In the final episode of the season I had the total privilege of chatting to Mille Manders of 'Millie Manders and The Shutup' about all things music. Norwich resident Millie very generously shares her experience of the industry and talks about the hard work, the toil, the rewards and the sheer bliss of being a DIY musician. Millie is a first class musician and has been ploughing a deep furrow into the heart of the music scene with her high-octane, fierce sound that's bursting with attitude.

Please check out:

https://millie-manders.com

A local music scene is full of surprises and excellent discoveries if you just scratch the surface. Just like that time I bumped into a superb Jazz guitarist at a local community gig who also turned out to be a retired producer for the BBC, a touring cruise ship regular and, amongst many other things, Ed Sheeran's former guitar teacher! I was beyond excited to talk to Keith Krykant who lives just round the corner from me here in Lowestoft, UK and very generously gave up his evening to come and have a chat with me in my home studio. Keith is the most humble musician I have ever met despite his huge musical career and it was a total joy to talk to someone who has been there and back!

Successful and driven Heavy Metal musician Daniel Finch joins me to share his journey, stories and experience of the Heavy Metal scene and what it means to him. 

Please check out some of Daniels music:
www.facebook.com/thedeadsoulcommunion
Dead Soul Communion on Bandcamp

My first on location episode takes places at the amazing new venue in Lowestoft: The Grit Centre for the Arts & Heritage. The owner and curator at said Arts Centre, Piers Colby, very generously allowed me access to his great new venue which is set in the old Magistrates court. Piers is also part of The Hard Working Blues Band along with my other guests Adam Jarrett (very active within the Norfolk Blues Society) and superb harmonica player (and one of my oldest friends) Ryan Duffer. All three of these exceptional musicians had some great experience to share with me in this incredible setting and brand new venue.

www.facebook.com/gritartslowestoft

The Grit Main Website

www.facebook.com/hardworkingbluesband

The Hard Working Blues Band on Youtube

Guitar welding troubadour Isaac Lister who 'loves as hard as he fights' has recently returned to our local music scene from York and brings with him a breath of fresh air. Hitting all the local bars spreading his music and love, Isaac takes some time out with me to discuss his upcoming musical projects, watch me have my windows cleaned, have a live text chat with his old mate Chris Helme from the Seahorses and many more fun things!

Follow Isaac's exploits on socials:

Instagram:
@isaaclisterlive

Facebook:
www.facebook.com/isaaclisterlive

Acoustic, original Americana artist and the other blues man in Lowestoft, Gram Philliips gives some great advice for the DIY musician on this in-depth episode of the podcast. Known professionally as Tupelo Lime, Gram talks us through Twitch streaming, getting an agent, getting a manager, getting euro gigs, authenticity and the plethora of other mountains that the DIY musician has to climb in order to create revenue streams. We also talk about building a musical community and discuss the benefits of creating a local music scene.
Check out Gram's music Tupelo Lime:

https://tupelolime.com

Here in Lowestoft we have some highly skilled instrument repair people to keep us musicians on the road and playing our songs. On this episode of the poddy the Guitar Doctor, Andrew McKee, talks us through the repairs he undertakes and explains to a guitar idiot like me how it all works. I will just say that since the recording of this interview, Andrew has worked on my Squier Strat and has done a fabulous job so please check out and his work at:
https://guitardoctoruk.com

Ben Hampton from newly formed promotion company Culture Vulture Promotions came and had a chat about the company's plans and promotional tactics. The venue which Ben alludes to on this podcast is The Globe at the top end of Lowestoft HIgh Street, at the time of recording it was a closely guarded secret that Ben was going to re-open and revitalise it.
Please check out their events on the links below:
The Globe:
https://www.facebook.com/theglobelowestoft
Culture Vulture on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/culturevulturelive
Culture Vulture on Instagram:
@culturevulturelive