Archived News - Posted On Thursday 26th August 2021
FROM THE METRO-LIB-ELITE DESK OF Stewart Lee – SPEWTEMBER ’21
1) KING ROCKER SCREENING
2) GALLIVANT SCREENING
3) LAURA CANNELL
4) UNRELIABLE NARRATOR
5) ASIAN DUB FOUNDATION
6) 7” nightingales SINGLE
7) LIVE DATES NEWS
8) TO VAC OR NOT TO VAC
9) MEDIA GARAGE SALE
10) PODCASTS AND THAT
11) I Arrogantly Recommend
12) KING OF THE WOKEBOX
13) In Our Covid Lamentations
KING ROCKER SCREENINGS
Our labour of love really landed. I arrogantly think it knocks most rockumentaries into a cocked hat and will cheer you up no end in the awful times.
“I loved every minute” – Ben Dowell, The Times
★★★★ Financial Times
★★★★ Chortle
“One of the best music documentaries of all time” – The Quietus
“The new gold standard for rockumentaries” – The Scotsman
You can also watch it, ad-free, on NOW TV if you have that;
NOW TV LINK
The film receives its hometown premier in Birmingham, as the King Rocker Christmas Special at the Midland Arts center on Sat 18th December, preceeded by a Q&A with me and dir Michael Cumming, and followed by a performance by the Nightingales.
https://macbirmingham.co.uk/event/king-rocker-q-a
I will also be hosting a thing about the film at the Laugharne Weekend Festival in Carmarthenshire on the 3rd of October, where I will also interview Alexei Sayle live on the same day.
https://www.thelaugharneweekend.com/line-up
GALLIVANT SCREENING
I will be hosting a 25th anniversary screening of one of my favourite films, Gallivant, with its director, and its star, Andrew and Eden Kotting respectively, at the Kino in Hastings on Sat 11th Sept.
This is a great opportunity to see this unforgettable masterpiece on a big screen.
https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/kinoteatr/t-rnkomn
Comedy fans may like to note that in the ‘90s the recently late Sean Lock collaborated on both a short and a feature with Andrew Kotting, with whom he shared a disruptive surrealist ethos, clearly visible in Sean’s massively overlooked early ‘00s sit-com 15 Storeys High, and still glimpsed in his format-challenging 21st century panel show work. Small world.
LAURA CANNELL
The avant-folk dronemädchen Laura Cannell has been releasing an ep a month throughout the pandemic.
I wrote and mumbled some words for the latest, August Sounds, also featuring Welsh harpist Rhodri Davies, whose book {below} I done some words for too and that. Available here as cd or dl.
http://www.lauracannell.co.uk
Laura Cannell and Kate Ellis also bring the much delayed live incarnation of their These Feral Lands recording project to London’s King’s Place on Feb 18th 2022.
I wrote words for four of the tracks and will attempt to do something with them on the night. I thought about where I was conceived, and where I was born, plugged the details I know into the folklore of both regions, and tried not to get in the way of Laura and Kate’s mediaeval trance music steamroller.
https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/contemporary/laura-cannell-with-stewart-lee-kate-ellis-these-feral-lands/
UNRELIABLE NARRATOR DOC BBCR4
I did this piece of KRS1-style edu-tainment for BBCR4 with Resonance 104.4FM alumney Michael Umney, called Stewart Lee – Unreliable Narrator. Lots of comedians in it.
You can listen here.
ASIAN DUB FOUNDATION
The record store day dbl vinyl of Asian Dub Foundation’s Access Denied album includes a ‘neolithic’ remix of the no 1 single Comin’ Over Here (feat. Stewart Lee) Facebook Link
The original 12” remains available…
Bandcamp
X Ray Production
TEN BOB / USE YOUR LOAF 7”
‘Ten Bob Each Way’ / ‘Use Your Loaf’ is a limited 7” single, featuring a brand-new Nightingales recording, their first since recording their ‘Four Against Fate’ album.
B-sided with Stewart Lee and Nick Pynn covering the band’s second single, ‘Use Your Loaf’, a track that was for a mooted Nightingales tribute album, which didn’t happen after something got spilt on the laptop that had all the tracks on it.
Fire Records/King Rocker Records.
Order 7” here: https://fire-records.lnk.to/TenBobUseYourLoaf
LIVE DATES NEWS
All the SNOWFLAKE/TORNADO tour dates outstanding from 2020 will be shifted into 2022, starting in Jan, and below are the ones we know about so far. Local venues will contact you if they haven’t already.
All the warm-up club dates you may have bought tickets for have been slotted in to Nov and Dec, covid willing, and venues will contact ticket holders.
Please do not hassle venues about all this. They will contact you. We will get there! I am planning on re-writing the SNOWFLAKE half of SNOWFLAKE/TORNADO to reflect our drastically altered world and will make as good a recording as possible of the abandoned original SNOWFLAKE available at some point. It’s all bacon!
January 2022
Tuesday 4th January 2022 – Leicester Square Theatre, London – TICKETS
Wednesday 5th January 2022 – Leicester Square Theatre, London – TICKETS
Thursday 6th January 2022 – Leicester Square Theatre, London – TICKETS
Friday 7th January 2022 – Leicester Square Theatre, London – TICKETS
Saturday 8th January 2022 – Leicester Square Theatre, London – TICKETS
Monday 10th January 2022 – Leicester Square Theatre, London – TICKETS
Tuesday 11th January 2022 – Leicester Square Theatre, London – TICKETS
Wednesday 12th January 2022 – Leicester Square Theatre, London – TICKETS
Thursday 13th January 2022 – Leicester Square Theatre, London – TICKETS
Saturday 15th January 2022 – Theatre Royal, Norwich – TICKETS
Monday 17th January 2022 – Playhouse, Oxford
Tuesday 18th January 2022 – Playhouse, Oxford
Wednesday 19th January 2022 – Playhouse, Oxford
Thursday 20th January 2022 – Playhouse, Oxford
Friday 21st January 2022 – Playhouse, Oxford
Saturday 22nd January 2022 – Playhouse, Oxford
Tuesday 25th January 2022 – The Lowry, Salford – TICKETS
Wednesday 26th January 2022 – The Lowry, Salford – TICKETS
Thursday 27th January 2022 – The Lowry, Salford – TICKETS
Friday 28th January 2022 – The Lowry, Salford – TICKETS
Saturday 29th January 2022 – The Lowry, Salford – TICKETS
Sunday 30th January 2022 – Theatre Royal, Newcastle Upon Tyne – TICKETS
February 2022
Wednesday 2nd February 2022 – St. David’s Hall, Cardiff – TICKETS
Thursday 3rd February 2022 – Rose Theatre, Kingston – TICKETS
Friday 4th February 2022 – Westlands Entertainment Venue, Yeovil – TICKETS
Saturday 5th February 2022 – Westlands Entertainment Venue, Yeovil – TICKETS
Tuesday 8th February 2022 – Town Hall, Cheltenham – TICKETS
Wednesday 9th February 2022 – Town Hall, Cheltenham – TICKETS
Thursday 10th February 2022 – De Montfort Hall, Leicester – TICKETS
Friday 11th February 2022 – Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry – TICKETS
Saturday 12th February 2022 – Festival Theatre, Malvern – TICKETS
Sunday 13th February 2022 – Hippodrome, Birmingham – TICKETS
Friday 25th February 2022 – The Dome, Brighton – TICKETS
Saturday 26th February 2022 – The Dome, Brighton – TICKETS
Sunday 27th February 2022 – The Dome, Brighton – TICKETS
Monday 28th February 2022 – The Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury – TICKETS
March 2022
Wednesday 2nd March 2022 – Northcott Theatre, Exeter – TICKETS
Thursday 3rd March 2022 – Northcott Theatre, Exeter – TICKETS
Friday 4th March 2022 – Lighthouse, Poole – TICKETS
Saturday 5th March 2022 – Playhouse, Salisbury
Sunday 6th March 2022 – De La Warr Pavillion, Bexhill On Sea – TICKETS
Wednesday 9th March 2022 – Theatre Royal, Wakefield – TICKETS
Thursday 10th March 2022 – Opera House, Buxton – TICKETS
Friday 11th March 2022 – The Courtyard, Hereford – TICKETS
Saturday 12th March 2022 – Grand Theatre, Swansea
Monday 14th March 2022 – King’s Theatre, Glasgow – TICKETS
Tuesday 15th March 2022 – King’s Theatre, Glasgow – TICKETS
Wednesday 16th March 2022 – The Sands Centre, Carlisle – TICKETS
Thursday 17th March 2022 – Royal Hall, Harrogate
Tuesday 22nd March 2022 – Churchill Theatre, Bromley – TICKETS
Wednesday 23rd March 2022 – Playhouse, Nottingham – TICKETS
Thursday 24th March 2022 – Playhouse, Nottingham – TICKETS
Friday 25th March 2022 – Playhouse, Nottingham – TICKETS
Saturday 26th March 2022 – Playhouse, Nottingham – TICKETS
Sunday 27th March 2022 – Royal & Derngate, Northampton – TICKETS
Tuesday 29th March 2022 – City Hall, Sheffield – TICKETS
Wednesday 30th March 2022 – Playhouse, Leeds – TICKETS
Thursday 31st March 2022 – Playhouse, Leeds – TICKETS
April 2022
Friday 1st April 2022 – Playhouse, Leeds – TICKETS
Saturday 2nd April 2022 – Storyhouse, Chester – TICKETS
Tuesday 19th April 2022 – Wyvern Theatre, Swindon – TICKETS
Thursday 21st April 2022 – The Hawth, Crawley – TICKETS
Friday 22nd April 2022 – The Hexagon, Reading – TICKETS
Sunday 24th April 2022 – Mayflower Theatre, Southampton – TICKETS
Tuesday 26th April 2022 – Cliffs Pavilion, Southend On Sea – TICKETS
Wednesday 27th April 2022 – The Central Theatre, Chatham – TICKETS
Thursday 28th April 2022 – Derby Theatre, Derby – TICKETS
Friday 29th April 2022 – Lyceum Theatre, Crewe – TICKETS
Saturday 30th April 2022 – Lawrence Batley Theatre, Huddersfield – TICKETS
May 2022
Tuesday 3rd May 2022 – Theatre Royal, York – TICKETS
Wednesday 4th May 2022 – Theatre Royal, York – TICKETS
Thursday 5th May 2022 – Theatre Royal, York – TICKETS
Friday 6th May 2022 – St. George’s Hall, Bradford – TICKETS
Saturday 7th May 2022 – Gala Theatre, Durham – TICKETS
Sunday 8th May 2022 – Theatre Royal, Newcastle Upon Tyne – TICKETS
Tuesday 10th May 2022 – Palace Theatre, Watford – TICKETS
Wednesday 11th May 2022 – Palace Theatre, Watford – TICKETS
Thursday 12th May 2022 – Assembly Hall Theatre, Tunbridge Wells
Friday 13th May 2022 – The Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford – TICKETS
Saturday 14th May 2022 – The Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford – TICKETS
Sunday 15th May 2022 – Theatre Royal, Plymouth – TICKETS
Tuesday 17th May 2022 – Corn Exchange, Cambridge – TICKETS
Wednesday 18th May 2022 – Corn Exchange, Cambridge – TICKETS
Thursday 19th May 2022 – The Baths Hall, Scunthorpe – TICKETS
Saturday 21st May 2022 – New Theatre, Peterborough – TICKETS
Sunday 22nd May 2022 – The Grand, Wolverhampton – TICKETS
Monday 23rd May 2022 – Hippodrome, Bristol – TICKETS
Tuesday 24th May 2022 – Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury – TICKETS
Wednesday 25th May 2022 – The Forum, Bath – TICKETS
Friday 27th May 2022 – Wycombe Swan, High Wycombe – TICKETS
Saturday 28th May 2022 – Winding Wheel, Chesterfield – TICKETS
June 2022
Tuesday 7th June 2022 – Mercury Theatre, Colchester
Wednesday 8th June 2022 – Mercury Theatre, Colchester
Friday 17th June 2022 – Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool – TICKETS
Saturday 18th June 2022 – Hippodrome, Darlington – TICKETS
Sunday 19th June 2022 – Festival Theatre, Edinburgh – TICKETS
Sunday 26th June 2022 – Theatre Royal, Plymouth – TICKETS
Wednesday 29th June 2022 – Royal Festival Hall, Southbank, London – TICKETS
Thursday 30th June 2022 – Royal Festival Hall, Southbank, London – TICKETS
July 2022
Friday 1st July 2022 – Royal Festival Hall, Southbank, London – TICKETS
Saturday 2nd July 2022 – Royal Festival Hall, Southbank, London – TICKETS
Sunday 3rd July 2022 – Royal Festival Hall, Southbank, London – TICKETS
Sunday 3rd July 2022 – Royal Festival Hall, Southbank, London – TICKETS
All Covid rescheduled dates will be added to the Live Dates page of the website, here, as they are confirmed.
TO VAC OR NOT TO VAC
I would be delighted if, if you are coming to see me, you could do your best to get vaccinated, irrespective of what the gvt or the venue insist upon.
I doubt that my snowflake audience will contain many people who deny the existence of Covid or believe the vaccine is George Soros or Bill Gates trying to put tiny Transformer robots into your blood. But I and my team will be interacting with over 150 000 people on the next leg of the tour, and I would like to minimise our risk, and the risk to my audience, so meet me half way.
I will be selling and signing stuff as usual, I hope, but I won’t be shaking hands to thank you all this time around, and will probably be positioned behind some kind of screen like William Shatner in Airplane 2. Sad.
MEDIA GARAGE SALE
My trusted sales partner Media Garage has compacted all my available stand-up dvds into one convenient on-line marketplace, with most available to d/load too.
Remember, if you buy here we will pay tax on these purchases, and help with British schools and hospitals, whereas many major physical media suppliers and streaming services have found ways to avoid declaring their profits, as have NETFLIX, the utter bastards.
AMERICANS – stop moaning about not being able to see me and visit MEDIA GARAGE!
MEDIA GARAGE | MORE INFO ON THE MERCH PAGE
Podcasts
To try and promote King Rocker I have been pimping myself about like Priss Fotheringham on every Podcast going, alone or with dir M Cumming (Brass Eye, Toast), saying the same things in the same room in the same clothes to all different people, all of whom were very kind.
I don’t know what a podcast is really but I think you go on the internet and click on something.
As my grandfather once said, in 1983, “Do you know, in America, there are shops that only sell Kentucky Fried Chicken?” I enjoyed being on the internet with all these people enormously, but will put some blue water between me and the next wedge.
David Baddiel told me it was good to be on the internet, though. These are available..
SOHO RADIO 1981-1991 LIVE MUSIC MEMORIES SHOW
Some of the music I saw live in my 1st ten years of gig going
SPIT OR SWALLOW
Comedians Sally-Anne Hayward and Lou Conran, and me, on alcoholic drinks
Bristol Festival of Slapstick Comedy
Ince-chaired choice of my favourite moments of Slapstick comedy. May cost money.
ALEXEI SAYLE’S UNFIT FOR PURPOSE
A rambling chat in which I fail to promote King Rocker at the expense of a Marxist analysis of culture and history from the inventor of Alternative Comedy ™ ®
KERMODE ON FILM
Dir Michael Cumming and I discuss King Rocker with Britain’s top film guru and skiffle enthusiast, who has been very supportive of the no-budget project.
BACKLISTED
Andy Miller and John Michinson’s long running and much loved books podcast. I discuss the waspish poet and novelist Rosemary Tonks with them, Nicky Birch and Jennifer Hodgson.
This is a marvellous ongoing Podcast which is unashamedly civilised in an unenlightened era, and this episode is full of great writing, batshit radiophonic music and clever women.
OWEN JONES
North London echo chamber fun sure to irk people of all political persuasions with the forensically-minded folk devil for the far right and snowflake do-gooder Owen Jones, and me, talking about King Rocker and more general stuff. His current run of ‘casts has some great guests.
GINGERBREADMARK
Informed Wolverhampton-based comedy and music enthusiast of uncommon warmth and knowledge talks to me about KING ROCKER and what the Gray Pays ‘n’ Bacon are like at the Great Western pub.
ADAM BUXTON PODCAST
I asked Adam if I could go on this massively popular podcast and he said yes which was very kind of him. It was fun hearing his Mark E Smith story from the horse’s mouth and he asked me hard questions of the type I usually avoid.
A DRINK WITH THE IDLER
I answer questions from various utterly delightful members of the Idler’s thoughtful middle class readership from their wine and book filled homes.
They are the real stars here! You will emerge from watching this in love with at least one of them.
THE LAST LINE
In this episode of The Last Line, James talks to comedian Stewart Lee about his new film King Rocker, a documentary about Robert Lloyd, lead singer of 70’s post-punk band The Nightingales.
During their conversation they discuss the new film, its central protagonist Robert Lloyd, stand up comedy, Stewart’s propensity to defend stand up comedians against the views of the general public and his reluctance to participate in podcast interviews.
There’s an interview with Michael Cumming on this podcast too, link below.
OUT TO LUNCH WITH JAY RAYNER
Sometime in March you will be able to hear me eat a really lovely Sri Lankan mutton curry from the Kolama restaurant, Soho, with bon viveur jazz pianist Jay Rayner. (I see how this works now!)
This is the most showbiz thing I have ever done, and I am glad it was with jazzy Jay Rayner.
HOW TO CHANGE THE WORLD
with post-mod post-man, old school Labour face, and former near pop-soul star, Alan Johnson.
THE C86 SHOW
KING ROCKER viewed through an astringent ‘80s rock filter, w me and dir Michael Cumming
ROBIN INCE’S COSMIC SHAMBLES
This is a new series of docu-chats on different esoteric subjects.
You have to pay for them because they are finished pieces of work not just some fuckers talking or wandering about.
I have appeared on three of them – on Hawkwind, Penda’s Fen and John Carpenter’s Apocalypse Trilogy.
THE MRS BARBARA NICE AND FRIENDS PODCAST
I am winsomely x-examined by the Midland comedy legend and former Everready singer
ADRIAN GOLDBERG ON BRUM RADIO
Dir Michael Cumming and I discuss King Rocker with the Nightingales’ contemporary Adrian Goldberg.
I Arrogantly Recommend
LIVE EVENTS
Rob Auton – Time
I saw Auton’s new stand-up show at Soho Theatre this month. It is full of brilliant one-liners, that linger with you for days, but are delivered with low energy casualness that makes them seem effortless rather than the result of real hard work and talent.
About two thirds through the show quietly glides from chatty stand-up mode into a more theatrical structured shape, Auton musing on life in a psychedelic bubble. It’s on tour. Book here https://www.robauton.co.uk/past-productions
03/09/21 Corsham, Pound Arts
05/09/21 Swindon, Arts Centre
07/09/21 Leeds, Hyde Park Bookclub
08/09/21 Newcastle, The Stand
09/09/21 York, The Crescent
11/09/21 Exeter, Phoenix
12/09/21 Assembly Festival, Coventry
13/09/21 Sheffield, The Leadmill
17/09/21 Kettering Arts Centre
18/09/21 Edinburgh, The Stand
19/09/21 Glasgow, The Stand
22/09/21 Manchester, Frog and Bucket
23/09/21 Chorley, Little Theatre
30/09/21 Aldershot, West End Arts Centre
02/10/21- Reading, South Street
The Nightingales
Birmingham post punk veterans and KING ROCKER stars.
SEPTEMBER 3rd Birmingham Moseley Folk Festival.
OCTOBER 28TH M’cr Gullivers,
29th Newport Le Pub,
30th Exeter Cavern,
31st Lewes Con.
NOVEMBER 1st Sheffield Greystones,
3rd London Lexington,
4th B’ham Hare & Hounds,
5th Bristol Rough Trade,
6th Southsea Wedgewood,
7th Bedford Esquires,
8th London Lexington W BLUE ORCHIDS & TED CHIPPINGTON,
9th Barrow-in-Furness Underground,
10th Glasgow Hugh & Pint,
11th Edinburgh Caves,
12th Middlesbrough Westgarth,
13th Hebden Bridge Trades,
14th Leicester Cookie,
DECEMBER 18th Birmingham MAC w King Rocker film
Ruts
DC Dub punks SEPTEMBER 10TH Liverpool Positive Vibrations, 25th Newcastle Northumbria Uni
Sleaford Mods
Angry loud man and quiet piano man. SEPTEMBER 2ND End of The Road fest. NOVEMBER 26TH Oxford Academy. DECEMBER 2ND London Printworks, 3rd Brighton Dome
Hawkwind
Psychedelic survivors. SEPTEMBER 11th Cambridge Corn Exchange, 12th Leamington Spa Assembly, 17th Swindon Mecca, 27th M’cr Ritz. OCTOBER 28TH London Palladium.
The Wolfhounds
Cheesewire indie kitchen sink realists NOVEMBER 5TH London 229, 19th Middlesbrough Westgarth, 20th Preston Ferret
Bo Ningen
Lots of dates from Japanese noise-niks. SEPTEMBER 4th M’cr Pscyh Fest, OCTOBER 1st Bristol Fleece, 2nd Ramsgate Music Hall, 3rd S’hampton Loft, 6th B’ham Hare & Hounds, 7th Sheffield Record Junkee, 8th L’pool District, 9th Glasgow Stereo, 10th Bristol Fleece, 12th Oxford Bullingdon, 13th London Village U’ground, 14th Brighton Chalk
The Primevals
Glasgow garage rockers, our own Flamin’ Groovies. SEPTEMBER 3rd Middlesbrough Westgarth. NOVEMBER 27TH London Hope & Anchor.
The Catenary Wires
Overqualified theoretical popticians SEPTEMBER 4TH London Amersham Arms, 10th Rainham Oast, 12th Brighton Prince Albert, 24th Oxford Fusion, 25th Coventry Coal Vaults.
The Chameleons
M’cr post punk visionaries on another victory lap. SEPTEMBER 8th Bedford Esquires, 25th Holmfrith Picture Dome. NOVEMBER 12TH Minehead Shine On. DECEMBER 14TH Huddersfield Parish, 16th Blackpool Waterloo, 17th/18th M’cr Ritz. JANUARY 14TH Leicester Academy, 15th Birmingham Institute. FEBRUARY 1ST Nottingham Rescue Rooms.
The Fallen Leaves
Gentlemen mod punks. SEPTEMBER 11TH London Camden Fiddler’s Elbow. OCTOBER 30TH London 100 Club. NOVEMBER 20TH Brighton Prince Albert.
Ben Moor
The performance artist/playwright/monologist Ben Moor is out and about with three new shows.
Who Here’s Lost marries the usual plaintive and beautiful parallel world wonderings with jarringly funny wordplay.
Booktalkbooktalkbook is a two hander with the mighty Jo Neary, about a book talk that swallows itself in a hall of mirrors full of Russian dolls.
Pronoun trouble is a trademark infringing exploration of the Bugs Bunny multiverse.
Book here https://www.spesh.com/ben/index.html
WHO HERE’S LOST? AT THE CONSTITUTIONAL, FARSLEY – 11th SEPTEMBER 2021
WHO HERE’S LOST? AT GREATER MANCHESTER FRINGE – 24th SEPTEMBER 2021
BOOKTALKBOOKTALKBOOK AT GREATER MANCHESTER FRINGE – 25th SEPTEMBER 2021
2.30pm SUNDAY 26th SEPTEMBER 2021
HEN & CHICKENS THEATRE BAR
109 ST PAUL’S ROAD, LONDON N1 2NA
BOOKTALKBOOKTALKBOOK
Described online as “an awkward joy,” “an extraordinary piece of work by all concerned,” and “a mandatory booking at every book festival in the country,” please book now for a very different afternoon of books and talks and books and talks and books.
TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW.
The price includes £1.50 Annual Membership to the Hen & Chickens Theatre Club, which is a great club to be in.
PRONOUN TROUBLE / WHO HERE’S LOST / BOOKTALKBOOKTALKBOOK AT 41 MONKGATE YORK – OCTOBER 2021
The Scientists
16th SEPTEMBER Spicejazz Soho London. Can this one off by Australian garage gurus be for real?
Bridget Christie – Who Am I?
My multi-award winning wife is on tour w her new show.
You can book here https://www.bridgetchristie.co.uk/gigs/
Saturday 18th September – Sherman Theatre Cardiff
Sunday 19th September 2021 – Lighthouse Poole
Friday 24th September 2021 – The Landmark Ilfracombe
Saturday 25th September 2021 – Corn Exchange Exeter
Sunday 26th September 2021 – Playhouse Oxford
Thursday 30th September 2021 – Theatre Severn Shrewsbury
Friday 1st October 2021 – Canolfan y Celfyddydau / Arts Centre Aberystwyth
Saturday 2nd October 2021 – The Y Theatre Leicester
Tuesday 5th October 2021 – Octagon Yeovil
Thursday 7th October 2021 – Pavilion Worthing
Friday 8th October 2021 – Playhouse Liverpool
Saturday 9th October 2021 – Royal Hall Harrogate
Sunday 10th October 2021 – The Stables Milton Keynes
Tuesday 12th October 2021 – Theatre Royal Winchester
Thursday 14th October 2021 – The Lowry Salford
Friday 15th October 2021 – The Lowry Salford
Saturday 16th October 2021 – The Dukes Lancaster
Sunday 17th October 2021 – City Varieties Leeds
Wednesday 20th October 2021 – Forum Northallerton
Thursday 21st October 2021 – The Stand Edinburgh
Friday 22nd October 2021 – The Witham Barnard Castle
Saturday 23rd October 2021 – Haymarket Basingstoke
Sunday 24th October 2021 – Playhouse Norwich
Monday 1st November 2021 – The Stand Newcastle
Tuesday 2nd November 2021 – The Stand Glasgow
Wednesday 3rd November 2021 – Tivoli Theatre Aberdeen
Thursday 4th November 2021 – The Stand Edinburgh
Friday 5th November 2021 – The Stand Newcastle
Wednesday 10th November 2021 – Gala Theatre Durham
Thursday 11th November 2021 – The Arc Stockton
Friday 12th November 2021 – Queen’s Hall Hexham
Saturday 13th November 2021 – Chorley Theatre Chorley
Sunday 14th November 2021 – Warwick Arts Centre Coventry
Thursday 18th November 2021 – Charter Hall Colchester
Friday 19th November 2021 – The Junction Cambridge
Saturday 20th November 2021 – The Junction Cambridge
Sunday 21st November 2021 – The Dome Brighton
Monday 22nd November 2021 – Playhouse Nottingham
Wednesday 24th November 2021 – Pontio Bangor
Thursday 25th November 2021 – Darwen Library Theatre Blackburn
Friday 26th November 2021 – Darwen Library Theatre Blackburn
Saturday 27th November 2021 – Performing Arts Centre Lincoln
Thursday 2nd December 2021 – Quarterhouse Folkestone
Friday 3rd December 2021 – Gulbenkian Canterbury
Sunday 5th December 2021 – Old Vic Bristol
Wednesday 8th December 2021 – Komedia Bath
Thursday 9th December 2021 – Comedy Hall Tiverton
Friday 10th December 2021 – MAC Birmingham
Saturday 11th December 2021 – MAC Birmingham
The Meat Puppets
We are lead to believe that the amazing Meat Puppets, who you must see before you or they die, are doing four UK dates. Grateful Dead crossed w Husker Du. Desert punk psyche. SEPTEMBER 23rd London Islington Academy, 24th M’cr Bread Shed, 25th Newcastle Cluny, 26th Dover Booking Hall
Fossil Fools
24th Sept Swindon Victoria, 9th Oct Water Rats London. Tentative return by top XTC tribute band.
Jonny & The Baptists – Dance Like It Never Happened
I saw Johnny & The Baptists’ current touring show at Soho Theatre in August.
A game you can play with yourself, once you’ve seen them, is to try and think how many comedy acts are actually both funnier and cleverer than Johnny and The Baptists.
There’s subversion everywhere – rhymes that resolutely rhyme with themselves defying the expectation to progress – alongside the undeniable star quality of Johnny’s voice and the subtly supportive nature, and quietly spectacular, guitar playing of Lord Paddy. And they seem like they love each other’s company and revel in each other’s talent which is a joy to behold.
I’ve seen nearly 35 years of comedy musical double acts, from Bill Bailey’s Rubber Bishops, Steve Gribbin’s Skint Video, Rebecca Front’s BoBo Girls, Richard Thomas’ Miles & Milner, and Helen Austin’s Two Girls Wot Sing in the ‘80s alterno days to watching Flight Of The Conchords come up through the ‘00s fringe.
At the top of that distinguished pile, I think The Baptists are the Conchords’ equals in cleverness and comic value, but their energy is frenetic and focussed rather than laid back and zonked. Some dates remain outstanding. Book here
Fri 8th Oct Northampton, Royal & Derngate
https://www.royalandderngate.co.uk/whats-on/jonny-baptists/
Sun 10th Oct Swindon, Arts Centre
https://swindontheatres.co.uk/Online/tickets-jonny-the-baptists-swindon-2021
Weds 13th Oct, Portsmouth, Wedgewood Rooms
https://www.wedgewood-rooms.co.uk/events/2021-10-13-jonny-and-the-baptists-dance-like-it-never-happened-the-wedgewood-rooms
Fri 15th Oct, Banbury, The Mill Arts
https://www.themillartscentre.co.uk/shows/jonny-the-baptists-dance-like-it-never-happened/
Weds 20th Oct, Wolverhampton, Slade Rooms
https://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/event/1F005A8E886B23DF
Thurs 21st Oct, Southend, Dixon Studio
https://southendtheatres.org.uk/Online/tickets-jonny-the-baptists-southend-2021
Alison Cotton
Psychedelic folk OCTOBER 27TH London Café Oto
The Fallen Women
Female Fall tribute band w guest vocalists incl me. DECEMBER 5th London Lexington.
Nina Hamnett
Exhibition of the art of the underrated bohemian Fitzrovian, Charleston, East Sussex.
NEW FILMS
Little Joe (Jessica Hausner) ★★★★
County Lines (Henry Blake) ★★★★★
Animal Antics (Patrick Goddard) ★★★★★
OLD FILMS
Box Of Moonlight (Tom DeCillo, 1996) ★★★★★
Local Hero (Bill Forsyth, 1983) ★★★★★
Where Eagles Dare (Brian G Hutton, 1968) ★★★★★
The Big Gundown (Sergio Sollima, 1967) ★★★★★
The Sting (George Roy Hill, 1973) ★★★★★
Star Wars (George Lucas, 1977) ★★★★★
The Thing (John Carpenter, 1982)★★★★★
Good Vibrations (Lisa Barros D’sa/Glen Leyburn, 2013)★★★★★
Caliber 9 (Fernado di Leon, 1972) ★★★★★
‘71 (Yann Demange, 2014) ★★★★★
Big Night (Campbell Scott/Stanley Tucci, 1996) ★★★★★
Jason & The Argonauts (Don Chaffey, 1963) ★★★★★
Goldstone (Ivan Sen, 2016) ★★★★★
Witness (Peter Weir, 1985) ★★★★★
Avengers Infinity War (Russo Brothers, 2018) ★★★★
Avengers Endgame (Russo Brothers, 2019) ★★★★
In Order of Disappearance (Hans Peter Molland, 2014)★★★★★
Iron Man III (Shane Black, 2013)★★★★★
Pauline A La Plage (Eric Rohmer, 1983) ★★★★★
Gone To Earth (Powell/Pressburger, 1950) ★★★★
The Odd Couple (Neil Simon, 1968) ★★★★★
Excalibur (John Boorman, 1981) ★★★★
Samurai 1 : Mushashi Miyamoto (Hiroshi Inagaki, 1954) ★★★★
Cache / Hidden (Michaek Haneke, 2005) ★★★★★
Babylon (Franco Rosso, 1980) ★★★★★
Summer In February (Christopher Menaul, 2013) ★★★★
Guardians of The Galaxy (James Gunn, 2014) ★★★★★
All Tomorrow’s Parties (Jonathan Caouette, 2009) ★★★★
Medea (Pier Paolo Pasolini, 1969) ★★★★★
Force Majeure (Ruben Ostlund, 2015) ★★★★
Lift To The Scaffold (Louise Malle, 1958)★★★★★
Macbeth (Roman Polanski, 1971)★★★★★
Tomb of Ligeia (Roger Corman, 1964) ★★★★
Massacre Time (Lucio Fulci, 1966) ★★★★
Bandidos (Massimo Dallamano, 1967) ★★★★
And God Said To Cain (Antonio Margheriti, 1970) ★★★★★
Dead Man’s Shoes (Shane Meadows, 2004) ★★★★★
Romeo + Juliet (Baz Luhrmann, 1996) ★★★★★
OLD BOOKS
Rosemary Tonks – Emir (1963)★★★★★
Rosemary Tonks – The Bloater (1968) ★★★★★
John Berger/Jean Mohr – A Fortunate Man (1967) ★★★★★
Ann Quin – Berg (1964) ★★★★
Sir John Mandeville – The Travels of Sir John Mandeville (1357)★★★★
Sean Bythell – Diary of a Bookseller (2018)
Robert Aickman – The Inner Room (1988)
Virginia Nicholson – Amongst The Bohemians (2003)
Joanna Moorhead – The Surreal Life of Leonora Carrington (2017)
Betty May – Tiger Woman (1929)
Val Doonican – My Story, My Life (2009)
Dave Graney – Workshy (2017)
The Strange Case of Dr Jekyl and Mr Hyde – R L Stevenson (1985)
Hide & Seek – Dennis Potter (1973)
M R James – Complete Ghost Stories (1904 – 35) ★★★★★
NEW BOOKS
Tessa Norton/Bob Stanley – Excavate!
Alan Stafford – Wilson, Keppel & Betty, Too Naked For The Nazis
Peter Oborne – The Assault On Truth
Nesrine Malik – We Need New Stories ★★★★★
Sean Bythell – Diary of a Bookseller (2018) ★★★★★
Robert Aickman – The Inner Room (1988) ★★★★★
Alicia Foster – Nina Hamnett
Charlie Hill – I Don’t Want To Go To The Taj Mahjal
Hill’s economic autobiography is a simplistic list of addresses, dead end jobs, cultural ephemera, and brief assignations, garnished with two or three short paragraphs of barely formed reflection. And yet, in reducing his life to these most basic elements, it manages to be a more profound comment on existence then many more self-consciously analytical efforts. As if to confound Wittgenstein, it appears the unexamined life was worth living after all.
Tracey Thorn – My Rock ‘n’ Roll Friend ★★★★★
Will Sergeant – Bunnyman ★★★★
Hotel Art Head – Rhodri Davies & Nikos Veliotos I have written the intro for this new project exploring the interior design aesthetics travelling musicians’ hotel acommodation
https://rhodridavies.bandcamp.com/merch/hotel-art-head-rhodri-davies-nikos-veliotis-art-book
NEW COMICS
Joe Sacco – Paying The Land (2020)
NEW TV
Ghosts S2 (BBC, 2020)
Ghosts – Xmas Special 2020 (BBC, 2020)
The Mandalorian S2 (Disney, 2020) ★★★★★
Call My Agent S3 (France 2, 2018)★★★★★
Call My Agent S4 (France 2, 2021) ★★★★★
The Trump Show (BBC, 2020-1)★★★★★
Lupin S1 (Netflix, 2021)★★★★★
Wandavision (Marvel, 2021)★★★★★
Stonehenge The Lost Circle Revealed (BBC, 2021) ★★★★★
Adam Curtis’ Can’t Get You Out Of My Head (BBC, 2021)★★★★★
Raiders Of The Lost Past With Janina Ramirez (BBC2, 2021) ★★★★
Mortimer & Whitehouse Gone Fishing S3 (BBC, 2020) ★★★★★
The Falcon & The Winter Soldier (Marvel, 2021) ★★★★★
Homeland s8 (Netflix, 2020)★★★★★
Into The Night S1 (Between a Dog & A Wolf, 2020) ★★★★
Unforgotten S4 (ITV, 2021) ★★★★
Inside No 9 S6 (BBC, 2021) ★★★★★
Great British Bake Off S11 (C4, 2020) ★★★★★
An Evening With Tim Heidecker (Youtube, 2020)
Time (BBC, 2021) ★★★★★
Loki (Kate Herron, Marvel, 2021)
Ghosts S3 (BBC, 2021) ★★★★★
INTERNETS, RADIOS, YOUTUBES AND PODCASTS
Rob Auton’s Daily Podcast
Alastair Beckett-King on Youtube
Shawn Woods’ Mouse Trap Monday on Youtube
An Evening With Tim Heidecker (Youtube, 2020) ★★★★
Bridget Christie – Mortal (BBCR4)
Rosie Holt’s Youtube characters
THEATRE
Under Milk Wood – Dylan Thomas (National) ★★★★★
The Pin’s The Comeback (Noel Coward Theatre) ★★★★
This felt like it was from the 1870s, the 1950s and now all at the same time.
It was of a tradition at the same time as exploding it. It reminded me of THE RIGHT Size and it would be great if The Pin could hold the partnership together in the way they didn’t as there’s probably lots to find out about how elastic it can be, and what you can subsume into it.
A Victorian audience would have recognised it as Music Hall and a ‘50s audience would have recognised it as Absurdism, which Beckett knew was music hall anyway. Were they even in a theatre, really, them blokes? I hope it tours.
Ben Moor – Who Here’s Lost? (Hen & Chickens) ★★★★
COMEDY
Jo Neary – Wife On Earth (Hen & Chickens) ★★★★
Rob Auton – Time (Soho Theatre) ★★★★
Johnny & The Baptists (Soho Theatre) ★★★★★
NEW RECORDS
Lady Leshurr – Quaranqueen
The Primevals – New Trip
Cult Figures – Deritend
Vapour Trails – Celestial Scuzz ★★★★★
Robert Pollard – Before Computers (demos)
Kevin March – Last Night
Doug Gillard – Douglas Scott Gillard II
Guided by Voices – Earth Man Blues
Gwenifer Raymond – Strange Lights Over Garth Mountain
Ustad Saami – Pakistan Is For The Peaceful ★★★★★
The Blue Orchids – Speed The Day
Dave Graney & The Mistly – Live At Byrds ★★★★★
Mainliner – Dual Myths ★★★★★
Hawkwind – 50th Anniversary Live
The Amorphous Androgynous w Peter Hammill – We Persuade Ourselves We Are Immortal
Floating Points, Pharoah Sanders & The London Symphony Orcestrea – s/t
Major Murphy – Access
Eleventh Dream Day – Since Grazed
Dry Cleaning – New Long Leg
Guided By Voices – Earth Man Blues
Fixed Horizon – Grenouille
Lucinda Williams – Runnin’ Down A Dream
Krallice – Demonic Wealth
Catenary Wires – Birling Gap
Cub Scout Bowling Pins – Heaven Beats Iowa ★★★★
Pat Todd & The Rank Outsiders – There’s Pretty Things in Palookaville ★★★★
Robyn Hitchcock – The Man Upstairs ★★★★
Chris Forsyth – First Flight
Chris Eckerman – Where The Spirit Rests ★★★★
The Scientists – Negativity
David Grubbs & Ryley Walker – Husky Pants ★★★★
Shirley Collins – Heart’s Ease ★★★★★
Gary Louris – Jump For Joy ★★★★★
Fixed Horizon – Full Circle ★★★★
Trees Speak – Post Human ★★★★
William Loveday Intention – People Think They Know Me ★★★★★
Hawkwind – Somnia
The Bevis Frond – Little Eden ★★★★★
Pat Todd & The Rank Outsiders – There’s Pretty Things In Palookaville ★★★★★
Goat – Headsoup
Adele & The Chandeliers – First Date
Trees Speak – Post Human
Sun Ra Arkestra – Swirling ★★★★★
Phil Minton – Woke Up At 8 ★★★★★
Rudimentary Peni – The Great War
Lucinda Williams – Southern Soul
Son Volt – Electro Melodies ★★★★
Guided By Voices – It’s Not Them! It Couldn’t Be Them! It Is Them! ★★★★
Billy Childish & CTMF – Where The Purple Iris Grows ★★★★
NEW OLD RECORDS
V/A – Rough Guide To Avant-Garde Japan
Guided by Voices – Live At Irving Plaza (1996)
Damo Suzuki & Echo Ensemble – Live @ Green Door (2013)
Heavenly – A Bout De Heavenly (1989-1996)
Martin Stone – Down But Not Out In Paris and London (1992-2013)
John Russell & Terry Day – Russell & Day (1979?)
Derek Bailey, Trevor Watts & Terry Day – At LTC (1972?)
Sonny Rollins – Rollins In Holland (1967) ★★★★★
Robert Pollard – I Sell The Circus (demos) (2015)
The Fall – St Helen’s Technical College (1981) ★★★★★
Charles Gayle, John Edwards, Mark Sanders – Seasons Changing (2017) ★★★★★
The Misunderstood – Children of The Sun(1965-66) ★★★★★
Dexter Gordon – Live In Chateauvallon (1978) ★★★★★
The Loft – Ghost Trains & Country Lanes (1984-2015)
And Also The Trees – s/t (1984)
Neil Young – Young Shakespeare (1971)
T2 – It’ll All Work Out In Boomland (1970)
The Outsiders – Count For Something (1976-78)
The Selecter – Too Much Pressure box (1980)
Brown Acid 11 – v/a (1969-73)
Fleur de Lys – Circles (1964-1969)
J Jazz Deep Jazz From Modern Japan vol 3 – V/A (1962-1985)
The Black Keys Present Hill Country Blues – v/a
Brown Acid 12 – v/a (1968-80)
Raw Material – s/t (1970)
Open Road – Windy Day (1971)
Dave Graney, Clare Moore, Georgie Valentino & Malcolm Ross – s/t (2017) ★★★★
Hangman’s Beautiful Daughters – Smashed Full Of Wonder (1987)
The Lipstick Killers – Strange Flash (1976-81)
The Hawks – Obviously 5 Believers (1979-81) ★★★★
v/a – Goitse A Thaisce (1960-2020) ★★★★★
v/a – Fire Draw Near (1940-2020) ★★★★★
OLD RECORDS
Cocteau Twins – Treasure (1984) ★★★★
Billy Bragg – Life’s A Riot (1983) ★★★★★
Billy Bragg – Brewing Up with (1984) ★★★★★
The Triffids – Born Sandy Devotional (1986) ★★★★
Siouxsie & The Banshees – A Kiss In The Dreamhouse (1982) ★★★★
Bunny Striker Lee – The Bunny Striker Lee Story (1967-80) ★★★★
V/A – Dub, A Journey Into Bass Culture (1970s) ★★★★
V/A – Dub, Original Bass Culture (1970s) ★★★★
V/A – Dub, More Bass Culture (1970s) ★★★★
Tomorrow’s Gift – Goodbye Future (1973) ★★★★
Jackson C Frank – s/t (1965) ★★★★
V/A – Down Home Blues, Chicago Fine Boogie (1947-1958)★★★★
Maggie Bjorklund – Shaken (2014)★★★★
June Tabor – Airs & Graces (1976) ★★★★★
John Martyn – The Very Best Of (1967-1996) ★★★★★
The Owl Service – The Garland Sessions (2007) ★★★★★
John Lee Hooker – Tantalising With The Blues (1965-70)★★★★★
Furry Lewis, Memphis Willie B, Memphis Slim – Bluesville 3 (1963?) ★★★★
Lightnin’ Hopkins – Prestige Profiles (1960-4) ★★★★★
Magic Slim – Live @ Ma Bea’s (1976) ★★★★
Jimmy Dawkins – Come Back Baby (1977) ★★★★
Allman Brothers – At Filmore East (1971) ★★★★
John Fahey – The Yellow Princess (1968) ★★★★★
Freedy Johnston – Can You Fly? (1992)★★★★
Julie Doiron – I Can Wonder What You Did With Your Day (2009) ★★★★
Tragically Hip – Man Machine Poem (2016) ★★★★
Tragically Hip – We Are The Same (2009) ★★★★
Tortoise – Millions Now Living Will Never Die (1996) ★★★★★
Grant Lee Buffalo – Storm Hymnal (1993-98) ★★★★
Shiva Burlesque – Mercury Blues (1990) ★★★★
Yo La Tengo – President (1989) ★★★★★
Yo La Tengo – Fakebook (1990) ★★★★★
Yo La Tengo – That Is You La Tengo (1991) ★★★★
Yo La Tengo – May I Sing With Me? (1992) ★★★★
Yo La Tengo – Painful (3 cds) (1993) ★★★★
Tim Buckley – Dream Letter (1968) ★★★★★
Those Bastard Souls – Debt & Departure (1999) ★★★★★
Wanderlust – Prize (1995) ★★★★
Chain – Towards The Blues (1971) ★★★★
The Schramms – Omnidirectional (2019) ★★★★
Cannonball Adderley – Soul Zodiac (1972)
Fred Anderson – Quintessential Birthday Trio Vol II (2015)
Greg Bendian’s Interzone – Requiem For Jack Kirby (2001)
Nels Cline & Greg Bendian – Interstellar Space Revisited (1999)
The Beat – Bounce (2016)
Nina Simone – To Be Free (1959-1993)
Swervedriver – 99th Dream (1998)
Road – s/t (1972)
Mudhoney – Morning In America (2019)
Necromandus – Orexis of Death (1973)
Julian Cope – Peggy Suicide (1991)
Ultravox – Rage In Eden (1981)
Siouxsie & The Banshees – Tinderbox (1986)
Blues Pills – Live In Paris (2017)
Gram Parsons – Alternate Takes (1973-4)
Mike Westbrook – Mama Chicago (1976)
The Fall – Grotesque (1980)
Truly – Fast Stories From Kid Coma (1995)
Echo & the Bunnymen – Evergreen (1997)
Echo & The Bunnymen – What Are You Going To Do With Your Life? (1999)
Blues Pills – Lady In Gold (2016)
Leo Bud Welch – The Angels In Heaven Done Signed My Name (2019)
The Black Keys – Chulahoma (2006)
Nanci Griffith – One Fair Summer Evening (1988)
The Soft Boys – Invisible Hits (1983)
Robyn Hitchcock – Robyn Sings (2003)
Raw Material – s/t (1970)
Don Carlos & Gold – Them Never Know Natty Dread Have Him Credentials (1982)
Henry Junjo Lawes – Volcano Erruption (70s-80s)
Don Carlos – Day To Day Living (1982)
Bunny ‘Striker’ Lee – Full Up (1968-72)
Bunny Lee & Friends – Tape Rolling (1971-4) ★★★★
v/a – Trojan Roots Dancehall Box (‘70s, ‘80s)
Charlie Chaplin & Papa San – Respect Due (1986?)
Robert Forster – The Evangelist (2008) ★★★★★
John Stewart – California Bloodlines (1969) ★★★★
v/a – Trojan Dancehall Box (‘70s, ‘80s)
Don Carlos – In Dub (1980)
Yabby You – Deeper Roots (‘70s, ‘80s)
Yabby You – Deeper Roots Part 2 (‘70s, ‘80s)
Norma Winstone – Edge Of Time (1972) ★★★★
Atlas – Just Playin’ Rhythm & Blues (1967-71)
V/A – Alan Lomax Songbook (1939-76) ★★★★
Shirley Collins – Lodestar (2016) ★★★★★
The Go-betweens – Loving Shocks (1989) ★★★★
Red House Painters – Songs For A Blue Guitar (1996) ★★★★
Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats – Mind Control (2013)
The Damned – Music For Pleasure (1977) ★★★★
Skids – Days In Europa (1977)
Big Country – The Crossing (1983) ★★★★
Big Country – Steel Town (1984)
Jon Dee Graham – Escape From Monster Island (1997) ★★★★
The Fall – Live At The Witch Trials (1979) ★★★★★
Echo & The Bunnymen – The Stars, The Oceans & The Moon (2018)
Echo & The Buynnymen – Ballyhoo (1980-87) ★★★★★
Orange Juice – Rip It Up (1982)
Orange Juice – Texas Fever (1984)
The Stone Roses – s/t (1989) ★★★★
The Screaming Trees – Buzz Factory (1989) ★★★★
Mark Lanegan – The Winding Street (1990) ★★★★★
Killdozer – For Ladies Only (1989) ★★★★
Magazine – Real Life (1978) ★★★★
The Stranglers – Peaches (1977-82) ★★★★★
Screaming Trees – Uncle Anaesthesia (1991)
Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan – Sunday At Devil Dirt (2008)
The Osiris Club – Blazing World (2014)
UB40 – Signing Off (1980)★★★★★
UB40 – Present Arms (1981) ★★★★★
UB40 – Present Arms In Dub (1981) ★★★★
WOKE CAUSES – THIS MONTH, GOOD LAW PROJECT, GET OFF MY MED RECORDS, GBNEWS ADVERTISERS
GOOD LAW PROJECT
LINK
It’s evident that the corrupt kleptocracy of Boris Johnson isn’t going to dislodged by Kier Starmer’s PMQ’s however forensic, or by the biased media, or by legal investigations in which the gvt essentially investigate themselves.
However, despite the threats to judiciary in the Queen’s speech, at present the gvt are required to obey the law.
Champagne socialist fox-whacking lawyer Jolyon Maugham’s donation funded Good Law Project seems to be better than the opposition currently at holding the gvt to account, and proving where they have broken the law, so if you can spare a pound crowd fund them, as they do seem to be making an impact.
MEDICAL RECORDS OPT OUT
LINK
Did you know that the gvt are about to sell all your medical records off to the highest bidder? Thought not. We weren’t consulted.
I don’t care about the privacy aspect, but I do object to my life being monetised to give leverage to some horrible massive info-tech company.
You can withdraw the gvt’s right to farm your medical history as if you were some kind of data-pig at the link above. THIS IS NOW DELAYED TO SEPTEMBER DUE TO OPPOSITION BUT STILL WORTH DOING
GBNEWS ADVERTISERS
Stop Funding Hate say – Advertising sales for GB News are reportedly handled by Sky Media.
We’re aware of at least one company who say they were unaware that they were going to appear on GB News and suspended those ads when they found out. If you work for a company that buys programmatic advertising from Sky, it may be worth checking with them to ensure that your ads aren’t placed on GB News.
A huge thanks to the Stop Funding Hate volunteers who have come together to help identify GB News advertisers.
Brands that we’ve seen so far include: Vodafone, Octopus Energy, Ovo Energy, Co-op, Ikea, LV, Virgin Media, Kelloggs, Deliveroo, Nivea, Kenco coffee, AA, Premier Inn, American Express, Benadryl (Johnson and Johnson), Wickes, Starbucks, Weetabix, Listerine (Pfizer), National Lottery, Boomin, Cadbury, Taylors coffee, Amazon, Cazoo, Microsoft, Google, Alpen (Weetabix), Beko Harvestfresh, Pinterest, Ladbrokes, Rana pasta, Burger King, Warburtons, The UK Government (EU resettlement scheme), Bosch, Specsavers, TalkTalk, trivagoWeekend, itchpet.com, MSC Cruises, Grolsch, Indeed recruitment, Motability, Feel Multivitamins, Green Flag, Clean G non alcoholic gin, Facebook,Volvo, Bazuka, fiverr, Motability, Ibuleve Gel, Toyota, Appeal home shading / blinds, People’s Postcode Lottery, Just Eat, Petit Filous, Direct Bullion, Compare the Market, Kardia Mobile, Bupa, Verisure, The Open University.
There’s more information here about Stop Funding Hate, and the impact of our campaign so far. If you’re able to help build our movement tackling toxic media in the UK and internationally, please consider becoming a committed supporter and making a regular donation.
11) IN OUR COVID ERA LAMENTATIONS
Adam Schlesinger (Fountain of Wayne) (1967)
John Prine (outlaw country singer) (1946)
Henry Grimes (jazz bassist) (1935)
Dave Mountfield (Ornate Johnson) (1970)
Hal Wilner (arranger) (1957)
Tim Brooke-Taylor (Goodie) (1940)
Lee Konitz (jazz saxophonist) (1927)
Matthew Seligman (Soft Boy) (1955)
Millie Small (ska singer) (1946)
Florian Schneider (Kraftwerk robot) (1947)
Bill Rieflin (drummer for hire) (1960)
Hugh McKenna (Tear Gas pianist) (1949)
Steve Weber (Holy Modal Rounder) (1942)
Astrid Kirchherr (photographer) (1938)
Danny Ray Thompson (Sun Ra saxophonist) (1947)
Aubrey Burl (archaeologist) (1926)
Phil May (Pretty Thing) (1944)
The Clacton Fin Whale (circa 2000)
Christo Vladimirov Javacheff (artist) (1930)
Doll Tor stone circle (3300 BC)
Kay Carroll (The Fall) (1948)
Bob the Cat (73 bus) (2006)
Alex Taylor (Shop Assistant, in 2005, and no-one knew)
Simon H Fell (jazz bassist) (1959)
Carl Reiner (director) (1922)
Ennio Morricone (architect of sonic dreams) (1928)
Keith Tippett (jazz pianist) (1947)
Jimmy Cobb (jazz drummer) (1929)
Barbara Smoker (Humanist) (1923)
The Nuffield Theatre, Southampton
Tony Elliot (Time Out) (1942)
Judy Dyble (folk singer) (1949)
Peter Green (blues guitarist) (1946)
Emitt Rhodes (power pop auteur) (1950)
Annie Ross (jazz bohemian) (1930)
Joe Ruby (Scooby-Doo) (1933)
Craig Weatherhill (folklorist) (1950)
Don Weller (jazz saxophonist) (1940)
Simeon Coxe (Silver Apple) (1938)
Diana Rigg (Avenger) (1938)
Toots Hibbert (reggae got soul) (1942)
Dele Fadele (carry bag man) (1962)
George Jeffrie (man’s-laughter maker) (1964)
Dave Kusworth (Brum punk Stone) (1960)
Gary Peacock (jazz bassist) (1935)
Doorkins (Southwark Cathedral Cat) (2005?)
Spencer Davis (Brumbeat pioneer) (1939)
Bunny Lee (dubmaster) (1940)
The Cubbington Pear Tree (1770)
Fungie The Dingle Dolphin (1979)
Jill Paton Walsh (humanist novelist) (1937)
Val Warner (poet) (1946)
Guy N Smith (Lord of The Crabs) (1939)
Richard Corben (decadent cartoonist) (1940)
David Johnson (Duke of Soho) (1960)
Leslie West (Mountain man) (1945)
– 2021 –
Katharine Whitehorn (bedsitter cook) (1928)
Katharine Whitehorn (bedsitter cook) (1928)
Celia Drummond Ford (voice of Trees) (1950)
The Happy Man Tree (Stoke Newington Tree) (1870)
John Russell (guitar guru) (1954)
Marcel Uderzo (Asterisk artist) (1933)
Tom Stevens (Long Ryder and Magus) (1956)
Dougie Anderson (Coda’s Edinburgh record dealer (1952)
Captain Tom (Covid Walkman) (1920)
Rynagh O’Grady (Ted’s Mary) (1954)
Mary Wilson (Supreme) (1944)
Chick Corea (Miles’ tinkler) (1941)
Iain Pattinson (You wanted to see me Prime Minister?) (1951)
U-Roy (Toastmaster) (1942)
Lawrence Ferlinghetti (bookstore beat) (1921)
Wink O’Bannon (Eleventh Dream Day) (1956)
Bunny Wailer (Wailer) (1947)
Doug Parkinson (Oz vocal celeb) (1946)
Milford Graves (temporal explorer) (1941)
Johnny Rogan (Byrds’ Boswell) (1953)
Jessica Walter (Play Misty For Me) (1941)
Bertrand Tavernier (Round Midnight) (1941)
Anita Lane (Oz punk chanteuse) (1958)
Barbara Ess (Theoretical Girl) (1944)
Michael Collins (Apollo 11) (1930)
Mohammed Ag Itale (Tinariwen) (1960)
Monte Hellman (Two Lane Blacktop) (1929)
Sonny Simmons (jazz hobo) (1933)
Charles Grodin (The American Tim Key) (1935)
Franco Battiato (Italian Fetus) (1945)
Yoshi Wada (bagpipe minimalist) (1943)
Ned Beatty (squealing piggy) (1937)
Davey Datblygu (Davey Datblygu) (1964)
S Clay Wilson (Captain Pissgums) (1941)
Peter Zinovieff (sonic pioneer) (1933)
Richard Donner (kebab pioneer) (1930)
Alix Dobkin (feminist folksinger) (1940)
Patrick Sky (native American folksinger) (1940)
Tom O’Connor (raconteur) (1939)
Dusty Hill (ZZ Top) (1949)
Bob Sergeant (digital Beat producer) (194?)
Byron Berline (Byrds fiddler) (1944)
John Lawton (friend of Lucifer) (1947)
Una Stubbs (wooden woman) (1937)
Nanci Griffith (C&W poet) (1953)
Sean Lock (excrement genitals) (1963)
Brian Travers (UB40 blowhard) (1959)
I’m going to end on a note about Sean Lock, as these days not posting anything on Social Media, due to not actually being on social media, can be taken as callous indifference, and there tends to be a rush to comment in the light of any loss.
My condolences to his family and friends. S Lock always felt like he was in the year above me, due to me starting as a regular circuit comedian in 1989, and him being about 18 months ahead of me, so I never knew him in the way I did contemporaries like Harry Hill or Simon Munnery.
I liked the way S Lock combined whimsy and surrealism with casual arrogance and furious belligerence.
He did a routine – only once I think – at the Red Rose circa 1991 that is one of the funniest, most scatological, most surreal, and curiously the most humane, I ever saw and it made me weep with laughter, alone. It was about him doing stools in the shape of genitals, and then masturbating over them as they bumped together in the toilet bowl, an incident he relayed to the audience as if it were regrettable but also somehow understandably inevitable. S Lock thought this new bit was rubbish and never did it again, and whenever I asked him about it, and said it was the best thing he ever did, I think he thought I was being sarcastic, which often happens when I am being sincere. I thought 15 Storeys High was brilliant, one of the great British sit-coms, and like many I despaired of the BBC’s poor treatment of it.
I loved it and yet I could rarely find out when it was on due to sudden unpublicized rescheduling, back in the pre-iplayer days. I remember saying to S Lock that I couldn’t believe how radical the camerawork was in the 1st series and couldn’t quite believe they had had the guts to submit it. I think Sean despaired about what happened to the series too, and so did the co-writers Mark Lamarr and Martin Trenaman I expect. I remember Armando really lobbying for it in the press.
Its white working class world was exactly the sort of landscape the BBC now beats itself up about not accommodating, but 15 Storey’s towerblock vistas were more Vladimir and Estragon than Danny Dyer and Eastenders.
It suits my view of things to think that it was this despair that drove S Lock into arms of panel shows, but there he stood head and shoulders above the form, like a tall man in a ditch. It suits my view of him to think that, having found himself shipwrecked upon panel show island, he chose to beautify it as best he could, often coming close to subverting the genre. I doubt he liked me especially and on the few occasions we did meet we always seemed to be talking at cross purposes, usually ending in some misunderstanding, though we barely encountered each other this century. S Lock would not be drawn into criticizing other lesser but better known talents’ debt to his work, even when it was painfully obvious and borderline criminal.
He once advised me at length on his methods of avoiding post-show drinking, which involved hot baths and camper vans respectively, and I wish I had paid more attention. Like a lot of the free jazz types I know, and despite his dabblings in art with the film maker Andrew Kotting in the ‘90s and his avowed desire to make 15 Storeys look like a Nordic art film, S Lock would not discuss the idea that his work was anything other than entertainment, not with me anyway, but I have been told that I do tend to over-analyse things.
The amount of effort S Lock (and his writers) put into his panel show appearances, which left me astonished in my naivety the only time I ever tried to fit the square peg of me into the round hole of 8 Out Of 10 Cats (I thought it was all improvised!), contradicted this apparent casualness. In about 2005 I was trying to escape Avalon management, a solid career move of which S Lock was an early pioneer (“You’re breaking these kids’ hearts”, I remember him saying to the company’s promoters in Edinburgh in ’95 or so as they ran another hapless 20-something hopeful into insurmountable debt). I was in an Indian restaurant in Nottingham with S Lock and D Kitson and I was trying to persuade D Kitson to manage me as his ‘client’, as I wanted to be able to reach the small but discerning audiences he did, and without doing any television or publicity.
S Lock said we were a pair of fucking idiots. I don’t know why he was so annoyed, but wonder if he took my attempt to eschew popular mechanisms as a personal criticism. My favorite of S Lock’s stage outfits was a green Riddler costume he wore in Edinburgh’s Pleasance cabaret bar, but he always looked cool in a proto-Britpop Jarvis kind of way.
My favorite routine of his remains the aforesaid one where he masturbates over genital shaped pieces of excrement which are floating in a toilet. My favorite anecdote concerning him comes from Leicester Sq Theatre stage manager Jason Tribe, via tour manager James Hingley, and concerns a tramp, a dog, an open fire escape, and Liam Gallagher, but it is not mine to share.
S Lock was on the list of comedians to take my kids to see when they were old enough so they knew what good stand up was, which we have already begun working through, and which just got one shorter. I wish he had done another project like 15 Storeys High and whoever kept fucking up its scheduling should be ashamed, but it is hard work to build a world from the ground up twice. The last time we saw S Lock, out for a walk on a Spring day, he looked very unwell indeed but told us it was long covid.
The first two heavy reggae UB40 albums, on which the saxophone of the also recently departed Brian Travers was the lead instrument, are also superb in a way people who only know their pop career won’t believe.
But when UB40 went mainstream they sadly didn’t do it with any of the style and subversion S Lock, the rat in panel show comedy’s kitchen, did.
BASIC LEE – Live At The Lowry
Recording of Previous Tour show BASIC LEE is now available to watch on NOW TV.
STREAM HERE
