EDIT: Sunday 23rd April 2-11pm CONFIRMED :)

The Basement at the Regent, 201 Liverpool Road, London, N1 1LX
https://www.tagvenue.com/rooms/london/14231/the-regent/the-basement-at-the-regent

...or indeed however far further afield!
EDIT: FOP is a post FAWM gathering/open mic etc (for anyone who may not know :) )
I have been hypothetically looking at suitable venues and made an enquiry to some, there are a few in the N1 (Islington) area that look good. I have put out a couple of feelers, only when i signed in to the account i saw i had narrowed it down to the same 2 i enquired to last year (when it all got too last minute and we abandoned it).
One is https://www.tagvenue.com/rooms/london/14231/the-regent/the-basement-at-the-regent
they have deliberately confusing rates/minimum spend as they say in their notes on it that it varies on dates and events etc.
actually i was going to post links to 2 more but on looking in more depth both aren't suitable. Has anyone else got any leads? thought of my open mic venue but not really suitable location (except for me obvs ;) ) Happy if anyone has ideas but was just having a hypothetical poke around, would there be interest... dates... location... numbers... ideas.... etc?

We did it in a rehearsal room once. You have to get your own drinks and food and whatever but it's a fairly cheap way to hang out and play music together for a day, which is mostly the point. The place we used no longer exists but there are others.

I was just reminiscing about FOP's when I saw this thread and I was very glad to see it. Self-indulgent, but performing this song with people who didn't know the song (@helenseviltwin and @pooka had heard it once but I think that was it) remains one of the most fun moments of my life: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzqfvAkRGHA

I will definitely fly over if at all possible and if there's anything I can do from Germany to help organise let me know. Hanging out with musicians and showing each other our songs and making semi-improvised noise together is just the best.

I have no leads but much enthusiasm for a FOP and much appreciation for @wobbiewobbit if you're up for organising it. Shout if there's anything I can do which doesn't involve knowledge of London.

Unfortunately, I think we looked into the rehearsal room option again a couple of years after we did that and it had become prohibitively expensive

@helenseviltwin That's a shame. Had that been the case in 2010, I probably wouldn't be living in Germany right now.
@pooka Know any village halls for hire?

I don't know if anyone can remember the name of the theatre pub we used a couple of times in South London? I think they let us have it for the afternoon for a decent rate, as long as we got out by about 6, so they could set up the evening show. They had a PA as well. I just can't recall where it was. Possibly near Stockwell?

@wobbiewobbit - personally, I would have nothing against your open mic venue, either. Just saw about it on Facebook. It's within a mile of a main tube station (Seven sisters), which is probably about as much as we can expect, tbh.

ooh well my local venue certainly has appeal! but then so does this one that i was sounding out and just got a reply from:


Venue pics/details:
https://www.tagvenue.com/rooms/london/14231/the-regent/the-basement-at-the-regent

I have asked about SUNDAY 23rd APRIL 2-11pm. This was a hypothetical punt but it would be brilliant if people are up for that to save on back and forth date juggling! However, i have said to her that we might need different date and asked about availability for Sundays around that time. The minimum spend on Sundays is £250 vs £350 (or more depending on dates it seems) on Saturdays.

What do we think? :)

This looks brilliant and I'd be there

@morti @beej @pooka @johnnycashpoint @karan @sentense @dragondreams - just to tag a few of the London fop regulars.

Should be achievable. 😃

@wobbiewobbit - happy to front the deposit of that's useful. I think we probably need at least ten people to make it worthwhile.

@tunecat @sapient @stevemepsted @muz @davidtaro @headfirstonly @brisk to tag a few more that spring to mind

yes, and that would be brilliant @helenseviltwin - tag away anyone who thinks of others who may be interested @hornesgiftshop @jtsteam @br0th3rh00d @rollasoc @vomvorton ....

I'm not sure if I will be able to attend - there's a bit of uncertainty generally for me at the moment- but if I can I will. This is a great idea and it's so cool.

If it is the 23rd April, that might even fit perfectly with some other travel plans I have. So while I don't think I could commit just yet, there is a good chance I'd turn up.

@jtsteam fantastic!

I'm in. Happy to act as coach driver for up to four others if anyone wants a lift down from the frozen North (West Yorkshire).

@brisk - understandable. Hopefully you can make it. No worries if not.

@jtsteam @dragondreams - yay!

@helenseviltwin - I'll bring my six string bass for you to have a go with. 😊

@dragondreams - genuinely unsure if that's an offer or a threat 😀

@wobbiewobbit , @helenseviltwin et al., thanks for being brilliant and taking the lead. Due to personal circumstances being unnecessarily shit, I can't guarantee being there, but if I can make it I'll be delighted to see and hear you all. I may book an el cheapo advance ticket on Lumo (full of exiles returning to the old country on St George's day).

I probably can't make it, sadly, as I'll have moved to France by then,

@helenseviltwin - genuine offer. 😄
It would have been a threat if I'd mentioned "banjo"... 😉

@johnnycashpoint We'll miss you but good luck on the move. If you're near enough the border to south Germany and fancy popping over, you and your husband always welcome here.

Dunno if I'll be able to make it, but I know you'll all have a blast regardless.

It’s my son’s birthday that weekend. Will do my level best to make it down, but probably 50/50 at this stage…

What is prices like for hotels around the area ? I’d like to try and make it, but being one for anxiety I would likely be a quiet but supportive member of the audience. And while I’m an outsider to the usual group I’m nervous but would love to be able to come and see this. I’ll be coming from Manchester area

Maybe I'm crazy enough to book a short holiday and flight in May, but in April I definitely can't. Maybe someday I can make it.

Ah, this would have been wonderful, but I don't think I'll be able to make it work... :(

I can make it if it happens.

@chldomn5 i checked some travelodge prices for that date and the one in wood green (not the nearest but perfectly travelable, it is quite near me) is £38
@nadine @sapient @davidtaro @headfirstonly would it be worth me asking about other dates? I know we can't suit everyone but how would that affect everyone else too?

@wobbiewobbit - other dates suit me, especially Sundays. 😊

Possibly, but there’s a genuinely decent chance I can make it, so don’t change on my account!!

Hard to tell, depends on many factors. Go ahead and plan, and I see if it works or not.

@wobbiewobbit that seems reasonable for pricing. Travelodge in my experience can be that cheap in other places too
As for possible dates, I will work around with what dates you all come up with. I'm flexible for the most part, so it's down to what works for everyone as a collective

I would certainly join, but we’re not coming to London until the end of June….but I’d be up for meeting up with someone around then! I think we come in on the 23rd and stay for a week before leaving for Portugal.

@guatecoop - that's exciting. I'm definitely up for nipping down to London to see you when you're there.

@guatecoop yep i would love to meet up when you are here :)

@guatecoop - I'd love to pop to the Smoke to say hi in person! 😄

Well goodness I would be super lucky to meet you in person! We are all booked to come, so just email me at guatecoop at gmail! We will figure something out.

So that's:

- Sunday 23 April
- The Basement at The Regent, N1
- 2pm to 11pm?

I can do that! 😄

@pooka - yay!

shall we book and gather people in a build it they will come type way?

@wobbiewobbit Maybe. I'd love to just say yes but I'm counting about eight attendees at this point. That's not a lot when you're looking for a minimum spend of £250.

I'm happy to throw a bit extra in to cover a shortfall as long as people aren't all going to just turn up and drink tap water 😀

just tagging people from the UK fawmers thread... apologies for any doubling up! Northerners, read the posts from @dragondreams who is offering a lift! @thefifthsister @vomvorton @majordanby @holybrook @ayehahmur @spikedirection @jimdgreen @zeekle1998 @ohdeer @sailingmagpie @emkaydeebee @everythingben @oddbod @stephenharvey
@mattwdunn @tukayandryan @tobermory @scarletswalk @indigobel @whptb @chldomn5 @marvsmooth @didi_bergman @davidbreslin101 @frenchcricket @muz

More details above but date is 23 April in London N1

also the venue does food too so it is not actually a huge amount each and i think there will be more than 8 of us @£32 - food, drinks, and a chip in ?? there are some people i know who have been dallying at the fringes of joining fawm too so maybe we could open it up a little if we are struggling on numbers... ???

Like @helenseviltwin - I'm happy to chip in a bit extra to cover a shortfall if needs be. 😄

@wobbiewobbit - I think inviting potential fawmers is a great idea. I think we should go ahead and book and we'll make the minimum spend work.

Let us know when the booking is confirmed and I'll book flights. 😃

cool i will contact them now

Ah, sounds amazing, and will be thinking of you all - just a bit far for me to commit to from Cumbria (I have young children so removes ease of being able to nip darn saff for a jolly!)

Would love to attend but April is too soon as I'm knee deep in album recording

@wobbiewobbit count me in. Sounds a hoot.

Count me in! I'm happy to throw in a bit extra too and also take up any slack on the drinking front if some people are sipping tap water @helenseviltwin. Thanks for orgainising @wobbiewobbit. I'm just now praying that the trains are running that day.

@andybalham - didn't mean to throw shade on anyone drinking tap water, just saying that hopefully it wouldn't be everyone :D

I’m definitely up for this!

Perhaps more participants here https://write.fawm.org/forums/423?highlight=London#comment-divider

thanks @rshakesp i went through that list but it seems i managed to miss loads, dunno how that happened!

@wobbiewobbit is booking confirmed now ? and its on 23rd April ?

@chldomn5 it is now! Just confirmed booking!
Sunday 23rd April 2-11pm
The Basement at the Regent, 201 Liverpool Road, London, N1 1LX
https://www.tagvenue.com/rooms/london/14231/the-regent/the-basement-at-the-regent
WOOHOO!!

Amazing! Thank you, @wobbiewobbit

Thanks, @wobbiewobbit! 🙏😊
I'll be bringing a bass amp, a couple of basses, and I can drag my DSLR and Zoom H2n if we want to try setting things up to record it for posterity.

I can bring a couple of guitars and a foldy cajon.

i will get in touch with venue as it seems from her reply that the "PA" is the soundsystem or karaoke machine, so we might need a bit more than that, but i have a PA and all the bits if we don't need it all. I will have a guitar too and have mics and stands etc. maybe i will go down there at some point and double check on tech stuff....

That would be really great. Thanks, @wobbiewobbit. I'll be coming on the train so will only bring things that fit into my backpack, but fortunately, I have accumulated a lot of very portable instruments

Flights booked for me and @claudia. We will be bringing nothing. 😃

@morti - that is entirely fair. Bringing yourself that far is certainly sufficient :)

I can bring a drum kit if you like

@rshakesp If you're sure, I would very much like for you to bring a drum kit. 😀
@dragondreams All of that sounds awesome.

Is anyone bringing electric guitars and pedals? I don't think I have any instruments left in the UK except an old acoustic guitar and I'm not keen to take any guitars on Ryanair if I can help it.

@rshakesp - I'd wait and see what @wobbiewobbit thinks after visiting the space. Might be pretty small for a full kit.

@morti - I'll bring my Hofner shorty and orange guitar butler, which can go into a PA and sounds like it's going through an amp.

@morti - I'll probably have room to bring Frankie (my mutant Telecaster) and one of my other electric six strings.

Just booked my hotel room too. I thought it might be awkward with the London Marathon taking place on the same day, but no problems.

@dragondreams - do you need me to bring my banjo?

@helenseviltwin - Now *I* feel threatened! 😆

I'm planning on bringing a yellow electric guitar, an orange amp sim pedal, and a green screamer pedal. I haven't yet decided on my t-shirt colour 😀

Well it turns out my travel plans are that I'll be taking a flight from Gatwick on the morning of the 24th April, so I think the only reasonable thing to do is to turn up at this on the 23rd. I expect I will bring a ukulele, unless that is the sort of thing that gets me banned :).

@jtsteam - that sort of thing will most certainly not get you banned. Even a banjo would only get you 30s of side eye from @dragondreams. That said, it's heavy, so I won't bring mine.

Maybe I should get myself a banjolele just for the occasion... anyway, I'm looking forward to this!

Also @jtsteam - if you would not otherwise be bringing a ukulele on your trip, I'm very happy to bring mine for you to use instead

how easy is it to get from London Euston to this venue ?
is there a bus that goes straight there ? or am i dreaming of a simple transport system like the one in little towns :P
EDIT: never mind ive just checked. its not far away.

@helenseviltwin and @jtsteam - I'm coming down in what amounts to a small van. No effort for me to sling a couple of my ukes in the back if you like. It would save you both being burdened on public transport. And, yes, one of them is a banjolele! 😄

This sounds like such a fun gathering!!! If I weren't scheduled in Scotland on the 23rd (my first trip to the UK!) I'd have joined you in a quick minute. Have great time and post some pix and music on the facebook page please. :0))

@wobbiewobbit so I didn’t manage to kill the PA after all ;)

Looking forward to it!!!

@beej you killed it. this is the replacement :)

@dragondreams - in that case, I'll probably just bring the cardboard cajon and maybe a shaky egg :)

How do you plan to communicate updates on this post the 1st April hibernation - and when will you know if you’d like me to bring drums?

@rshakesp - good point! I've made a doodle poll to keep in touch with people. https://doodle.com/meeting/participate/id/ax6QlA9d

@helenseviltwin - doodle.com doesn't like my email address, but I'll keep an eye out on the FB group if updates will be posted there too?

@dragondreams - all good. I have your email address :)

😎👍

@helenseviltwin you should have my email address now as well. Fingers crossed.