Simon Coates

Honestly. What is going on? Why is the @teamlabouruk.bsky.social allowing this to happen? Since when did objecting to genocide make you a criminal? Are we now a totalitarian state? I’m utterly heartbroken watching this.

If the government genuinely believes these people have been duped into supporting terrorists then how about talk to them about what Palestine Action actually does.

I guarantee you each of these arrests convinces these and others that Palestine Action are not terrorists, and UK gov is being stupid.

In the UK, police carry away folk peacefully protesting genocide.
In Gaza, starving aid workers carry away the bodies of victims of that genocide.
We've messed up.

Has any government minister ever been arrested for wasting police time?

The terrifying, violent thugs arrested in London yesterday for supporting Palestine Action included clear threat to our safety, La Pethick (left), aged 89.

Happy 808 day to those who celebrate 💐

"Roland Corporation celebrates the 45th anniversary of its iconic TR-808 Rhythm Composer today"
sonicstate.com/news/2025/08....

30 Years of Metalheadz: A Drum and Bass Legacy | Digs Celebrate 30 years of Metalheadz, the iconic drum & bass label founded by Goldie, through these ten influential releases.

Given 2025 marks the 30th anniversary of Goldie's 'Timeless' album, it seems, erm, timely to re-up the '30 Years of Metalheadz: A Drum and Bass Legacy' list I wrote for @discogsofficial.bsky.social last year. 'Timeless' is there, amongst other Metalheadz gems ⏬ www.discogs.com/digs/music/m...

‘Connecting Thin Black Lines 1985–2025’ at ICA London Is a Stark Reminder of What Has—and Hasn’t—Changed The urgency of Lubaina Himid’s original curatorial mission remains painfully relevant.

"The show is a chilling reminder that the poisonous waves of prejudice the artists endured during the 1980s have returned"

In this review for the New York Observer, I've covered the 'Connecting Thin Black Lines 1985 - 2025' exhibition at London's ICA. Read it here ⤵️ observer.com/2025/08/exhi...

Courtauld Gallery’s ‘Abstract Erotic’ Revisits Structural Sexuality in Sculpture At times more coy than carnal, works by Louise Bourgeois, Eva Hesse and Alice Adams explore eroticism through ambiguity, restraint and form.

My latest for the New York Observer is a review of the 'Abstract Erotic: Louise Bourgeois, Eva Hesse, Alice Adams' exhibition on now at London's Courtauld Gallery. Check it here 👇 observer.com/2025/08/revi...

My friend, the artist Ken McCalla, has just started a month-long residency at the Sprout Arts community space in Tooting, South London. Entry is free, Ken is doing an artist talk tomorrow night, and there's a series of print-making workshops across the month. Get down there if you can.

I wrote about how drawings document the dizzying number of relationships in The Bloomsbury Group for Art UK. Read it here 👉 artuk.org/discover/sto...

Helluva line-up for this Mark Stewart memorial festival taking place from tomorrow. Venue is Rockaway Park, roughly 20 mins outside Bristol. Entry is free, although any donations will go to Bristol homeless charities.

Global Ear: Manila - The Wire Simon Coates compiles an annotated playlist to go with his report on Manila’s underground music scenes in The Wire 498

I compiled an online playlist (with words) to accompany the profile I wrote about the Manila underground and experimental music scene for the latest issue of @thewiremagazine.bsky.social magazine. Read and listen here ⤵️ www.thewire.co.uk/audio/tracks...

YouTube video by NPR Music Clipse: Tiny Desk Concert

Clipse Tiny Desk concert is pure 🔥🔥🔥 www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7gI...

Drawing is fundamentally important to artists' development - and to society in general. This and more is discussed in my article about the 25th anniversary of London's Royal Drawing School for Art UK. Check it here > artuk.org/discover/sto...

I had the pleasure of writing about Manila's experimental music scene for the latest edition of @thewiremagazine.bsky.social. The new issue is in stores now, or you can subscribe to The Wire here > www.thewire.co.uk/shop/subscri...

The Ska Albums That Defined Jamaica’s Music Revolution Trace ska’s early evolution through these 10 landmark Jamaican albums, featuring Prince Buster, the Maytals, and more.

New for @discogsofficial.bsky.social, I wrote about the roots of Jamaican ska, its importance in the island's musical history and its lasting influence. Check it here 👇
www.discogs.com/digs/music/e...

Uh-oh 👀

Now that's good stock knowledge, sir.

Plus, the likes of Nitzer Ebb fully understood the power of harnessing pounding percussion. And there are plenty more. It's a very interesting genre, industrial music.

Yeah, one of the points of the article was to show how industrial music expanded in diverse directions. Cabaret Voltaire were experimenting with club-based / post-disco beats as early as 84 with Sensoria.

Ha - yeah, fair enough.

Right that’s me done for 10 mins.

nice one mate 👊

The Essential Industrial Records: 1979-1993 Explore the evolution of industrial music through 12 essential albums by Throbbing Gristle, Cabaret Voltaire, Swans, Nine Inch Nails, and more.

My latest for @discogsofficial.bsky.social looks at the development of industrial music, taking in a list of albums that narrate the genre's evolution along the way. Check it here 👇

José María Velasco’s Mexico Glows at London’s National Gallery The exhibition offers a rare opportunity for U.K. audiences to engage with one of Latin America’s most influential painters.

"His brushwork is brisk and gestural and not as fiddly as it first appears. Here is a painter who didn’t mess around."

I reviewed the late Mexican artist José María Velasco's exhibition at London’s National Gallery for the New York Observer. Read it here ⤵️ observer.com/2025/06/art-...

Check out the playlist I put together to showcase some of the artists featured in my article about Dhaka's experimental music scene for the @thewiremagazine.bsky.social Global Ear series. There are a few words, too ⤵️

My first for world-famous music mag, The Wire, is a look at the experimental music scene in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The piece is in issue 497, available in stores now. And, if you're not already a Wire subscriber, go here to find out how you can change that ➡️ www.thewire.co.uk/subscriptions/

📻 📻 📻

This looks excellent 👇👇👇