When you get taken aside by airport security, fingerprint tested for illegal narcotics, searched and your trainers get X-rayed. It only means one thing.. ITS HOLIDAY TIME!!

On VE Day, we appear to have just voted into our councils a far right party , whose leader worshipped Adolf Hitler

Just been informed that our trip to New Zealand to see our our daughter is cancelled due to “Operation Epstein Fury”. Insurance Travel company is refusing to insure flights in transit through Dubai, plus the uncertainty of fuel shortages. Thanks you big orange nonce.

42 years old today. There’s no denying the power of Ocean Rain , and its influence has extended to countless other musicians and bands over the years. Ian McCulloch said it was “The Greatest Record Ever Made” and who are we to argue with that?

The Charlie’s Sproston it up in Toon!

Happy Star Wars Day

Morning

At 59 years old it’s amazing to remember the record I bought at 16 years old on the 2nd May 1983. Personally, I believe it to be most pivotal release in their entire canon. 43 years later I still never tire of listening to it. Happy Birthday Power, Corruption and Lies. Love, Andy.

Morning

30 years ago today, just to make me feel even older. Quite the day/night, long before the wheels came off. Love them or loathe them, there was an atmosphere so electric it could have powered Maine Road itself. Not bad for £17:50 for a ticket. Now then, where did those 30 years go? 😅

House of All, grooving in The Grove, Newcastle

50 years ago today, Sid James died onstage at Sunderland Empire. Literally.

The Sound of Sunday courtesy of Galen & Paul.The debut album from Songwriter Galen Ayres ( daughter of Soft Machine’s Kevin Ayers) and Paul Simonon, who once described himself as “the Clint Eastwood of bass playing” . An album that deserves to be wafting through open windows on a summer day.

“Right, we’ll have to re-shoot the whole scene again, JD you were smiling when the extra we hired was taking you away, and forgot that your wife was still under the table, and who forgot the blood capsule to put on Donald’s ear? “

Morning

Stepping out!!

“Every form is a base for colour, every colour is the attribute of a form” — Victor Vasarely, grandfather and leader of Op Art, 1906-1997

Sun’s out. Bar’s open!

Happy St.Georges Day

If I started a Mark Knopfler tribute band now, I would definitely call it “Dire Straits of Hormuz”

Morning

Sound of Sunday courtesy of House of All and Bandcamp. The Bay City Pistols return with their fourth album in four years, dare I say it’s their best? I dare. Focused , yet expansive , mesmeric, with psychedelic swirling guitars and some foot stomping Glam grooves.especially during “Valiant Heart”.

BAR’S OPEN! Brian Johnson in the Dunston Social Club -The Clav, Gateshead.

Morning

"Last night I sat down and tried to make a list of the truly great British bands of the 1980s. Bands whose recordings and influence would endure. After nearly an hour I was staring at a sheet of paper with only one name on it: The Smiths” RIP Andy Kershaw youtu.be/O0dn5UixkDc?...

Afternoon.

Happy 35th Birthday to FAC 287. Still sounds like it was recorded tomorrow. Not forgetting those sublime backing vocals from Denise Johnson.

Morning

@wearejames.bsky.social in Toon on Friday with @dovesofficial.bsky.social James have that gift of making a huge arena gig feel like a small and intimate gig, and vice-versa, with Tim Booth continually breaking down the barriers between stage and audience. A spiritual and euphoric night.

@dovesofficial.bsky.social flew into the Black and White Town armed with their canon of powerful and evocative gems. The majestic moody Mancunian Morricone sound included the Country and North Western Noir of “Kingdom of Rust “ , and the percussive power of “Their goes the fear”. Doves Soul.

James man!!

BAR’S OPEN!! Off to the “Black and White Town” to catch some Doves and the “Sound” of James

Morning

Morning

Released 33 years ago today. Nothing we regret.

Happy Easter.

The Easter Bunny (men). Songs to learn and love. A journey gliding through the decades The songs, in fact, sounded glorious with Will Sergeant on lead guitar, providing the Bunnymen’s ethereal melodic riffs sounding as good as ever. And I still blubbed through “Ocean Rain”, which I have since 1984.

Lost Souls is an album built on sadness. But it’s a majestic sadness, underpinned by optimism and defiance.And, after many dozens of listens, it still moves and invigorates me. I certainly can’t think of an album I’d rather wallow in. Especially now. Happy 26th Birthday Lost Souls.

Morning

On one in 1991 in Turkey #throwbackthursday

Hello April

Morning

Manchester Versus Cancer 2007. On this day 19 years ago today. Great night of great collaborations for a great cause. A memorable entry into the never ending road trip of musical good times. Excellent photos by Karin Albinsson and Shari Denson

Monday

Sunday. Bar’s open!!

Clocks gone forward one hour. Weather gone back three months.

Morning all. Under the Tyne Bridge, Newcastle, December 1976. Photographer Graham Smith.

“Computers infest the hotels, Cops can't catch criminals, But what the heck, they're not too bad, they talk to God” #fallfriday

A quick reminder, Farage and his brown pants bragging about “selling out” Sunderland Arena. Sunderland doesn’t have an Arena. It’s just a name stuck on it by the owner , who runs a storage company down the road. It only holds just under a 2000 capacity.Plus it’s in Houghton -Le -Spring. 8 miles away