Remembering the late Kirsty MacColl on her birthday. She had the perfect voice for pop and They Don’t Know remains my go to song of hers. Such a tragedy that we lost her so young. #kirstymaccoll

Thank you, Nice. You’ve been everything we could have wanted and more. Until Next time! #nice #southoffrance #traintravel

I gave up my season ticket two years ago after 24 years. Not because of results, but the way fans were being taken for granted so badly. Some people said that meant I wasn’t a fan. But I had got to the point where enough was enough and this past week has not made me rethink. Sad times. #ncfc

The only seats at Carrow Road that need moving are Ben Knapper’s and Zoe Webber’s. This is no time for musical chairs. #ncfc #otbc #norwich

Dug out this badge to celebrate Phil Oakey's 70th birthday

@brightbookfest.bsky.social @beyondbookfest.bsky.social @dinglelit.bsky.social @reelconnections.bsky.social @turnarounduk.bsky.social @roughtrade1976.bsky.social @latitudefestival.bsky.social

Looking forward to seeing The Skids again at @waterfrontUEA tonight. For me, they were always a cut above most of the post-punk bands, their records defined by Jobson’s urgent vocals and Adamson’s majestic playing which chimed with their Scottish roots. #skids #Norwich

Today’s game feels like it has quite a lot of importance attached to it. We’ve had a decent start to the season with the away results, but that’s not where the perceptions of most supporters are formed. A home win is needed and this is an excellent opportunity to record one. #ncfc #Norwich #otbc

Stiff Records landed its first UK number 1 in January 1979 when Ian Dury & The Blockheads climbed to the top spot with Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick. And with that, one of the industry’s square pegs became a household name. Buy Be Stiff to read more! www.amazon.co.uk/Be-Stiff-Rec...

Calling all book and music festivals… 2026 marks the 50th anniversary of punk and I would love to join you to talk about Stiff Records - the label that released the first ever punk record in the UK and which is also 50 next year. Let me know if you’d like to discuss. #punk #books

American fans of The Pogues can buy copies of A Furious Devotion online and via bookstores. ‘A deep dive into the legacy of an Irish icon. Richard Balls served up the most thorough account of the man - and the myth - to date’ - Rolling Stone. www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-furious-...

Lovely to see this stunning tribute to Shane MacGowan’s The Broad Majestic Shannon unveiled in Nenagh, depicting one of his favourite spots. Congratulations to Tipperary County Council for commissioning this latest mural by artist Neil O’Dwyer. #Tipperary #ShaneMacGowan #RiverShannon #ThePogues

If there are any book festivals planning events around the 50th anniversary of punk next year, I would love to join you. Stiff Records is also 50 in 2026 and released the first ever punk record in the UK. Let me know if you are interested. #bookfest #punk #musicbooks

Happy 70th birthday to Bruce Foxton. Here are The Jam performing David watts on Revolver in 1978

Big shout out to my partner Emma as her positive news channel Folk Features marks its fifth anniversary. If you want an antidote to the gloom and doom, then give it a follow, and if you want to support by becoming a key partner, get in touch. folkfeatures.co.uk #norfolk #suffolk

One of the best ever days of vinyl hunting around Cambridge yesterday and some fantastic new places discovered. Eight miles walked and a terrific vinyl haul to show for it. Highlights included bagging the @cmatbaby.bsky.social album Euro Country on release day and some cool charity shop finds.

Wreckless Eric’s debut single Whole Wide World was released on Stiff Records in August 1977, an instantly arresting song with a DIY sound that typified the label’s early releases. Read about this and other certified Stiff classics in this book www.amazon.co.uk/Be-Stiff-Rec... #books #vinyl

I see Demon is releasing a 9-CD boxset containing all Ian Dury’s studio albums and the posthumously released Ten More Turnips From Tip. Available for pre-order iandurymusic.lnk.to/toonutty?fbcli…#ianduryry

Sad to read that the presenter and commentator Gerry Harrison has died. I was an avid watcher of Match Of The Week on Anglia TV and will always associate him with that era. Back then, any football on TV was treasured and Norwich City coverage even more so. Thanks for the memories. #ncfc

Cool compilation from Chiswick Records’ vaults coming soon, including The Damned, Motörhead and 101’ers, courtesy of @acerecords.bsky.social www.acerecords.co.uk/search?query... #records #vinyl

Happy 71st birthday to @ElvisCostello. Songwriter supreme and collaborator extraordinaire. The artist I have seen live and have more records by than any other. #elviscostello

45 years ago today #theskids

#books are awesome.

Released on Stiff Records on this day in 1980, I Want To Be Straight by Ian Dury & The Blockheads, which reached number 22 in the UK chart. Read all about this and other brilliantly original records in Be Stiff: The Stiff Records Story www.amazon.co.uk/Be-Stiff-Rec...

Love this tie-up between Dunfermline Athletic and my favourite Scottish band ever - The Skids. Hope it raises plenty of money for @whiteribbon.bsky.social www.dunfermlinepress.com/news/2540456...

Big shout out to @brookecombe.bsky.social (pronounced ‘comb’) who was a real highlight at @rocknrollcircus.bsky.social in Norwich yesterday. Early set but one that left a lasting impression. #norwich

On this day in 1976, Stiff Records was born with the release of Nick Lowe’s So It Goes/Heart Of The City. You can read about the label’s incredible story and eclectic roster of acts in Be Stiff: The Stiff Records Story. BUY 1 now! www.amazon.co.uk/Be-Stiff-Rec... #stiffrecords #book #punk

Toppermost relaunch today - a brand new look after 12 years. 1,148 posts from 160 contributors on this popular communal website. Fancy compiling a top 10 of your favourite band/artist? DM with suggestions - many bands conspicuous by their absence! (photo Esther Bubley) www.toppermost.co.uk

I was completely entranced by Mr Benn as a child and it was endlessly magical because the voice of Ray Brooks made it so. He was also an extremely versatile actor and I remember him in PD James’ Death Of An Expert Witness. RIP and thanks for the memories. #raybrooks #mrbenn

A Bunch Of Stiff Records - an early compilation featuring the Motorhead single that was never released. You can read about this British label that ripped up the industry rulebook and stormed the charts with a string of incredible acts in this book. www.amazon.co.uk/Be-Stiff-Rec... #vinyl

Tucked away in the soon-to-de-demolished Anglia Square is this former nightclub. I remember going to Student Union events when I was at City College in the early 80s. It was Rick’s Place then, a darkened room blasting out New Order and the likes to under-age drinkers. #Norwich

Record Fair tomorrow at @theforumnorwich.bsky.social in Norwich. See you there vip-24.com/venues/norwi... #norwich #vinyl #records

Forty years ago today, The Pogues’ second album Rum Sodomy & The Lash was released on Stiff Records. Their commercial heights were to come, but this record produced by Elvis Costello, bottled the band’s trademark energy and rebellious spirit better than any. #ThePogues #vinyl #album

an interesting confluence of timing to see this post below by @punkandnewwave.bsky.social and then also this post here bsky.app/profile/musi... by @musicbiographer.bsky.social regarding Stiff Records, where Devo initially made this song and got an early start. be stiff, spuds!

Be Stiff: The Stiff Records Story is now available via Kindle at £12.99. Read about the rebellious label that ripped up the industry rulebook and brought us Madness, Elvis Costello, Ian Dury, The Pogues, The Damned, and many more! www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B0FK... #punk #stiffrecords #book

Croatian-speaking fans of Shane MacGowan can now buy this edition courtesy of Rockmark! Fantastic photo of Shane on the cover, I think you’ll agree. I love how all the translated editions look so different. rockmark.hr/trgovina/shane…#shanemacgowana#thepoguese#biographyhy

Glorious show from @oasisofficial25.bsky.social at Wembley Stadium last night, full of rock ‘n’ roll swagger and killer songs. Slide Away and Rock ‘n’ Roll Star among the many highlights. Superb support too from Richard Ashcroft and Cast. #OasisLive25 #wembleystadium

Whenever I’m at @latitudefestival.bsky.social, memories come flooding back of incredible sets I’ve seen. Here’s my Top 5 from the early years: 1. Gossip 2009 2. Arcade Fire 2007 3. Sigur Ros 2008 4. Belle & Sebestian 2010 5. Death Cab For Cutie 2008 What are your best memories? #LatitudeFest

Elvis Costello’s devastating ballad Alison didn’t trouble the UK singles chart when it was released in May 1977. However, the song produced by Nick Lowe remains one of the most potent 45s issued by the maverick label. Read about it and more in this book #stiffrrcords #vinyl #elviscostello

Surprise highlight of @latitudefestival.bsky.social was Mexican group Midnight Generation. An irresistible fusion of disco, funk, soul, and pop which will live long in the memory. Ridiculously good. #LatitudeFest #latitude #suffolk

New Rose by The Damned was the sixth single released by Stiff Records and the UK’s first ever punk record. Read all about it and the maverick label that launched The Damned and other unforgettable acts in this book. www.amazon.co.uk/Be-Stiff-Rec... #punk #book #thedamned #records #vinyl

Just another day of Norwich being Norwich. Big love to Norwich Lanes for another fabulous Norwich Lanes Summer Fayre ❤️ #Norwich @norwichartscentre.bsky.social

Asked in The Irish Times about standing alongside @kneecapceol.bsky.social amid the terror charges, @fontainesdc.bsky.social’s Grian Chatten replied: “If Sinéad O’Connor was still around, she’d be speaking up and [would] probably have another media storm raged against her, as well.” Hear hear!

I reckon we need to bring back Rock Against Racism. Politics in music needs to be normalised again so musicians can stand up for what they believe and affect change.

Its International Kissing Day, apparently. Any excuse to play this. youtu.be/0feFedDW_iQ?... #internationalkissingday #judeesill

To see so many people who were at Glastonbury saying that politics has no place in music speaks volumes about what is come to represent. Protest goes to the very marrow of popular music and Kneecap and Bob Vylan protesting about genocide in Gaza are perfectly in step with that. #Glastonbury

This is like the perfect gig ever. If only I lived in the States and could go! The B52s and Devo are two of the most insanely original acts ever to come out of the States. I’m also a massive fan of Lene Lovich - one of the most memorable performers on the Stiff roster. #b52s #Devo #tour

“I’m CMAT, I have middle child syndrome, an amazing ass and the best Irish rock and roll country band in the world!” Ciara Mary Alice Thompson tells a huge Pyramid Stage crowd in the sweltering heat on the first day of Glastonbury 2025. www.rollingstone.co.uk/music/cmat-l...