Last gig of 2025 done. Wolf Alice were fabulous at The O2. Ellie stacked it at one point but styled it out and still kept up her amazing singing👏 Looking forward to what new music / gigs 2026 brings…

The vote for the 2025 Festive 50 is officially OPEN! Please send me your top 10 tracks from 2025 before the vote closes on 14th December. Votes can be public by replying or @ ing me on a post (no hashtags) or in private by sending me a DM. Please also spread the word cos we need more voters!!!

What a fabulous gig Mandrake Handshake played at Fabric last night. Such a beautiful, wonderful band. Great support from Spacestation & wing! as well. Top night.

Second gig of the week last night, and what a beauty it was. Water From Your Eyes at Village Underground. Just brilliant, love ‘em.

Three more #EIO40MusicLeague discoveries ticked off, in terms of seeing them live, last night - Runo Plum, Winter & Teethe. Fantastic evening with the fabulous Winter being the pick of the bunch.

Day 7 #DavidsMonthofMusic #MusicChallenge Connections! Day 6’s song was by Daniel Avery. Today’s is by Demise of Love, a collaboration between Daniel, Working Men’s Club & Ghost Culture. Here’s “Strange Little Consequence”. youtu.be/apDsvT9uP7g?...

Day 6 #DavidsMonthofMusic #MusicChallenge Connections! Yesterday’s song had the word ‘blue’ in the title. So does Day 6’s. Here’s “Rapture in Blue” by Daniel Avery with Cecile Believe. youtu.be/bZdCdpvofqQ?...

Day 5 #DavidsMonthofMusic #MusicChallenge Connections! Yesterday’s song was by a Scottish band and so is Day 5’s. Here’s “Clearest Blue” by CHVRCHES. youtu.be/BZyzX4c1vIs?...

Day 4 #DavidsMonthofMusic #MusicChallenge Connections! Yesterday’s song was by Steve Mason. Day 4 is a song from the band he used to be in before he went solo. Of course they’ve reformed recently too. Here’s “Inner Meet Me” by The Beta Band. youtu.be/fp2dgHFvyjQ?...

Day 3 #DavidsMonthofMusic #MusicChallenge Connections! Today the connection is someone else who went solo and also has a song that includes a word from the Day 2 song title. Here’s the fabulous “Alive” by Steve Mason. youtu.be/U6pII42seo8?...

Day 2 #DavidsMonthofMusic #MusicChallenge Connections! Before she went solo, Rebecca Lucy Taylor, aka Self Esteem, was in the band Slow Club. Here’s “If We’re Still Alive”. youtu.be/8dRTWY9t5GU?...

New Indiescovery show for you! @indieover40.bsky.social @markgurwell.bsky.social @spanky808.bsky.social @clivestringer.bsky.social @fcgordeaux.bsky.social @stillhonest.bsky.social @dermotg.bsky.social @hertfordsoul.bsky.social @1imaginaryboy.bsky.social

Okay, first go at one of these. Looking forward to playing. Day 1 #DavidsMonthofMusic #MusicChallenge Connections! On train to London to see Self Esteem talk about her new book so let’s start off with one of her tunes. Here’s “Focus is Power”. youtu.be/DgVqgud0L1c?...

Such a brilliant experience seeing Mermaid Chunky at the ICA, as part of their In the Round series, last night. Visually fabulous, engaging and funny. Love ‘em.

Which top indie cover versions did I miss?? @indieover40.bsky.social @markgurwell.bsky.social @spanky808.bsky.social @clivestringer.bsky.social @fcgordeaux.bsky.social @stillhonest.bsky.social @dermotg.bsky.social @hertfordsoul.bsky.social @1imaginaryboy.bsky.social

Correction @chriswatt100.bsky.social came joint 3rd on 18 points. Sorry Chris 🤦‍♂️

That concludes Season 3 of the #EIO40MusicLeague Congrats to League 1 winner @markgurwell.bsky.social the League 2-5 winners and those promoted plus the Cup and Super Cup winners @chriswatt100.bsky.social & @sirkeith.bsky.social Season 4 starting soon, over to our gaffer @indieover40.bsky.social

The #EIO40MusicLeague Season 3 Super Cup scores are in! 3rd 18 points: @adelepascale.bsky.social 2nd 19 points: @hertfordsoul.bsky.social Winner 22 points: @sirkeith.bsky.social Congrats Keith! Winning song was ‘Drunk Surfer’ by Westside Cowboy. Listen here open.spotify.com/track/70X1xN...

New Indiescovery! Dive in! @indieover40.bsky.social @markgurwell.bsky.social @spanky808.bsky.social @clivestringer.bsky.social @fcgordeaux.bsky.social @stillhonest.bsky.social @dermotg.bsky.social @hertfordsoul.bsky.social @1imaginaryboy.bsky.social

CHEERLESS at The Victoria in Dalston tonight. So good.

So, about 9 months ago I discovered the song ‘Demoncore’ by CHEERLESS in the @indieover40.bsky.social Music League. I’ve wanted to see them live ever since and tonight I finally got the opportunity. They were fucking brilliant. @catherineallin.bsky.social please thank Paul for the intro 😊

#EIO40MusicLeagueCup League 4 winner - @sirkeith.bsky.social League 5 winner - @adelepascale.bsky.social Season 2 Super Cup winner - @1imaginaryboy.bsky.social This is the curtain raiser to the Season 4 League. Updated cup playlist here - open.spotify.com/playlist/3g4... 2/2

#EIO40MusicLeagueCup Congrats @chriswatt100.bsky.social the Season 3 Cup winner. We now have the Season 3 Super Cup. Along with Chris the qualifiers are: League 1 winner - @markgurwell.bsky.social League 2 winner - @hertfordsoul.bsky.social League 3 winner - @justineharvey.bsky.social 1/2

#EIO40MusicLeagueCup Season 3 Final results are in! 3rd (20 points (6 votes)) @clivestringer.bsky.social 2nd (20 points (7 votes)) @stillhonest.bsky.social Winner with 25 points @chriswatt100.bsky.social Winning song - ‘Kawasaki’ by Former Champ. Listen here - open.spotify.com/track/2rLrYH...

The Jesus Christ Superstar soundtrack. He didn’t buy it though, he taped it from the telly when the film was on. I had a cold at the time and was coughing regularly throughout. This came through on the recording as well!

#EIO40MusicLeagueCup Season 3 Shout outs for @stillhonest.bsky.social & @clivestringer.bsky.social for their 2nd Final appearance in a row. 👏 The full updated playlist of all songs appearing in the cup so far is here - open.spotify.com/playlist/3g4...

#EI040MusicLeagueCup Season 3 Final draw: @dermotg.bsky.social @cliveclemens.bsky.social @peterf857.bsky.social @rusky.bsky.social @clivestringer.bsky.social @chriswatt100.bsky.social @stillhonest.bsky.social @indieover40.bsky.social Winner to play in Super Cup before Season 4 starts.

#EIO40MusicLeagueCup Group B Semi Final results: 1st: @chriswatt100.bsky.social Joint 2nd: @stillhonest.bsky.social & @indieover40.bsky.social All 3 go through to the final. The winning song was “Hunter’s Fancy” by Strange Passage. Listen here - open.spotify.com/track/7GmhfZ...

The winning Group A songs in the #EIO40MusicLeagueCup Season 3 Semi Final were: “Turn Away” by The Altered Hours. Chosen by @dermotg.bsky.social Listen- open.spotify.com/track/6vGGar... “Second Place” by Night Swimming. Chosen by @cliveclemens.bsky.social Listen- open.spotify.com/track/7CU0yl...

The results of the Season 3 #EIO40MusicLeagueCup Semi-Finals are in. Without further ado: Group A Semi Final results: Joint 1st: @dermotg.bsky.social & @cliveclemens.bsky.social Joint 3rd: @peterf857.bsky.social , @rusky.bsky.social & @clivestringer.bsky.social All 5 go through to the final.

All-new Indiescovery for your listening pleasure! @indieover40.bsky.social @markgurwell.bsky.social @spanky808.bsky.social @clivestringer.bsky.social @fcgordeaux.bsky.social @stillhonest.bsky.social @dermotg.bsky.social @hertfordsoul.bsky.social @1imaginaryboy.bsky.social

Joined another Music League recently, this one focused solely on shoegaze. Latest round was shoegaze covers. Currently obsessed with this version of Catherine Wheel’s ‘Black Metallic’ by Lotte Kestner. open.spotify.com/track/3VKjCC...

For 90 mins last night a sold out crowd in Hackney forgot the craziness happening in the world & focused on the Legend Thurston Moore. What a great musician, & there was the added bonus of the brilliant Debbie Googe from MBV on bass. He even brought his dogs on stage at one point for good measure 🙌

And before I sign off for the night, here is the playlist of all 72 songs submitted so far in the Season 3 #EIO40MusicLeagueCup It’s a great listen - a little something for the weekend - enjoy! open.spotify.com/playlist/3g4...

#EIO40MusicLeagueCup Season 3 Semi Final draw Group B @brucegeob.bsky.social @darrenmjones.bsky.social @chriswatt100.bsky.social @indieover40.bsky.social @stillhonest.bsky.social @adelepascale.bsky.social Good luck one and all!

As an added bonus, here’s the Semi Final draw for the Season 3 #EIO40MusicLeagueCup Group A @rusky.bsky.social @peterf857.bsky.social @dermotg.bsky.social @cliveclemens.bsky.social @peterlatimer6.bsky.social @clivestringer.bsky.social Good luck one and all!

#EIO40MusicLeagueCup Group D Quarter Final results: 1st: @cliveclemens.bsky.social Joint 2nd: @indieover40.bsky.social & @clivestringer.bsky.social Congrats, you’re all through to the Semi Finals. Winning song: “Tiptoe” by rocket rules. Listen here - open.spotify.com/track/779PCJ...

Correction… @adelepascale.bsky.social & @brucegeob.bsky.social were joint 2nd. Apologies.

#EIO40MusicLeagueCup Group C Quarter Final results: 1st: @stillhonest.bsky.social 2nd: @peterlatimer6.bsky.social 3rd: @dermotg.bsky.social Congrats, you’re all through to the Semi Finals. Winning song: “On & On” by swim school. Listen here - open.spotify.com/track/3tqqBC...

#EIO40MusicLeagueCup Group B Quarter Final results: 1st: @darrenmjones.bsky.social 2nd: @peterf857.bsky.social 3rd: @chriswatt100.bsky.social Congrats, you’re all through to the Semi Finals. Winning song: “Be Mine” by Grace Vonderkuhn. Listen here - open.spotify.com/track/68xWD1...

#EIO40MusicLeagueCup Group A Quarter Final results: 1st: @rusky.bsky.social 2nd: @adelepascale.bsky.social 3rd: @brucegeob.bsky.social Congrats, you’re all through to the Semi Finals. Winning song: “O, My Love” by Grrrl Gang. Listen here - open.spotify.com/track/24V9Se...

Off to see Thurston Moore tomorrow night so am bringing the #EIO40MusicLeagueCup Season 3 Quarter Final results forward to this evening. Here we go…

And my favourite song of Season 3, chosen by @rob-o-cop.bsky.social , was “Noonday Demon” by Golden Apples. What I said at the time - “Love this…wish I’d chosen it now!” Listen here - open.spotify.com/track/3PoF6B...

In 2nd place, and chosen by @papercities.bsky.social - “Counterweight” by Bridge Dog. What I said at the time - “Love this. Just a really nice melody”. League 2 player @dermotg.bsky.social is also currently trying to get them over to the UK for a tour! Listen here - open.spotify.com/track/6BIJyt...

In 3rd place, chosen by @1imaginaryboy.bsky.social - ‘memory cube’ by Welcome Strawberry. What I said at the time - “A brilliant discovery. Wonky, unpredictable and great mixed vocals”. Listen here - open.spotify.com/track/2Igrk7...

So, as the votes come in for the Quarter Finals of the #EIO40MusicLeagueCup I wanted to revisit Season 3 of the brilliant EIO40 Music League organised by @indieover40.bsky.social Here are the top 3 songs I discovered in League 2…

Some Sunday nostalgic listening for you! @indieover40.bsky.social @markgurwell.bsky.social @spanky808.bsky.social @clivestringer.bsky.social @fcgordeaux.bsky.social @stillhonest.bsky.social @dermotg.bsky.social @hertfordsoul.bsky.social @1imaginaryboy.bsky.social

And that concludes the Round 1 results for Season 3 of the #EIO40MusicLeagueCup People going through to the next round will be notified of their league / opponents on Sunday. In the meantime here’s a playlist of all 46 songs that featured in Round 1. Enjoy. open.spotify.com/playlist/3g4...

#EIO40MusicLeagueCup Pot H Round 1 results: 1st: @kazashton.bsky.social Joint 2nd: @peterlatimer6.bsky.social & @greiginoz.bsky.social All go through to the next round. Winning song: “My Friend and You” by Strange Pink. Listen here: open.spotify.com/track/2ifSTa...