Some years slide by without leaving anything except a couple of receipts and a hangover. 2025 was not one of those years. This was a year of gigs, chaos, rail disasters, pints that tasted like regret and friends and family who turned every trip into something worth remembering. Music mattered, but the cast around me mattered more. As… Read More »
Norwich UEA – Saturday November 15th Another gig with Jimmy, another adventure derailed by public transport. Tickets were booked, trains booked, plans made… and then the dreaded Rail Replacement announcement. The rattler from Felixstowe rolled into Ipswich a full ten minutes after the coach to Norwich had departed, which meant only one thing: two pints in The Station… Read More »
A blustery Friday night by the coast, a couple of pints in The Grosvenor, and a five-minute battle through Storm Amy — not the most glamorous route to rock ’n’ roll history, but that’s Felixstowe for you. This time it was just me and Neil, venturing out to see Roy Orbison & The Traveling Wilburys Experience at the… Read More »
Gig Review: Manics, Charlatans & Ash – Audley End Some gigs just land perfectly – good(ish) weather, great company, and a triple bill that reads like your mid 20s CD collection. Audley End, still the best outdoor venue in the country, once again came up trumps. The view: immaculate. The vibes: impeccable. The car park exit: an endurance… Read More »
Another weekend and another gig. Me, Neil, and Hammy — on the road again. Early pick-up, and away we went for a dose of nostalgia in the gardens of a stately home via a KFC for lunch. After a three-hour drive (Neil) and a stop off at Reading services for the aforementioned chicken dinner we arrived at Englefield… Read More »
Bramall Lane, the historic home of Sheffield United F.C., played host to an evening of Britpop nostalgia and working-class poetry as Paul Heaton returned for a special hometown-flavoured performance. With support from Lightning Seeds and Shed Seven, the event pulled in a lively crowd for a Bank Holiday Sunday night of singalongs and solid northern sentiment. This marked… Read More »
Promoted by my mate Coxy under his DIRTY MANGOES banner, this latest night out was more than just a gig—it was a chance to support a friend and soak in some new sounds. So, with Hammy and Neil in tow, we headed out in full support mode, eager to see what Coxy had curated this time. The Main… Read More »
The Setting: Audley End and Festival Vibes There’s something timeless about spending a summer Saturday at a venue like Audley End House. Just an hour’s drive away, we arrived mid-afternoon, camping chairs in hand, ready for a laid-back day of music, beers, and sunshine. There’s always a shared camaraderie at these kinds of events—like-minded people gathered for the… Read More »
Sting at Thetford Forest – A Night of Mixed Feelings in the Pines Gig #6 in Thetford Forest saw me return to one of the UK’s most unique and atmospheric live venues for a sixth time. Following sets from Paul Heaton (twice), The Pogues, Madness, and Paul Weller, this time the headliner was none other than Sting—a name… Read More »
Liam Gallagher & John Squire Live in Kentish Town: A Monday Night Worth Breaking the Rules For Attending a gig on a Monday night might seem mad to some, but post-Covid, I’ve adopted a new approach: if it brings joy, don’t say no. So, with little hesitation, I found myself heading to Kentish Town for the second time… Read More »