Faithless Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 So, I'm going to London for the first time, for three nights from Wednesday 2nd March to Saturday 5nd for a hang and for a pair of lessons from a fellow BC'er, Joe Hubbard, and I've been thinking (too late probably, but, oh well..) what places (shops, gigs,jams,exibitions - anything musical (or maybe not) ) should I check out.. So far in my list is jam session at Troy Bar on Friday (one of the best Lithuanian drummers is playing there regularly) and Bass Gallery in Camden.. Sadly, Bass Guitar Show and Janek Gwizdala's gigs will be happening week later.. I'm in quite a few sorts of music - mainly jazz/fusion, funk, latin, pop, etc., so if anyone knows a good gig to see, don't be shy Anything else I should be checking out besides a bass shop and gigs? cheers Laimis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 If you're having lessons from Joe you won't have time for sightseeing! I hear he gives out a lot of homework. Hint: Learn where every note is on the instrument. I mean [i]every[/i] note!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 Depending on your interests, why not go along on one of the Jack The Ripper Walks? They meet at Tower Tube Station at about 7pm, and are incredibly good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 You need to go to the big museums! [url="http://www.visitlondon.com/attractions/culture/major-museums"]http://www.visitlondon.com/attractions/culture/major-museums[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jam Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 +1 for the British Museum, full of amazing artefacts we plundered back back when we ruled the world! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 On a timescale that short, you won't have time to do justice to any of the big museums. Save them for when you spend a couple of weeks here. I've spent 15 years working a few minutes away from the British Museum and there are still big chunks of it that I've never seen. Similarly, don't spend your precious time on the tube travelling from place to place - London is BIG! If you want to do the Bass Gallery, then do Camden Market while you're there. Assuming that you'll be in the West End for some of the time, do Denmark Street while you're there (but don't buy anything ). Avoid ALL the usual tourist nonsense. You really don't need to see Buckingham Palace or the Tower of London, Madame Tussauds is the most outrageous rip-off in Europe, the London Eye looks exactly the same when you get there as it does on TV. The best thing about London isn't a few old buildings ... it's the buzz. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jakenewmanbass Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 I'd try Ronnies and a walk around that area on the fri night if I were you... go for Sushi or --- (insert your choice here) have a wander, like Jack says just drink in a bit of the atmosphere it's a buzzing place. I'd go for a walk down to the river near westminster bridge, the city looks great from there and you are a 5/10 min walk from Trafalgar square, Covent garden and Soho. It's definitely one of my favourite cities in the world, for me only New York and Berlin compare for sheer vibe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faithless Posted March 1, 2011 Author Share Posted March 1, 2011 [quote name='chris_b' post='1145295' date='Mar 1 2011, 02:18 AM']If you're having lessons from Joe you won't have time for sightseeing! I hear he gives out a lot of homework. Hint: Learn where every note is on the instrument. I mean [i]every[/i] note!![/quote] Huh, well it's cool with homework, I'm bringing my practice bits along (Tascam trainer, headphones, etc..) if I'll have homework to do before the second meeting (we'll have two). And, what about that famous exercise, I've been doing it for a few weeks by now, so I know what the fuss is about.. Oh, and I'll be living on the edge of second zone, so Camden and other places shouldn't be too far away to check out... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 The Marquee Club, the Ealing Club and the Ken Colyer Club have all gone but the 100 Club, Oxford Street, is still open 7 days a week. This is the original gig, where it all started. This where the first US blues players where brought over to play with the Chris Barber Band, and where Alexis Korner and Cyril Davis started their Blues club which kicked off the whole "blues boom", as it was called, which turned into Rock and most of the other forms of music that followed. Just around the corner, another great club from that era which is still open is the Ronnie Scott Club. If you are window shopping in Denmark Street (I wouldn't recommend you buy anything) you might as well walk a few minutes to the Covent Garden area where there is an open market and a lot of interesting shops. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faithless Posted March 1, 2011 Author Share Posted March 1, 2011 Oh yeah, I definetly will try to check out Ronnie's, Hideway, or some other places like that.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fat Rich Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 Just round the corner from The Gallery: [url="http://www.jazzcafe.co.uk/"]http://www.jazzcafe.co.uk/[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slipperydick Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 (edited) Never been sight seeing in London, only ever there working. But this summer I'd love to try and catch this blokes tour of the tower. Like his sense of humour. [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWFq-v7TKdQ&feature=related"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWFq-v7TKdQ...feature=related[/url] Comes in 4 parts. "Cram it all in before you die" Edited March 1, 2011 by Slipperydick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faithless Posted March 1, 2011 Author Share Posted March 1, 2011 Evenings for Thursday and Friday are sorted, but situation with Wednesday is not so good - can't seem to find a decent gig or a jam session that night.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faithless Posted March 2, 2011 Author Share Posted March 2, 2011 I've arrived to London earlier today, and while I didn't manage to check out Aaron Parks gig at Ronnie's I planned - a bit too tired, want to stay fresh for tomorrow's lesson - I'm really diggin' all that London vibe you were talking about.. Looking forward to gettin' more of it. easy Faith Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doctorbass Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 [quote name='Faithless' post='1145927' date='Mar 1 2011, 03:46 PM']Evenings for Thursday and Friday are sorted, but situation with Wednesday is not so good - can't seem to find a decent gig or a jam session that night..[/quote] Weds night blues jam at the Coach and Horses in Leyton. Best blues jam in town. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidmpires Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 [quote name='doctorbass' post='1148250' date='Mar 3 2011, 12:13 PM']Weds night blues jam at the Coach and Horses in Leyton. Best blues jam in town.[/quote] A mate of mine, awsome bass player has countless gigs happening all the time, he plays jazz, balkan music etc etc etc.... @philwbass is his Twitter account, he often twitts about his gigs and some youtube videos for you to check out, drop him a line, top bloke, also check where Steve Lawson is playing that week on his website or @solobasssteve on Twitter. Failing all that check Jazz Cafe in Camden on your wait to the gallery. (the first two options will be cheaper) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidmpires Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 Just saw your post about being here already Phil W is playing with Furniture tonight at Furniture live at the Miller (with Marbles Improv) The Miller 96 Snowsfields Road London Bridge London SE1 3SS United Kingdom 20 7407 269 [url="http://artistdata.sonicbids.com/phil-wain/shows/london-the-miller-mar-3-2011/538942/"]http://artistdata.sonicbids.com/phil-wain/...-3-2011/538942/[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougie Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 the wife n me flew down last October,i had plans to see the usual Tower Bridge,The Eye etc etc etc,actually the trip went Luton Airport-train to Kings x-pub in Soho-Chinese restaurant in Soho-hotel.(sleep).train Liverpool St-pub in Pudding Lane-train to Stansted airport-Glasgow airport...........900 quid lighter. A few things amaze me about London,its cheaper to fly from Glasgow than commute from airport to London,Burger Kings are open at Kings X at 5am....discovered after waking with a hangover and needed a coke,getting from tube line to another is actually an Olympic sport,if you run out of essentials at 3am,ie-tabs,coke,bread,dildo,s....you can purchase them in SohoCarnaby St looks nothing like in the Austin Powers films.Next time ive vowed to stay sober and actually explore London,id never been before and basically blew a good weekend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faithless Posted March 3, 2011 Author Share Posted March 3, 2011 Does anyone have a single idea, if Laurence Cottle is doing a gig today or tomorrow night in London? He doesn't seem to advertise himself too much.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
setekh Posted March 5, 2011 Share Posted March 5, 2011 (edited) On the same vein, where can one find good jazz next friday/saturday night? [/thread hijack] Edited March 5, 2011 by setekh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZMech Posted March 5, 2011 Share Posted March 5, 2011 [quote name='dougie' post='1148437' date='Mar 3 2011, 02:50 PM']A few things amaze me about London,its cheaper to fly from Glasgow than commute from airport to London,Burger Kings are open at Kings X at 5am....discovered after waking with a hangover and needed a coke,getting from tube line to another is actually an Olympic sport,if you run out of essentials at 3am,ie-tabs,coke,bread,dildo,s....you can purchase them in SohoCarnaby St looks nothing like in the Austin Powers films.Next time ive vowed to stay sober and actually explore London,id never been before and basically blew a good weekend.[/quote] A few things about non-londoners amaze me. Their inability to cross a busy road, and how they always seem to quickly fall behind when trying to follow me through a crowd Should add as a general rule that seems to be more applicable in london than elsewhere, cabs are damn expensive, it's always worth checking for bus/tube alternatives. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faithless Posted March 5, 2011 Author Share Posted March 5, 2011 [quote name='setekh' post='1150579' date='Mar 5 2011, 04:05 PM']On the same vein, where can one find good jazz next friday/saturday night? [/thread hijack][/quote] Man... You want to go to London Bass Guitar Show next weekend - lots of top cats will be there doing their thing. Just google for the event. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
setekh Posted March 5, 2011 Share Posted March 5, 2011 [quote name='Faithless' post='1151038' date='Mar 5 2011, 11:12 PM']Man... You want to go to London Bass Guitar Show next weekend - lots of top cats will be there doing their thing. Just google for the event.[/quote] Oh, I'd like that. I'm not sure about my girlfriend, though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faithless Posted March 6, 2011 Author Share Posted March 6, 2011 (edited) So, I got home from London last night. I didn't really have the time/pleasure to hang a lot in town, because, as other folks mentioned it here before, Joe's lessons are way too busy to leave time to hang - so I simply spent most of my free time practising stuff. I only got to hang a bit on Friday night, went to see my fellow countryman - drummer playing in a house band at Troy Bar, which was quite hip. (Although, it wasn't too hip when going back to my cribs at late night with all those drunk kids on streets and buses..) Whatabout lessons from Joe (Joe Hubbard) - that guy is so good at what he does, it's just ridiculous.. Now, I was expecting it would be good even before our meeting, but it exceeded all my expectations.. To make it short, if you're [i]really [/i]dedicated to practice, and if there's one man in town you want to get lessons from, it's Joe, guys. Edited March 6, 2011 by Faithless Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blademan_98 Posted March 6, 2011 Share Posted March 6, 2011 Sounds like a great way to spend the weekend Just have to keep up with the practicing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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