Events Department Musings on resistant / resilliant musical uniqulture

“Can anyone make a difference anymore?
Can anyone write a protest song?...” (‘Let Robeson Sing’)

Weather Underground certainly can write a protest song. Their punkpointed austerity pop doesn’t sit on the fence. Newly unleashed single, ‘Partytime USA’ (DDC Records) is timely - and on point during an age where the right of street preachers to protest is being cancelled by misgovernment.

Additionally, synthpunx, KILL, THE ICON!, Deux Furieuses, The Battery Farm, Menstrual Cramps and Bob Vylan are among TheZineUK doc’s timeline threads, who don’t hold back with their truths, either.

“Truth Is The New Gold” (Feral Five)

But falsehood is the new society.

The luxury of any kind of escapism is essential these days.

This world has become increasingly insane. A dozen years ago  (when the likes of Pint-sized Punk, Nandi Bushell and The Molotovs were in prams and playgrounds) we could have had no idea. A season finale of “Cool Britannia”, Danny Boyle’s 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremony now seems like a prologue of history .

Since the illegally won Brexit of 2016, we’ve travelled through the white-mirrored looking glass of lockdown’s ongoing 2020 vision, to this often callous grave new world. Oh Cruel Britannia (and beyond), up yours.

Yet new songs, arts and actions still inspire because humanity is the nature of the unheard majority. All names mentioned on this page alone are gateways to an existing parallel dimension. Come to the lark side!

2024’s soundtrack includes gigs with all generations of artists and audiences. Many WITH guitars - whether under the radar gracing the in-peril grassroots venue circuit or, like a recent experience, somewhere over the rainbow… …In a magnificent high hill setting with a full mooned summer evening sky over London, as it’s backdrop, one of the 90’s-emerged, art-punked energies, matches the relevance of the newer wave bands.

On a glamatic, co-headline tour of USA then UK with Suede and Manic Street Preachers are mostly living the dream rollercoaster of still playing to mass audience adoration. They’re not everybody’s cup of tea, but then neither is tea. A long time Manics fan, I’m in a sold out festive park amidst generation tremorists of all ages - uplifted and singing along on a Summer’s evening.

Both bands bring the 21st century’s intimate gig “choir crowd” concept to festival main stage sized life, as fans roar along.

For people alive in thirty years time I wish that the so many bands I’m mentioning can be playing shows, releasing records and telling their stories: See also Big Joanie, Spangled, Nova Twins, MOSES, Arxx, The Kairos, Alt Blk Era, The Outers, The Velvet Hands and and… oh, just LOADS.

TheZineUK documents kismet pulsing from early days bands under the radar. I’m blessed to have experienced many great moments for decades - and more soon. It’s a far-from-guilty-pleasure to gig!

Sure it takes longer these days for talent to break if it can. I believe only a lack of passionate imagination, limits perceived potential of big songs and enigmatic performances.

I was musing these kinda things on the uphill (hobbits journey of a) climb to “Ally Pally” with Suede fan, The Blur Fairy – she is another ArtBeat gateway. We find a good view of the stage (not too far from an ice cream van). Just then, MSP’s arrival on stage is greeted like a declaration of world peace by the crowd.

Tunes of a lifetime that mean more each time they’re heard. Enduring, beautiful songs trigger tear welling euphoria.  “I close my eyes and this is yesterday…”

Yesterday (OK, the 1990s), Heavenly Records signed this politicised, articulate, working class Welsh band who would some time later cause public outcry by wearing a balaclava on prime time BBC TV’s Top Of The Pops. In 2024, the same label has just released the album ‘Fine Art’ by the balaclava associated Kneecap.

Makes you wish that bands were still allowed to be experienced by music fans on a wide number of edgier national TV shows. Now that we watch TikTok/YouTube, the net is the hitch hiker’s guide to our individual musical universe.

Many names and tunes we’ve never heard of, will also remain in people’s hearts and souls a lifetime and beyond, thanks to the parent’s record collections thing. Maybe on solar powered eco-vinyl players if humans survive our current self destruction plot.

Cited as “national treasures” on more than one occassion, The Manics remain beyond “a band” or even a brand. They are three degrees of celebration from the new genre-fusions of alternative rock. Additionally, they’re a lifelong reference library and study course gift - that keeps on giving.

Family friend fan community circles take seed and ripple out from gigs in small spaces - where the audience are part of the show - to larger arenas, where they remain so. “If I can shoot rabbits, then I can shoot fascists” we chant. Feeling the last line in 2024.

It’s been longer than yesterday since seeing The Manics play ignition-sized, close up gigs, inspiring fans to follow them to spectacles of all kinds, sparking a music heritage culture of education, style inspiration and arts.

Even TheZineUK exists because of a chance meeting at a gig by widely acclaimed poet and playwright, Patrick Jones. We started with a punk and poetry night in a Tin Pan Alley (Denmark Street, Soho) cellar bar, you couldn’t make up what we’ve experienced since, with an extended cast, cats and crew.

A decade later, both 2024 and the Zeenagers Exposition, began with Patrick’s articulation.

Diverse punks of “Normal Island” adventure on the British Irish grassroots trail.

In an age of closing venues, struggling unprivileged artists, line-ups changing, bands ending (and skint audiences buying tickets at the last minute, a possible cancellation worry) there’s still some balance for hope. Let new music sing.

Every grand song that is supported, played, shared, playlisted and shouted out makes a mark. Artists, fans, media, industry, musician charities and representative organisation united! It has an effect. It all counts. Many new names in our scouted timelines have stepped up to bigger stages. Working class included. Every win counts. Nowt but massive respect for all who facilitate this.

Interdependent events like CroCroLand, Decolonise Fest, Brighton Rock n Roll Circus, Loud Women,  This Feeling, more… they fuel our tale’s threads by making a genuine difference. Between them, their venn diagram of alumni alone is one of the best festivals ever in the world. Like a forest, we all keep branching out, organically, from seeds sewn and connections made.

May the above names and all who sail with them enjoy many years of respect, appreciation and LOVE. Who knows where it all leads? This weekend, fighting the power since 1994 a legendary multi tasking force stages the first leg of celebrations:

We’re still high from venturing to Swansea for RoseyRepeat and (many friends) organising the Chile 50th anniversary solidarity (articulate & awesome article by Dizzy Spell) last Autumn!

S * M * A * S * H are gonna play the Cambridge leg for R * E * P * E * A T!

All the above are connected.

From documenting and from friends and acquaintances made, TheZineUK is building the art riot exposition which has begun. Music Tourism For The People is a travelling circus where involvement is invited to the Zeenagers Expo.

The fertile environment is thriving despite our upside down, inside out hostile insane world. We, the musical resistance, are now outsane.

It’s as if the universe has a design. For life?

Caffy / TheZineUK Events (love to Gill!) xx