Two news stories broke simultaneously today.

AT LAST (1) . After years of fighting the disproportionate and unnecesary powers given to Local Authorities by the 2003 Licensing Act, Don Foster’s Live Music Bill which removes the need for small venues to have licenses for events ending before 11pm has been passed. The devil will be inthe detail, and never underestimate the complexities and “transition provisions” yet to be dreamed up to complicate the system and make it more costly…but this is a victory, most notably for that completely indefatigable campaigner on the issue, jazz drummer Hamish Birchall.

AT LAST (2) RIP Etta James, whose death today at the age of 73 has just been reported. Sad.