In the finale of Season 6, Gareth chats with his longtime friend and collaborator, Hip-Hop producer, Vice Beats. They talk about, among other things, his reasons for stepping away from the live touring scene a few years back, his early days as an MC performing live and why he now prefers the studio, the J Dilla tribute album project that he masterminded, and much more. The songs featured in this episode, which can be streamed via the 'On The Road With Songs' playlist on Spotify are 'Lost...

Gareth sits down with former Level 42 drummer and songwriter, Phil Gould. Back in February, Gareth caught up with former Level 42 drummer, Phil Gould, to talk about the album he's been working on during lockdown and the creative productivity that has resulted from it. Having left the iconic group in 1987, he talks about his brief return in 1994 and his contribution to the album of that year, Forever Now. This is also an honest account of his reasons for leaving the band, the nervous...

For this jam-packed bumper episode, Gareth is joined by Jools Holland's longtime bass supremo, Dave Swift. In one of the widest-ranging interviews ever on the show, Gareth and Dave meander through various topics, such as Dave's advice to those looking to become professional multi-instrumentalists like he is, as bass was not actually his first instrument. Dave also takes us behind the scenes in the Jools camp and talks about the backstage side of how some of the most iconic moments on 'Later'...

To kick off Season 6 in style, Gareth is joined by soulful singer, songwriter and contestant on The Voice 2021, Hannah Williams. Having made her name fronting Hannah Williams and The Tastemakers, Hannah has more recently had global touring success with the awesome Hannah Williams and The Affirmations, as well as reaching the public vote on The Voice earlier this year, a highlight being working and performing live with the legendary Sir Tom Jones. She's also be sampled by Jay-Z on the song...

For a special bumper episode to mark 30 shows, Gareth is joined by the infamous Smoove, of Smoove and Turrell. Featuring many of the legendary tracks that producer, percussionist creative visionary Smoove has released throughout his solo career, working with collaborators and obviously Smoove and Turrell, this conversation is one of the most wide-ranging ever featured on the show. Gareth and Smoove discuss everything from the latter's journey from a young producer discovering a sampler...

Gareth sits down with like-minded comedian, magician and founder of Focused Creatives, Tom Elliott. Tom is quite literally the perfect guest for this show. He's all about mindset, positivity (especially in these uncertain times) and the belief that you don't have to be world famous to make a good living doing what you love. In this extensive chat, Gareth and Tom talk about the creation of the Focused Creatives online community, which Gareth recently joined. They also discuss the...

In this bumper episode , Gareth is joined by one half of Smoove and Turrell, prolific soulful singer-songwriter, John Turrell. As episodes go, this one is certainly up there with the best since the podcast began, full of laughs and insight about everything from the songwriting process within Smoove and Turrell, one of the most successful outfits in British funk and soul for many years, John's solo album and his thoughts on it, the challenges post-Brexit for artists who rely heavily on touring...

A very special guest for the podcast, today Gareth is joined by former Beautiful South and Housemartins singer and drummer Dave Hemmingway. Having known each other since 2012 from their days in The South together, Gareth and Dave's chat is very much like two friends catching up. They talk about Dave's feeling of 'new beginnings' with Sunbirds, who released their debut album 'Cool to be Kind' on Nectar Records last year. The band is collaboration between Dave and guitarist with The South,...

To kick off Season 5 of the show, Gareth is joined by London-based singer-songwriter Abi Farrell. Having known each other since their days at the University of Birmingham a few years back, they talk fondly of that time, as well as the importance of collaboration in the arts, especially in the current circumstances. Abi has recently formed a songwriting with Big AC Records founder, solo artist, former New Street Adventure frontman and guest on this podcast, Nick Corbin. Other topics include...

Gareth is joined in this episode by prolific soul singer and songwriter, Myles Sanko. Myles prides himself on promoting hope through his songs, and is on a journey towards reaching the goal of 15 albums in 30 years. The setting of that goal and why long term goals are important for artists, is one of the many topics that Gareth and Myles discuss. They also talk about the reality of the current pandemic and how different players in the industry have handled it as well as the impending threat...

Gareth sits down with multi-skilled performer, Lucy Littlemore for this wide-ranging chat. Gareth and Lucy talk regularly and have stayed in touch throughout 'lockdown' but here, they cover A LOT of ground, from discussing the key tenets of the 'performance' mindset, to the increased accessibility of the arts due to Covid-19 the different spheres of the Burlesque and Drag performance worlds and much, much more. Lucy offers some valid positive points on the impact of the pandemic, whilst...

Gareth catches up with an old University friend, musician, singer-songwriter and sound engineer Nick Jackson. Nick currently tours with Jamrioquai as part of their crew and has worked with many impressive names including Supergrass and Sheryl Crow. Having known each other for over ten years, Gareth and Nick used to perform and record a lot together during their University days and despite both still working in the music industry, they've taken quite different paths. They discuss, among other...

In the first episode of Season 4, Gareth is joined by performer and booking agent, Lucy Campbell. In a jam-packed conversation, they discuss everything from the need for performing artists to diversity but NOT re-train under the current circumstances, to Lucy's Classical Charts number 1 hit with her duo, Eden. They also look at how the industry has adapted to cope with the pressures and restrictions of Covid-19, Lucy's adventure into the world of 'original' music and the relevance (or not)...

Gareth chats with hugely experienced sound engineer, John Chadwick.  John is somebody very much at the top of his game, having worked with Aerosmith, Ringo Star, Judas Priest, Anastasia, Rod Stewart and many many others. They talk about what may need to happen for live events to resume and be viable, the general lack of understanding of what road crew do on tour, the importance of honing your craft and being personable if you want to go into a touring profession, and much more! Fittingly, the...

In this special 20th episode of the show, Gareth picks some of his favourite moments from Seasons 1 & 2 of the show. Featuring a selection of snippets from the first two seasons with the various wonderful guests, as well as a selection of their music choices from the episodes, Gareth explains why he has chosen them, and provides updates on the shows future plans. Remember, all three series of the show so far are available on Gareth's Youtube channel, and you can stream all of the...

In this episode, Gareth chats with established touring artist Aynsley Lister. Having toured extensively for 22 years, Aynsley is built up a highly respectable following, particularly across the continent, with an impressive album catalogue and, in normal circumstances, a very full show diary! Aynsley and Gareth discuss, among other things, how the loyal and growing fanbase have kept him going all these years, how you grow as an artist and change with each new album release, his beginnings...

'I started as a sound engineer because I wasn't a very good musician' - Matt Jones In a first for the show, with full video on Youtube, Gareth talks to vastly experienced sound engineer and tour manager, Matt Jones. This is the first time we've had a crew member rather than performer as a guest, and Matt certainly has some interesting tales to tell, including when ended up at the last minute doing the front of house sound for the legendary James Brown, his time working for US-based Rock Band...

Gareth is joined for this episode by well-respected singer Lisa Millett. With an unusual story including early ambitions of becoming an opera singer, classical training, and an impressive career in house music, jazz and soul, Lisa & Gareth have recently written together for King Brasstards next release. In this wide-ranging chat, they talk about Lockdown and what its meant for creativity, the incompatibility of social distancing and gigs, Lisa's fascinating journey through performing...

In this special second episode of Season 3 with full video on Youtube, Gareth sits down on zoom with two very special guests - actors Mark Powell & Brian Cohen, who played Fred Farr & Johnny Lovelock in seasons 1-3 of Peaky Blinders respectively. The two journeyman actors are also musicians, and have performed through both mediums, as well as writing their own comedy and dramatic material for a number of years, and they discuss everything from the effect of Covid-19 on working actors,...

In the first episode of season three, Gareth sits down with multi-talented singer and comedian, Lauren Bird. They talk about her reasons behind branching out into comedy, having sung with her sister for many years, the importance of etiquette in show business, her personal writing process for stand-up comedy, the 'Leicester lockdown' and much more. You can check out Lauren's main band Nanna Radleys, which she fronts with her sister Sarah, on Facebook and Youtube. Don't forget, to hear all the...

In the final episode of Season 2, Gareth talks with multi-discipline artist and creator Carol Leeming. Having worked with Gareth as a guest vocalist for his former band, The Funk Soul Collective, Carol has had major chart success and film credits as a singer, as well as working in theatre, film, as a poet and vocal coach/music educator. They talk about Carol's projects prior to and during lockdown, which of the many areas she works in is her 'first love', the heady days of the Leicester Jazz...

In this penultimate episode for Season 2 of the show, Gareth talks to multi-skilled burlesque performer Talulah Blue, who has taken her craft all over the world since making the transition from graphic designer to full time performer some years ago. As well as burlesque, Talulah also performs with fire and hula hoops, as well as running her own costume design and retail business. They discuss the realisation of what 'burn out' looks like via the COVID-19 pandemic, the uncertainty of the...

Today's guest is a little different to the others, the first guest on the show who works behind the scenes as a touring event manager/planner, Oli Page. Gareth and Oli talk about working in the UK that have a low-engagement rate with the Arts, the support that the Arts Council have provided in this challenging period for the sector, the importance of mental health awareness and the role that performance and events can play in raising that, and much more! Oli is also the founder of 'Eye...

Gareth is joined this week by musical journeyman and author of the book 'How Not To Make It In The Pop World', John Barrow. After speaking with his long-time friend and collaborator Gaz Birtles last week, Gareth and John discuss everything from John's new book, to the old adage of 'what happens on the road, stays on the road', how John and Gaz found themselves in the Swinging Laurels with a record deal when they had just two saxes, a synth and drum machine and much more. To purchase the...