iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Jon Sandys @jonsandys.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

Had that poster on my wall at Uni.

Jon Sandys @jonsandys.bsky.social · 26/03/2026

Given that the band on stage are real and playing, I think it counts. We went about 18 months ago - pretty impressive I thought.

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Jon Sandys @jonsandys.bsky.social · 15/03/2026

If you haven't already, please give Patrick Leonard's "It All Comes Down To Mood" a listen. A quirky mix of styles built on his pop and prog influences that is filled with hooks and ear-worms. If not for BBT's "The Likes of Us", it would have been my album of the year in 2024.

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Jon Sandys @jonsandys.bsky.social · 01/03/2026

Think he was one song into his set. Been here a few times - never seen it anything like this packed!

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Jon Sandys @jonsandys.bsky.social · 01/03/2026

That’s my wife in the red coat and me in the grey BBT hoodie

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Jon Sandys @jonsandys.bsky.social · 01/03/2026

Obligatory mid gig shot. 1865 Southampton. Acoustic sets from Ross Jennings and Solstice followed by Big Big Train at 8pm

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Jon Sandys @jonsandys.bsky.social · 06/02/2026

The first listen demands a lot of attention - there is so much going on - but the recurring motifs throughout start to draw you in and now, after four complete listens, I am rather impressed, to say the least. There is hardly a moment where the quality drops; the last 25 minutes are astonishing

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Jon Sandys @jonsandys.bsky.social · 06/02/2026

I was worried it wouldn't live up to the pre-release expectations, but my word, it is something special. The first listen was quite demanding; there's a lot going on and it can be quite intense, but after that it clicks - the final six pieces are 25 minutes of astonishing songcraft and musicianship

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Jon Sandys @jonsandys.bsky.social · 05/02/2026

Halfway through Andy's book - it's very comprhensive and has certainly whetted the appetite. And right on cue, the postman has just delivered the main course! Think I'll go straight to the Atmos mix

The complete set of Big Big Train Woodcut releases; the LP, CD+BluRay and companion book by Andy Stuart

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Jon Sandys @jonsandys.bsky.social · 09/01/2026

Storm Goretti certainly did "Bring the Rain". Still a very fresh sounding album after 45+ years.

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Jon Sandys @jonsandys.bsky.social · 22/12/2025

Correct. Glad I'm not the only one who had such a pedantic thought! Sunrises get later for a few more days yet; sunsets on the other hand, have been getting later since about the 11th

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Jon Sandys @jonsandys.bsky.social · 20/11/2025

Technically, the first band I saw live, since they were support for Rush on the Farewell to Kings tour in 77 - my first ever concert.

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Jon Sandys @jonsandys.bsky.social · 18/11/2025

I bought my first CD player in 1985 from Laskys in Tottenham Court Road. The sales promotion entitled you to two "free" CDs from their vast selection (about 20, IIRC). I got 52nd Street and Christopher Cross "Another Page" - I must check to see whether they still play.

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Jon Sandys @jonsandys.bsky.social · 15/11/2025

I'm looking forward to this new version of NDV's tribute to the Lamb. I'm sure it will cause much heated debate amongst Genesis fans, but having his original recording from 2008, I'm definitely a fan; the arrangement for the Hairless Heart and Counting Out Time section is a highlight for me.

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Jon Sandys @jonsandys.bsky.social · 06/11/2025

Saw them a lot during the 80s - first time at Eastleigh Town Hall in 1980 when they had three keyboard players bumping into each other as they negotiated their way around a plethora of synths in what seemed like a game of musical Twister. Really appealed to me as a teenage synth-nerd

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Jon Sandys @jonsandys.bsky.social · 30/10/2025

Off to TB tonight too. Not seen Just Floyd before but have worked with their backing vocalist Kelly, so looking forward to it. Hope you are feeling better!

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Jon Sandys @jonsandys.bsky.social · 30/10/2025

He sat down during Merlin at the Palladium last night, whilst Adam was doing his keytar solo and Rick was just playing a four bar repeat pattern on the Hammond.

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Jon Sandys @jonsandys.bsky.social · 28/10/2025

Ladies and Gentlemen, it’s Tuesday Night at the London Palladium. Six Wives done, King Arthur on his way.

Obligatory half-time selfie of Lin and me with the Rick Wakeman stage set behind us

Front cover of Rick Wakeman’s Retirn of the Caped Crusader tour programme.

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Jon Sandys @jonsandys.bsky.social · 13/08/2025

Same. On holiday with my parents in Weymouth - went into Woolworth's and asked about a tune that went "Doo, do-do-do, doo" - another customer overheard and handed me the album.

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Jon Sandys @jonsandys.bsky.social · 06/06/2025

We should scotch the rumours that Sticky Tape Day is an actual thing.

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Jon Sandys @jonsandys.bsky.social · 22/05/2025

It's long, but this is a fascinating interview with the Synclavier's co-creator Cameron Jones, charting the rise and fall of New England Digital - the company setup to build and market the Synclavier youtu.be/G5T7NBLSY0c?...

youtu.be

How the Synclavier & Cameron Jones Changed Music

YouTube video by Anthony Marinelli Music

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Jon Sandys @jonsandys.bsky.social · 19/05/2025

I nodded off a bit during Zep - it was a very long day and I'm not sure anyone in the campsite got any sleep the night before.

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Jon Sandys @jonsandys.bsky.social · 19/05/2025

Ah ok - to be fair I can't recall anything about Commander Cody.

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Jon Sandys @jonsandys.bsky.social · 19/05/2025

Maybe you went to the first week? The New Barbarians only played the August 11th event; those of us there on the 4th got Fairport instead.

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Jon Sandys @jonsandys.bsky.social · 16/05/2025

Still using Money 2002 edition here. Account entries going back to 1993 and still works fine.

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Jon Sandys @jonsandys.bsky.social · 08/05/2025

Not sure the Styx one counts - it’s a 7” pretending to be 10.

10” singles of Dire Straits - Love Over Gold (live) and Private Investigations. Also a 7” shaped picture disc of Don’t Let it End by Styx, but the shape is 10” top to bottom

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Jon Sandys @jonsandys.bsky.social · 02/04/2025

Great, well-researched article. Thanks for finding and posting it, Russell

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Jon Sandys @jonsandys.bsky.social · 20/03/2025

Same here! Can't believe Guy Fletcher was putting all those expensive keyboards through a cheap Seck 104 mixer.

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Jon Sandys @jonsandys.bsky.social · 14/03/2025

I've been nodding approvingly at all the responses over the last 24 hours. I guess I'd go with Seconds Out, UFO - SITN and BBT - Merchants of Light, but one that hasn't been mentioned that I have played regularly for 45+ years is Kansas - Two For The Show.

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Jon Sandys @jonsandys.bsky.social · 12/03/2025

A 2024 release that seems to have slipped under the radar is Patrick Leonard's "It All Comes Down to Mood". Best known for his work with Madonna in the late 80s, he cites Genesis, Floyd and Gentle Giant as huge influences growing up. This album is a 16-song feast of sublime pop/prog splendour.

youtu.be

A Walk in the Woods

YouTube video by Patrick Leonard - Topic

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Jon Sandys @jonsandys.bsky.social · 12/03/2025

I would have certainly taken a few of these off his hands.

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Jon Sandys @jonsandys.bsky.social · 12/03/2025

Thanks for posting these keyboard articles Chris - a great nostalgia trip. I briefly played one of these in Harrods in about 1980, before the sales guy realised there wasn't a cat in hell's chance that I had the money to buy it. Had to make do with a brochure that I stuck on my bedroom wall.

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Jon Sandys @jonsandys.bsky.social · 11/03/2025

Thanks. There's no link to this from the latest updates list on concourse page yet; the URL above is working fine though.

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Jon Sandys @jonsandys.bsky.social · 10/03/2025

It looks like Dunoon on the Firth of Clyde. Never been there - but this looks like a simlar view

A view from the Esplanade, looking north, of Dunoon, Scotland in June 2022. The Firth of Clyde is to the right.

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Jon Sandys @jonsandys.bsky.social · 07/03/2025

It's great, but... Gary Brooker's cover of it is on another level (IMHO, of course) youtu.be/1phKZIB5VVQ?...

youtu.be

Say It Ain't So Joe - Gary Brooker

YouTube video by TheStranger67

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Reposted by Jon Sandys

Paul at SuperDeluxeEdition.com @super-deluxe.bsky.social · 21/02/2025

SDE would like to make more friends on Bluesky 😀, so with that in mind, we're giving away one of these fantastic #NikKershaw box sets! 10CDs and a DVD! Please like and share and we'll pick a random winner in a week's time, on 28 Feb. Open to everyone! Good luck...

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Jon Sandys @jonsandys.bsky.social · 12/02/2025

Thanks for the heads up, Andrew; didn't know tickets had gone on sale already. Looking forward to the whole of King Arthur for its 50th birthday.

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Jon Sandys @jonsandys.bsky.social · 25/01/2025

Twilight Alehouse flexidisc? Should get a bit more than 1p for that!

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Jon Sandys @jonsandys.bsky.social · 24/01/2025

Morning Jan. For me, ATOTT edges SEBTP for its consistent quality. There's also the fact that the Seconds Out versions of Cinema Show and Firth of Fifth are stellar performances, so I tend to listen to them more.

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Jon Sandys @jonsandys.bsky.social · 23/01/2025

Always remember his paintings on the cover of the Hornby catalogues - first thing was to find the mouse

A section of the painting in the original post showing Terence Cuneo's trademark mouse running from behind the black car in the foreground

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Jon Sandys @jonsandys.bsky.social · 21/01/2025

Couldn't resist that! Roll on summer.

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Jon Sandys @jonsandys.bsky.social · 03/01/2025

I believe it's Oxted in Surrey - some of it even looks the same today.

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Jon Sandys @jonsandys.bsky.social · 02/01/2025

A wonderful debut that still feels as fresh today.

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Jon Sandys @jonsandys.bsky.social · 24/12/2024

Best wishes and good health to you too. I look forward to more of your gym buddies in 2025!

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Jon Sandys @jonsandys.bsky.social · 14/12/2024

Pre-gig at the wonderful De La Warr Pavilion at Bexhill, ready for Rick Wakeman’s Yuletide Show. Shout out to the merch stand - programme, T-Shirt and Xmas jumper bundle for £50.

Interior of the De La Warr Pavilion Theatre in Bexhill-on-Sea prior to the Rick Wakeman Yuletide Show. A Christmas tree and grand piano sit on a red-illuminated stage.

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Jon Sandys @jonsandys.bsky.social · 11/12/2024

Agreed. Top-notch musicianship

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Jon Sandys @jonsandys.bsky.social · 03/12/2024

Post-Duke, I listen to (and enjoy) Calling All Stations more than any of the other interim releases

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Jon Sandys @jonsandys.bsky.social · 26/11/2024

Where has Selling England gone? 🤔

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Jon Sandys @jonsandys.bsky.social · 26/11/2024

For the music he wrote, Tony Banks; for their technical wizardry, Keith Emerson or Jordan Rudess. Which is why my favourite is Rick Wakeman, who excels at both and stamps his personality on his playing style. Seeing him in a couple of weeks time, too.

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Jon Sandys @jonsandys.bsky.social · 23/11/2024

Out of those, I have a couple of Gin Blossoms CDs; so I guess it's them. Have to admit, I haven't heard of quite a few of the artists so far - I will have to go exploring.

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