Wednesday 15th January 2025: The Coverups at O2 Islington Academy, London w/ The Speedways Friday 17th January 2025: The Early November at The Joiners, Southampton w/ Mark Rose (Spitalfield) Saturday 15th February 2025: Bowling For Soup at Bournemouth International Centre w/ Wheatus, Magnolia Park Friday 21st February 2025: The Lottery Winners at O2 Academy BournemouthContinueContinue reading “Gigs of 2025”
Author Archives: Liam
December 2025 Mixtape
Tracklisting: 01. Michigander – Not So Merry Christmas02. Ally Evenson – Strawberry03. Lewis OfMan – Smash04. Ash, Graham Coxon – Fun People05. White Reaper – Coma06. Coach Party – Control 07. Permanent (Joy) – Lucky08. Dazy – I Don’t Wanna Think About The Money09. Militarie Gun – Laugh At Me10. JOSEPH – Closer to Me11.ContinueContinue reading “December 2025 Mixtape”
Alternative Exit podcast
Thank you to Andy Farquharson, and Keely Lead from the eoa, for inviting me to be a guest on an episode of the Alternative Exit podcast, recorded live on the show floor at the era Annual Conference last week.The episode is now live via your podcast provider of choice, or you can watch it onContinueContinue reading “Alternative Exit podcast”
The Joiners becomes Community Owned
For a week that started with a celebration of Employee Ownership, it was a fitting pivot to end it on a recognition of ‘Community Ownership’. As of October, the iconic Joiners Arms in Southampton is now owned by Music Venue Properties, a charitable community benefit society (CBS), established to take grassroots music venues out ofContinueContinue reading “The Joiners becomes Community Owned”
Grapevine named EO Rising Star 2025
I returned home from my second from eoa Conference yesterday with a couple of souvenirs, lots of insights and some great memories. I’m not sure if it was more surreal winning EO Rising Star of the Year, or to see these signs on the show floor the morning after! I’m still trying to articulate howContinueContinue reading “Grapevine named EO Rising Star 2025”
EO companionship
Here’s a story about one of the unexpected bonuses of employee ownership. Last year I went to the eoa Annual Conference in Telford to represent Grapevine on my own. Knowing this, Emma Hardy from Blue Sky Financial Planning invited me to join her, Lesley Keets and Theresa Osborne for dinner when we arrived ahead ofContinueContinue reading “EO companionship”
November 2025 Mixtape
Tracklisting: 01. crushed – exo02. Empress Of – Blasting Through the Speakers03. ELLUM, Transviolet – Midnight Bloom04. Magdalena Bay – Paint Me A Picture05. St. Lucia – People Change06. Purple Disco Machine feat. Jake Shears – Fire + Ice07. TWRP – My Big Day Off08. London Elektricity, Danny Byrd – Echoes In The Dance09. SubContinueContinue reading “November 2025 Mixtape”
Beer Tours: Bristol
The Barley Mow, 39 Barton Road, St Philip’s, Bristol, BS2 0LF The Beer Emporium, 15 King Street, Bristol BS1 4EF Brewdog (Baldwin), 8 Baldwin St, Bristol, BS1 1QW Brewdog (Harbourside), Cathedral Walk, Millennium Promenade, Bristol BS1 5LW Bristol Beer Factory, 291 North Street, Southville, Bristol, BS3 1JP The Christmas Steps, 2 Christmas Steps, Bristol, BS1ContinueContinue reading “Beer Tours: Bristol”
Beer Tours: Cardiff
Brewdog, 31 Westgate Street, Cardiff CF10 1EH Head of Steam, 18-19 Church Street, Cardiff, CF10 1BG Kongs, Hodge House, 114-116 St Mary Street, Cardiff, CF10 1DY Mad Dog Brewery, 7-19 Castle Street, Cardiff, CF10 1BS Pipes, 183A Kings Road, Pontcanna, Cardiff, CF11 9DF Scaredy Cats Cafe Bar, 16 Working Street, St Davids Centre, Cardiff, CF10ContinueContinue reading “Beer Tours: Cardiff”
Beer Tours: Dublin
The Porterhouse, 16-18 Parliament Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2, D02 VR94, Ireland The Beer Temple, 1 Parliament Street, Temple Bar, Dublin, D02 AN28, Ireland Tapped Late Bar, 47 Nassau Street, Dublin, D02 RP20, Ireland The Palace Bar, 21 Fleet Sreet, Temple Bar, Dublin 2, D02 H950, Ireland Guinness Storehouse, St. James’s Gate, Dublin 8, D08ContinueContinue reading “Beer Tours: Dublin”
October 2025 Mixtape
Tracklisting: 01. Ben Folds – When We Were Light02. HUNNY – i can see my house from here03. Motion City Soundtrack (feat. Sincere Engineer) – Things Like This04. King Princess – Cry Cry Cry05. Punchline – I Will Wait06. SKAAR – Missing Out07. Pixie Lott – Coming Of Age08. Dolores Forever – Dreams09. Hatchie -ContinueContinue reading “October 2025 Mixtape”
Me and the music
Live music is back on Poole Hill in Bournemouth, courtesy of The Vault venue and Coach Party, one of my new favourite bands from the past few years, who headlined the first ‘gig’ put on here, in what is primarily a nightclub. Some of you may remember this venue as being The Winchester around 10ContinueContinue reading “Me and the music”
Liam Toms 