Ah, 1968. I remember it well… well, I recollect interviewing, if you can call it that, the Incredible String Band for our School Magazine. Not the actual School Magazine but, like, an alternative one, man. Archer was a rather pale version of Oz which all too briefly became the subversive vehicle of the Lower Sixth. At age 15, somehow, I had pushed my way into the band’s dressing room at Manchester’s Free Trade Hall on the unlikely pretext that I was press. They do start ‘em young, don’t they? I don’t remember much about the content of my article. However, I do recall falling in love with Robin Williamson’s girlfriend, the delightfully named Licorice McKechnie, despite her irregular front tee
FIFTY3 champions
outstanding contemporary music through news, album and live reviews, features and interviews.
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.
During the past 10 years I have written for the leading US music website Consequence of Sound and breakthrough act site, BestNewBands. I am a judge for Glastonbury Festival's Emerging Talent Competition and have reviewed the festival for both the above sites.
Nothing gives me more pleasure than unearthing good, original new music and championing independent musicians. You’ll find many of them on this site alongside some legends of times past and I hope they will bring you as much joy as they give me.
Tony Hardy