Gary Hyde is more than just a backroom boy' at the Musicians' Union. Since 1978 he has been the union's very high profile south-east London branch secretary and a face well-known to local audiences and musicians.

Despite his crowded schedule of meetings, campaigning and negotiations in support of members' working conditions, he has somehow managed to maintain a working life as a drummer.

It was in the early 1960s that he began working in pop groups in the Thanet area. Since then his musical repertoire has expanded to take in cabaret, shows and big band jazz work, not mention occasional festive appearances in lederhosen as part of a German Oompah band.

The MU has recently gone through an extensive structural re-organisation and as part of this Gary Hyde steps-up to the new post of regional official for the east and south east. Congratulations, Gary and a very big thank you for your massive contribution to the live music scene here in the south east.

Meanwhile, the union is due to publish a Live Music Kit to keep venues of all shapes and sizes abreast of the forthcoming changes in the music licensing laws, changes which should provide new opportunities to put on live music. Read more news on it all in this column shortly.

I hope the kit will help some of the Greenwich venues featured in this month's Riverfront Jazz Festival to establish themselves as permanent homes for live music.

There is a raft of bars, restaurants and open-air spots on the ten day programme which opens on September 17 with five events: Frank Griffith (pictured right) and Brian Priestley at Peter de Wit's Cafe, Gordon Mark Webber at the Greenwich Inn, Green Street Blues at St Alfege's Church, Kocoa Brown and Ian Hatt at Oliver's Basement Bar and the Dumaine Street.