General News

Birmingham Conservatoire Concert

Preparations are well under way for THE BIG ONE on Nov the 22nd.

The concert is being filmed as part of a planned documentary - more info below, and will no doubt form part of a new album and DVD.

The lineup so far is as follows...

Dave Bainbridge (musical director) on keyboards and electric guitar.

Rod Edwards is flying in from France to play piano.

Jon Poole on bass guitar.

Terl Bryant on drums.

Susy Wall, Carrie Martin and Sally Moulds vocals.

Ric Sanders compare and fiddle.

Tom Leary fiddle.

John Etheridge on guitar.

Adam Parrish on keyboards.

Nicholas Hooper and I will be performing as a duo. The same with Raymond Burley.

Susy Wall and I will duet, Carrie Martin the same.

There may be a few changes between now and then but this is just the flavour of things to come.

Album with Nicholas Hooper

The album that Nicholas Hooper and I recorded ‘Out Of The Silent Sky’ is due for release next month and will be available for sale on the night of the Birmingham Conservatoire Concert along with a special one off book to celebrate my 60 years in music.

The book is entitled 'Time Line' and is being created by our dear friends Mark and Jane Day.

More information on the above items next month.

Documentary and crowdfunding.

I have interesting news!

Filmmaker Leigh Tarrant has plans to create a documentary about my life. It’s going to be crowdfunded and will be launched in October. There will be more info in due course.

In the meantime here is the blurb that Leigh has written about me and his history for your interest.

'Gordon Giltrap is the epitome of what is often referred to as a 'musician's musician', in that the respect in which he is held by his peers speaks volumes for his ability and influence.

Beginning his career as a solo guitarist and vocalist in the late 1960s, it was 1976 before the name Gordon Giltrap came into the public eye with the release of his landmark album 'Visionary', and album and single chart success followed over the next few years with the albums 'Perilous Journey' and 'Fear of the Dark', as he formed the Gordon Giltrap Band to perform these progressive rock-tingled works in the live environment. By now a wholly instrumental performer, his greatest commercial success came with his signature piece 'Heartsong', which followed up its chart success by being picked up by the BBC for use as the theme tune to their long running 'Holiday' programme. following this, Gordon retreated largely to the acoustic realm with his next few albums, and retained a devoted hardcore following, as well as aforementioned admiration of some of the biggest names in modern guitar music.

Coming from the humblest of childhoods in South East London, Gordon's life in and out of the spotlight has proved to be a rollercoaster of highs and lows and one which ultimately transcends even his musical achievements as a story of human triumph and tragedy.

So now the time is right to bring this extraordinary story to life which centres around Gordon's 60th anniversary concert at the Birmingham Conservatoire and will feature many of Gordon's peers from guitar makers through to the golden era of who's who in the world of popular music with their stories and amusing anecdotes about Gordon and what makes him tick. A warts and all new documentary feature that will no doubt tear your soul apart'.

Leigh Tarrant is an award-winning Filmmaker, Music Director, Producer, and Musician. He has directed, written, and produced Feature Films, Music Videos, composed music for film and TV, worked on over 100 productions, toured extensively, and directs high profile broadcast concert events for such artist as Lulu, Rick Wakeman, Adam Ant, Leo Sayer, Mari Wilson, Steve Rothery (Marillion) Sad Cafe and Colin Blunstone (Zombies).

Tarrant was born in North London and attended comprehensive schooling in Southgate, North London. He went on to study at Mountview Theatre school. From there he became a full time musician playing bass guitar for London based bands such as The Unexplained, Addict, GBH and finally Prime Cut. Eventually a career in advertising yielded an insight into TV advertisement editing and an understanding of corporate filming.

After many successful years working for some of London's leading advertising agencies (AMV.BBDO & Grey London respectively) he went on to set up his own production company (Skooch Media) based in the east of England. Amongst his directorial feature film credits are 'A Curious Tale' and 'The Presence Of Snowgood'.

He still plays, writes and records music, as well as staying active in film production and the corporate side of video production. A 'feature' directorial debut UK movie earned three awards. Also he won a 'best director for thriller' award at the MKIFF in 2025 for the 'Snowgood' film.

Our vision :

A cinematic style in keeping with influences from some of the cinema greats can’t be ignored, film makers such as Hal Ashby (Rolling Stones 'Let's Spend the Night Together) Jeff Stein (The Kids Are Alright) Brett Morgan (Crossfire Hurricane) and Peter Jackson (The Beatles, Get Back) and the recent Oasis documentary 'Don't Look Back In Anger (Steven Knight) spring to mind.

The aim is to leave the viewer feeling they've been on a perilous journey against all odds and get to learn about what Gordon represents from his humble beginnings through to receiving his MBE and beyond. The aim will be to use past TV clips along with all new interviews and candid fly-on-the-wall techniques to capture Gordon in a most positive and creative mood.

An all new 60th anniversary concert will also be captured to showcase throughout the film and will work in highlighting Gordon's friends both old and new playing a lot of his back catalogue showcasing his illustrious career as well as delving into aspirations for the future.

Leigh Tarrant - Producer Skooch Media http://www.skoochmedia.co.uk

Melvin Hayes

What a joy it was to meet up with my dear friend the legendary Melvin Hayes. Melv was in Pershore at the wonderful Number 8 theatre to talk about his Autobiography 'It Ain't Half Late Mum'.

Mention should be made here of an extraordinary coincidence. My partner Sue's son Richard just happens to be a close friend of Melvin's son Damian. It was Damian who told Richard about his father's upcoming show in Pershore which then prompted us to buy the tickets.

It was a wonderful evening hosted by his daughter Charlie who did a marvellous job of interviewing her Dad and conducting the Q & A section in the second half of the show.

I have known Melvin for many years since I became a member of The Grand Order of Water Rats in 2000. Melvin is a legend and a lovely man and at 91 is an inspiration to us all.

We have fond memories of when Hilary and I attended the Queen's Royal Garden Party with Melvin and his lovely wife Jayne. Sir Cliff just happened to be in the grounds of the Palace being filmed for Channel Four.

Melvin and I spotted him and decided to do a little prank so we just stood in front of him straight faced to put him off. And put him off we did. He looked our way and did a double take and just couldn't believe his eyes. Lovely fun memories! I recounted our Garden Party day to Melvin and he remembered the whole day in minute detail.

I have included a photo of the book for all you who fancy obtaining a copy. It's available on Amazon so should be easy to find. A great read!

I would like to thank Sue's son Richard for buying me a copy and the great man for signing it for me.

Another New Guitar

Here is a new guitar to tell you about modelled by my lovely Susan.

The beautiful wood used was figured Ash and the stain I think is stunning. All the parts were bought separately along with the neck and my pal Paul White put it all together. The body was lovingly crafted by Sue's son Richard Jones over many months. The wood came from the Bathurst Estate in Cirencester.

It plays and sounds great and is now a special part of my collection. All it needs is Richard's moniker on the headstock and it's ' job done'.

More Guitars being auctioned

I have one more bit of news and that is.. My local auctions house Littleton Auctioneers are running their first ever musical instrument auction on October 3rd and I have decided to put a few of my items in.

A few guitars, (where do I keep finding them or more to the point why do I keep buying them)? A Gibson mandolin, an FX stomp box, a Gibson guitar strap and a large selection of rare pickups.

As I live locally they asked me if I could be filmed talking about my lots. This I did and they appeared to be happy.

Speaking of auctions

Gardener Houlgate sold a pair of Brian May's clogs that were donated by Brian years ago to the Tracy Sollis charity.

They were auctioned off locally and were kindly given back to back to be auctioned again and achieved a figure of £1150, which is good news for the charity.

More Tracy Sollis Trust News

It has been my privilege to have been a patron of the Tracy Sollis Leukaemia Trust charity for many years now.

Last month it was my pleasure to deliver a wonderful vein finder that the charity donated to Coventry and Warwick Hospital. Here I am handing it over to a member of the nursing team.

One of these amazing vein finders cost four and a half thousand pounds and is one of many that Sue Sollis has donated to numerous hospitals through her constant fund raising.

This is a wonderful and heartfelt way to keep the memory alive of her incredibly brave and inspirational daughter Tracy, who it was my privilege to know during her time on earth.

God Bless her memory and her extraordinary Mother.