Once Upon Another Time

#ZeenagersExpo 01 Spring 2024

“Well done for keeping the spirit of rebellion alive” (Patrick Jones)

Swear to Mushrooms that this really happened. Follow the green cat.

7th March, Amersham Arms, New Cross (i.e. London’s Sarf x Sarf East!) rock n roll music, poetry, visuals, photography, technology (including audio recordings), Stage Style, creativity and DIY skillz all rolled into a live music social. We are blown away by the all-positive feedback for the evening!

Expo 01 Artists and Allies - links directory:

From Italian TV to a New Cross stage: Flesh Tetris

Find/support each other! Flesh Tetris, Thebigbadsad., Patrick Jones, Petra Palkovacsova of the Femmesocial Press community, Dizzy Spell, Ruby Blue, Ame Kali, Kat Five x Feral Five, SetMixer and TheZineUK, Kick Out The Jams (+ more!) Warm Welcome Blur Fairy, Sonja Amoretti! + #MusicTourism Team - Backstage Bar of Amersham Arms where TheZineUK was conceived! (Venue manager, Andy Palmer, is a star turn musician in his own right - as per The Britpop Show 12th March podcast) all mixing with The Outers, Lisa Knight of Knight PR (great film clips!), 122 Music Management and myself, Caffy St Luce of TheZineUK’s Events Department; Rocklands (Magic Hat by Toast The Goblin Laird). Photographers included Olly Bromidge (thank you to Jean Genie Hayes & Jonny Haze at ASBO magazine for connecting us)  and James Lewis: “Excellent poetry performance from Petra Palkovacsova” (images of Flesh Tetris and Thebigbadsad. on FB) + The evening was soundtracked by a Newer Wave Rock n Roll spotify playlist EXPO NO.1 by Dizzy Spell. TikTok blip of TheBigBadSad and more from Zeenagers Expo to come…

We need to take our road show… on the ROAD! Where to, next?

“In amongst the joys of catching up with @artbeat.bsky.social amongst others, 2 quality acts played down The Amersham Arms last night TheBigBadSad, ‘gloom rock goth cowboys’ brought the noise, & then some, pushing their sonic mantra to the end Different, ear-catching, eye-catching.” (122MM - link)

Thank you to everyone who performed, bought a ticket and came out to play in person or spirit. We’re all ingredients of an exposition of the interdependent music sector - and whatever happens next.

#24ourPartyPeople

Whoever is WITH/for TheZineUK - YOU are all what the #ZeenagersExpo is about!

Further reading - origins

One of our Wizards knows. Yes, we have more than one in this tale…

14th March 2014 - Upload Chapter 1 of TheZineUK multi media tapestry. Situationist whimsy weaves waves that we could not make up.

14th March 2023 - Begin a year’s research into Music Tourism For The People at the British Music Embassy in Austin, Texas (the final real SXSW). End of year, TheZineUK returned to USA, this time L.A. Stage Style stories off the hook.

14th March 2024 - Despite the hostile environment dystopian decayed decade TheZineUK can prove that the alternative arts have created a newer wave of music industrious through uniqulture. Their actions and good souls have resulted in a Fertile Environment worthy of an exposition.

Click OUR STORY page for more but, basically, an Alternative Arts documentary living the skint life of the grassroots venue circuit community. It’s not been dull.

2014 to 2015:

An ideas factory-cum-DIY studio/rave warehouse etc., pop-up HQ ("The Ministry of Fluff and Dreams" run by Menace & McNaughty) rounded off with #No3Expo (42 stalls including a live music stage - The Homosexuals, Nova Twins, seeds of Birthmarks, Cat Bear, Lufe Tempo - and a bar!). It set the tone. #Zeenagers prologue 'Expo Beats' 2014/2015 (YouTube)

Punk scared Darwin! Photographer, Rupert Hitchcox, (now with our allies, Joyzine) had fiften minutes in dodgy light to capture early RTN Makes Music magnificence at the Natural History Museum. Impromptu ad libbing has continued ever since and this show became the front page of Picture Book chapter 001. In capitalist style, Issuu changed the visibility of our documents, as we’re skint, but we’ve managed to salvage much of the reporting. Enough for Expo slideshows!

Alongside the magick powered situationism and woodland folk heroes in this emerging tapestry, the likes of Cro Cro Land, CUP Soccer Six, Decolonise Fest, This Feeling, Music Venue Trust and LOUD WOMEN are only half a dozen of many prevailing threads.

We ARE doing something new, Bruno Wizard! Amidst the old boys networks, the privileges, the nepotism and cliques we are an open armed collective for all backgrounds to unite as Playing Class Friends. On this evening (12th February 2016, David Bowie homage charity show by Dizzy Spell at Amersham Arms HQ) The Homosexuals were supported by Little Death Machine (seeds of the incredible Birthmarks) and Featherz while upstairs, photographer Duncan Stafford held his first photography exhibition (Fat White Family, Sleaford Mods etc) in the Take Courage Gallery. When it came downstairs to the venue, Don Letts, Tim Burgess and various members of The Libertines would have the images as a back drop while upstairs became a Laurie Vincent (Soft Play) art exhibition - all this fun before fckn Brexit was illegally “won”.

TheZineUK. Officially repping (and therefore reporting) at festivals with either a stage, a logo or a co-promotion every single year from 2014 onwards (lockdown was Balcony On Line Festival) and promoting live music socials fuels the story, courtesy of kind artists/promoters access. In 2024 we are chuffed to be a media partner with #ItsAVanFest - the Austin Texas music festival (Teenage Sequence, The Hollows, more) where the super-sponser is Rock n Roll (We met behind the painted word, “magic”, in 2023)

Birthmarks band powered evening ‘Pulse 1’ - art gallery with live music (including Deux Furieuses). Like Birthmarks, artist, Eugene Ankomah, is a golden tapestry thread of big heart, pure talent and inspiring soul. Photographer, Stefon Grant has been exhibited, publicly… It’s ALL happening. Circles of (key scouting) life; ‘One Pulse’ video by Birthmarks. A cinematic happening of a band.

By 2017

there was a visible and voluble newer wave of music industrious. Audience powered arts, industry and media learning/exchanging biz, tech, journalism whatever skills as their interdependent collective rise in staggered unison, rather than all “pulling up the ladder" behind them. This is how we do it. YouTube Slideshow of our 2021 cast and crew - 2014 to 2017 snapshots: The #MusicPeopleParty begins

2018 - "where do you see yourself in five years?"

The question that no human could have answered. Then between the cast, cats and crew of TheZineUK and an unbelieving world if we are here today then we are all changed. WHAT a soundtrack we got in the Music People Party years.

That time (September 2018) when interdependent altrock promoter, Kick Out The Jams launched monthly events co promoted with TheZineUK, at The Good Mixer in Camden with The Velvet Hands, Bugeye and Smiley & The Underclass. Reportage: This image was before the first band’s set!

2019

The #MusicPeopleParty had, by now, become the welcomig end of year not-got-an-office party for artists, DJs, bloggers, creators and all the rock n rollers. This was December 2019, with This Feeling star, Nineties Mike on the decks and Louise Schofield as host. Feels innocent - we had no idea of six months time… (Camden Monarch, another live music venue lost…)

2020

Mirrored… RTN Makes Music x rock music movie, Velvet Goldmine x Genesis Cinema - our story suits cinemas! Weeks later, we were in lockdown, but boy did we dress up first!

2021

Breaking outta lockdown and back into gigs - the newer wave of music industrious are shaping new futures! Anaiah M. Davis, Robyn Skinner, Jean Genie, Kat Five, Caffy St Luce and Sonja Amoretti at Kick Out The Jams, Amersham Arms.

2022

This blur (I’m gonna call it “art”) is Benji from Lock-In at The Social in Fitzrovia for This Feeling’s Test Transmission 01. We all walked miles due to the rail strikes, war had just broken in Ukraine and there was impending doom in the nationwide air. For balance, we kept our doses of escapism coming. Lock-In would headline a sold out show at The Garage with This Feeling’s “Zone Airport” artist development runway campaigns in Spring 2023. This year, they step up to their biggest headline so far: Lafayette in Kings Cross.

2023

Key blogged conversations and events on PoC in guitar music and AI, rounded off with an Artful Party that included star turn multi-media artivist mavericks Bugeye (who were on tour as special guest of The Bluetones, and will play their biggest show to date, headlining Oslo Hackney on 4th May (tickets) after presenting 2024 with the incredible Cro Cro Land Festival mid April), Colossus (Fckn suPERB debut EP and get a load of the live presence in this #ArtfulFest video blip!), Joyzine, God Is In The TV and and and… these artivists are ALL connected and those conversations are ongoing.

21st Century music world stories would be so much less without the (genuine) legend, John Kennedy. Papped at Truck Festival 2023 before The Velvet Hands headline This Feeling Stage. We may not be a mainstream music media but there are a hella lotta positive tales in this #FuturePicks documentary. As an interdependent promoter in his own right (The Remedy happens monthly at Signature Brew in Haggerston), what can we say but “thank you” John, and respect”.

2024

We’ve created. During the most historic era in human history (i..e. largely a binfire of bigoted bollocks)! We promote a punky rock n roll music world angle with diy glam chic, recorded from the reality of post brexit Britain Ireland. 

Escapism not extremism. Love is NOT hate! We wanna have a good time, all the time!

Creator and Stage Style icon, Adora, at the sold out ASBO Magazine x Bilk EVENT, Rough Trade East

Today, Friday 15th March - the music festival conversations are TV’s Glastonbury and Austin’s SXSW. With the latter, ironically, the mainstream media have covered the bands that have dropped out more than the usual attention they give to the line up.

Just BELIEVE and they WILL come!

2024, a few days after International Women’s Day shows how the establishment treat Britain’s first Black Woman Politician. Imagine how far down the “food chain” we, The Outsiders Family, are. We’ll keep fighting the nutsies by sharing audiovisual hope. It’s the least we can do.

Sixth sense supernature powers the chapters of TheZineUK. The feedback is always appreciated.

Are you with us, Zeenagers?

https://linktr.ee/thezineuk

#Zeenagers EXPO is GO!

Mango In Euphoria, The Outers, Jean Genie's Massive Hugs

…and TheZineUK cast and new friends

April 2023 really was a #PopOfTheTops MOMENT. Zeenagers Expo is GO!

#TheZineUK infamous travelling circus, Music People Party, returned to this documentary’s place of creation celebrating an art punk social, in the iconic Amersham Arms. “Big stages are the ones for me…” (Mango In Euphoria).

Good evening New Cross, let’s PARTY! Pic by Dizzy Spell.

Looking forward with a newer wave of alternative sounds, EVERY set brought their entertainment game for an awesome audience who mirrored the on stage engagement with their own cheers and moves. The feedback, still coming, is amazing; “life affirming” (industry scene-shaker, Meli Foris)

Sadly, indie jazzpunx, Brie, were unable to play but gladly the remaining line up proved (oi, non diversifying fest bookers!) that female musicians ROCK.

Jean Genie’s Massive Hugs

Poptastic songs emitted with a stripped down set, Jean Genie & Jonny Hayes showcased magical, melodic stories of reality in surreal times. JG, “Bringer Of Sunshine”, set the tone for an uplifted evening with expansive tunes.

All tonight’s performances were loaded with potential, so emitted an infectious confident joy.

Jean Genie - a living song. Photo by Dizzy Spell.

Music lovers came from as far as Wales and The Midlands to New Cross. It warms the heart that they already want to return to this welcoming space as part of the show. Bless the interdependent grassroots music venue circuit.

Tonight, Amersham Arms is twinned with The Ferret in Preston by the Massive Hugs latest (artivist, radio air played) single, ‘Ray Of Hope (Ferret Forever)’. It’s also linked to The Old Blue Last in Shoreditch, by the next band, discovered through a song before they played a launch there at the end of last year. Yes please, you can never have too much soaring drama.

The Outers

The Outers are a lively live thrill. Photo by Dizzy Spell.

The Outers are groovy and magnetic with occasional tints of Blur and Blondie but an operatic punky energy of their own. After catching them in December, they were another must for tonight’s show. An interactive indie rock party who made some new friends this evening, they’re also setting up for new releases. Watch their (s)pace!

Coming across new faves like that, TheZineUK doc works via kismet, karma, magick and just wanting to stage a recommendable event. The next set being another case in point - a last minute addition to a Kick Out The Jams show in Autumn 2021.

Mango In Euphoria

Now a released recording artist, London’s glam-punked disco diva is back at Amersham Arms by request and packing punchy tunes in the process.

Mango In Euphoria, disco queen. Photo by Dizzy Spell

If I was a festival booker, Mango In Euphoria, The Outers and Jean Genie’s Massive Hugs would be on the line up of our stage. They suit indie-rock, alt-pop events with an inclusive party atmosphere.

This ain’t just excitement speaking. There were an array musical peers and future-movers at the show. There’s a reason that ‘Hollywood’, the latest Mango In Euphoria single, is hitting all the right notes with independent media and radio feedback.

Could have heard a pin drop for the song ‘Radio Waves’. Jean Genie’s Massive Hugs by Dizzy Spell.

Next month, sussed festival bookers, Kick Out The Jams and End Of The Trail have snapped up Mango’s and Jean Genie’s powerful live sets for two 3 Day Free Festivals in Brighton. Both multi-tasking promoters have impeccable show scouting/artist connecting reputation.

#StageStyle 4REAL!

I had kinkyboot envy of Ade, lead singer of The Outers, TheZineUK editor, Dizzy Spell always sports a head turning outfit, Kat Five is a consistent metallic shimmer of glamour and I couldn’t help but notice how sparkled ALL the live sets were this evening. Musicians making rock n roll dreams of the newer wave kind, live on stage. Like a TV show. That’s uniqulture’s fertile environment of “couldn’t make it up, so just live it”, for ya.

So much MOVE-ment in this movement! Photo by Dizzy Spell.

Great to see Lisa Knight (busy PR and photographer currently on tour with The Kut), Meli Foris of Play It Loud UK (photography, promotions), the above mentioned Kat Five (artist - Feral Five - and techtastic space vixen), John McKiernan Platform 7 Events (virtual dimension technology and arts collaborations), musicians Anita Maj of Lil Minx Records, Ceri James and Alex Wonderland in the house. There was more photography by Neil Anderson (98 Wounds) and as ever, the supportive care of the venue and staff. (cheers Andy and Richard).

The legacy of future making was invigorated by this convention of invention.

Exhibit all this.

The #MusicPeopleParty (December 2017) began #TheZineUK cast and crew's step up into the surreal serendipity of situationism that kicked off in 2018 and forms #Zeenagers - a multi media expo being created between Spring 2023 and Spring 2024 - of the last five (WTF) years,especially. There was an audiovisual slideshow from #TheZineUK documentary on the big screen, then images and clips from tonight will be part of future projections. Appreciation for all there in spirit and support.

The original Pop Of The Tops club (artists, faeries, punks etc) was killed off after a year to "Stay Beautiful" but still inspires fresh ideas. Twisting tuned tales with uplifting energy and chic!

Mango In Euphoria https://linktr.ee/mangoineuphoria by Dizzy Spell

The best thing is that Paul Joyzine has been part of it all. Now one of independent music culture’s most influential standards, Joyzine celebrates twenty years of influence. Down the front for Bloc Party, Art Brut etc at the original Pop Of The Tops and again for these emerging names!

Generation Tremorists of all backgrounds come together, weave a DIY art show, laugh with escapism. In short, Zeenagers Expo is Go! We’re OI (organic intelligence) so it’ll remain chaotically tangented. Phew.

Everybody mentioned above? Find them over the next few days via our social media https://linktr.ee/thezineuk

2022 Term Freshers

AWEtumn 2021, hope that you are having fun.

SHADE, EBGS, Liverpool Sound City Festival, 2 October 2021

Many musicians have 2022 plans pencilled since “post-lockdown” days. TheZineUK doc’s most recent pix-diary - July 2021 (thank you for the many reads, already) - felt like a new dawn.

Whether it was the necessity for heroic England FC to lose THAT historic match and open truth gates, or how Generation Tremorists are super-glued into this tapestry.

All ages, backgrounds and ability fused with all arts (i.e. “Nature”) = uniqulture in genre-fluid ACTion.

Take the force of Nature known as Tiger Mimic.

Here’s a live version of their newly released single, ‘Silence Of The Night’. The one-band dramarock scene are a gateway into the grassroots music (r)Evolution. Also, this summer, they were to be found supportively in the audience of their peers. Musicians, creators, connectors - organically they rise. Get Tiger Mimic on your #2022SoundsLike radar.

In the July issue, Tech (Flare Audio) and Industry (Music Venue Trust) threads are woven with Tim Burgess’s Twitter Listening Parties into must have audio-joy headphones (OK, we just photographed Tim through a window at The Great Escape 2017, but hey - it’s all meant to be).

Situationist magick also gifted us an early Freedom Day at SNCFest. Music world’s Jean Genie, is “The Bringer Of Sunshine”. She really did inspire warmth THAT hot, hot weekend! JG is so key to the new music scenes that this is key to our documenting. July’s saw Manchester’s SHADE start to bloom and lovely Denise Johnson never forgotten (while she also helped raise over £18,000 for Music Venue Trust).

TheZineUK story has declared an Interdependent Music Industrious. The elements consistently prove themselves. Sussex/Kent’s End Of The Trail and Kick Out The Jams are increasingly industry/media hook up hang outs - and more of us getting away from our home towns again. Check out the multi-tasking energy pulsing from Weekend Recovery as a great example.

Sneak preview of the August issue

Bruvs out supporting the sisters-fronted-pop star turns (Cruel Hearts Club, Cat SFX, Kin and Mango In Euphoria) who were playing Kick Out The Jams that evening. Ace to see The Gulps, Alan McGee and Carl Barat back at ArtBeat HQ (Amersham Arms) - amidst a flock of flock of industry and media. (Carl is also the venue’s Halloween DJ).

Sister’s are doing it for themselves.

Louise Schofield and Megan Wyn, mid September 2021, This Feeling at Isle Of Wight Festival.

In September, July’s cover star, Louise Schofield, conducted a series of chats for TheZineUK at Isle Of Wight Festival’s buzzing (and then some!) This Feeling Stage - where she also DJd.

A theme of 2021 interviews from TF’s Zone is the artists talking about the art pumped newer wave of industry mixing DIY with ethics and opportunities.

Isle Of Wight Fest head, John Giddings, acknowledges This Feeling being a rung on the ladder for artists towards bigger stages.

To The Chase, Spyres, Lock-In and The Skinner Brothers interviews the Zine And Heard playlist has been updated with Tom Lumley & The Brave Liaison and Megan Wyn conversations. What is all this if not giving hope to the near future?

This month, the (very hard working and very modern) Louise - also presented for our friends, Modern Age, at SOMA Festival and for Modern Sky at Sound City Festival - then, at Manchester’s The Yard, now hosts her own music show, Spill The Sound (first guest is Julia Bardo). Joe Cross (The Courteeners) composed the defining theme music. Interdependent.

“Lullaby Lou” is a gateway into what’s really going on - as is another of our crew, Monefa Walker, who graced September with such an awesome observation: “Let Me Tell You About Artists” - click this link for the full post, it’s a 2021 classic)

Our writer and punky Music People Party host - Monefa Walker - became a released, classical music recording artist this year (on Anita Maj’s Lil Minx Records). Keira Annee photography

Continuing to cut n paste n report, especially over the last two years has created a new, super hero cross breed of emerging artists in TheZineUK.

The cast and crew keeps growing through ups and downs, life and death, changes, failures and achievements for all of us.

Aaaahh… All those cutie pie baby faces, new to this world, courtesy of our friends, urge us to keep making as much wonder in the world as possible for decades of generation tremorists and love for children of all ages.

On the artist side, everybody is brand new again from mid July 2021 and TheZineUK, as a community of creatives, is so here for it.

Big up the high profile media getting involved over the last couple of years (NME with Music Venue Trust and the FAC, while featuring rising stars Nova Twins and Bob Vylan) who are also connected to both of these essential industry shakers - (both bands have also played Amersham Arms - the latter at this weekend’s punk rocked, New Cross wide #TillTheFest).

A uniqulture of positivity is blooming in the #FertileEnvironment - without permission of the hostile environment.

As Diary/Events Department, I’ve lived through decades when these talents/TheZineUK team weren’t yet born - I assure you NOBODY has “seen/heard it all before”, only tedious fuckwits imagine that. Note how generation tremorists like Pint Sized Punk and MASHZINE (who stage a show in New Cross on 19th October) ain’t hung up on stale journalism values.

This year, via End Of The Trail, Roobi TV, Amersham Arms and Sound City, I’ve found myself (again!) grinning in the audience of a Polarized Eyes gig. (It’s not an accident, it’s LOVE!)

Come on, friends, keep the 20s Roaring!

Me me me. Continued. From August to October I’ve adventured outta Deptford Fun City! It’s so emotional to return to cities that I’ve been free to visit all my life pre-pandemic. So many memories flood the senses. There are myriad artists at all levels, to soundtrack our times (including a 2022 Billie Eilish Glastonbury headline set).

Win fucking WIN the future.

TheZineUK day out, Friday 1st October!

Not a pic of the Manics but a reminder of the thrilled anticipation I was feeling, just going to the bar before their set.

(Dizzy Spell - TheZineUK Editor (NHS professional who also became a released recording artist this year) and myself Caffy - Events Department).

We were time out gal pals in Stoke On Trent for the Manics (thank you our Gill for the tickets and a right royal view).

We sang our hearts out to a rock band with decades of chart hits on top of their entertaining, and ever politically relevant, poignant, national treasure game).

Melancholic new album, ‘The Ultra Vivid Lament’, is affecting - yet uplifting.

Look out for actual Manics images in the next issues from our fab Dead End Doll, Lorna Cort (whose photography graces the Manic Street Preachers special edition of Record Collector). Gwan Zeenagers!

2nd October - Liverpool/Loverpool is sound.

Oliver Clare of SHADE assisting MOSES with the kit at Sound City Festival. End Of The Trail - another industry shaker with opportunies.

I was at the buzzy AF End Of The Trail Sound City Festival stage - friendly faces and fun in EBGBs - WITH guitars.

Some of us were documenting the near future of Ones To Watch off stage in the rain, between the live sets, also.

Results coming in for ALL the line up of that day (and I’m only writing this ten days later!)

I came back from Liverpool seeing light at the end of this murderous tunnel called NOW.

That hope continued on 6th October ArtBeat staged it’s first proper gig since 2019.

Yay, TheZineUK Events Department is back, gonna be looking at 2022 wishfully staging events.

Full circle back to Amersham Arms in New Cross.

Brand new exciters, Helve, headlined an electric evening - again, movershakers like the above mentioned Jeanie, Monefa alongside Lisa of Knight PR, Paul Joyzine, the band’s (key) producer Harri Chambers (Yard Act etc) and the door host we love most, Sonja Amoretti in the house. This story would not be the same without them all.

Helve then picked up a last-minute, bigger stage show supporting The Howl & The Hum at the 500+ capacity Gorilla in Manchester a few days later and release the second part of their debut single, ‘Snakes And Ladders’ on 15th October before gracing Live At Leeds Festival . (Events Department works with various artists connected by interdependence and story telling. DIY promoting is part of the picture when music media is a different concept - especially in the last decade. Adapting daily).

A minute and a half of something very much happening - as we say - under the radar and over the rainbow. We can only point you in the direction of these artists and let you have your own opinion.

Friday 8th October, SHADE released a trippy-tempo-tangent new single ‘Fallen Skies’. It was produced by Gavin Monaghan at Magic Garden Studios in Wolverhampton (“the urban Rockfield” and released on Fear Records - another of the industrious independents)

Photography by Blue Shift Studios

Heard on telly (Champions League/BT Sport) it also received ‘Track Of The Day’ accolades, XS Manchester Radio playlist and is a bona fide iTunes chart Top 5.

Saturday 9th October, they triumphantly headlined Manchester’s Night & Day with This Feeling (who are celebrating fifteen years of shaping the music world, this month).

TF have supported the band from early doors (and via this, they play the inaugural Sound Sounds Festival next April). #2022soundslike it rocks, already! I’m not the only person I know who is cautiously looking forward again.

The Newer Wave is a post-lockdown reality of artists who would not be out of place on BBC’s Later With Jools Holland (but some of them have been captured Earlier: GET ON! with Roobi TV).

WHAT a harvest above and that’s just a (pre Ghost Road Fest in November and CroCroLand hitting Manchester on 5th December!) fraction.

Now imagine involving these interwoven, blossoming stories into movies and campaigns for people power and the planet. Now is the time. Have faith in their songs . Support their good souls. Find the media who review and interview them. As they interact, harvest the potential of Britain Ireland’s Roaring 20s soundtrack of NOW. The interdependent music industrious is ON.

I repeat…

it’s an awesome AWEtumn 2021!

EBGBs, Liverpool