Posts Tagged UK
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March 22, 2018 by Simon Sweetman
Sweetman Podcast: Episode 108 – James Buttery
Welcome to episode 108 of Sweetman Podcast with support from our sponsors – T Leaf T, Yeastie Boys and Le Petite Chocolat. Here’s a chat with a guy called James Buttery. He’s a record collector. He’s the co-host of a brand new podcast called The Good, The Bad & The LP. He’s also the host of a YouTube channel where he […]Archive
March 14, 2018 by Simon Sweetman
NZ Festival Writers & Readers: A C Grayling – Democracy In Crisis
A C Grayling: Democracy in Crisis Renoulf Foyer, MFC Sunday, March 11 This Writers & Readers session was a straight-up lecture by British author, philosopher, public intellectual A C Grayling. The topic Democracy in Crisis coming from his latest work, Democracy And Its Crisis. He also spoke the previous night, although I missed that on […]Archive
March 13, 2018 by Simon Sweetman
Revisiting Live at Knebworth (1990)
The grounds of Knebworth House have played host to some huge rock concerts over the years. This British venue was where the re-formed Deep Purple first played in 1985. A year later it was where Queen played its final live show (with Freddie Mercury). In 1979 it was the scene for two Led Zeppelin shows, the band’s return to the UK stage after […]Archive
March 12, 2018 by Simon Sweetman
NZ Festival Writers & Readers: Francis Spufford & Elizabeth Knox Talk About God
Francis Spufford & Elizabeth Knox Talk About God Circa One, Circa Theatre Saturday, March 10 This Writers & Readers session featured a conversation about God between long-time correspondents Francis Spufford (UK) and Elizabeth Knox (NZ). It was, if you’ll pardon the pun, a spirited conversation. It was lively, funny and often irritating. For a start, […]Archive
March 5, 2018 by Simon Sweetman
Gig Review: The Staves (March 4, Wgtn)
The Staves The Festival Club Sunday, March 4 British sisters Emily, Jessica and Camilla Staveley-Taylor record and tour as The Staves, this Festival performance was their first Wellington appearance. They’re back in the tent for a second and final showing in the capital this Tuesday, March 6. From heavenly harmonies, and through clever looping of […]Archive
February 22, 2018 by Simon Sweetman
Sweetman Podcast: Episode 104 – Megan Dunn
Welcome to episode 104 of Sweetman Podcast with support from our sponsors – T Leaf T, Yeastie Boys and Le Petite Chocolat. I had a chat with Megan Dunn – she’s an artist, art-critic and writer. She’s recently released the book Tinderbox – which I loved. I contacted Megan for a chat because I’d enjoyed some of the press and interviews around Tinderbox […]Archive
February 20, 2018 by Simon Sweetman
Billy Bragg: Bridges Not Walls (ep)
Billy Bragg Bridges Not Walls – EP Billy Bragg/Cooking Vinyl The fucking Brexit nonsense and the rise of Trump and general non-thinking must be exciting to someone like Billy Bragg. I’m not trying to be churlish, but imagine how easy it is for him to write songs around that? Well, actually, it has proved fine […]Archive
February 14, 2018 by Simon Sweetman
The 1001 Albums Challenge # 33: Pentangle – “Basket of Light”
I have listened to a lot of albums by John Renbourn and even more by Bert Jansch but Pentangle – not as much; not so much – mostly left to compilations or standalone tracks… At first, listening to this, I feel it’s one of those dated-sounding things – can’t quite place it anywhere near today […]Archive
January 29, 2018 by Simon Sweetman
The Ghost of Electricity: War Stories by Jon McLeary # 196 Ska
I think it was the killer basslines that hooked me in and the attitude as much as anything. When I first moved to Wellington in 1980 I guess I was still writing folk songs. Louise and I had found work at the Art Centre and I felt under pressure to write. That first Specials album […]Archive
January 25, 2018 by Simon Sweetman
Gig Review: The Selecter & The Beat (January 25; Wgtn)
The Selecter & The Beat Opera House Thursday, January 25 Two tones of 2-tone bands on the one bill and it seems The Beat and The Selecter take it in turns to headline; Pauline Black bounds onto the stage, her energy palpable instantly. It’s The Selecter’s turn to start the night, it’s hot and the […]Archive
January 24, 2018 by Simon Sweetman