Monthly Archives: November 2014

Still Stiff, after all these years – the Richard Balls interview

Right now, the chief organ-grinder at writewyattuk is tackling Richard Balls’ Be Stiff: The Stiff Records Story, a compelling biography of the legendary and ground-breaking indie label. A review will follow on these pages, but until then here’s an interview with … Continue reading

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Music | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Here She Comes (again) – The Hazel O’Connor interview

Hazel O’Connor has lived ‘up in the hills’ of County Wicklow for around 25 years now, based just under an hour from Dublin. She has Irish roots, Hazel’s Dad having left Galway for Coventry, where he worked at a local … Continue reading

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Music | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Desperately Seeking the Mad Cat Lady – the Susan Calman interview

Barely half-way into a mammoth 100-date tour – from a month of Edinburgh Fringe summer dates right through until May – you’d think Susan Calman would be getting a little jaded by now. But this lawyer-turned-comic remains her characteristic bubbly … Continue reading

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Comedy & Theatre | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Paul Carrack/Elliott Morris – Preston Guild Hall

From Satisfy my Soul through to a show-stopping How Long, those at the Guild Hall on Wednesday night were left in no doubt as to why they call Paul Carrack ‘the man with the golden voice’. Whether tackling classic ‘60s … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Eve of the Final Tour – the Jeff Wayne interview

More than 35 years after Jeff Wayne’s first musical adaptation of HG Wells’ classic 1897 science fiction tale, it appears that there’s still plenty of life in The War of the Worlds. But while Jeff is about to embark on … Continue reading

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Music | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Going Overground – In conversation with Damian O’Neill

This week saw the release of a new solo single from one of my musical heroes, a certain Damian O’Neill. I’m tempted to not even bother with an introduction, but this Derry-raised, London-based guitarist made his name alongside brother John … Continue reading

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Music | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Living the Good Life – the Martina Cole interview

Martina Cole is a publishing phenomenon, having made a habit of smashing sales records with each of her 21 novels. Her hard-hitting, uncompromising writing is in a genre all of its own, and as her publisher puts it, ‘no one … Continue reading

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Everlasting Yeah – Anima Rising

It’s arrived at last. The pledges have been counted, the funds have been crowded, and the cats are finally out of the bag. So welcome one and all to the mighty sound of The Everlasting Yeah and their debut album … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Peace in our time – the Armistice Pals charity project

In the week legendary American folk singer and activist Pete Seeger died – back in late January – a Lancashire band paid their own emotional live tribute. In so doing, Wigan octet Merry Hell revisited their own past as The … Continue reading

Posted in Music | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Starting to believe again – my distant life with the Cardinals

Now we’re a third of the way through the season, there’s a real sense of belief in the ranks around and about Woking FC. And if nothing else, the fact that we now have 30 league points to our name … Continue reading

Posted in Football, sport | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment