Wednesday 14 December 2016

It's not all bad ... but it's not all good...


End of the year means it's time for content providers across the land to compile list after list after list of 'things' that happened over the preceding 12 months and what might happen over the next 12. This is all hung, drawn and quartered by 'critics' in as many digital slices as possible.

This traditional load of 'content' baloney is driven by Christmas and the fact that all anyone wants to do in the Western world is get pissed, eat and generally act like a slob for a few days. This is of course infinitely preferable to being at work and attempting to drum up anything newsworthy to crow about. But the online news machine needs feeding, hence desperate hacks resorting to recycling what's gone and what might happen many times over for our tired old eyes to tuck into again, again and again until they fall out. 

This year comes with the additional addendum that 2016 has been the worst 12 months 'ever' due to Trump, Brexit, Prince, Bowie, Cohen, AA Gill and every other cultural totem passing on. Jesus h. Get some fucking perspective you yaa yaa bores.

Tottenham Community Press

Tottenham has been our ends since mid-September and the vibes have been big and strong ever since we landed. Bruce Grove is our hood and it's been on point, from the Italian joint San Marco's to Aldi, the Beehive boozer and the Bruce Castle Park. We've been having a lovely time scrabbling around the post code and attempting to embrace the place, or at least uncover the boozers which will let us quaff ales with our sprog past 8pm without giving us a scolding. Don't judge us. Purleaseeeee.

As part of that, I've started putting together words for the Tottenham Community Press, a new social enterprise aimed at shining a light on the area and the good stuff that's going on in a community that feels like it's on the brink of taking off. Check out their website here and dig into the first piece I've written for them, on the next wave of grime to come in your ears.

Read issue one via PDF. 

Going live with Soho Radio

The second half of 2017 has disappeared in what Sonic Youth might describe as an explosion of heat, whirl and flash but there have been vibes a plenty to wade through.

First up is that worky tings have started doing a monthly show on bastion of all things independent radio, Soho Radio.We’ve thus far featured myself presenting nervously and interviews with HiFi Sean and Luke Haines, previously of the Auteurs acclaim.

For anyone who might have ventured to a Kiss the Fist or a Rough Disko we used to run, they are something of a bumpy two hour ride but that's par. You can have a wee listen to what we’ve been up to below and, as long as we can maintain a steadyish stream of willing victims to speak to, we’ll be on there every month for the foreseeable…

You can listen live here > sohoradiolondon.com