Anyone Can Play Guitar

This week the duel topics are playing live and location. Do you need to relocate to a big city in order to progress? How important is it to play live shows outside your home town? What are the most important things when playing live? In this episode you'll hear from John Newman, Dave Keuning (Killers), Justin Lockley (Editors), We Are Scientists and more. The good cause is musicians against homele...

This week the topics are forming and joining a band. How do you pick those other unfortunate souls that you're to spend a significant portion of the foreseeable future with? What happens when line ups need to change? In this episode you'll hear from Dave Keuning (The Killers), Justin Lockley (Editors), State Champs, We Are Scientists and more. The good causes is Children.org. More info and show no...

This week the topic is fans. Following on from our two-part special in season 1 with Mark Duffett of Chester University, we take a look at things from the fans perspective. Brian Garcia has taken fandom to new levels, especially when it comes to collecting memorabilia. In this episode you'll also hear from Jimmy Eat World, Dave Keuning (The Killers), Fickle Friends and Kevin Brown of GigRev. The g...

This week the topic is mobile apps. Having a website can be an obvious choice to musicians, but what about a mobile app? In an age where increasingly more people use a mobile phone to browse the web, whilst social media app algorithms restrict your reach within their platforms, why not? In this episode you'll hear from Kevin Brown, of GigRev who has tackled this challenge. The good cause is the th...

This week this the second of the two-part instalment on music marketing. More great insights on a topic that can be so tricky for aspiring musicians. In this episode you'll hear from Steven Page (Bare Naked Ladies), We Are Scientists, Maurice Hissink, Dave Keuning (The Killers), Zach Hangauer, She Drew the Gun and Kevin Brown. The good causes are the Whitechapel Centre and Shelter. More info and s...

This week is the first of a two-part instalment on marketing. A tricky business where you can end up spending lots of time with little reward without having a bit of know-how and a plan. In this episode you'll hear from a mix of artists and industry pros including Steven Page (Bare Naked Ladies), We Are Scientists, Maurice Hissink, The Sheepdogs, Zach Hangauer, She Drew the Gun and Kevin Brown. Th...

After discussing the record deal route last week, here we focus on releasing music yourself. It's easier than ever to record music, but how do you release it? With things like mastering, distribution and licencing to consider, how do you get your music out there? You'll hear from ex-label owner Zach Hangauer as well as top artists Laurel, State Champs, Jimmy Eat World and The Sheepdogs. The good c...

This week the topic is the record deal, once the main target for all aspiring musicians. What is the role of the record company today? Are they still as appealing as they once were? We speak to Keith Armstrong of Kitchenware records along with Jon Newman, Neville Staple, She Drew The Gun, The Sheepdogs, Jimmy Eat World and We Are Scientists. The good cause is the Robin Hoodie foundation. More info...

This week the topic is festivals, an essential element of any music lovers' summer. It was the summer 2018 that we caught up with Emma Zillmann of From the Fields who puts on big UK festivals Kendal Calling and Blue Dot to find out what's involved and how bands get on her radar. You'll also hear from Dave Keuning (The Killers), Justin Lockley (Editors), Get Cape Wear Cape, State Champs and The Bli...

This week the topic is touring. In an age where selling physical copies of your music is no longer the thing it once was, a tour can be essential for bringing in the much-needed cash. This is a topic that some artists have mixed feelings towards – today you'll hear from Justin Lockley (Editors), Jimmy Eat World, John Newman, The Sheepdogs, Fickle Friends, Get Cape Wear Cape Fly and We Are Scientis...

This week the topic is song writing, a fundamental necessity for aspiring musicians. There is no single right way of approaching it though, so we spoke to established artists to find out how they do it. In this episode you'll hear from Steven Page (Bare Naked Ladies), Justin Lockley (Editors), Laurel, Get Cape Wear Cape Fly and We Are Scientists. The good cause is the Grandmothers to Grandmothers...

We're back for season 2 of the show! A new format brings you loads of fantastic guests all talking about specific music topics such as song writing, festivals, marketing, record deals, playing live and more. All designed to help musicians and bands take their career to the next level this season has insights from industry experts plus top bands The Killers, Bare Naked Ladies, Editors, Jimmy Eat Wo...

This week is the finale to season 1 of the ACPG podcast as Ben and James reflect on the journey so far, and give a little taster of what to expect from season 2. It's been superb so far, meeting amazing people and seeing first-hand how much the music community are passionate about helping others. We've got great guests lined up for season 2, with a little break allowing us to make some improvement...

This week we continue our journey through space and time for part 2 with Gus and Wilson of Winchop, the fantastic two piece from the USA. Here we move on to talk about the unusual way in which to were signed, how they make their long distance collaboration work, their fantastic whiskey covers and the importance of interacting with other artists. The good cause this week is supporting the music com...

This week we have an ACPG first as we straddle three time zones to catch up with Gus and Wilson of Winchop, a fantastic two piece from the USA. We were keen to get these lads onto the show, as they do the majority of their band activity in different locations. In this part one we talk about how they got started in music, writing musicals, duo's vs a full band and forging a partnership. The good ca...

This week James continues with digital marketing entrepreneur Stacey Kehoe of Brandlective where they move on to discuss marketing content; creating, scheduling, re-purposing, hashtaging and analytics. Getting the most out of social media is important for musicians, so it was really useful to get some insights from Stacey and delve into the specifics for some of the popular platforms. The good cau...

This week James is speaking to digital marketing entrepreneur Stacey Kehoe about marketing mistakes, having clear objectives and testing your market. Through her business Brandlective, Stacey is well versed in how to build up a strong brand and identity. Content is king, with many ways to dive in when promoting your music, some being better than others. The good cause this week is the UN's Sustain...

This week Ben continues for part two with one of the top video music directors, David Wilson, where they move on to discuss Arcade Fire, his relationship with them, collaboration, age gaps, and shooting videos. David has transitioned from fan, to video producer, to collaborator with Arcade Fire. A band like that only invite you back if you offer something special. We delve into what that is. The g...

This week Ben is in London speaking to music video director David Wilson about getting started in the industry, building a reputation, working with big bands and common challenges. Having shot videos for the likes of Artic Monkey's and Arcade Fire, David's reputation is ever growing turning him into a true globe trotter as he keeps up with the demand for his talent. The good cause for the two-part...

This week Ben is on the Tour Bus of Everything Everything to catch up with Jon Higgs during the 'Tomorrow Festival' in Newcastle. Having had a series of top 10 albums in the UK, Jon brings some great experience to the show and there's loads of topics crammed in this week including; moving cities, videos, identity, touring, and licencing music. The good cause this week is Campaign Against Living Mi...

This week we catch up with Adam French during the 'Hit the North' festival for what proved to be a brilliant and wide-ranging discussion. On the menu was his transitioning from band to solo artist, scams (including bad experiences with early management), the early days of a deal, and playing the obvious gig destination of Botswana. The good cause this week is Surfers Against Sewage. More info and...

This week we're back stage at the O2 Academy in Newcastle speaking to Frank Turner as he starts touring to support the release of his latest album Be More Kind. The album has already shot into the top 3 of the UK album charts which comes as no surprise. Never short of an opinion or two (which we like), with Frank we discuss playing live, philosophy, and what success looks like for him. The good ca...

This week James is on Shed 7's tour bus speaking to Rick Witter about Instant Pleasures, comebacks, record deals and social media. A band that need no introduction, Shed 7 lit up the charts in the 90's and have re-ignited their careers with yet another top 10 success as they return with what Rick described almost like being 'a debut album'. The good cause this week is St Leonards Hospice in York....

This week we continue with Frankie Francis of Frankie and the Heartstrings to talk publishing deals, opening a shop, and radio. Having secured a significant publishing deal, Frankie talks around how they used the money to sustain themselves before moving on to other parts of the music industry he is very close to. The good cause this week is Pop Recs, an important cultural hub in Sunderland. More...

This week Ben meets up with Frankie Francis of Frankie and the Heartstrings at the Amazing Radio offices in Gateshead. Frankie brings a great blend of experiences to the show given his successes as a musical artist, along with his involvement in some parts of the other side of the music industry. In this first of a two part episode we talk forming a band, investing in a band, and band identity. Th...