About
I’ve been obsessed with drums for as long as I can remember. When my little sister got a toy drum, I claimed it for my own and added it to my homemade kit of cardboard boxes, cushions and biscuit tins. I’d spend hours drumming along to tapes and records, totally hooked by the sound and the feel of it all.
I started lessons in Norwich with Angus Honeyman at the age of 9, and later studied with another Norfolk drumming legend, Colin Brady.
After finishing secondary school in 1995, I was invited back to teach some beginner students during my gap year. I never made it to university—my teaching took off, my gig schedule exploded, and I’ve now been enjoying my 29th “year off.”
Since then, I’ve taught in schools and colleges all over Norfolk, including more than 20 years at Norwich School. I also spent two decades giving private drum lessons across the county.
As a performer, I’ve played thousands of gigs with dozens of bands—touring the UK and Europe and playing everywhere from theatres and arenas to village halls, pubs, clubs, weddings, festivals, civil ceremonies, musicals, workshops, churches and cathedrals.
Blues has been a major thread through my career, but I’ve also done plenty of pop, rock, funk, soul, dance, orchestral, ceilidhs, and musical theatre. If you need a drummer, I’d love to hear what you’re working on.
Favourite artists/bands: Ben Folds Five, Stevie Wonder, Faith No More, Vulfpeck
Favourite drummers: Ash Soan, Steve Gadd, Darren Jessee, Nate Smith, Gavin Harrison
Performance Highlights:
- Headlining the jazz and blues stage at Glastonbury Festival
- Gigs/Tours in New Zealand, USA, Germany, Holland, Belgium, Spain and Finland
- Named “Best British Blues Drummer” at the British Blues Awards 2010
- Recording sessions at Rockfield Studios (Wales), Ardent Studios (Memphis TN), FWL (Germany) and Maida Vale (London)
- Gigs at venues such as London Astoria, The 100 Club, Jazz Cafe (Camden), and festivals including High Voltage, Colne Blues Festival and many more.
I have performed with:
- Oli Brown (blues)
- Billy Walton (blues/rock)
- Ultra90s (live 90s Dance anthems)
- Malaya Blue (blues/soul)
- Nina Baker (singer-songwriter pop)
- The Best Of Wham (80s pop)
- Frankie’s Guys (60’s/70s)
- The Claire Barker Band (60s to 00s)
- The Lee Vasey Band
- The Austin Beats
- The Joe Ringer Band (The JRB)
- The Soul Brothers (70s to 00s)
- Beat Connection (60s to 00s)
- Spike (rock)
- The Big Picture (rock)
and many more…
Hire Me
I am available for gigs, sessions and tours anywhere in the UK, Europe or further afield. If you’d like to book me, please get in touch.