Charity stuff
Well aware that, although manically busy, he has quite a comfortable, lucky life, Paul likes to organise events for charity because - let’s be honest, he’s in a pretty good position to do so. Anti-grades and boring textbooks that make it feel like school, Paul’s mission is to get all of his drumming students onstage, so it makes sense that we do these as charity events, too. They’ve become incredibly popular, for both the performers and guest musicians (and venues…after all, proud parents like a pint or two so their bar trade is rather healthy!).
Paul currently produces two of these shows a year; a yearly showcase at the Portland Arms (Cambridge) for Macmillan Cancer Support (his father died of cancer in 2006, Macmillan were amazing to his family so he now does as much as he can for them) and then a Christmas gig (at the Printworks, Papworth) for whatever charity we feel needs us the most. The plan is to get it to three gigs a year in 2027. So far, Paul’s students have had the opportunity to play 15 live gigs, as well as virtual sessions during the pandemic. If you run a venue, or are a charity that needs us, ping Paul a message.
Alongside this, Paul’s idea of playing 12 gigs in one day for charity, The 12 Gigs of Christmas, has become a yearly fixture. Playing 12 half-hour sets in one day, in 12 different venues, is always a mighty challenge but a worthy fun one that feels great a few days later once our ageing limbs have recovered and we’ve made a ton of cash for Macmillan in the process. We had a little break post-Covid, but resumed the chaos in 2025 and are back again in 2026.
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Drummers to the Rescue
Saving lives with student drumming concerts, making money for charity in the process. Over £4,000 made so far for MacMillan Cancer Support, with more raised for other charities. Mostly with just his students (backed by a live band), sometimes with his drum students collaborating with Free Your Voice Hub singing school.
Full details here: www.drummerstotherescue.co.uk
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The Twelve Gigs of Christmas
Paul and whatever band he can convince to join him play 12 gigs, in 12 different venues, in 12 hours, in 1 day, in Cambridge. Always a ridiculous challenge, but somehow always works out…just! The first run was just 10 gigs, by the way, before Paul realised that The Twelve Gigs of Christmas was a more marketable title. It’s always done well, tapping into the spirit of last-minute Christmas shoppers in town, raising thousands for Macmillan Cancer Support in the process.
21/12/25: The Twelve Gigs of Christmas 2025: with Claudia and the Braidy Bunch
Line-up: Claudia McKenzie, Marcel Kunkel, Edd Evans-Morley and Paul Richards
Venues: Guildhall Tourist Information Centre, The Portland Arms, The Castle, The Elm Tree, Chill 2 Bar, The Alex, The Free Press, Tram Depot, Sir Isaac Newton, The Six Bells, The Brook, The Six Six Bar
22/12/19: The Twelve Gigs of Christmas 2019 : with Glymjack
Line-up: Greg McDonald, Gemma Gaynor, Saul Bailey and Paul Richards
Venues: Aromi Cafe, The Tram Depot, The Six Bells, The Alex, The Emperor, The Locker Cafe, The Mill, The Pickerel, The Free Press, BBC Radio Cambridgeshire, The Isaac Newton, The Cambridge Blue
15/12/17: The Twelve Gigs of Christmas 2017: with James Erskine
Line-up: James Erskine and Paul Richards
Venues: The Urban Shed, The Junction, The Anchor, Sticky Beaks Cafe, The Old Bicycle Shop, The Earl of Derby, Relevant Records, The Tram Depot, The Duke of Cambridge, The Six Bells, The Grain and Hop Store, The Cambridge Blue
18/12/16: The Twelve Gigs of Christmas 2016: with Claudia and the Braidy Bunch
Line-up: Claudia McKenzie, Marcel Kunkel, Edd Evans-Morley and Paul Richards
Venues: Relevant Records, The Prince Regent, The Six Bells, The Earl of Beaconsfield, Stickybeaks Cafe, Clowns Cafe, D’Arrys, The Cornerhouse, The Grapes, The Granta, The Red Bull, The Queen Edith.
13/12/15: The Ten Gigs of Christmas: with Claudia and the Braidy Bunch
Line-up: Claudia McKenzie, Marcel Kunkel, Edd Evans-Morley and Paul Richards
Venues: The Anchor, The Granta, The 6 Bells, The Free Press, The Baron of Beef, The Cornerhouse, The Black Cat Cafe, The Queen Edith, Sticky Beaks Cafe, The Elm Tree
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Student showcase gigs: the virtual shows
With 2020 being a bit tough for gigs, Paul produced online showcase gigs for his students instead - with the students (all being taught on Zoom/online) recording their songs and sending them over, with Paul piecing them into a ‘Later with Jools…’ style showcase. These were often collaborations with local music schools, Josie and Piano, or Singing Vix.
September 2020 showcase: broadcast online on 25th September. The theme is simply ‘classic songs’, money raised from it went to NHS (via NHS Charities Together).
October 2020 showcase: broadcast online on 30th October. The theme is The Beatles. Money raised from it went to A Space Between.
November 2020 showcase: broadcast online on 27th November. The theme is ‘number one hits’, money raised from it went to The National Brain Tumour Charity.
January 2021 showcase: to be broadcast online on 29th January. The theme is ‘rock songs', money raised from it will go to The Songwriting Charity.
February 2021 showcase: to be broadcast online on 25th February. The theme is Queen songs, money raised from it will go towards funding cancer treatment for Singing Vix’s father.
March 2021 showcase: to be broadcast online on 25th March. The theme for this gig is simply ‘anything you want’ as hopefully it’ll be our final show before we’re allowed out to do them in person again! Money raised from it will go to the National Autism Society.
