BiG i AM Promotions and Management

24/07/2024

There are some top live shows coming to Brighton and the South Coast over the forthcoming months x

13/04/2024

This year's Sun and Moon Festival will be held in the breathtaking grounds of Woolverstone Hall - it really is a magical place - nestled in 80 acres of magnificent parkland on the serene banks of the River Orwell.

Are you free from August 19th to 26th?

Join us!

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21/03/2024

Lots of lovely events happening at Langham Brewery in West Sussex throughout the forthcoming year x

19/02/2024

As one gets older, and more financially secure, one tends to focus on what's really important. And what's really important to me, a music obsessive, is supporting truly talented musicians to thrive in this general sh*tshow of a music 'industry'. Hence the BiGiAM BiGiAM Agency, originally set up during lockdown (weird time to set up a live agency, I know) as something of a sideline to make use of the numerous contacts I made over a decade or more during Jo Harman's 'open mic to O2 Arena' journey. The agency is, however, now a priority for me and is very much up and running thanks to the belief in, and support for, from bookers for the talented artists involved, not just all over the UK, but Europe too.

My vision for the Agency is simple. We are a bespoke agency with a deliberately small roster of highly talented artists, who can all sing exceptionally well, with something authentic to say, in the timeless traditions of the classic artists from 'the golden age of music'. I have a very clear idea of what this means for me and I hope that over time everyone else will get to understand that vision too. I want bookers coming to us because they are looking for undiluted quality, not simply just popularity. I want BiGiAM Agency to be a brand that is understood to deliver this. One that has exacting standards and one which offers music for genuine music lovers who want a deeper dive into the art.

There are plenty of other artists, and agencies, out there who offer a 'good time' with popular artists who entertain well and good luck to them - and good luck to everyone in the industry, indeed, but that's not what we do. We aim to offer something a little deeper, a little more sincere and, dare I say, a little more artistic. Be interesting to see how it all plays out....

17/02/2024

Crickey! What a roster of great venue and Festival bookings already, for Connolly Hayes, particularly when you consider that they have yet to release a record!! BiGiAM Agency and the band have worked this together - great teamwork - with lots more offers to come, for a band set to blow open the UK blues/soul/rock scene. Like I said a band I, for one, have been waiting for! :-)

16/02/2024

BiGiAM Agency delighted to announce Connolly Hayes at Peggy's Skylight in Nottingham on Friday 26th April with many other prestigious bookings to be announced soon....

DINING SHOW: performance 7-9pm (with interval) Fully Seated (ticket acts as table reservation) Doors at 6pm; we will require your table by 9:30pm View Full Dining menu View Seating Plan LATER SHOW: performance 10-11pm Seated/Standing (unreserved) Doors at 9:30pm View Later Show menu

14/02/2024

Locals have been understandably complaining that they can never get a ticket for The Anchor Sessions, and this is because shows have been selling out at least a month or more before the events themselves. Mike Mayfield sold out quickly and the second show even more quickly! Robbie Cavanagh's show on 20th March, still over a month away, has 6 tickets left and Connolly Hayes trio (8th May) is also on a low ticket alert even though it's still 84 days away!!! There is, unfortunately, no possibility of either act doing a second show so it really is now or never folks!!!

12/02/2024

MONDAY MUSINGS - Blind Leading The Blonde

The thing about success is one can never have enough of it - a bit like money. Or even He**in (not that I'd know!). The more you have, the more you crave and it all serves to increase the levels of dissatisfaction, rather than reduce it. We just want more and when something goes wrong, which it will as not everything can go right 100% of the time, that only seems to somehow increase the feeling of 'failure', because we'd programmed ourselves to expect 'success'.

It's actually ridiculous. And I'm no different; when, say, as a promoter, my first 8 shows sell out, rather than feel happy and satisfied about the fact, I just feel anxious about whether the remaining shows will go the same way. And if they don't, rather than step back and go 'wow, 80% of our programme sold out' I'd fall into catastrophic thinking going 'oh, it's collapsed, it's over, what are we gonna do now?' and so on.

Similarly if you said to us at the start of Jo Harman's career, when we met at a virtual 'open mic', she'd have 'duetted' with Michael McDonald, have played the O2 Arena, made X amount of money touring internationally as an originals artist under her own name, on her own terms, etc etc etc surely we would have been ecstatic at the prospect. Instead we're going - or at least I'm going - why isn't she as famous as Joss Stone?, or why haven't we won a Grammy? or whatever. Like I say, success doesn't bring satisfaction, it just creates a Jones for something more.

Which, like I say, is ridiculous because however high you get, the craving for more never goes away, in fact it simply increases. Just ask members of the 27 club.

It's also ridiculous because the most fun artists tend to have is at the very start of their career when everything is new and fresh and raw and innocent and untarnished by 'industry' and business pressures that inevitably come with 'progress'. I swear to God, the most fun had by Jo, Mike Mayfield, Stevie Watts, Magic Johnson, Carl Hudson, Terry Lewis, Andy Tolman and the gang - all now top pro musicians in their own right with amazing careers - was at the very start of their musical journeys. When we were playing bars and clubs, getting back at 4am in the morning and all that stuff, when they were really discovering their skills, playing the music they loved and finding out just what a great noise they all made together. At least, that's my analysis of things, but, of course, one should ask them, perhaps, but that's how I recall it.

Social media is evil. Georgia van Etten's incredible song 'Painted People' sums it all up far better than any words I could conjure up here. Check it out on You Tube

It also builds mediocrity where social media skills become more important than the quality of the music, as any glance at Award nominations will evidence.

We're chasing pleasure. We're not chasing happiness. We don't recognise the damage we are doing to ourselves, and society, by constantly chasing dragons. Until we embrace gratitude we will all continue to run a very dangerous path indeed.

05/02/2024

I made a vow to be myself to be real and not to fall into the common trap of 'showboating' on socials, and to talk about the challenges as much as I talk about the successes.

And I promise to do that going forward - honestly, most social media posts are so, well, fake. But I have to say that thanks to the calibre of the artists I'm currently working with, added to the contacts made during a decade of Jo Harman's 'open mic to O2 Arena' journey, the bespoke little agency we started off as something of a sideline has really taken off this month.

Looking at the spreadsheet, we have well over hundred already shows scheduled for 2024 and we're only just out of January. The artist bookings currently include (in no particular order) Hollie Rogers Music, Mike Mayfield, Jana Varga, Robbie Cavanagh, Hannah White, Connolly Hayes, Amba Tremain, Mim Grey, Under the Surface, Eddy Smith Music, Georgia van Etten, Connor Selby and Redtenbacher's Funkestra.

All genuinely talented artists making original music of truth and beauty.

At this rate, I shall have to make an BiGiAM Agency website, if only I could find the time!

30/01/2024

Tip for 2024 (most obvious statement I've ever made on fb?)

Here we are in Awards season and, whilst there are a lot of talented and worthy acts on the scene, a band has finally come along which I, for one, have been waiting a long time for.

The name of the band? CONNOLLY HAYES.

Fronted by two of the very best vocalists on the scene - one female, Jess Hayes (daughter of Val Cowell) and one male, Frankie Connolly who, apart from his considerable vocal skills, also happens to be a jaw droppingly great guitar player.

The reason this band floats my particular boat so much is because they have that rare thing, 'soul'. As in a real and natural resonance with the great black r&b traditions of the genre, and all without any hint of imitation, pastiche or insincerity. They just have it. And for me, and my tastes (other tastes may apply) that's generally the thing that's been hard to find in British Blues since its inception some 60 odd years ago. Hence me saying this is a band I've waited a long time to come along.

Moreover, they play with a complete joyful exuberance, fire and 'feel' (wait until you hear the upcoming'singles') and this is not just about the two principal members - uber talented as they are - it's also about the whole band which somehow consists as something more than just the sum of its parts.

Here's them live in the studio.....

Connolly Hayes - ‘Love the One You’re With’ (Stephen Stills Cover) Recorded live at The Hive RoomsJess Hayes - VocalsFrankie Connolly - Guitar/VocalsRichard ...

30/01/2024

MY TEN MUSICAL TRUTHS FOR 2024 (other musical truths may be available)

Make music that aims to please you, not others. Sincerity is a prize in itself.

Being a successful human being is more important than being a successful artist/musician.

Make music that aspires to be art. There is more than enough music that is not, already

Guard against measuring your success, and self worth, by the standards of others (including those set by 'the industry').

Set your own measures of success, indeed. And aim high, you deserve it. But run your career on your own terms, no one else's.

Personal truth, beauty and self expression wins over music made 'by numbers' with others.

Being a true artist and musician is rarely a choice, it's a lifelong calling, a way of life.

The more the mathematics and technicalities are apparent, generally, the weaker the music.

Music that requires a listener to invest time to understand and appreciate its value is often the music that is of most interest, and long term worth.

Self belief and humility are not only entirely compatible, they are your friend. It's ego and low self esteem that undermines.

27/01/2024

Extra date added by popular demand!!

As the waiting list for Mike Mayfield's sold out show on Thursday 22nd February grows, we've persuaded Mike to come a day earlier to play an EXTRA SHOW on Wednesday 21st February at The Anchor Sessions, Nayland.

Please spread the word would be amazing to have that show busy too. For this who don't know Mike is the go-to sideman of dozens of household named acts such as Ed Sheeran, Jessie J, Rita Ora, Leone Lewis, Emeli Sande, Jamie Cullum, Ellie Goulding and Joss Stone, to name but a few. In this capacity Mike has played some of the biggest arenas and appeared on major TV shows all over the world.

Mike also happens to be a top class vocalist and songwriter in his own right so this is not to be missed!

25/01/2024

Tonight Hollie 'Roy' Rogers rides into town, accompanied by her very own Tonto Ed Blunt (no relationship to James as far as we know). Lock up your grandchildren and please do not bring along pictures to be autographed of a certain Holly Rodgers as she's a pin up and internet sensation of a completely - well not SO completely - different variety! Hollie's show at The Anchor Sessions has been sold out for months now as has the next event, Mike Mayfield, on Thursday 22nd Feb and all other shows in the book are all selling well - Robbie Cavanagh (20th Mar), Hannah White (18th April), and Connolly Hayes trio (8th May) - and all on course to sell out.

If things continue in this fashion we may have to consider scheduling a second show - it's what Ronnie Scott's do - but, either way, thank you good people of Nayland and surrounding areas (and much further afield in fact!) for all the fantastic support.

Suitably encouraged, we will strive to continue to attract elite international acts of the highest possible calibre to our intimate venue in, according to The Sunday Times, one of England's 'prettiest villages'.

See ya tonight!!!

THURSDAY 25th JANUARY 2024 The Anchor Sessions Presents HOLLIE ROGERS SOLD OUT Hollie Rogers is a singer, songwriter and guitarist whose live shows receive consistently outstanding reviews. She receives regular BBC airplay, has opened for the likes of KT Tunstall and Suzanne Vega, played high profil...

23/01/2024

Ha! Had the strangest dream last night.

I dreamt Mike Mayfield had written this amazing song that made everybody cry.

And that Jo Harman was gonna sing it

And that Mark Edwards had played, arranged and produced it as a fusion of gospel groove meets Abbey Road Beatles, but without the slightest hint of pastiche, sounding like the best small band on the planet.

Plus, live, the Tremain Sisters - Amba and Leonie - were gonna join in and it was gonna be performed on a Caribbean Island at a big Festival with Jo and her band

And the government were gonna give them a load of money to take it around the world.

What a dream eh?

Can you imagine.

20/01/2024

Everything is turning to gold right now, for BiG i AM Promotions and Management and BiGiAM Agency,.January has started the year in splendid style.

I'm wise, old and ugly enough to know life challenges are only ever a corner turn away and in business, and in life, 'success' (whatever that means) often only comes to those who are patient, determined and resilient and enough to ride the bad times as well making the most of the 'luck' that also always comes our way sooner or later. I always feel 'luck' is little more than identifying the opportunities constantly around around us and acting accordingly, but thats a whole new other essay.

Still, I'll enjoy this moment; gratitude, as much as money, is one of the important keys to happiness. And as we get older, I'm constantly mindful that wealth is not judged by money alone.

Long may this hot streak continue and when it ends we simply go again. It's addictive, like throwing more and more money down in a casino when you feel like the Gods are with you. I also long learned that the harder one works the luckier one gets, so when the good gets good that's really the Tim to throw the petrol of the fire.

18/01/2024

According to The Honest Broker...

Universal Music announced layoffs two days ago.
YouTube announced layoffs yesterday.
Soundcloud announced last week that the company is up for sale—after two rounds of layoffs during the last 18 months.
Spotify announced layoffs five weeks ago.
That same week, Tidal announced layoffs.
A few weeks earlier, Amazon Music laid off employees on three continents.

But, in general, the very bespoke BiGiAM Agency artists continue to build brand, profile and income quarter on quarter. Is it because we concentrate on the music first, and everything else second?

17/01/2024

One of the most all round talented artists musicians I've ever worked worth - lead voice, bvs and harmonies, songwriter, guitar, piano, flute, string arrangements, all in her compass and crosses genres seamlessly without ever losing her unique identity. Jana Varga, sophisticated songbird and musicians musician.

https://janavarga.net/https://www.facebook.com/janamusic.nethttps://twitter.com/janamusic_nethttps://www.instagram.com/janavargamusic/https://open.spotify.co...

16/01/2024

Did I actually say this? I think I did. Nayland truly is indeed a remarkable place full of remarkable people. Mark Ede concluded “If you are serious about your music and love classic singer-songwriters in the timeless traditions, then these gigs are designed for you. Having previously lived in London and Brighton, I didn’t expect to find such an oasis of arts and culture in our beautiful, but relatively secret, Suffolk village and we are delighted that The Anchor is hosting these monthly listening concerts which serve to further add to the rich tapestry of village life”.

https://www.grapevinelive.co.uk/small-suffolk-village-attracts-international-music-artists/?fbclid=IwAR3SwNsgeP4qDbeXknnrH-kTTJKdW5FooOM5SgtcjlabpZeMgRZK2bcyNZo

Small Suffolk Village Attracts International Music Artists | | Grapevine Magazine