Always a pleasure to play at and attend the big wedding show at West Point Arena in Exeter.  Busy two days talking with brides and groomes and families about their music requirements. We had lots of enquiries and the bookings are starting to come in as well. We are looking forward to a busy 2022 and busy 2023.

I spent the day with Exe Valley String Quartet on Saturday playing at the wedding of Andy and Zaria. It is always nice to play the Canon in D in a church with the lovely acoustics. Then we went off to Rockbeare Manor to play for the drinks reception. We played a wide variety of upbeat songs and pieces including the very popular Don't look back in Anger which is one of our new arrangements.

It was nice to spend the morning yesterday directing my rock choirs at Bovey Castle. This is venue that I play at often with the Exe Valley String Quartet but this was a choir gig this time. We sang live on BBC Breakfast to help the legend that is Tom Daley on his final leg of his challenge for Red Nose Day. It was nice that the BBC acknowledged the link between our string quartet, Bovey Castle and us playing for the wedding of Tom and Lance back in 2017. Both of these events were awesome experiences that I will always remember and cherish.

I don't think I have ever played outside in January before! Just look at the weather though - it was beautiful. Congratulations to Faye and Philippe on a really beautiful ceremony and drinks reception in this gorgeous corner of South Devon Thurlestone Hotel. Faye walked into the very popular Canon in D and then I played a variety of musical styles outside on the balcony. #musiciandevon #devonviolinist

I had a lovely day yesterday playing for Lizzie and Williams Christmas wedding. That was the last gig for 2021. St Audries Park Wedding Venue is a stunning location for a wedding. I played electric violin for the drinks reception only. Nice to play through the repertoire including the theme tune from Jurassic Park.. #musiciandevon #freelanceviolinist #devonviolinist. It has been a very unusual year.  No gigs for the first half of the year due to the pandemic and then suddenly all goes mad and I have lots of gigs both as a soloist and also with the string quartet.  New weddings, existing weddings and of course fitting in all of the postponed weddings.  2022 is shaping up to me a little bit more controlled!  Happy new Year.

'Having you at our wedding was the cherry on the cake. All my guests loved it and you soothed my son to sleep so he didn’t cry during the ceremony so 11/10 by far. I just loved it so much. '

Thank you Jodie and jack for your lovely feedback.  It was a lovely wedding in a beautiful venue.

I had a great afternoon with my friends in the Exe Valley String Quartet yesterday. Another trip to our most popular wedding venue of 2021 Rockbeare Manor. We played for the drinks reception only which gave us the opportunity to play some of our new more modern arrangements including a very funky/jazzy version of L-O-V-E (Frank Sinatra), Under the Bridge (Red Hot Chilli Peppers) and On Melancholy Hill (Gorillaz). We really pride ourselves on being versatile and the guests really appreciate it.

Our final gig before Christmas and what a cracker it was. We sang in Torquay for the Christmas shoppers and it was awesome. The Torquay folk were singing and dancing along with us and we all had such a good day. It was lovely to see other rockies in the audience supporting and again we were raising much needed funds for Guide Dogs South West. Well done to Torquay Rock choir (and guests). You were all brilliant! Rock Choir.

I am really really enjoying our Christmas Gigs this year. Last night we performed at the Mayors Carol Service in Newton Abbot. This is a real community and festive evening with traditional carols and readings and of course the amazing Newton Abbot Rock Choir (with a few friends to help). The Rockies performed brilliantly and created a lively and happy atmosphere in the town. All of the gigs have been superb this year. One more to go in Torquay on Saturday which Im very excited about as well. Well done everybody!

Last Tuesday I travelled up to Westward Ho in North Devon for a wedding ceremony. It is always lovely to play in an old church like this because the acoustic is gorgeous. Congratulations to Beth and Connor. Beth made her grand entrance to Canon in D by Pachelbel. During the signing of the register I played 'Can't help falling in love with you' and 'Perfect' and then the wedding party and guests make their exit to the Beatles classic 'All you need is love'. I also got to play a new request - 'Bitter Sweet Symphony' by The Verve which is a great one to practice your skills in improvisation!

We had a fabulous day in Teignmouth today singing for the local Christmas Shoppers.  We were raising money for the Guide Dogs Southwest as we remain on course to raise £5000 so we can name a puppy. On a cold grey morning we cheered up the town and the shoppers with two contrasting sets of uplifting pop and rock songs and of course Christmas classics.  The choir were awesome and made me incredibly proud today. When you consider what everyone has been through to be out in the local community singing live again was wonderful.  Love Rock Choir! next Rock Choir gig is in Newton Abbot on Wednesday.

After a thoroughly rewarding three years I am stepping down from being leader for the Saltash Rock Choir.  We have had three fabulous years together and I am so proud to be leaving the choir in such a strong position.  On Saturday we had our final gig together.  It happens to also be one of my favourite Christmas gigs as well.  The Christmas festival in beautiful Polperro. There is always a great atmosphere and a great crowd in Polperro. (I think the mulled wine helps!) We always finish off the evening with a singing party. A great gig!

To complete a busy weekend of playing solo violin I had the privilege to play for Katie and Jon’s wedding at Crowcombe Court in Somerset. A stunning location with a fabulous staircase for the bride to enter from. Katie obviously likes Disney as she made her grand entrance to ‘Take as old as time’ from Beauty and the Beast. The wedding party made their exit to ‘Can you feel the love tonight’ from Lion King. I played the lovely 'Rewrite the stars' from The Greatest Showman and The Beatles classic ‘All you need is love’ during the signing. I love a winter wedding! #musiciandevon #devonviolinist

I had the privilege to play at Jodie and Jack’s wedding on Saturday. A beautiful winter wedding at the stunning Trevenna Barns. Jodie came in to ‘More than a woman to me ‘ by Billie Joel. We had ‘How long will I love you’ and ‘This will be’ during the signing and the very beautiful 'Better Together' by Jack Johnson to exit. Great wedding with very appreciative guests. We even had some dancing! #musiciandevon #devonviolinist

What a fabulous day! There was so much that was so good about todays gig with Miss Ivy Events at Plymouth Albion RFC. It really is so good to be back doing what we enjoy so much. It was so emotional hearing all of those beautiful harmonies 'Live!' and with an appreciative audience. Great to see so many new Plymouth Rockies singing today as well. You were all fab! Every song was strong and full of colour and emotion but 'Angels' was something else. It was full of passion and love. Well done everybody. I feel very proud this evening to be part of your choir! Rock Choir After a difficult 18 months rock choir are back!

On Saturday I played in a fabulous Christmas and Viennese orchestral concert with the wonderful British Philharmonic Concert Orchestra at the Playhouse in Weston Super Mare. Of all the different musical jobs I do I have to say that playing in an orchestra is right up there. Being in and around such talented musicians is so inspiring. We played waltzes and Polkas by three of the Strauss family. We also played some Leroy Anderson and Lehar. There were three amazing solists singing beautiful arias and other opera excerpts. It was wonderful musical evening.

Lovely autumnal wedding this afternoon at beautiful @rockbeare_manor_ . Red leaves all over the floor as we walked into the venue. Lovely ceremony. We played our new arrangement of John Barry's 'Somewhere in time' which is just gorgeous. Today was about being versatile. Paganini to Beauty and the Beast to Guns and Roses. #ExeValleyStringQuartet. #weddingViolinist. #DevonViolinist.  The bride walked into "I can't help falling in love with you', and the exit of the bridal party was the 'You and me' song which is really fun and funky.

I had a lovely day at Rockbeare Manor which is a venue that I have played at many times this summer.  This was my last wedding gig for a while now and I am looking forward to a bit of a break so that I can recharge my batteries and catch up on some music arranging before we get busy again in November and December.  Music was a really special part of the day today with some personal requests from the bride and groom.  I played 'Wise men say' for the entrance of the bridal party and then I returned later in the day to accompany the wedding meal with a set of romantic violin classics.  This included 'My Way' and 'Abide with me' in memory of some people no longer with us.  The guests really appreciated these tunes inparticular.  It was also another sunny autumnal day and a nice way to sign off for a couple of weeks.

I had a lovely afternoon playing with the Exe Valley String Quartet at an autumnal wedding.  We were in the stunning Great Barn in Ashton not too far from Exeter and we played to accompany the wedding breakfast. Its so nice just to play through our music and choose some of the pieces that we dont play too often.  We played some classical music including Eine Kleine by Mozart which we dont play too often.  We also played David Bowie's Life on Mars, The Jurrasic Park theme and the really lovely Concerning Hobbits theme.  Fab day!

It isn't everyday you get this close to a limited edition Bentley with John Lennon's artwork on it. I couldn't resist a picture. St Audries Park Wedding Venue.