Well London…that was a really special night…beautiful venue, beautiful people…Thank you all so much!! See you soon! 🙏🚀❤️

Hey folks!! It’s been an amazing week of shows and tonight we play a SOLD OUT show at London’s beautiful Omeara venue…Can’t wait to see you all! Please note that it’s an early show with the Champs hitting the stage at 8pm…See ya here!! 💥🚀😎⚡️

Tickets for all shows for the Balloon March UK tour are now on sale here linktr.ee/balloontheband The London show at The Betsey with @dannythechamp.bsky.social is an old-fashion Saturday matinee. So you’ll be home for tea. Can’t promise popcorn, but you never know 😉

Busy week ahead for The Champs…Tomorrow afternoon we play a warm up show at the Sound Lounge in Sutton (tix still available!) & then shows at The Railway in Winchester & The Piper in Hastings (both with Trevor Moss & Hannah Lou opening) & a long sold out show at London’s Omeara…See you there!! 🚀💥😎❤️

A late edition folks! A late Sunday afternoon warm up at the wonderful Sound Lounge down in Sutton…Our London Omeara show sold out months ago & we have shows in Hastings & Winchester that week so we thought we’d add another London area gig…tix available from thesoundlounge.org.uk…See you there! 😎🚀❤️

Hey folks! Today we’re pricing up a load of gorgeous vintage ‘Tootal’ scarves so naturally the only soundtrack we could possibly choose is from the king of ‘neckerchief rock’, the wonderful Ronnie Lane & his classic ‘Anymore for Anymore’ album from 74…Open from midday till 7pm folks…See you here! 🌳❤️

Hey folks! Just want to say a huge Thankyou to everyone who came to the shop over our first weekend & for all your enthusiasm…means such a lot! Here’s our opening hours…See you tomorrow! Plenty more magic going out in the racks too!! 🙏❤️😎🚀 TUESDAYS - SATURDAYS - MIDDAY TO 7PM SUNDAYS - MIDDAY TO 4PM

Wow!! What an incredible opening day we had…Thankyou so much to everyone who came along to welcome us and to wish us luck and of course to find some magic in the racks…It was a very special day!! We’re open again today from midday to 4pm…Come over and say hi! See you here folks 🙏❤️🚀😎

So thrilled…🚀😎❤️

Its our last weekend in our little corner of the Sound Lounge before we open our shop in Carshalton next Saturday…Tomorrow’s ‘Sunday Sessions’ will be something of a farewell party…kicks off at 4pm so come & raise a glass to the new shop & the continuing success of the Sound Lounge…See you here!!🙏❤️🚀

It’s our last week here at the wonderful Sound Lounge before we open our new shop in Carshalton on Saturday Nov 1st! We’ll be making our ‘Sunday Sessions’ a bit of a leaving do so we’d love you to celebrate with us & raise a glass to the amazing time we’ve had here in Sutton..See you here folks! ❤️😎✌️

Tomorrow night in Nantwich folks!! We’ll be joined by our great friends and longtime Champs, ‘The Dreaming Spires’ too…Gonna be a cracker…See ya there!! 🚀😎❤️

So excited about this! 🚀😎❤️

Looking forward to playing with The Champs in Nantwich as part of the ‘Words & Music Festival’ later this week…Excited to have our great mates The Dreaming Spires along too!! Tix still available so grab one and we’ll see you there!! 🚀😎❤️

Our next Sunday Sessions is on Sunday October 26th folks!! We have some very big news coming that may make this one a pretty special day,…We’re thrilled to have The Ladles at this one too…Gonna be fun! It’s a pay what you can afford afternoon show as usual but do book tix to avoid missing out! 🙏❤️😎🚀

It’s hard to put into words how special playing at Hammersmith Apollo last night was. In fact the last week opening for Gene has been wonderful. Huge thanks to the guys & team for their generosity & so much love & thanks to all the amazing folks who watched & listened…We had an absolute blast 🙏🚀😎❤️

Hammersmith Apollo!! We’re Soundchecked and ready to hit this absolutely legendary stage at 7.30pm…Absolutely can’t wait to see you folks!! 🚀❤️😎

Had another wonderful time opening for Gene in Sheffield last night. Here’s a little snippet of the Grand Drive oldie, ‘Track 40’….Tomorrow night we get to play the legendary Hammersmith Odeon!! Huge thanks to the Gene guys and team for having us along 🙏❤️🚀

Had an amazing night opening for Gene in Leeds on Sunday..Tomorrow we do it all over again in Sheffield & then on Saturday at the legendary Hammersmith Apollo…I’ve seen so many heroes there..will be a bit of a dream come true, so a huge thanks to the Gene guys for the invite..See you out there! 😎❤️🙏

Sound checked & ready to play our first show of three this week as special guests of Gene…We’re absolutely thrilled to be invited to be a small part of it…Tonight in Leeds, Thursday Sheffield & Saturday at the legendary Hammersmith Apollo!! Thanks so much for having us along guys! 🙏😎❤️🚀

Day off Listening #2 More early 90s Neil…The stunning ‘Harvest Moon’ from 1992…One of his greatest collections of songs and up there with his very best albums…So many beautiful songs ❤️😎😎🚀

Day off listening #1 An afternoon of early 90s Neil…’Ragged Glory’ from 1990…What an incredible album! So much melody and so many amazing guitar workouts…Up there with his very best for me 🔥😎❤️

If you love The Flying Burrito Brothers, Dillard & Clark and Clarence White era Byrds then this is right up your street…Swampwater’s self titled album from 1971…They were Linda Ronstadt’s backing band and featured Gib Guilbeau & John Beland who both went on to join The Burritos…Great record! ❤️😎🚀✌️

Continuing In a similar vein, Rob Galbraith’s ‘Nashville Dirt’ from 1970…Its a really lovely, gentle ‘Funky Country’ album…Bit Willis Allen Ramsey, bit Tony Joe White…❤️🤠😎

More influential brilliance with Bobbie Gentry’s classic ‘The Delta Sweete’ from 1968. She was just wonderful…such an incredible singer and songwriter…one of THE great record covers too ❤️😎🔥🤠

Linda Martell’s brilliant ‘Color Me Country’ from 1970…A wonderful, soulful and hugely influential record…one of a bunch of amazing new additions for me…❤️🚀😎🔥

Hey folks! I’m playing an acoustic double bill show with my great mate Gabe Minnikin, who’s over from Canada, at my favourite pub in the world, The Betsey Trotwood on Wednesday 17th September…It’s going to be a really fun night so see ya there!! 🪕😎🍄✌️❤️ wegottickets.com/event/674346

Was really lovely to revisit an old Grand Drive song (our second single from back in 1997 I think!) last night with my great friend John Bennett and his brilliant band ‘Luxury Holiday’…Thanks for having me jump up guys!!

I’m absolutely thrilled to be asked to open Gene’s sold out comeback shows this autumn! Gene were among the very first to champion & encourage Grand Drive in our early days so it’s extra special to be sharing a stage with them again! Huge thanks to the Gene guys for the invite…it means a lot! 🙏❤️😎

Thinking of Neal Casal today…A beautiful man and a great friend to so many folks…had so many lovely times together ❤️

Huge thanks to The Long Road Festival and to the mighty Loose Records for having us this weekend!! We had an absolute blast!!! Saw so many great bands, caught up with old friends and made new friends…Loved it!! 🙏🌶️😎❤️🪕🚀

Another stunningly beautiful album from a few years later with truly magical string arrangements…Colin Blunstone’s ‘One Year’ from 1971….Genuinely right up there ❤️🪐🌳

Pure magic ❤️🌳🪐

Just a little bit of prepping ready for this week folks! Open again from 11am tomorrow and all week…See ya here! 🔥🚀🤘😎❤️

Last one for the day…the heartbreakingly beautiful ‘Time Of The Last Persecution’ by Bill Fay, released in 1971. Stunning music ❤️

Bit more Breton music on the deck…Alan Stivell’s ‘From Celtic Roots’ released in 1973. It’s pretty psychedelic & atmospheric with some great big beat folk rock jams…when I was a teenager his stuff was often in charity shop racks & for some reason I dismissed it…Absolutely love it nowadays 🔥🪐🌳❤️🪕

Staying in France for this one…Veronique Chalot’s ‘J’ai Vu Le Loup’ from 1979. It’s an astonishing record…not intentionally psychedelic but completely otherworldly and atmospheric…A truly haunting, cinematic and beautiful record 🌳🪐🔥❤️

Another fantastic recommendation from @andrewmale.bsky.social…From ‘76 this is Malicorne’s ‘Almanach’ album. It’s like a French equivalent to Fairport’s ‘Liege & Lief’ or Pentangle’s ‘Basket of Light’ with some incredible haunting string arrangements. A wonderful discovery & not expensive either! 🌳

Day off Listening #1 Right now this could well be right up there with the most beautiful music I’ve ever heard…Van Morrison’s ‘Common One’ from 1980, apparently Van’s own favourite. ‘Haunts of Ancient Peace’ is just stunning…transcendental hymnal jazz gospel…genius ❤️🌳🪐

Finishing my night with some true magic ❤️

This weekend is a big one folks..Sat we’ll have a stall at the ace ‘Folk in the Park’ & on Sun we’ll be continuing the party with our ‘Bluegrass All dayer’ at The Sound Lounge from 2pm…Why not grab tix for both & make it a special weekend of great music, great people & great fun! See ya there! 🪕✌️❤️😎🚀

Super excited to say that our new ‘Looking for the Magic’ merch has arrived!! We have tees & caps available in the shop from today and you can also message us on here and we’ll arrange posting your order!! Huge thanks to @heykidsshop.bsky.social for the fantastic designs!! 🔥😎❤️✌️🚀

Day off Listening #2 From 1969 The Golden Earing’s ‘Eight Miles High’ album. Including a 19 minute version of their cover of The Byrds cosmic classic. It dips a toe into Space Rock and heavy-ish psych…It’s a period piece for sure but it’s really great 🚀🪐✌️🍄🤯😎

Day off Listening #1 Moby Grape’s astonishing debut from 1967…a mind blowing album to kick off the day. It’s intricate, inventive, electric, beautiful and exciting…they don’t come much better than this. Had a few upgrades to the turntable and it’s sounding absolutely incredible 🚀🔥🤯❤️

A new Champs London show at the fantastic Islington Assembly Hall has been announced for early 2027…Lots of stuff coming up in the meantime too so watch this space! Tickets go on pre-sale at 10am BST on Wednesday, ahead of general on sale to the public on Friday…Exciting! 😎🚀❤️

Nilsson could’ve done a great version of this tune…Bill Ward’s ‘It’s Alright’ from Sabbath’s ‘Technical Ecstasy’…it’s a great track I think! 🤔❤️😎🚀 open.spotify.com/track/3UbbBn...

We’re putting on a few events here at the @soundloungecio.bsky.social this month! First up is our Bluegrass All-Dayer on Sunday August 17th & then our monthly ‘Sunday Sessions’ on August 31st with Pete Astor & Band & more..Details/tix are over at thesoundlounge.org.uk… We’d love to see you there! 💥

Listening to the wonderful Terry Reid all morning has led me on to another of our greatest singers, possibly the most underrated of all, Reg King. Been after a copy of this for over twenty years & struck gold earlier this year at the fantastic @riverman.bsky.social in Oxford…A stunning album ❤️🚀😎💥

“He didn’t see himself as the guy who missed out.” While perhaps best remembered for turning down the offer to join Led Zeppelin, Terry Reid was a vocalist of rare talent, heralded by Aretha Franklin among others. MOJO pays tribute to the singer dubbed “superlungs”, who has died aged 75...