Bruce Thomas (Elvis Costello) + Rough Notes: Dancing about Architecture + Dave Philpott + Dear Mr Popstar + Julie Hamill + Tony Bugbear + Rock N Roll Book Club

Bruce Thomas – Long standing bassist with Elvis Costello’s Attractions was prompted to write Rough Notes when a friend told him: ‘There’s only one history of rock …and pop and you were there!’ It follows his career from the paper-round he did to buy his first guitar and see the Beatles — all the way through to his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003 …and beyond. Taking time out to discuss the so-called feud between him and Elvis, the memoir also includes accounts of working with Paul McCartney, touring on Elton John’s private jet, a day at Johnny Cash’s ranch and dinner with Yoko Ono — as well as encounters with Michael Jackson, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Abba, Howling Wolf, John Lee Hooker, Mick Jagger, Jimmy Page, the Who, Freddie Mercury, Pink Floyd, Rod Stewart, Neil Young, Eric Clapton, John Belushi, Michael Hutchence …and a certain Jimmy Savile. Yet Rough Notes is far more than a personal memoir or catalogue of trivia. It traces the entire story of rock and pop from its beginnings in the 1950s, right through to the present day — despite the fact it’s been said that …’writing about music is like dancing about architecture’. In conversation with Julie Hamill tonite… plus Dave Philpott talks to Tony Gleed about his book Dear Mr Popstar– Humorous letters to pop stars about their songs with genuine witty replies. For nearly 10 years, ‘Team Philpott’, as their followers fondly refer to them, have been on a quite bonkers crusade, writing good old-fashioned letters to pop and rock stars , either picking up on genuine ambiguities within their lyrics or often deliberately misunderstanding them for comedic effect. The artists quite unexpectedly started to reply, writing back in just as witty and articulate a fashion, politely pointing out exactly where the original letter went wrong…or right. ‘Dear Mr. Popstar’’ proudly features 100 of the best letters and responses from famous and legendary names spanning the whole pop and rock spectrum, all relishing their involvement and revealing their own, in many cases, hitherto unknown humorous sides within what could well be the most interactive dialogue compiled between music stars and their audience ever undertaken. Plus DJ Sets by Gleed And Hamill sonically describing the arc of these fabulous books.