Having seen Blur in Hyde Park last Thursday, seeing Oasis this coming Saturday and The Kooks the following Thursday, I feel like I’m on a bit of a wave of music right now.  I love watching live music, of almost any kind.  As a half-arsed musician I can appreciate the complexity of playing instruments and so when I get the change to watch someone who is clearly very accomplished I can stand and watch transfixed for ages, even if the music is not necessarily something I would listen to outside of the live arena.

In 2005 and 2007 I went to the world renowned Glastonbury festival.  The first time I went I had the best time of my life, cramming as much music as possible into the three days we were there, it was truly fantastic.  I came home inspired to do more with music and decided to learn piano.  That hasn’t worked out too well, working an hour away from home puts limits on practice time and I’ve been in career mode for a while now, but I still plan to do it one day.

Music can inspire, heal, lift and bring people together.  It can also give people a commonality that they otherwise may not share.  Millions of people across the world have been able to share in something recently because of Michael Jackson’s death.  They all loved him and his music, and right not you’d be hard pressed to go 24 hours without hearing an MJ song.  Thankfully they are mostly brilliant.  Whilst the death of a legend like that is clearly a horrible event, people can still love him through his music forever, much like people still love Elvis and Buddy Holly.

Make time for music!