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Twelve years ago Dubliner Dave Robinson left Ireland for London because he wanted to be close to the music scene.
Four years ago he and a few friends advertised for an aspiring band which they planned to launch on the Great British Public.
From the 75 groups that answered their ad, they chose a group called Brinsley Schwarz.
Under Dave Robinson's management Brinsley Schwarz achieved an exciting stage presence and produced five record albums.
"If a band stays together for four years, it must be good," Robinson comments.
But six months ago he ceased to manage Brinsley Schwarz. "I had a few other things I wanted to do. So had the group."
They are still on good terms and Robinson sometimes hires them. But his more recent managerial acquisition is the Irish group Bees Make Honey.
Whereas all the members of Brinsley came from the very English town of Tunbridge Wells, most of the Bees are Irish and have known Robinson from early Dublin days when some of them played with The Chosen Few or Ian Whitcomb's Bluesville.
"I've got them playing the same small club circuit that Brinsley used to play," says Robinson.
He enjoys promoting groups. He lives in a small flat above a pub called The Hope and Anchor in Islington in North London. In the cellar he runs a music club — where Brinsley and Bees have both performed.
And on the second floor of the pub he's building a recording studio. He plans to record live concerts from the cellar club using a closed circuit television screen to show him how a band is faring.
"I'm more interested in music than in business," he confesses. "I want to promote bands and I want to record them."
He has just invited a new Irish group, Rodeo to London. They supported Bees Make Honey during a recent Irish tour.
"I was surprised to find such a good group. They follow a sound musical road. They're not just attempting to get to the top of the pops."
David Robinson is not too enthusiastic about the trend in pop. "It's sad to see Gary Glitter filling so much space. What we need are another Beatles."
He says he has thought about returning to live in Ireland. "But every time I go back to Dublin I find all my friends married and middle-aged."
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