Mental Notes

Very late posting this, but what a show from Mckinley Dixon at Yes Mcr last weekend.

Can't think of better band to accompany a nice #autumn walk in Manchester.

On the #podcast, I ask guests what they do to cope with life. This is definitely one of my things.

There are about 10-15 bands/artists who I love so much, that I have to wait for the perfect moment to listen to their new work for the first time. One of those is @bigthiefmusic.bsky.social

#music #mentalhealth #walking #Manchester #levenshulme #cringlepark

Also, the biggest crowd I've been in since my panic attacks earlier this year and I didn't die. So yay, me.

An absolute joy to see Little Simz at Co Op Live on Thursday. Amazing to see an artist who nobody seemed to have heard of when you started listening to them, suddenly absolutely commanding a crowd of thousands in an arena.

I'm 41 and I'm with you. Thinking it might be the worst winner ever.

Stunning show from Chloe Foy at Low Four Studio last night. Catch her tour if you can.

Don't miss Episode 5 of Mental Notes, where I talk to @ellenbethabdi about #music, #mentalhealth, #5asidefootball, and more.

Personally, I think this is a cracking episode. So please search for Mental Notes wherever you listen to #podcasts or follow the link in my bio.

Episode 5 of the Mental Notes #podcast is live now. Find it at the link in my bio, or by searching Mental Notes on your favourite podcast app/streaming platform.

Big thanks to @ellenbethabdi.bsky.social for joining me to discuss #mentalhealth, #music, and many other things.

Episode 4 - Astles on an album inspired by his uncle's mixtape, community music, and a hopeful view of mental health

Here are a few links for the episode, but you can find it by searching Mental Notes wherever you listen to podcasts.

open.spotify.com/episode/5Dot...

feeds.acast.com/public/shows...

podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/m...

Loved being joined by @astlesmusic for the latest Mental Notes #podcast.

We discuss how finding a treasure trove of his late uncle's #music inspired him to make an album, what he does to cope with life, and the stress of organising gigs.

Picky Bastards Episode 91: Mercury Prize 2025 On Episode 91 of Picky Bastards we are back talking about our favourite music award the Mercury Music Prize. This month the regular bastards are joined by Tom Burrows to discuss all 12 of this year…

NEW PODCAST: Mercury Prize 2025 Special

Our annual argument about the 12 albums shortlisted for the Mercury Prize is here. We discuss which albums deserve to win, who we think is the winner, as well as which album is the worst on the shortlist.

pickybs.com/2025/09/28/p...

Gig of the year?

Self Esteem absolutely smashed it at Manchester Academy on Sunday.

Make sure to check out Episode 3 with @benedict_songs if you haven't already.

Available on your favourite #podcast app (search Mental Notes) or follow the link in my bio.

Episode 3 - Benedict Benjamin on songwriting, mental health, and the therapy of band practice

It's time for Episode 3 of Mental Notes, where I speak to Benedict Benjamin about #music and #mentalhealth.

Search Mental Notes on your favourite #podcast app or follow the links below to get it in your ears.

open.spotify.com/episode/0cu5...

feeds.acast.com/public/shows...

Finally got the @briasalmena.bsky.social album on vinyl this morning.

If you haven't already, check out Episode 2 of Mental Notes to hear me discuss the album, and it's relation to #mentalhealth, with Bria.

Link in my bio or search Mental Notes on your favourite #podcast app.

Episode 2 of Mental Notes is out now, featuring @briasalmena as my guest.

Listen to us discussing #music, #mentalhealth health, and album names by searching Mental Notes on your favourite #podcast app or following the link in my bio.

The Picky Bastards Mercury Prize shortlist 2025 Another year and another Mercury Prize shortlist for us to dive into. Before we argue with each other about the actual Shortlist (podcast event of the year incoming), let’s shout about the albums w…

Ahead of the Mercury Prize announcement next week, we've put together our own shortlist of albums we feel deserve a nomination.

Read our picks here 👇🏻
pickybs.com/2025/09/05/t...

And listen to the playlist here 👇🏻
open.spotify.com/playlist/3dw...

Episode 2 will be with you very soon.

But here's a reminder to check out Episode 1 with @chloefoymusic

Search Mental Notes on your #podcast app or follow the links:

Spotify:
tinyurl.com/289596bp
Acast:
shows.acast.com/mental-notes...
Apple:
tinyurl.com/362h6dsb
Amazon:
tinyurl.com/48hep593

There's a new episode of the #podcast coming today, this time with @briasalmena.bsky.social.

I can't wait for you to hear it.

Subscribe to Mental Notes on your favourite podcast app, or through the link in my bio, to get notified when it's out.

#mentalhealth #music

A quick preview of this week's #podcast with @briasalmena.bsky.social coming on Friday.

In the meantime, click the link in the bio or search Mental Notes on your favourite podcast app to hear episode one with Chloe Foy.

#mentalhealth #music

Don't miss Episode One of Mental Notes, where I talk #music and #mentalhealth with Chloe Foy.

Search on your favourite #podcast app or click one of the links below:

Spotify:
tinyurl.com/289596bp

Acast:
shows.acast.com/mental-notes...

Apple:
tinyurl.com/362h6dsb

Amazon:
tinyurl.com/48hep593

You can find it at the links below, and hopefully in any other place you listen to #podcasts.

Spotify:

tinyurl.com/289596bp

Acast:

shows.acast.com/mental-notes...

Apple:

tinyurl.com/362h6dsb

Amazon:

tinyurl.com/48hep593

The first episode of Mental Notes is out, and here's a picture of guest, Chloe Foy, as she muses on one of my incredibly insightful questions!

Back in my favourite Manchester venue for the first time since my brain sidelined me for a few months.

Massively impressed by Ronboy as support for Matt Berninger.

So those are mine.

What tracks resonate with you when you think of mental health? And why?

And yeah, I'm a massive fan of The National and always have been. But Matt has never described the things my brain tells me as clearly as he does on 'Laugh Track.'

Diagnoses by @kaetempest.bsky.social is the most recent on this list.

'It's the world that's sick, baby. We're alright.'

On No Surprises, it feels like @thomyorke.wastehq.social crawled into my head to find out what my anxiety feels like.

Out the Way by @nadineshah.bsky.social hit a nerve with me when it came out, because of the way it talks about how second generation immigrants were being made to feel in the UK