Beginnings
Although starting to perform late in life I have made steady progress on the long and winding musical road. It all started at a St Patricks night in The Victory pub, Walton on the Naze in 2013. Irish folk is a genre of music that I enjoy listening to as well as performing. Spontaneously I was invited to sing a couple of Irish songs. It seemed to go reasonably well and as a result I then started joining fellow musicians playing at folk jam sessions in various pubs in Essex.
Open mic nights
I soon realised that open mic nights are a great way to find new venues and perform alongside talented fellow musicians and I have begun many friendships along the way. I particularly enjoy going to Wivenhoe where there is a thriving folk scene. I regularly perform at the Wivenhoe Folk Club once a month on the quayside as well as The Rose & Crown, The Greyhound and The Black Buoy pubs in the town.
Pub Gigs
More recently I have been lucky enough to play gigs in pubs either as a main or support act. Tom Peppers in Clacton and The Red Lion in Kirby le Soken are among these venues. More recently I completed a tour of open mics in the Norwich area where I played four pubs in five nights. I'm now planning more of these city tours in the future with a view to going further afield.
Care Homes
I have also found that music is a great way to entertain residents of care homes and have performed at such venues in Frinton and Clacton. Country music and 50's/60's pop always seem to be well received at these events.
Charity Work
Music events are an excellent way to raise money for good causes and I have been lucky enough to be invited to play at music nights to raise money for such charities as MIND and Help for Heroes. I also ran a music night at the Emmanuel Church in Walton on Naze alongside fellow musicians friends in aid of the church restoration fund.
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