Nigerian multi-instrumentalist Fela Kuti was a visionary bandleader, the creator of the high-energy Afrobeat genre. Beyond music, he was a fearless political activist who used his platform to expose government corruption, military abuse, and post-colonial oppression in Nigeria. His is a name I am very familiar with, but I wanted to find out more about his life and work... Photo: Celluloid Records Olufela Olusegun Oludotun Ransome-Kuti was born into an upper middle class Niger

Sunday 16 October 2026 Papillon, Southampton There are several features around tonight’s gig to mention. Firstly, it was a bit of a bonus gig – it had crossed my mind earlier in the week that it was a possibility, but the decision to actually go was only made going into the weekend, and the ticket purchased the night before! Secondly, I have been to two previous gigs in Southampton, and both are amongst the worst I have ever been too; the Smashing Pumpkins (supported by a the

As I promised / threatened in a Playlist recently, I am doing one completely devoted to the genre of films defined by the actors that starred in them - the Brat Pack! The Brat Pack is the label given to a handful of films made over a relatively short period of time (roughly 1982 - 1989), defined by the actors that appeared in them, and which tended to centre on young person / teenage themes, with many of them being written and directed by John Hughes. The term had been coined

Fresh off the back of last week's triumphant Afghan Whigs gig, I have chosen lead man Greg Dulli as the starting point for this occasional ramble into Six Degrees Of Kevin Shields. As ever, we will take a meander around some weird musical bends, picking up some interesting (and random) facts along the way, as we head from Dulli to the King of Shoegaze, Kevin Shields. *** Greg Dulli had managed a year and a half at the University of Cincinnati, before randomly ending up workin