{news} Coronavirus - drum lessons

Hello, 

We're in scary, unprecedented, surreal times. Nobody quite knows what's going to happen, but just to confirm - my drum lessons will continue, as normal, until I'm told otherwise. I imagine that, surely, at some point there will be school closures. If that's the case, I can teach more lessons in your home (with my small jazz kit if you don't have a kit of your own). This is obviously all on the proviso that you're well/showing no signs of even a head cold, and the same for me, too. No risks to be taken, no 'crowds', but a little light relief in these most testing of times. 

If I don't already teach you but you fancied a 'drums for beginners' trial lesson, or one of my new 'child + parent joint lesson' sessions, drop me a line. 

Most ultimately, though, take care, be safe and keep clean!

Paul

PS - *only* happy songs will be taught in these sessions :)

{blog} March, already?

Just where is this year going? Is it a sign that I'm getting, you know, old? Either way, hello. It's been a while since I've written an actual blog post on here, the initial plan was to ramble away on a monthly basis but if I did, it would suggest that I have far too much time on my hands...

It's all good fun, though, everything, even the grown-up stuff that seems to involve a lot of paperwork. The drum lessons this year have been wonderful; my lessons tend to typically be a mix of hard work and chaos, with a lot of laughs along the way. Learning doesn't have to be boring and I'm finding that adding more games, more challenges and more fear (the fear of playing live to lots of people) really helps. I'm currently teaching in six schools, plus regular weekend workshops at another, alongside many private lessons and occasional guest lessons out of town (most recently, I taught a one-off 'drums for beginners' course at Oxford University, which was a lot of fun). I have a strong belief that drums can benefit everyone; not just those learning (who certainly benefit, especially if they have social/confidence issues), but charities, too...it's all rather simple: I want my students to be onstage, my students want stage time in a non-pressure sort of way, so putting on small-scale gigs with a hat going around for charity helps everyone. A few weeks' back we put on a six-hour drum relay, which raised £400 for the victims of the Australian bushfires. We had a brilliant (sweaty, ridiculous) day, a lot of my students had a lot of time onstage for the first time and we raised a few quid for a worthy cause. More of this sort of thing soon. 

Elsewhere, I've been back on the road with my stressful little one-man play, Harvey Greenfield is Running Late. The recent show in Wales was a career highlight: such a magnificently drunk, enthusiastic, sold-out audience. It also ran in Ely, Cambridge and Oxford before three nights at the West End, which went surprisingly well considering I forgot to print posters. I've now performed this play 66 times, it's a true story and I really believe in it; thanks to everyone who has come down and supported this frankly exhausting production - I'm actually having a lovely time, even if the character is having a total breakdown. The show is being made into a feature-film, which goes into production in July. I've been re-cast as myself, and there's also a bunch of proper actors (and a former Blue Peter host) in it, too. More soon, but this has the potential to be huge. Or at least something we're all creatively satisfied with, at least. Outside of Harvey G, my podcast sitcom, Three Men and a Bassist, is now being edited by the mighty Alan Morgan and will be launched soon. I'm proud of this one, it's a slow burner, but it comes from a good place and we had a lot of fun making it. I hope people like it because I'd really love to write a second series - this team of Alan, other Alan, Warren, Liz, Samantha, Rory and Kate are a joy. There's some BBC stuff, but it's so up in the air it's best I keep quiet for now. I also wrote a new play over Christmas, about a woman obsessed with the year 1979, but after a brief workshop of it, we all realised it was just 'nice' and nothing more, so I'll put it aside for now. Not everything has to work, does it? 

As a drummer, I'm as busy as ever - Fred's House, after a frankly difficult 2019, are hitting 2020 with all guns blazing, which is the last thing my schedule needs. But these guys are still my best friends and if I'm going to spend hours in a freezing studio somewhere off the A10, it might as well be with this lot. We've just recorded a new EP, which sounds HUGE. It's our 10th anniversary as a band this year, I'm not quite an original member but I've been on this journey with them for nearly 7 years now and it's been a real rollercoaster (the first album - the success - the first proper tour - the many proper tours - the personal revelations within the band - the changing of line-up - the epic tour of China - the dramatic change of line-up again after a huge tour - the third album - the lull - the revival) and I have every faith that, in 10 years time, we'll still be making music together. I've also been drumming in the house band for a new monthly night in Cambridge, Come All Ye, the brainchild of my mate Greg McDonald from Glymjack (who I gig with a lot, still), the house band also features Nicky Stockman from the BBC radio folk show and Sam Inglis, editor of Sound on Sound magazine. It's a cracking concept and lovely to be involved.

Oh yeah, and future wifey and I have bought a house, we move at the end of the month. It's a huge house, which means I'm allowed a drum studio. Now, any ideas how I can soundproof a double garage? There's our wedding in August, too. Four years ago we hadn't even met, it's amazing how quickly life can change. I'm very happy, even if her cat did leave a dead mouse in a pair of my pants the other day...

Right, I'm rambling. Till the next time, 

Paul

Drum relay concert raises £400 for charity

Yesterday, Paul organised and hosted a chaotic 6-hour drum relay concert for his drum students. With the drums not stopping for the whole duration, over thirty of Paul’s students performed live (many for the first time) to raise money for the victims of the bushfires in Australia. They raised £400 for the charity during the course of the day.

{news} Fred's House back in the studio

Paul was back in the studio this weekend hitting drums for Fred’s House. Having recorded 3 albums with the band, the 5-piece are now working on a new EP, ahead of a tour later in the year.

Recording took place at North Acre Studios, which was literally in the middle of nowhere, but it’s sounding excellent, under the guidance of award-winning producer, Jake Day.. Rhythm section parts now complete.

(For the drum nerds: Paul was recording with a small Gretsch jazz kit (18” bass drum, which sounded remarkably huge on record), with a Yamaha Birch Custom Absolute snare, all Paiste Dimension cymbals and all Evans G2 heads.)

{news} Letters to Sparkle broadcast on BBC radio

A recording of Paul's short play, Letters to Sparkle, was broadcast on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire this evening. It'll be available on iPlayer, as part of the BBC Uploads show, from tomorrow onwards.

This version of …Sparkle featured Paul as Kevin and Liz Barker as Sparkle.

{news} You Can't Stop the Beat - a fundraiser for victims of the Australian Bushfires

YOU CAN'T STOP THE BEAT

A slightly ridiculous 6-hour drum relay to raise money for the victims of the bushfires in Australia

To raise money for the victims of the Australia bushfires, drum teacher Paul, many of his students and whatever guest musicians he can find will be playing an epic 6-hour gig, where the drums NEVER stop. An afternoon start, come down for some top tunes and to witness the drumming stars of tomorrow, all to raise a few quid for this much needed cause. 

Free entry, with a donations bucket for the Australia Bushfire Emergency (any money in the hat will go to the Australian Red Cross)

THE PLOUGH, SHEPRETH

TUESDAY 18TH FEBRUARY 2020

3pm - 9pm

{news} Harvey Greenfield - London tickets now on sale!

Paul’s acclaimed play, Harvey Greenfield is Running Late, is heading to London for nights at the end of February. Tickets and details here: https://leicestersquaretheatre.ticketsolve.com/shows/873608952

{news} 12 Gigs of Christmas complete

Yesterday Paul played 12 gigs, in 12 hours, in 12 different venues with Glymjack. They raised £501.76 for Macmillan Cancer Support in the process, thanks to everyone who came down!

{blog} So, that was 2019 then

Well, it will be soon and, given how the next week or so looks, I probably won’t have time to write another blog post as I’ll be onstage, a lot, and then it’s Christmas where I’ll be pretending to pay attention to family but I’ll secretly be working on a new play.  

I’ve really enjoyed this year and there’s been much to be grateful for. Career-wise I’ve taken on more drum students than ever, we’ve held two spectacular student showcases for them and I’ve added two extra schools to my roster. I’m at the point where my schedule is bursting and I’m currently teaching drums 7 days a week, but I’m totally enjoying all of it…so much progress has been made this year, my students are developing wonderfully and I feel like I’ve become a better teacher, learning along the way. 

Musically in 2019 it’s been a transitional year; Fred’s House are finally settled with our new line-up (after various changes in the first half) and the recent tour suggests that momentum has returned. We’re recording new material in February next year and it’s all very positive again after some uncertain times. It’s been a pleasure to also play with Glymjack; I’ve long been a fan of Greg’s work so it’s been wonderful to drum all over his lovely songs and we’ve got more stuff in the pipeline, plus it’s been great to be back with We Are Sound. Our next gig, this Thursday, is with Evelyn Glenie and Griff Rhys-Jones, which is nice. I’ve also enjoyed drumming for Steve Logan, both on his latest album and summer gigs. Lots of shows with lots of bands to follow next year. 

My theatre stuff has taken up a lot of my time this year, mostly because I’ve finally written a show that people like (it’s only taken 14 years…). I performed Harvey Greenfield is Running Late all over the country before a 3-week Edinburgh run, where it picked up 4 stars from The Scotsman. I’ve kept it running since, earning praise from the BBC in the process, LOTS more to come from this show next year including a short West End run, a UK (plus Ireland) tour and a film version. We also toured HOP, which was great fun (apart from one night, but let’s not dwell on that – it would be impossible for it to work everywhere), the shows in Belfast and Manchester were particularly amazing in front of huge crowds. After three years of running that show its probably time for it to be retired, but we’ll see. I also quit stand-up after 5 years of awkward storytelling, partly because of the success of Harvey G and my returning love of theatre, but also because I was never any good at it and was no longer enjoying myself up there. I’m doing enough things right, it feels like a good time to drop the things I wasn’t exactly excelling in. 

Oh yeah, and I also got engaged, which is an incredibly grown-up thing to do. Never thought I’d be the type, but it turns out all I had to do was meet the right girl.

We recently started recording a little podcast sitcom with an outstanding cast, with more to be recorded in January, my radio sitcom is still being recorded by the BBC Radio and Theatre Group and I’ve started writing a show based on the music of my friend, singer-songwriter, Graham Parker, which will see the light of day in early 2020. 

It’s been a wonderful year full of opportunities and there’s much excitement around the corner. Thanks to everyone who has ‘got’ what I do in 2019, I can’t wait to catch up again soon, whether I’ll be teaching you, shouting at you from a stage or drumming in front of you…you’re wonderful. In the meantime, I’ve got 1 day at a school left, 3 private lessons and 13 gigs until I can switch off the internet, put on my Christmas jumper and spend 2 weeks calming down in good company. 

Merry Christmas!

The 12 Gigs of Christmas

Paul will be playing 12 gigs in one day with Glymjack over Christmas, to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support. it is the third time in four years Paul has done the ‘12 gigs’ project, having originally had the idea a good few years back. This will be his first time with Glymjack, who he joined late last year. Check out: https://www.thepaulrichards.com/events for the full schedule.

{news} Latest drum student gig

Paul stuck 17 of his private drum students onstage last night for another showcase, once again with members of Fred's House serving as the backing band. As always, the gug served two purposes: 1) to give new drummers valuable stage time and 2) to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support.

The show successfully achieved both of those things, making £220 for the charity. The drummers all stormed it.

{news} Three Men and a Bassist recording

Paul’s got a new podcast sitcom in production (alongside Technically Single, which is still in the safe hands of the BBC Radio and Theatre Group). Three Men and a Bassist is a fun little comedy about a bunch of 30-something teachers having one final stab at musical glory…recording of the first three episodes started tonight, with more later in November. It stars Liz Barker (former Blue Peter presenter), Alan Hay (Ren, Broken Windows), Rory Lowings (Hot Fuzz, Skins), Warren Clarke and Samantha Billing. It is directed by Kate Madison (Ren, Born of Hope) and is being recorded by Paul’s regular collaborator, Alan Morgan (Harvey Greenfield is Running Late). More information soon.

{news} West End run with Dominic Frisby

Paul is currently midway through a West End run drumming for comedian Dominic Frisby, reprising the show they performed at the Edinburgh Fringe in the summer. The run is nearly over, last few tickets available here:

https://museumofcomedy.ticketsolve.com/shows/873608393

{news} Harvey Greenfield - London dates on sale

Tickets are now on sale for the West End run of Paul’s hit show, Harvey Greenfield is Running Late. The show runs at the Museum of Comedy for 3 nights in February 2020, tickets can be bought here: https://museumofcomedy.ticketsolve.com/shows/873608952

{news} In the studio with Glymjack

Back from the fringe, Paul was straight into the studio to record drum parts for the second Glymjack album (Paul's first with the band). Expect a release sometime in early 2020.

{blog} Back from the fringe/BBC Radio Theatre Group recording

The Edinburgh Fringe continues to marvel me, even after 15 years of doing this. I got back in the early hours after 91 performances in 3 weeks. Exhausting? No. I had a lovely time. Really, honestly lovely.

If you're ever tempted to give the Edinburgh Fringe a go, here's some tips:

1) Pay well over the odds for central accommodation, even better if it's en-suite. Last year I did it on the cheap and slept on a sofa for a month. Don't do this, it's not good for your health. My fringe this year worked because I could nip home for a cat nap, several times, and I didn't have to queue for a shower in the morning.

2) Wear comfy shoes. Nobody is judging your style of footwear at the fringe, and it's full of cobbles, so wear thick shoes that will last.

3) Eat lots of honey. My fiancee told me this and she's a genius. I lost my voice a week in, but a jar of honey did the trick.

4) Get 8 hours sleep. Ignore what they say about eating healthy and not drinking too much - I lived off pizza and was in 'networking' meetings that involved plenty of booze pretty much every night and it's fine. Sleep cures everything.

5) Don't do four shows a day....

Okay, so I was doing four shows a day, but I drink a lot of caffeine. My play, Harvey Greenfield is Running Late, was a real success...I mean, I've always liked doing it, but it's so nice to see others have enjoyed it, too. The Scotsman gave it 4 stars and audience reviews were consistently strong. There's much more to come from Harvey, including a film version soon, discussions for that began before Edinburgh when a filmmaker saw a preview version. History of Pop continued to pack out rooms and be as (intentionally) shambolic as ever, and it was an absolute joy to drum for Dominic Frisby - a fine comedian, who put together a cracking show. My own stand-up show was mostly ignored but I'm fine with that, the show was always planned to be my final stand-up hour, after 5 years of doing this, so I could focus on other projects, it kind of whimpered out but honestly, there's so many good things happening, I can't complain.

Much in the pipeline, including the BBC Radio Theatre Group recording my 4-episode sitcom, Technically Single. This has been brewing for a while and it's all very exciting (I wrote it 7 years ago), they're recording it a BBC Broadcasting House. When I was there last month to watch the auditions I was a bit of an excited tourist so, you know, I need to be cooler, somehow.

In the meantime, back to the drumming and drum teaching. In the studio with Glymjack this week to record an album with them, there's a Fred's House tour soon and lessons resume on Thursday. Technically fully booked up apart from Monday mornings, but as always drop me a line if you're interested and we can try and sort something.

Anyway, I'm rambling...I hope your summer was lovely!

{news} Four stars from the Scotsman for Harvey Greenfield

Paul is currently at the Edinburgh Fringe, performing in four shows a day. His play, Harvey Greenfield is Running Late, picked up this 4 star review from The Scotsman….

Harvey Greenfield Is Running Late, Sweet Grassmarket – Grassmarket 3 * * * *

Has the show started? Is everyone here? When’s the door going to be shut? These are the questions asked by a frantic man on stage who may or may not be in character.

Written and performed by Paul Richards, it follows the journey of an idiosyncratic 38-year-old man, Harvey Greenfield, as he becomes overwhelmed by other people’s demands on his time. It is, we are told, based on a true story – apart from one bit.

Like an alternative Ferris Bueller, rather than having a day off, Harvey is simply trying to get to work for a meeting, but keeps getting phone calls from his mum, girlfriend, the guy at the garage, the lawyer of a cyclist taking him to court, someone saying something about a funeral...

A self-described “strangely ugly Hugh Grant type”, his naivety and inability to cope in the modern world is simultaneously charming and horrifying. He gives money to every weird charity that asks, gets into the kind of scrapes Just William would be proud of, and has a relationship with a competent and beautiful girlfriend that shouldn’t work, but somehow does.

The escalating web of chaos is skilfully scripted in the vein of a classic film comedy, while detours into Harvey’s childhood chart his development from a painfully nervous teenager to someone who is almost able to function.

This is a transformation of Hollywood proportions but, as the pressure builds and Harvey’s mind starts to melt, the piece highlights the more serious consequences of taking on too much to a point where it impacts on your mental health. “Which bit’s not true?” an audience member asks after the show’s finished, as two others wipe away tears. “The ending, obviously,” says Paul, or Harvey – which presumably means everything else is, and it’s sadly all too recognisable.

SALLY STOTT

{news} Poster for ALL OF THIS MUST COUNT FOR SOMETHING fringe show

{news} Two reviews for Harvey Greenfield is Running Late

Paul has had two more reviews for Harvey Greenfield is running late, both from authors/writers who have seen the show over the last week.

Review by Michelle Golder
An intricately constructed show that inspires both belly laughs and heartache. Paul Richards plays Harvey, whose kind heart is out of control. Running as fast as he can to meet the needs of those he loves - and avoid the demands ofthose he’d rather leave behind - Harvey never quite makes time to deal with his own issues of loneliness, insecurity, and bafflement at a world that seems too big for him. It’s true fringe: no set, one man and some impressive voiceover cameos by two actors, playing I lost count of how many characters, but the superb writing and Richard’s gawky, engaging, and fearlessly truthful presence raise it from storytelling comedy to proper drama. His delivery is hyperspeed and relentless – I ended the show feeling I’d missed some of the many layers, but that just made me want to see it again. Well worth the hour spent.

Review by Tracey Norman
I began this year's Fringe experience with this cracker. Paul told us early on that he had had a long drive to reach Barnstaple and had had three cans of Red Bull. I have no idea if this was true or part of the show, but if it was true, then I was surprised that it was only three cans (I reckon it was actually five minimum). Paul's shows zing along with barely contained energy as his latest beautifully observed, socially awkward, well-meaning character crashes headlong towards disaster in what had to be the WORST DAY EVER.

Poor Harvey Greenfield - lovely, sweet, well-meaning chap who just can't say no. To literally anyone.This habit, which endears him to all around him, from his partner to his boss, causes him nothing but anguish as he hares around trying to please everyone - all in spite of his girlfriend's pleas and warnings.

Harvey's life is a car crash waiting to happen and happen it does, in an ending that I half-expected, but really hoped he would avoid. Because no matter how manic, or frustrating or cringeworthy Richards's characters are, you genuinely feel for them as they fumble, bewildered (mostly), through their lives. I wanted to sit Harvey down in a nice cafe and give him a strong cuppa and a pasty, frankly. And that is part of the joy of Richards's performances (as well as wondering just how many words he can say in one minute!) In just a few short (awkward) minutes, he has you totally on-side. I hope that he will be back again next year and am looking forward to seeing what heart-wrenching poignancy will accompany the Red Bull in 2020...

{blog} Love, work, many exciting things

It’s been a while since I wrote a blog post on here, which can only mean one thing: things have been really busy. Okay, it could mean two things, the latter being that I’ve forgotten, but I promise that’s not the case.

Drum teaching-wise it’s all been a bit frantic. Alongside my private students (all of whom are doing brilliantly, a couple of them have even formed bands recently which is awesome), I’ve started teaching at yet another school and I’m looking forward to their students developing into happy drummers.

Gig-wise, I’m enjoying gigging with Glymjack and their extremely technical tunes, and Fred’s House are deep in rehearsals working on new material ahead of a tour later in the year.

The Edinburgh Fringe is a bit close, isn’t it? I’ve had a lovely time with my Harvey Greenfield is Running Late show, I mean - it’s physically exhausting to perform, but let’s be honest, I drink too much beer and eat too much junk food, so a show that involves me running on the spot for an hour can only be good for my health. I’ve had a great time with that show at the Brighton and Swindon fringes, plus the private performances, and it’s heading to the ever wonderful Theatrefest in Barnstaple for three nights this week. I’m looking forward to three weeks of that in Edinburgh. History of Pop also returns for another intentionally shambolic singsong, and I’ve got another new show, All of this Must Count for Something. It’s technically a stand-up show, about my plans to quit stand-up, which will happen as soon as the final Edinburgh show is done. I’ve enjoyed experimenting with stand-up over the last five years and have had some brilliant nights (and some really awful ones, of course), it’s taken me all over to the country and even America to perform, but it feels right to focus on my theatrical shows…I’m trained in theatre and it feels right to go back to focusing on that, I was never really a stand-up, I just got accidentally pigeonholed as one and went along with it. For five years. Touring, relentlessly. My final Edinburgh stand-up hour will be a speedy one, because I have a lot to say and only 60 minutes to say it in! Either way, it’s going to be a brilliant Edinburgh Fringe this year, I know it is. I’m also drumming every day for the very great Dominic Frisby, which will be fun.

There’s still BBC radio sitcom stuff ticking over in the background, and some publishing bits and bobs in the pipeline, more on that soon when I’m in a position to reveal details.

Oh yeah, and I also got engaged last month! But everyone was expecting that anyway. She’s amazing, she totally gets me more than anyone else and I’m a very lucky boy.