I'm entering into the world of Substack. My free newsletter is called No Archive and is the kind of writing I don't get to do as much nowadays: irreverent and off the cuff. The first piece is about Hulk Hogan, WWF/E and race. open.substack.com/pub/lanrebak...

Tickets are on sale now for Hidden Histories with @lanre-bakare.bsky.social & @jakecampbell88.bsky.social at Durham Book Festival. Both authors highlight the unsung stories of people from across the North, painting a portrait of a diverse and rich heritage: newwritingnorth.com/event/hidden...

Nice write up of WWT in TLS. Will do a post at some point about “political blackness” …

My review of Lanre Bakare’s excellent book We Were There is in this week’s TLS www.the-tls.com/regular-feat... @lanre-bakare.bsky.social @thetls.bsky.social

On Ballymena, 1919 and a history of violence www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Enjoyed this look at manc Morrissey diehards by The Mill. Would love someone to do something similar in east LA - arguably the biggest Moz fanbase outside the north west of England. manchestermill.co.uk/does-manches... Does Manchester still love Morrissey?

Real storyline from the game is Brennan Johnson’s hair

When we were drawing up plans for world domination, Start The Week was top of the list of shows to get on. I was lucky enough to be on with Tiffany Jenkins and Geoff Dyer who both have fascinating books out (a memoir and a history of privacy and its limitations). www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

Enjoyed talking about STRANGERS & INTIMATES on @BBCRadio4 #StartTheWeek on history as private, personal & political, with the hilarious, Geoff Dyer (HOMEWORK) & the insightful @lanre-bakare.bsky.social (WE WERE THERE). Brilliantly chaired by @tds153.bsky.social www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

@ayshahtull.bsky.social and I spoke with @lanre-bakare.bsky.social on the history of black Britain outside of London, in his hometown of Bradford. Two things he’s an expert on. www.channel4.com/news/lanre-b...

2️⃣ Lanre Bakare: We Were There Join writer & broadcaster Désirée Reynolds for a conversation with @lanre-bakare.bsky.social, who will set out a compelling portrait of modern Britain that weaves Black stories far away from the capital into our national narrative. 🎟️ loom.ly/PTNOEzw

Huge thanks to everyone who came along to our event last night with @lanre-bakare.bsky.social & Lisa Williams! 🤩 If you missed out, you can watch the livestream over on our website, and also order a signed copy of We Were There below 😊 www.theportobellobookshop.com/978184792747...

Had a blast on 6Music chatting to Zakia Sewell about my new book WE WERE THERE which is all about Black British culture in the 70s and 80s. Listen back here: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

🗣️ 1 May - Lanre Bakare: We Were There Join @lanre-bakare.bsky.social to explore his new book We Were There, in which he sets out a compelling portrait of modern Britain that weaves Black stories far away from the capital into our national narrative. Get tickets ➡️ loom.ly/PTNOEzw

Londoners - I’ll be at Waterstones Trafalgar Square tomorrow night with Emma Dabiri. Last few tickets remaining www.waterstones.com/events/we-we...

The first review is in for We Were There! Colin Grant in The (Mighty) Observer declares We Were There is “sharply intelligent history” that “admirably achieves what it sets out to provide” and is a “necessary corrective”. Feeling blessed 😇 www.theguardian.com/books/2025/a...

We Were There is on the cover of Guardian’s Saturday culture pages! It’s incredible to see Ellery Hanley, Nightmares on Wax, Empire Road and all the other figures from the book, assembled together and brought to life in print. Live dates, pre-order link and playlist: www.lanrebakare.com/events

We’re thrilled that @lanre-bakare.bsky.social will be coming to the bookshop on 28th April to celebrate his new book: We Were There: How Black culture, resistance and community shaped modern Britain. 💥 More info & tickets here: www.theportobellobookshop.com/events/lanre...

Your second headliner!🎉 @lanre-bakare.bsky.social's work focuses on the intersection of art, race & culture. His book, We Were There, is about a Black Britain that for too long has been unknown and unexplored – the one that exists beyond London Info & tickets ➡️ festivalofdebate.com/2025/lanre-b...

If anyone is about 18th March I'll be giving a public seminar for the Manchester Uni history department. The talk will be exploring photographs of industrial struggle, race and resistance and discussing 'Bolton's Grunwick', a mill strike in 1978. All welcome! events.manchester.ac.uk/event/event:...

🚨Tour klaxon🚨 I’m taking We Were There out on the road in April and May. Please come and say hi!

New project launches today looking at class, the arts and the leadership of some of our biggest institutions. Our analysis shows: Nearly a third (30%) of artistic directors and other creative leaders were educated privately compared with a UK average of 7%. www.theguardian.com/culture/2025...

New from me: An extraordinary story about a new security breach at the British Museum broke late last night www.theguardian.com/culture/2025...

New from me: National Portrait Gallery accused of ‘nepotism’ over show for one of the donors to its massive £40m refurb www.theguardian.com/artanddesign...

I’m delighted that We Were There has made it onto the Guardian’s and GQ’s must read books for 2025 Guardian: www.theguardian.com/culture/2024... GQ: www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/best...

Ending the year with some big Succession vibes: huge row at the Hilma Af Klint foundation over a potential agreement with David Zwirner “It’s a hostile takeover” … www.theguardian.com/artanddesign...

Is this the most attractive book cover of the year already?! I think it must be! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 @lanre-bakare.bsky.social Can’t wait to get stuck in! www.penguin.co.uk/books/453942...

A proof of this turned up today… Full thoughts closer to publication, but I can yell you this: @lanre-bakare.bsky.social is telling important stories here and unveiling many hidden Black British histories. An essential read #BookSky

Bit of jolly news from me on a Monday morning about how artists are now being paid at record (low) levels. Average income has dropped by 40% since 2010 www.theguardian.com/artanddesign...

As We Rise really lived up to the hype @ Saatchi. Lots of classics mixed with surprises and new discoveries (Afonsa Pimenta!). Great photography everywhere at the moment inc 80s @ Tate Britain and Rotimi Fani-Kayode / Abi Morocco, which is a brilliant must see autograph.org.uk

Name a better OST

this week's column www.theguardian.com/sport/2024/n...

Once you spot the Stone Island badge you’ll notice it everywhere or rather *on* everyone - from Liam Gallagher and Drake to Keir Starmer and Ronan Keating. I spoke to the Italian brand’s chairman Carlo Rivetti about masculinity, hooliganism and … darts www.theguardian.com/fashion/2024...

Excited to share the cover for my debut non-fiction book WE WERE THERE, which is out 17 April 2025 via The Bodley Head + is a cultural history of Black Britain in the Thatcher era. Please pre-order it via the link if you feel inclined! www.penguin.co.uk/books/453942...

Enjoyed the Substance for its complete lunacy but felt like not much more than a combo of the Shining corridor, Carrie and the Call On Me video