It’s generally accepted that the end of a calendar year is the designated appropriate time for reflection, for looking back while we rest, to recharge the batteries and prepare to move forward when January is upon us. Then 1st January happens and you’re torn from the nostalgic slumber and post Christmas haze. It’s go time,ContinueContinue reading “Looking back, moving forward.”
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2025 laid bare
Another year is in the books. It only feels like yesterday I was writing the same words about 2024. Time is marching on, tomorrow I’ll be able to say that next year (2027) I’ll be 40.So often I wonder when it was that I became a responsible adult. Back in the summer I spoke onContinueContinue reading “2025 laid bare”
10 Years of The Force Awakens
Today is the tenth anniversary of Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Kudos to David Tree and team for putting on the closest thing to an official celebration of the fifth highest grossing film worldwide, earlier this month in Fordingbridge – because, where else?On stage in this photo are Lucasfilm Creative Exec, Pablo Hidalgo and CreaturesContinueContinue reading “10 Years of The Force Awakens”
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”
Museum Makers
This week, Poole Museum officially reopened after being closed for almost 3 years to undergo a £10m major redevelopment. The project has doubled the public accessible space across three listed buildings without the need for any new construction. The increase in space allows for more of the museum’s complete collection to be on display and greater flexibilityContinueContinue reading “Museum Makers”
25 years of Less Than Jake’s ‘Borders & Boundaries’
TL;DR – Borders & Boundaries is my favourite Less Than Jake album. It turns 25 today. There may be records in their back catalogue that sound better, bigger hits may be housed elsewhere, but in viewing albums as a consistent line of thought, this is the band’s greatest success, in my humble opinion. The name andContinueContinue reading “25 years of Less Than Jake’s ‘Borders & Boundaries’”
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”
Collector Road Trip: Vintage Toy Shops
Over the past few years we’ve been working our way around the UK visiting a community of small businesses contributing to our growing toy collections. Ever since I ‘grew out’ of playing with toys, I’ve been collecting them. I started with a few I had left that were still presentable enough to put on aContinueContinue reading “Collector Road Trip: Vintage Toy Shops”
Comfort in Sound revisited
Last week I went to see Feeder play their 2002 album Comfort in Sound live in full at Brixton Academy. The jury continues to be out for me on whether album shows ‘work’. I’ve seen quite a few over the past couple of decades, some just don’t convert from record to the stage, that wasContinueContinue reading “Comfort in Sound revisited”
Two much perspective
Last night Sam and I went to see Spinal Tap II, a sequel 41 years in the making. The film deals with the legacy of the ‘band’, which has a fictional take in the narrative but can’t be separated from the real word impact they’ve had. https://youtu.be/wMQZG9u4Sjg?si=RNZK9ojnh7c6pT43 Back in July we visited Stonehenge (the subjectContinueContinue reading “Two much perspective”
Collect Responsibly – Gamifying the pursuit of good beer
In the era of craft, Untappd serves as a journal and compass for the avid beer tourist.
30 years of Less Than Jake’s ‘Pezcore’ and more
Pezcore, Less Than Jake’s debut full length was released in the US, 30 years ago today. The first release was via Dill Records, the predecessor to Asian Man Records, both run by Mike Park, formerly of San Jose, California ska band Skankin’ Pickle (keep reading for more on him!). I’m enjoying revisiting these Less Than JakeContinueContinue reading “30 years of Less Than Jake’s ‘Pezcore’ and more”
Liam Toms 