“All I wanted to do was make people laugh.”—Charles M. Schulz⁠ ⁠ 🎂 Today, we celebrate the birthday of Charles M. Schulz, born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on November 26, 1922. ⁠ Thank you, Mr. Schulz, for all the happiness and laughter.⁠ ⁠ Photo by Michael Myers, c. 1954 © Schulz Museum.

Carly is currently working with photographer Oana Bakovic to show the beauty and ecology of limestone pavements. Thanks to the @britishecologicalsociety.org we will be producing an exhibit for libraries in Cumbria. This orchid was captured at Gait Barrows.

Grant Hart - 2541 [USA, alternative rock] (1988) - Former Hüsker Dü drummer drops this solo gem on his way to illustrious obscurity https://redd.it/1p1nhfx https://youtu.be/lCsYUIQ3sZo

Richard Hawley calls his music “a league away from most things in any genre". Rufus Wainwright says he was “so lucky” to work with him at an impressionable age. One of Billy Bragg's most famous covers came about because of him. But have you heard of Dick Gaughan?

On my journal, I've written up a short piece on how the site came to be: hicks.design/journal/star...

Excellent! Attended the St Thomas Church show in Newcastle-upon-Tyne in the late 2000's, but sadly found no recordings. It was a great night.

Bought the 'So Young' 12" from Volume in Newcastle, selling them off at 50p each as there were few takers. Surprised at the change in sound but those earlier years fitted in with my love of the Paisley Underground, and I enjoyed the gigs around that time. RIP Mani, always approachable and friendly.

Sonic Boom in Glasgow tomorrow...

I am excited to reveal that we will be playing a couple of exclusives on the night. The first is a cover of a key Spacemen 3 track by Slipstream, recoded a couple of years ago but not yet released.

Happy 60th birthday to Peter Kember and Jason Pierce who were both born in the same hospital on this day in 1965. Here they are together in Spacemen 3 performing Revolution youtu.be/qdQn7c62zHM

Hey friends! Naomi and I are retuning to the stage for a 3-day residency at @cafeotodalston.bsky.social, with many friends and geniuses joining us - tix go up today! Jan 3-5 (& Jan 6 my book is out in UK/EU) www.cafeoto.co.uk/events/damon...

Took a copy of 'Never Understand' to the local disco, sounded amazing bouncing of the white breezeblock walls, for all of about 30 seconds. DJ took it off as he thought it had damaged his needle.

"Libraries are nothing less than our secret weapon in the war against ignorance and isolation." Australia's libraries are treasures. Protect them. theconversation.com/australias-p...

'The Brother From Another Planet' needs watching every now and then. www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXVL...

"I disappear from the public eye and get rediscovered quite often." -Burgess Meredith #BOTD

The Ecstasy of Saint Theresa 'Free D', double LP from Newcastle Record Fair many years ago. £2 brand new, one of those albums where no one was interested at the time. www.youtube.com/watch?v=fC3D...

From the excellent "Circle' album... youtu.be/QrBy-95nz9c?...

We used to go searching for these 'musical stones', and years later there was a Radio 4 documentary 'The World's First Rock Band.' Now there is a book by Mike Adcock. www.archaeopress.com/Archaeopress...

RIP Lo Borges. Once held this LP, a beautiful thing. youtube.com/playlist?lis...

I bought the Vincent Price 'Tales of Witches...' LP many years ago from a lovely bookshop in Devon. The shop was the type where you might of also purchased a haunted mirror on a misty morning. www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzRI...

Just a quick re-up now the Americans are rising…

Birds chirping along to Circle in the garden this morning... www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7dw...

The joy of Edan... djseith.bandcamp.com/album/ekphra...

Whilst in Glasgow I always try to pick up a copy of @greatergovanhill.com

Back from marvellous Glasgow...

Sounded like the future to this Cumbrian teenager. RIP Dave Ball. www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQr4...

We are deeply saddened by the loss of Greg Newby, who led Project Gutenberg ( @gutenberg.org ) with passion and purpose. Greg’s belief in free and open access to knowledge continues to inspire us and so many others working to preserve our shared culture online. gutenberg.org/about/newby....

HIVE MIND: What's the greatest panto poster you've ever seen? Comment below.

The new book by photographers Karla L. Murray and James T. Murray documents the unique character and colourful inner lives of New York's finest – its many and varied record shops Platters That Matter: James & Karla Murray’s Vinyl NYC buff.ly/x9Ykw91

ABBA 'SOS' the excellent ending to 'Together'... www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvCh...

Julianna Barwick + Mary Lattimore - Melted Moon 8 minutes and 37 seconds of self-care to repair the soul

I knew Dave Kusworth was living in the South West, but it surprised me when I saw a handwritten advert for a show in a St. Ives pub (upstairs - £5), a week after I had visited. Thought I might get to see him again, but sadly it was not to be. #davekusworth #jacobites www.youtube.com/watch?v=PX1E...

I paid £8 for 'Dreams of Reason Produce Monsters' by Mick Karn some years ago at a Kendal charity shop. I came across it recently at a record fair for £35 (worn sleeve). Some of the pricing makes you think twice about going these days. #nowplaying www.youtube.com/watch?v=tl23...

To celebrate today's release of the Human Language 'Goat' Tape on all streaming channels – watch human language perform a live mix of the album from somewhere in Sweden: youtu.be/19DCmQ_P1Vc?... Last few copies of the ltd tape can be purchased from here: rocketrecordings.com/products/the...

One of the most influential DJs in British music history, beloved by members of the Who, the Stones, the Small Faces, Mott the Hoople, the Clash. My new article telling the story of Guy Stevens here on Substack - davehaslam.substack.com/p/a-half-for...

What’s this? Yet more research concluding that robust public investment in the arts yields economic benefits? A great outcome for Ireland, and a rebuke to all those tired cliches about freeloading artists sapping the resources of the state. But also, art enriches us all, economic benefits or no.

Besnard Lakes 'Give Us Our Dominion', look forward to Glasgow next year... www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMxQ...

Yalla Miku 'Alemuye', and an album out soon. www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwYX...

Grant Hart, 'Sorry Somehow', never tire of his songs... www.youtube.com/watch?v=62at...

New Droogie Otis, timeless sound... and a mention for The Clash and Joe Strummer ... www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHor...

Grown up with Ed Ball and The Times, and 'Cloud Over Liverpool' was always in my head, whether I was going to Planet X in the 80's, Liverpool Psych Festival, or more recently the Sun Ra Arkestra... www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSxm...

Looking forward to the Julianna Barwick and Mary Lattimore album... www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPEX...

Ooh-la-la - formidable!

Bill Nelson 'Northern Dream', bought many years ago from Chester-le-Street market for the pricely sum of £4. Independent music from '71. www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGdB...

PLAY SAFE: FRISBEE (1978) BAFTA-nominated all-time classic PIF, and part of the Scarred For Life Hall of Fame. Poor Jimmy famously gets 66,000 volts up his hoop whilst trying to retrieve his frisbee, while sister Amy looks on helplessly. All together now: "JIMMYYYYYYY!"

Peer-to-peer support, shared solutions, and a united voice are exactly how venues survive the pressures they face. Stronger together means stronger for artists, promoters, fans, and the whole live ecosystem. Big love to the Sheffield venues leading the way.

Top marks to Sheffield, where grassroots venues are standing together. This right here is what community looks like. The new Sheffield Independent Venues Alliance (SIVA) is a brilliant move - putting collaboration at the heart of the city’s music scene.

A 7% decline in English birds in just 5 years is astonishing The web of life is unravelling fast

UK fifth-worst country in Europe for loss of green space to development

Just watched this gorgeous video for the song Max Brown by guitarist (and Tortoise member) Jeff Parker. Three people (probably in their 50s) dress up, then groove alone to Parker's tune. It's all about interiors: of their dancing, in private; of their New Orleans homes. A quietly joyful experience.