young and many more alongside his ‘day’ job working on Monitors for Pixies. 

They also discuss the Joy Division Orchestrated and Hacienda Classical projects which Matt played a huge role in project managing, the differences in managing people in corporate and music environments, how Matt got started in the industry, and the 'green shoots' he's saying for a return to work for an industry badly damaged by Covid-19.

To catch up on all previous episodes of the show from the last two seasons, click subscribe wherever you get your podcast fix, and be sure to follow the 'On The Road With Featured Songs' playlist to catch up on all the commercially available songs picked by Gareth and his guests.

Gareth is joined for this episode by well-respected singer Lisa Millett. With an unusual story including early ambitions of becoming an opera singer, classical training, and an impressive career in house music, jazz and soul, Lisa & Gareth have recently written together for King Brasstards next release.

In this wide-ranging chat, they talk about Lockdown and what its meant for creativity, the incompatibility of social distancing and gigs, Lisa's fascinating journey through performing arts culminating in the 'happy accident' of becoming so well-known in the House genre, why they love some of their favourite singers, and much more.

As she discusses in the episode, Lisa is in the process of launching her own record label, with numerous releases in the pipeline. To catch up on all previous episodes from Seasons 1, 2 and 3, please subscribe wherever you get your podcast fix.

Remember also to follow the 'On The Road With...Featured Songs' playlist on Spotify, to stream all of the commercially available music played so far on the show.

In this special second episode of Season 3 with full video on Youtube, Gareth sits down on zoom with two very special guests - actors Mark Powell & Brian Cohen, who played Fred Farr & Johnny Lovelock in seasons 1-3 of Peaky Blinders respectively.

The two journeyman actors are also musicians, and have performed through both mediums, as well as writing their own comedy and dramatic material for a number of years, and they discuss everything from the effect of Covid-19 on working actors, the uncertainty and 'boom & bust' nature of creative industries, and the chain of command/organisation on a film set. They also go into their musical upbringings and how the two performing styles have co-existed, as well as the mental health benefits of the creative buzz, and much, much more.

You can keep up with Mark and Brian's work through their Facebook group, just search 'Fred Farr & Johnny Lovelock'.

To catch up on all previous episodes from Seasons 1, 2 and 3, please subscribe to this channel or wherever you get your podcast fix.

Remember to follow the 'On The Road With...Featured Songs' playlist on Spotify, to stream all of the commercially available music played so far on the show.

In the first episode of season three, Gareth sits down with multi-talented singer and comedian, Lauren Bird. They talk about her reasons behind branching out into comedy, having sung with her sister for many years, the importance of etiquette in show business, her personal writing process for stand-up comedy, the 'Leicester lockdown' and much more.

You can check out Lauren's main band Nanna Radleys, which she fronts with her sister Sarah, on Facebook and Youtube.

Don't forget, to hear all the commercially available songs played on the podcast in one place, like the 'On The Road With...Featured Songs' playlist on Spotify.