Paul Golder writes for the Brentwood Gazette

You know that things are slowly getting back to normal when live music starts flowing back into your life again!

Nick Field has been hosting his Wednesday night Curveballs show since we launched full-time in 2007. Over the years he’s had hundreds of local bands in live, playing and talking about that music.

Lockdowns and social distancing put that to an end for well over a year – but I’m really glad to see that bands are back playing live in the studio again!

Nick’s first live performers of the year were Canvey Island band The Long Run. This rock four-piece have just released a new album, The Land of Cana’s People, a collection of tracks inspired by the history of their homeland. It was great to hear them discussing some of the fascinating local history that inspired the new songs.

The album is currently available on CD direct from the band, and will also be released on coloured vinyl in September. They’ll be playing a launch gig for the vinyl release at Leigh Community Centre on September 18th, and before that you can also catch them at Leigh’s Crooked Billet on August 8th.

You can see and hear the live performance again on Nick’s page on www.phoenixfm.com, and find the Long Run online at www.the-longrun.co.uk.