December 4th

Well, Danny’s and Sheena’s birthday bash on Nov 24th was a belter! A great pub called the Lukin in Fitzrovia with really helpful staff and a straightforward pub bar. Danny had the place booked out so it had a house-party vibe about it which was nice. He had booked musical double-act “Chefs de Party” –  Adrian (aka DJ Saffrolla) and I (aka Bongo Barney!) – so we rocked up with my P.A. and mini-percussion rig and his Mac and his new Numark controller for what turned out to be a great night (you just gotta get the ladies on the dancefloor…).

DJ Saffrolla worked the decks while I banged my bongos and at one point I was handing out percussion instruments to the faithful and Saffrolla cut out a few times to platform a solo Samba band sound!

On Wednesday 28th Nov I had my first Santa gig of the season – at Columbia Rd E2 where they are opening every Wednesday eve in the lead up to Christmas. I took my accordion down and strolled around hohohoing while playing carols and handing out sweets to enchanted (but on 2 occasions traumatised!) children. The photo gallery run by Seamus Ryan pulled me in to take my photo and got this!

Available for parties, grottos and strolling!

Then on Friday I did a Barney’s Barn Dance for Hackney Carers Centre in Dalston rounding off their AGM and lunch meeting with some “DoSiDo-ing”, “Northen Stars” and a Circadian Dance – here they are getting in to the swing of it – literally…

This week relatively quiet in terms of performing but lots of teaching as usual and still preparing Christmas carols with the children at the Primary Schools I teach at in preparation for the Christmas Carol Concerts (Shakin’ Stevens, you have a lot to answer for!!!)

Coming up I have a gig this Saturday 8th December playing piano for Pippa, opera singer and wife of my good pal, Tenor Colin Judson in The New Forest, for her school’s December Concert then on Sunday off to Brighton to see the lovely Elizabeth Hansen, a fantastic singer and good friend I have gigged with before and hopefully again soon .

À tout à l’heure !