

- Apr 2, 2021
FIFTY3 FRIDAYS: APRILLE SHOURES
Whan that Aprille with his shoures soote, The droghte of March hath perced to the roote… so begins the Prologue to The Canterbury Tales...


- Mar 26, 2021
FIFTY3 FRIDAYS: SHOULD I STAY OR SHOULD I GO?
Those familiar with this column may recognise Test Card Girl as the solo project of Manchester singer-songwriter, Catherine Burgis,...


- Mar 19, 2021
FIFTY3 FRIDAYS: NEW BEGINNINGS
Next Tuesday sees the anniversary of the first UK-wide lockdown, if that is quite the right word as it implies something of a...


- Mar 12, 2021
FIFTY3 FRIDAYS: SHE HAS NOW
It was fitting in a week that began with International Women’s Day that Virginian Lucy Dacus finally released an established...


- Mar 5, 2021
FIFTY3 FRIDAYS: WIRED TO THE MOON
I always knew I should write this column a week in advance. It’s wise to have a PlanB (gratuitous mention of erstwhile, though still...


- Feb 26, 2021
FIFTY3 FRIDAYS: MAKING TIME FOR LOVE
When your limited listening hours each week are focused on new music, and specifically on what to feature in this column, it is not...


- Feb 19, 2021
FIFTY3 FRIDAYS: CAN’T GET WHAT OUT OF OUR HEADS?
Perhaps the most fascinating slice of television programming I have encountered in some time is the six-part BBC documentary series from...


- Feb 12, 2021
FIFTY3 FRIDAYS: THE WEATHER FORECAST
Traditionally we British are obsessed by the weather and right now it’s pretty cold out there. Not full-on Arctic cold maybe but quite...


- Feb 5, 2021
FIFTY3 FRIDAYS: TAKES YOU BACK
Who remembers Keith West? He was the good looking lead singer with Tomorrow, a 60s psychedelic band which also mustered Yes guitar...

- Jan 29, 2021
FIFTY3 FRIDAYS: WELL-A WELL-A WELL-A HUH
Tell me more, tell me more. Did you work out the song? The novelty single has never really gone away. Years ago, it was propagated mostly...


- Jan 22, 2021
FIFTY3 FRIDAYS: MATHS OR MYSTICS?
I wonder; do you wait for a bus in lockdown and they still arrive in twos or threes? I expect not as there are reduced services and with...


- Jan 15, 2021
FIFTY3 FRIDAYS: FISH ‘N’ TIPS
This strange looking tips jar reminds me of a goldfish bowl, a receptacle singularly unfit for purpose when it comes to providing an...