Throughout 2025, Caffy, Ruby, and I were in the trenches. We weren’t just "covering" a scene; we were stewarding a movement. From the symbolic reclamation of "Kneecap Hill" outside Woolwich Court, to the sweat-soaked sanctuaries of our favourite under-threat venues, we have been documenting the New Wave of musical resistance.
Read MoreAll of October 2023: Audiovisual performance/installations, parties, performance, cross breeding collaborates and good intentions.
All of November 2023: Connecting Artfulfest creativity laying foundations of the new next: Zeenagers Expo Spring 2024.
“Punk Is Dead. Let’s Start Something New” (Bruno Wizard) The Homosexuals at TheZineUK music social by Dizzy Spell, a Bowie/Charity Benefit at Amersham Arms, Spring 2016. Then in 2020, while taking a house arrest (lockdown) walk, these bright pink words spoke out.
Artists and allies of the rising star circuit are happiness heralding angels of mental health medicine during Dystopian, Orwellian, Dickensian fused upside down days of the White Mirror darker ages where it’s All Fools AND Halloween, daily.
Thank you, Artists, for sharing your talent to make the world better.
Appreciation to small venues where it’s a personal thing that often leads to a music involvement.
Autumn 2023: Not far from where “New Punk” had been written, a reference to the original “CBGBs of SE14” (NME on 2003+2004’s Pop Of The Tops club) as part of Deptford X Art Festival. Journalist, Dan Frost, was a great supporter of Artful etc., so it’s good to see him honoured.
It’s not just academics who are smart, now that we evolve at the same rate as the tech we use.
My CV is mainly “Been To Gigs” since the skiving adventures that served as a finishing school for a life in alternative rock.
Live music as an ongoing education.
I was finished with being taught the dates of wars and kings. I remain punk music smart. Living the Darklife is job satisfaction self employment.
What! No financial riches?
Where would I park my limo, anyway? Im a possibly scanned face in the public transport crowd. A music tourist. When I go out of an evening, it’s mostly to see bands.
4th October 2023 - After meeting with long time good friends in Soho, Central London. An image from the restaurant. We originally met through music at the end of the 20th century. Songs have a life changing power.
Calling for Peace is now as revolutionary as is marching for Love. Make it make sense? No. Just make it make cents.
An anti fascist fight for freedoms across two world wars has been hijacked by traitors to this heritage. Imagine knuckledragging a colonial mind set into the 21st century!
Against this background, in a Cost Of Greed crisis while music’s tour potential is ruined by Brexit and streaming platforms take from the poor to give to the rich. Everywhere is corrupted.
Every artist under the radar counts for so much more, just to exist. They are the soundtrack of The Many calling for an Armistice to truly respect the Armistice this weekend.
Saturday 7th October 2023. Went for an art walk that journeyed from Creekside in Deptford along the A2 (sounds like a trek but it’s about ten to 15 minutes) to New Cross Inn where Meryl Streek was gracing Till The Fest - annual DIY punk festival weekender in multiple venues. A couple of years ago, Bob Vylan played Amersham Arms along the road. At time of writing (8th November) Meryl Streek is about to support him on tour and a month that could never have been imagined has transpired while the scales fall from many eyes.
Musicians are more vital than ever against the backdrop that’s not quite reality.
Misgovernment has taken the culture from morals and respect against black shirts and brown shirts in the 1930s to fash in positions of nationally fronted power, some with black and brown skin, before we’ve even reached the blatantly converging 2030s centenary.
Artist: Fion Gunn. Exhibition: ‘Fleet’ - Interactive Migration Installation.
Many so called “Celebrities” have swung from ‘Feed The World’ and Band Aid to ‘Fuck The Oppressed’ and banned aid.
Not celebrating them any more. As scales from eyes they can get in the Cruel Sadfux bin or if in Britain, even worse, The Sea.
The artists of all kinds at all levels, the friends of love staging sit downs. The brave Jews standing up to Israel. Those using their fame, privilege or position to speak up for the oppressed. The school children boycotting an assembly with a “Labour” party warmonger. The politicians resigning or being sacked for pointing out that mass murder is wrong. Anti racists refusing to hate. Oh and the millions upon millions of Earthlings who naturally oppose genocide.
London, October 2023
November 2023:
“This month we’re giving away all the money the band makes to MSF. It’s not much, but given the situation in Palestine, the Congo and Sudan, it’s something we felt we could do. That means we’ll donate all our streaming fees, digital sales, merch proceeds and show fees.”
The Red Stains
Additionally, enjoyed The Red Stains energy at the Alt Alt Escape this year (TikTok clip) playing Kick Out The Jams stage #TGE23 Brighton, May.
“in our thousands, in our millions…” Up yours, Evil. There’s more of us than you, baddies, and we’ve got better songs and dance moves.
This documentary is firmly founded in grass roots. It feels so good to step through the doors of a small music venue to the timeless arts hearts flavoured civilisation, possibly even to experience euphoria or escapism. That is living a blessed life.
Nice one Just Stop Oil who repped at KILL, The ICON! set, recently in Hackney where one of alt rock life’s soundtrack makers was also out to play.
Love Quota is another. I believe in them both.
With a face like a baked potato I would say something like that but seriously, TheZineUK documentary co-promotes as we report. It began with shy kindness at a Patrick Jones performance, and endures with friendship. Fast forward to a wealth of words, images, clips and moments. We are certainly not short of cultural content with alternative musician back stories.
BIG SPECIAL are another running theme of The Coincidences Year. Hackney Oslo, 19th October 2023. Well and truly golden threads of TheZineUK tapestry.
Well, we’ve staged two or three so far within our own story.
#No3Expo : Spring 2015 (42 stands, including a live stage with The Homosexuals, Nova Twins, seeds of Birthmarks (ex Little Death Machine) and Cat Bear (ex Cat Bear Tree) and a bar amidst the paintings, tech, film, interactive art, massage sofa, cakes and more in our pop-up HQ, The Ministry Of Fluff n Dreams.
Autumn 2015 added Pirate Treasures jewellery to the performances (Nova Twins, Lucie Barat, Mourning Birds and White Room live on stage with DJ Mark Beaumont of NME) at Amersham Arms.
#StageStyle is A Thing.
2015 events in turn inspired ArtBeatFest, Spring 2016.
A memory being the legendary Debbie Smith (Echobelly, Blindness) playing guitar with Deux Furieuses at their debut album launch, using a framed picture of Ros and Vas taken by photographer Daniela Fleckenstein on Tin Pan Alley at one of our music socials.
Fun fact, journalist, musician, film maker and all round rock n roll superman, John Clay came in support of this Amersham Arms weekend and documented songs and interviews. His band Colossus were already a golden thread before their performance at The Artful Party on Thursday 26th October 2023.
#ArtfulFest recommends debut EP, ‘The Gods Hate Colossus’ and this darn smart video for ‘Strike Up The Band’ directed by a cover star of TheZineUK doc picture books, Camille Alexander of A Void. And yes, New Cross absolutely took this ROICK SHOW to it’s heart. At time of writing, a plethora of talents are assembling for the film ‘Voodoonaut’ film premiere that John directed, in St Giles Church, Camberwell.
Another example of movie world weaving is that Jane Pirate Treasures became Trampolene crew. Doc n Roll’s 10th anniversary includes of films includes the film ‘Storm Heaven’ by Lee Thomas. On 16th October at the Kerrang! x Royal Society of Arts ‘Black Voices In Alternative Music’ I met Colm of Doc n Roll. Three degrees of celebration. Timely serendipity.
10th Anniversary of Doc n Roll Film Festival runs until Sunday 12th November 2023 l (docnrollfestival.com)
Of the original 2015 expo, seedling bands, Birthmarks and Nova Twins graced 2020 with game changing debut albums. Claudia of Cat Bear Tree attended the pre-Decolonise planning meeting in Summer 2016. Decolonise Fest is increasingly influential since it’s 2017 first event (including various artists playing Reading, Leeds, Glastonbury and more major music festivals.
Claudia Mansaray (who has also graced one of our picture book covers) now plays bass with a newer order, Lufe Tempo who sold out their first headline show in October 2023.
Lufe Tempo amidst the Week 1 of ArtfulFest recommendations. This wekly round up idea never got followed up due to mass murder breaking out but, everybody here brings counter balance value to this world through music.
Get as involved as you like. Talented people give us the time of day, access, etc - and we totally appreciate that. They create the story. We are just paying homage to the multitude of interdependent media, photographers and film makers who bring their passion fuelled professionalism towards wider recognition for credible potential to cross breed with the interdependent music industrious.
Was a great evening at the RSA on 16th October for ‘Black Voices in Alternative Music’.; Here’s Phil and Ade of The Outers with (centre) Yasmin Benoiit (Brit modal and award winning asexual activist) @theyasminbenoit). We all buzzed from attending this evening which, hosted by Sophie K, was a definiing mid Artful month moment with so many people thanking the panel and new conversations started.
Kudos to Joyzine AND God Is In The TV, respected alternative culture multi-taskers in their 20th anniversary celebrations that weave with the Music Tourist Board’s whimsy.
October 2023: This Feeling celebrated seventeen years, Loud Women, eight and Get In Her Ears six while Pint Sized Punk is literally a quarter of editor, Arlo’s young life, having started during lockdown 2020, at one point appearing on R E P E A T’s life stream.
More youth fuelled hopes include Noah And The Loners, The Molotovs, Hotwax (who, like Nova Twins, have all also played at Amersham Arms, cross breeding and seeding “DIY Plants” HQ) Alex Spencer, Megan Wyn, Ruby J and Nandi Bushell.
A wealth of generation trmorists fuelled the Artful month recommendations.
Fair play to The Bluetones. Hit after hit, live at KOK), 24th October 2023. Extra points for selecting the 21st century Disco Rockers, feminists and fellow purveyors of big songs, BUGEYE, as special guests.
Generation Tremorists? anti ageism.
Many of our fave zeenagers were unborn or at school twenty years ago - adding to the positivity gifted to this planet in that time and the next. The potential is loaded. Let’s make more hope, especially from the last two decades where so many brand new “lifelong” songs have been released into the atmosphere to soundtrack our lives and new reality.
Stay strong, stay safe to step up to the next level.
Iconic future saving from Music Venue Trust (it was a joy seeing Mark Davyd having a pogo to Noah And The Loners on the MVT/National Lottery’s #UnitedByMusic tour.
Bollocks to gate keepers.
We are a small but passionate media/promoter burning from individual, working class women of RW-unapproved heritages. United. Our cast and crew are the BEST, thank you. Our faves are inspirational and supportive of what we do. This has inspired the Zeenagers Expo from mid March 2024. Artful 2023 just underlined the foundations.
Double drumming up support for the impact that KILL, THE ICON! are having. 19th Octdober 2023, Oslo, Hackney.
The Newer Wave of Rock n Roll celebrates all backgrounds, foregrounds and generations. This document proves that uniqulture fuels the Fertile Environment. Small things like the uplift that accompanies feeling part of a gig or a peaceful protest, balancing social media horrorism with the hope that every day people bring by standing up for others.
19th Oct - KILL, THE ICON!
7pm live set and phew, I make it to Oslo in time for the synth punk sensation! I’m not the only one here for them, some people are dancing down the front from the first note and more arrive with each song to join the party.
This evening is The gift keeps giving as they are followed by Big Special who I have seen five times this year! A best-punked-bands double bubble.
They were special guests on the Benefits headline, tour with Minas. Many familiar faces were in the crowd of what felt like the mostly timely and required rage rally.
21st Oct - Feeling Hopeful
Deep in conversations with musicians about 2024. Excitement is a body battery booster.
Away from all welcome distractions though, the daily dread that ongoing genocide inflicts on the evolved world as the holocaust against Palestinians, hostages in their own country, continues mercilessly. A mental battery boost are the historic images of hope that globally shared empathy inspires. We have become our own leaders even as kindness becomes illegal.
With frankly astonishing new music to look forward to (cheers to various artists for sharing with TheZineUK in advance, friends) we’re gonna need all the rousing we can get.
23rd Oct - SASHA ASSAD
Wondrous. Mesmerising above the murmer of voices in the magnificent setting of The Ned. So, did you check out the newly released Fierce Panda single, 'Still', yet?
Fan girling began with getting to This Feeling at The Lexington early in February (the sixth person to arrive at the sold out Velvet Hands headline) for that claustrophobia-friendly corner. If you know, you know.
I fell for Sasha Assad and her band, instantly and hard. Even did the gushing fan thing after. Documented at TheZineUK (@thezine.uk) • Instagram
July: Argh, only just missed Sasha Assad’s set at Truck Festival as we did the trailing up and down pre-entry thing but ha ha, still took a papped pic at load-out. Suddenly it’s Autumn, early doors at Rock n Roll Book Club where Fierce Panda’s head panda, Simon Williams will again entrance us with the kind of anecdotes that prove his book, ‘Pandamonium - How Not To Run A Record Label’, is vital reading. There’s Sasha Assad entrancing me again with an acoustic set!
So for sure I would go to The Ned (I put vaseline on my boots to make them look posher) and soak up the joy. Half a minute of ‘Don’t Ask Me To Dance’. Monday 23rd October 2023: TheZineUK (@thezine.uk) • Instagram
24th Oct - BUGEYE
Newer waves rising guitar pop icons sounding and looking very much at home at the grand and legendary venue, Koko, supporting classic guitar pop legends. The Bluetones.
25th Oct - THE OUTERS
Art Pop Rockers who are as pro active in their enthusiasm as their promotion. "We will be at the bar, watching the other amazing bands and having fun on the dance floor, as we go first" said their social media.
Neil March of Trust The Doc’s ‘Hot’n’Fresh events introduces The Outers.
So I arrive at Lewisham Fox and Firkin early, planning to catch . It was great to step inside this venue again. A lot goes on here and in this borough. Much appreciation to promoters, Neil and Sherry, for the hospitality.
Artfulfest Day 25, Lewisham, SELondon - nice one Georgie, used the pic in colour on her facebook page.
All the line up come tipped.
I’d been meaning to check out The Year In Pictures. They didn’t disappoint. Wouldn’t be out of place on a line up with Something In The Lake, I thought.
First time catching Georgie Hanson who was down from Lincolnshire (!) with her band for this evening with electro beats and indie pop.
The Outers played last, with panache. It’s fair to say that they headlined.
New friends, came to converse after their set. Autumn single, 'First Sight', has picked up independent radio play internationally (with credit where it’s due to Lisa Knght PR).
Day 26 : The Artful Party: Fonda 500, Bugeye, Hurtling, Colossus on stage, Feral Five in spirit and an interdependent music social celebrating twenty years of Joyzine, God Is In The TV, Rocklands and the world's only Music Tourist Board.
And… the Dark Star album - 'out flew reason' - released twenty years after recording. It’s flavouring the dark shoegaze and gothic tasting 2023 which musically mirrors the Dalek hearted destroyers of the world and humanity. On this page, people are three degrees of celebration, rather than six degrees of seperation.
We needed the collective joy of this gathering in bundles. Walk into a grass roots music venue for a blueprint of civilisation. Amersham Arms, a cross breeding ground of the fertile environment, is Uniqulture HQ and it felt like that.
Hurtling being photographed by Keira Anee (@keiraaneephotography2) at Amersham Arms Artful Party
Our musical Arts are being culled in time for the fash centenary that has KICKED in, quite literally. Well fcknzs - we’re still aiming, nay fighting, for a future facing hope.
The Many, we believe in humane (r)Evolution. We call for peace,. The Few bay for blood. Logically proving that they are leaders. Vote? Billions of people could also storm buildings or down tools until they are gone and every day people help Earthling reclaim our world from soul-free alien insanity. Reset to 2012 when The Real World supposedly ended.
Week 1: TheZineUK editor, Dizzy Spell, curates the first #ZeenageDaydreams Spotify playlist and invites you to submit best new tunes for the December episode.
Week 2: Good morning. All the above? Well, that’s the foundation of an Expo started with a photography confirmation. Game ON. We are writing a tiny facet in an age of history being slyly rewritten in lies by cruelty. As ever we rebel with empathy.
“What we need now is to organize beyond our astonishment”
(Saul Williams, November 2023)
