I’m doing a concert next week in a place so awesome that it has a CBeebies theme tune with a modulation. Not even Cheers had a modulation (check it out)

It also has a killer tricky golf course, so when I say I’m practicing the cello, I’m almost certainly rehearsing my opening drive on the dogleg par 4…

Next up in London, I’m performing at The Courvoisier Revolutionary Spirit Festival at The Future Gallery. Tickets are in short supply, so drop me a line if you’re wanting to come (the cocktails are killer)

Furthering my cognac themed summer, I’ve just finished the music for the Courvoisier installation at The Secret Garden Party – I’ll be there for the opening, so if you’re going, let me know! It’s a big field and I’ll probably only know the make-believe Napoleonic time travelers (um… yeah. That’s part of the brief)

I’ve also started talking with Lolo about my end of residency project – looking likely that I’ll be writing and recording a new album. There are some big ideas kicking around my little head, and I’m looking at writing/recording from mid-November. I’ll write about this properly soon, but there’s quite a lot to get done before then!

On Friday night, I played at The Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh.

It was a really exciting concert – we had loads of speakers, lots of visuals, cool lighting and a great audience!

I was playing a really large programme (including my new album, Terminal) and a really “showy” first half, too… suffice it to say, I was pretty tired by the end!

I’ll be playing some of the newer pieces from that concert at the CiR Showcase event (another alt_classical) on July 5th, and then again in Mull, New York and Aberdeen (all the usual places..!)

Before Lolo spills the beans, I thought I’d come clean and just admit it: I was taken glasses shopping yesterday as part 1 of the “Let’s Play Dressup with Peter” game that Lolo and Pamela Daniels are playing with me. Important to note: I didn’t entirely hate the experience.

In fact, I quite enjoyed it. The three of us spent nearly two hours looking at some weird, wonderful and wacky frames in The Eye Company, Soho, where Stonnie showed us the ropes and explained why my über light current glasses were, in fact, totally wrong for me.
We didn’t get it right straight away – I was showed things that would make Dalstonites blush – but quickly whittled it down to a few frames that we all liked. I’m going back this morning with my credit card and getting my prescription put in, so if you see me around, don’t laugh. They’re new.

Next step: clothes. If they thought I was clueless with glasses, the biggest shock will come with my wardrobe. “Resistant to change” is an understatement. Let me give you some context: I have somewhere in the region of 30 blue shirts (varying shades, styles, designs) but, nonetheless, blue. I own three pairs of identical jeans and shoes. I’m coming around to accepting new stuff, but draw the line at skinny jeans, baggy t-shirts and pointy shoes.

All of this is in preparation of Monday, when I’m having a new series of publicity photos taken in and around the club: new clothes, shoes and glasses, my cello and some oversized armchairs.
I don’t normally enjoy that part of “the job”, but I’m surprisingly up-beat about the looming challenge of staring into middle distance and looking moody for two hours.
Again, if you happen to see it happening, don’t laugh. It’s new.

Sorry for being quiet since being in the US – I’m in self-imposed  practice exile, preparing for some really big concerts over the next few months in Edinburgh, London, Mull (!), New York and.. London again! I will be making noises in the Club again on May 19th with fellow Scot, Daisy Chute! Read all about it at the WildKat PR blog.

Lolo has set me up with a number of unusually glamorous meetings lately, so I’m steadily working through my Green Card. I’ll tell you about them all soon – there are a few very exciting leads…

I may be a little quieter on the blog through the rest of May, but don’t worry, I’m still thinking about you – it’s just likely that I won’t have too much to talk about, unless you want to hear about the super fast passage I just learned today?!

In July, I’m really keen to get involved with music the members listen to and love – do you have any thoughts? A piece/song/note you particularly like? Drop me an email [peter @ petergregson.co.uk] and we can talk about it. I have some plans for later in the year, and it could be a lot of fun.

Oh, and if you’re in London on May 27th, make sure to stumble up the road to St Giles in the Fields for Johann Johannsson’s show – I promise it’ll be amazing!

I made it to Washington DC… eventually! After the usual rigmarole with my visa and length of my stay etc, I cleared immigration and got into DC around 8pm.

from the plane

Tonight I’m giving a talk about the current state of ‘contemporary performance practice’, that is, how we do what we do, when we do it..!
Then I’m playing a concert, which thanks to East Coast traditions, starts at 8pm, or 1am, depending on who’s bodyclock you go by!

More soon…

Thanks to all of you who made it along last night to my album launch and the first alt_classical – it was a terrific evening with lots of people, and the atmosphere was wonderful!

I’m just collating all the photos and things, but will post them as soon as I can!

I would have posted this yesterday, but I don’t think anyone would have believed me…

My new album, Terminal, was released yesterday! I will be performing it live on Wednesday at 7pm on the 4th floor, so make sure you come along!

Make sure you visit the B&W site and have a listen! I’d love to know what you think of it!

My album, Terminal, is released this coming Friday! I’m very excited… after alt_classical on April 7th, I have a few days to recharge my batteries before a manic tour of the US – my trip has scaled from one concert in New York and one in San Francisco over 5 days to an utterly insane 10 day schlep: 1 conference, 2 universities, 3 talks, 4 concerts and 5 flights. Oh, and more meetings than I will ever care to admit to. The concerts are being filmed and things, so I’ll make sure to post them here in good time!

Looking forward to seeing you at alt_classical01 on April 7th on the 4th floors!

I’m really exciting about my CiR project… together with Wildkat PR and The Hospital, I am going to be curating a year long concert series, alt_classical. It will be held in the club every month, featuring some of the most exciting names in contemporary classical music.

We’re getting it going at the moment, and expect to see a lot more news here on it. In the meantime, give us a follow on Twitter!

Peter’s work challenges the traditional classical music sector through the introduction of new technologies in the creation and performance process. His efforts to make the classical music experience a lively and interactive one have truly pioneering character.
Together with his open-minded, dynamic and creative attitude, he makes the perfect candidate for the Creatives in Residence scheme.
Kathleen Alder, Director of WildKat Pr