For a variety of reasons, over the last few months I have found it really difficult to find the time to blog – life has just been getting in the way. So – here is an attempt to get back into it by providing an update of my activities. I will then aim to post far more regularly from here on in. Although in my last post I stated that I had  ‘completed’ my ‘Zappa related activities’ for a while – the great man is still providing me with loads of interesting opportunities to discuss his music – and I  can’t turn them down.

Firstly, last month I done an interview for the BBC related to Frank Zappa and the And book. As always, it is always a great pleasure to discuss the reasons why I have become so obsessed with this man’s music over the last seven or eight years. Check out the link below to listen to it.

In terms of activities coming up. I have a book launch for the Zappa book taking place at the ATRiuM in Cardiff October 18^th. The good news coming off the back of this, is that Ashgate have kindly decided to offer the book at 50% discount for a limited period – until the end of November. Please see the poster below for more details, or look at the Facebook Event Site.

I have also been putting the final touches for a new chapter on Zappa for Oxford University Press. This is going to be released next year in a book on Music and Virtuality – watch this space for more details.

In addition to this, The Zappanale Festival have kindly asked me to write a short piece (alongside many others) to celebrate the 25^th anniversary of the Festival. I am hoping to get this done in the next few weeks – and it will be published at the festival next summer.

Nearly last but not least – I have been really honored to be asked to write the Programme Notes for the forthcoming UK Premier of 200 Motels at the Southbank in London. I am so looking forward to this gig – so feel greatly privileged to be involved in any capacity. It is going to be AMAZING.

Finally, Nottingham contemporary have organized an event on November 28^th entitled ‘The Theory of Zappa’. It is to coincide with an amazing sculpture by Geoffrey Falmer entitled ‘Let’s make the Water Turn Black’. Check it out below

For those of you who are thinking that I need to focus on something else – you will be relieved to know I have been!! I am currently working on a proposition for a book on Sting – specifically focusing on his relationship to his northern roots. This is something that resonates really strongly with me – so watch this space for future developments.