Out!

So, maybe it’s the weather or maybe it’s the clocks going forward or maybe just because it’s May, but all of a sudden good people are putting on good things to go and see. In the last two weeks we’ve seen a shitload of good music, for very little outlay.It all started two Saturdays ago […]

Monkey Music

Things that have pleased me no end this week. 1/ The Littlest Album launch at the 13th Note. A very eclectic collection of musicians marshalled and organised by Adam from The Plimptons. Some great music, most especially from Only Joe Kane, and we got to play a loud set including a new song. So we […]

One Of Those Things That Brightens Up Yer Life

I hear they call him the new Maradonna…Don’t know what they call this guy though…

Not a ConReport

I’ve always thought that if you do Eastercon right you should emerge on the other side with very little you can remember to tell people about, just a sort of warm, fuzzy, drained feeling like you’ve been on a week-long stag-do with a happy-go-lucky bunch of psychic vampires. So, considering that I feel I pretty […]

Perserverence Makes Prizes

Just heard that Tamar Yellin’s “The Genizah At The House Of Shepher” has won the Sami Rohr Prize for Jewish Literature.Couldn’t have happened to a nicer, or more dedicated, person. The book was a long time in the making, but it just shows you what you can do when you perservere. I’m so excited for […]

E-books are beginning to tempt me

And that’s something I never thought I’d say. Generally I haven’t traditionally enjoyed reading from a screen, but book reader displays are getting higher and higher in resolution, and I have a feeling it won’t be so very long before publishers are going to be faced with a pretty persuasive commercial and environmental argument that […]

Interzone is 25

With the publication of its latest issue (in the shops now!), Interzone magazine is officially 25 years old. I’ve been reading it for at least 80% of that time and over the years it has introduced me to an uncountable list of fantastic writers that have enriched my life. I’ve eulogised about the mag before, […]

Sort of Mellow

That’s the way I’m feeling today. It might be because I’ve taken an impromptu day off to get some writing done, or it might be the music I’m listening to at the moment. So, a coupla recommendations for you. 1/ Being launched on Monday, The Ballads Of The Book. A rather exciting arts council funded […]

A Rare, But Amusing, Conflation Of Interests

We’re just back from a couple of days in Birmingham being astonishingly-well entertained by the incredibly talented folk of CandyBox. Look, if you live in the area – or even if you don’t – get yourself some tickets for their next show on April 1st. Even if (for whatever reason) you’re not piqued by the […]

It’s a Book? A Film? And a Song?

So, it’s been a busy old week that’s hardly seen me in the house. I don’t normally like having so much stuff happening at once, but sometimes it’s just unavoidable. So, what’ve we had? Monday : Band rehearsal ahead of the year’s first gig later in the week. Blasted through the set first time with […]