NEWS

SIOUXSIE SIOUX

I  HAVE BEEN WORKING THIS YEAR WITH SIOUXSIE SIOUX  IN THE USA AND  EUROPE FINISHING UP IN LONDON WITH TWO NIGHTS AT THE TROXY.

MY FIRST EVER GIG WAS SIOUXSIE IN 1979 SO IT WAS SO GREAT TO WORK  WITH SUCH A LEGEND .

THANK YOU SUE COLLIER AND DOUG HART FOR THE CALL UP.

LD WAS PAULA TROUNCE SO WAS GREAT TO BE WITH HER AGAIN .

 

AIR ANATOLIA

BRILLIANT TO BE BACK AT THE SOUTHBANK AND WORKING WITH SERIOUS  AGAIN

LONDON JAZZ FESTIVAL ROYAL FESTIVAL HALL

TOM GRENNAN

BEDFORD HOMECOMING GIG AND VARIOUS SHOWS ALL SUMMER

Been absolute pleasure working as PM for this incredible bunch of people, Such fun working with them alongside Doug Dalziel the TM

LD Jon Trincas

SPIRITUALIZED

USA AND AUSTRALIA TOURS 2022

Superb time had by all the legends on these shows , LD PADDY FARR

KASABIAN

ARENA TOUR 2022

DESIGNED BY NICK GRAY AT RENEGADE KASABIAN MAKE AN INCREDIBLE RETURN TO THE ARENAS

BRING ME THE HORIZON

UK ARENA TOUR 2021

Bring Me The Horizon Did first show in almost two years and were one of  if not the first band out of the traps to do an Arena tour post covid. Joined by You Me at Six and The Nova Twins

Check Out the show here:

 

 

MADNESS LIVE AT

THE LONDON PALLADIUM

SUPPORTING WE MAKE EVENTS AND WE NEED CREW

Madness live stream to raise money for #WeMakeEvents and #WeNeedCrew
On 14 May, Madness will perform a special live stream from the iconic London Palladium, bringing you an evening of music, drama and comedy, scripted by Charlie Higson.
Best of all, the show will raise money for two industry campaigns: #WeMakeEvents and #WeNeedCrew!
Book your ticket and make your donation here:

 

 

  FLASHBACK 1988

Bunch of photos popped up on facebook from a show way back in 1988 with Love and Rockets in the USA . Charles Robinson kindly allowed me to use them.

 

 

 

 

  TEXTING TEXTING ONETWO

Text ONETWO plus donation amount to 70085 to help the thousands of crew affected by the pandemic.

For example text ONETWO5 to donate £5.

 A lot of time over the last 8 weeks has been spent by the Ambassador team of  we make events  This has resulted in a brand new fundraising campaign

TEXTING TEXTING ONETWO.

Designed to get  much needed funds to the thousands of crew affected so badly by the Covid 19 pandemic.

If you can help simply text ONETWO plus your donation amount to 70085

All proceeds go direct to BACKUP charity.

 

 

 

ARTISTS GET BEHIND

WE MAKE EVENTS CAMPAIGN

“TEXTING TEXTING ONETWO”

Text ONETWO plus donation amount to 70085 to help the thousands of crew affectedby the pandemic.

ARTISTS HAVE BEEN GETTING BEHIND AND SUPPORTING THE NEW CAMPAIGN

TEXTING TEXTING ONETWO.

Designed to get  much needed funds to the thousands of crew affected so badly by the Covid 19 pandemic.

ARTISTS INCLUDE:

THE ROLLING STONES – THE KOOKS – TOM GRENNAN

SAM FENDER – FRANK TURNER – JAMES BAY

 BIFFY CLYRO – KATHERINE JENKINS – FEEDER

ENTER SHIKARI – MIDGE URE

If you can help simply text ONETWO plus your donation amount to 70085

For example text ONETWO5 to donate £5.

All proceeds go direct to BACKUP charity.

 

 

 

SIMON CALLOW  JOINS FORCES WITH

WE MAKE EVENTS  ON THEIR NEW CAMPAIGN

“TEXTING TEXTING ONETWO”

SIMON CALLOW HAS TAKEN TIME TO RECORD AN INTRO AND ENDORSEMENT OF THE NEW WE MAKE EVENTS CAMPAIGN TEXTING TEXTING ONETWO CAMPAIGN THAT LAUNCHED ON MARCH 12TH

If you can help simply text ONETWO plus your donation amount to 70085

For example text ONETWO5 to donate £5.

All proceeds go direct to BACKUP charity.

 

 

 

FRANK TURNER HAS WRITTEN SONG AND RECORDED VIDEO IN SUPPORT OF CREW AFFECTED BY THE PANDEMIC

FRANK TURNER WHO HAS WORKED TIRELESSLY WITH WE MAKE EVENTS FOR MANY MANY MONTHS NOW RELEASED HIS NEW SONG AND VIDEO ALONGSIDE THE LAUNCH OF THE TEXTING ONETWO CAMPAIGN

WATCH VIDEO HERE

If you can help simply text ONETWO plus your donation amount to 70085

For example text ONETWO5 to donate £5.

All proceeds go direct to BACKUP charity.

 

 

 

  MELTDOWN 2015

ALL SMOKE + 3000  MIRRORS

I am super proud to have been asked for many years now to be part of the MELTDOWN FESTIVAL at the SOUTHBANK CENTRE every year.

2015 was turn of James Lavelle and one of the shows involved Keaton Henson.

He played with a quartet and unusually they played on a floor of 3000 car wing mirrors which enabled some beautiful delicate refraction looks.

An amazing evening . Audio “painted” beautifully too by Mark Portlock

I happened to stumble across few videos from the event.

One of which was this.

Sweetheart,What Have You Done To Us?

 

 

 THE GOVERNMENT CAN’T SEE US

Big Ant Productions are proud to be part of We Make Events.

Yesterday We Make Events campaign launched a brand new digital platform highlighting how many are feeling invisible to the people in power

Sign up for the Video Wall and learn more about we make events right here.

https://gcsu.wemakeevents.com/

 

 

 FLASHBACK TO  MAY 2009 BRIXTON KABUKI DROP

THE SPECIALS

 Not sure who recorded this and posted it but I,m glad they did. These  truly were 5 of my favourite EVER shows. The atomosphere in the Academy was electric each night. A Kabuki at top of the show always adds to the nerves as well, luckily Toby and I had visited the Trinity Arms post doors each night to calm them a little. Happy days.

 TOP OF SHOW BRIXTON MAY 2009

 

 

AMUSING REVIEW OF THE ROUNDHOUSE SHOWS BACK IN 2019

 

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=430894528030940

Thank you Andy Coules for sending this link to Adam Buxton Podcast with the description from Stewart Lee of his evening in Camden with his family and the “dangerous” nutty boys.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/BauhausAndBeyond

GALLERY UPDATE

DUBLIN AMBASSADOR 2006

Was made aware of some nice pictures I didn’t know of from the one and only Irish show Northampton’s finest Bauhaus ever played back in January 2006. I only went along as a punter and Kevin Haskins called me as I was just walking into the pub over the road to ask me if I could do the lights. Of course I jumped at the chance and declined going to the pub for around 8 hours. So it was nice to see some pictures. I have added them to the gallery. Thanks to Vincent, Anja Reid and the bauhaus & beyond facebook page

http://bigantproductions.com/gallery/

JANUARY 2021

BACK TO DRAWING BOARD  WITH WYSIWYG R45 .

Spending  a good bit of time back at the drawing board after refreshing my knowledge and completing the CAST wysiwyg online course during first lockdown. Great to get the creative juices flowing again. Hopefully one day some of these will become reality in an arena somwhere soon.

BREXIT INTERVIEW FOR GERMAN TV

 

I was asked in the week to do an interview to share my thoughts on the industry post Brexit. I mean it’s all speculative at the moment as the situation is so fluid but I’m never shy to offer an opinion. I’ve never been dubbed before.

https://www.3sat.de/kultur/kulturzeit/brexit-benachteiligt-britische-musiker-100.html

 MORE RETRO NEWS

 

Nice old review that I was reminded of this week from CTUN tour a few years back . I still think it was a lovely looking gig,  Thanks to Toby Vogel as always.

https://vplt-live.eu/enjoying-the-colour-sounds-of-madness%EF%BB%BF/

RETRO NEWS

As News was all a bit gloomy this week I ended up in a you tube rabbit hole looking at old punter footage from gigs I have had the pleasure to light or production manage, or both with some of them.

THE KOOKS IN TOKYO 2013

No moving lights needed you may note.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjiQD57LRTo

KODALINE AT HAMMERSMITH APOLLO 2016.

Many Moving lights needed, Great night with a great band. Note Mark trying to blind Cammy and I at front of house with reflection off his guitar.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nVKc9J5oDw

KILLING JOKE AT HAMMERSMITH APOLLO 2013?

Another great band

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXniK2J-x-8

And last year at Meltdown The Viagra Boys,

a real highlight for me amongst many brilliant artists at Meltdown as always.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6wuegSJbuw

Right…out of the Vortex but thanks to the punters for the memories of live gigs.

 

THE HACKNEY EMPIRE APPEAL

I was absolutely thrilled to see that The Hackney Empire have used picture of one of my designs on their homepage. What an incredible privilege that is for me considering the history of the venue.

Back in 2019 I spent a great week in Hackney, one of my former stomping grounds when working at the Ocean. This time it was over the road at the historic Hackney Empire. I designed two stages based on the breif of 1001 candles for two members of The Libertines and later in the week for Spiritualized. Two completely different looks that I was very proud of.I felt the stage looked fantastic for both shows . Great week spent with a lot of brilliantly talented friends who were part of both performances.

Sadly the venue, like many others, is in grave danger and in need of urgent help. Please click on link below to donate to the cause if you can spare a few quid.

https://hackneyempire.co.uk/

Video of one of the shows below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bk2O1pVugCM&list=PL1xfSZnP5GGfoM2R16vpyEC_pAiSDg_pG

2021

 

We Make Events

Covid 19 seems in no hurry to leave us and the industry we all love is still on hold, I will continue to support and work on the We Make Events Campaign helping to raise funds and awareness for all the people affected by this dreadful situation.

We will get through this together and there will be better times ahead , take care of yourself and each other.

https://www.wemakeevents.com/

https://www.facebook.com/wemakeeventsni/

SURVIVAL SESSIONS

SURVIVAL SESSIONS

One of the more fun parts of the campaign was collating a roster of DJs musicians etc who took time out to produce sessions online mainly from home, Check out all the great sessions that happened last year and get in touch if you fancy doing one yourself.

Big thanks to all that took time out to do this last year.

This is a shout out to Bands, Crew Bands, Classical musicians, Comedians, Dancers anyone basically that is prepared to put together an online Survival Session to help raise awareness and funds for all the crew and freelancers out there struggling so badly.

https://www.wemakeevents.com/survival-sessions/

There is also the Roadievision Song Contest to enter,

THIS WILL BE CONTINUE AFTER THE INITIAL CHRISTMAS CONTEST SO GET INVOLVED

Congratulations to Max Bisgrove who won gained the Christmas Number One slot

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpIl_9gGABI

BAUHAUS UNDEAD

 

BAUHAUS UNDEAD NEW EDITION

During the pandemic I was asked by the amazing Kevin Haskins to write a piece for his book

Bauhaus Undead Expanded Edition

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmHbsFm4S_4

Obviously I was delighted to have helped as they are the band that started it all for me.

If you want to read my Bauhaus Memoirs (PAGES 180+181 btw) why not buy the book, it is an absolute work of art

https://cleorecs.com/store/shop/bauhaus-undead-expanded-edition-book/

COVID -19 UPDATES

Clearly as of February all dates  slowly but surely dissappeared from the diary. Due to the state of things worldwide and the outbreak of COVID -19 there are no shows planned for quite a while.

Any changes will appear here soon hopefully

In the meantime I fear for a lot of friends and colleagues who will be struggling.

Please see links below to campaigns and agencies that are there to help.

Anyone in need of help in anyway can contact the great people at music support 24/7

https://www.musicsupport.org

Proud to be part of  #wemakeevents and #wemakeeventsNI teams working to help the STAND AS ONE campaign  for all at need during and after the dreadful COVID situation.

Please visit

https://www.wemakeevents.com/

for updates and join the campaign today

HELP FOR FREELANCERS AND ALL CREW
TRY VISITING THE UK MUSIC SITE TOO TO SEE IF YOU QUALIFY FOR ANY OF THESE SCHEMES OPEN TO FREELANCERS ETC IN MUSIC INDUSTRY
Whilst most people welcome the news that the Self-Employed Income Scheme has re-opened for a second round (details below). But too many Self-Employed individuals are slipping through the cracks and freelancers in music are in need of targeted support. Socially-distanced live indoor performances can now take place (from Saturday 15 August) but without running at full capacity, and without full customer confidence in going to these events, these workers cannot fully return to work. We are extremely concerned about the hundreds of thousands of people who make up the majority of our industry. See ‘I feel like I’m failing at life’: the terrible plight of music event staff (The Guardian).
 
I am in support and helping as various groups continue to lobby the government to support freelancers, contractors and the self-employed for whom government support is not adequate. They’ve been lobbying directly since the start of Covid and with partners like UK Music on their #LetTheMusicPlay Campaign and #Wemakeevents  and #LightItInRed Arts Council England has said that support for Freelance workers will be coming in the Autumn and we hope this reaches those need.
 
AIM have put together a rundown of some of the current financial supports, funds and opportunities out there for both organisations and individuals which I hope you find helpful. It includes government support, funds and grants and an update on the next round of the Music Export Growth Scheme (MEGS).
 
 
Please pass this onto anyone you think the information will help.