- Mar 25, 2022
FIFTY3 FRIDAYS: SOMETHING GOOD TO REPORT
Black Rod’s Garden Entrance. Did I know that Black Rod had a garden? Probably not, though as one does exist I guess it will have an entrance. Yesterday found us at the Palace of Westminster for a special presentation as my daughter Rosalind had been selected to receive the British Citizen Award (BCA) for her work supporting young people with special needs and also delivering training about how to understand and engage with young people with autism and disabilities, as a perso
- Mar 18, 2022
FIFTY3 FRIDAYS: WHO MADE THE GLASTONBURY 2022 LONGLIST?
After two fallow years imposed by the pandemic, Glastonbury Festival makes a welcome return this June. After such an unfortunate hiatus, it was no surprise that interest in this year’s Glastonbury Emerging Talent Competition was high. Getting on for 5,000 independent acts threw their hats in the stone circle back in January and earlier today the organisers announced the 90 that have made it through to the first stage of the competition. For these artistes, the possibility of
- Mar 11, 2022
FIFTY3 FRIDAYS: IT’S LIVE, JIM
Today’s Fifty3 Fridays focuses on live music which, after two years of Covid interruptions, is back like it never went away. Venue calendars are filling up so fast that this week I was asked if I wanted to buy tickets for a show scheduled for summer 2023. With apologies for a musically derived Star Trek misquote (thank you The Firm) and further convolution, it is really live Jim but, for all intents and purposes, as we know it too. Tube trains are packed and I’m one of the fe
- Mar 5, 2022
FIFTY3 FRIDAYS: CALLING OUT DISINFORMATION
For the second week I have found it difficult to know where to start. This column should be a celebration of new music frequently made by people who do not share the advantages of established stars. Looking at UN resolutions, it seems most, though not all, of the world is standing up for a different kind of underdog right now but for all the donations, demos, petitions, sanctions and strong words it is hard to escape a feeling of helplessness. What more can I do to help Ukrai