Emma Pollock
Graeme Smillie
Emma on bass with Graeme on keyboards
Roman Joon
Emma Pollock in Brighton last night. Playing as a duo with the multi talented Graeme Smillie the set focused on last years’ excellent Begging The Night To Take Hold. Dipped into her other albums & included a glorious cover of Paris 1919. Support from Roman Joon #chopsgigs @emmapollock.bsky.social
Courtney Barnett
Courtney Barnett
Courtney Barnett
Courtney Barnett in Kingston tonight. Ace short set, 6 new & 3 old tunes, all done by 7:45. First visit to Circuit and approve of the refurb #chopsgigs #courtneybarnett
Stella Donnelly
Stella on keyboards with Ellie of Voka Gentle on synth.
Qazi & Qazi
Jack Gaby
Another fabulous night at Bush Hall to see Stella Donnelly. Support from Qazi & Qazi and Jack Gaby who also played bass for Stella #chopsgigs #stelladonnelly #qaziandqazi #jackgaby
Dilettante
Dilettante
Wesley Gonzalez
Wesley Gonzalez
A really fun evening at The Betsey Trotwood to see Wesley Gonzalez & Dilettante play solo sets. Wes brought on Graham Coxon to play saxophone on a few tunes too #chopsgigs #dilettante #wesleygonzalez
Perennial
Perennial
Sinews
Pityspeed
Had a lot of fun with Perennial for my first visit to the Cavendish Arms last night. Support from Oxford’s Sinews and Pityspeed playing their very first gig #chopsgigs #perennial @perennialtheband.bsky.social
Richard Sears on Piano, Lail Arad, Kate Stables & Jesca Hoop
Lail Arad, Sandra Nkaké, Kate Stables & Jesca Hoop
Richard Sears, Lail Arad, Jackie Kay, Sandra Nkaké, Kate Stables & Jesca Hoop
A very special night celebrating the songs of Joni Mitchell on International Women’s Day at the Queen Elizabeth Hall. Lovely to see Lail, Kate & Jesca perform their tribute in the relatively intimate confines of the QEH #chopsgigs #songsofjonimitchell #internationalwomensday
Samantha Crain
Samantha Crain & her band beneath the stained glass window of Union Chapel
Clara Mann
Clara Mann
A really special night seeing Samantha Crain supported by Clara Mann at Union Chapel #chopsgigs #samanthacrain #claramann @unionchapeluk.bsky.social
Trying to sneak in a trip to the Wes Anderson exhibition at the design museum before my gig tonight but things are conspiring against me. Footpath from car park to station closed meaning a long walk round. Now tube stuck at station due to safety work on track ahead #chopsgigs
Meilyr Jones on the piano with Stephen Black playing bass behind the piano. Some people are watching from the stairs.
Meilyr Jones on the piano with Stephen Black playing bass behind the piano. On the left side Dan is playing drums. Some people are watching from the stairs.
A special night at Servant Jazz Quarters last night to see Meilyr Jones first London show in 9 years. An 11 song set of brand new songs #chopsgigs #meilyrjones
Heading to Servants Jazz Quarters for Meilyr Jones’ first London show in ages. Pretty flipping excited #chopsgigs
Thomas Truax at the MOTH Club
Thomas Truax at the MOTH Club
Terry Edwards at Ramsgate Music Hall
Terry Edwards at Ramsgate Music Hall
Two brilliant supports too. Thomas Truax and his incredible self made instruments at the MOTH Club & Terry Edwards with his array of brass in Ramsgate #chopsgigs #thenightingales @thomastruax.bsky.social #terryedwards
Robert Lloyd of The Nightingales
The Nightingales at the MOTH Club
Fliss Kitson of The Nightingales at Ramsgate Music Hall
Robert Lloyd of The Nightingales
Two great nights with The Nightingales in the last few days. Saturday night in Ramsgate, then Tuesday night in London. What a band! #chopsgigs #thenightingales @nightingalesuk.bsky.social
Kai Slater of Sharp Pins
Kai Slater of Sharp Pins
Sharp Pins
The Roves
Fabulous first trip to The George Tavern last night. Sharp Pins were as astonishing as I was told. Kai Slater is a cool dude for sure. Support from The Roves #chopsgigs #sharppins #georgetavern #theroves
On my way out East for my first gig at The George! Looking forward to finally seeing Sharp Pins #chopsgigs
Today is the 40th anniversary of my first ever gig. Marillion on the Misplaced Childhood tour at Hammy Odeon. Managed to swerve the zeitgeist ever since #chopsgigs
Lucinda Williams
Lucinda Williams with Marc Ford on guitar
Ben du la Cour
Lucinda Williams was magnificent at The Barbican last night. Over 26 years since I first heard her music so I’m very glad to finally see her live. Support from Ben du la Cour #chopsgigs #lucinawilliams #barbican
Haress
Haress lyric card for the singalong section of Skylarks
Gwenifer Raymond
Gwenifer
Great trip up to Coventry to see Haress & Gwenifer Raymond at Just Dropped In. Best way to spend a Friday evening #chopsgigs #haress #gweniferraymond @joesors.bsky.social @justdroppedin.bsky.social @ivwuk.bsky.social @gweniferraymond.bsky.social
Part Chimp
AAA Gripper
M Edward Cole of AAA Gripper
The Mute Servants
Epic night to open the @babayagashut.bsky.social series of farewell shows for @corsicastudios.bsky.social
Part Chimp (who were astonishingly loud), AAA Gripper & The Mute Servants all playing brilliant sets
#chopsgigs @partchimp.bsky.social @xeaglepissx.bsky.social @theewatfordbob.bsky.social
Carla J Easton
Carla J Easton
Pelts
Louisa of Pelts on guitar
Carla J Easton also played a cracking set of new songs from her upcoming solo album and new to me Copenhagen based band Pelts opened the bill in style #chopsgigs #carlajeaston #pelts #wintersprinter @fikarecordings.com @thelexingtonlondon.bsky.social @carlajeaston.bsky.social
The Just Joans
Katie of The Just Joans
David of The Just Joans (with Fraser on bass behind)
The curtain call
Another glorious Winter Sprinter night with The Just Joans. Their new album came out on Friday and is another classic. #chopsgigs #thejustjoans #wintersprinter @fikarecordings.com @thejustjoans.bsky.social @thelexingtonlondon.bsky.social
Two nights away with work (including a sneaky trip back to London for a gig) followed by the drive down to The Pig last night has meant I’m a bit wiped out tonight and have had to forego Byrne’s Night at the MOTH Club tonight. I will be back at the Lex for The Just Joans tomorrow though #chopsgigs
Tom of Jessica’s Brother on guitar with Johnny Helm on drums
Miriam Sallon on vocals & percussion
Steven Adams
Steven Adams
Winter Sprinter day 1 also included Jessica’s Brother playing a set with a lot of new material & Steven Adams playing solo. A great night all in with a load of pals in the audience #chopsgigs #wintersprinter @fikarecordings.com
Bobby Mambo of British Birds on guitar
Emma Townson of British Birds on synth & vocals
Lew O’Neill (I think) on drums for British Birds
New bass player who’s name I don’t know
Belated snaps from Wednesday night’s first evening of Winter Sprinter at The Lexington. British Birds were excellent, so glad I finally saw them. I think I even played a small role in getting them the gig! #chopsgigs #wintersprinter @fikarecordings.com #britishbirds
Heading to that London for night 1 of Winter Sprinter at The Lex. Excited to finally get to see British Birds #chopsgigs @fikarecordings.com
Boys on the pier
In Coastal Coffee which was doubling up as a sauna that day.
Photo credit; Mr P Hudson @downatthefront
Bognor seafront sunrise on a frosty Monday morning
I’m feeling a bit exhausted after a brilliant three days in Bognor for Rockaway Beach. Band photos are on my Instagram but big up to my pals (and our other cool friends not pictured) who who made it such a lot of fun #chopsgigs #rockawaybeach
Total Gigs: 70 Venues: 63 Sets: 193 (or 196 if you include multi set headliners) Artists: 177
Locations of gigs London - 55 Brighton - 4 Kingston - 4 Southampton - 4 Guildford - 2 Coventry - 1 Epsom - 1 Folkestone - 1 Winchester - 1
This year I made a bigger effort to record some stats too. 70 gigs all told which was good going after a quiet start due to Mrs T5’s health #chopsgigs #gigstats
Many Mark E Smith’s on stage with The Fallen Women
Many Mark E Smith’s on stage with The Fallen Women
A really brilliant final gig of the year with The Fallen Women and a multitude of Mark E. Smith’s at The Lexington #chopsgigs #thefallenwomen @thelexingtonlondon.bsky.social
IQ
IQ from the back of the IAH (I needed a wee)
IQ - Singer Peter wearing a Santa hat, guitarist Mike with massive angel wings
Returned to the Earth
A prog special last night at Islington Assembly Hall. First time I’ve seen IQ in 26 years and they were ace. Really nice to see them again and spend time with a few old pals. Support from Returned to the Earth who were apparently making their live debut #chopsgigs #iq #progrock #returnedtotheearth
Divorce
Divorce
Divorced with Yann on accordion
Curiosity Shop
I popped down to Southampton last night to see Divorce at the lovely Papillon. It made up for missing their London gig earlier in the year. What a voice Tiger has! Support from Curiosity Shop #chopsgigs #divorceband #papillon #curiosityshop
