Hi everyone,
This week has been a really special one.
I've been mixing and mastering the students' recordings, and honestly… I'm so impressed with what they've done. I can't wait for them to hear the finished versions.
I touched on this last week, but recording your voice properly for the first time is no small thing. It can be quite a shock hearing it back completely raw — it never sounds like the polished versions we're all used to listening to. That moment can be tough. But on the other side of that is something really exciting… because with the right touch, it starts to sound like you again, just sitting properly in the music.
That's been my goal with these mixes — to keep it natural, honest, and true to them. I really hope they love what they've created.
The week in rooms
Wednesday at Windsor & Eton Brewery was brilliant — full house, great energy, and one of those nights where everyone just gets involved. It really felt like the room came together.
Thursday was something else… the sun was out, the beer garden was packed, and I played acoustic outside all night. Proper summer vibes, great people, just one of those nights you don't want to end.
Friday at the Hare & Hounds — a proper staple for me over the last 15 years — and again, the weather brought everyone out. I tried to head inside at one point but didn't stand a chance… it was all happening outdoors. Loads of requests, loads of singing along — just brilliant.
Saturday at The Bear in Walton… packed again. There's definitely a shift happening now the weather's turning — people are out, in great spirits, and ready for a good time.
I also gave the QR code song request system another proper run… and it delivered again. So many requests coming in I couldn't get through them all — which is always a nice problem to have. And as always, it was great catching up with so many of you.
Today's the double
Open mic at WeBrew Kingston from 4–6pm — these afternoons have been building so nicely week by week.
Then I'm over to The Maypole in Surbiton from 8pm. These gigs have been going so well, and I'm really grateful they've put their trust in me regularly. It's always a mix of familiar faces and new ones, which I love.
Behind the scenes
I'm still building away on the apps.
There's a brilliant open mic blogger who's going to be doing a feature on my list app — it's completely free, runs online, and helps manage performer queues on the night. I've been using it myself and tweaking it as I go, and it's getting better every time.
Poster Poster is still there — just needs a bit more time and attention to really refine it properly. With everything going on, that's been the challenge, but it's coming.
Alongside that, I've started building small free web tools that people can use — partly to help, partly to learn, and partly to bring people into the wider ecosystem of what I'm creating. It's been really exciting seeing how it's all starting to connect.
And one more thing — I've written a book on busking
If you've followed me for a while, you'll know that's where it all started for me. I absolutely loved it — the freedom, the people, the opportunities that came from it.
At the same time, it wasn't always easy. Income could be unpredictable, especially here in the UK with the weather doing what it does… which is what eventually pushed me towards more consistent work in pubs and private events. But the experiences I had busking were priceless.
So if I can help someone else take that first step — get out there, perform, and build something from it — then it'll have been worth writing.
It's called How to Busk in the UK — The 2026 Guide. 47 pages of plain-English answers to the questions everybody Googles before they pick up a guitar and head out. Realistic earnings ranges. The starter kit. Where to play in London, Edinburgh, Manchester, Brighton, Bristol, Cardiff, and ten more cities. The TfL Tube audition process. What the City of London's 1916 Act actually says (it's mad). What to do when a council officer approaches you on a pitch — and what busking can open up that nobody warns you about.
Every rule is cited from the council's own page and verified the week of publication. It will save you from at least one wasted afternoon and probably one fine.
It's live now at £7 on Gumroad:
nortonaaron.gumroad.com/l/how-to-busk-in-the-uk-2026
You — Soundcheck readers — get it for £5 for the next 7 days. Use code SOUNDCHECK at the Gumroad checkout to drop the price. If a future edition is published, owners of v1.0 get it free.
If busking isn't your thing — pass it on to a mate who's started, or ignore this email entirely. Back to the usual next Sunday.