An Artful October 2021
October 2021 This month started at a Manics gig! Follows on nicely from the September 2021 issue of TheZineUK diary (image: The Wire by Lorna Cort). Manic Street Preachers remain one of the running threads through this story’s whimsical tapestry.
In our sad Covid 19 Age, it’s an escapist joy when any live music can happen so we (Dizzy & Caffy) were like a couple of kids when we got outta Coalville and Deptford to start this episode in Stoke on Trent. October is 31 Days of ArtfulFest on the uniqulture dimension (attempting fresh futures by randomly weaving art, fun, tips and friendship). Mainstream “Listmas” season) starts and ends media world years with “best of”/“ones to watch” lists. We’re always thrilled to see some of our faves included. Being situationist, our “what happens next?” starts October 1st! Artful Month elicits cosmic results and helps to steer our yellow brick road to the bright pink catwalk!
Friday 1st October - Stoke On Trent Music Tourism adventures. No proper shots of the gig (too busy buzzing) but beautiful music and moments experienced. Pre-gig, The Albion Pub DJ over the road from Victoria Halls played an hour of Manics’ tunes so it was like singing along to TWO gigs in one night! Next pages, Stoked memories of 2021 and 1992!
Hallo Stoke On Trent, Friday 1st October 2021 - Our pre-gig excitement became post show euphoria!
2021
What a band, what a view. Thanks again Gillian, Hall Or Nothing!
1992
Saturday 2nd October 2021 The morning after, I photographed my friend, (and TheZineUK’s editor), Dizzy Spell, in our hotel room over the road from Stoke on Trent train station. I’d stayed here before she was born (when I worked at Hall Or Nothing (Manic Street Preachers PR and management community for over thirty years now). Thanks to a mention by in the gig James, I had a decades flash-back memory: The morning after the 1992 gig (for which the Manics DID turn up!). I remembered Ginger of The Wildhearts running around this hotel’s restaurant, while trying to balance a large amount of breakfast crockery on a tea tray. His entertaining circus act did not end well if I remember rightly, heh heh!
Saturday 2nd October 2021 Choo choo! A couple of hours later I was in Liverpool/Loverpool!
2nd October, Alternative Rock: The interdependent new music industrious in full effect at Liverpool Sound City Festival with a take-over of EBGBs by End Of The Trail Creative, Blaggers Records and Fear Records - with an early ‘Ones To Watch 2022’ tips bill performing live, plus Away Day Radio on the DJ decks. Packed from the first note, this venue buzzed like a hive should. The exceptional line up was completed by The Clockworks pop-up starring at 10pm.
A palpably pulsing fusion of essential live sets and new music industrious mixing.
2nd October. EBGBs - Sound City Festival, Liverpool. Blackpool rock supreme, Jekyll, have since been confirmed for SXSW, USA, in Spring 2022.
2nd October: EBGBs, Sound City Festival, Liverpool. The atmosphere of seeing special gigs in a Liverpool Cellar Bar is what legends are made of.
#MusicTourism - EBGBs, 80-82 Seel St, Liverpool. (2nd October 2021)
2nd October: EBGBs, Sound City Festival, Liverpool. Sweethearts play End Of The Trail stage. Every set here today has raised profile, since.
2nd October: EBGBs, Sound City Festival. Singers, eh, Euan? :-)
Behind the Family Jools drummer, Victor of MOSES and George of Family Jools, catching up.
2nd October: EBGBs, Sound City Festival. Oliver of SHADE helped Matthew of MOSES, kit-wise. It was one of those music as community days.
End Of The Trail stage - industrious interdepenent instagrams to follow: Fear @fear_records_official/ Awayday Radio @officialawaydayradio/ Blaggers @blaggersrecords
2nd October: EBGBs, Sound City Festival, Liverpool - was FAB
Another thread in #TheZineUK’s tapestry is Play It Loud UK - an artist ally at End Of The Trail Creative. Promoter, photographer and music writer, Melli Foris, catching up with Blackpool Rock (!) musicians, Jekyll, between live sets at EBGBs. Up and down Britain and Ireland, the alternative punky pop music industry, shaking grassroots music venues, is redolent of The Cavern, circa 1960s, and where the biggest stories are unfolding. This documentary is a fly on a load of noisy walls. Word of mouth from the newer wave of artists and independent media/industry weave threads in a true movement story.
October 1st to 31st Create
2021?
new twists for 2022 …ARTFULLY 2013 created TheZineUK Launched January 2014 With live punk x poetry)
Then first published March 2014
Revived as a “thing” in 2020’s tramatised shock of house arrest (a.k.a. Lockdown 1), ArtfulFest mirrored how fckn FANTASTIC creatives from this story, and other kind activists, are. Amersham Arms where TheZineUK was created is located in Lewisham 2022 - London Borough of Culture. It really got up the noses of snobs when this and 2023 (Croydon) were announced. They sneered at what South London could offer; ”ugh, it’s hardly Chelsea, Hampstead or Sloane Square is it? (too many wonderful working class, you mean?!). The adult response to their disdain is ha ha HA!
Save The Ravensbourne Arms! Inspiring DIY / alternative initiatives and ideas seem especially sparked during the month of October #ArtfulFest feels like a new term of future makers. This year, Sister Midnight’s campaign is an exciting instigation. The feedback is already phenomenal. It really does contribute alternative reality to Lewisham - London Borough Of Culture 2022. I also get a kick out of seeing Music Venue Trust’s logo on a poster in the window of a local bar→
Monday 4th October 2021 Online: Internet? InterNOT! When the social media tech giants go down (except for Twitter), reactions are a mixture of stress, frustration and humour. Internuts.
Train line: Dalston Junction Station
The awed reactions to the experimentalvibes band born as Helve continue to build. Organically, and consistently. TheZineUK’s Events Department only gets to stage one live music social in 2021 as there’s a nation wide, venue slots backlog. Many gigs are still being played that were originally booked from Spring 2020 onwards, petrol supply permitting.So it was a thrill just to promote a show. You better believe how happy we are that this exceptional band could come and headline the ArtfulFest Party at Amersham Arms in such a legendary manner. →
Wednesday 6th October - Amersham Arms, ArtfulFest
Artfully - #2022soundslike New Name, Raised Game! Oh oh! There’s SOMETHING IN THE LAKE insta: @somethinginthelake
Thursday 7th October 2021 The first full show from the GET ON! TV series features Lighthaus. Roobi TV crew have been filming live sessions and Louise Schofield has been conducting interviews since the end of 2020. The series - initially made at the 606 Club in Chelsea was launched in Spring 2021. In Summer, the studio moved to New Cross where this Amersham Arms session was recorded. TheZineUK first caught them supporting Helve at The Old Blue Last in July. The filmed gig is a return show. Venue manager, Andy Palmer, is a big fan.
Stream or buy at www.roobi.tv
8th to 10th October 2021 Till The Fest celebrated 20 years of DIY punk across New Cross venues in London’s Lower East Side. The sold out weekender is friendly fun and lively - just what this year needs.
Following page, The Filaments at Amersham Arms on Friday night.
Monday 11th October 2021 This being ArtfulFest month, it was exciting to venture westwards by train for a wonderful meeting of music loving minds that happened under this clock tower (which looks like an image from a children’s story book). Now it’s a picture in a tale of (and for) children of all ages. This one. What happens next? Here’s wishing you at New Cross on Friday 4th February 2022 join this tale because Anna Wolf live - will be a MOMENT!
The Naughties: Old school ArtBeat, artfully woven into our , Harry Potter, NME at Buckingham Palace etc. Fast forward firfteen years of flame, and Lewisham is London Borough of Culture.
Wednesday 13th October 2021
An evening in Mayfair. A very *arty fairy tale* looking part of London. After a wonderful walk peering into windows and day dreaming at architecture, I made my way to the iconic Christies Art House & Gallery. HeArt: Stanley Donwood exhibition reception. The audio-visual nature of ArtBeat inspirations deservedly being celebrated grandly. Bonus: Ah, lovely Radiohead and their crew. It’s been too long. I had missed them. At one point, I hear ‘Inner Meet Me’ by The Beta Band (who I also worked with at Hall Or Nothing), I dance into a gallery and the DJ is Thom Yorke.
October 2021 Black History Month is also ArtfulFest future month. 21st Century Rock n Pop is so exciting with #uniqulture!
Nova Twins are in the vanguard of continuing Sister Rosetta Tharpe’s legacy and taking it to new levels alongside feminism, DIY Stage Style, inclusion and, frankly, how to be a star talent - with dignity and intelligence. They bring it all. As the artists that this documentary catches up with, whenever possible, it’s a real journey seeing the roller coaster their tales unfold. In the August issue, we caught their first live show since lockdown at Love Music Hate Racism festival. By the end of 2021, Nova Twins had appeared on public billboards in the UK as well as the USA.
Thursday 14th October 2021: Kick Out The Jams at Amersham Arms sponsored by Rotor Videos. Pictured: Voodoo Radio.
Thursday 14th October 2021 An ArtfulFest vibed edition of the Deptford Mix Up by Kick Out The Jams & Rotor Videos: at Amersham Arms. The Institutes acclaimed debut LP, ‘Colloseums’, was released the next day (42s Records). End Of The Trail Creative alumni, the band are on a steady climb in praise with their 21st Century classic Britpop. 2021 onwards is a snakes & ladders board where gigs are concerned. Will the whole line up make it on stage? Will audience members test negative so that they can attend?
This evening, there’s a last minute replacement (again!) - Enjoyable Listens does a rock n roll Indiana Jones safari from North to South London (it’s a very big city!) to make it on stage just in time for an (as ever) entertaining set. I caught openers, Cross Wires, at the end of 2019 supporting The Blinders on their For The Many tour. I don’t know if it’s two years of the CONs misrule and brexshit bull-shit, but something has put a firecracker up this band’s collective arse and they were ON FIRE tonight. Brilliant rock entertainment from start to Voodoo Radio’s sharp n showy finish.
Usually a double act, but tonight, like James Bond doing Jarvis Cocker - yet in a world of his own mad making, had first caught Enjoyable Listens on this same New Cross stage a year earlier at an End Of The Trail Creative party.
14th October Cross Wires, Kick Out The Jams, Amersham Arms
14th October The Institutes, Kick Out The Jams, Amersham Arms
14 Oct: Enjoyable Listens, Kick Out The Jams, Amersham Arms
14 October Voodoo Radio, Kick Out The Jams, Amersham Arms
14 October Voodoo Radio, Kick Out The Jams, Amersham Arms
That same evening, new British political parties with policies of democratic socialism and environment met up on line… Timely, cos Brexshit is well fash.
Saturday 16th October 2021 Walking/limping Day. I was in Camden (North West London) for National Minx Day under beautiful trees then back in Rocklands (South East London) later that evening to enjoy a genuine music world hero, John Kennedy of Radio X, playing some absolute scorchers at St Felix Place a new al-fresco bar at 45 Southwark Street, London SE1. I was on my home but had some beers and made some new friends. Nearby riverside landmark The Shard (above London Bridge station) really does look like The Eye Of Sauron! I’m going back there when the weather warms up a bit - but in the mean time, from that friendly and inclusive experience, I would totally recommend this for Music Tourism.
#MusicTourism Southwark
19th October 2021 -
THIS!
19th October Amersham Arms: Argh. My head is doing a drum solo of pain. Nose is streaming more than Spotify (snotify?) but what’s a vintage rock chick to do? It’s the MASHzine launch party and luckily it’s at ArtBeat HQ so I can walk there (slightly drama queen at first but the fresh air did me good for a bit). Talking Generation Tremorists, again. MASH (with merch by Betty Glue) are the freaking fabbest. I also get to complete my collection of three superbly observed (and aesthetically envy-making) issues. Big up editor, Scarlet Hall and all the mashers. I enjoyed a brilliantly curated, welcoming and entertaining evening out - well, for a few hours - head cold 1, Caffy 0, after a while - but I got some almost in focus images! Next time, be there via insta: @_mashzine_/
19th Ocober - MASHzine at Amersham Arms - Beautiful, Wonderful, Character Full
19th Ocober - MASHzine at Amersham Arms - a backroom bar beehive buzz…
19th Ocober - MASHzine at Amersham Arms - #StageStyle in abundance
I do believe that The Faeries Band of New Cross would enjoy Vanity Fairy being here
Vanity Fairy - 19th Ocober - MASHzine at Amersham Arms
The Ringards - 19th Ocober - MASHzine at Amersham Arms
The Ringards - 19th Ocober - MASHzine at Amersham Arms
As mentioned, head-cold stopped play but as a mix of TheZineUK doc’s tips of generation tremoristsand the newer wave of media and promoters, we’ve got a pash for MASHzine. Brilliantly done in words, images, events and as an expanded fam of young creatives. Get involved…
October 2021: From New Cross (19th) to Nottingham (20th) where John Springett was down the front, photographing Kasabian for TheZineUK →
20th October 2021: " have just dropped a brand new release ‘ALYGATYR’, amidst a tour in which guitarist and songwriter, has taken over as the band’s frontman. How’s that working out for them?” Fuller picture report by John Springett - Spring Image Photography at thezineuk.co.uk/articles/kasabian
Kasabian pix by John Springett springimages.co.uk
Kudos to lovely Katie Owen. The Autumn 2021 Kasabian tour DJ has been a big fan of the band since very young school days. It’s so ace seeing our #MusicPeopleParty’s first decks host gaining recognition for her great love and knowledge of genre fluid music. Oh, and proper #StageStyle too!
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An official welcome for Little Amal
London Borough Of Culture 2022 really started on Monday 22nd October 2021 when Little Amal & The Walk came to Deptford Fun City in Lewisham. Artful peace and love theatre as a community of reality.
Perfectly imperfect Deptford Fun City, home of the Anchor Town Rebellion.
27th October 2022 And yet another beautiful day in South East London. Most of us don’t get to travel so much over the last few years. I am lucky to live at The World’s Zone Of Time.
Musician aces Matthew McCrilly and Otta Bayley of the rock band MOSES, take a break while recording a new song.
October 2022 Otta, MOSES Greenwich, London
October 2021 - The Sir David Attenborough / Boaty McBoatface, Rocklands, Costa del Thames, before setting sail on it’s first Antartic mission. The UK’s most advanced polar research ship docked in London to mark the start of the Cop26 climate conference/cop-out. It’s arrival was part of a public celebration hosted by the British Antarctic Survey and Greenwich museums.
October 2021: Hit The North Festival hits the SSD Concert Promoter consequences - as most of the line up pull out in solidarity.
October 2021: On a positive note, Colin Kaepernick narrates COLIN IN BLACK AND WHITE - a Netflix drama series recounting his formative years navigating race, class and culture while aspiring for greatness. So many souls touched and inspired by this. Mine included.
TheZineUK, 2018 - that issue had a Love Music, Love Football, Hate Racism art cover with kind permission of use by Bands FC. It included Extinction Rebellion and also Love Music Hate Racism, Music Venue Trust and Fightback Lager uniting as #TheBeautifulResistance Politics affects every aspect of TheZineUK documentary and every day of this world. By October 2021 we were adapting to life through the looking glass of the white mirror world post Lockdown when existing can sometimes be exhausting. There was news of for a positive return: Since Chapter 1 of our tale, Soccer Six is in it. The world’s biggest celebrity football event returned in November 2021. From the October preview (next page) →
Excerpts: UCL climate scientists will team up with celebrities, social media stars and football players for a ‘Game of History’ at COP26 next month in an effort to raise awareness of the damaging effects of eco-anxiety on young people and will raise money for children's charity Blameless. 'I honestly believe that together we can make this a better, safer, healthier planet for all humanity. Football has the power to break down barriers and energise us all in our fight to save the world” - Professor Mark Maslin (University College London), Climate Scientist and author of ‘How to Save Our Planet’ “We are honoured to be organising this match at such a crucial time for our collective future”. Soccer Six founder, Mark Abery, The pioneering celebrity football tournament has led the way since 1995 and been staged at prestigious football stadiums across the UK and Europe. Soccer Six gives fans the chance to see their favourite stars unite to raise money and awareness for good causes. Ah some memories. The fuller story of next level Soccer Six planting new futures with a Game Of History is in TheZineUK November 2021 pic diary.
October 2021 was meanderings of a Mad Old Bat (Deluxe) inspired by the generation tremorists on the rise. Take some time for the immense talents and possibilities in TheZineUK’s documentary? (And it’s not every theatre who finds itself in a space ship…!) Ta for reading.
October 2022
Image via social media