MUSIC
I’ve been playing in bands and performing live for over 30 years, working with some fantastic musicians along the way. Over the years I’ve been involved in both original bands and professional function bands, performing at venues and events across the UK including the National Exhibition Centre and De Montfort Hall as part of the Summer Sundae Festival.
Alongside live performance, I have also spent many years writing, recording and teaching guitar professionally. Performing and recording with other musicians over the years has played a huge role in shaping my approach to teaching and continues to influence the way I work with students today. I continue to enjoy contributing guitar work to a wide range of musical projects and recordings.
Below is a small selection of some of the bands, recordings and projects I’ve been involved with over the years.
FREE CONTROL
Free Control was an original band that I co-founded in 2006. Drawing on a wide range of musical styles and influences, we performed extensively across the UK and built a strong local following over the years.
In 2011, we recorded and released our EP Extended Play, which remains a project I’m very proud to have been part of. One of the standout moments during my time with the band was performing on the main stage at the Summer Sundae Festival at De Montfort Hall in 2009 (see photo).
After several great years together, the band eventually went our separate ways in 2013 to pursue different musical projects.
CAlder mclaughlin
Calder McLaughlin is a singer/songwriter based in Leicester. I've been working with Calder since 2014 recording guitar on a number of Calder's originals songs as well as performing as part of the band for live shows. I even appeared as a plasticine character on the video for his 2021 song 'A Man Without a Boat' on which I played Lapsteel guitar. The song was featured as BBC Radio Leicester's 'Track of the Week'.
Echo drive
From 2014 to 2024, I was the lead guitarist for professional function band Echo Drive.
During that time, we performed at hundreds of weddings, corporate events and private functions across the UK. One of the real highlights for me was performing at Twickenham Stadium as part of the post-match entertainment in the main fan park. As a huge rugby fan, having the opportunity to perform after England international matches was an experience I’ll always remember.
Playing professionally over that ten-year period gave me invaluable experience performing in a wide variety of live environments and in front of audiences of all sizes. It was an incredibly enjoyable chapter of my musical career and one that helped shape me both as a guitarist and performer.