The riverside at Castlefields

The riverside at Castlefields

Wednesday 30 June 2010

McCartney in Hyde Park


For me, it was one of those great weekends. June 26-27, 2010.
Even as I boarded the train on the Saturday morning (a very smart London-Midland multiple unit with its bright, clean upholstery done out in pleasing shades of green), I felt excited and completely happy, just like a child in a Ladybird book who is embarking upon a railway journey bound for adventure.
The carriage throbbed gently at the platform as brilliant sunshine illuminated lovely old Shrewsbury station.
I was off to spend the weekend with eldest son Dave and his girlfriend Laura. And on the Sunday we were going to Hyde Park to see my all-time musical hero Paul McCartney in concert in Hyde Park.
It turns out that the Sunday was the hottest day of the year, but even the heat (which normally would be too much for me) seemed right somehow.
Thousands of happy people enjoying sunshine and music (oh, and - on the giant screen before us - England being thrashed by Germany, but hey!). There was beer to drink. Good company. Elvis Costello, Crowded House, Crosby, Stills and Nash. And of course Macca, magnificent as always.
Boy! What a weekend.

Sunday 20 June 2010

My Fifty Favourite Musical Artists


























I seem to have this compulsive desire to make lists – and I'm a father . . . and so on this Father's Day I am going to treat myself by making a list:

My Fifty Favourite Musical Artists

The Beatles
The Bee Gees
The Hollies
The Kinks
The Move
The Byrds
The Monkees
The Lovin’ Spoonful
The Beach Boys
The Mamas and the Papas
Crosby Stills Nash (and Young)
The Who
The Rolling Stones
Procol Harum
John Lennon
Paul McCartney
George Harrison
Badfinger
Stealers Wheel
Cat Stevens
Donovan
Simon and Garfunkel
America
Bread
Supertramp
The Moody Blues
Wizzard
T.Rex
Lindisfarne
The Strawbs
Paul Simon
10cc
Elvis Costello
Frank Sinatra
The Supernaturals
Crowded House
The Mutton Birds
Jellyfish
ELO
Bob Dylan
Roy Orbison
Tom Petty
Traveling Wilburys
Michael Nesmith
Bruce Springsteen
Elvis Presley
Johnny Cash
Flaming Lips
Teenage Fanclub
XTC