Of course my AOTY was Ryan Davis and my gig of the year was Vapors... I'm so bloody predictable 😂😂😂

Here's a list of my personal favourites from 2025... Will come as absolutely no surprise that the majority of them rolled through Coventry on tour... 2 acts on the list have eluded me, but I'll try and get them for 2026/27 - Coincidentally both from Canada! Thanks to everyone for the music 🙏

Sink or Swim is logging off for the holiday season to take a well earned break before we ramp up towards a killer 2026 season of shows! Hope everyone has a great Christmas and new year 🎊 See you all on the other side 🙏 🎟️ - linktr.ee/SinkOrSwimPr... P.S: I'll still be around here just no promo!

Top 10 Albums of the year due probably Tues/Wed and as someone who listened to lots and lots and lots of albums it was hard to narrow down (Who am I kidding #1) was a no brainer! If anyone can guess the full top 10 they can have Guestlist for a whole year in 2026 👍

A lot of people slept on that new "Hotel Lux" album released in November... Great album with probably my favourite album cover of the year 👌

I've done some number crunching while on holiday in the sun (and sodding rain) and here's my top 3 Sink or Swim customers in 2025... 1. Carl Aylott ( @carlaylott75.bsky.social) 2. Simon Ward 3. Phil K ( @kedwondo.bsky.social) Thanks to everyone who attended a Sink or Swim show in 2025!

First sell out for 2026 👍

#SOTW open.spotify.com/album/2LymXT...

Less than 20 tickets remain for @gweniferraymond.bsky.social + Haress over at @justdroppedin.bsky.social Don't say I didn't warn you 🙏

150 songs I've been vibing to this year in various forms Another great year of music more of the same in 2026 I hope?

Excited to announce William William Rodgers will be opening up for @scottlavene.bsky.social at @justdroppedin.bsky.social

#SOTW - Think this is gonna pop off at the tin -Indie Moshpit Crew Assemble! open.spotify.com/track/6yQs1C...

Anyone who compiled their AOTY list without listening to the new Jad Fair / Yo La Tengo Collab album released today I feel sorry for you! It's definitely a contender for AOTY list's Luckily for me I heard a pre-listen a few weeks ago!

I've booked a lot of amazing gigs for 2026 already and there's even more to come - Hold onto your hats people ✌️ Here's everything that I'm allowed to tell you about (maybe?) T13K3TS are available in the usual spaces 🥳 Co-Pro with The Tin & @justdroppedin.bsky.social on some of these!

I did lots of listening in 2025 and here's my personal faves! Top 10 has been compiled and will go live via Just Dropped In (as I was asked to pick a few favourites like albums / gigs for a list) and don't want to ruin the surprise 😲 Thanks for tuning in to my weekly scoreboard!

AOTY list delayed till 21:30 because I've been distracted 😅

Yes, I did book a Scottish Bagpipe/Small Played for The Tin Music and Arts next March! I love Malin's music it's absolutely wonderful - If you like any kinda folk music this is the show for you!

Ok then who wants my Top 5, non Sink or Swim hosted gigs of the year? 5. Concrete Funhouse - Just Dropped In 4. Manquina - Hare and Hounds 3. Brògeal - Castle & Falcon 2.Pure Adult - Sunflower Lounge 1. Laurie Anderson - Roundhouse

Tomorrow at 9PM you'll get most of my AOTY list (90-11)... Top 10 will be saved for a later date (will be tied in with the Just Dropped In post)

Yesterday I witnessed one of the biggest promoter f'ck ups off all time! 17th October - Birmingham Town Hall The Beat ft Dave Wakling + Bad Manners 17th October - O2 Institute The Undertones + The Beat ft Ranking Rodger Jnr

The Boojums are a high-energy garage-punk act from Port Hawkesbury, Nova Scotia, known for raw, fuzzy sound blending indie, power-pop, and punk,who gained buzz with grainy VHS live videos before releasing their self-titled debut album in late 2025, capturing chaotic, unpolished fun with catchy hooks

Active since the late nineties, Julie's Haircut is a band from Emilia, northern Italy, devoted to spacey, hypnotic sounds. They have been making music with Damo Suzuki, Sonic Boom, Philip Corner, Valerio Cosi and more. Their new album 'Radiance Opposition' was released in November 2025.

Before a short break - I've still got - Min 3 announcements this week - First Part of my AOTY List (100-20) - Full Listing Sheet coming at you 🙌

Trialling something on a bank holiday in May... Early start / Early End show at The Tin Music And Arts Find out more tomorrow at 11am!

Thanks everyone for your support in 2025, I smashed out a mammoth 64 shows... Got some announcements this week and then I'm going on holiday and then before you know it 2026 is upon us and I'll do it all again 🤝

Final gig of the year for me, & fittingly a @joesors.bsky.social one at @justdroppedin.bsky.social (God love them both x). Mo Dotti bringing a sumptuous wall of fuzzy guitar noise.

How many icons can you fit on @justdroppedin.bsky.social stage, well apparently this this many (if you count @pjharvey.bsky.social 😅)! @modottiband.bsky.social and CFB - We love you all 😍 2025 is now complete and I've unlocked 2026!

Last SorS and @justdroppedin.bsky.social show of 2025 tomorrow and it's a double bill of 👟👀 1 show - 2x Headline bands 👌 Doors - 18:00 CFB - 18:30 Mo Dotti - 19:50 🎟️ - £10 Adv / £12.50 Door

Got an absolutely cracking Krautrock double bill to announce next Tuesday (although I can only announce 1 half of the show) Also, got an absolutely cracking Garage Rock show to announce for Tuesday too 👀

Glue Trip x Hongza x Shanghai Hostage x Sink or Swim 🕺

Influential avant-garde artist Jarboe, and former member of the legendary Swans, will embark on a UK and European tour in May 2026, presenting a truly unique and powerful collaboration alongside multi-instrumentalist Thor Harris (ex-Swans, Shearwater) and vocalist/composer Joy Von Spain (Eye of Nix)

Canada has had a good year for Albums... 4 Canadian Albums in my Top 10 of the year 👍

Announcement (2/2): @shedrewthegun + Guests Experience an intimate evening with the Merseyside artist. Exploring stories, songs and poems from four albums and beyond *Limited to 100 Tix - Seated show* 🎟️ - Tomorrow 10am - linktr.ee/SinkOrSwimPr...

Announcement (1/2): Bevis Frond + Pete Bassman The Bevis Frond is an English Psych Rock band formed in 1986 in Walthamstow, London The band is Fronted by Nick Saloman and have recorded many singles and albums on various independent labels 🎟️ - linktr.ee/SinkOrSwimPr...

Glue Trip from Brazil Hongza from London Shanghai Hostage from Coventry All for just £12 at Coventry's best canal side venue - The Tin 👏

Basically lots of old Cov Heads in one room came together for Pete Fij over at @justdroppedin.bsky.social

So excited for my last gig of the year at The Tin Music and Arts is Glue Trip... One of the best ever to grace the stage at The Tin and can't wait to do it all over again on Friday! Quality Dream Pop from Hongza (London) and Funk Rock from Shanghai Hostage!

This week's new releases thread 🧵👇 I also, this week due to so few releases do a top 5!

Next week I'm announcing 2 ex members of SWANS and a member of Eye of Nix on the same bill at @justdroppedin.bsky.social There will be a limited number of £12-£14 passes and this will be the only show in West/East Midlands and the Oxford/Northamptonshire area! Just tune back Wednesday 10am!

3 @justdroppedin.bsky.social announcements next week Please hold these dates and make sure you got £50 in your pocket because these shows will fly... 27th Jan 21st May 4th June

Announcement (2/2): Rosa Anschütz + Guests Rosa Anschütz is a musician and sound artist whose practice synthesizes composition, installation, and performance. She blends the dark ambience of post-punk and cold wave with ethereal polyphony and synth-driven melodies. 🎟️ - linktr.ee/SinkOrSwimPr...

Announcement (1/2): Kris Drever + Annie Dressner Kris Drever is among Scotland’s most acclaimed and distinctive contemporary musicians, celebrated for his warm voice, virtuosically expressive guitar playing and imaginative and evocative songwriting. . 🎟️ - linktr.ee/SinkOrSwimPr...

#SOTW - open.spotify.com/track/5oBfOz...

Hello @joesors.bsky.social @justdroppedin.bsky.social @kedwondo.bsky.social @brimfulofnasha.bsky.social @chopstopfives.bsky.social I have two tix for Pete Fij on Sunday and cannot go, but can reallocate to someone if you know anybody who might be interested….don’t need any cash just a name!

Grimm Grimm is the musical project of Koichi Yamanoha. Blending experimental pop with baroque folk and futuristic textures. Originally from JP, he's collaborated with artists such as Josephine Foster, Marta Salogni, Kevin Shields, Hideo Kojima His work spans albums, film scores, and video games

This weeks top 5 👇 5. Magic Fig - Valerian Tea 4. Sharp Pins - Balloon Balloon Balloon 3. Dendrons - Indiana 2. The Bug Vs Ghost Dubs - Implosion 1. Glyders - Forever

*Caption Competition* Do your best and/or worst?