Thank you for the music

I recently saluted Dave Bartram aka the Fish Man, but, as part of their fifteenth birthday celebrations, LeftLion have also interviewed another Nottingham legend, someone who is a less visible, instantly recognisable figure but who has had a much more significant impact on my life.

George Akins runs DHP Family, formerly DHP Group, which manages four of the city's most important venues (Rock City, Rescue Rooms, Stealth and the Bodega) and now also promotes tours for a whole range of artists, from Nick Cave to The War On Drugs (and, er, Ed Sheeran).

Without him and his organisation, I wouldn't have had the opportunity to see some amazing bands on my doorstep and enjoy some particularly memorable gigs: Fugazi, The Jesus Lizard, Spiritualized with Six By Seven in support, The Flaming Lips, Mogwai, Queens Of The Stone Age (twice - once in support of their debut LP and once after the release of Songs For The Deaf), Rocket From The Crypt, The Fiery Furnaces, Jane's Addiction, The Icarus Line (twice).

And that's not to mention all the fantastic Saturday nights out at Rock City, dating back to my arrival in the city more than 20 years ago: the music, the characters (Guinness Top, Big Wendy, the scrawny Kurt Cobain lookalike, the fat guy who used to wander around with head down as though scanning the floor for any sign of his keys), the luminous booze, the sticky floors, the mysterious substance known only as Rock City black that you'd find adhered to your clothes the morning after...

Cheers George.