2025 in Darren’s music blog – the ten most popular posts of the year darrensmusicblog.com/2025/12/28/2...

Those who are really good at spotting extremism from white supremacists are often really shit at spotting extremism from Islamists. And those who are really good at spotting extremism from Islamists are often really shit at spotting extremism from white supremacists.

Hopefully, I've not left it too late in the year. Just planted 100 crocus bulbs out at the front to bring a bit of colour for early spring before the daffodils come up.

2025 in Darren’s music blog – the ten most popular posts of the year darrensmusicblog.com/2025/12/28/2...

The CD Fairy has been! In anticipation of getting some money and a gift voucher from my mum and stepmum for Christmas, I ordered some CDs but didn't open the packets until this morning. Merry Christmas everyone.

Live review: The Amy Winehouse Band at De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill 18/12/25 darrensmusicblog.com/2025/12/22/l...

Live review: The Amy Winehouse Band at De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill 18/12/25 darrensmusicblog.com/2025/12/22/l...

Ian Brady once went on hunger strike because he wanted Myra Hindley to be allowed to visit him in prison so he could have sex with her in his cell. The idea that government policy or our legal system should be changed on the basis of people deliberately starving themselves has no intellectual merit.

Classic rock: album review – Peter Goalby (ex Uriah Heep) ‘Don’t Think This Is Over' darrensmusicblog.com/2025/12/20/c...

What’s good about Walliams is we don’t have to separate the art from the man

So many utterly insane people on the radical left and utterly insane people on the radical right in Britain seem to just copy and paste their ludicrous opinions wholesale from America. The obsession with guns is always a dead giveaway.

A very happy Probably Not Able To Pretend You Didn't Know Any More Day to all the people who knew for years but kept protecting him ❤️

Like he didn't attack Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova?

Is this that bloke from The Salt Path?

So many utterly insane people on the radical left and utterly insane people on the radical right in Britain seem to just copy and paste their ludicrous opinions wholesale from America. The obsession with guns is always a dead giveaway.

Interesting. The Greens are setting up a think tank following a series of car-crash interviews on the economy. Can't remember the last time they promoted some serious thinking on green economics and sustainability. It's all been about Zack pushing wacky monetary theories.

17 December 1965 - Small Faces play the Floral Hall, Morecambe.

Need a last-minute Xmas gift for the glam rock or folk rock fan your life? I have a small personal stock of books remaining and can do you a dedicated signed copy at cover price plus free postage to any address in the UK. Message me for details!

Live review: Steeleye Span at Revelation, St Mary the Virgin Church, Ashford 13/12/25 darrensmusicblog.com/2025/12/15/l...

Interesting. The Greens are setting up a think tank following a series of car-crash interviews on the economy. Can't remember the last time they promoted some serious thinking on green economics and sustainability. It's all been about Zack pushing wacky monetary theories.

Live review: Steeleye Span at Revelation, St Mary the Virgin Church, Ashford 13/12/25 darrensmusicblog.com/2025/12/15/l...

Need a last-minute Xmas gift for the glam rock or folk rock fan your life? I have a small personal stock of books remaining and can do you a dedicated signed copy at cover price plus free postage to any address in the UK. Message me for details!

“Come On” by The Rolling Stones was a UK #21 hit in 1963. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ #rollingstones #EveryHitSongEver

Live review: Planet Enid Collective and Motörqueens at the Carlisle, Hastings 12/12/25 darrensmusicblog.com/2025/12/14/l...

Live review: Planet Enid Collective and Motörqueens at the Carlisle, Hastings 12/12/25 darrensmusicblog.com/2025/12/14/l...

The cliche that ‘having an idea’ is the hard part of writing is persistent and pernicious. Realising the idea is the craft of it. That FAQ of…

‘Steeleye Span 1970-1989 On Track: Every Album, Every Song’ – Book reviews round-up darrensmusicblog.com/2025/11/28/s...

Live review: Slade at White Rock Theatre, Hastings 28/11/25 darrensmusicblog.com/2025/11/30/l...

Live review: Sweet at Birmingham Town Hall 4/12/25 darrensmusicblog.com/2025/12/10/l...

Live review: Sweet at Birmingham Town Hall 4/12/25 darrensmusicblog.com/2025/12/10/l...

Live review: Slade at White Rock Theatre, Hastings 28/11/25 darrensmusicblog.com/2025/11/30/l...

‘Steeleye Span 1970-1989 On Track: Every Album, Every Song’ – Book reviews round-up darrensmusicblog.com/2025/11/28/s...

Live review: John Illsley – The Life & Times of Dire Straits at White Rock Theatre, Hastings 29/11/25 darrensmusicblog.com/2025/12/01/l...

So, my home town is having a meltdown on social media because a 50 year old brick and concrete bus shelter is being taken down to make way for a modern replacement. Facebook posts commenced. Several a day on the Community pages. An online petition was started. And now... This.

In spite of any impressive past achievements, sometimes politicians just pass their sell-by date with the public and political parties need to select someone new. Labour should have learned this lesson with Livingstone's failed bids in 2008 and 2012. www.cityam.com/londoners-do...

If you take note of the nonsense separately coming from Zack Polanski and Zarah Sultana this week, it is a useful reminder as to why we need a credible and capable Labour Party

No mention at all of any notable Green economists here. No Nicholas Sterns or Tim Jacksons. Says everything about the Greens transition from ecologism to left populism.

Wholeheartedly agree with this, but it’s more than just hard left, it’s unicornism. I hear former Tories telling me Zack is the answer because he will say anything that anyone wants to hear. They don’t listen to the detail when he spouts utter nonsense, just feel the good vibes.

"Still time to turn it into a walking or cycling path" is genuinely one of the funnier responses to HS2 I've ever heard. Some of Britain's longest bridges and tunnels for.... dog walking? So unserious it's actually funny

Live review: John Illsley – The Life & Times of Dire Straits at White Rock Theatre, Hastings 29/11/25 darrensmusicblog.com/2025/12/01/l...

That Your Party conference seems to have gone well.

Live review: Slade at White Rock Theatre, Hastings 28/11/25 darrensmusicblog.com/2025/11/30/l...

Live review: Slade at White Rock Theatre, Hastings 28/11/25 darrensmusicblog.com/2025/11/30/l...

You can take yer AI generated images & content & shove it up yer arse.

This week’s featured artists: The Metagama Ensemble – new album ‘Metagama: An Atlantic Odyssey’ darrensmusicblog.com/2025/11/18/t...

This week’s featured artists: The Metagama Ensemble – new album ‘Metagama: An Atlantic Odyssey’ darrensmusicblog.com/2025/11/18/t...

God I wish I had just been left to plod along by PE teachers, rather than being a perennial target for ritual humiliation.

Live review: X Generation X at the Brunswick, Hove 9/11/25 darrensmusicblog.com/2025/11/11/l...

Folk/bluegrass: album review – Damien O’Kane & Ron Block ‘Banjovial’ darrensmusicblog.com/2025/11/12/f...