There’s a fantastic new addition to my drum selection- this beautiful Mahogany Gretsch snare, an unusually deep 8 inches from batter head to resonant head. A gift from my brother upon return from his trip to NYC in the states, it is a wonderfully versatile snare. I can strike the rim and the centre simultaneously, as I often do when playing the snare, and the sound is so much more like a thinner snare, or timbale style piece of drum it negates my desire to carry a second snare to a gig. And what a wonderful piece of kit Gretch have produced!

 

 

After another day of hectic drumming and being a Drum teacher in Bristol on Friday, with a busking session in the morning with the Gin Bowlers, a lesson in the afternoon, and then the only rehearsal I was to have for last nights’ gig.

Midnight Zu is a collective of musicians MCs in Bristol that have several projects enveloped under the name with similar people in it; Not uncommon I concede- but the music they make is something that sings close to my heart. A blend of Conscious hiphop, old school liquid drum and bass, and reggae, their line up of selfless MCs and vocal artists and musicians that make space for each other in performance is truly magnificent.

Check out a bit of the Midnight Zu vibe Here!

We were along with a Plymouth band called Manushka, supporting the Inexplicables, Bristol based hiphop and beatbox quintet.

So the night was marvellous, and as I prepare plans for this weeks drum lessons, I’m grateful for the Bristol depths and heights of community and productivity, it reminds me of Norwich very much, where bands like Feral Mouth, Killamonjambo, Solko, Addison’s Uncle, The Piratones, and Dr Clyde to name afew, are playing great music to great people!

Tonight is another Gin Bowlers swing gig, at Harbourside no1. in Bristol Centre.