We were playing a night called Club Fandango at The Water Rats in King’s Cross. Leave work early, Max is driving. Just had two big gigs at the weekend, still recovering. Tonight is important as it is arranged by a record company A&R man. Dan is already in London as he works there during the week. I can’t believe it, no traffic leaving Oxford at 5pm. The promoter actually calls us as we’re leaving Oxford to let us know that the drum kit is all ready for us and not to worry if we’re a bit late.

Things are really looking up this time!

We really don’t know London very well at all but we still manage to find the venue immediately and a parking space right outside. Everyone is in a really good mood. Then the band with the drum kit show up and don’t have two drums that we need.

“No problem,” says the sound man and pulls out the house drums from the back room. Then we do a great soundcheck. Kayla plays drums and sings at the same time which can be a problem – sometimes she can’t hear herself, sometimes the audience can’t hear her and sometimes no-one can. Tonight we all can.

They have sandwiches ready made for us! Tuna and sweetcorn, my favourite! And a kettle. Max and I make ourselves a cup of tea.

We spot the A&R man putting up posters. Whatever bands tell you, they all want to get signed and they all want A&R men at their shows. This is the first A&R man that has ever come to see Foxes!. We don’t know it yet, but apparently one of the top people from the label is also there.

We go on stage and play the first song. Everything sounds great! The record company man has his notepad and he’s scribbling on it. We start playing Wild Geese. Pang! My B string has broken.

I don’t have a spare guitar.

All the other acts play expensive acoustic guitars.

I love the B string. The B string is the best string on the guitar. All of our songs use the B string a lot. 6 O’ Clock – B string. Welcome To The Jivin’ – B String.

I say “Give me 5 minutes”. People have been creeping in the door. A girl shouts “You’re having a laugh”. Everyone walks out, including the A&R men.

The sound man gives me his spare string. It snaps. I get my own B string and eventually get the guitar in tune again. Dan tells some terrible jokes that play on the fact that Jimmy Carr’s name sounds like Jamaica. We play three more songs RUBBISHLY.

We drive back to Oxford. Nice open roads again and we’re back in Oxford for last orders. I’ve written to the A&R man but he hasn’t write back.

So…………..any suggestions on what spare guitar I should buy? I don’t have any money.