Playing Guitar, listening to music, live and recorded, cycling (off-road), walking my dogs. Reading. Photography.

Folk to Rock - Karine Polwart and Imagined Village to Green Day and Foo Fighters with the likes of They Might Be Giants, Eels and Fountains of Wayne, John Martyn (much missed), Del Amitri, Paul Brady and Bob Marley thrown in. World music, especially African. Songwriters, flashy technical guitarists, especially percussive ones like Michael Hedges (much missed), Andy McKee, Don Ross , John Butler, Kaki King etc. Can't play like them but love to watch and listen!
I like almost anything given a listen.

Can't think of any standouts there are too many, but I read all the spare time I have. I'm usually enjoying the one I'm reading.

Music generally, guitars especially. Playing with other people. Countryside, wildlife, dogs, friends. Being active. Doing stuff.

Nothing much.

I started playing at about 17yrs., rode my Lambretta TV 175 down from Essex to Surrey to pick up a guitar from some family friends, it was small and un-branded but started me off. Then I bought an Eko Ranger 12 string which lasted quite a few years ( I lowered the action, polished the fretboard and frets and strung it with Ultra-lights) Not much bass but lots of jangle and it played like a dream. Later I traded up to a Levin Goliath Jumbo, my that had bass! Slim neck too, another great player.Sometimes played it with a De Armond pick-up in the sound-hole. I sold it to a student I had been teaching guitar to. Bought a Hayman Electric (anyone remember them?) Made by the woodworkers who made Burns after Burns went down. Played it through my Traynor 30 watt Valve combo. Sold them to another student. Bought a MusicMan Silhouette soon after they came out and a MusicMan RD50 amp second hand from a friend in a Music Shop in Brighton who had used it at home as a practise amp. I am still using both of those. I began to hanker after an acoustic again but one that would cross-over from home and solo use to use in the band. In 2008 I bought my Ovation from Ivor Mairants. It was a Special Ltd. Edition based on features from the new LX range and the Matt Black J1778. It was made for the British Importers just before Ovation sold to Fender. I played it through an AER in the shop and just had to get one, so now I have an AER Compact 60 as well. I have sung in folk clubs, solo and as part of a trio. Have backed a songwriter or two. Have played for Rock Musicals (in schools!). Have been in a Rock covers Band for years but have also played in a Country Band round Sussex for a while and more recently was part of The Chris Green Project, a band around songwriter Chris Green. I am currently on the lookout for a new songwriter or band to work with. I'd like to be able to use both my electric and acoustic guitars. I'll keep you posted.