Andrew McSkimming.com

2009 has continued to be a highly successful and busy one for Andrew. Whilst still the resident vocalist with Metropolis www.metropolis-live.co.uk , he can also be found working regularly with the following other function bands across the UK & Europe. They are:-

• Funkification www.funkification.co.uk
• Creation www.creationmusicalservices.co.uk
• Re-Funct www.refunct.co.uk
• Brenthouse Band www.brenthouseband.com
• Beat Connection www.beatconnectionband.com

Andrew is playing with Metropolis down at Planet Hollywood this NYE, in Leicester Square (London).

www.planethollywoodlondon.com

Get your tickets now and come down for a night of what is sure to be good times galore, 80's style!

Where has this year gone? Alarmingly, it's September already and I've not done a news update here in almost a Year- I'd put it down to laziness and a busy diary. A dangerous combination!

A more in depth update coming soon. Watch this space!

Once again the Summer has proved to be a busy and successful one, with gigs of all natures coming in - singing, photographic & acting! Jack of all Trades ;p

Latest effort from early July this Year has now been released on the Web. It was an acting job session I did for a company called "Computeach". Will leave the rest for you to summise yourself :) Click the pic to go to a direct link

Photographic wise, an advert that I did for Volkswagen UK Press, came out earlier last month. See below - and yes, that is toilet roll stuck to my shoe. Hmm......

This Summer has seen a deluge of bookings come in.

I have continued depping for a band called "The MelodyFakers" but have also starting gigging with two other amazing bands - they are "Soul System" and "BrentHouse Band". See links on the nav bar and i urge you to check out their websites. As always, contact me for enquiries about band bookings for "Metropolis" etc.

Other work - the past few months have seen me in front of the camera for 2 photoshoots and an acting peice for an interactive website. The first two were photoshoots for Volkswagen and Visa and the website acting peice is for a company called Computeach. Full details will be up in the coming months, as soon as they are available.

Bye for now folks,

Andy

....where is 2007 going? It's clearly been forever since I ever touched this website. Since the advent of MySpace and FaceBook i've barely found the want or need to add or amend this site, but hey, here's a brief update.

Been a fairly busy year thus far and thinks have definitely cranked up a notch of late. As well as some fairly prestigous gigs in the books past and future for the ever evolving  'Metropolis', I have also started gigging as a dep for a band called 'Soul System' (see link on navigation column).

Shot a few high profile ad campaigns for Volkswagen and Visa over the past few months too. They should be coming out soon, so I'll add them to the photo and CV pages as and when....

Well, short and sweet, but that's all for now folks.

Au revoir,

Andy

Well it's been quite sometime since I put a message on here. To be honest, since the advent of "myspace.com" it really has revolutionised the market for free websites, so sadly this site has been neglected somewhat.

For most up to date details (be it news, audio, date sheet etc.) always refer to www.myspace.com/amcskimming in the 1st instance. Alternatively, hit the tab on the menu.

It is with great sadness that I write to say that the Metropolis drummer, Mr Glen Child, has now officially performed his last ever gig with us. He will be emigrating to New Zealand with his fiancee, Caroline, later in this month.

Glen - you will be sorely missed my friend, and I wish you and Caroline the happiest of years to come over in Kiwi Kountry! Thanks for EVERYTHING these past 3 years mate....good luck :)

(photo - Glen's last gig with 'Metropolis' on 8th July 2006)

(l-r: Glen Child - drums, Mikey Wesson - keys, Fraser Munro -sound/lights, James Eager - bass, Stelios - guitar, Kerry Ellis & I - vox.)

Gigs continue to be plentysome this year. As well as Metropolis gigs continuing to fill the diary, I have also starting doing some gigs with another band called "The Melody Fakers". Again, see the link on the menu to find out more!

Other random news....

Did a photographic shoot the other day for "Specsavers" - instore magazine. Should be out in the Autumn. Will be quite comical I think! Photo's on here as and when.....

I'm in the process of moving house at the moment. Moving back up to London with an old friend of mine, Mr James Leece (www.new-adventures.net). Can't wait!

Got back from Oz last week. Didn't want to come back to be honest but I had an unbelievably great time and it's given me a new lease of life after years of not having a holiday! It's done me a tremendous favour and now have to make some changes and set myself new challenges. Gig page updated with all this year's bookings thus far....

TO 2006!!!!!!!!!!!!!......

So it's been a long time since I last updated here but lots to tell this time, so here goes........

The Summer was a busy one with many gigs in the diary and the Winter is more of the same. 'Metropolis' took to the Air in November and flew to Prague for a Corporate Event gig in Prague at the Hilton....nonetheless!! Client was so impressed they want to rebook us for their next Annual dinner in 2006. Go Metropolis!

At the end of July, 'Metropolis' had a new female singer join the team. Welcome big style to Miss Carly Greene. Great voice and great talent! Great to work with.

'Metropolis' continue throughout December with some amazing Corporate Christmas gigs for major London Blue Chip clients. Should be a blast and a really great Showcase opportunity too. Also a big New Years Eve gig should see the New Year in just nicely. 

'Metropolis' also continue to be highly successful in being re-booked month after month for "Dover St" in Mayfair - a highly prestigous venue to get in the doors to (musically speaking that is!). Not only do we have 2 shows in December but we've now been re-booked right through until April 2006. See the Date Sheet page for full dates. If you want to come and check us out at our only exclusive public venue, please contact me in the first instance for enquiries. Thursday nights are free before 10pm, Fridays are guestlist only. Dress code - smart/evening (i.e. no jeans, trainers etc.). Check out www.doverst.co.uk for full details.

The New Year shows no pause in pace either. After a much deserved holiday to Australia in January and part February, 2006 kicks off in mid-February with gigs already coming in thick and fast. Feel it's gonna be a good year! To be continued..............

Metropolis News....July and August have seen a wealth of gigs of all shapes and sizes come in for the band - award shows, corporate events, international bookings (Prague!) and Dover St Wine Bar has lapped us up and asked us back until the end of the year..at least! So it's all good....;)

p.s. great friend of mine, Rochelle has been helping us out with great success (naturally?@!) until the new female singer starts in October.

Other news......Photographic shoot for BT the other week was hilarious! Was the only featured artist for a leaflet to accompany all new 'BT Privacy' phones when on sale in the shops. Goofy faces galore. Should be an amusing addition to the CV, ha ha.

The past few months have seen very many gigs come in for 'Metropolis' and be performed. The lack of updates have been primarliy due to the fact that the website has taken a back seat in my list of priorities, however I endeavour to get back on track with the months to come!

Recent weeks have seen some great feedback come in from bookings and a large scale Corporate Show went down extremely well with the clients/audience!

Next 'Metropolis' gig at Dover St Wine Bar (www.doverst.co.uk). Let me know if you want to come and I'll try to get you on the guestlist.

'Metropolis' performed at the Dover Street Wine Bar for the first time on the 10th. Went so well they booked us four more times! See "Date Sheet" for further details. Thanks to everyone that came along and made it such a fun and successful evening...

15th March - On another note, did a photographic shoot for Ordinary People - by favourite agent!  - this time playing a Male Nurse....watch out in WH Smiths for more. Details as and when they're published.....oh the bizarre yet excitingly varied life I lead.

So the New Year has well and truly started! January was a quiet, yet well needed 'time out' month personally. However, back in action with 2 gigs this weekend that went very well I feel. Reading Jazz Cafe on Friday saw a good turn out and a great time had by all. Made it all the more worthwhile for the 3 hour trip there...yikes!

As for Saturday night, the clients lapped it up and indeed, was good to see some familiar faces there. All part of the joy of being re-booked by the same people from a previous booking last year! More like that please....

Other news.....a few projects are brewing at this stage.....further updates coming soon!

So next year is picking up yet again! Thanks to the efforts of our female singer, Sherrod Dine, 'Metropolis' will now be performing at the exclusive Dover Street Wine Bar - London's Largest Jazz Restaurant & Bar  in Mayfair, London on March 10th 2005. ........Go 'Metropolis'!

(click on the image to go to 'Dover St' site. Date added to '...Public Gigs' page too!!

The Advert for "Ultimate All Time Classic Tear Jerkers" is still showing on TV and certainly on Digital. It's been great exposure for me and will certainly bump up my showreel that I'm currently putting together for a 'Spotlight' entry next year!

Well things are looking up for next year. Gigs are coming in now  and the advert I filmed the other week for the C.D., "All Time Classic Tear Jerkers 3" is out on national and digital television today.

The advert was directed and produced by Stunning Film Co. (see www.stunningwork.com) and is released by Warner Music. 

(....Photo still taken from "All Time Classic Tear Jerkers 3" - Photo copyright, S. Savidge 2004  Clip to follow soon.....)

NEXT GIG - Corporate Event, 12th November 2004

NEXT PUBLIC GIG - 3rd December at the Reading Jazz Cafe (see www.thejazzcafe.co.uk) ; come support us if you can make it....x

Well, past few gigs have been a real success. Metropolis performed at the TVR Car Club Convention on the 25th September at the Cardiff Millennium Stadium. The evening was a great success and the client sent very positive feedback to the agent.

New material was tried out at last weekend's gig which worked really well and the bride & groom enjoyed their night thoroughly.

NEW ADVERT - I'm shooting a new advert on Monday 25th. I'm featuring as a husband in a new TV advert for a CD called "All Time Classic Tear Jerkers 3!" being distributed by Warner Music. Watch this space for further updates....think I'm even doing the voice tags too ha ha..!!!

So, the Summer feels like it's drawing to a close and it's time for some more gigs. A couple of really good one's coming up it has to be said. Keep an eye on the 'Upcoming public gigs' page for forthcoming bookings that you can come along to, if you can. All support is most welcome!

Next public gig: Magoo's Wine Bar, Aylesbury on Friday 24th September.

Filmed a new TV commercial yesterday thanks to a casting I went to a few weeks ago via. my agency, Ordinary People (see www.ordinarypeople.co.uk). 

The advert was for the University of Lancaster and will be shown on TV in the Northern regions of England but may be distributed further. If so, the repeat fees will come in handy!

Long hours yesterday but a worthwhile day! Was filmed in the old Ministry of Defence building on the floor that they used to teach forensics on!

Metropolis news - first booking for 2005 is in the diary!

More public gigs are coming in at the moment.

The huge PR drive is paying off. Positive feedback is coming in from agencies & events companies and the idea at the moment is to arrange a Showcase for Metropolis at a suitable time and venue for agents to come along and see the goods!

Next gig is this weekend - Saturday 26th June in Ottershaw, Surrey.

All's going well with Metropolis. Gigs are coming in fairly steadily and feedback from friends & family on the demo has been encouraging. Aiming for the Corporate market at the moment.

Dartmouth Festival earlier in May was a good night (see pics in Gallery) - about 600 people turned out in the Town Square. It was the 3rd time around for some of the original Metropolis guys, but this was my first! A beautiful place and I hope to go back there in the near future! Offers of Cruise work have been coming in the past week and it's been so satisfying to say 'no thanks' as I finally feel that I am getting somewhere with singing here on land.

Gonna approach a few vocal coaches soon as I really want to learn more in-depth about my voice without going backwards, as I know enough basics not to do stupid things - it is my instrument after all. The last thing I want is to damage the thing! No skipping on warming up!

NEXT GIG - Dorking, 4th June 2004

The site may 'go down' for a while soon as I'm thinking of re-vamping the whole site and going elsewhere as it were....bear with me!

Metropolis is going from strength to strength. The band CD demo is now complete and the website is now up and running. Click on the link www.metropolis-live.co.uk to view the site and hear snippets of the tracks! You won't be dissapointed.

The two gigs on the 2nd and 3rd April went really well. Reading Jazz Cafe and a wedding at Elvetham Hall respectively. Next gig is on Saturday 17th!

Well all is going great guns at the moment. More than 20 gigs are booked in for the year so far and the demo isn't even out yet!...woohoo!

The gig at Magoo's in Aylesbury went really well last Saturday. Great venue and crowd. Back there again on the 24th April.

The Metropolis demo is being recorded at the moment in Windsor. With 7 different tracks and style on there, we've got every corner covered really. Everything from Motown, Disco & Big Band to Latin & 80's pop!

Next gig is on Friday the 2nd April.

Well the rehearsals more than paid off over all those weeks!! The first gig with Metropolis was on Friday the 13th at the Royal Thames Yacht Club in Knightsbridge. The evening was A Valentine's Ball and the crowd was very much in the right spirit!

The evening wen't very well - was surprisingly quite pleased even with my own performance! Always tonnes of room to make things better, but after being out of the market for what seemed like forever, it felt very nice to be back out there again! Thankyou Metropolis for everything!

Next step - gig in Aylesbury on the 6th March and then recording the demo on the 10th, 14th & 17th March in Windsor.

  Happy New Year everybody! Hope you all have a very happy and successful 2004 in all you do!

The Year had gotten off to a great start with the New Band, Metropolis (see link page - new website up and running soon!!). Rehearsals are in full swing in North Acton at "Survival Studios" with two crackin' sets to put out at functions and a jazz/swing set too - for the right occasions.

Our 1st 'gig' is on Friday 13th (?) of February at the Royal Thames Yacht Club. For other currently confirmed gigs or to book myself and the band, see gig list page or go to the Metropolis link page directly. Full contact details there. Alternatively, book here via. feedback page and details can be discussed from thereon in.

Latest news here - Metropolis work begins in the New Year so am very much looking forward to that.

The new line up will include one other female vocalist and 4 piece band! (see their website at www.metropolis-live.co.uk).

Gigged in Lincoln on Saturday 6th for a band called Funktonite through an agency contact.