That was the Year That Was… Farewell 2025!
Ian Frost wearing a tuxedo and a Santa hat on the cruise ship decking at night
It’s hot here in the South China Sea and you catch me walking back from a performance in the Wheelhouse Bar aboard the Diamond Princess!! It’s been an interesting year, lots of adventures, travels, gigs and bopping back home to see my family in between! Reflecting back on what has occurred, I have selected a few choice images to describe the crazy year that is about to end.
2025 began in Bury St Edmunds, The Angel Hotel
Ah yes, I began my year in Bury St Edmunds at the Angel Hotel celebrating the New Year with my wife and a rather cool cocktail called “The Artful Dodger”.
FEBRUARY - The National Railway Museum, York
Next, was a mix of work and a short trip to visit York - a wonderful old Roman town, with a wall around the city centre (most of it you can walk on) and a very fun day out at the Railway museum.
March – my last performance with the EveryKnight Party Band
This was a sad month as I had to say goodbye to the party band I set up after the pandemic. EveryKnight was supposed to be a sophisticated, high price point, better than the average Wedding band. Unfortunately, I discovered that there are too many party bands wanting the same work and to get to the top of the list you either have to pay a lot of money for advertising or get somebody famous to hire you. I did get a radio DJ to hire me to do her wedding which was really good fun but it didn't lead anywhere. However, the project was fun to do and I've made great friends through working with excellent musicians and meeting lots of lovely married couples. We loved to performing for them!
APRIL: Easter on the Isle of Man
I was fortunate enough to celebrate Easter on the Isle of Man with my family. We had some great weather, and some okay weather. I even got to ride on a steam train!
MAY: Ian Michael Frost with the Celebrity Constellation Orchestra
I had a great time on the Celebrity Constellation performing my Eric Clapton tribute show and the Guitar Icons show. You can read all about those shows in my previous blog posts! The orchestra were supremely good and I would love the chance to work with them again.
JUNE: Ian and his beautiful wife on the Sky Princess
After a brief pitstop back home, it was back to reality and onto the Sky Princess. Fortunately, the contract was out of Southampton and my wife could visit me and I could visit her every couple of weeks. But only for five hours! Still it made the contract a little easier to be away.
The Sky Princess in dock
JULY: Ian Michael Frost performing his Eric Clapton tribute show with his fender Stratocaster guitar
Although I was on the Sky Princess appearing as Solo Guitar-Vocalist there was call for me to done my Eric Clapton outfit and to show my skills in the Vista Lounge. More on that in a future blog post.
AUG: A beautiful sunset on the Sky Princess
SEPT: Ian Michael Frost performing his wonderful tonight tribute show in the Vista Lounge
OCT: Ian celebrating his birthday at the incognito cocktail bar in Winchester
Coming home after a long contract is one of the best feelings and it was especially good to be coming home for my birthday. We celebrated with some pizza and a trip to a cocktail bar. Mmm mmm mmm.
NOV: Ian's luggage on a trolley outside Heathrow terminal five at 2:30 in the morning
Time between contracts always goes in a flash and there's mixed emotions when you're leaving your loved ones behind. Also, I was heading to the east and onto a cruise ship over Christmas… for the first time!
The stage view of the Diamond Princess's Wheelhouse Bar
Here we go again! I haven't been on this class of ship since 2019. That was the Sapphire Princess. This is the Diamond Princess where my journey began in Japan. I'd never been to Japan before and sat there I only saw the airport as I was taken straight to the ship the next day. Maybe another time!
DEC: A very festive looking promenade deck aboard the Diamond Princess
A very Merry Christmas from me to you and your loved ones, here on the Diamond Princess. The year was a mixed bag of highlights and very low points, some of which I'll keep to myself! Next year bodes to be a very exciting one, with one or two surprises! I'll let you into one of the secrets that I have hidden away… I will be performing my Eric Clapton Tribute Show on the Viking Sky at the end of July. If you're on the Greenwich to Belfast leg of your cruise, I'll see you there! In the meantime, I hope everyone can find some cheer for New Year's Eve. I know parts of the world are an absolute misery at the moment due to war, climate and injustice. I will keep praying for a better world, and in the words of Tiny Tim’ “God bless us, everyone!”
See you on the next one…