Welcome to the Blog!

The place to find new posts and new Groovecast episodes month to month.

What’s in the Stick Bag?
Charlie Smith Charlie Smith

What’s in the Stick Bag?

This blog came as a request from a few fellow drummers, talking about those essentials you want with you at all times on a gig, and what you carry in your stick bag. Personally I love a stick bag with lots of pockets and pouches for storing tidbits and spares that I wouldn’t want to be without on stage.

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Daintees Diaries Pt. 2
Charlie Smith Charlie Smith

Daintees Diaries Pt. 2

Part 2 of Daintees Diaries is here! Picking up the action in Birmingham and taking it right up to Scotland for 2 nights, a crazy week as you’d imagine!

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Daintees Diaries Pt. 1
Charlie Smith Charlie Smith

Daintees Diaries Pt. 1

Welcome to a new semi-regular feature that i’m going to call ‘Daintees Diaries’ keeping you updated with all things happening with Martin Stephenson & Co. What a way to start it off too, a new album and the first weekend of tour dates, with more adventures ahead!

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Groovecast Ep. 3 - Geartalk
Charlie Smith Charlie Smith

Groovecast Ep. 3 - Geartalk

Did someone say Groovecast: Episode 3 is available right now?! Go and give it a look and listen, all the links in here!

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Theatre Life
Charlie Smith Charlie Smith

Theatre Life

Well, its a moment i’ve been waiting for for over 18 months now, but I can finally say i’ve been back in a theatre again!

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A Busy Summers Work
Charlie Smith Charlie Smith

A Busy Summers Work

The gigs are most definitely back, the past couple of weeks have been some of the busiest i’ve had in a very long time indeed!

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Groovecast - The Rhythm Section Podcast
Charlie Smith Charlie Smith

Groovecast - The Rhythm Section Podcast

Groovecast is the all new podcast talking everything drums, bass, groove and beyond. Hosted by myself and top class bass player, Ashley Walker, you’d really be mad to miss it.

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Live and Working
Charlie Smith Charlie Smith

Live and Working

Here we are then, another fortnight, another update! We’re still seeing the last of the pandemic, but hopefully things are opening up a little more.

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My Top 5: Snare Drums
Charlie Smith Charlie Smith

My Top 5: Snare Drums

It’s about time I did another top 5, this one concerns snare drums, something I must admit I have a bit of a collection of! So out of all of my drums here is my top 5 picks.

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That’s Entertainment
Charlie Smith Charlie Smith

That’s Entertainment

Well what a couple of weeks its been since my little jaunt in Skegness! A couple more gigs under the belt already, and so many more ahead!

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Sunshine in Skeggy
Charlie Smith Charlie Smith

Sunshine in Skeggy

Well it was a long time coming (a mere 15 months!), but I can finally say i’ve been and done a gig again!

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Hope At Last
Charlie Smith Charlie Smith

Hope At Last

Keeping it brief on this one, but some hope on the horizon, and gigs in the diary!

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My Top 5: Drummers
Charlie Smith Charlie Smith

My Top 5: Drummers

This is the first in an occasional blog series of top 5’s from me, starting with a rather obvious topic, so here’s my 5 favourite drummers, ranked from 5 to 1:

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New Showreel Released
Charlie Smith Charlie Smith

New Showreel Released

I’m really proud to share the showreel i’ve put together for my final degree project at ACM London. It’s targeted at Musical Theatre work and showcasing drum and percussion play throughs of 3 show tunes.

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Getting your Gear Gig Ready
Charlie Smith Charlie Smith

Getting your Gear Gig Ready

For many musicians, their gigging gear has been permanently cased up for a year now, so it’s about time to give it some much needed TLC, so here’s a few top tips and some of my recommendations, to make that first gig back the best it can possibly be.

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Ultimate Drummer’s IEM Rig
Charlie Smith Charlie Smith

Ultimate Drummer’s IEM Rig

In recent years, In Ear Monitors (IEMs) have become a mainstay of live performances around the globe. This blog should give you everything you need to know to get a drummer-friendly IEM rig up and running.

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Hello Craviotto
Charlie Smith Charlie Smith

Hello Craviotto

So, another pandemic blog post here, not a great deal happening aside from the teaching and home studio work, but a perfect time for a new addition to the family!

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