The Fantastival Podcast

This is not a drill, this is really happening as it’s one of the most requested guests ever, the one & only Simon Peck is up on The Fantastival Podcast for #108.   A more passionate music & Leeds United fan you’ll never meet as Simon is on great form as we talk about his time at hmv with many a mention of some great names, the transitions that the music industry has made over the...

What a Fantastival Podcast awaits you as Jon Olphert and Ian Gallagher from the awesome Gallaher’s Green join Steve this week for #108…   Listen as Jon and Ian talk about how their musical worlds collided to form Gallaher’s Green, how the band have evolved and are already writing the 3rd album before the 2nd album has even been released, the process of recording their excellent debut alb...

Its time to shine with the awesome new music champion and legend that is Sam Shiner as she is the guest for #106 of The Fantastival Podcast…  Sam is an excellent guest as she talks about how she got into the new music scene, putting on a gig at the hmv Coventry Empire, managing The Rah’s (who are awesome) and how that came about, her ‘Indie Emporium’ show every Sunday on Barrelhouse Radio, what he...

It’s #105 of The Fantastival Podcast and what an episode awaits for you as Steve is joined by the first signing to hmv’s 1921 label, it’s India Arkin.   This was the perfect time to speak to India having just been named a National Album Day Ambassador and ahead of the release of her album ‘Home Truths’ on Saturday 15th October.  Listen as India talks about the whirlwind last few wee...

From the rooftops shout it out, shout it out…  Saffron Sprackling is on #104 of The Fantastival Podcast!  What a superb guest Saffron is as she talks about her life in music with so many great stories, including:   *Seeing The Jam at a young age   *Joining the cast of Starlight Express and working with Arlene Phillips   *Putting on raves with N-Joi, The Prod...

The Fantastival Podcast is back after the unexpected bank holiday and what a way to return this week with #103 as we bring you Kevin O’Neil from one of our favourite new bands, The Baines…   Kevin tells us all about how The Baines got started, what their plans are and what the future holds for them, about the act who changed his life, his first records, favourite gigs, his memories and m...

Listen Up as The Fantastival Podcast turns #102 as we have our 2nd guest from the brilliant Listen Up guys, the one & only @rickbazza…  Rick chats about all things music and Listen Up as he goes from podcast host to podcast guest and you can hear how passionate and enthusiastic he is about both of these things as he collates his Fantasy Festival, but also takes time to shake things up a little wit...

The Fantastival Podcast is hitting #101 in style as Steve is joined by producer, engineer, composer, arranger and keys player for the brilliant Embrace, it’s Mr Mickey Dale.  We had a great chat on all things music as Mickey talks about how he got into playing, how he joined Embrace, becoming a full time member of the band and how they celebrated in Paris, his excitement about the new Embrace...

Thank you to everyone who has listened and engaged with us over the course of these 100 episodes, it’s been a blast, and there was only ever going to be one person for #100 of The Fantastival Podcast…😎   My biggest musical influence.🎵   The one & only, Sue Nussbaum.❤️   A lovely chat as my mum is a natural in her podcasting debut, with some musical revelations I...

My only love, the only one, You're my wifey…🎵  It’s a celebration and for #99 of The Fantastival Podcast as it’s time to get the wifey involved, clearly the better half, and she’s hear to talk all about music, it can only be the one and only Sarah Nussbaum (Sarah P, Sarah Nuss, etc).  I really wanted to get Sarah on and I’m glad she agreed to it as she really is the unsung hero of The F...

LISTEN UP…   The time is here for #98 of The Fantastival Podcast and it’s a banger as for this one we were joined by Wiggy from Listen Up to talk all things music…   It’s clear to see by chatting to Wiggy how enthusiastic and passionate about music as he spoke about how Listen Up got started, the events they’ve put on, their excellent podcast (which is well worth a listen) and...

It’s the Podcast that will always set you free, and for #97 we’ve pulled another hattrick out of the bag as once again we have three members from a band who are bound to get you up and moving about, as we are joined by Andy Arthur, Greg Conn and Ross Dalziel from the brilliant Spiral Cities…   So whether it’s a morning walk or a midnight drive, press play on this one as the guys talk abo...

To The Wind I Go to Satisfy You in The Fantastival Podcast #96 as I’ve not one, not two, but three members from one of the best bands around, as Steve was joined by Jose Ibanez, Kenny Stuart and Ste Penn, from The Heavy North.   Find out how The Heavy North got started, how they write songs, all about the excellent ‘Electric Soul Machine’ album, how they found hosting a #TimsTwitterListe...

KISS ME ON A FANTASTIVAL NIGHT…  The Fantastival Podcast is back and it’s time for #95 with a woman of many talents, new music pioneer, host of the excellent Loud ‘n’ Lush on From-The-Holler.com, part of the Sh1ts & Giggles quadrilogy, the lady behind the awesome ‘Kiss Me On A Friday Night’, it’s the one and only Laura Jayne!  So many great acts and stories are mentioned in this epis...

I’m so into yyyoooooooouuuuu… it’s time for #94 of The Fantastival Podcast and it’s a man whose tunes havent left my head over the last few weeks, it’s the brilliant Jay Tennant…   ‘Intense, cinematic anthems. Big on riffs, melodies and passion’ is how Jay is described on his social media pages and it’s a cracking assessment, so listen to him talk about how he got into playing music, how...

It’s Fantastival Podcast #93 and this week Steve’s gets to talk to ‘A Curious Mind Of The Common Man’, the one and only (and one of the most requested guests to date), frontman of the brilliant The Shed Project, Mr Roy Fletcher…   Hailing all the way from Bolton, Roy told us all about how The Shed Project were formed, how they’ve evolved, where they are at now, all about the wonderful al...

Sh’mon, Sh’mon, it’s another Fantastival Podcast and time for #92 with a lady who truly loves music, it’s the legend that is Laura Horton…   What a Fantastival Podcast we have awaiting you as Laura talks about music, festivals, gigs and new acts, aswell as managing Nice Guy @NICEGUYBAND and how she came to manage them, having her own Radio Show ‘The Laura Horton Show’ (links below), bein...

BE KIND REWIND…   The Fantastival Podcast is back with #91 with one of the talents from Voices Radio, the host of the excellent Be Kind Rewind show, it’s Sean Mackey…   Listen along as Sean talks about his radio show and how he got into presenting, his love of all things music, working for mental health company Thrive, his time at Sony Music working in Marketing for their Legac...

LOUIS, LOUIS…   We’ve hit the 90’s on The Fantastival Podcast and to welcome this in we have the wonderful Louis Antoniou from the brilliant Louis & The Shakes for #90…  Listen to Louis speak all about his love of music, favourite acts, writing and performing, his future ambitions for Louis & The Shakes, his Fantasy Festival lineup with his 5 chosen acts and lots more in thi...

The Fantastival Podcast #89 welcomes Steve’s old friend from hmv Wood Green (who he has not seen since a chance meeting at an awards ceremony a few years ago or spoken to at length in about 15 years), the multi talented guitarist, singer, entertainer, man of many talents, the one & only Jefferson Davis…  15 years felt like yesterday as Jefferson talked about his life in music (listening & playing)...

The Fantastival Podcast is back after taking an Easter break and we are delighted to be joined for #88 by a woman of many talents, freelance writer, published author, PR and marketing consultant and mental health campaigner, it’s the one and only, Lucy Nichol!  Lucy was a great guest as she spoke all about how she got into writing, her books that have been released so far (‘A Series of Unfortunate...

#87 of The Fantastival Podcast is here and our ‘Little Pile Of Rocks’ Paula Cairns is along for the ride…   It was a great chat with Paula whose love of music really shone through as she talked about acts she loves, the new music community, her involvement in the brilliant ‘Some Might Say’ show on In Your Ears and lots more as she collated her awesome Fantasy Festival.   After...

It’s time for The Fantastival Podcast #86 and what a way to do it as Steve was joined by singer, songwriter, sculptor, jolly good fellow, the one and only Mike Badger...   Listen to Mike chat all about his life in music including how he got into playing the guitar, his first records, co-founding The La’s, form The Onset, his solo career , get involved with previous Fantastival guest Paul...

Come and find The Fantastival Podcast #85 as joining Steve this week is the brilliant singer and guitarist from the awesome October Drift, it’s Kiran Roy…  Kiran chats all about his musical tastes, how he got into playing guitar (and his style), his favourite acts, best gig experiences, as he also collates his Fantasy Festival lineup and talks all about October Drift, how they formed, their b...

We are delighted that joining Steve on The Fantastival Podcast #84 is Secret Drug Addict…   We had a really interesting chat as SDA spoke about how he got involved in the music business, his career in the industry (including a spell at Creation Records and Sony working with some great acts) his battle with addiction, getting and staying sober, his music tastes, being at some amazing gigs...