What We Did Instead of Holidays: The Story of Fairport Convention now available in worldwide paperback edition

We've heard the very sad news that Richard Alderson has passed. Richard was the sound engineer who recorded the bulk of Bob Dylan's 1966 tour. Richard was very kind to us when we published JUDAS. Here's Richard talking about those recordings. Bless him. (He also recorded the Gaslight Tapes.)

When The Big Midweek was first published, it jockeyed with Viv Albertine's memoir for No.1 spot in the punk charts for months. They battled like prime Coe and Ovett. Twelve years later, great to see them still side by side in the top 10. Quality lasts.

Our Last Stand book launch. Guests include players from the 1973 Featherstone Rovers Challenge Cup winning team, David Hobbs from the 1983 cup winning team, and members of the Stand Gang who contributed stories to the book.

Our local beauty spot and bird sanctuary, Fairburn Ings, filmed in 1981. Fryston Colliery, which inadvertently led to the creation of this natural wonderland, is still active at the time and is in shot in the background. The Ings are a nice payback from nature after such plunder.

A deep dive into Funky Si's memoir You Can Drum But You Can't Hide by four Fall fans. Each one of them seems to have a different version.

Adam Buxton is the guest on the latest Oh! Brother podcast. He gives a full account of Mark E Smith's appearance on the Adam & Joe show, plus his life in TV, radio and podcasts, much of it soundtracked by The Fall. There's a treat at the end when he asks the brothers about Fall songwriting sessions.

Buzzcocks Bookclub. If you want a deep dive into this wonderful band, read these two books, lose yourself in the albums and then turn up at Horse + Bamboo, Waterfoot on 19th March to see Steve Diggle chat with Paul Hanley and his brother Steve. Thank us afterwards.

Oh! Brother Podcast live with Paul and Steve Hanley and special guest Steve Diggle. Quite a night out. Tickets and further info ➡️ www.tickettailor.com/events/later...

Mark Hoyle hosts an in-conversation with Chris Connelly about his book on Cargo Studios. Almost everyone involved in Manchester music back in the day passed through Cargo. It's free, but you'll need a ticket. Manchester Central Library, Thursday 12th March.

Brilliant! Going to get myself a copy of this!

The publication of Our Last Stand couldn't be more timely. Featherstone Rovers: The Heartbeat of Rugby League.

Chris Rand of the Half Man Half Biscuit Lyrics Project website is the guest this week on Steve's Mix Tapes

NEW TITLE: Paul Coventry's Our Last Stand. The incredible story of how a gang of retired volunteers dismantled a pair of stands at a derelict football stadium and rebuilt them at the home of their beloved Featherstone Rovers. Now available to order online.

A celebration of The Fall. Band on the Wall, Manchester. 5th-7th June. #fallfriday Info and Tix: linktr.ee/fallfuturepast

My morning routine involves emptying the dishwasher, doing the school run and taking the dog for his constitutional, but I always find time for tea and a few passages of @stephenhanley6.bsky.social's The Big Midweek. So, so good.

Pete Shelley sharing his philosophy with Tony Wilson in Woolworths cafe in 1978. Recorded for the Granada TV documentary 'B’dum B’dum'. Read all about Pete Shelley in Paul Hanley’s book ‘Sixteen Again: How Pete Shelley & Buzzcocks Changed Manchester Music (and me)’

Hip hip hooray, it's Record Store Day. Are You Are Missing Winner? Here's the full list:

Clothes Line Saga by Suzzy & Maggie Roche - utterly brilliant cover of this song: music.youtube.com/watch?v=kk2W...

Amongst several other things I’m never going to do, I’ve been secretly threatening to write a book about the glory of Half Man Half Biscuit for many years. So, I’m glad somebody else has finally done it. Well done, Steve Hill, and I’m very much looking forward to reading this. #hmhb

"If there's anything better than squeezing into an Eastern European football shirt, driving to a bleak northern outpost, meeting some likeminded souls and watching Britain's greatest group then I don't want to know." Pleased to report Steve confirmed a passing mention for me & usual Biscuit pals :)

Author Nicholas Blincoe is the guest on the latest Oh! Brother podcast. He regales the brothers with tales of Manchester's nightlife in the 70s/80s/90s, a history of Palestine in the 20th century and the New Puritans literary manifesto, amongst other things. linktr.ee/Ohbrothershow

NEWS: Something to liven up Transfer Deadline Day. Route are pleased announce the signing of Steve Hill’s book Friday Night Fever: Inside The Cult Of Half Man Half Biscuit. It's a cracker. More here:

OTD in 2025, Paul Hanley and Mark Hoyle presented The Fall's debut album Live At The Witch Trials at The CAT Club (Classic Album Thursdays)

'Sixteen Again: How Pete Shelley & Buzzcocks Changed Manchester Music (and me)' by Paul Hanley. Read all about it: www.route-online.com/all-books/si...

One of the best books about being in a band.

Swerve: Dub Sex & Other Stories by Mark Hoyle. An astonishing memoir of a life rebuilt through music. Read all about it: www.route-online.com/all-books/sw...

Photographer Richard Davis has been documenting the people and sights of Hulme in Manchester for four decades. This lovely short film features Richard in situ reflecting on what's so special about the place.

The Big Midweek, three generations. Brand new paperback available first on our website: www.route-online.com/all-books/th...

The Big Midweek paperback has regenerated and is now back in stock. (Grown from B-format to Demy, publishing fans.) Get your brand new copy here: www.route-online.com/all-books/th...

What We Did Instead of Holidays has been released in a new paperback edition. Conscious that shipping and customs costs are a barrier, we have issued the paperback in a way to avoid such problems and thus make it more accesible to international readers. ➡️ www.route-online.com/all-books/wh...

My Poetic Machine Gun | Buzzcocks

Tony Harrison in Kirkgate Markets. His 'Thomas Campey and the Copernican System' celebrates an old bookseller here: Keen winter is the worst time for his back, Squeezed lungs and damaged heart; just one More sharp turn of the earth, those knees will crack . . . I'm with you there, Thomas

Richard Thomas on Bob Dylan's tinkering with Blood on the Tracks songs recorded at the New York sessions.

👇🏼👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 STEWART LEE! THE FALL! STEVE HANLEY! 💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥

Music matters. Books matter. Route music books matters. www.route-online.com/all-books/ca...

New Harry Hill podcast. Some kind of hybrid of a low budget TV show and high budget podcast. And silly. Stewart Lee is the first guest.

Today's a a bumper day for birthdays. The great Clayton 'Firefingers' Devanny was born on this day in 1975. Oh Well.

The great son of Manchester CP Lee was born on this day in 1950. Here he is sharing a room with his birthday compatriot Simon Wolstencroft and other literary luminaries at the Portico, Manchester. Polite literature? Not a chance! PS, we have news about CP's book Like the Night coming very soon 😉

Is Bob Dylan Now History – An Evening With Writer Michael Gray. This Thursday, 22nd January. Dorchester Corn Exchange

Bob Dylan records a take of Just Like A Woman while still writing it.

Producer Adrian Sherwood is the guest on the latest Oh! Brother podcast. He talks about working with The Fall on Slates and Extricate, and how much he learned from the experience, plus highlights from his career, including Prince Far I and Lee 'Scratch' Perry. linktr.ee/ohbrothershow

A festival to celebrate 50 years of The Fall in an iconic Manchester venue. June 5th-7th 2026 at Band on the Wall. Join us for a very special weekend. Early bird tickets available now. linktr.ee/fallfuturepast

OTD in 1983 The Fall played Warehouse in Leeds #fallfriday Setlist: Words of Expectation, Room to Live, Hexen Definitive-Strife Knot, Ludd Gang, Tempo House, Wings, Kicker Conspiracy, Detective Instinct, And This Day, Pilsner Trail, Garden, Mere Pseud Mag Ed. Full set here:

Work of Art. Paul Coventry's 'Our Last Stand' on display at Pomfret Gallery, Pontefract. The great Featherstone Rovers RLFC are in a bad situation at that moment. This book finely illustrates the community spirit at the heart of the club. One that will revitalise it once again.

2026 marks 50 years from Year Zero, the birth of Punk. See how this cultural explosion panned out, step by step, and why it still matters today in the most detailed and lively account to date. 40% discount on our website. www.route-online.com/all-books/an...

Here's the interview programme for today, upstairs at The Clement Attlee. We're here all day

Stall set up at The Clement Attlee pub for the Merch Market. We're in the upstairs room. Do come up and see us if you're around 📚

Arrived at our home for the day The Clement Attlee for the Merch Market. You'll find us upstairs.

Look forward to seeing you @tim-burgess.bsky.social Merch Market this afternoon. It’s going to be a fantastic day! I’ll be at the Clement Attlee, London with @routebooks.bsky.social FREE Dexys memorabilia with a book. Interview with @davehaslam.bsky.social 15.45