Worro all. I'm a bass player of a bit over 30 years experience, currently based in Birmingham until my divorce is finished and I can get my house in Tamworth back. Currently playing in a covers band, a barn dance band, and (playing guitar) in an acoustic duo with the once and future love of my life. No, not the guitar, the girlfriend. Oh, and the bassist for the house band at an open mic night too.
Started playing at university in the 70s, briefly stopped, started again in the early 80s, had a bit of a pause in the 90s, and I've been back in full flight again for the last four years or so. Have played mainly 4-string fretted (and the Warwick JD is my favourite bass, which I've had for nearly 20 years) but am playing quite a bit of 5-string and fretless these days, plus electric upright.
The bands, incidentally, are [url="http://www.break-away.org.uk"]Breakaway[/url], [url="http://www.newcoronaband.co.uk"]New Corona Band[/url], and [url="http://www.secondtimeround.org.uk"]Second Time Round[/url].
As an aside, does anyone in the Midlands area know any good agencies? The various bands could do with a few more and better-paying gigs, social clubs these days aren't exactly thriving...