March 2026 Newsletter
- The Premises Studios
- 4 days ago
- 6 min read
WE REMEMBER THIS….
Well, more like boss man Viv Broughton remembers ... a whole bunch of stuff about The Premises, some stories withheld until we know for sure nobody will sue us.
As part of our 40th Anniversary Viv reveals what he can, with no need for truth serum injection on the latest edition of the wonderful podcast series, ‘If These Walls Could Talk’.
Here he recalls some of the mayhem and magic of the early and later Premises years. It’s all legit, but anything you find questionable, just speak to our best friends the Hells Angels, who are right next door...
FAST, FIRST AND LAST CALL FOR OUR RALPH ROLLE MASTERCLASS!
We’re very lucky to be hosting this masterclass with Ralph Rolle, drummer with Nile Rodgers and Chic for the last 16 years and one of the most in demand touring and session drummers in the world.
The class is called How to Get and Keep A Gig,and if anyone knows, it’s him.
We all know the main income streams for musicians these days are touring and session work. So, no matter where you are in your career, or what instrument you play, your best bet is to lock in with a hard-working band and make yourself indispensable.
He has been playing professionally since the age of 18 and with more than 4 decades of professional experience within the music industry he is a much sought-after drummer and producer.
His performance and recording list, apart from Nile Rodgers and Chic, include Sting, Bono, Bette Midler, Paul Simon, Aretha Franklin, Queen Latifah, LL Cool J, Erykah Badu, Dua Lipa, Dolly Parton, D'Angelo, John Legend, Paul Simon, India Arie, Elvis Costello, Smokey Robinson, NAS and many more.
This is really one you don’t want to miss, no matter what instrument you play. He stops and chats with everyone AND we believe there is a bit of a sing song in the end.
It’s £35, or £25 for full time students.
HALF TERM VOICE JAMS A GREAT SUCCESS
Our dynamic choir duo Clive and Yomi wove their usual magic with a sizable half term choir of 15 young Hackney secondary school young ladies and one very brave young lad.
The singers, full of enthusiasm not only for singing but doing accompanying dance routines, stretched their vocals to the max to record Stargazer and Lush Life, ending with our usual karaoke jam and party. You can here Stargazer below:
One of the greatest lessons the singers learned was to respect the recording and the choirmaster. Jana said, “I learned that being quiet at the right time is as important as singing, because the mics pick up everything.”
And on a similar note, so to speak, Perrine added, “You don’t have to be right up close to the mic.”
Beatriz learned how to harmonize, and Martha, who braved it out with a broken foot (but still danced!) said she gained so much more confidence in her singing ability, and “how to sing like a tenor if you have to” as Ciara had a go at singing soprano for the first time.
One thing EVERYBODY mentioned was making new friends.
LITTLE WONDER RETURNS
All singing, playing and mega fun Cath March returns with her Invisible Needs entourage on 8th March from 2-4 pm.
All ages welcome, particularly young families for a musical, fun filled afternoon featuring puppetry, art, healthy snacks ,singing, dollies and the marvellous Mrs. Trees.
With jams and sing songs facilitated by Cleveland Watkiss, Gary Stewart, and Seb Mayer. Just show up with an open mind and a song in your heart!
GOSPEL WRITING AND PRODUCTION WORKSHOP
We’re hosting a two-day intensive course on Sat 7th and Mon 9th March, run in conjunction with the National Gospel Music Centre. This is an advanced programme aimed at developing artists, focussing on song composition and production.
CUPPA IN THE CAFF WITH THE PSYCHER GALS
One thing Psycher want to make crystal clear is that they can’t call themselves a supergroup cos it’s a bit naff to say that about yourself, but WE can.
And not only are Brix Smith (guitar/vocals) Kathy Valentine (guitar) Linda Pitmon (drums) and Gail Greenwood MORE than the sum of their parts, but have played with all the coolest bands for such a long time that depending on how you add these things up, they have more than 160 years of playing experience between them.
They were here at Premises, which THEY say is their go-to place to rehearse in London, partly to work out a set in tribute to the late, great Clem Burke, who passed away last year. And what we heard from outside the rehearsal room was ROCKIN!
When you’re in a band whose members have been in The Fall, The Go Go’s, Belly and The Baseball Project (with members of REM), don’t the audience call out for songs from those bands?
Kathy: At first, we were very determined that it all has to be new, original Psycher music and we DO have a strong body of material but it might be a good thing to supplement that with a few choice numbers if we can do it right.
It must be said that all the bands you have been in have been sort of ‘party bands’ in the sense that the people in the band really like to party. How does that sit with Psycher?
Brix: I was in The Fall and I was the sober driver and I liked to have my eye on the ball completely before and around any show. We all know what happened to the others, that was their choice in life.
Kathy: I’ve been sober 37 years so I like rock and roll, to eat good food and get massages.
And the supergroup thing? Does that feel weird or wrong?
Brix: (with a smile) I think we are super!
Kathy: If the shoe fits we will wear it but we don’t call ourselves that.
Gail: It’s not cool to call yourself that. Other people might do that for you but they are not saying that yet, are they?
Brix: To work together as a collection and a band you have to really lose your ego and you have to be empathetic with the other players and we have learned that by being in bands with seriously difficult dynamics. At this point in our life we want to be in a band, make great music and have a great time doing it .
Do you feel ageism a factor? Particularly as women?
Brix: I think age is our superpower now!
Kathy: There has never been a better time to be in rock n roll. It’s about music and timing, you don’t have to look like a rock star anymore, there will never been a better rock star than has already been so just do what you want to do, age and looks and charisma don’t matter so much.
And the Premises? This seems to be your London hang!
Kathy: We started at The Premises about a year ago, we had no songs we just wanted to play together and it always feels right, it feels there is something special here. Then people were asking who are you, when is your gig, what we were up to at that time, so there is that approachability.
WHO’S BEEN IN?
You may well ask, and we can say all of our famous and almost famous best friends, including.. Singing Bowie, Push & Pull, The Lonesome Frets, Robin Rayner, Helena Walsh, Adam Possener, Omar Puente, Triggerfish, D3LTA, Ash, Grace Davies, Miles and Juliette, English Teacher, Keisha White, Alphabet, London Voice Academy, Age of Madness, Wealth Union, Psycher, Liang Lawrence, The Live 45s, Goldie, Victor Ray, Dan McKay, Guildhall, Robert Fleming, Nadia Loren, Savannah Ministry, Do It With Soul, Glory Choir, Vasili, Passing Ships, Louisiana Ishia, Good Neighbours, Billy Ocean, Matt Felix, Octohawk, Clover, Shelf Lives, Duke St Big Band, Ben Ellis, The Warehouse Ministries, Vanessa Haynes, Sophia Thakur, Mike Marlin, Folded Wing, Kid Creole and the Coconuts, Fossils, Charlie Wayne, Sincere and Great, The Filth Dimension, Dennis Rollins, Nathan Williams, Chinchilla, Dead Letter, Vibra Strings, Berklee College, Aine Deane, Black Lounge, Nick Gendler, Business as Usual, Meg Watson, She’s Got Brass, Asian Dub Foundation, Duncan Callaghan, Irene Taylor Trust, The 802s, Absolute Amy, Yumi Zovma, Bel Cobain, Attawalpa, and many more.
AND FINALLY...
Studio cat Oscar, in response to a booking by a band called 'The Micemen'
