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Remembered Sky Whitley Bay 2022 #RememberedSky

The Bug has decided to spend the night indoors for the first time in about 8 months. I am therefore declaring that autumn has finally begun.

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Sid Smith @sidsmith.bsky.social · 18h

While I'm upstairs slaving away over a hot keyboard, I see that downstairs The Bug has popped in to say hello to My Favourite Daughter (who took the pic) and grandson, Rex. I post this merely to provide evidence that The Bug does have a sensitive side to his normally gnarly nature.

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Sid Smith @sidsmith.bsky.social · 19h

Just to confuse matters, the HELP version doesn't come with the usual black background and pink i, but comes emblazoned with the Bronze logo.

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Sid Smith @sidsmith.bsky.social · 19h

Prompted by reading Neil Storey's terrific Island Book Of Records Vol. III, I'm giving this one a spin. Originally on Vertigo in 1969, this edition is HELP 4, Island's budget label, released in April 1972. I never had this back then, but the Keef-designed cover always tweaked my teenage brain.

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Sid Smith @sidsmith.bsky.social · 23h

Time present and time past

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Sid Smith @sidsmith.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

It’s that time of year one more when The Bug occupies a portion of my desk and resisting all attempts to fuss him, simply stares at me.

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Sid Smith @sidsmith.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

Taking a break from nerdy annotations of the 2016 kind in favour of a random trawl from the HELP label in my collection. This one is by members of Mighty Baby originally released in 1972. I was reminded of this after reading Neil Storey's excellent Island Book Vol.3 and moved to dig it out.

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Sid Smith @sidsmith.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

Getting the working day underway with a new arrival to the office: The London Concert by Space (Lisa Ullén, Piano Elsa Bergman, Double Bass, Anna Lund, Drums). More info and samples can be found in the link below ullenbergmanlundtrio.bandcamp.com/album/london...

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Sid Smith @sidsmith.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

Something bright and cheery to get the working day underway

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Sid Smith @sidsmith.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

And the evening isn’t over yet. Music For Mallet Instruments, Voices and Organ plays the Steve Reich celebrations out. What a beautiful way to end this wonderful event.

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Sid Smith @sidsmith.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

What a weekend. Another standing ovation for Colin Currie and the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra delivering a series of remarkable performances tonight at the Glasshouse.

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Sid Smith @sidsmith.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Tuning up for The Four Sections, Electric Counterpoint, Three Movements and Variations for Winds, Strings and Keyboards. Yee, and indeed, ha!

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Sid Smith @sidsmith.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Another day, another performance at the Glasshous…

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Sid Smith @sidsmith.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Clogging about this afternoon

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Sid Smith @sidsmith.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Rummaging about turned up this

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Sid Smith @sidsmith.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Planet-pulsing Music For 18 Musicians given a well-deserved standing ovation at the Glasshouse tonight. Music this special is such a gift. Bravo to Colin Currie and the ensemble.

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Sid Smith @sidsmith.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Time for the fourth Steve Reich piece of the evening

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Sid Smith @sidsmith.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

In the Glasshouse for the second time this week

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Sid Smith @sidsmith.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Saw Jon Anderson in concert last night. Quite the event, with the *checks notes* 81-year-old singer sounding about as good as when I last saw him perform with Yes in the mid-70s. Not sure how this is possible, but I was convinced by him and the band that Yes music is in very good hands indeed.

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Sid Smith @sidsmith.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Cathedral and castle en route to the Glasshouse.

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Sid Smith @sidsmith.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Putting a smile on me old mug this day.

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Sid Smith @sidsmith.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Achieving escape velocity this morning with UXB's latest platter, Lunik.

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Sid Smith @sidsmith.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Sitting here wondering if the workings of man crying out from the fire set aflame by his blindness to see that the warmth of his being is promised for his seeing his reaching so clearly, as you do.

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Sid Smith @sidsmith.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

I can't read Woodhouse without hearing these two in my head

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Sid Smith @sidsmith.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Into the office this afternoon for more Island hopping.

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Sid Smith @sidsmith.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Into the office and listening to various items from the Island Records catalogue as I deep dive into Volume 3 of Neil Storey's wonderful, forensic, and endlessly fascinating history of the label and its works.

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Sid Smith @sidsmith.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Soaking up the sun this morning

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Sid Smith @sidsmith.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

One of the joys from yesterday was to be to meet and talk to Dave Jarrett, keyboard player with Quiet Sun, who was slightly taken aback by all the love in the room for him and the album. In my review of Mainstream in Prog, I described him as QS’s secret weapon, a view endorsed by Phil and Bill.

Dave Jarrett, Phil Manzanera, a star-struck scribe from Newcastle.

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Sid Smith @sidsmith.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

The Quiet Sun playback yesterday was wonderful with great insights from Phil Manzanera and Bill MacCormick about the making of the record. It was such an honour to be able to co-host and interview these musicians in this celebration of an album I bought 51 years ago and means so much to me today.

L - R: Sid Smith, Bill MacCormick, Mike Barnes, Jo Kendall, Phil Manzanera

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Sid Smith @sidsmith.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

We are taking a few minutes break before listening to the new mix of Quiet Sun’s Mainstream with Bill MacCormick, Phil Manzanera and Dave Jarrett (not pictured unfortunately)

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Sid Smith @sidsmith.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

At the Quiet Sun listening party waiting for the sun to come up…

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Sid Smith @sidsmith.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

The view from the wind tunnel

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