Graham profile picture

Graham

windsorartscentremusic

About Me

I am currently working freelance after Windsor Arts Centre closed it's doors in December and recently organised Tommy Fest featuring Australian guitarist Tommy Emmanuel as well as campaigning with the WAY group to get a new Arts Centre open in Windsor.Amongst the projects I am working on at the moment include booking the music programme for the West Wing Arts Centre in Slough.I was involved in Windsor Arts Centre for 25 years where I was General Manager and music programmer, starting as a volunteer. I was previously involved in bands before hand as a Roadie, Manager and Lighting Engineer, and worked with bands such as Sledgehammer and Blue Murder amongst others.During my time at the Arts Centre as well as programming regular events I have been responsible for organising Rock Week which is a band competition that has run for over 20 years, as well as Rock Week the Next Generation for under 18's. I also ran the Windsor Jazz Festival for 4 years, the Grass Roots Music Festival, the Small World Music Festival and the Windsor Guitar Festival.I am currently involved in Tommy Fest featuring Australian guitarist Tommy Emmanuel and the Songwriters Festival.The Windsor Arts Centre programme featured:- Band Nights Which happened once a month featuring local and national bands consisting of a headline act and 2 supports.Guitar Nights Regular monthly gig featuring guitarists of all styles with support.Regular Music Concerts Featuring all the best in Blues, Folk, Jazz and World Music.Rock Platform Regular music event on the third Tuesday of each month for new and upcoming bands, this night features up to 6 bands playing 3 numbers each.Jazz Platform Fortnightly jazz event, ideal for bands trying out new material or people wanting to jam.Hot Wires Weekly acoustic music night that takes place in our Bar, ideal for new and local acoustic artists, evening consists of 2 acts sharing the evening.The Platform Weekly open mic night open to all acoustic performers, you can book your slot by sending me an e-mail or just turn up on the night.This event is currently happening on Sunday evenings at the Three Elms, Clarence Road, Windsor.Mellow Mondays Weekly club night for acoustic performers, poets, storytellers etc with no PA.For more information on any of these activities please contact me through myspace or [email protected]'s sent to :- Graham Steel c/o West Wing Arts Centre Stoke Road Slough Berks SL2 5AY

My Interests

All Art forms, reading, the environment,politics and sport.

I'd like to meet:

Musicians, promoters and people who enjoy new music that is not affraid to break down boundaries.

Music:

Some of the people I have booked :- The Albion Band, As Meninas,,Gilad Atzmon, Stephen Bennett, Pierre Bensusan, Charlie Beresford, Michael Berk, Sonny Black, Black Umfolosi, Bluehorses, Eugene Hideaway Bridges, Boka Halat, Maggie Boyle,Rachael Calladine, Clive Carroll, Eliza Carthy, Peter Case, Roland Chadwick,Celloman, Rod Clements, Coal Porters,The Common Moral Cause, Ian Cruickshank, Kevin Coyne, Tracey Curtis, Curved Air, Johnny Dickinson, , Charlie Dore, Tommy Emmanuel, Equation, Fantazia, Fianna, Flook, Antonio Forcione, Nick Garrie, Gordon Giltrap, Jon Gomm, Clive Gregson,Issac Guillory, Nick Harper, Helium Soul, Hello Wembley, Ginni Hogarth, Homespun, John Mayers Indo Jazz Fusion, Keith James, Robb Johnson, Howard Jones, Will Killeen, King Pleasure & the Biscuit Boys, Dembo Konte Seth Lakeman, Albert Lee, Thomas Leeb,Jaclie Levin, Tina May, Eleanor McEvoy, Ralph McTell, George Melly, Michael Messer, Micky Moody, Sarah Jane Morris, Bill Nelson, Chris Newman & Maire Ni Chathasaigh, New Master Sound, Ola Onabule, Gareth Pearson, Po Girl, The Poozies, Pressgang, Quimantu, Shusheela Raman, Preston Reed, Tom Robinson, Eric Roach, Show of Hands, Labi Siffre, Martin Simpson,Sledgehammer, Amrit Sond, Emily Slade, Joscho Stephan Trio, Taxi Pata Pata, Martin Taylor, The Tiger Lillies, Martha Tilston, Steve Tilston, The Wailin Jenny's, Waking the Witch, Corrine West, Robin Williamson, Wreckless Eric. If your names not here let me know and I will add you!

Movies:

O Brother where art Thou, Lord of the Rings, Excalibur, It's a wondeful Life.

Television:

All sorts

Books:

Currently reading or about to read :- The Well of Lost Plots - Jasper Fford. Good Omens - Terry Pratchet & Neil Gaiman. The Year of Living Biblically - A.J.Jacobs. Thornyhold - Mary Stewart. The Melancholy Death Of Oyster Boy - Tim Burton. My Booky Wook - Russell Brand. The Prehistory of the mind - Steven Mithen. The Golden Compass - Philip Pullman. Something Rotten - Jasper Fforde. Celtic Myth - James Harpur. The Subtle Knife - Philip Pullman. A Guide to the perplexed - Gilad Atzmon. The Time of our Singing- Richard Powers. The Other Wind - Ursula Le Guin Dragonflight - Anne McCaffrey

Heroes:

Any body who follows their heart and respects there soul.

My Blog

News update - April

Latest news and information Windsor Arts Centre As you may have heard by now, the WAY bid to take on the Arts Centre was rejected by the Council, instead they gave it  to Firestation Arts Ltd, wh...
Posted by Graham on Fri, 02 May 2008 08:36:00 PST

News Update

Well a lot has happened since Windsor Arts Centre suddenly closed it’s doors in December, and I am only now beginning to catch up with myself, 3 month’s later! I have been involved in the ...
Posted by Graham on Tue, 01 Apr 2008 06:10:00 PST

Windsor Arts Centre + Tommy Fest

Well what a few weeks it has been since the Arts Centre closed it's doors on 14th December, to say it has been a roller coaster ride really isn't in it, with emotions running high and low. The campaig...
Posted by Graham on Thu, 14 Feb 2008 04:49:00 PST

Windsor Arts Centre - Closed

On Friday 14th December Windsor Arts Centre closed it's doors to public, the response I have received over the last week has been overwhelming, with most people like the staff feeling shocked, frustra...
Posted by Graham on Sat, 22 Dec 2007 02:27:00 PST

Windsor Arts Centre - Music- November

Hi November was a funny month for music at Windsor Arts Centre with some great gigs and some very quite ones, starting with Hello Wembley, who are a great band with very little travelling support whic...
Posted by Graham on Tue, 11 Dec 2007 03:37:00 PST

Windsor Arts Centre - Music - October

Well October was a very strange month for gigs at Windsor Arts Centre, what with the postal strike meaning all our brochures were late in going out and the rugby world cup final kept people in watchin...
Posted by Graham on Mon, 12 Nov 2007 08:30:00 PST

Windsor Arts Centre- Music- September

September was a strange month for gigs with some great music but disappointing attendances for some events. We got the month going with the fantastic Paddyrasta, mixing traditional Irish dance tunes w...
Posted by Graham on Mon, 01 Oct 2007 08:42:00 PST

Windsor Arts Centre- Music- August

August is a quiet month at Windsor Arts Centre as we are normally closed to do running repairs, so no gigs this month to review. Albums that are recommended include:- The Simon Hopper Band with the sl...
Posted by Graham on Mon, 10 Sep 2007 01:30:00 PST

Windsor Arts Centre- Music- July

July was a good month for gigs at Windsor Arts Centre, starting with a guitar night featuring the wonderful Jon Gomm with special guest Julie Ellison. The following week saw soul/funk group The Dallas...
Posted by Graham on Mon, 10 Sep 2007 12:34:00 PST

Windsor Arts Centre - Music- June

June was a strange month for music events at Windsor Arts Centre with strong competition from the weather, festivals and a couple of cancellations meaning that audiences were low. This month we saw ap...
Posted by Graham on Mon, 09 Jul 2007 12:32:00 PST