Good Morning Blog Readers,

It's quite an exciting time for me musically at the moment and I've got a lot to share with you. I will start at the beginning. Back in January Jipsy headed out to a film and tv college in London near the millennium dome to be filmed for an internet music programme. It was a fun day and ever so slightly intimidating playing to 3-4 massive cameras! Anyway a couple of weeks ago we got the results back. Take a look-

I had a snowy spring (!) photo shoot with Into the Wild Wood in March. We later learned that we had been played on BBC West Midlands as well which was very exciting! Here is one of my favourite shots from the day which has been featured on our poster for our upcoming gig on the 28th of April.

A week ago I had the pleasure of performing with my Quartet at Symphony Hall in Birmingham as part of the Rush Hour Blues Series, organised by Jazzlines. The gig went very well and it has rejuvenated my enthusiasm for running my own band again. I've got plans for the future so watch this space... My friend Simon Gray kindly filmed the first set for me and I think it has come out remarkably well. Hope you enjoy it-

And last but by no means least! Regular readers of my blog will be aware that I recently joined Brummie band Boat to Row. I have been really enjoying my time practising with them and it has been very productive working on new material every week. I'm delighted to be able to announce the dates of their tour at the end of May. I'm so excited to be taking the material on the road and I hope some of you can make it.

Catch you all soon, Lydia.

Hello Blog Readers,

I'm delighted to announce that I have been invited to join up and coming Brummie band 'Boat to Row' on the drum kit for their UK tour in May. I had my first gig with them supporting Loch Lomond in Coventry on Monday and it was loads of fun. I've had a sneak peak at the dates booked in so far and there is some really good ones, and some very long drives!, but I'm not allowed to announce any yet though! As soon as it has all been confirmed (more...)

Hello Blog Readers,

2012 has been a big year for me in many ways, like any it has had its ups and downs. There has been tours, festivals, sun, lots of rain, new bands and old friends moving to pastures new.

Some of the major achievements for me have been:- Becoming the percussion teacher at Wolverhampton Grammar School, The Bonfire Radicals completing their first UK festival tour, agreeing endorsements Protection Racket and DG Cajons, performing with Interleave at Mostly Jazz Festival, Jipsy touring Mallorca, my first stage appearance since I was eleven with Macamu, and Into the Wild Wood (formerly Holliday Street) supporting Joan Armatrading. I've been lucky to meet some exceptionally talented musicians this year and play with old friends too.

I feel so privileged to have had so many wonderful opportunities and look forward to seeing what 2013 has in store.

Lydia

P.S. Towards the tail end of the year Steve Tromans (pn), Trevor Lines (bs) and myself got together for a couple of plays which were incredibly good fun. We have a few dates in the year which we will be joined by Ben Thomas (tp) as the Lydia Glanville Quartet- 16th of March at Theatre Severn and the 5th of April at Symphony Hall. I can't wait, I may even write some new tunes!

Dear Blog Readers,

We all need a bit of inspiration from time to time. Especially as a creative person. Sometimes it can feel like you just keep hitting brick walls and need something to point you in the right direction or remind you why it is your doing what your doing.

Last weekend I was fortunate enough to be able to go and see a band called Afro Mio and Kora Player Dan Wilkins play at Ort Cafe in Birmingham. The event had been arranged by an organisation called Celebrating Sanctuary who provide opportunities for refugees within the Midlands to share their music with the wider community.

There was a number of things I found inspiring about the evening. I will start at the beginning. I have always been amazingly impressed with all activities held at Ort. (more...)

Hello Blog Readers,

A lot of stuff has happened in the last couple of months over my way. Too much to really elaborate on it all, but I'll start at the beginning.

During the late summer months I had to pleasure of being accepted as a Protection Racket Artist. Protection Racket make, in my humble opinion, the best soft cases for drums and percussion on the market. I have used their stuff for years and I'm delighted to make my endorsement of their products.You can check out my Artist profile on their website.

At the end of the summer I went on Tour with Jipsy to Mallorca. The band is the brainchild of my good friend and longterm musical collaborator Sarah Boughton. Like me she has caught the World Music bug and loves exploring sounds and rhtyhms from different places in the World in her own music. We did four gigs whilst we were over there on which I was playing Cajon and Percussion. We also had the opportunity to record four tracks for our new EP in the Rush Music studio and we even made a video for one of them on a boat (see photo). More information will follow!

Pretty much as soon as I came back from Mallorca I was straight back into teaching and acting (!) as part of the Macamu Show. Macamu is run by another longterm musical collaborator Hannah Rhodes. I did some sessions for the her album of Children's songs earlier on in the year and she invited me to play for the launch. Little did I know that would entail not just playing percussion but also acting, singing, playing guitar, dancing and playing ukulele. I had an absolute blast during the week though! You can see the trailer for the show below. We're scheduled to do another one in January.

Now order has returned to my life for a while and I've a few of my own projects which I'm looking forward to. Tomorrow I'm playing at Theatre Severn with my new quartet featuring Ben Thomas (tpt), Simon King (gtr) and Alex Phillips (bs) and in November Project Cuabno are returning for a reunion gig. I'm also delighted to announce I will be joining Hannah Fathers for her gig with Holliday Street supporting Joan Armatrading. Check out the gigs page for more info.

Thanks for reading,

Lydia.