I was playing a gig in Manchester’s Midland Hotel when I noticed a sepia print hanging on one of the walls. It was of Edwardian musicians playing on the rooftop of of the hotel. It intrigued me so I took a photo of it with my phone and promptly forgot all
about it…

…until a year or so later. As I was finished of my album The Aviators’ Ball I accidentally deleted the contents of my phone. When I restored the back up the photo of the musicians came up and immediately seemed like the perfect album cover. I tracked the photo down though Manchester achieves and found they where actually a set of six of so prints from an afternoon tea at the Midland.

Interestingly all the instruments that can be seen in the pictures, piano, violin, clarinet, cello and double bass feature on the album. Also the piano is a Broadwood, the same make as the one I grew up with, which as well as the skyline of Manchester (where I now live) being shown, is a nice connection for me.

The is some more insight into the roof garden in a recent Manchester Evening News article: http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/midland-hotel-roof-terrace-manchester-12727551

I’ve spent a lot of time listening to the French radio station FIP so am delighted that they have included Black Is The Colour  from my album on their new compilation FIP Vol 2 la playlist qui rythme votre vie. Here’s a link.

I really enjoyed performing the music from The Aviators Ball in the Bridgewater Hall Foyer as part of the Little Bite Concert Series. It was great to here the full ensemble with the Souza Wind Quintet and tuned percussion combining so fluidly with the jazz quartet. Here is Black Is The Colour feat. Ríoghnach Connolly live

You can watch the full concert here.

Here are a couple of new piece premiered by The Amika Strings and The Chorlton Arts Festival.

Over the last year I’ve been writing music with Justin Shearn for http://thehaus.tv.

One of the tracks we’ve co-written has just been used on Catch & Release’s promo film.

I’ve been asked to write a few pieces for string quartet by The Amika Strings. I’m looking forward to hearing them premiered at The Chorlton Arts Festival in the wonderful acoustic of St Werbergs’ Church on Friday 20th May. More info here: http://www.chorltonartsfestival.com/event/jukestrings/

I’m excited to be able to perform the music from my album The Aviators’ Ball in The Bridgewater Hall foyer, Manchester as part of their Little Bite Music series on 27th May. More info here: https://tickets.bridgewater-hall.co.uk/single/eventDetail.aspx?p=32833

I’m delighted that The Aviators’ Ball was so well received this year. It made Bird is The Worms’ best album list of 2015 (see below) and was also included by Lubi Jovanovic on his best of 2015 KMAH radio show. You can listen here: http://djlubi.com/dj-lubi-presents-soul-rebels-radio-show-no-5-top-picks-of-2015-with-playlist-and-listen-againdownload-link/

Baked A La Ska received this fantastic review in The Independent on Sunday.

“An album that shows not only raw musical talent across the genres and innovation in lyrics and melody”.

The Magic Beans’ second album “Anything You Can Dream” is released this week. It’s already getting some good reviews such as the one by Music Muso.   Catch our album launch at The Three Minute Theatre on Wed 23rd Sept.