If you are not in the mood for Glastonbury - or you failed to get those much-sought after tickets, never fear, the amount of live music in Frome is really impressive.

And the scope is increasing with a new music promoter in town, offering smaller, more intimate gigs with plans to offer a wider range of live music.

So Frome Nub News wanted to find out a little more about this musician-turned host Danny Green, whose work as the performer DG Solaris saw him releasing seven albums. He has already put on shows at the new extension to the Cheese & Grain and the secret venue in town. His promotions company is called Night River so you can check out what's on offer HERE

So a little about you?

I'm 39 years old and I have spent my life in music. I was born in West Yorkshire and began writing songs at age 13 and played my first gig when I was 15. It took me until my mid twenties before I found the confidence to pursue music as a career and I then spent the next ten years on the road as drummer and singer with the psych-folk nine piece band, Sons of Noel and Adrian and as songwriter, singer and guitarist with my own folk/indie bands, Laish and DG Solaris. With these bands, I released seven albums, performed all over the UK, Europe and the States and appeared at several festivals and venues including End of the Road, Cambridge Folk and The Union Chapel.

I have organised and promoted shows and house concerts in each town I've lived in: Newcastle, Brighton, London and Frome. I love bringing people together through music and helping to create a little corner of magic. I like to present great artists you may otherwise have missed. I've always existed in the underground of the music world and I've always been drawn to those talented people who are forging their own independent path. 

When he heard on the grapevine the Tree House was opening

When I heard that the Cheese and Grain was due to open a 100 capacity venue, The Tree House, I called Rob Dahl, the manager and we began discussing the idea of putting on independent touring artists and the best local acts. Around the same time, I discovered HydeAway, the most beautiful bar and best kept secret in town, run by a true artisan bar manager, Adam Way. We spoke about putting on high quality acoustic nights in his bar and creating a special atmosphere. So these have become my two projects. Bringing eclectic touring and local bands to the Tree House from the worlds of indie, folk, singer songwriter and psychedelia, and bringing the finest songwriters to the HydeAway for the most beautiful, intimate nights.

Frome is already quite well served with events what makes you different?

I would agree that Frome is well served with events. WildTune put on some great events and of course the Cheese and Grain, 23 Bath St and many others put on great bands. But I feel that what I am offering is something a little more intimate and memorable, in smaller venues where you rub shoulders with incredible independent artists and you can experience some life changing music, with an affordable ticket price. I haven't seen the kind of artists that I'm promoting being booked outside of Bristol or London, so I thought I would have to bring them to Frome myself. The second HydeAway show sold out in advance and the third one in July with Fiona Bevan and Adam Beattie is already half sold, so this is very encouraging.

Emma Swift

Upcoming shows include:

• Dana Gavanski - Woozy pysch-folk rising star on her second headline UK tour
• Alex Rex - a first stop off in Frome before Glastonbury Festival for the avant garde singer/drummer, supported by local heroes, Mighty One 
• Apollo Ghosts - a great Canadian band who remind me of Sonic Youth and Yo La Tengo, stopping off prior to performing at End of the Road Festival
• Emma Swift with her legendary guitarist, Robyn Hitchcock, with her incredible voice, performing a set of Dylan covers and supported by DG Solaris (me)
• Blythe Pepino - incredibly powerful activist songwriter for the band Mesadorm, who conjure a Björk-like intensity
• Fiona Bevan and Adam Beattie, both insanely talented songwriters in their own right, performing solo sets and duets

What do you love about your work?

I love the variety. Some days I'm at home behind my desk, writing, producing, teaching and booking bands that I admire. And other days I'm travelling and performing. It can be a very inspiring and rewarding occupation.

Is being a musician/promoter a perilous existence? 

Yes. Well for me, yes! For the years I was mostly travelling it was especially transient and hectic but I thrived off the romance, the excitement and the experience of it. Recently, I have been spending more time at home with my young family. It has been a very challenging time for all musicians, surviving through a pandemic and everything else going on here, but musicians are a tenacious bunch and we always seem to find a way to create and to play.

I've seen most of my musical heroes live already but I've never managed to see Paul McCartney or Brian Wilson. Imagine that acoustic bill in the HydeAway!