Music Saves Worthing, Worthing (2024)

17/12/2024

As the mighty Meat Loaf didn’t sing, 3 out of 5 ain’t bad…3 “things” done for a forthcoming “thing” yesterday and a very positive response from people doing the “things” when I talked about the “thing.” Sadly one “thing” postponed due to illness and one scheduling no show, but more “things” to do after Christmas and into the New Year for the next hairbrained “thing”

(Apologies for being so mauve, you’ll just have to watch out…)

16/12/2024

You’ve got another 3 days left to enter our album of the year competition - if you’re unlike Han Solo and like to be told the odds then you would currently be close to a UB40 styley of 1 in 10 (though arguably this is a statistic, a reminder of a world that DOES care according to people who’ve donated so far”

In the meantime here’s what Louderthanwar said about Shabaka’s album earlier this year “Perceive Its Beauty, Acknowledge Its Grace is an excellent album, one that unpacks so much as it unfolds. It’s lasting impression will be a collection of reflective compositions, warm and personal, and created by an artist at the top of his game.”

https://louderthanwar.com/shabaka-perceive-its-beauty-acknowledge-its-grace-album-review/

WIN the MUSIC SAVES (WORTHING) Album of the Year + T-shirt + Mug bundle "thing"

Hello everyone,

Waffle time (when isn't it with me...) - this year has been a peculiar one for me and much that for some people are aware (I must be as tedious as Roger Waters banging on about his dad at times) I lost my dad to prostate cancer in the middle of the year.

So this year my listening habits have been very divided - there was very much a BEFORE AND DURING period of his last days, which did involve some gallivanting around up to Chesterfield where I would be listening to music in the car and then....THE AFTER where I didn't much feel like listening to any music for a long time and much that I have listened to a variety of stuff since then nothing has really st(r)uck with me as such.

The album I did keep returning to during THAT period was Shabaka Hutchings' "Perceive Its Beauty, Acknowledge Its Grace"

As this was billed up front as his "flute album" and as my expectations of flute music seems to bring to mind images of James Galway, or Alyson Hannigan talking about music camp in American Pie I went in with some slight misconceptions...also to misquote Kinks' Lola, I'm not the world's most spiritual man, but what Shabaka has created is a beautiful, spiritual piece (peace more like) of an album, which created a much needed balm for me during this emotional and difficult time. Even the title seems to suggest a request for a moment of calm reflection. In some places it oddly reminded me of the soundtrack to Stranded, a melancholic short film I made about 20 years ago.

I had the massive pleasure of meeting Shabaka and his lovely partner and seeing him perform with an array of flutes at an instore around the release, which was an incredible education on the endless variants of the instrument, the craft that goes into them and the amazing sounds he was able to create from them.

The track in particular that I would (and do) continue to go back to is "I'll Do Whatever You Want" - a track name which could take on some heavy significance in the circumstances - this track immediately caught my ear and over its 7+ minute running time it seemed to go from the map screen music from the original Mass Effect videogame, to a Popul Vuh Aguirre Wrath of God cloud covered Peruvian mountains new age feel, to a more driving passage which reminded me of Tangerine Dream's score to The Sorcerer, ending on a strange disturbing moment of clanking, clunking and chanting that feels like it could come from a black and white J-horror period film - all in all quite a heady brew which appealed to me massively.

I do often find it hard to say "favourite" album of the year, or "best" album of the year and over the last few years I just find the ones I've found myself going back to repeatedly against a never ending sea of new music (and old music to discover) ends up "winning" that title as it's managed to keep its head above the waves.

So I'm running a competition to win a copy of the limited edition red vinyl of Shabaka's album, a Music Saves (Worthing) mug (ideal for filling with mulled wine this time of year or non alcoholic equivalent) and a Music Saves (Worthing) t-shirt (we have several colours and sizes available, winner to choose from what we have available.)

To enter this competition, I'm asking people to donate a minimum of £2 to the Ashgate Hospice in Chesterfield, who did an incredible job of giving my dad a second wind back in January and giving us several more months with him and then looked after him with such inspirational and loving care in his final weeks.

So you can donate here

https://ashgatehospice.org.uk/donate/

and then message me with a screen grab of your donation to be entered into the competition (UK residents only, though that's probably a given :) )

I'm going to run this until midnight on Thursday 19th December - so gives you two weeks to enter - and that way the winner will have the prize hopefully in time for Christmas to enjoy :)

And if this prize isn't for you would appreciate any sharing and helping to spread the word of the competition to try and help raise as much for Ashgate Hospice as possible.

(I will also say another notable album I've enjoyed and gone back to repeatedly this year is Nadine Shah's Filthy Underneath - shout out to that and do check it out if you can.)

Thanks so much in advance for any support you can give this competition!

Luth

15/12/2024

Thanks to the attendees of our Simon Boswell, Michele Stodart and David Gedge events we’re planting 115 trees with One Tree Planted - can’t seem to see where you can choose the specific region to plant anymore on the site (normally choose Europe as UK tree prices went up to $2 a tree) so not sure where in the world these will be planted 🙂 and all that etc

13/12/2024

Many thanks to all of you who came to our very special sold out final event of the year with the National Treasure that is David Gedge of The Wedding Present. What a fun selection of songs (with some unexpected choices) topped off with such a special performance from David and Rachel Wood - felt privileged that it was the second time Holly Jolly Hollywood had been performed live!

As ever thanks to Jim for spinning the choices and wrestling with that dodgy cd player aux cable, the wonderful return of Sara helping out on door duties, the ever unflappable (or hides it well in a Bruce Banner style) of Mike Baker doing a fabulous job on the sound and all the Cellar Arts Club CIC volunteers.

A reminder also of the ongoing competition to win the Music Saves (Worthing) album of the year and tshirt and mug bundle in return for a £2 donation to Ashgate Hospice in Chesterfield - not loads of entries so far so to misquote The Hunger Games “the odds are probably in your favour” (competition ends at midnight on Thursday - message me screengrab/ proof of donation)

Our next The Defining Ten event will be on Thursday 30th January - lucky attendees got the heads up on who that guest will be (shush, mum’s the word) so that will be announced and hopefully on sale in the coming weeks.

Thanks again all for a super special night to finish off our year.

12/12/2024

Posters and mockets all ready for tonight’s with David Gedge at the in - final 2 tickets available at https://musicsaves.co.uk/product/the-defining-ten-with-david-gedge/

11/12/2024

I was holding 4 places back for David’s guestlist requirements but he’s now said they are not required..so the final 4 tickets for TOMORROW’s The Defining Ten with...DAVID GEDGE (The Wedding Present/ Cinerama) are available to buy now at

The Defining Ten is where an artist/creative is invited to take us on a musical dot-to-dot journey of the tracks that led them to who they are today. These could be the first song they have a memory of, first purchase, first song they learnt to play, the track that opened doors, the track that close...

08/12/2024

I’ve got someone with a spare ticket for The Defining Ten with...DAVID GEDGE (The Wedding Present/ Cinerama) - tried putting him in touch with a couple of people who had contacted me to be on the waiting list but he hasn’t heard back…so if you want me to put you in touch drop me a line with a number/ email address to contact you on.

06/12/2024

Here’s a lovely 8/10 review of Shabaka’s album…just in case it convinces you to enter the album of the year charity benefiting comp below :)

https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/shabaka-perceive-its-beauty-acknowledge-its-grace/

WIN the MUSIC SAVES (WORTHING) Album of the Year + T-shirt + Mug bundle "thing"

Hello everyone,

Waffle time (when isn't it with me...) - this year has been a peculiar one for me and much that for some people are aware (I must be as tedious as Roger Waters banging on about his dad at times) I lost my dad to prostate cancer in the middle of the year.

So this year my listening habits have been very divided - there was very much a BEFORE AND DURING period of his last days, which did involve some gallivanting around up to Chesterfield where I would be listening to music in the car and then....THE AFTER where I didn't much feel like listening to any music for a long time and much that I have listened to a variety of stuff since then nothing has really st(r)uck with me as such.

The album I did keep returning to during THAT period was Shabaka Hutchings' "Perceive Its Beauty, Acknowledge Its Grace"

As this was billed up front as his "flute album" and as my expectations of flute music seems to bring to mind images of James Galway, or Alyson Hannigan talking about music camp in American Pie I went in with some slight misconceptions...also to misquote Kinks' Lola, I'm not the world's most spiritual man, but what Shabaka has created is a beautiful, spiritual piece (peace more like) of an album, which created a much needed balm for me during this emotional and difficult time. Even the title seems to suggest a request for a moment of calm reflection. In some places it oddly reminded me of the soundtrack to Stranded, a melancholic short film I made about 20 years ago.

I had the massive pleasure of meeting Shabaka and his lovely partner and seeing him perform with an array of flutes at an instore around the release, which was an incredible education on the endless variants of the instrument, the craft that goes into them and the amazing sounds he was able to create from them.

The track in particular that I would (and do) continue to go back to is "I'll Do Whatever You Want" - a track name which could take on some heavy significance in the circumstances - this track immediately caught my ear and over its 7+ minute running time it seemed to go from the map screen music from the original Mass Effect videogame, to a Popul Vuh Aguirre Wrath of God cloud covered Peruvian mountains new age feel, to a more driving passage which reminded me of Tangerine Dream's score to The Sorcerer, ending on a strange disturbing moment of clanking, clunking and chanting that feels like it could come from a black and white J-horror period film - all in all quite a heady brew which appealed to me massively.

I do often find it hard to say "favourite" album of the year, or "best" album of the year and over the last few years I just find the ones I've found myself going back to repeatedly against a never ending sea of new music (and old music to discover) ends up "winning" that title as it's managed to keep its head above the waves.

So I'm running a competition to win a copy of the limited edition red vinyl of Shabaka's album, a Music Saves (Worthing) mug (ideal for filling with mulled wine this time of year or non alcoholic equivalent) and a Music Saves (Worthing) t-shirt (we have several colours and sizes available, winner to choose from what we have available.)

To enter this competition, I'm asking people to donate a minimum of £2 to the Ashgate Hospice in Chesterfield, who did an incredible job of giving my dad a second wind back in January and giving us several more months with him and then looked after him with such inspirational and loving care in his final weeks.

So you can donate here

https://ashgatehospice.org.uk/donate/

and then message me with a screen grab of your donation to be entered into the competition (UK residents only, though that's probably a given :) )

I'm going to run this until midnight on Thursday 19th December - so gives you two weeks to enter - and that way the winner will have the prize hopefully in time for Christmas to enjoy :)

And if this prize isn't for you would appreciate any sharing and helping to spread the word of the competition to try and help raise as much for Ashgate Hospice as possible.

(I will also say another notable album I've enjoyed and gone back to repeatedly this year is Nadine Shah's Filthy Underneath - shout out to that and do check it out if you can.)

Thanks so much in advance for any support you can give this competition!

Luth

05/12/2024

WIN the MUSIC SAVES (WORTHING) Album of the Year + T-shirt + Mug bundle "thing"

Hello everyone,

Waffle time (when isn't it with me...) - this year has been a peculiar one for me and much that for some people are aware (I must be as tedious as Roger Waters banging on about his dad at times) I lost my dad to prostate cancer in the middle of the year.

So this year my listening habits have been very divided - there was very much a BEFORE AND DURING period of his last days, which did involve some gallivanting around up to Chesterfield where I would be listening to music in the car and then....THE AFTER where I didn't much feel like listening to any music for a long time and much that I have listened to a variety of stuff since then nothing has really st(r)uck with me as such.

The album I did keep returning to during THAT period was Shabaka Hutchings' "Perceive Its Beauty, Acknowledge Its Grace"

As this was billed up front as his "flute album" and as my expectations of flute music seems to bring to mind images of James Galway, or Alyson Hannigan talking about music camp in American Pie I went in with some slight misconceptions...also to misquote Kinks' Lola, I'm not the world's most spiritual man, but what Shabaka has created is a beautiful, spiritual piece (peace more like) of an album, which created a much needed balm for me during this emotional and difficult time. Even the title seems to suggest a request for a moment of calm reflection. In some places it oddly reminded me of the soundtrack to Stranded, a melancholic short film I made about 20 years ago.

I had the massive pleasure of meeting Shabaka and his lovely partner and seeing him perform with an array of flutes at an instore around the release, which was an incredible education on the endless variants of the instrument, the craft that goes into them and the amazing sounds he was able to create from them.

The track in particular that I would (and do) continue to go back to is "I'll Do Whatever You Want" - a track name which could take on some heavy significance in the circumstances - this track immediately caught my ear and over its 7+ minute running time it seemed to go from the map screen music from the original Mass Effect videogame, to a Popul Vuh Aguirre Wrath of God cloud covered Peruvian mountains new age feel, to a more driving passage which reminded me of Tangerine Dream's score to The Sorcerer, ending on a strange disturbing moment of clanking, clunking and chanting that feels like it could come from a black and white J-horror period film - all in all quite a heady brew which appealed to me massively.

I do often find it hard to say "favourite" album of the year, or "best" album of the year and over the last few years I just find the ones I've found myself going back to repeatedly against a never ending sea of new music (and old music to discover) ends up "winning" that title as it's managed to keep its head above the waves.

So I'm running a competition to win a copy of the limited edition red vinyl of Shabaka's album, a Music Saves (Worthing) mug (ideal for filling with mulled wine this time of year or non alcoholic equivalent) and a Music Saves (Worthing) t-shirt (we have several colours and sizes available, winner to choose from what we have available.)

To enter this competition, I'm asking people to donate a minimum of £2 to the Ashgate Hospice in Chesterfield, who did an incredible job of giving my dad a second wind back in January and giving us several more months with him and then looked after him with such inspirational and loving care in his final weeks.

So you can donate here

https://ashgatehospice.org.uk/donate/

and then message me with a screen grab of your donation to be entered into the competition (UK residents only, though that's probably a given :) )

I'm going to run this until midnight on Thursday 19th December - so gives you two weeks to enter - and that way the winner will have the prize hopefully in time for Christmas to enjoy :)

And if this prize isn't for you would appreciate any sharing and helping to spread the word of the competition to try and help raise as much for Ashgate Hospice as possible.

(I will also say another notable album I've enjoyed and gone back to repeatedly this year is Nadine Shah's Filthy Underneath - shout out to that and do check it out if you can.)

Thanks so much in advance for any support you can give this competition!

Luth

01/12/2024

Well what a wonderful night we had on Thursday night at the Cellar Arts Club CIC in the lovely warm company of Michele Stodart of The Magic Numbers.

We had an amazing choice of songs - with several definitely (as she described) as “stop you in your tracks” and some new discoveries for me and most of the audience.

We had a wonderfully fun dissection/ insight into the creation of a Magic Numbers track.

We had an incredible performance at the end where I wasn’t expecting everyone to find their nocturnal spirit animal and join in the infectious fun of it all.

At the core we had stories bursting with such big heart, a deep love of music and dedication to the craft of songwriting.

Such a wonderful night and so glad my wife Minda made it out to this one 🙂

Super thanks to Michele and Immy (who created the greatest merchandise display the Cellar will probably ever tsee), Jim handling the music, as ever all the wonderful volunteer Cellar staff, the fabulous Mike Baker for doing a great job on the sound and to all you lovely people for coming.

Our next event with David Gedge is sold out already so keep them peeled for events coming in 2025!

30/11/2024

And…The Defining Ten with...DAVID GEDGE (The Wedding Present/ Cinerama) SOLD OUT in just over 12 hours 🙂

If you want to go on a waiting list for any returned tickets please drop me a line.

If you have any tickets you can no longer use drop me a line and I will try and resell them.

Scammerbots will come straight out on this so I will delete any posts about tickets for sale.

Thank you so much for the support - means a lot especially on such a high ticket price - but also gives me some confidence that on those strong fanbase acts where the guests are asking for a higher fee perhaps super fans are happy to pay for that experience.

See you all in just under 2 weeks!

29/11/2024

Thank you all for a special night last night at The Defining Ten with...MICHELE STODART (THE MAGIC NUMBERS) - usual full post with photos to come later, but that was a night bursting with heart.

Obviously standby your refresh button for next announcement at 9am…

28/11/2024

About to set off to the Cellar Arts Club CIC ready for The Defining Ten with...MICHELE STODART (THE MAGIC NUMBERS)…certainly a shorter drive than the first time I went Brum Brum on the motorway to go to this special place to see 2001: A Space Odyssey.

There is a point to this post. It relates to announcement tomorrow morning at 9am for Thursday 12th December. It will make sense then.

28/11/2024

Posters and mockets ready for tonight’s with of at the in .

Due to a bereavement there are some additional tickets available for tonight added back to the website at https://musicsaves.co.uk/product/the-defining-ten-with-michele-stodart/

or keep an eye on our socials - we will list if sold out, if not these tickets will be available on the door tonight.

See you there!

27/11/2024

Everything seems to be sorted for on sale/ announcement THIS Friday at 9am for Thursday 12th December at the Cellar Arts Club CIC in - short selling window but think this one will go in a flash!

So as that’s all sorted I can concentrate on working on my dance moves…

27/11/2024

As ever, I'm a little bit out of date with the looking back one year after, so a year and a few days ago we were in the wonderful funny and fabulously potty mouthed company of Miki Berenyi from Lush to discuss her Defining Ten...she admitted there were many other songs she could have chosen as a fair few of these represented a specific time and which there were several she could have chosen from to equally represent the time.

I did have a note that she did choose The Rubinoos - I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend as she hadn’t completely decided on which to play but I think on the night she did go with The Gist song...

Either way, a marvellous night was had by all and though unfortunately we didn't get round to the book reading of her eye opening autobiography we did finish the evening with a healthy Q&A session!

The Scientists - You Only Live Twice

39 Lyon Street - Kites

The Redskins - Lean on Me

The Delmonas - Dangerous Charms

Dislocation Dance - You’ll Never Never Know

World Domination Enterprises - Asbestos Lead Asbestos

Xmal Deutschland - Incubus Succubus

The Gist - Love At First Sight

Zounds - Demistification

Gang of Four - To Hell With Poverty

26/11/2024

Still hoping that for Thursday 12th December will be announced this Friday at 9am - just waiting on artist to sign off some bits. So as there’s nowt to be done for now biding my time with a bit of retro gaming…wonder what I’ll encounter while playing?