Julian Francis-Lawton

I already had tickets for Mandrake Handshake when this was announced - tempting me to go to tonight’s second show. It’s amazing how Lamplight has evolved over the years

Very much ‘kid who hangs around the bullies and copies what they say, hoping for approval’ energy.

Which I’ve never seen as the definition of masculinity

Yes, I suspect they would think it an improvement. The sooner they can upload their brains into Second Life and let the rest of us get back to enjoying reality, the better.

Imagine is Nicholas Parsons had set the subject of ‘sexual predators at the BBC?’ - he could have carried on listing right up to the buzzer. Assuming no challenge for deviation

I can still watch Father Ted / Black Books and enjoy The Smiths - although clearly that is more about disliking opinions rather than vile behaviour, I do think 25-35 years is enough for someone to change significantly (hopefully for the better, but frequently not)

Yep. 12 year old here, although considered herself a Gaiman fan since Fortunately The Milk, and huge Good Omens fan. I think they are somewhat aware, as know the third series has been shortened.

Let's go. All ages Stow. 02/03/25
wegottickets.com/event/645651/

If I had to curate that down into a ‘comprehensive collection’ it would look very different. And I’m not sure if it would be ‘my favourite 500 records’ or ‘my idea of 500 records that are a comprehensive view of 600-ish years of music’

We have had shrinking and growing numbers of records over the years, because there have been different reasons for buying, and then occasional purges. There’s stuff I buy to listen to, stuff to DJ with (that rarely gets played outside that context), stuff that has personal significance.

That was a great gig

Also. It’s at the fantastic Walthamstow Trades Hall, a 70s time capsule of a place with cheap beer and a proper sprung wooden dancefloor. AND all the money goes to local foodbank Eat or Heat. What’s not to like?

I made an amateurish poster to advertise my amateurish indie night. It’s just like the one you used to go to in your crappy local nightclub on a Monday night, honest. Playing stuff from Punk to Britpop and calling at all ‘alternative’ stations in-between. With added ‘Wombling Merry Christmas’.

Was thinking as much about politics - the difference between talking and walking. Comes across as a hard nosed Tory, but by actions pro-LGBT, pro-black, pro-working class, put his own money into funding apprenticeships . .

Also - managed The Specials for a bit early on, worked with Lee Scratch Perry, Divine, Pete Burns, heavily promoted Stakker’s ‘Humanoid’ - but utterly comfortable with having a ‘naff’ public reputation. The negative image of Bobby Gillespie :-)

I hated their musical output, but in late 80s loved the way with ‘Roadblock’ fooled the rare groove DJs / proved they could make a cool record if they wanted to, and similarly how much he has annoyed Northern Soul DJs. ‘Irk the Purists’.

More I think about it, and more time goes on with nothing better, probably the high watermark of TV drama, as close as original drama comes to a ‘Great Novel’.

Disco 2000’s Christmas Club Celebrate with all your indie faves and the odd alternative festive tune. As usual, all proceeds go to Eat or Heat.

Anyhow we’re doing it again in a couple of weeks time and you can buy tickets here, if you are so inclined: wegottickets.com/event/638318/

My other favourite is ‘group think’ - oft used by free thinkers, who invariably all think the same way.

Frequently makes me well up to hear this, but especially with the video of Manc greats mouthing the words. Perfectly captures the contradictions of the man.

Yes, was on Twitter largely to follow friends and bands - very much music Twitter. So very obvious when political content pushed into that feed to generate a reaction, or because some bot network has worked out how to successfully game the system.

Joining the Great Migration, imagining Elon stamping his little feet like Rumpelstiltskin