Tag Archives: London

The healing power of music – talking Trouble Songs with Stuart Bailie

Posted on July 9, 2018 by writewyattuk

Stuart Bailie was chasing invoices when I called him in Belfast, facing up to one of the less glamorous facets of life as a freelance writer, yet part of the job he reckons takes up most of his time. And … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Music | Tagged Ash, Belfast, Bloody Sunday, Bono, BritPop, Christy Moore, Derry, Donegal, Dr Feelgood, Good Vibrations, London, Miami Showband, NME, Northern Ireland, Oh yeah Music Centre, Robert Kee, Rudi, So Hard to Beat, Stiff Little Fingers, Stuart Bailie, Terri Hooley, The Clash, The Undertones, Thin Lizzy, Trouble Songs, U2, Van Morrison | Leave a comment

One Man’s Madness (I call it gladness) – the Lee Thompson interview

Posted on June 28, 2018 by writewyattuk

Lee Thompson was at home when I called, ‘sort of just inside 12 o’clock on the M25,’ where he’s been based around 30 years now. Born in St Pancras, NW1 in 1957, this esteemed saxophonist/songwriter’s postcode is EN5 rather than that … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Comedy & Theatre, Music | Tagged Blockheads, Dave Peacock, Dave Robinson, graffiti, Ian Dury, Jeff Baynes, Kilburn and the High Roads, Lee Thompson, London, Madness, Mike Barson, Prince Buster, pub rock, Robert Elms, ska, Stiff, Suggs, The Clash, The Liberty of Norton Folgate, The Silencerz, The Writing on the Wall, Top of the Pops | Leave a comment

Why Chas & Dave Mustn’t Grumble – in conversation with Dave Peacock

Posted on June 7, 2018 by writewyattuk

When Dave Peacock lost his wife Sue to cancer in 2009, it seemed to mark the end of the Chas & Dave story, ending their professional partnership after 34 years. But a year later the pair announced a tour … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Comedy & Theatre, Music | Tagged Ain't No Pleasing You, Big Jim Sullivan, Blackburn, Chas and Dave, Chas Hodges, Dave Peacock, Enfield, Gertcha, Harry Champion, Heads Hands & Feet, Heretford, Ian Dury, Liverpool, London, Muswell Hillbillies, Ponders End, Rabbit, Spike Island, The Kinks, Tottenham Hotspur. Ossie Ardiles | 2 Comments

Suggs – What a King Cnut, Preston Charter Theatre (Nights at the Theatre, pt.2)

Posted on March 9, 2018 by writewyattuk

Fast forward four nights and I’m closer to home at the Charter Theatre (‘We were so close it was scary, we were that close I couldn’t tell you’). Regarding the venue, in this case we’re barely talking a 45-year history, … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Comedy & Theatre, Football, Music | Tagged Brian May, Camden, Chelsea, David Baddiel, London, Madness, Preston, Preston Charter Theatre, Soho, Suggs, Suggs and the City, That Close, What a King Cnut | 1 Comment

Power to the M People – the Heather Small interview

Posted on March 3, 2018 by writewyattuk

“Stop barking! It’s like, ‘Take notice of me!’ I’ve had to be away from her for the morning. I’ve only had her two years, and I wouldn’t be without her. She’s absolute sunshine.” That’s Heather Small, talking about her beloved … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Music | Tagged Aretha Franklin, Deconstruction, Elkie Brooks, Heather Small, Hot!House, London, Lulu, M People, Manchester, Mike Pickering, Muscle Shoals, Nina Simone, Paul Heard, Proud, Shovell | Leave a comment

In praise of Paddington’s world – a tribute to Michael Bond

Posted on July 3, 2017 by writewyattuk

In a short piece penned for children’s author Cathy Cassidy’s Dreamcatcher blog in January to mark Michael Bond’s 91st birthday, I talked about my friend Paddy, who came into my life 40 years ago last Christmas. Something of a consolation … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Comedy & Theatre | Tagged A.A. Milne, BBC, Berkshire, Blue Peter, David Heyman, FilmFair, Ivor Wood, John Betjeman, Karen Jankel, London, Michale Bond, Monsieur Pamplemousse, Mr Gruber, Olga da Polga, Paddington, Paddington Bear, Peggy Fortnum, reading, St Ives, The herbs, Winnie-the-Pooh, World War Two | Leave a comment

Life beyond The Waves – the Katrina Leskanich interview

Posted on March 23, 2017 by writewyattuk

When Katrina Leskanich told me down the telephone line, ‘The sun is shining, finally’ in London, I took it with a pinch of salt, not least as earlier that day I revisited a grainy mid-‘80s promo video in which she … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Comedy & Theatre, Music | Tagged Blisland, Chris Tookey, Chrissie Hynde., Dublin, Going Down to Liverpool, Kansas, Katrina Leskanich, Katrrina and the Waves, Kimberley Rew, Leader of the Pack, London, Loreen, Love Shine a Light, Lucie Jones, Mama's Cookin', Metropoodle, Norfolk, Paul Young, Preston, Terry Wogan, The Bangles, The Soft Boys, Walking on Sunshine | 3 Comments

Coming to terms with The Wolfhounds – the Dave Callahan interview

Posted on December 2, 2016 by writewyattuk

If one recent album sums up the state of the nation in late 2016 more than any other, I reckon it’s The Wolfhounds’ Untied Kingdom (Or How To Come To Terms With Your Culture). This treasured Greater London outfit’s latest … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Music | Tagged Aldershot, Andy Golding, Birdwatch, Blur, Bob Stanley, C86, David Callahan, Deutsche Ashram, Frank Stebbing, John Peel, London, Middle Aged Freaks, Miss Mend, Moonshake, My Legendary Childhood, Nirvana, Pink Label, Preston, Richard Golding, Romford, Terry Edwards, The Anti-Midas Touch, The Wolfhounds, Unseen Ripples From a Pebble, Untied Kingdom | 2 Comments

A weekend to savour (pt. II) … The Undertones – Kentish Town, The Forum

Posted on November 25, 2016 by writewyattuk

What a weekend, with Friday’s blinding set from The Vapors in Liverpool followed by a road-trip to Kent for a rare Woking FC away win, then up to the smoke for The Undertones’ 40th anniversary tour finale. That said, let’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged Billy Doherty, Damian O'Neill, Feargal Sharkey, Heartbreakers, John O'Neill, John Peel, London, Mickey Bradley, Paul McLoone, Teenage Kicks, The Undertones | Leave a comment

Learning from the Laughter Master – the Stephen K Amos interview

Posted on January 5, 2016 by writewyattuk

It’s fair to say Stephen Kehinde Amos has seen the world over the past decade or so, this highly-entertaining and likeable comedian charming audiences from Edinburgh to Sydney and several points in between. And while we’ve all had plenty to … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Films, TV & Radio, Comedy & Theatre | Tagged BBC, EastEnders, Edinburgh Fringe, Hackney Empire, Joseph Purcell, Lenny Henry, Liverpool, London, Richard Pryor, Salford, Stephen K Amos, Sydney, The Laughter Master, The Lowry, The Real McCoy, Unity Theatre | 1 Comment

Tag Archives: London

The healing power of music – talking Trouble Songs with Stuart Bailie

One Man’s Madness (I call it gladness) – the Lee Thompson interview

Why Chas & Dave Mustn’t Grumble – in conversation with Dave Peacock

Suggs – What a King Cnut, Preston Charter Theatre (Nights at the Theatre, pt.2)

Power to the M People – the Heather Small interview

In praise of Paddington’s world – a tribute to Michael Bond

Life beyond The Waves – the Katrina Leskanich interview

Coming to terms with The Wolfhounds – the Dave Callahan interview

A weekend to savour (pt. II) … The Undertones – Kentish Town, The Forum

Learning from the Laughter Master – the Stephen K Amos interview

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