To recognise the arrival of yet another new year, may I wish you all a peaceful and fruitful 2023, though after the 12 months we have just had it is difficult to approach it with any positivity, especially while an alternate reality persists in Russia and indeed in many places around the world.
Fifty3 Fridays was absent on 30 December and is taking a break for personal reasons. We hope to return on Friday 13 January.
outstanding new music
through Fifty3 Fridays and
occasional features
Music is a great passion of mine. In my teenage years I was an avid record collector and concert goer. Stints as a booking agent, running folk clubs, promoting gigs and even a crack at artiste management followed. While it never became my main occupation, music was always on my personal radar.
In the past 15 years I have written for leading US music website Consequence and breakthrough site, BestNewBands. I am a judge for Glastonbury Festival's Emerging Talent Competition and have reviewed the festival for both sites. I am now pleased to curate my very own music site.
Nothing gives me greater pleasure than unearthing great, original new music and championing independent musicians. You’ll find many of them on this site alongside the occasional legend of times past and I hope they will bring you as much joy as they give me.
Tony Hardy
Selected dates in the London area:
Sun 21 Apr: Jewelia, The Lexington, London N1
Tue 23 Apr: Silk Cinema + Maya Lane, The Half Moon, Putney, London SW15
Thu 2 May: Andrew Maxwell Morris + Hallworth + Paper Anthem, The Bedford, Balham
Sat 11 May: Emily Barker, Banquet Records, Kingston upon Thames
Fri 17 May: Katharine Priddy, Union Chapel, London N1
banquetrecords.com: See the Events page for all live shows in Kingston