7-9 Langcliffe road, Preston, PR2 6ue
Forever Independent
Live Sound and Events
My live sound and events work focuses on delivering reliable, high-quality audio for live performances, community events, and local gigs across Preston and the wider region. I have experience working as front-of-house and monitor engineer, setting up and running PA systems, micing instruments and vocals, and mixing live in real time under varying venue conditions. This work has taken me through small community spaces and charity events, as well as larger local gigs and festivals, where I focus on clear, balanced sound that supports both the artists and the audience. My background in studio production informs my live approach, helping me make quick, informed decisions about tone, balance, and dynamics in the moment.
I have helped to put on many events over the years, frequently providing and managing the sound. This includes the quarterly BSNUG event for the Soundskills charity. A small, intimate, free showcase for the local ward that mixes local artists with professional performers such as Mobius Loop, County Pilots, Aziz Ibrahim, and Harvey Brittain. The events typically feature vocals, acoustic and electric guitar, keyboard, percussion, cajón, and steel pans. I have also delivered larger-scale events at Soundskills, including the Big Reopen event in June 2025, which celebrated the full renovation and reopening of the building. This was a major public event with the entire building open to visitors and a stage in the back yard hosting professional musicians such as HBD, Seraph, Millicent, and Craig Stanley, often with full bands and full drum kits.
In addition, I have supported LCC at multiple community encounter events, mixing sound live and running the desk. I have also provided live music and sound for Comensus events at The University of Lancashire (formerly UCLAN) , including their 1 in 4 film festival, and have been invited back each year since our first show in 2020. This work has included finding and booking bands, setting up and packing down equipment, and completing risk assessments. One notable University of Lancashire event took place on the rooftop of the student centre, giving us a rare opportunity to run live music in that setting. I have also helped host and run events for the Preston Jazz Festival, including documentary screenings such as PMS 1 (2024) and PR Rap Unwrapped (2025), supporting live music performances with sound, and hosting an improvised, interactive music event featuring Aziz Ibrahim (known for his work with Simply Red and Stone Roses).
Across these projects, I plan and execute the music side myself from setup through artist curation to packing down, working with both small intimate setups and full-band productions with full drum kits.
Quarterly Bsnug
2018 - Present
bsnug
Project brief :
To deliver live sound for the quarterly BSNUG event, a small, intimate, free showcase organised by the Soundskills charity for the local ward it serves. The event showcases a mix of local artists and professional performers, creating a accessible community music experience.
What I did :
I provided and managed the live sound side of the event. This included setting up and running the PA system, miking instruments and vocals, mixing live in real time, finding acts and managing stage times. The performances featured a wide range of instruments including vocals, acoustic and electric guitar, keyboard, percussion, cajón, and steel pans. I worked to deliver clear, balanced sound that supported both the artists and the audience in a small community space.
Notable artists:
Professional performers at the event included Mobius Loop, County Pilots, Aziz Ibrahim, and Harvey Brittain, alongside local artists.
Outcome:
The BSNUG event successfully delivered a free, intimate showcase for the local ward, combining local and professional talent across a diverse range of instruments and styles. My sound work ensured a clear, balanced audio experience that supported the artists and audience in a community setting. This demonstrates my ability to deliver reliable live sound in small venues, manage diverse instrumental setups, and support both emerging and established performers in charity-led community events.
Skills demonstrated:
• Front-of-house live mixing
• PA setup and operation
• Miking diverse instruments (vocals, acoustic/electric guitar, keyboard, percussion, cajón, steel pans)
• Working in small community spaces
• Supporting mixed local and professional artist programmes
• Delivering sound for free, community-accessible events
Soundskills Reopen day
June 2025
re-open day
Project brief:
To provide live sound and event support for the Big Reopen Open Day in June 2025, a major reopening event held after a full renovation and temporary closure of the building. The event marked the centre’s return to the public and was delivered both indoors and outdoors, with a strong community focus and local media interest.
What I did :
I helped plan and deliver the music and sound side of the event from start to finish. This included preparing for both indoor and outdoor performance areas, setting up and running the PA, miking instruments and vocals, and mixing live for a varied programme of artists. Performers included HBD, Seraph, Millicent, Craig Stanley, and others, with some acts performing as full bands with complete drum kits. Because the event depended on the weather and the use of multiple performance spaces, a significant amount of planning was required to make sure the sound setup could adapt smoothly on the day.
Outcome :
The event was very well received, drew a strong turnout, and gained local coverage. It successfully showcased the renovated building to the public and created a welcoming atmosphere for both visitors and performers. My role contributed to the smooth running of the day and demonstrated my ability to manage live sound in a complex, high-profile community event with changing practical demands.
Skills demonstrated:
• Live sound setup for indoor and outdoor spaces
• Front-of-house mixing
• Miking full bands and drum kits
• Event planning with weather contingencies
• Artist coordination and technical preparation
• Supporting a public reopening event with local coverage
University of lancashire (Comensus)
2020 - 2025
comensus
Project brief:
To provide live music and sound for Comensus events at the University of Lancashire (formerly UCLAN), including during their annual 1 in 4 film festival. Comensus is the group behind the events, and they have invited us back each year since our first show in 2020.
What I did:
I was responsible for the full music and sound side of the events, from finding and booking bands through to setup, live mixing, and pack-down. This included running the desk, mixing sound live, and ensuring clear audio for performances in different university spaces. One particularly notable event took place on the rooftop of the student centre, which was a rare opportunity and required careful planning alongside the usual setup and risk assessment work.
Outcome:
Being invited back each year since 2020 shows that the events were delivered reliably and to a strong standard. The work supported live music within a university setting and contributed to the wider atmosphere of Comensus events and the 1 in 4 film festival. This demonstrates my ability to manage live sound in unusual locations, coordinate the practical side of live performance, and maintain ongoing relationships with event organisers over several years.
Skills demonstrated:
• Live sound setup and mixing
• Running the desk during live performance
• Artist booking and coordination
• Setup and pack-down
• Risk assessment and event planning
• Working in unusual live settings, including a rooftop venue
Preston Jazz and Improvisation Festival
2021 - 2025
jazz fest
Project brief:
To provide live music and sound support for events as part of the Preston Jazz Festival, including screening documentaries such as PMS 1 (2024) and PR Rap Unwrapped (2025), supporting live music performances with sound, and hosting an improvised, interactive music event featuring Aziz Ibrahim (known for work with Simply Red and The Stone Roses).
What I did:
I helped host and run a number of events for the Jazz Festival, which included setting up and running the sound for documentary screenings and live music performances. My role involved mixing sound live, managing inputs for vocals and instruments, and ensuring clear audio for both the film screenings and the musical performances. I also supported an improvised, interactive music event that included Aziz Ibrahim, coordinating the technical side and delivering live sound in a more experimental, performance-driven setting.
Outcome:
The Jazz Festival events were successfully delivered, combining documentary screenings with live music and an interactive performance piece. Working with a recognised artist like Aziz Ibrahim shows that the sound work was at a level suitable for professional performers in a festival context. This demonstrates my ability to support mixed-format events (film plus music), handle live sound in a festival environment, and work with established artists in a public-facing cultural event.
Skills demonstrated:
• Live sound for mixed-format events (documentary + music)
• Front-of-house mixing for performances and screenings
• Supporting professional artists in a festival setting
• Working with interactive and improvised music formats
• Coordinating technical requirements for varied event types
• Delivering sound in a public cultural festival context
Lancashire county council - community events
lcc
Project brief:
To provide live sound support for LCC community encounter events, where I was responsible for mixing sound live and running the desk. These were community-focused events designed to bring people together and engage with local audiences.
What I did:
I hosted and managed the sound for multiple LCC community encounter events, acting as the live sound engineer. My role involved setting up the PA system, miking instruments and vocals as needed, running the desk, and mixing sound live throughout the events. I ensured clear, balanced audio that supported the speakers and performers while adapting to the needs of different sessions and venue conditions.
Outcome:
The LCC events ran smoothly with reliable, high-quality sound that supported the community encounter format. My work demonstrated the ability to deliver professional live sound in a community setting, manage the technical side of multi-part events, and work flexibly with different types of participants and performances. This also shows my capacity to be trusted for repeated event support with a partner organisation.
Skills demonstrated:
• Live sound setup and PA operation
• Front-of-house mixing
• Running the desk during live events
• Miking vocals and instruments
• Adapting to changing session needs
• Supporting community-focused event formats
• Repeated collaboration with an external partner organisation