“A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS
AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!
LET’S HOPE IT’S THE FIRST ONE
WITHOUT ANDREW NEIL!”

Some notes on this tour – I’m seeing various things speculating on-line about why I am doing particular venues, with various imagined personal motivations. I have seen this called a stadium tour; that I have ‘sold out’ etc. I am not playing any stadiums. If anything, for the most part, I am doing longer runs in smaller rooms. I may do some stadiums in 2028, with a special stadium-satirising set, but not yet. As usual tour dates choices come down to the same rather mundane things;

1) Will the venue have excess charges to punters and back door secondary ticketing markets? Are their merchandise %s so punitive it is not possible to run the shop without making a loss? If so I aim to avoid them wherever possible.

2) Will it work for my bad deaf hearing aid ears? Sadly some spaces just aren’t working for me anymore, despite how hard the lovely staff tried, so I am now doing longer runs at smaller more acoustically secure spaces in some towns. B’ham Symphony Hall is bouncy and I do struggle there – one of the shows on the last tour was particularly tough to hear – but the second city has pretty much no-where else to play that is ever available and/or large enough. Royal Festival Hall can be hard for me to hear from the stage but works well for the punters themselves and is extremely safe in terms of ticketing in a way most big London spaces aren’t, where rip offs are rife. And it’s a classy joint!

3) What is actually available in the tour timeframe? The Scottish leg of the tour is increasingly difficult in terms of finding available, appropriate and acoustically secure spaces that are well run with no ticket tout infiltration or secondary market shit. This time around there’s a lot of unknowns. We have to land in Glasgow during the comedy festival as the big venues are sublet to the festival at that time, which makes them easier to deal with. Edinburgh in August is not really viable now, especially in Oasis year, so I am doing one big night at the Playhouse in Sept.

4) I’ll be 58 when I finish this tour, and I am deaf with coronary artery disease. I won’t be able to carry on spreading the 250,000 people that want to see me over all these smaller shows in nice little theatres for ever and in my ‘60s may just squat at big but eminently playable spaces, like the lovely Lowry in Salford or the delightful Dome in Brighton, for as long as they will have me, and you will have to travel! It’s been a blast but I am worn out! You spend your life trying to do the right thing in the essentially criminal world of Showbiz. Nobody thanks you for it. Make me a sandwich!

5) I haven’t been to Northern Ireland lately, not because I think it’s ‘too dangerous’, but because in Belfast the Opera House is the only venue that works for me acoustically, and ideally I will tie a trip in with Derry/Londonderry, and the Republic, and the latter has become difficult for various reasons – none of which are to do with being ‘afraid’ of Ireland. Quite the opposte. I much prefer it to most of England, for example. For Snowflake/Tornado bringing across the shark mechanism would have been a challenge in terms of time and money and manpower. We had a whole Irish secondary set built to tour Carpet Remnant World on the island. Sorry. I miss you and your lovely lands.

1. NEW MERCH

Along with WAXFACE’s usual line of Stewart Lee merch there are new for 2025 t-shirts and hoodies on the Man-Wulf theme, all of the highest quality.
I’d wear them myself but I’d look arrogant.

wax-face.com/stewart-lee

2. BASIC LEE IS ON NOW TV

https://www.nowtv.com/ie/watch/entertainment/collections/ultimate-comedy/asset/stewart-lee-basic-lee…/A5EK6949itCVNKaChrDXN

You’ll have to subscribe though.

Here is a thorough, and not entirely positive, review from a thoughtful young man on Youtube, still better than most pro-critics.
https://youtu.be/kdOYgqCzJ4s?si=1uIZBn8tMWsAiS0h

3. STEWART LEE VS THE MAN-WULF

John Mackay & Sally Homer, in association with Debi Allen/Curtis Brown present
STEWART LEE vs THE MAN-WULF BRAND NEW SHOW
LEICESTER SQUARE THEATRE, LONDON

3^rd December 2024 – 17^th January 2025
AND UK TOURING THROUGHOUT 2025

NB: TICKETS FOR THESE SHOWS WILL REMAIN AT THE ADVERTISED PRICE. SURGE PRICING IS IMMORAL AND TICKETMASTER AND OASIS ARE WANKERS, ENCOURAGED BY SUCCESSIVE TORY CULTURE SECRETARIES IN THEIR CRIMINAL ENDEAVOURS.

In this brand-new show, Lee shares his stage with a tough-talking werewolf comedian who hates humanity. The Man-Wulf lays down a ferocious comedy challenge to the culturally irrelevant and physically enfeebled Lee. Can the beast inside us all be silenced with the silver bullet of Lee’s unprecedentedly critically acclaimed style of stand-up.

Opening at Leicester Square Theatre in December 2024 the new show will tour to UK cities throughout 2025.

Leicester Sq Theatre, London 3^rd Dec 2024 – 17^th Jan 2025 7pm, except for 6pm and 8.30 pm Sat 4^th Jan.
0207 734 2222 www.leicestersquaretheatre.com

STEWART LEE vs THE MAN-WULF 2025 TOUR SCHEDULE

January 2025

Sunday 19th January 2025 – Mayflower Theatre, Southampton – TICKETS
Monday 20th January 2025 – Dorking Halls, Dorking – TICKETS
Tuesday 21st January 2025 – Dorking Halls, Dorking – TICKETS
Wednesday 22nd January 2025 – The Alban Arena, St. Albans – TICKETS
Thursday 23rd January 2025 – The Alban Arena, St. Albans – TICKETS
Friday 24th January 2025 – Symphony Hall, Birmingham – TICKETS
Saturday 25th January 2025 – Symphony Hall, Birmingham – TICKETS
Sunday 26th January 2025 – Symphony Hall, Birmingham – TICKETS
Tuesday 28th January 2025 – Theatre Royal, York – TICKETS
Wednesday 29th January 2025 – Theatre Royal, York – TICKETS
Thursday 30th January 2025 – Theatre Royal, York – TICKETS
Friday 31st January 2025 – Theatre Royal, York – TICKETS

February 2025

Saturday 1st February 2025 – Theatre Royal, York – TICKETS
Monday 3rd February 2025 – Playhouse, Oxford – TICKETS
Tuesday 4th February 2025 – Playhouse, Oxford – TICKETS
Wednesday 5th February 2025 – Playhouse, Oxford – TICKETS
Thursday 6th February 2025 – Playhouse, Oxford – TICKETS
Friday 7th February 2025 – Playhouse, Oxford – TICKETS
Saturday 8th February 2025 – Playhouse, Oxford – TICKETS
Monday 10th February 2025 – The Marlowe, Canterbury – TICKETS
Wednesday 12th February 2025 – Chelmsford Theatre, Chelmsford – TICKETS
Thursday 13th February 2025 – De Montfort Hall, Leicester – TICKETS
Friday 14th February 2025 – De Montfort Hall, Leicester – TICKETS
Saturday 15th February 2025 – Wycombe Swan, High Wycombe – TICKETS
Sunday 16th February 2025 – Wycombe Swan, High Wycombe – TICKETS
Tuesday 18th February 2025 – The Lowry, Salford – TICKETS
Wednesday 19th February 2025 – The Lowry, Salford – TICKETS
Thursday 20th February 2025 – The Lowry, Salford – TICKETS
Friday 21st February 2025 – The Lowry, Salford – TICKETS
Saturday 22nd February 2025 – The Lowry, Salford – TICKETS

April 2025

Tuesday 1st April 2025 – Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield – TICKETS
Wednesday 2nd April 2025 – Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield – TICKETS
Thursday 3rd April 2025 – New Theatre, Peterborough – TICKETS
Friday 4th April 2025 – Palace Theatre, Southend – TICKETS
Saturday 5th April 2025 – Palace Theatre, Southend – TICKETS
Sunday 6th April 2025 – Palace Theatre, Southend – TICKETS
Tuesday 22nd April 2025 – Royal & Derngate, Northampton – TICKETS
Wednesday 23rd April 2025 – Royal & Derngate, Northampton – TICKETS
Monday 28th April 2025 – Playhouse, Nottingham – TICKETS
Tuesday 29th April 2025 – Playhouse, Nottingham – TICKETS
Wednesday 30th April 2025 – Playhouse, Nottingham – TICKETS

May 2025

Thursday 1st May 2025 – Playhouse, Nottingham – TICKETS
Friday 2nd May 2025 – The Mach Arena, Machynlleth Comedy Festival – TICKETS
Saturday 3rd May 2025 – The Mach Arena, Machynlleth Comedy Festival – TICKETS
Sunday 4th May 2025 – The Mach Arena, Machynlleth Comedy Festival – TICKETS
Tuesday 6th May 2025 – Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool – TICKETS
Wednesday 7th May 2025 – Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool – TICKETS
Thursday 8th May 2025 – Playhouse, Leeds – TICKETS
Friday 9th May 2025 – Playhouse, Leeds – TICKETS
Saturday 10th May 2025 – Playhouse, Leeds – TICKETS
Monday 12th May 2025 – Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton – TICKETS
Thursday 15th May 2025 – King’s Theatre, Portsmouth – TICKETS
Friday 16th May 2025 – The Forum, Bath – TICKETS

July 2025

Saturday 5th July 2025 – Royal Festival Hall, Southbank, London – TICKETS
Sunday 6th July 2025 – Royal Festival Hall, Southbank, London – TICKETS
Sunday 6th July 2025 – Royal Festival Hall, Southbank, London – TICKETS
Saturday 12th July 2025 – Royal Festival Hall, Southbank, London – TICKETS
Sunday 13th July 2025 – Royal Festival Hall, Southbank, London – TICKETS
Sunday 13th July 2025 – Royal Festival Hall, Southbank, London – TICKETS

September 2025

Monday 8th September 2025 – Lighthouse, Poole – TICKETS
Tuesday 9th September 2025 – Lighthouse, Poole – TICKETS
Wednesday 10th September 2025 – Hall For Cornwall, Truro – TICKETS
Thursday 11th September 2025 – Northcott Theatre, Exeter – TICKETS
Friday 12th September 2025 – Northcott Theatre, Exeter – TICKETS
Saturday 13th September 2025 – Westlands Entertainment Venue, Yeovil – TICKETS
Sunday 14th September 2025 – Westlands Entertainment Venue, Yeovil – TICKETS
Tuesday 16th September 2025 – New Theatre, Cardiff – TICKETS
Wednesday 17th September 2025 – New Theatre, Cardiff – TICKETS
Thursday 18th September 2025 – New Theatre, Cardiff – TICKETS
Friday 19th September 2025 – New Theatre, Cardiff – TICKETS
Saturday 20th September 2025 – New Theatre, Cardiff – TICKETS
Wednesday 24th September 2025 – Hippodrome, Darlington – TICKETS
Thursday 25th September 2025 – Gala, Durham – TICKETS
Friday 26th September 2025 – Theatre Royal, Glasgow – TICKETS
Saturday 27th September 2025 – Playhouse, Edinburgh – TICKETS
Sunday 28th September 2025 – His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen – TICKETS

October 2025

Friday 3rd October 2025 – Aberystwyth Arts Centre – Great Hall, Aberystwyth – TICKETS
Tuesday 7th October 2025 – Milton Keynes Theatre, Milton Keynes – TICKETS
Wednesday 8th October 2025 – Milton Keynes Theatre, Milton Keynes – TICKETS
Thursday 9th October 2025 – Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford – TICKETS
Friday 10th October 2025 – Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford – TICKETS
Saturday 11th October 2025 – Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford – TICKETS
Wednesday 15th October 2025 – Grand Theatre, Swansea – TICKETS
Thursday 16th October 2025 – Grand Theatre, Swansea – TICKETS
Friday 17th October 2025 – Bristol Beacon, Bristol – TICKETS
Saturday 18th October 2025 – Bristol Beacon, Bristol – TICKETS
Tuesday 21st October 2025 – Storyhouse, Chester – TICKETS
Wednesday 22nd October 2025 – Storyhouse, Chester – TICKETS
Thursday 23rd October 2025 – Opera House, Buxton – TICKETS
Friday 24th October 2025 – Opera House, Buxton – TICKETS
Saturday 25th October 2025 – The Baths Hall, Scunthorpe – ON SALE SOON
Wednesday 29th October 2025 – Cast, Doncaster – TICKETS
Thursday 30th October 2025 – Cast, Doncaster – TICKETS
Friday 31st October 2025 – Harrogate Theatre, Harrogate – TICKETS

November 2025

Saturday 1st November 2025 – Harrogate Theatre, Harrogate – TICKETS
Sunday 2nd November 2025 – Harrogate Theatre, Harrogate – TICKETS
Monday 3rd November 2025 – Tyne Theatre & Opera House, Newcastle Upon Tyne – TICKETS
Tuesday 4th November 2025 – Tyne Theatre & Opera House, Newcastle Upon Tyne – TICKETS
Friday 7th November 2025 – The Anvil, Basingstoke – TICKETS
Saturday 8th November 2025 – Rose Theatre, KIngston – TICKETS
Sunday 9th November 2025 – Rose Theatre, KIngston – TICKETS
Tuesday 11th November 2025 – Brighton Dome, Brighton – TICKETS
Wednesday 12th November 2025 – Brighton Dome, Brighton – TICKETS
Thursday 13th November 2025 – Brighton Dome, Brighton – TICKETS
Friday 14th November 2025 – Brighton Dome, Brighton – TICKETS
Saturday 15th November 2025 – Brighton Dome, Brighton – TICKETS
Monday 17th November 2025 – Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham – TICKETS
Tuesday 18th November 2025 – Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham – TICKETS
Wednesday 19th November 2025 – Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham – TICKETS

3. SNOWFLAKE/TORNADO

Stewart’s 2019 touring show Snowflake/Tornado, which was originally broadcast as a BBC Special in Autumn 2022 is now available to buy or rent “on demand” from www.mediagarageproductions.com

Both shows also appear to be free as part of the current Amazon Prime rosta.

We are currently preparing a physical release of these shows but it’s got delayed as I have been bogged down in picking through a wealth of possible, and very exciting, audio extras, where the material worked much better than in the broadcast show itself.

5. FESTIVAL SETS 2025

24th May 2025 Bearded Theory, Derbyshire Iggy Pop, The Manics, Thee Sisters O’ Mercy, Yard Act, Left Field, Throwing Muses, The Selecter, The Lovely Lovely Eggs, my pals Asian Dub Foundation, Cool distaff Japanese Ramones Shonen Knife, Beans on Toast, dub legends Zion Train, Angeline Morrison, Miki Berenyi from The Lushes and more TBA.
www.beardedtheory.co.uk.

6. Robber Nince

The comedian Robin Ince is so much more than that now. He is becoming a proper poet, not just some comedian who gets their poetry published because they are a micro-celeb, and increasingly good writer of impassioned polemics that never tip over into haranguing the reader. Here’s another one.
https://thecosmicshamblesnetwork.substack.com/p/true-british-horror-stories.

7. TWO DANIEL KITSON BENEFITS

Daniel Kitson’s newsletter announces two benefits the world’s greatest living stand-up is hosting, thus.
Monday 9th of December – Union Chapel, London, for the PDA society w Ian Smith, Ania Magliano, Amy Gledhill and Rob Auton – Tickets are available HERE
Wednesday 18th of December – Exeter Phoenix for Tom Parry’s kids Pre School or something like that. Mike Wozniak, Amy Mason, Mike Bubbins, Will Adamsdale, Mel Owen and my sweet, sweet, collaborator and one time neighbour and all time king of midfield ball retention, Gavin Osborn. – You can get tickets HERE.

8. Out Of The Void

This book, about the sleeve art of Rocket Records’ releases, with a foreword by me, is out now.
https://rocketrecordings.com/products/out-of-the-void.

9. I ARROGANTLY RECOMMEND SOME HAPPENINGS

PARTY LIKE IT’S 1985! FASCINATING AIDA ARE at The Royal Festival Hall 2nd, 3rd & 5th January 2025 concluding their 40th Anniversary Tour.
Tickets from £25 here: https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/fascinating-aida/

VICTORIAN RADICALS – BIRMINGHAM MUSEUMS & ART GALLERY, UNTIL DEC 23RD 2024 AT LEAST
https://www.birminghammuseums.org.uk/exhibitions/victorian-radicals
Three generations of British artists, designers and makers revolutionised the visual arts in the second half of the nineteenth century. The Pre-Raphaelites, William Morris and his circle and the men and women of the Arts and Crafts movement transformed art and design.

VANESSA BELL – MILTON KEYNES GALLERY – 23rd Feb 2025
A World Of Form And Colour. Thorough retrospective on the hot Bloomsbury freak. Vanessa Bell (1879–1961) was a pioneering modernist painter and founding member of the Bloomsbury Group, a circle of influential English artists, writers and intellectuals in the first half of the twentieth century. This exhibition – her largest-ever solo show – provides an in-depth overview that includes drawings, paintings, ceramics and furniture.
Bell’s pioneering work was at the forefront of British abstraction. At the same time, she helped to create conditions in which artists, including women, could flourish. This involved organising the ‘Friday Club’ for artists to meet and co-founding the experimental design collective, Omega Workshops. Collaboration formed an essential part of Bell’s approach to art, including with her sister, the writer Virginia Woolf, and the artist Duncan Grant. https://mkgallery.org/event/vanessa-bell/

SCENT AND THE ART OF THE PRE-RAPHAELITES – BIRMINGHAM BARBER INSTITUTE UNTIL JANUARY 26TH
https://barber.org.uk/scent-and-pre-raphaelites/
Scent is a key motif in paintings by the artists of the Pre-Raphaelite and Aesthetic movements. Fragrance is visually suggested in images of daydreaming figures smelling flowers or burning incense, enhancing the sensory aura of ‘art for art’s sake’. Scent was also implied in Victorian painting to evoke hedonism – pleasure in exquisite sensations – and a preoccupation with beauty; or to reflect the Victorian vogue for synaesthesia (evoking one sense through another) and the penchant for art, like scent, to evoke moods and emotions.

EVELYN DE MORGAN – W’HAMPTON ART GALLERY – 9th MARCH 2005
https://www.wolverhamptonart.org.uk/whats-on/edm/
Stew says, “This late Victorian visionary’s work can come across a bit Advanced Dungeons and Dragons ™ ®, but that probably tell us more about how she anticipated, or even influenced, the populist art of the future. I have a real soft spot for her. Her partner William De Morgan, initially of Stoke Newington, was also a proto-science fiction author, and ceramicist, whose decorative tiles pop up in the oddest places – there may be some in a once swanky pub near you. Anyway, the last time EDM had her own exhibition was 1907 so get on down, and get some lovely Gray Pays & Bacon from the Great Western Pub by W’hampton Station while you are at it”

They says, “Featuring thirty artworks, Painted Dreams reveals De Morgan’s progression as an artist and her technical mastery as one of the most impressive artists of the late Victorian era. Discover De Morgan’s exploration of challenging subjects and painterly responses to enduring social and political issues of the day, such as feminism, inequality, war and pacifism. Painted Dreams revisits the historic 1907 show, reuniting several of De Morgan’s most significant works in Wolverhampton.

The original exhibition was a remarkable achievement, challenging Victorian prejudices and the notion that being a professional artist was a male occupation and unsuitable for a woman of De Morgan’s class. Her ability to layer contemporary issues into mythological tales was well received, with one reviewer for the Wolverhampton Express and Star describing the pictures as ‘painted dreams’. Painted Dreams presents De Morgan as a pioneering artist who explored new, challenging subjects that delved into the fundamentals of human existence.
The artworks are displayed in chronological order to show the progression of De Morgan’s talent as an artist and demonstrate her painterly responses to enduring social and political issues of the day, such as feminism and inequality, mental health and the impact of war.
By recreating De Morgan’s 1907 solo show as faithfully as possible, Painted Dreams highlights a career that has been historically overshadowed by her male contemporaries. The exhibition is curated by Sarah Hardy, Director of the De Morgan Museum, and Wolverhampton Art Gallery. The exhibition is a partnership between the De Morgan Foundation and Wolverhampton Art Gallery. The Gallery is funded by Arts Council England as a National Portfolio Organisation, and City of Wolverhampton Council.”

ALFIE BROWN
The very good stand-up comedian Alfie Brown tours his OPEN HEARTED HUMAN ENQUIRY show. alfiebrowncomedian.com

DECEMBER

FRI 6 & SAT 7, 9.30PM, LONDON, Leicester Square Theatre, 020 7734 2222, leicestersquaretheatre.com
SUN 8, 8PM, NORTHAMPTON, Filmhouse, 01604 624811, royalandderngate.co.uk
SAT 14, 9.30PM, LONDON, Leicester Square Theatre, 020 7734 2222, leicestersquaretheatre.com

SWANSEA SOUND A Winter warmer from the ageless indie-rock supergroup.
DECEMBER

1^st – Coventry, Just Dropped In (TICKETS)
14^th – Rainham, The Oast (TICKETS)
15^th – Folkestone, Twentieth Century Speedway (TICKETS)
21^st – Cardiff, Moon Club (TICKETS)
22^nd – London, Lexington (TICKETS)

TIRZAH GARWOOD: Beyond Ravilious, Dulwich Picture Gallery London, 19 November 2024–26 May 2025.

https://www.dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk/about/press-media/press-releases/first-major-exhibition-of-modern-british-artist-tirzah-garwood-among-2024-highlights-at-dulwich-picture-gallery/

The first major exhibition devoted to the artist and designer Tirzah Garwood (1908–1951) since 1952. Best known until now as the wife of Eric Ravilious and as the author of the autobiographyLong Live Great Bardfield, Garwood excelled as a fine artist and printmaker. Her diverse and enchanting works are gems of the mid-20th century.

THE DAMNED Black Album/Strawberries line-up, with hard-wristed Holy Grail headhunter Rat Scabies back on drums.

DECEMBER

4^th Newcastle NX,
5^th Glasgow Barrowlands,
6^th M’c Academy,
8^th Leeds Academy,
9^th Nottingham Rock City, 1
0^th W’hampton Halls,
12^th Bristol Beacon,
13^th S’hampton Guuildhall,
14^th Eastbourne Winter Gardens,
16^th Cambs Corn X,
18^th London Roundhouse

JACKIE OATES AND JOHN SPIERS Super-folk team up’s festive fun
DECEMBER
6th – Reith Hall, Swaledale, N York
7th – Wychwood Folk Club, Chipping Norton
8th – Folk at the Froze, Woodridge, Suffolk
9th – Colchester Arts, Colchester
10th – Riverhouse Barn, Walton Upon Thames
11th – Chapel Arts, Bath
13th – Ropewalk, Barton Upon Humber
14th – Flowergate Hall, Whitby, N Yorks
20th – Nailsea Folk Club, Bristol
21st – The Globe, Hay-On-Wye
22nd – Halsway Manor, Taunton

DISCHARGE D-beat deadbeats
DECEMBER
7th – Newcastle Byker Grave
13th- Stoke On Trent somewhere
14th – B’ham Castle & Falcom
JAN 4th – London 100 Club
FEB 2nd – Bristol Fleece

THE BLUE AEROPLANES Annual Xmas wig-out from British art-rock institution

DECEMBER 8^th Bristol Fleece

THE FALLEN WOMEN – LEXINGTON LONDON DEC 28TH –

The Female Fall Tribute super-group and live karaoke outfit are back in the biffin bridge between Xmas and New year to blast away your festive blues. https://www.thelexington.co.uk/event.php?id=2897

20-odd songs performed by you THE PUBBERLICK and some special celebrity guests.

THE GENTLE SPRING Former Field Mouse Michael Hiscock returns from his French fastness as The Gentle Spring, semi-acoustic indie-pop in hand.

17 Jan 2025 – Rainham, The Oast
18 Jan 2025 – Brighton, The Brunswick
19 Jan 2025 – London, Betsey Trotwood (Album launch)
23 Jan 2025 – Birmingham, Rock n Roll Brewhouse
24 Jan 2025 – Sheffield, Hallamshire Hotel
7 Feb 2025 – Edinburgh, Leith Depot
8 Feb 2025 – Glasgow, Glad Cafe

THE MAGPIE ARC Fabulous young British country-folk-rock act on the road, augmented by the mighty guitar legend Martin Simpson

FEBRUARY
Friday 7th – International Arts Centre, Leicester Buy Tickets
Saturday 8th – Indoor Festival of Folk, Cecil Sharp House, London
The Magpie Arc, Edgelarks, The Bookshop Band, Sam Carter, Frankie Archer and “The Guv’nor” of folk rock Ashley Hutchings in conversation with Matthew Bannister Buy Tickets
Sunday 9th – Ropetackle Arts Centre, Shoreham-by-Sea Buy Tickets
Monday 10th – Colchester Arts Centre, Colchester Buy Tickets

APRIL
Thursday 17th – The Glasshouse, Gateshead Buy Tickets
Tuesday 22nd – The Phoenix, Exeter Buy Tickets
Thursday 24th – Chapel Arts, Bath Buy Tickets

CHUCK PROPHET Chuck’s last live tour was one of the greatest rock and roll shows I ever saw – real huckster guitar slinger stuff that they don’t make anymore. The Mount Rushmore of sandblasted country noir is on the road here again in 2025. Don’t miss. Honestly.

FEBRUARY

19th – Oxford – The Bullingdon
20th – Leeds – Brudenell Social Club
21st – Manchester – Yes Pink Room
22^nd – Newcastle – The Cluny
23rd – Glasgow – St Lukes
24th – Sheffield – Greystones
25th – Leicester – The International
26th – Nottingham – Metronome
27th – Cambridge – Portland Arms
28^th – Norwich – Arts Centre

MARCH
1st – Hassocks – Mid Sussex Music Hall
2nd – Bristol – Lantern
3rd – Birmingham – Hare & Hounds
4th – Southampton – 1865
5th – London – The Garage

NAPALM DEATH Birmingham’s grindcore godparents

MARCH

4^th – Dublin Academy
5^th – Glasgow Galvanisers’ Yard
6^th – Newcastle Uni Union
7^th – London Electric Ballroom
8^th – Liverpool Academy
9^th – Birmingham Institute

THE LOFT
I never saw Pete Astor’s pioneering indie-folk-rock janglers The Loft, like an English middle class mid-60s Dylan with a post-punk rush, first time around, though I saw the Weather Prophets loads, and regular doses of Astor solo over the decades have been pleasurably unavoidable.
But I am thrilled at the possibility of this, and new recordings show the band on great form. Age suits them it seems.

MARCH
13th – M’cr Gullivers
14th – B’ham Castle & Falcom
15th – Nottingham JT Soar
20th – Ramsgate Music Hall
21st – Bristol Thunderbolt
22nd – London Lexington
23rd – Brighton Prince Albert
27th – Leeds Lending Room
28th – N’castle Cluny 2
29th – Glasgow Mono

HAWKWIND 2025. Another implausible trip for the psychedelic survivors, Dave Brock still imperious, even from his stool.
APRIL
17th – Gateshead Glasshouse
18th – Guildford G Live
19th – Bournemouth Pavillion
20th – B’ham Symphony Hall

MAY
9th – Aylesbury Waterside
10th – Liverpool Auditorium
11th – M’cr Bridgewater Hall
23rd – Sheffield City Hall
25th – Cambridge Corn Exchange
26th – London Barbican

THE NIGHTINGALES Birmingham post-punk leg-ends hit the road again. When will it end?

MAY

21^ST Leeds Brudenell
22^nd Newcastle Think Tank
23^rd Glasgow Stereo
24^th M’cr Deaf Institute
25^th B’ham Castle & Falcon
27^th Bristol Exchange
28^th Brighton Chalk
29^th Cambridge Junction
30^th London Oslo
31^st Swansea Bunkhouse

10. IN OUR LAMENTATIONS 2024

Tony Oxley (Sheffield’s Sunny Murray, 1938)
John M Burns (His modesty blazed, 1939)
John Pilger (News terrier, 1939)
David Soul (The covered man, an inspiration 1943)
Annie Nightingale (Gateway drug, 1940)
Pitchfork (Signal to noise, 1996)
Mary Weiss (She led the pack, 1948)
Chris Karrer (Archangel’s Thunderbirdman, 1947)
Iasos (Greek space muso, 1947)
Phil Niblock (NY art noise, 1933)
Pluto Shervington (Ram Goat Liver Eater, 1950)
Tisa Farrow (Zombies ripped her flesh, 1951)
Norman Jewison (Rollerball Superstar, 1926)
Neil Kulkarni (Era-enhancing music critic, 1972)
Wayne Kramer (He kicked out the jams motherfucker, 1945)
Steve Brown (He left Avalon and taught the world to sing, 1954)
Christopher Priest (Dorset future-ist, 1943)
Aston “Family Man” Barrett (dub bass headcase, 1946)
Ian Lavender (Don’t tell him, Pike, 1946)
Damon Suzuki (Krautrock witness cuddled me & Noel Fielding, 1950)
John Rotheroe (Shire Book Seer, 1935)
Steve Wright (massive old-skool pro made it look easy, 1954)
Alan Tomlinson (Jazz trombonist, dry northern wit, beatnik, 1947)
Ewen Mackintosh (Office secondary superstar, 1973)
Jenni Nuttall (Chaucerian)
Richard Lewis (Worthwhile American comedian, 1947)
Nick Dimbleby (Sculptor of note, scholar, gentleman, comedy fan, 1946)
Edward Bond (Whitehouse-infuriator, 1934)
Karl Wallinger (Waterboys’ prime period pianist, 1957)
Eric Carmen (Raspberry sensation, 1949)
Wally Shoup (Hard-blowin’ hero, 1944)
The Wye Salmon (pollution-fucked fish)
Paul Brett (Crazy World guitarist, 1947)
Shane Baldwin (Vice Squad drummer and punk scribe, 1963)
John Sinclair (Beatnik, 1941)
Carl Andre (None more brick, 1935)
Graeme Naysmith (Pale Saint)
Marian Zazeela (Eternal Musician, 1940)
Shelley Ganz (Unclaimed but claimed, at last, 1959)
Steve Albini (Big blackhead, 1962)
Dennis Thompson (He also kicked out the jams motherfucker, 1948)
Gary Floyd (Double happy dick punk, 1953)
Roger Corman (King of the Bees, 1926)
Doug Ingle (The Iron Butterfly, 1945)
Gerry Conway (Folk drummer for hire and tool of anti-CND propaganda, 1947)
Nicholas Ball (His house bled to death, 1946)
Larry Page (Wild thingy, 1936)
Francois Hardy (Chanteuse genieuse, 1944)
Arthur Gaps Hendrickson (Selectaman under pressure, 1951)
James Chance (He contorted himself, 1953)
Donald Sutherland (Kilroy was here, 1935)
Dexter Romwebber (Guitar jet, 1966)
Clarence Frogman Henry (Anthropomorphic blues amphibian, 1937)
Randy Fuller (He fought the law also, 1944)
Lucy Rimmer (She fell briefly on a birthday)
Callum The Highland Red Deer (Killed by twat tourists)
Mark Found (Sound recordist and model railway specialist)
Shelly Duvall (She shone, 1949)
Wendy Ritson (Centipede violinist, 1934)
Jean Williams (Complex Feminine bassist, 1951)
Bob Newhart (I ripped him off, 1929)
Toumani Diabate (Mali kora master, 1965)
Jerry Miller (He was purple and lived under the sea, 1943)
John Mayall (Bluesbreaker broken at last, 1933)
Irene Schweizer (German jazznius, 1941)
Jack Karlson (Succulent Chinese meal, 1942)
Catherine Ribeiro (Oh! My heart is broken! An angel! A true star!1941)
Anthony O’Neill (Brú naBóinnearchitect)
Pete Bailey (Josefus/Stone Axe vox)
Brian Trueman (Dangermouseman, 1932)
Rebecca Horn (Concerto anarchist, 1944)
James Earl Jones (He made shit sparkle, 1931)
Dean Roberts (Thela-maturgist, 1975)
Brother Marquis (He had 99 problems and a bitch weren’t one, 1966)
Zoot Money (Ran madly towards Tim Kirkby’s dad’s beach hut, 1942)
Herbie Flowers (He walked on the wild side, 1938)
Pat Collier (He vibrated,1952)
Steve Kille (Dead Dead Meadow Man)
Gavin Webb (Master’s Apprentice,1947)
Alan Delon (Man In A Girl On A Motorcycle, 1935)
Maggie Smith (The grande dame!, 1934)
Kris Kristofferson (The Border Lord, 1936)
Tim Darvill (Cotswold archaeologist, 1958)
Irwin the Malmesbury Emu (He loved cold showers and cuddles)
Glen Hutchinson (Cambridge performance poet)
75% of all animal life on earth since 1974 (1974)
Phil Lesh (Bassful Dead, 1940)
Ron Ely (Ooo-e-o-e-o-e-o-e-oooo!, 1938)
Nick Gravenites (Buttered quicksilver, 1938)
Janey Godley (Street level satirist, 1961)
Lou Donaldson (Hornblower, 1926)
American democracy!!! (1965)
Frank Auerbach (Auerbout a painting of Camden please Frank, 1931)
Tim West (He ate royal jelly and turned into a human-bee, 1934)
Roy Haynes (Snap Crackle Bop! 1925)
Pete Sinfield (Crimson King Courtier, 1943)
Johnny Duhan (Granny’s Intention, 1950)
Richard Andrew (Black Cab Underground Lover)
John Prescott (Mr Punch, 1938)
Jim Abrahams (Rapid fire comedy genius, 1944)

11. Janey Godley

I was very sad to learn of the death of the Scottish comedian Janey Godley, and had communicated with her privately in the weeks prior to her passing.

She was a unique voice and, sharing a venue with her at Underbelly throughout much of the ‘00s, I was privileged to watch her learn how to replace standard but effective stand-up material with the bittersweet and brutal stories of her real life that went on to make her such a beloved act. In those days, Janey was one of the acts I took friends and family unfamiliar with the world of stand-up to see, to show them what a vital and varied art form it could be.

She was a compelling figure, by turns exhilarating and exhausting, who I wish I had seen more of in the last few years.

My thoughts are with Sean and Ashley, of whom it was clear Janey was enormously proud.

12.PRIMEVALS MAN-WULF SINGLE

Glasgow’s garage punk veterans The Primevals announce a new single as featured in the new Stewart Lee vs The Man-Wulf upcoming U.K. tour.
There are 3 versions
Side a I’m The Man-Wulf
Side b I’m The Man-Wulf (long nail edit)
Plus a 9 minute I’m The Man-Wulf (long nail version)
These tracks will be released on Friday 6th Dec, a BC no fees day all proceeds to to the band.
Vinyl sides a&b released on a 45 in January.

https://primevals.bandcamp.com