Voodoo Rays play the Fiddlers Elbow, London, Thurs 26th July

Described as early Pink Floyd played by Sonic Youth, Voodoo Rays is a noisy experimental three-piece rock band from East London. Formed in the summer of 2010, the band, which includes RTYD member Andy Symes on bass, was originally called Parade. A name change was decided upon at the beginning of this year after a slight misunderstanding with another band called Parade from Manchester, and Voodoo Rays was chosen, after the seminal track by A Guy Called Gerald. Having finished their second album, Crabwise, the band are continuing to gig around London regularly, building up a fearsome reputation by word of mouth alone. If you do see them live, don't expect constancy; the Rays play hard and fast with their back catalogue, whilst constantly adding new songs to their repertoire. The band are currently recording their third album, Surrounded By Ghosts, in Battersea, hopefully with a more stripped back live sound, technology notwithstanding.

Ramping up the gigs

It strikes me that the only way forward is to ramp up the rock-til-you-drop gigs come September. I think that I'm gonna move the emphasis away from promoting to mature musicians and mature music fans, and marketing these nights as networking opportunities for 'older' musicians, and instead focus on appealing to a wider audience. As we've discussed before, no one cares about age, they just care about watching good music performed by experienced musicians. So where it said 'mature', insert experienced. I think the obvious thing to do is to drop the whole 'Rock-Til-You-Drop-Night' thing and reduce 'Rock-Til-You-Drop presents' to small-print.

I have agreed to promote a series of Saturday night gigs, and Sunday afternoon acoustic sessions at the Libertine in Borough, beginning in September. I have two nights at the Fiddlers before Xmas, October and December, and the Dublin Castle punk special on 16th September. And hopefully, one or two more, here and there. This should step things up over the autumn and early winter.

I still find the difference in bands' expectations about payment for gigs disconcerting. I wonder why some even want Rock-Til-You-Drop to promote them. I suppose it's that they need to play away from home from time to time, to move forward. One guy I spoke to recently about the possibility of a RTYD gig, said his trio which comprises professionals, could get 200 quid a gig at his local. They don't play for nothing. This is intimidating to me, cos I can't guarantee his band or any band even 40 quid, so I would shy away from booking such bands until I felt confident I could pay them. I don't want to let people down, I just want to give bands opportunities to move forward, to move out of their neighbourhood and comfort zone, to build a fanbase beyond their friends and colleagues, 'cos without this they will struggle in the long run. You cannot continue to rely on the same people to come out and see you. You can easily get stuck in a local venue rut too, playing the same place month in month out.

I think eventually I have to decide who it is I want to promote more specifically, cos I dunno about these blues-rocks bands? They can pretty much, pitch up in any venue in any town, say they play the blues, and get a paid gig. I didn't start RTYD to help bands that don't need helping.

Guildford 7 Borough 10

Got another venue to add to the circuit last night, The Fiddler's Elbow in Kentish Town/Chalk Farm. It's literally down the end of my road, which is handy. The promoter Dan is very friendly and is keen for me to put on a monthly club down there. They have regular mod nights and metal nights down there already. I've booked a couple of nights, a couple of months apart, for starters after the summer, so there's plenty of time to get organised.

7 days to Guildford. 10 to Borough.

Went down to the Libertine today to stick up some posters. It's not a big pub, which is alright. Looking forward to playing it actually. Looking forward to playing, period. Me guitarist has buggered his finger, so hopefully that won't be too painful on the night.

I remember a few years back playing the Walthamstow Standard a few days after slamming one of the fingers on my left hand in a car door. I took opiate painkillers, rubbed voltarol and ibuprofen gel into it, drank copious amounts of alcohol, and it still it hurt to touch the fretboard. But cos I can be a bit of a martyr and I don't like letting the side down, the show went on, and somehow I played through the pain.

I know how to suffer for me art see.

There was hardly anyone there that night either.