FIFTY3FRIDAYS: LIVE AT THE BEDFORD – TUES 22 SEPTEMBER
It might be over 3 months away but I am pleased to announce that we are back at The Bedford. The iconic venue in downtown Balham, SW London is an enduring, welcoming space for independent music with its signature circular-shaped gig room, superb sound system and internet live broadcasts. It is a venue to which people come to listen rather than talk over the music and are encouraged to stay for the whole show. On Tuesday 22 September, we have a great line-up at a special Fifty
7 hours ago
FIFTY3FRIDAYS: IT MUST BE JUNE
If I had a pint for everyone who has grimly announced that summer is now over, I would be fully under the table. After the heat of late May comes the rain in early June and a welcome drop in temperature for anyone struggling to sleep. Those visiting small live music venues without air con may also be slightly relieved to say nothing of those who otherwise would be sweating it out on stage and regretting wearing the leather trousers. All of which has little to do with today’s
Jun 5
FIFTY3FRIDAYS: BELLA, BELLA, BELLA HUH!
You may have spotted that I did not publish anything last Friday. Having devoted a few column inches to Eurovision 2026 the previous week, you might have reasonably surmised that I had to keep a low profile after describing what transpired to be the winning entry, “Bangaranga” from Bulgaria’s Dara (pictured above), as truly awful. (Sorry Dara). Yet again your ashen-faced scribe did not trouble the Eurovision bookies as my taste in music is clearly poles apart from that of the
May 29
FIFTY3FRIDAYS: EUROVISION NONSENSE
Photo of Look Mum No Computer © EBU / Sarah Louise Bennett On the eve of Eurovision 2026 I thought I would top and tail this week’s tome with a little song contest nonsense. I am never quite sure whether it is considered cool to admit you actually watch, and even relish, this annual pop culture spectacular but I go way back to the days of Katie Boyle who first presented it for the BBC in 1960. In those days it was all ballgowns and tuxedos. Today we have the UK entrant, Sam B
May 15
FIFTY3FRIDAYS: THE EIGHTH OF MAY
Today is indeed the eighth of May; a date on which all Motörfans are urged to turn up the volume to celebrate the loudest day of the year, Motörhead Day! Anyone in for the long haul might even recall that I last wrote about this landmark in 2021, then almost 40 years since Motörhead released its seminal live album No Sleep ‘Til Hammersmith. That’s now ticked on to 45 years and sadly in March guitarist Phil Campbell passed away to join Lemmy in the choir invisible. We close th
May 8
FIFTY3FRIDAYS: MUSIC TO YOUR EARS
I combine writing this weekly tome with listening to the week’s music submissions to Fresh On The Net, the independent music blog founded by Tom Robinson and now helmed by Del Osei-Owusu. I am one of a small team of moderators who nominate our favourite entries from all those submitted that week, resulting in a Listening Post totalling 25 tracks. Readers then lend their own ears and vote for their five favourite tracks. The 10 tunes receiving the most votes become the week’s
May 3
