Just returned from our Rock Choir Tour to the Edinburgh Fringe and straight up the Devon Link Road to the beautiful North Devon coast.  I joined up with the fabulous Exe Valley String Quartet and went up to Sandy Cove Hotel in Ilfracombe for a lovely wedding.  It was a bit soggy so we had to play indoors but that didn't matter at all. We even got to play our brand new arrangement of 'I don't wanna miss a thing' by Airosmith for the Brides entrance. We get to play at some stunning venues.

I joined the Exe Valley String Quartet today for a lovely wedding at a new venue for us.  Lavender House near Ashburton. Another lovely summers day playing outside in the gardens for the ceremony and the drinks reception.  Music requests included a new one - Habits by Tove Lo for the brides entrance.  We also played At Last and Sign Sealed Delivered for the signing of the register and a good old classic to send them on their way - All you need is love by The Beatles.  We were also asked to play a quartet version of Hi Ho Silver Lining - it kinda worked!  Another great day!

Friday August 2nd 2024. What a great way to end the week. 190 South Devon Rockies singing today outside the iconic Buckfast Abbey. We had a really appreciative and large crowd come over to watch and listen and I can't tell you all how proud it makes me feel when I hear the amazing feedback from the friends and family listening to us. Huge shout out to the rockies on their first gig today - you were brilliant. Next stop.....Edinburgh fringe!

Sunday 28th July - Dawlish Lawn/Band Stand. A lovely Sunday summer afternoon in beautiful Dawlish. Live music featuring the wonderful Torbay Brass Band the the South Devon Rockies. The rockies were again on top form as we performed two sets to a lovely appreciative audience. Our new songs went down really well. Love my rockies very much - always sound and look very professional even in hot conditions like today. Respect!

Saturday 27th July 2024 - our debut appearance at the Bovey Tracey Party in the Park. What a great gig. A traditional Devon event where families bring a picnic and are entertained all day and night by local musicians, groups and bands. Stalls and food and drinks and things for the kids to do. The weather was kind and 100 South Devon Rockies were bang in form as we sang to a good crowd of over 1000 people! Can we come back next year please!

On Friday I played violin for a beautiful wedding in the very stunning Harbour Hotel Salcombe for Laura and Josh. It was an electric violin day with 'Wildest Dreams' from Bridgerton for the entrance of the bridal party. I particularly enjoyed arranging and learning 'Going Home' from the film The Local Hero for the signing of the register. This was for Josh and all the Newcastle Fans in the guests! Everybody exited to 'I believe in a thing called Love' by The Darkness on Violin! It was awesome! I then played for a couple of hours while guests had canapes and drinks. Lovely day. Thank you to Laura Louise Hall for being a brilliant wedding planner on the day.

South Devon Rock Choir Big Sing - Saturday July 6th Plymouth. 275 Rockies coming together to celebrate Rock Choir in South Devon. A truly spectacular day with a lot of emotional and powerful singing! Come and join Rock Choir in South Devon. Choirs in Torquay, Plymouth, Newton Abbot and Dawlish. www.rockchoir.com #torquay #plymouth #newtonabbot #dawlish #teignmouth

Another fabulous afternoon playing at a beautiful wedding at the very beautiful Rockbeare Manor. Thanks to Steph and the staff as always for looking after us. We had an afternoon of classical music which is always nice. We played the very gorgeous 'La Califfa' for the brides entrance - what a melody that is! We played for just under 4 hours today for the guests who were very appreciative. #weddingquartet #exevalleystringquartet #devonquartet

Plymouth Armed Forces Day 2024. I am feeling very proud today after another fantastic performance at Armed Forces Day in Plymouth. You all look so smart and thank you so much for your patience with lining up and getting all the little details just right. It makes a huge difference. I cannot tell you how many people stopped me on the way home to say how amazing the Rock Choir was. Well done everyone! Congratulations also to those Rockies doing their first gig with us. I hope you enjoyed it! Rock Choir #plymouth #plymoutharmedforcesday

Lovely Wedding at Upton Barn & Walled Garden near Collumpton last Friday. We are becoming regular visitors to this venue now and it is set in the beautiful Devon countryside. We played Pachelbels Canon for the Bridal party to enter, Arrival of the Queen of Sheeba and Marry You by Bruno Mars for the signing of the register an then we played one of our new arrangements 'The Theme Tune from Friends' for the exit of the guests. A very appreciative crowd with lots of lovely feedback.

What a fabulous weekend we spent together. Saturday was our very first trip to Higher Egbeer Farm nr Cheriton Bishop which was beautiful and rustic. Sunday we returned to a very familiar venue Rockbeare Manor nr Exeter. Today we played a very special request. 'English Rose' by Paul Weller was very close to the bride's heart and was chosen for her entrance music. We always love writing special arrangements for couples because it makes their day even more special and personal.  5 weddings played at in June with another 3 to go.  Loving our jobs!  #weddingquartet #exevalleystringquartet

Lovely road trip with my string quartet Exe Valley String Quartet.Not everyday we get to accompany two opera singers. It was a special experience. #flowerduet.

Another fabulous Devon venue, this time down by Tavistock at the very beautiful Bradstone Manor Farm. Beautiful surroundings and beautiful summer weather. Just a duo today with Richard on the violin and Lucy on the cello. We played a range of special requests including Canon in D, Concerning Hobbits, Everlasting Love, Wildest Dreams and one of our favourites, Teenage Dirtbag! What a lovely way to spend a Saturday afternoon in June!

Awesome day with my Plymouth Rockies. Race for Life 2024. Always a privilege to support this event. 95 Rockies singing and cheering for a good 2 hours in very hot conditions. Hard Core Rockies!! Well done to those doing their 1st gig with us. You were all awesome. Well done to everyone! #plymouth Plymouth Race for Life Rock Choir

On Saturday we travelled down to Dartmouth for another beautiful wedding in a stunning location. The ceremony was at the Guildhall in Dartmouth and then we took the ferry over to Kingswear Yacht Club playing with the River Dart in the background. Lots of new requests today including Hymn to the fallen, Out of Africa and Lift me up from Black Panther. Lots of film music today with a sprinkling of classical favourites and even Guns and Roses. The couple were lovely and extremely appreciative of our music.

I completed my mini wedding tour yesterday back in beautiful Salcombe. I was at Cliff House overlooking the water and all the bank holiday sailing. Another stunning wedding venue. Played all electric violin this time as the music requests were more pop and upbeat and included 'Celebrate' by Kool and the Gang and 'Someone you Loved' by Lewis Capaldi. I'm now looking forward to a few days off. (Honestly!)

It's a busy few weeks for the string quartet now as we enter the wedding season. Today was our first visit to Watermouth Cove Weddings in North Devon. Well worth the drive up from Dawlish. What a stunning place to get married. Beautiful grounds and beautiful views. Fantastic staff who were so helpful. Great gig today. Music requests included Concerning Hobbits and 'Married Life' from the film 'Up'. We then got to play through a whole set of rock and pop classics as the guests mingled on the beach!

I played at one of my favourite wedding venues yesterday.@Brickhouse Vineyard is such a beautiful setting for a small intimate wedding ceremony and reception. Congratulations to Lizzie and Pasquale! Music requests included the feather theme from Forrest Gump, Everything by Michael Buble and L O V E Nat King Cole. A lovely day!

What a ten days it has been.  Four Rock Choir shows all sold out.  280 choir members performed in front of a collective audience of over 1000 people. We have raised the best part of £7500 for local charities that are close to the hearts of the choir members. It has been an absolute pleasure to sing in such beautiful venues with great acoustics in front of wonderful audiences. All four Rock Choirs really stepped up to the mark and performed brilliantly and with such life, vigour, excitement and emotion.  Top job!  I really do have the best job in the world.