Andrew Marston introduces Rich Monk (Malvern)

Andy O'Hare, our resident reviewer, goes to see more gigs than anyone else who we've ever met in Herefordshire & Worcestershire.
 
In the rarest of moves, Andy has put Malvern's Rich Monk as his number one act for the entire year - in two separate countdowns.
 
One was for his former project, Tallulah Fix, and now as a solo act in his Hot For 2014 countdown.
 
All of our live studio sessions and festival gigs since 2005...

A Worcestershire businessman's come up with an idea to raise funds to help people who've been affected by flooding.
 
A series of concerts will take place next weekend and 100% of what's raised will go to those who need it most of all.
 
Visit their website

His work evokes great feelings of patriotism but the composer Edward Elgar was greatly troubled by the First World War.
 
In 1914 he was asked to set the war poems of Laurence Binyon to music but he found it difficult as he had many German friends and felt a debt of gratitute to them for helping his career.
 
We hear about those troubles on this week's show.
 
More success stories from Herefordshire & Worcestershire...

This week, Andy O'Hare reviews:

• Mark Stevenson, Perry Foster, Lol and Ruth & The Fylthe Band at The Chestnut Tree, Worcester.
• Dave Onions at The Cock & Magpie, Bewdley
• Vault Of Eagles & 'Sham' 69 at Kidderminster Town Hall.

• We'll bring you the very latest on this year's Nozstock Festival, including the early lineup announcement of headliners - plus we reveal some of the people who'll be on the BBC Hereford & Worcester stage.
• In live music this week - the Latino world comes to Hay-on-Wye, there is some East Coast blues in Bromsgrove and the homegrown talent starring in Ledbury.

This month's sessions were recorded in the rural surrounds of The Hatch studios near Tenbury Wells.
 
It was our second time recording at the venue - which also doubles up as a live venue.
 
A number of albums have been produced there - and in many instances - the artists play the tracks from the forthcoming release at the launch night, and the actual performance is what's recorded!
 
Meet some of our local musicians...

If you're a budding solo artist, an MC, or just started a brand new band then you should check out BBC Introducing Musicians' Masterclasses.

On Thursday 21 March, we visited various locations across the UK - Glasgow, Belfast, London, Salford & Cardiff. DJs from all over BBC Radio, music industry experts and artists got together to host a day of sessions, workshops and masterclasses.

On the guestlist at Maida Vale were Worcester's Shaun Williams, Malvern's 5parks, Bromyard's Tenz, Droitwich's Case Closed and Bewdley's Barbarix.

Invited to Hoddinott Hall in Cardiff were Hereford's Daniel & The Scandals, Kidderminster's Lauren Wright and man-of-many-Worcester-bands Pete Adams.

We covered everything from song writing & MC workshops to promoting your music & making the most of your Twitter accounts.

We also heard from successful artists about their own musical journeys. Our special guests included Ben Howard, Aluna George, Wretch 32, Devlin, Angel, Japanese Popstars, Phil Kieran, Badly Drawn Boy and the Manic Street Preachers.
 
We spent some studio time with BRIT Award winning producer Jake Gosling, who has worked with Ed Sheeran, Wiley, Paloma Faith and Mikill Pane. How can artists make the most of their time with a producer?

BBC Introducing in Hereford & Worcester supports unsigned, undiscovered and under-the-radar musicians from Herefordshire and Worcestershire.
 
Since 2011, we've been taking the show out on-the-road showcasing the very best musicians from our two counties.
 
Our next recording session takes place on Sunday 2 March at Ledbury's Market Theatre and features five acts who we've been playing on BBC Hereford & Worcester.
 
It's free to get in - and this is your chance to see how we capture live music on tape, while being able to enjoy some of the hottest new acts we've got in our area right now.
 
None of these artists knew they were being considered for a live session - they were chosen based on the tracks they uploaded to us.
 
Doors open at 2pm - but you're more than welcome to turn up anytime until 7pm.