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PlanetSlade.com @planetslade.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Went to see Dowland Foundry's evening of music by the Elizabethan composer John Dowland last night at St James's church in Islington. The sound of Sami Brown's lute was particularly lovely in that setting.

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PlanetSlade.com @planetslade.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

I also discovered (again from the guided tour) that the chapel has a piece of Plymouth Rock, which was gifted to the congregation by their non-conformist brethren across the Atlantic.

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PlanetSlade.com @planetslade.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

It's a non-conformist chapel, some of whose congregants believed all church music should be unaccompanied. When others wanted an organ, the compromise was to have one, but hide it behind the pulpit! Bands playing the venue today are encouraged to use the organ in their sets - yet none seem to do so!

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PlanetSlade.com @planetslade.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Had an interesting morning today at Union Chapel in Islington's open day. The building's rose window shows angels playing every instrument mentioned in the Bible.

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PlanetSlade.com @planetslade.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

That was a weird one. (Relax - it's not today's puzzle.)

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PlanetSlade.com @planetslade.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

And from the same trip: (1) Graffiti mural in the East Village .(2) Tourists crowding round the site's fences. (3) One of many opportunistic souvenir stands flogging 9/11 tat nearby. (4) Some people just wanted revenge. (5) My own ticket for the site's viewing platform. #9/11. #GroundZero.

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PlanetSlade.com @planetslade.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

I first visited Ground Zero in Feb 2002, about five months after the 9/11 attacks. The fences all round the WTC site were covered with offerings, some from those who'd lost a loved one on the day, others from people who just wanted to express their sympathy, anger or resolve. Here's some of my pics.

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PlanetSlade.com @planetslade.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Couple of pics from last night's Martin Carthy launch party at Cecil Sharp House. Martin took part in the opening panel, then watched from the front row as Jon Wilks and Eliza Carthy did a short set of the songs he's been most associated with. Whole thing was chaired by Radio 2's Mark Radcliffe.

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PlanetSlade.com @planetslade.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

From the current Metafilter thread on Canada's withdrawal from US trade talks.

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PlanetSlade.com @planetslade.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

At last: a definitive answer to that gold dress/blue dress meme of a few years. Read the full New Yorker article at the link below. www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...

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PlanetSlade.com @planetslade.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

There's a North London neighbourhood near me called Amwell, which is celebrating its 200th birthday. That's where I series of plaques recording the past residents of various individual houses there.

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PlanetSlade.com @planetslade.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

Here's a few oddments to tie off the thread. 1) Bourne Borderers. 2) Chisel Monkey's guitar stall. 3) Sticky Bones Jones. 4) Laura Wyatt & a young fan.

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PlanetSlade.com @planetslade.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

Monday evening. 1) Common Culture. 2) Black Umfolosi. 3) Elephant Sessions. 4) Man the Lifeboats.

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PlanetSlade.com @planetslade.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

Third and last day now. Stay with me. 1) Counter's Creek. 2) Tethera. 3) Paul Carbuncle. 4) Julia Waldron.

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PlanetSlade.com @planetslade.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

We're still on Saturday. 1) Jessie Reid. 2) Laura Wyatt. 3) Jim Crawford. 4) Steve Knightley.

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PlanetSlade.com @planetslade.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

Saturday morning. 1) Matthew Byrne & Sherman Downey. 2) True Foxes. 3) Ríognach Connolly. 4) Blackbeard's Tea Party.

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PlanetSlade.com @planetslade.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

On to Friday evening. 1) Amelia Coburn. 2) Chris Cleverley. 3) Keston Cobblers Club. 4) The Proclaimers.

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PlanetSlade.com @planetslade.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

Spent last weekend at the Gateway to Southwell festival. Here's the usual thread of pics in roughly the order we saw them. #GTSF. 1) Hannah Sanders & Ben Savage. 2) Evolution of Fishermen. 3) The Hot Seats. 4) Gráinne Hunt.

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PlanetSlade.com @planetslade.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

If you go down to the woods tonight ....

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PlanetSlade.com @planetslade.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

Just back from an enjoyable afternoon of Caribbean music in the park at Hoxton. I didn't catch the name of either band, I'm afraid, but their sets included covers from the songs of Lord Kitchener, Bob Marley and the Maytals. All free too!

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PlanetSlade.com @planetslade.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

Paid my first visit to the new Quentin Blake Illustration Centre today. More than any of the pages on show, I was struck by their (permanent?) wall art.

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PlanetSlade.com @planetslade.bsky.social · 14/06/2026

New this week: Americana-uk.com's review of my latest book. americana-uk.com/book-review-.... Here's some extracts from what they had to say:

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PlanetSlade.com @planetslade.bsky.social · 14/06/2026

@realbaddiel.bsky.social I enjoyed your 60 Years series. The final episode's discussion of women's football reminded me of this May 1896 Birmingham Daily Mail clipping which I found while researching a story about the real Peaky Blinders. Thought it might make you laugh.

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PlanetSlade.com @planetslade.bsky.social · 12/06/2026

BBC News found this lady in the crowd outside yesterday's Mexico v South Africa game. The character of La Catrina was created by Mexican print-maker José Guadalupe Posada (1852–1913) to make fun of his country's wealthy elites.

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PlanetSlade.com @planetslade.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

Couple of shots from Charlie Parr's gig at St Mary's in Chester on Tuesday - the second being his support act Caitlin Gilligan. I'd never been there before, but it's a wonderful little venue.

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PlanetSlade.com @planetslade.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

Here's a New Yorker cartoon for the computer professional in your life.

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PlanetSlade.com @planetslade.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

Just back from seeing the wonderful Charlie Parr at the Lexington in North London. He opened with a couple of new songs and closed with a stunning a cappella rendition of Claude Ely's Ain't No Grave Going To Hold My Body Down. Lots of young people in the audience too - not just old farts like me.

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PlanetSlade.com @planetslade.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

Jon Boden at last night's Cecil Sharp House gig. I added the super-saturated colour on my computer to salvage an otherwise unusable pic, but I quite like the effect.

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PlanetSlade.com @planetslade.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

From today's Doonesbury. Seems even Trump's own AI has figured out what a liar he is.

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PlanetSlade.com @planetslade.bsky.social · 09/05/2026

Latest street art finds from my favourite alley off Brick Lane.

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PlanetSlade.com @planetslade.bsky.social · 09/05/2026

Recent street art finds in my favourite alley off Brick Lane. At least the first one looks like it might not have been generated by AI.

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PlanetSlade.com @planetslade.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

Pics from tonight's Songs of the Workers night at Cecil Sharp House. 1: Billy Bragg, 2: Jennifer Reid 3: Jackie Oates.

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PlanetSlade.com @planetslade.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

While I'm at it, here's the latest display from that cabinet of curiosities shop windowin Camden Passage. I wonder what they'd want for the giant eyeball?

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PlanetSlade.com @planetslade.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

Nipped down to Waterloo Place this morning to see the new Banksy statue there. One of his best pieces, I think - and very well-timed for tomorrow's council elections. Next time you hear Farage and his Reform chums spouting off, think of this image.

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PlanetSlade.com @planetslade.bsky.social · 28/04/2026

I always like football fans' anti-faccist stickers. Here's a new one for the collection.

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PlanetSlade.com @planetslade.bsky.social · 28/04/2026

Main purpose of my trip was to see the wonderful Carsie Blanton play Dolans. She was appearing tonight with her regular bandmate Joe Plowman and new pals The Burning Hell.

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PlanetSlade.com @planetslade.bsky.social · 28/04/2026

Here's the session table at Dolan's. The core duo here pop up just about everywhere you go in the city. I shall buy their album too.

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PlanetSlade.com @planetslade.bsky.social · 28/04/2026

On to Limerick, and the first of two nights enjoying the music and beer at Dolan's Pub in Dock Road. That's your humble correspondent silhouetted at bottom left in the bar mirror.

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PlanetSlade.com @planetslade.bsky.social · 28/04/2026

Dublin's Tower Records is pushing Kneecap's new album pretty hard. Still waiting for my copy to arrive from Amazon.

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PlanetSlade.com @planetslade.bsky.social · 28/04/2026

The room I was allocated in Dublin seemed rather ominous. And, yes, the room did contain my greatest fear - a hotel TV with no access to Radio 4!

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