It used to be that soundtracks were the place for specially commissioned musical scores, the classical sounding epics of John Williams, or the spaghetti sounds of Sergio Morricone. But then, somewhere in the late 1960s, film producers cottoned on to the use of regular mainstream tunes, to complement the themes, era and tone of their movies. Starting with classics like The Graduate and Easy Rider, it has now become the norm. So, here is a playlist with representatives of ten g

Wythenshawe Park, Manchester: Friday 21 August 2026 I have been lucky to see many gigs over the years, inside and outdoors, that have, with very few exceptions, never disappointed. But then, almost exactly one year ago, three out of four of my family stood in a different field (in Colchester) watching a band who left us awestruck, and me feeling like the best of those previous live experiences had at least been matched. I want to stress that James, who we were watching that

As I wrote about last week after his sad death, Gary Johnson, highly skilled master of the fretless bass and integral member of China Crisis through their terrific 80s run of albums - Working With Fire & Steel, Flaunt The Imperfection, What Price Paradise, Diary Of A Hollow Horse - is the man who also once bought sixteen year old me a beverage prior to their gig at Surrey University. They were, without doubt, one of the most important bands for me through that mid to late 80s

Another day, another article I'd rather not have to have written. It was May half-term, 1989, and I had just turned 16. My second ever ‘proper’ music gig, and I was dropped off, just me, at Surrey University for this one. One of the beautiful things about music is the connections you make, both with the music and with other fans. As if to prove that, I was a very shy teenager, yet I got chatting to another solo attendee in the queue waiting for the venue to open. They were ol

This morning came the news that another stalwart of the British post-punk scene has died. Gary Dwyer wasn't front and centre, but he was the beating heart of the Teardrop Explodes, one of Liverpool's great bands, albeit who only graced our world for a few years before inevitable implosion. Dwyer was a well known figure on the burgeoning music scene of later 70s Liverpool, centred around the legendary Eric's Club (on Victoria Street and then on the more illustrious Matthew Str

Here we are again, with some more new tunes for you to open your ears up for. These songs have all been released in the last month or so - the majority this time are by artists nearer the start of their careers, but there are a few 'old timers' mixed in too. I say this every time with the playlists, but I think there is something in here for pretty much all tastes, so try and give at least one or two of these a go. I had become pretty set in my musical ways for a long time, b

Sixty years ago today (5 August 1966), what many may feel is one of the finest Beatles' albums was released. Revolver, the Beatles seventh studio album, came out on EMI a mere eight months after another one of their most acclaimed records, Rubber Soul, which included a three month break the band took at the start of 1966 (the longest break they had seen since 1962). It was a time when they were starting to explore the themes of eastern philosophy and psychedelia. Also, becaus

We pick up the story of Neil Finn from Part 1. Split Enz is done with, and now aged 27, Finn is ready for his next project. He has formed The Mullanes with fellow ex-Enz bandmate Paul Hester, bassist Nick Seymour and second guitarist Craig Hooper. The first intention was to have the new band as a three piece before they decided to entice the in-demand Hooper into the fold. Finn would tell Australian radio station Triple J in 1985, “We’re glad to have him on board, I’ve always