Reposted by Stewart SmithNatacha @natacha.bsky.social · 1h“This Labour Government is the worst thing to have ever happened to trans children. They have step by step dismantled every protection that supported my daughter […] At every point when the Labour Government could have made something better, they have turned around and given her another kick.” 17632
Stewart Smith @drstewartsmith.bsky.social · 30/09/2026"I want each project to be distinct in some way." My Jazzfest Berlin Conversations series kicks off with an in depth discussion of Alexander Hawkins' inspirations and compositional process ahead of the EU premiere of Willow Music @berlinerfestspiele.bsky.social @alexanderhawkins.bsky.socialionengine.substack.comJazzfest Berlin conversations #1: Alexander HawkinsThe Oxford-based composer and pianist discusses his new work Willow Music, post-production as composition, and the rhythmic genius of Hamid Drake. 010
Reposted by Stewart SmithSherrilyn Ifill @sifill.bsky.social · 28/09/2026I gasped! The Mighty Sparrow has left us. One of the most important and popular Calypsonians to ever do it! Songs filled political fire, irreverence, humor, naughty (very, very naughty) banter, and beats that make you wind your waist! Rest in Power, Sparrow. www.nytimes.com/2026/09/27/a...nytimes.comThe Mighty Sparrow, Trinidadian Titan of Calypso, Is Dead at 91He was sometimes described as the last of the true calypso singers. But in fact he simultaneously preserved calypso tradition and invented it anew. 261088212
Reposted by Stewart SmithSaul Staniforth @saulstaniforth.bsky.social · 28/09/2026Miliband: "To the millions in this country.. who have been moved & outraged by the plight of the Palestinian people, we hear you. You were right" So scrap the proscription of Palestine Action. End all arms exports to Israel. Impose sanctions on the Israeli govt & economy. 34569203
Stewart Smith @drstewartsmith.bsky.social · 28/09/2026A bump for the Monday crowd. I'm going to be previewing Berlin Jazz Festival over the coming weeks with a series of artist interviews, beginning with the great composer-pianist ALEXANDER HAWKINS. That'll drop in the coming days. ionengine.substack.com/p/berlin-cal... @berlinerfestspiele.bsky.socialionengine.substack.comBerlin CallingSome exciting news ahead of Berlin Jazz Festival and a look back at summer 031
Stewart Smith @drstewartsmith.bsky.social · 27/09/2026All happening at my Ion Engine newsletter, with a series of interviews ahead of Berlin Jazz Festival. Look out for a wide-ranging conversation with composer-pianist Alexander Hawkins this week! ionengine.substack.com/p/berlin-cal...ionengine.substack.comBerlin CallingSome exciting news ahead of Berlin Jazz Festival and a look back at summer 171
Reposted by Stewart SmithThe Wire Magazine @thewiremagazine.bsky.social · 23/09/2026Today is the 100th anniversary of the birth of John Coltrane. To mark it we have selected a number of essays and reviews from back issues of The Wire going back over 40 years, all attempting to come to an understanding of the meaning and significance of Coltrane’s life and music. 19644
Reposted by Stewart SmithMic Wright @brokenbottleboy.bsky.social · 23/09/2026NEW | I’m not surprised, but I am livid. BBC NEWS, ‘DANNY TOMMO’ AND THE DINGHY ATTACK THAT DISAPPEARED While the rest of the media – even the very worst parts – report on Daniel Thomas’ actions, BBC News fails to give its audience the facts. brokenbottleboy.substack.com/p/bbc-news-d...brokenbottleboy.substack.comBBC News, ‘Danny Tommo’ and the dinghy attack that disappearedWhile the rest of the media – even the very worst parts – report on Daniel Thomas’ actions, BBC News fails to give its audience the facts. 72972426
Reposted by Stewart Smithflyingrodent @flyingrodent.bsky.social · 23/09/202615 years of brutal austerity + increasingly vile far right politics to secure the positions of parties enforcing it + world’s most poisonous media outlets = Years of fascist rioting with little or no government response 524958
Stewart Smith @drstewartsmith.bsky.social · 21/09/2026Incredible deal! Some I know and love already - Hernandez Brothers, Joe Sacco, Simon Hanselmann etc - but this is a real treasure trove. 053
Stewart Smith @drstewartsmith.bsky.social · 18/09/2026The late, great Dawn Foster got sacked by the Graun for recognising Tim Watson for the snake he was. Since then, he’s only gone on to prove her right. 130
Stewart Smith @drstewartsmith.bsky.social · 17/09/2026This, from Laura Snapes, is spot on. www.theguardian.com/music/commen...theguardian.comEd Sheeran wants to stay out of politics. By quitting his tour, his support acts have exposed the hollowness of neutralityBy standing behind support act Macklemore, who was removed from the tour for his vocal support of Palestine, these artists are demonstrating the self-sacrifice necessary to stand against those crushin... 0103
Reposted by Stewart SmithPhil McDuff @mcduff.bsky.social · 17/09/2026The Ed Sheeran thing really does demonstrate that this isn't just an obsession of a fringe group of lefty weirdos. Supporting Palestinians against Israeli genocide is a really normie position. The problem is support for Israel remains an absolutely immovable condition for the *elite*. 831572
Reposted by Stewart Smithflyingrodent @flyingrodent.bsky.social · 17/09/2026Yes, people like the woman in that clip being insulted, bullied and pushed around by comfortable, middle aged wankers has been the entire selling point of right wing politics for *at least* two decades. “We will harm people you irrationally hate and make them cry” is most of the sales pitch. 14627158
Reposted by Stewart SmithThe National @scotnational.bsky.social · 14/09/2026Historic scenes in Cardiff as the leaders of the SNP, Plaid Cymru and Sinn Fein come together to sign a deal calling for a democratic route to constitutional change in Scotland, Wales and the north of Ireland 🚨 15119
Reposted by Stewart SmithNeil Mackay @neilmackay.bsky.social · 13/09/2026The inside story of the ordinary men and women fighting the far right on the streets of Scotland While rightwing extremists dominate the news we never hear from the folk who are facing down fascism despite threats and violence To even the scales I tell their stories In @heraldscotland.bsky.socialheraldscotland.com'It beggars belief': The inside story of Scots fighting the far-right on the streetsWith right-wing extremists dominating the news, our Writer at Large talks to the ordinary men and women standing up to racists and defending their… 618880
Reposted by Stewart SmithLuke Turner @luketurner.com · 12/09/2026As Ben Delo's record £36m Reform donation is headline news, I can't emphasise enough that the media ought to be reporting on Delo's heinous funding of antisemitic conspiracy theorists in the High Court – anonymous contributors to the horrifying neo-Nazi account shown below. bsky.app/profile/luke... 12620396
Reposted by Stewart SmithLouisa Annie @louisaannie.bsky.social · 10/09/2026RNLI staff have been targeted, tyres slased home addresses identified on FB. Its got so bad that the RNLI have advised staff not to wear badges oor clothing identifiably RNLI. Please sign petition below Thank you. 👇 38d.gs/jpcf38d.gsAn open letter in support of the volunteers and staff at the RNLIThis is a disgrace. Brave RNLI volunteers being called scum for risking their lives to save others at sea is just plain wrong. So I've signed an open letter of thanks for the RNLI letting them know th... 165
Reposted by Stewart Smithelia ayoub @ayoub.bsky.social · 10/09/2026As a brown migrant living in the UK legally, this is precisely why there can be *no* compromise on the fundamental right of seeking asylum. Pretty quickly it’s anyone who ‘looks’ like an asylum seeker - ie brown or black - who is targeted. No one is safe from this. 3761240
Reposted by Stewart SmithZack Polanski @zackpolanski.bsky.social · 07/09/2026Labour has banned peaceful protest for Palestine. It should not be hard for Andy Burnham to condemn thugs. 571693498
Reposted by Stewart SmithGiant Tank / Aldo The Chob @gianttank.bsky.social · 06/09/2026I'll perform my new piece ‘The Wireless Dummy’ live on air as part of Radiophrenia’s two week programme of 24hr broadcasts on Monday 7th September 2026 from 5pm until 5:30pm. Youse can find out how to listen and read all about the festival’s weighty schedule here: radiophrenia.scot/calendar/mon... 1115
Reposted by Stewart SmithAliza Adi (she/her) @alizaadi.bsky.social · 04/09/2026📝 I've just signed this petition calling on the @plaidcymru.bsky.social government to immediately overturn the NHS' indiscriminate, politically motivated, and hamful, attack on Trans+ peoples healthcare, and to unfreeze gender-affirming surgeries and protect NHS Welsh Gender Service patientspetitions.senedd.walesPetition: Immediately unfreeze gender-affirming surgeries and protect NHS Welsh Gender Service patients.We call on the Senedd and Welsh Government to direct the NHS Wales Joint Commissioning Committee (NWJCC) to: Immediately unfreeze scheduled and approved gender-affirming surgeries for patients who have already completed assessments. Ensure that any ongoing clinical review is conducted concurrently without disrupting active, established patient care. Publish clear, transparent Terms of Reference and a strict timeline for the independent review of the Welsh Gender Service. 112068
Reposted by Stewart SmithGiant Tank / Aldo The Chob @gianttank.bsky.social · 01/09/2026Ali & Collette head off for a Belgian/Dutch tour in Sep, but Firas feels the urge to get his Tfeh hat back on, so Mr. Khnaisser will host a one of ’TFEHXTRA’ edition at @fruitmarket.bsky.social before we return for our regular programme in Oct, Nov, Dec & Jan! www.ticketsource.com/tfeh/tfeh-pr... 063
Reposted by Stewart SmithJohn Chantler @inventingzero.net · 01/09/2026Lovely feature on Finn Loxbo in the latest @thewiremagazine.bsky.social by @drstewartsmith.bsky.social ! 032
Stewart Smith @drstewartsmith.bsky.social · 01/09/2026For the latest @thewiremagazine.bsky.social I interview 🇸🇪 guitarist Finn Loxbo & review new albums from Squanderers (David Grubbs, Wendy Eisenberg & Bonner Kramer), Grubbs & Loren Connors, and Yvonne Rogers. 051
Reposted by Stewart SmithElizabeth Taylor @elizabethtaylor47.bsky.social · 22/06/2026Goodbye and good riddance to the most anti LGBTQ PM of my lifetime. Lives were ruined for absolutely no benefit, and now an entire marginalised group is going to suffer a generation desperately trying to claw back their hard won rights thanks so him. 282214492
Reposted by Stewart SmithGerard Cosloy @gerardcosloy.bsky.social · 30/08/2026deepest condolences to all family, friends and musical co-conspirators of Half Japanese’s David Fair 433690
Stewart Smith @drstewartsmith.bsky.social · 30/08/2026Ornette Coleman Hermeto Pascoal Keiji Haino Roscoe Mitchell Nicole Mitchell Boredoms Amina Claudine Myers Al Green Sachiko M Neil Young 020
Reposted by Stewart SmithPieter T. L. Beck @ptrbck.bsky.social · 25/08/2026We have written a statement in support of Ghent Uni's decision to suspend Nathan Cofnas. We resist attempts to frame this as a punishment for "whistleblowing" or censorship of "controversial research". We invite all academics who share our views to sign our letter. forms.gle/qwN8xzEM5C7Q...forms.gleOpen letter on the suspension of Nathan Cofnas at Ghent UniversityWe, colleagues of Nathan Cofnas - supported by many colleagues internationally - want to respond to the negative and incorrect framing of Ghent University’s decision to suspend Nathan Cofnas. With th... 421493642
Reposted by Stewart SmithJes Steele ✌️ @piratito.com · 25/08/2026Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt, and Emmylou Harris performing “Bury Me Under the Weeping Willow” on The Dolly Parton Show (1976) 213218838
Reposted by Stewart SmithMicah @rincewind.run · 25/08/2026dolly parton taught millions of children to read dolly parton raised millions of dollars for cancer research and disaster relief dolly parton stood by the lgbtq community her entire life dolly parton personally helped fund the moderna vaccine if there was a right side of something she was on it 18117054200
Stewart Smith @drstewartsmith.bsky.social · 25/08/2026Apocalyptic NYC masterpiece vs whiny posh lads, no contest. 072
Stewart Smith @drstewartsmith.bsky.social · 25/08/2026Nice to see this doing the rounds again: a great list. My picks were Motown Chartbusters 3 & Kevin Martin’s revelatory Jazz Satellites. Big tune Kevin! 170
Reposted by Stewart Smithroterote @roterote.bsky.social · 22/08/2026I can highly recommend @hopenothate.org.uk ‘s report Race Science Inc. as a good starting place to understand how a eugenicist like Nathan Cofnas can get hired at two prestigious universities over more qualified candidates. This is a major far right project to give the academy’s legitimacy to them.investigations.hopenothate.org.ukRace Science Inc. | HOPE not hateUndercover in The Human Diversity Foundation, the million-dollar race science company 4829250
Reposted by Stewart SmithZack Polanski @zackpolanski.bsky.social · 16/08/2026It’s time we sorted out the press. Constant misinformation to protect their donors and fossil fuels is destroying lives and our planet. The Government must step up and stop being cowardly. 30645981236
Reposted by Stewart SmithQ Manivannan MSP @qmanivannan.bsky.social · 08/08/2026The truth remains a perfect response. I’m aware of an excerpt of an old interview of mine with The Subjective Space and Dr Sindhu Rajasekaran circulating online, and commentary about its selective application. To prevent further misinformation, here’s a statement. 110637
Reposted by Stewart SmithElizabeth Taylor @elizabethtaylor47.bsky.social · 06/08/2026Yvette Cooper confirming that NHS guidance is coming forth shortly banning trans people from single sex wards. She waffles about ‘alternative provision’ but let’s be realistic here, this will massively massively disadvantage trans people’s care. Fuck Andy Burnham 341021280
Reposted by Stewart SmithQ Manivannan MSP @qmanivannan.bsky.social · 06/08/2026I am calling on the Scottish Government to act this week to save the CCA's building and archive. All across Scotland, including in my Edinburgh and Lothians East region, people are concerned that this represents a loss to Scottish culture. 13514
Reposted by Stewart SmithMic Wright @brokenbottleboy.bsky.social · 04/08/2026NEW | A corrective to the gushing tributes… LIDDLE TO BE CELEBRATED An honest obituary for Rod Liddle, dead at 66, dead inside for many years before that. brokenbottleboy.substack.com/p/liddle-to-...brokenbottleboy.substack.comLiddle to be celebratedAn honest obituary for Rod Liddle, dead at 66, dead inside for many years before that. 62713256
Stewart Smith @drstewartsmith.bsky.social · 04/08/2026New Wire! I report from StopOver4Berlin, where curators Ingrid Laubrock, Julia Hulsmann & Christian Lillinger offer a taste of the city's proposed jazzhaus. Plus LP reviews: Tyshawn Sorey & Pat Thomas, Josh Berman, Nick Mazzarella, Henry Threadgill (Zooid & trio with Vijay Iyer, Dafnis Prieto). 070
Reposted by Stewart SmithNate O @nateo.bsky.social · 03/08/2026The UK commentariat and political class are almost exclusively a wealthy, politically powerful and insular group, many of whom landowners/landlords, and almost every last one of them despises the working class, minorities, migrants, queer people, and disabled people. That’s why they love Rod Liddle 316948
Reposted by Stewart SmithMalt Lick Nursery @maltlicknursery.bsky.social · 03/08/2026"Music is spiritual. Music is certainly way up there on that level. That's one of the things that has attracted me to music is that all of the possibilities of things that can happen." Happy Birthday Roscoe Mitchell born August 3, 1940 1366
Reposted by Stewart SmithZack Polanski @zackpolanski.bsky.social · 03/08/2026Very disappointing from the new Prime Minister, very much sounding like the previous PM. These are among the world’s most vulnerable and desparate people. They need safe routes and humanity from responsible politicians, not grandstanding. This isn’t doing politics differently. 1932023487
Reposted by Stewart SmithHelen 🏳️⚧️✊🏻💕 @mimmymum.bsky.social · 22/07/2026Stop Sex Matters spreading transphobic hate @goodlawproject.org have identified 46 examples, including harassment and discrimination, which they think break charity law. Email the Charity Commission and the culture minister now, and make sure they stop charities spreading hate.action.goodlawproject.orgStop Sex Matters spreading transphobic hateThe anti-trans pressure group Sex Matters are running a campaign of hate, spewing abuse online and in the media – and putting trans people in danger. Sex Matters say they work to “protect everybody’s ... 513357
Reposted by Stewart SmithMayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani @mayor.nyc.gov · 22/07/2026Benjamin Netanyahu is a war criminal. 20378813224833
Reposted by Stewart SmithStewart Smith @drstewartsmith.bsky.social · 20/07/2026You can watch this, alongside other Glasgow archive gems & contemporary responses, with improved sound as part of my Third Eye project :) Julius Eastman, John Tchicai, Tony Bevan… thirdeyejazz.blogspot.com/2025/07/thir...thirdeyejazz.blogspot.comThird Eye TV Episode Two: Free MusicStreamed live on 23 Oct 2021 Episode 2: Free Music 1. Introduction 2. Derek Bailey 3. Tony Bevan intro & performance 4. Interview: M... 182
Reposted by Stewart SmithLee Hurley @hleehurley.com · 20/07/2026This might sound like I only care about trans people but the fact is how Burnham opts to treat trans people will tell you exactly how he will treat everybody else eventually. You can poo-poo that if you want, but you're wrong. 18601135