CAREER musician turned pub landlord Alan Coleshill is a man on a musical mission. JERRY LYONS speaks with the guitar-playing grandfather who wants to bring new life to Hillingdon's ailing live music scene by giving bands somewhere to play
THE most common complaint I hear from musicians in the borough is about the lack of venues where they can perform, practise or simply listen to live music. Coming from a football
background, I can understand the gist of their concerns. It's clear to me that a lack of free spaces for kids to play football leads to less youngsters playing football. In the music world, this shortage of venues means less young people get a chance to play live music and may lose interest and move on to something else. The resulting boredom can often bring out the worst in young people.
However there is hope on the horizon, in the form of Alan Coleshill.
The 60-year-old grandfather runs the Woodman Pub, in Joel Street, Eastcote, and wants to turn the popular drinking spot into a place where performers can play, discuss their musical passions and help each other.
He said: "I love music and since taking over the pub seven years ago I have always wanted to introduce more and more live music nights. We have a jam session on Wednesdays, and on Sundays we have begun holding jazz sessions. We also have karaoke and bands performing on a regular basis.
"I want to encourage more bands, both young and old, to perform live. I know from my own musical experience playing to an audience is a huge buzz and the more you do it the better you become. It's a real shame that there are not that many live venues left in the borough."
Alan's musical career spans four decades and he proudly points out that he was one of the original punk rockers back in the mid-1960s. "The original punk scene was about being different and having fun. The Sex Pistols and some other bands changed the image into one which was intimidating and seen by some as anti-social."
His musical skills took him to Florida where he earned a living playing guitar, and other instruments, including the banjo and mandolin, before returning to England and taking on the Woodman.
"As a family we returned from the states and saw the pub, which was shut down at the time, was available to buy so we just went for it. Bands need places to perform. It would be fantastic if one of our music nights helped to launch a young band on the road to success but the main thing is that everyone enjoys themselves and has fun."
Alan has put his money where his mouth is by investing in top-quality sound systems that produce professional standard recordings of shows.
"We have amps, microphones and a great drum kit available for bands to use. All they need is to bring their sticks, guitars and a desire to get up on stage and jam.
"Obviously I want the music nights to be successful commercially, but it's just as important that people have fun. We have some very experienced musicians who regularly come along to our jam nights and they are all keen to share their knowledge with younger players. The main purpose of the recording system is for bands to hear how they played and improve their skills where necessary."
With people as passionate as Alan is about providing more live venues, the borough's musical future does not seem as gloomy as I used to fear.
* If you are interested in performing at the Woodman, contact Alan on 020 429 4717.
