At the beginning of 2023 I started compiling a monthly public playlist on Spotify. My interest in new music and artists has been renewed in the first half of this decade and I felt inspired to share the songs that have been soundtracking my life, much like I did over two decades ago. All that’s really changedContinueContinue reading “20 months and a lifetime of mixtapes”
Author Archives: Liam
The mad merchandise of The Phantom Menace
25+ years later I’m still finding and buying items from one of Star Wars biggest merchandising campaigns. Let’s explore why.
Get Cape returns with a novel new NFC release format
Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly is one of the many monikers of musician and producer, Sam Duckworth. I’ve been a fan since his breakthrough GCWCF album, 2006’s Chronicles of a Bohemian Teenager. His latest release, the Monopolies EP is available now in an unusual physical format; oversized monopoly pieces with NFC technology baked in. Two years ago this month IContinueContinue reading “Get Cape returns with a novel new NFC release format”
20 years of Less Than Jake’s ‘B is for B-Sides’
A lot changed in my life during the 14 months between the release of Anthem and its companion record B is for B-Sides, which turns 20 today. I was in my first proper relationship, I’d left school and was getting ready to start college in the Autumn. My friends were going through similar developments in their lives andContinueContinue reading “20 years of Less Than Jake’s ‘B is for B-Sides’”
How two Pez dispensers led to a collection of over a thousand
Although my first collection was the set of NatWest piggy banks in the late 1980s (I wrote about those here), the one I’m probably known best for is my two decade long haul of Pez. You know, the character topped sweet dispensers. As the years go by, what becomes removed from the story told toContinueContinue reading “How two Pez dispensers led to a collection of over a thousand”
The NatWest pigs may have made me a collector for life
I’ve been a collector for as far back as I can remember. With a little extra time on my hands in the past few years to lean into some retrospective thinking, I’ve become interested in where the collecting mindset is born from. Being a child of the 90’s I barely stood a chance against theContinueContinue reading “The NatWest pigs may have made me a collector for life”
Beer Tours: Cornwall
The Bearded Brewery, 54 Vicarage Road, St Agnes, TR5 0TQ Beerwolf Books, 3 Bells Court, Falmouth, TR11 3AZ Bier Huis Grande Cafe, 16 St Andrew’s Street, St Ives, TR26 1AH Black Flag Brewery, Unit 1D, New Road, Perranporth, TR6 0DL Bluntrock Brewery, Unit 8, Pityme Industrial Estate, St Minver, Wadebridge, PL27 6NS Driftwood Spars Brewery,ContinueContinue reading “Beer Tours: Cornwall”
Toy photography on ‘Coruscant’
Presenting my first foray into the world of toy photography… The figure is Wullf Yularen of the Imperial Security Bureau. I purchased him at Sandown Toy Fair as an addition to my ever growing collection of Star Wars figures. Passing through Canary Wharf the next day, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to photograph himContinueContinue reading “Toy photography on ‘Coruscant’”
Beer Tours: Brighton
Bison Beer (Sea Lanes), 300 Madeira Drive, Brighton BN2 1BX Brighton Bier Haus, 161 Edward Street, Brighton, BN2 0JB Dead Wax Social, 18A Bond Street, Brighton, BN1 1RD East Street Tap, 74 East Street, Brighton, BN1 1HQ Hand In Hand, 33 Upper St James’s Street, Brighton, BN2 1JN The Independent Taproom and Beer Shop, 95ContinueContinue reading “Beer Tours: Brighton”
Beer Tours: Margate
Fez, 40 High Street, Margate, CT9 1DS Harbour Arms, 7-8 Stone Pier, Margate, CT9 1JD Little Swift, 7-8 Marine Drive, Margate, CT9 1DH The Lifeboat, 1 Market Street, Margate CT9 1EU Northdown Brewery, Westwood Industrial Estate, Unit J1CA, Channel Road, Margate, CT9 4JS The Two Halves, 2 Marine Drive, Margate, CT9 1DJ Xylo Brewing, UnitContinueContinue reading “Beer Tours: Margate”
Record Store Day 2024
I woke up a little earlier than usual yesterday, so decided to go and join the queue for Record Store Day at Square Records in Wimborne. I used to do this every year, with my earliest arrival time having been pre 4am. In recent years I’ve taken my chances, heading over a few hours afterContinueContinue reading “Record Store Day 2024”
Star Wars memories from generations of fans
This week our Star Wars fandom took us to an event a little closer to home than usual. The touring exhibit ‘May the Toys Be With You’ made its way to lovely Wimborne, where it has a residency at the Museum of East Dorset from til April 2024. Having seen photos of the collection at previous stops,ContinueContinue reading “Star Wars memories from generations of fans”
