Hold on to your Pan Pipes! Aardman's 'Shaun the Sheep' 'LLAMA DRAMA' hits BBC One in about hour!

Voice artist SEAN CONNOLLY provides the voice of Hector the Llama in 'SHAUN THE SHEEP: THE FARMER'S LLAMAS' for Aardman Animations - Boxing Day BBC One ...

Just under an hour until 'SHAUN THE SHEEP: THE FARMER'S LLAMAS' hits Boxing Day telly ... 

Tune in to BBC One at 6.10pm for half an hour of Alpaca Anarchy!!

Golden Globe Nomination for 'SHAUN THE SHEEP MOVIE' and 5 Annie Award Nominations.

Yesterday lunchtime the nominations for the 73rd Golden Globes were announced from the Beverley Hilton Hotel, Beverley Hills in Los Angeles. After an agonising few minutes wait the news that Aardman's 'SHAUN THE SHEEP MOVIE' had secured a nomination for a Golden Globe Award for Best Animated Feature. I'm so proud to be a part of this wonderful film, it certainly deserves all the attention it's getting, of course I would say that!

The nominated animated features this year, include two very diverse stop motion films: 'ANOMALISA' (which looks amazing!) and of course 'SHAUN THE SHEEP MOVIE', with Disney Pixar's 'INSIDE OUT' and 'THE GOOD DINOSAUR' with 'THE PEANUTS MOVIE' completing the five. So a pretty competitive set of nominees to say the least! We'll find out who comes away with the award on Sunday January 10th 2016, just four days before we find out whether 'SHAUN THE SHEEP MOVIE' will be rewarded with an Oscar nomination too, all just a wee bit crazy??!!

Still on the awards trail ... 'SHAUN THE SHEEP MOVIE' has also had some other brilliant news.

The Annie Awards (basically the animation Oscars!) are, quoting from their own website ... 

"The event celebrating individuals for a lifetime or career contributions to the art of animation in producing, directing, animating, design, writing, voice acting, sound and sound effects, technical work, music, professional teaching, and for other endeavours which exhibit outstanding contributions to excellence in animation."

'SHAUN THE SHEEP MOVIE' has been nominated in FIVE categories:

1.) Best Animated Feature.

2.) Outstanding Achievement in Directing for Richard Starzac and Mark Burton.

3.) Outstanding Achievement in Writing an Animated Feature for Richard Starzac and Mark Burton.

4.) Outstanding Achievement in Production Design for Matt Perry and Gavin Lines.

5.) Outstanding Achievement in Editorial in an Animated Feature for Sim Evan-Jones.

The 43rd Annual Annie Awards will be presented on Saturday February 6th 2016 at UCLA's Royce Hall in Los Angeles.

Christmas Radio Times Cover for 'SHAUN THE SHEEP: THE FARMER'S LLAMAS' - Boxing Day - BBC ONE at 6.10PM.

Well it's a double whammy of festive news ... not only has the date and time of the thirty minute special 'SHAUN THE SHEEP: THE FARMER'S LLAMAS' been announced, but as you can see we've also made the cover of the legendary Double Issue Christmas Radio Times!

Also great news that 'SHAUN THE SHEEP: THE FARMER'S LLAMAS' has been given a prime time Boxing Day slot of 6.10PM on BBC ONE ... If you happen to miss it on Boxing day then fear not, there is another opportunity to see it on New Years Day, again on BBC ONE at 4.05PM.

It's also worth mentioning that there is an insightful documentary about Aardman again on Boxing Day called 'A GRAND NIGHT IN: THE STORY OF AARDMAN' on BBC ONE at 2.25PM.

If you simply can't wait until Boxing day, here's a little sneak peek of the Llama Drama!

It was great fun recording Hector, 'SHAUN THE SHEEP: THE FARMER'S LLAMAS' is a real treat.

Remember a Llama is not just for Christmas!!

A Christmas Special 'Llama Drama' for 'SHAUN THE SHEEP'.

Voice actor Sean Connolly with Hector the Llama from Aardman's Christmas Special 'SHAUN THE SHEEP: THE FARMER'S LLAMAS'.

Following on from the release of Aardman Animations world-wide hit 'SHAUN THE SHEEP MOVIE' earlier this year I am thrilled to announce my involvement in 'SHAUN THE SHEEP: THE FARMER'S LLAMAS', the first ever Shaun the Sheep thirty-minute festive special which will air on BBC One this Christmas. The exact transmission date and time will be announced in the Christmas Radio Times which is out next weekend.

In 'SHAUN THE SHEEP: THE FARMER'S LLAMAS' I voice HECTOR the LLAMA, leader of a troublesome trio of Llamas. 

Here's the Synopsis:  When the Farmer and Bitzer go to a Country Fair, Shaun steals away with them intent on causing mischief. Shaun spies an auction where he sees three exotic and very crafty Llamas going under the hammer. Instantly besotted by their fantastic pranks Shaun cleverly gets the unwitting Farmer to buy them.

Back at Mossy Bottom Farm, Shaun is delighted with his prank and convinces the Flock that the Llamas (Hector, Fernando and Raul) are just what they need to spice up their lives. At first everything’s great fun, but soon their new Llama room-mates get a bit too comfortable in their new home.

When things spiral out of control, Shaun is forced to take action to oust the intruders and save the farm.

The film has been available to stream in America for a few weeks now, before it's UK screening this Christmas, here's the trailer.

  

On Monday 26th October 2015 The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry visited a charities forum event hosted by BAFTA & Aardman where the World Premiere of 'SHAUN THE SHEEP: THE FARMER'S LLAMAS' was presented.

Created by RICHARD STARZAK and directed by JAY GRACE, 'SHAUN THE SHEEP: THE FARMER'S LLAMAS' will continue Aardman’s long heritage of festive specials on the BBC following on from the now legendary WALLACE AND GROMIT shorts. 

'HOOD' - BBC Audio Drama Awards Nominees for THIRD SUCCESSIVE year!

The complete collection of covers from the 'HOOD' audio adventures produced by Spiteful Puppet.

Exciting news for the fine fellows of SPITEFUL PUPPET and their 'HOOD' series of audio adventures. They have been shortlisted for the THIRD SUCCESSIVE time for the BBC Audio Drama Awards 2016. 

'HOOD: KING'S COMMAND' is once again competing in the Best On-Line Audio Drama category. Here's the complete list of nominees. Can they match last years WIN in the same category? We'll know the results on JANUARY 31st next year. 

I feel very fortunate to have played BROTHER TUCK throughout the series. Fingers crossed they make the finalist stage for January!

'BATTLE LINES' by 104 Films wins the RTS Midlands Centre - 'The Diversity Award' 2015

Sean Connolly pictured with the Royal Television Society (Midlands Centre) 'The Diversity Award' 2015 for 'Battle Lines'.

Wonderful news that the World War One drama 'BATTLE LINES' in which I played Alf Robertson won 'The Diversity Award' at last nights Royal Television Society Gala Dinner held at the National Motorcycle Museum in Solihull.

104 Films produced the film for the British Sign Language Broadcasting Trust (BSLBT) in association with Ark Media Productions, (Phil Arkinstall pictured above). Writer and Director is Julian Peedle-Calloo.

It is now available to watch online at the British Sign Language Broadcasting Trust website here.

Oscar Nomination race begins for 'SHAUN THE SHEEP MOVIE'.

Hot on the heals of the Children's BAFTA Nominations for 'SHAUN THE SHEEP MOVIE' comes the news that The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences have announced that 16 animated features have been submitted for Oscar nomination consideration. I am delighted to say that 'SHAUN THE SHEEP MOVIE' is on that list! The 16 films are:

Anomalisa
Home

Hotel Transylvania 2
Inside Out
Kahlil Gibranas The Prophet

Minions

Moomins on the Riviera

Regular Show: The Movie

Shaun the Sheep Movie

The Boy and the Beast

The Boy and the World

The Good Dinosaur

The Laws of the Universe a Part 0

The Peanuts Movie

The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge out of Water

When Marnie Was There

The 88th Academy Awards nominations will be announced on Thursday, January 14, 2016.

Children's BAFTA Nominations for 'SHAUN THE SHEEP MOVIE'.

The Hairdressers: just two of the many characters Sean Connolly voiced in 'SHAUN THE SHEEP - THE MOVIE'.

HOT OFF THE PRESS! 'SHAUN THE SHEEP' and it's big screen spin-off 'SHAUN THE SHEEP - THE MOVIE' have been nominated in THREE CATEGORIES for the 20TH BRITISH ACADEMY CHILDREN'S AWARDS.

The first of its THREE NOMINATIONS is in the Best Animated Series category where the CBBC TV version is up against 'THE AMAZING WORLD OF GUMBALL', 'MR BEAN THE ANIMATED SERIES' and 'STRANGE HILL HIGH'.

Second up comes THE BIG ONE, the award for Best Feature Film where 'SHAUN THE SHEEP - THE MOVIE' - Aardman/Studio Canal has some very stiff opposition from 'BIG HERO 6' - Walt Disney Animation Studios, 'INSIDE OUT' - Pixar Animation Studios/Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures and 'PADDINGTON' - Heyday Films/Studio Canal!! We're certainly in good company here, blimey!!

Finally, THE MOVIE is on the shortlist for the Children's BAFTA Kids' Vote - Film in 2015: up against 'The Boxtrolls', 'Cinderella', 'Home', 'Inside Out', 'Minions', 'Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb', 'Paddington' and 'The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water'.

The ceremony will take place on SUNDAY 22ND NOVEMBER at the Roundhouse in London and will hosted by DOC BROWN. 

'BATTLE LINES' nominated for 2 RTS Midlands Awards ...

Father & son; Sean Noone (Arthur Robertson)
  and Sean Connolly (Alf Robertson) 

Broadcast last November on FILM4, 'BATTLE LINES' is a powerful drama set during the First World War. It tells the dramatic story of a young deaf man's struggle to 'do his duty' when he is refused permission to join up because of his disability. I play Alf Robertson, father to deaf son Arthur (Sean Noone).

104 Films produced the film for the British Sign Language Broadcasting Trust (BSLBT) in association with Ark Media Productions. Location for filming was the Black Country Museum. Writer and Director is Julian Peedle-Calloo.

It is now available to watch online at the British Sign Language Broadcasting Trust website here.

The winners of the 2015 Awards will be announced at the Gala Dinner held on Thursday November 12th at the National Motorcycle Museum in Solihull.

'SHAUN THE SHEEP MOVIE' going Independent in New York!!

'SHAUN THE SHEEP MOVIE' hits an Independent Cinema in Brooklyn, New York!

An old drama school friend based in New York sent me this great picture from his local Independent Cinema in Brooklyn, the Cobble Hill Cinema, quite a famous one at that! If you look at the movie list, there seems to be a film for all tastes on offer!! Thanks Francis!

Catching 'SUNSTROKE' at Birmingham Rep ...

Poster for 'SUNSTROKE' at Birmingham Rep - 7th September 2015.

I spent an exhausting but ultimately very rewarding day at Birmingham Repertory Theatre yesterday courtesy of BOLD Text Playwrights. Together with actress Bharti Patel and director Jessica Dromgoole and the writers, we spent the day rehearsing 8 micro-plays for a script-in-hand performance in the evening at The Door at The Rep.

Sean Connolly rehearsing 'SUNSTROKE' at Birmingham Rep for the BOLD Text Playwrights - 7th September 2015.

The BOLD Text Playwrights collective consists of EIGHT playwrights: Helen Kelly, Tim Stimpson, Stephen Jackson, Sayan Kent, Vanessa Oakes, Julia Wright, Nicola Jones and Liz John.

Writer Helen Kelly (left corner) with actors Bharti Patel, Sean Connolly and director Jessica Dromgoole deep in rehearsal.

The plays we rehearsed and performed were as follows:

•             Seeing the World Part 1 (Helen Kelly)

•             Stateless (Tim Stimpson)

•             Oceans Apart (Stephen Jackson)

•             Here (Sayan Kent)

•             I’m Staying (Vanessa Oakes)

•             Sunstroke (Julia Wright)

•             The Trip (Nicola Jones)

•             Seeing the World Part 2 (Liz John)

All eight plays had the running theme of British holidaymakers caught up in various types of 'trouble abroad'. All the plays were poignant, also very different in their approach. The roles I had to play were also varied; a liberal sprinkling of Brummies, a mysterious Eastern European and a male stripper!! Oh I've missed theatre!! 

Happy 85th Birthday Sir Sean of Connery!!

I'd like to wish my 'almost' namesake a very Happy 85th Birthday. I was bought this fantastic picture for a birthday of my own and now it has pride of place in my corner office. 

My mother and father were 'courting' when they went to see Sean Connery's first Bond film 'DR NO' in 1962. When they had me in 1965 of course they decided to call me 'Sean', why not - their surname was Connolly?! Decades of jokes followed, during my school life and later in my professional life as an actor. Being a somewhat diminutive chap, a gem that was often used was "003 1/2"... as I came to the end of my training at drama school I was told my real name was so similar to that of the great man's that it would have to go before Equity Council to judge whether I could keep it as my stage name, fortunately they decided I could, phew! 

Through my 25 years plus of being an actor I have disappointed many a BBC receptionist, if they hadn't looked quite close enough at who they were actually expecting! I've had fan letters, telling me that I was their favourite James Bond and for a while a yearly invitation to contribute to a celebrity cookbook in aid of charity!! I've battled with Google (not an actual battle but a technical one!) to try and get it to recognise me as separate entity (from Billy Connolly too I might add!), hence the little comment on the About me bit of this Blog!

Nothing really bad has happened (so far!) and in truth it has also been a useful thing over the years with casting directors etc ... "Oh yeah, you're that bloke sounds a bit like Sean Connery"! Of course I have also been obliged to hone my Sean Connery impression over time and I am proud to report that I have been paid actual money to use it!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SIR SEAN OF CONNERY, still the best Bond in my humble opinion!

Doctor Who Audio Covers & Vocal Samples - BIG FINISH.

Following my recent work with BIG FINISH PRODUCTIONS, I thought it might be fun to look back at some of the Audio Adventures I've been involved in so far. I'm really looking forward to seeing what the design guys at Big Finish are going to come up with for the individual cover of 'Doctor Who: Classic Doctors - New Monsters - The Sontaran Ordeal'.

From my SOUNDCLOUD site, here's some audio samples of my work with Big Finish. 

CBeebies TV Series 'LITTLE PRAIRIE DOGS' summer repeat.

I was delighted to see that 'LITTLE PRAIRIE DOGS', a series I voiced for the CBeebies Channel enjoyed a very recent TELEVISION REPEAT from July 27th to August 7th. I was only made aware of it a few days ago by a friend who has a suitably aged child. It has now finished it's telly run but the whole series is still available on the BBC's iPLAYER until early September.

Kate Sachs and Sean Connolly record voices for the CBeebies TV Series 'LITTLE PRAIRIE DOGS' ...

Wow five years certainly goes quickly, I have such fantastic memories of the recording sessions in a very snowy Bristol! Pictured above is yours truly and the wonderful KATE SACHS (daughter of Andrew) in mid-session!. I voiced all the male Prairie Dogs and Kate the female ones. It seems that the BBC repeat the series at least once a year, usually during the summer hols. Lovely to see it again.

Shaun the Sheep - A Collection of Mock Film Posters

To celebrate last weeks release of 'SHAUN THE SHEEP THE MOVIE' in the USA, here's a small collection of some of the brilliant Mock Film Posters, Aardman put out for the promotion of the film ...

Sean The Sheep ..? Nope Sean The Sontaran!

Christopher Ryan, Josette Simon and Sean Connolly, cast members on 'Doctor Who: Classic Doctors - New Monsters - The Sontaran Ordeal' from Big Finish Productions. 

I had the great thrill to be back in the Big Finish Productions studios recently to record a terrific new audio adventure called 'THE SONTARAN ORDEAL'. It's one story from a brand new box-set of four adventures, featuring Classic Doctors (PAUL MCGANN on this occasion) with monsters from the new series of Doctor Who! The casting news of 'THE SONTARAN ORDEAL' was broken a few days ago on the BIG FINISH website.

It is with much delight that I can announce that I will be playing a SONTARAN called Ensign Stipe (more character details to come!).

Cover for the 4 adventure box-set release of 'DOCTOR WHO: CLASSIC DOCTORS - NEW MONSTERS'

Great fun in studio as always and director BARNABY EDWARDS had assembled an excellent cast, including CHRISTOPHER RYAN, the first actor to portray a Sontaran in the new 'DOCTOR WHO' era.

Of course for many he will also be known as MIKE (The Cool Person) from the BBC comedy series 'THE YOUNG ONES'. He has also appeared in 'ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS', 'BOTTOM' and 'ONLY FOOLS AND HORSES'.  

We shared many positive stories about being a short actor. He is five foot nothing and I tower above him at five foot three! I joked that he was probably the reason I had never been cast as a Sontaran 'on the telly'! Once the BBC had cast Chris as GENERAL STAAL back in 2008, it was never going to be. With the Sontarans being a clone race, once they had settled on Chris as their Sontaran template, even I was always going to be TOO TALL FOR A SONTARAN!! Thankfully on audio, actual height doesn't matter in the slightest. I remember once playing a six foot burly builder in a BBC Radio 4 adaptation of AMANDA WHITTINGTON'S stage play 'BOLLYWOOD JANE'. So in the same spirit of playing 'up' height-wise, I can also play 'down', hurrah for audio!!

Sean Connolly and Christopher Ryan relax on a break in the recording of 'THE SONTARAN ORDEAL'

Then there was The Doctor played on this occasion by PAUL MCGANN, in his element with JOSETTE SIMON and DAN STARKEY completing the cast. It was great to be in studio with such experienced actors with so many credits between them. Paul is probably best known for being the 8TH DOCTOR as well as playing Marwood in the iconic film 'WITHNAIL AND I' opposite Richard E. Grant and the BBC series 'THE MONOCLED MUTINEER'. More recently he has been seen in 'LUTHER', 'WAKING THE DEAD' and 'RIPPER STREET'. It was great to finally work with him in a 'DOCTOR WHO' context after last working with him on a Non-Who related play for BBC Radio 4, almost 20 years ago!

After working with 'BLAKE'S 7' actor GARETH THOMAS last month with SPITEFUL PUPPET (see 15th JUNE Blog Post), it was another big thrill for me to work with yet another cast member, the ageless Josette Simon. Josette played Dayna Mellanby in the classic 1980's BBC Sci-Fi series, as well as appearing in 'CRY FREEDOM' with Denzel Washington.

Completing the SONTARAN ROYALTY was DAN STARKEY who in recent years has taken over CHRISTOPHER RYAN'S mantle as chief 'DOCTOR WHO' Sontaran actor, playing 'STRAX' and 'COMMANDER SKORR'. Dan has also appeared in 3 seasons of the CBBC Sci-Fi series 'WIZARD'S AND ALIENS', as well as 'THE SARAH JANE ADVENTURES' and a recent episode of 'INSIDE NO.9'.

'Doctor Who: Classic Doctors - New Monsters - The Sontaran Ordeal' is to be released in 2016 ... can I wait that long! Check back for further news on an exact RELEASE DATE.

Sunday Night in the Park with Gregory Porter ...

Gregory Porter performing at Moseley Park at the Mostly Jazz Funk & Soul Festival 2015.

I have seldom been more excited about a live performance than before witnessing GREGORY PORTER on the final day of the Mostly Jazz Funk & Soul Festival, in Moseley Park & Pool in Birmingham.

Sunday morning was a real damp squib, with almost continuous rain. Thankfully when I arrived just after midday the rain relented and the rest of the day was a stunner and that was just the weather!

A great afternoon of live music followed, the pick of the bunch for me was THE JAMES HUNTER SIX who's authentic toe-tapping R&B styled tunes really got the party going.

The James Hunter Six at the Mostly Jazz Funk & Soul Festival in Birmingham. 

Of course I was there for GP and his band, so at almost exactly 9pm exactly Gregory's stalwart studio and tour quartet came on stage, minus for the time being the great man. The band started playing the opening track 'PAINTED ON CANVAS' from his second album 'BE GOOD' and it wasn't long before Gregory himself stepped on stage to rapturous applause. What followed was probably one of the finest live performances I think I ever seen. 

I'm going to be upfront at this point and say I was already a big fan of his music since I became aware of him after the release of his second album in 2012. When I read that he was brought up listening to the music of the my other favourite baritone Nat 'King' Cole, I knew I would become a fan. The tricky thing here was, after listening to his three albums many, many times as well as his numerous collaborations, could he possibly live up to my expectations ... I needn't have worried!

The Gregory Porter quintet at their soulful best.

His hour and a half set was truly effortless, the band were, to a man superb. Before we go into the concert details, let's give them all name check ...

On piano was CHIP CRAWFORD, himself a Grammy Award Winner. Apparently he met GP when he was performing at a jam session at the famous St. Nicks Pub in Harlem, one of the most historical live jazz houses in New York. He has travelled the world with him ever since. He is very much part of GP's sound, arranging much of his output. He had his chance to shine several times on the night and shine he did.

The only member of the band who was not part of the usual line up was bass player JAHMAL NICHOLS. Born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, he has some 20 years of experience as a bassist, composer, arranger and producer. I have to admit when the band were setting up for a brief moment I though GP had sneaked on stage in disguise! From what I've seen on-line he can certainly slap a mean electric bass too, tonight the double bass was his weapon of choice. Regular bassist AARON JAMES is quite an act to follow but Jahmal was certainly up to the task. What a sound he produced, quietly going about his business, keeping that rhythm bouncing all through the set.

Going around the stage in clockwise direction, next up was drummer EMANUEL HARROLD. To say Emanuel has music coursing through his veins would be an under statement. He has an extraordinarily rich musical heritage spanning generations. In the 1940's & 50's in America, Emanuel's grandfather Frank Harrold Sr. & siblings travelled as singers and won competitions with Diana Ross's uncle C.Q. Ross in New York and all over America. His grandmother Rose Evers was a home town/mid-west great talent and Gospel Recording Artist in his home-town of St. Louis. On the night he took centre stage several times, showing dazzling speed and dexterity required to play GP's music. On certain songs he also displayed beautiful subtlety also.

Last but certainly not least was Japanese, Alto Sax, Flute and Clarinet player YOSUKE SATO. Yosuke was born in Tokyo, began to play jazz guitar at high school age and changed his main instrument into trumpet at university. After he graduated he began to play alto saxophone and after several years started to perform as a professional musician in Japan. He moved to New York in 2008, being discovered by trumpeter MELVIN VINES he joined his band 'HARLEM JAZZ MACHINE' as a regular saxophonist. So like GP's pianist and arranger Chip Crawford he too was now playing at the famous St. Nicks Pub. From there Yosuke went on to play on GP's first CD release 'WATER', the rest as they say is history. On the night he certainly enjoyed the most opportunities for solos such is the nature of the music. The festival crowd showed their appreciation for Yosuke after each and every one of his mini masterpieces. Watching the man at work, I was convinced he possessed a set of gills rather than lungs, such was his quite staggering breath control!

Back to the actual concert now ... The first half an hour consisted of songs from his second and third albums, the aforementioned 'BE GOOD' and the Grammy Award-Winning 'LIQUID SPIRIT'. No fillers here, just great song after great song, including 'On My Way To Harlem', 'No Love Dying and 'Musical Genocide'.

Some artists are not great 'in-between' songs when they try and chat to an audience, not GP. He seemed very relaxed, going on to say;

"There is a good spirit in this park, you know this ain't nothing but a church ... of another kind."

Without a doubt the Blues spirit was evident in the park on Sunday night.

Chip Crawford, Gregory Porter and Jahmal Nichols listening to yet another wonderful solo sax piece from Yosuke Sato.

The next hour went astonishingly quick (always a good sign) and before we knew it GP had taken us on a most wonderful musical tour de force. Highlights for me were 'HEY LAURA', which proved somewhat of surprise a sing-a-long number, 'WORK SONG' with a smattering of 'THE IN CROWD' mixed in for good measure. There was also an incredibly emotional rendition of 'WATER UNDER BRIDGES', anyone who has ever suffered a broken heart could not have failed to be moved by GP's heartfelt vocals. The audience needed no encouragement to join in the call and response sections in songs such as 'LIQUID SPIRIT' and the Martin Luther King inspired '1960 WHAT?', the only song included from GP's first album 'WATER'. At 10.25pm, with almost military precision, GP thanked us for being a wonderful audience, he and his band disappeared briefly before returning for the inevitable encore. The single song choice to close 2015's Mostly Jazz Funk & Soul Festival was 'REAL GOOD HANDS' from 'BE GOOD', a personal favourite of mine.  Five more minutes of GP's velvety tones and then we had to bid him goodbye, for the time being anyway. I have just booked tickets for myself and my family to see GP next year at the Royal Albert Hall, it's not a risk at all ... they'll LOVE HIM! It'll be a different type of concert for sure, can't wait to see him again, this time on a much bigger stage.

The friend I went to the festival with have often mused over what it must have been like to see Barry White live at the height of his powers, perhaps we might just have experienced a second coming last Sunday night?!

I'll sign off by issuing a challenge to you ... name me any other artists around at the moment who can touch Gregory Porter. Answers on postcard ;o)