FIFTY3FRIDAYS: THE EIGHTH OF MAY
Today is indeed the eighth of May; a date on which all Motörfans are urged to turn up the volume to celebrate the loudest day of the year, Motörhead Day! Anyone in for the long haul might even recall that I last wrote about this landmark in 2021, then almost 40 years since Motörhead released its seminal live album No Sleep ‘Til Hammersmith. That’s now ticked on to 45 years and sadly in March guitarist Phil Campbell passed away to join Lemmy in the choir invisible. We close th
3 days ago
FIFTY3FRIDAYS: MUSIC TO YOUR EARS
I combine writing this weekly tome with listening to the week’s music submissions to Fresh On The Net, the independent music blog founded by Tom Robinson and now helmed by Del Osei-Owusu. I am one of a small team of moderators who nominate our favourite entries from all those submitted that week, resulting in a Listening Post totalling 25 tracks. Readers then lend their own ears and vote for their five favourite tracks. The 10 tunes receiving the most votes become the week’s
May 3
FIFTY3FRIDAYS: REMEMBERING SANDY AND DAVE
While this column chiefly focuses on new music largely from independent and grassroots artists, at times we also recognise a past legend or celebrate an anniversary closer to the world of mainstream music. Today, we mark the passing of two of my favourite artists of all time: Sandy Denny who we fondly remember this week and the remarkable Dave Mason who died on Sunday, aged 79. Tuesday 21 April marked 48 years since the tragic, untimely death of Sandy Denny, whose wonderful w
Apr 24
FIFTY3FRIDAYS: KEEPING IT IN THE FAMILY
Getting on for 12 years ago, I had the pleasure of attending a showcase for four disparate acts from the Bella Union stable at the acoustically blessed sanctum of London’s Union Chapel. Memories of that evening came to mind when I read about the independent label’s latest signing. The common link is family; the artists that evening were fulsome in their appreciation of Bella Union and each time the record label was name-checked there was warm audience applause too. It felt l
Apr 17
FIFTY3FRIDAYS: SECOND ALBUM SYNDROME UNDONE
Whither second album syndrome, that curious music industry phenomenon whereby artists struggle to replicate a debut album’s acclaim with an all too often rushed follow-up? Or writers who manage to squeeze both whither and whereby in the same sentence, you may ask? The good news is that Staffordshire-based duo Sonnen Blume has somehow avoided the difficult follow-that trap by pulling another pearl out of the jewellery box. Sonnen Blume 2 has been delivered miraculously just
Apr 10
FIFTY3FRIDAYS: SOCIAL DISTANCING FOR TREES
OK, so why the stock photo of a canopy of trees with the tops keeping their distance from one another? Could this be a form of social distancing for trees? You’ll find an answer in our third song featured below. Coincidentally I was looking up old editions of this column and came across my A-Z of Self Isolation from May 2020; an excruciating piece of comic writing in response to which Private Eye kindly said “Sorry not to publish.” Anyhow do click on the A-Z link above sh
Apr 3
