David Belbin

And here's one of their splendid Ukranian-style reinventions of rock classics. I'll leave you to identify the number. Slava Ukraini!

Slava Ukraini! On the fourth anniversary of the invasion, here are The Ukranians opening their farewell tour at the Ukranian Cultural Centre in Sherwood last weekend. And remember there's a rally and march in Nottingham next Sunday. Meet Brian Clough statue in the Market Square, starting at 1.30PM.

It's all on Netflix UK now and it's a treat to be able to catch up in order rather than recording random episodes with stairlift ads from ITV3!

‘I’ve been advised not to say certain things’: The Secret Agent makers on Oscars, dictators and death threats The actor Wagner Moura and writer-director Kleber Mendonça Filho explain how the Brazilian thriller mirrors their experiences of political corruption and why they are compelled to speak out

The Secret Agent is a slow burn: always involving and ultimately absorbing. It's not afraid to be bizarre, serious, complicated or moving. Well worth venturing out on a rainy night to see. www.theguardian.com/film/2026/fe...

Love guideline that 'you can review the work of someone you’ve had dinner or drinks with, but probably not someone who’s put you up at their place, especially for more than one night. Some incestuousness is inevitable... But you have to draw a line somewhere, or you’ll end up married to your cousin'

That was my first Van tour too, so keen I went twice. The first time in Sheffield, he did St Dominic's Preview. Fantastic. A few days later, in Derby, he didn't, and the whole performance felt phoned in. My favourite from Wavelength is Hungry For Your Love. Smiled at *postscript btw. Weren't we all?

Photo of the fascist+ pedophile president of the US at his desk in the Oval Office with caption 'Aide wearily begins 5th explanation of why Trump can't pardon Prince Andrew.'

Classic Onion.

Advert for Kiss me Again starring Marie Prevost and Monte Blue, directed by Ernst Lubitsch.

Today’s chapter of Greeneland is a few minutes late, but during the delay I did manage to locate a poster for the Ernst Lubitsch film Graham goes to, which I’ve never seen. Anyone know it? Sadly, the only version I can find is the 1930 remake. davidbelbin.substack.com/p/thirty-three

Either Larry Clark's Kids or a dreadful Britflick called The Final Cut, both of which I left within half an hour

THIRTY-ONE Monday, February 15th

Waiting for Cecil Roberts. There are three short chapters from Greeneland this week, before the epic conclusion at the end of the month. Time to catch up before the epilogue in early March.

davidbelbin.substack.com/p/thirty-one...

If you missed this the first time, do check out YP's time capsule now. The box set version of 1974 in the pop charts.

1992

Watched it last night, excellent. Profound and entertaining.

Cover of novel with 'signed copy' sticker

Just finished Julian Barnes's final novel, 'Departure(s)' - a beautiful edition for his autofictional farewell, which is sweetly judged, often profound and frequently moving. Suspect @fiveleavesbooks.bsky.social still have some signed copies.

Set to record, thanks.

Bonus Post: The Little Wings Vivienne's teenage poems

Just up. A bonus post about Graham's first publication, Babbling April, a poetry pamphlet which he later wanted to suppress, together with an earlier chapbook by his wife-to-be, Vivienne, who wrote TLW in her early teens. Has either stood the test of time?

davidbelbin.substack.com/p/bonus-post...

Pleased to find my comment sufficiently anonymised!

Wings concert at Nottingham University in Nottingham on Feb 09, 1972 On this day, Wings performed their debut gig at The University of Nottingham. This was Paul McCartney’s first public concert since The Beatles’ last concert...

54 years ago Paul McCartney brought Wings to Nottingham University to play their debut gig at lunchtime in the Portland Building. How come? Heres an exhaustive account. www.the-paulmccartney-project.com/concert/1972...

Wings concert at Nottingham University in Nottingham on Feb 09, 1972 On this day, Wings performed their debut gig at The University of Nottingham. This was Paul McCartney’s first public concert since The Beatles’ last concert...

54 years ago Paul McCartney brought Wings to Nottingham University to play their debut gig at lunchtime in the Portland Building. How come? Heres an exhaustive account. www.the-paulmccartney-project.com/concert/1972...

What he said.

It's ecological breakdown that should put us on a war-footing: official Admissions of extreme, eco-caused national security threats foreground importance of climate adaptation to bring much needed urgency and agency.

This is the UK security assessment that the government tried to bury: ecosystem collapse is a national security threat.

Read how you can turn knowledge into action, addressed by Caroline Lucas & Rupert Read:
resilience.org/stories/2026...

#ClimateCrisis #NationalSecurity #Adaptation #Resilience

Sadly I'm getting

'This item is no longer available.

Items may be taken down for various reasons, including by decision of the uploader or due to a violation of our Terms of Use.'

in the UK, anyway, but thanks for posting.

I've enjoyed all of these: short, superbly edited, sharp satire. Hope The Skewer will be returning.

Jude Wanga | The centre shrinks Peter Mandelson is a case study for the way the Westminster ecosystem protects its own until it is forced, by leakage...

Once again, I can't argue with any of this:
www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2026/fe...

THIRTY Friday, February 5th

It's chapter 30 of Greeneland. A bit of a break now before we get to Graham's last fortnight in Nottingham. Good time to catch up if you're behind (or start if you've been waiting for the whole book to be online). Thanks to everyone who's read, commented & shared so far. substack.com/home/post/p-...

I get frustrated with links I can only read a paragraph of because I refuse to give money to Murdoch, but this comes up in full and is excellent on why and how we stop reading: 'In short, we have replaced something that we enjoy, that benefits our minds, souls and society, with something we hate.'

Can gigs felt longer than they were. Two sets but rarely more than 90 minutes total in 73 and 4, the years I saw them. The bootlegs back that up. Post 76 most gigs I went to got shorter. Some got longer. Springsteen springs to mind. 90 minutes suits me fine, especially when it's standing. Or less...

The 90 minute show is standard minimum now for most acts I go to. 85 maybe. But in 72-76 more than 100 was expected from established acts, especially if there was no support. Cohen did 150, Floyd similar. Only ones I recall doing less than 80 were The Faces, who arrived late. Then Punk came along...

BONUS POST: SALLY She has yet to make her final appearance, but it feels like time to talk about the only character in Greeneland whose name I was forced to invent: Mrs Loney’s daughter, Sally.

Sally, Sally, pride of our alley. Today’s Greeneland is a bonus post which can be read without spoilers if you’re not up to date. It includes bits on my most popular novel, Love Lessons, a one hit wonder called Gerry Monroe and a misspelling of Austin, Texas. davidbelbin.substack.com/p/bonus-post...

I should add that this is one of those rare reviews that made me order the book in question (worth shopping around your favourite indie book stores for a good deal). My copy should arrive tomorrow.