Gareth introduces this brand new show, where he talks to touring professionals in the performing arts about life on the road, how they got into touring, the mental health effects, their future touring plans, and much more.

In the first ever episode of 'On the Road With...' host Gareth John talks to Spike Munro, musical journeyman and former guitarist with UK pop group, Marmalade, who have had 14 top 20 hits in the UK charts, including 'Reflections of My Life', 'Falling Apart at the Seams' and 'Ob La Di Ob La Da'.

Check out Spike's brand new show 'Around Midnight with Spike Munro' on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Around-Midnight-with-Spike-Munro-103981237979183/

You can listen again to the songs from this episode on the official 'On The Road With...Featured Songs' playlist on Spotify, which features all the commercially available music so far from the show. 

Gareth is 'on the road with' former Beautiful South singer Alison Wheeler, talking about her beginnings in the music business, the various roles she has held, current and future projects, the marrying of the ever-changing music industry with live touring and much more.

To keep up with Alison's many projects, including The South tour dates, follow her/them on social media.

'Alison Wheeler - The South' on Facebook

@AlisonDarley on Twitter

alisonwheeler_thesouth on Instagram

Two of the tracks from this episode are from Alison's jazz outfit, Southern Beauty. You can find them on Facebook - SouthernBeautyJazz

For more updates on The South's tour dates and upcoming releases - like 'The South Band' on Facebook, @thesouthuk on Twitter or visit their official website http://thesouth.co.uk/

You can listen again to the songs from this episode, including 'Can't We Be Friends' from Gareth's debut solo album 'As Long As I'm Singing' on the official 'On The Road With...Featured Songs' playlist on Spotify, which features all the commercially available music so far from the show.

In this episode, Gareth talks to fellow trumpet player Malcolm Strachan, founder of funky-horn masters The Haggis Horns. They talk about the realities of being on the road, the beginnings of an impressive legacy for the group, Malcolm's recent debut solo album, how the landscape might look coming out of lockdown for touring artists, and much more.

For more info on Malcolm's solo career, and the Haggis Horns, check out the following links:

Official Haggis Horns Website - http://www.thehaggishorns.com/

You can also find them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. Their new record, 'Stand Up For Love' is out now, and its a corker!

Meanwhile, Malcolm's debut solo album, 'About Time', was also released in March, and is available on all streaming/download services and for purchase on Bandcamp.

You can listen again to the songs from this episode on the official 'On The Road With...Featured Songs' playlist on Spotify, which features all the commercially available music so far from the show. 

Gareth chats with Drew Stansall, former saxophonist with The Specials, Laurel Aitken, Prince Buster any many others. His good friend and co-founder of The Paradimes also set up his own very successful touring club night based around the film Quadrophenia.

They discuss the different levels of touring, the potential positives and difficulties of playing in London as an unsigned band, and much more.

To keep up to date with Drew's Quadrophenia Night tour dates, you can find it on Facebook (search 'Quadrophenia Night') and Twitter (@quad79)

You can listen again to the songs from this episode on the official 'On The Road With...Featured Songs' playlist on Spotify, which features all the commercially available music so far from the show. 

Gareth sits down with Dennis Rollins, the UK's premier trombone player who, as well as a having a highly successful career in his own right, has toured with The Brand New Heavies, Jazz Jamaica, The Skatalites, Maceo Parker and Pee Wee Ellis to name but a few.

They discuss Dennis' hectic touring schedule over the last six months, the studio vs live debate, the character of the trombone, the importance of musicians, venues and promoters working together amidst Covid-19 and Brexit, among other topics.

For more information on Dennis' upcoming releases/tours etc. go to:

https://www.dennisrollins.com/

You can listen again to the songs from this episode on the official 'On The Road With...Featured Songs' playlist on Spotify, which features all the commercially available music so far from the show. 

For the final episode of Season 1, Gareth is joined by likeable stand-up comedian and writer Tharun Chelley. In a wide-ranging discussion, they talk about the importance of exposure for up and coming performers, the weirdness of livestreams, the difference regional subjectivity can make in stand up comedy, and much more.

Tharun's also launched his own podcast called 'Total Obvious Comedy', available on Youtube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and many more.

In this special bonus episode with full video available on Youtube, Gareth sits down with rising Country music star from the North-East, Hayley McKay. Since they first met at The Forum in Darlington back in 2016, Hayley has gone on to perform at The British Country Festival, Glastonbury, TV performances in Ireland and Scotland as well as fascinating trip to Nashville on a writing and gigging mission!

Fresh from the release of her #1 charting single in the Ignition Country Charts, they discuss the unbeatable buzz of playing live, the 'virtual' form that has taken during lockdown, with Hayley's virtual tour raising money for the #saveourvenues campaign, the Nashville experience, the importance and routines of keeping vocally healthy as a singer, and much more.

To keep up with Hayley's new music releases, tour dates and videos, you can follow her at:

http://www.hayleymckay.co.uk/

'Hayley McKay Music' on Facebook, @mckay_hayley on Twitter, 'hayleymckaymusic' on Instagram, and 'Hayley McKay' on Youtube.

You can listen again to the songs from this episode, including Hayley's latest single 'Thinking About Last Night', on the official 'On The Road With...Featured Songs' playlist on Spotify, which features all the commercially available music so far from the show.