This may play well in a Reform-leaning constituency, but if true, he's just lost my vote.

Absolutely brilliant

It's #BandcampFriday. Of course I'd be very happy if you purchased my (rather old) album 'Love Death and the Cossack' or something by @magpielane-oxford.bsky.social. But, frankly, this is one of the best things you're likely to hear this year willallenbeccipamely.bandcamp.com/album/great-...

Reminder: this Saturday, 2nd May, we're at Wychwood Folk & Acoustic Club. That's at Tiddy Hall, Ascott-under-Wychwood. And here's a pre-World War I photo of Reginald Tiddy (far right) with the Ascott-under-Wychwood Folk Dance Club which he founded. Tickets from wegottickets.com/event/669470

I'll be performing solo at Cecil Sharp House in December. Which is not something I've done for quite some time. www.efdss.org/whats-on/26-...

No matter how bad your night is going, just remember, at least you’re not at this.

Our next gig is a week on Saturday. We'll be celebrating the coming of May on Saturday 2nd at Wychwood Folk & Acoustic Club, Tiddy Hall, Ascott-under-Wychwood. See www.wychwoodfolkclub.com for details and to buy tickets.

Kershaw had such a massive influence on my musical tastes. Probably heretical to say this, but a bigger influence even than John Peel. Such a sad loss at such an early age.

“I’m not worried about it [committing possible war crimes]” the US president said. “You know what’s a war crime? Having a nuclear weapon.” Well, CND have been saying that for a very long time...

I feel much more anger towards the British pundits & politicians who failed to understand the depravity & derangement of Donald Trump than I do the ones who failed to understand the idiocy of Brexit. But it doesn’t really matter because they’re exactly the same bloody people.

Well that was sheer luck. Not one of my usual starter words, and the second guess came completely out of left field. Wordle 1,744 2/6 ⬜🟨⬜⬜⬜ 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

This is shocking

1st week of Iran war cost the US $11.3bn. More than enough to fully fund the Environmental Protection Agency ($8.8bn), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ($9.2bn) or the National Cancer Institute ($7.4bn). www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...

It was pretty obvious from the outset that Trump and Netanyahu's war on Iran was illegal, but this really makes it clear that Iran posed no immediate threat, and appeared to be negotiating in earnest www.theguardian.com/world/2026/m...

@intheroud.bsky.social @jonboden.bsky.social I just checked the liner notes for the Old Swan Band's 'No Reels' and, as I thought, they got Dark Girl Dressed in Blue from Donegal fiddler John Doherty youtu.be/qOf9cS3n7tY?...

I've forgotten what the acronym NSFW stands for. I think it might be New South Fucking Wales.

I'm heading North tomorrow to meet up with old friends, and to do a solo gig on Saturday night at Acoustic Cabaret in Brinscall, Lancs - that's at St Joseph's Community Club, 42 School Lane, Brinscall PR6 8QP

I'm reading Maggie O'Farrell's memoir 'I am I am I am'. Sitting in a pub, waiting for a train, I read the chapter about her miscarriages. And it seems one of the saddest, most beautiful things I've ever read.

As the Guardian so rightly says "Many degrees that are derided as low-value or soft often are meaningful for the students who study them and have valuable economic and cultural impacts that are not always easily quantifiable". So bugger off Tories. www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...

Well, that Jim Ratcliffe turned out to be a nice bloke...

Oh God. Just one more thing to worry about... and if Reform get in here they'll try the same sort of tricks.

Thanks to everyone who came to see us at Readifolk last night. As you can see, we had a really good time.

Elon Musk is a white supremacist. Case closed.

Looking forward to playing at Readifolk on Sunday - have played a few gigs there with @magpielane-oxford.bsky.social but this will be the first time Mat and I have done it as a duo.

THIS SUNDAY at the club! @rdgwhatson.bsky.social @acespacenewbury.bsky.social @magpielane-oxford.bsky.social #SundayNight is #FolkMusicNight in #TheDing

It's come to something when a non entity like Cleverly is held up as a potential saviour of the Tory party!

If you don’t pay attention to UK politics, “what is their policy on civil servants wearing fetish clothing in the workplace” sounds absurd because noone wears gimp masks to their office job. If you do, you immediately know she wants a policy prohibiting trans women from wearing skirts or dresses.

There are now at least 365 UK MPs with accounts on Bluesky – more than half (56%) of all MPs 🔴 This includes nearly 70% of Labour MPs 🔶 Nearly 90% of Lib Dem MPs 🟢 All the 4 Green MPs 🔵 But only 5% of Conservative MPs ➡️ No Reform MPs

I have no time for dictators, nor for drug dealers. But The US intervention in Venezuela is a fragrant breach of international law, and must be unequivocally condemned by all democratic leaders.

Well done flag-shagging RefUK supporters. That's £16K that won't get spent on education or social care or mending potholes.

This is all true, of course. Except there's no 'e' in Sharp.

Thanks to St Saviour's at St Albans for providing such a glorious space for our final Christmas concert of 2025. Even more splendid than usual, decked out as it was with dozens of decorated Christmas trees. Merry Christmas one and all. www.instagram.com/reel/DSief-c...

Thanks to Dick Wolff for some fantastic photos from our gig in Oxford on Saturday. More on our Instagram - www.instagram.com/magpielaneox...

There you are @jackieoates.bsky.social - I told you you're now officially iconic!

Thanks to everyone who came to see us at the Wesley Memorial Church in Oxford on Saturday. I think we're all agreed it's a very good venue for us - we'll see you there again next December. Here's a photo from first time visitor Maria, who says she's coming every year from now on! More to follow.

This was also my view of proceedings at the Old Band Room, Dungworth yesterday afternoon, but I was too caught up in the absolute joy of joining in with the wonderful singing to take any photos.

Shepherds Arise - Andy Turner and a cast of thousands (well, 20 actually). Recorded remotely in 2020 by a virtual choir including @jonboden.bsky.social @jackieoates.bsky.social @jimcausley.bsky.social **All proceeds to Cancer Research UK** andyturner.bandcamp.com/track/shephe...

Is it Bandcamp Friday? (Spoiler alert) It is! isitbandcampfriday.com

The Magpie Lane Christmas extravaganza hits the road this weekend: we'll be at the Second Time Around Folk Club, Beeston near Nottingham tomorrow, and then at Royal Traditions, Dungworth near Sheffield on Saturday. www.magpielane.co.uk/ml_news.htm

"Part of the iconic Wetherspoons brand—imagine Denny’s and a Greyhound bus station have unprotected sex, and the baby is raised by carpet... The customers—the bitter, the deranged, and the men in full motorcycle outfits eating lasagne at 11am—shoot us curious, guarded glances." 😱 This is perfect.

If you're an ordinary, vaguely disorganised mortal, probably best to buy this now while you remember. But if you're the organised type, add it to your Bandcamp Wishlist today, then come back and buy it on 5th December - that's a Bandcamp Friday, so even more money will go to Cancer Research.

Here's a first: I've just released a charity Christmas single. Recorded remotely in 2020 by a virtual choir including @jonboden.bsky.social @jackieoates.bsky.social @jimcausley.bsky.social Costs £1.50 but you can pay more - all proceeds to Cancer Research UK. andyturner.bandcamp.com/track/shephe...

Someone should ask Starmer and Mahmood whether they think the Kindertransport, for example, should have been a return ticket. Whether Alf Dubs, rather than becoming a Labour MP and now Lord, ought to have been sent back with his family to Czechoslovakia once it was liberated from German rule.

@chartmusictotp.bsky.social How TotP changed my life afolksongaweek.wordpress.com/2025/11/13/5...

A special commemorative edition of A Folk Song A Week: 50 years a folky! or The Wombles, their part in my downfall... afolksongaweek.wordpress.com/2025/11/13/5...

Our Christmas gig in Oxford on 13th December is now sold out. There are bound to be a few returns, so feel free to join the waiting list wegottickets.com/event/667363

I see there are still tickets available for @magpielane-oxford.bsky.social at Royal Traditions Folk Club near #Sheffield on 6th December. It's going to be a fabulously festive night as we'll no doubt all do some singing afterwards too. Get tickets at wegottickets.com/event/645679 #festive

I'm off to Lewes tonight, to play the excellent Lewes Saturday Folk Club with Mat Green: Elephant and Castle, White Hill, Lewes BN7 2DJ. 8:00 to 11:00 www.lewessaturdayfolkclub.org

A reminder that our Christmas concert in Oxford has a new venue this year. After 30-odd years we felt like a change! We think you'll like the venue just as much as the Holywell, and the seats are definitely more comfortable! Tickets from wegottickets.com/event/667363

If you're a member of the National Trust remember to vote for council members by midnight tonight. Use the Quick Vote option. Entryist pressure group Reform Trust is trying to seize control. Stop them Voting is quick and easy if your membership card is at hand secure.cesvotes.com/V3-3-0/nt25/...