Most of my blog posts are backward-looking. Maybe it’s time I mixed things up a little and looked forward some more online (new resolution for turning 31?) …

August Bank Holiday is often one of the busiest times for gigging musicians. I mean you can only usually fit in one gig each at New Year and St Patrick’s, but a long weekend offers many more opportunities! Slightly against my better judgment, I have three gigs in the next three days.

Friday 25 August: The Filthy Spectacula take second-to-closing slot on the Flavour Parlour stage at Maui Waui, a cheerily alternative mid-sized festival in Suffolk. Expect lots of craziness, especially given we’re playing about 12 hours after the beer tent opens (10:30 p.m. to be precise).

Saturday 26 August, part 1: Kindred Spirit open the day’s proceedings at A New Day in Faversham, Kent, with many great (not to say venerable) rock names further up the bill. With Les Binks drumming, I think we can expect the set to wake up anyone who hasn’t quite emerged from the shadow of Friday night by noon …

Saturday 26 August, part 2: It nearly didn’t happen several times, but The Filthy Spectacula are headlining the raucous night (Punkus Steerage Ball) of Britain’s largest steampunk convention again. Weekend at the Asylum will of course be full of people in corsets, goggles and brass accessories inhabiting a fantasy past or alternative present to varying degrees of intensity, but this will definitely be for those who prefer stout or gin to tea and a knees-up to a waltz. Similarly irreverent earlier sets from Captain of the Lost Waves and Before Victoria should get your inhibitions pre-shed.

With an almost complete change of tack, a couple of days later (time for some catching up on sleep, washing and practice then) I’m returning to the classical recital fray.

Wednesday 30 August, any Chelmsford music aficionados (don’t assume you ‘have to like classical music’ – you might be surprised … ) should really find your way to Christ Church URC, New London Road CM2 0AW. I’ll be playing a varied programme of viola and piano music with Cathie Ng from 12:30 to 1:15, and you’re actively encouraged to bring your lunch (provided you can eat it quietly – go easy on the carrot sticks). And a donation so we can pay Cathie’s petrol.

See you somewhere! And write-ups of at least some of these to follow.