For some time, I’ve been too overwhelmed to make the follow up fanzine to July 2021. It’s hard as hell in this cruel, dystopian fash coup pandemica wrapped in a climate tragedy - but Ireland and Britain’s exciting talent quota remain rich and prolific. This brings balance. Soundtracking all aspects of life on this grave new world is a natural and necessary uplift.

Despite the cull of youth/working class arts and music - venues, education, futures, anything! - the fertile environment so far resists the increasing weight of the hostile environment’s boot trying to stamp on us forever.

This positivity re-energised my batteries - a new issue of TheZineUK pic diary is coming soon.

https://issuu.com/thezineuk has now passed the tipping point.

The threads of that tapestry will help to shape this decade, at all levels.

If #TheZineUK doc was a work of fiction then we’d not have so many receipts in photography, word, moments, films, memories and social media timelines.

Yeah it’s driven day dreaming, uncool music fan blogging etc. So what? Makes a change from conforming to Armageddon. Also there is method in the madness that comes from experience and the calibre of what we follow. Despite everything and mostly having nothing, the newer wave music industrious are developing more rapidly than could have been hoped without magick and mad methods. Our timelines are often more about sharing progress reports these days.

A movement led by working class power is gonna have to sweat more for acceptance and recognition, but here’s a thing, inclusion means ALL backgrounds for a firmer foundation. It’s not an inverse snobbery clique of envious resentment. Sure, I get jealous of other people sometimes but acknowledge congratulations to anybody who can “make it” in music. Unity is strength. We’re all one class, “Playing Class”, when we share our passion and support each other.

Digital (r)evolution constantly changes everything.

As our body machine develops to use technology, our minds begin to see through the establishment’s malicious matrix of gaslighting. Maybe the 99% of humanity might wake up and reclaim their existence from the reptilian 1% of farce holes. “Let them eat space travel” or “watch this space”? We decide.

This is not a drill or a movie. Nobody’s gonna fly from the sky and save us. Somebody might say, do, create or perform something that makes us feel a little more saved, though. That is so important.

Science:

Tech friends in our tale include Flare Audio, multi-media TryLifeTV and the cyberpunk tech-vixen, Kat Five.

The Stash Magnetic video for 'Our Blood' made with John Clay is one of our parallel dimension chants and futures visualised. 

Our 2020 cover artist, Jelly J, is part of the NFT community. It’s true. As her Lewisham based image states: Your time IS now.

Supernature:

TheZineUK has a shared sixth sense, seven year (b)itch instinct. After all, Music Venue Trust and Independent Venue Week also both started publicly in 2014…

Obviously MVT and IVW are mainstream players, with major connections, in the salvation of the now and next live music industry, while TheZineUK is a situationist, DIY, cut n paste “new whimsical express”/”rocking pebble” on a mission to have as much passionate fun as possible. (once a punk…)

We are all on the same side:
Yours. Ours!

Mentally battered and bruised, we’ve been thrust blinking and confused into this overwhelming daily fresh hell but we are driven to make the world a better place or even an existing place.

Within seven years of our existence, some of our cast and crew’s varying fortunes have (on the positive side, that is) even brought new cast and crew into the world!

Relationships change, end or form. As do fortunes. Generation Tremorists have died. New angels have also been born. Awwwww… all those cute choochy faces (and their children, ha ha!) we gotta help give them and the planet hope. Even little glimpses. Come on. Let’s ESCAPE even if for the duration of a song…

Escapism can be just looking at the sky or feeling relaxed. Breathe.

Escapist activity:

Art is created. Trees are planted. Visual images appear. Evil is protested. Ideas are shared. Theatre is performed. Books are read. Therapy is given. Films are watched. Laughs are infectious. Fashion is worn. Elbow bumps and even hugs, are shared. Technology is developed. Songs are sang and danced to. Friends are made.

Kindness is paid forward. By some. Escape with us.

Writing this, as the system switches to crapitalistmas mode without missing an irony beat, I’m aware that I’ve lost much of my social skills. I talk too much. I don’t talk enough. Say stupid shit I didn’t articulate.

I’m in awe of my extended family friends and their creating, performing and knowledge sharing. That’s why artists are so ACE. Their poetic souls sing our truths. There’s the magick! Nature is pulsing extra right now. I’m getting the peacemas tingle for December, too.

October and November proved that in the six months since #ReviveLive began, the genre fluid, now/next industry/media community have laid firm foundations to take all the above - and more - next level. Interdependent 4REAL.

#2022soundslike an art glammed musical rebellion for good - of hopeful proportions.

For myself, this included uplifting live music (and adventures out of town starting with TheZineUK trip with Dizzy Spell to Stoke for The Manics) then the next day from there to Liverpool for Sound City.

Ha, it was all going off in EBGBs, which was packed from the first band’s first note.

Watch all their spaces/faces.

This Peacemas season already includes dancing / hanging with Bugeye, End Of The Trail, Radiohead, Kick Out The Jams, Helve, This Feeling Zone Rangers. . . . and HOW many friends n familiar faces at Ghost Road Fest?

Congratulations to all the organisers and artists. #GhostRoadFest was an exuberant, entertaining punky all dayer with a totally quality line up of bands and DJs.

The friendly/safe atmosphere and the appreciative crowd were a bonus. BOOM!

TheZineUK are well chuffed to have been a festival partner.

I left with some new connections. Again, that three degrees of celebration thing was going on with musical peers in the audience and quite a few familiar faces from the alternative rock circuit on the dance floor and in the photo pit.

One of November’s most surreal and beautiful gatherings was a mix of arts and tech mover shakers mixing it at the Romanian Cultural Institute in Belgravia. Uniqulture in pure form.

After their unplugged set (clip) at the Literature Festival, MOSES came down the stairs to a hospitality reception - and were greeted with an additional round of applause and cheers.

The band’s surprised faces were an emotional picture. What a night though, felt Bridgerton-as-fck.

Special moments like this are on a (rock and) roll, it feels. After the year and a half we’re trying to make sense of, all good times are treasure that should not be buried. A reflection of Britain and Ireland under radar, seeds are being sewn. With so much rotten in the state of Earth, the Hamlet force has been a vein that ran through this and last month. A wonderful play ‘Though this be Madness’ woven into the tapestry by theatre (and I met the legendary Sybil Bell, head of Independent Venue Week). Interdependent DIY spaces fuel this virtual road trip.

Just last weekend, yet again, an incredible Kick Out The Jams triple treat starring Hawxx, Faux Pas (pictured) and, making their London debut, Bullet Girl.

Music People are coming from all over for the Mix-Up music socials. A pre-gig club is forming itself among the regulars.

Then the following evening, yet another grassroots music venue gathering when Bugeye’s UK tour called into The Grace on Highbury Corner. Video: a couple of phone filmed minutes. This band are another golden thread pulsing iconic electropunk that weaves with the likes of Wet Leg, BLAB and the grime-punk blast of Nova Twins to raise the new sound thrillometer.

SO many faces (again) in the crowd both nights (some at both) that as 2021 draws to an end, #2022sounds like hope already. The wish? STAY SAFE/SANE, dear friends so we can create and enjoy as much more as possible.

Gonna work on my social skills back. I’m meant to be TheZineUK Events Department, staging live music SOCIALS after all! 2022 so far:

27th January is in Peckham

Coming together> More “peckenham” info imminently.

4th February is Anna Wolf in New Cross

Essential viewing (WHAT an artist. Found via the GET ON! Music TV show/Chat The Great podcast).

Officially or otherwise, this is gonna be part of #Lewisham2022 - shout out your good selves if you ever come to (on or off line), just like or to come from this borough.

Besides,the show falls during Love Month AND Independent Venue Week. As if this tale wouldn’t make the most of all that!

Audiovisuals being sought, now.

Get involved with either/both of the above events if you fancy - or just shout out in advance if you’re coming to be in the cast and crew of whatever happens next.

Before then, our beloved CroCroLand is gonna hit Manchester on Sunday 5th December. Kissmas comes early As The Cro Cro Flies! I’m feeling my inner grinch fade…

On 8th December, our own Kelly #HotNewTunes Munro is throwing a free entry Xmas Party Gig at the Good Mixer in Camden

An essential cog of the interdependent, End Of The Trail Creative has up and coming artists playing NYC’s New Collussus Festival and Austin’s SXSW next Spring.

This is another of the events where new futures are made over a pint.

On 9th December Tiger Mimic are playing the Victoria in Dalston. It’s the eve of their new single, ‘Walking To The Moon’. (I spot Jess and Bram of the band in the above Bugeye video clip!)

On 16th December ‘tis the #DeptfordMixUp chrimble bash

It’s brill that TheZineUK is involved with Kick Out The Jams feisty fab frolics.

Incidentally, from this line up, I muchly enjoyed finding/meeting and then seeing John Parry this Autumn via Modern Age Music and Roobi TV.

I’m gonna actually feel Christmassy. Usually it gets on my nerves but the fact that the human spirit can still wish to celebrate goodwill is inspiring me these days.

I can’t read or watch ‘A Christmas Carol’ though. Not on Planet Scrooge.

‘Do They Know It’s Christmas Time’? The Death Eaters of Normal Island aren’t going hungry. Yeah, gonna fight their badwill for all poor with some positive peacemas uniqulture. Ongoing. With better TUNES. I enjoy seeing development with each events and how the results evolve.

Youth powered politics are a much needed boost to give some hope. Though we are traumatised daily I wish to warm your heart with children of all ages welcoming Little Amal to London’s Borough Of Refuge a month ago. The day was mostly powered with kind love and excitement for a different world, by citizens of the future who are still at at school. Let’s all keep learning.

In my best Missy Elliot-as-Mary Poppins, I re-imagine “These Are A Few Of My Favourite Thiiiiiiiings”.

November 2021