Travellers Tunes for 2020 to 2021
2020 Positivity - TheZineUK interviews Mike Adams of Travellers Tunes.
TheZineUK’s holistic documenting of the interdependent new music breeding grounds fans out from audiovisual artists and allies of all kinds driving the next industry and media. The documentary develops at sociable events and through multiple communications. Friendship in a real time rock opera of almost, almost Almost Famous.
One of the publications (and promoters) who give our DIY efforts (amongst so much more) the time of day, is music site (and Ones To Watch Scout) Travellers Tunes.
Editor, Mike Adams, knows his stuff and is also very much a part of the newer wave scenes breaking out to wider recognition, even in a pandemic. So there have definitely been Reasons To Be Cheerful in 2020.
I asked Mike if he had some fave moments…
“Tough question, considering everything. This Feeling’s Big in 2020 was an electric night. The K’s, Ivory Wave and Kid Violet killed it that night.
The initial part of lockdown, epitomised by Captain Tom, felt like the country had a chance to heal its political and social wounds. Alas, it's dissipated because of shocking leadership, but that feeling we all seek at gigs is there, goodness and greatness can still be achieved.”
This Feeling, “Big In…” shows are, indeed, essential! And, yes, the more personal nature of this digitally connected year (including live streams, podcasts and zoom chats) did not stop the good and the great from influencing the present. In turn this gives some hope to the future.
What are your 2021 wishes, Mike?
“Getting back to a dark small room that’s hotter than the sun to see new music. Seeing younger generations risk it all is what it’s all about. I’m desperate for a big gig as well. To lose myself in an alternative choir belting out choruses once again.
It’s also my tenth year running Travellers Tunes so, I’d like to celebrate that somehow. Ideally collaborating with some people to put a gig on and then getting inexcusably drunk afterwards.”
Yes, I hear that. Gigs are reality and that word, “afterwards”, is a key note to self, ha ha! The 21st year of the 21st century is as good a time as any for a celebration and Travellers Tunes has recommended some storming tunes and artists over the years. How about 2020 (vintage classic release year) for songs and albums?
Mike : “Cornershop and Doves had fine returns. MOSES and Bugeye delivered on years of great promise. As an obsessive, I have been struggling with my top albums of the year but Weller, Theatre Royal, The Wolfhounds and Asylums are right up there.”
“Singles wise, too many to choose. Here are a few highlights:
Gazelle(s) - ‘This Is My England’,
The Red Stains – Mannequin
Spector – When Did We Get So Normal
Asylums - ‘Difference Between Left and Right’,
The Crooks – ‘She Walks Alone’,
Rooskin – ‘When I’m High’
The Blinders – ‘Lunatic (With A Loaded Gun)’
Anything by Andrew Cushin and The Institutes this year has been exceptional too.”
Music to flavour the decade already. How about visual delights?
“The return of Sex Education was incredible. It should be on the national curriculum for kids and parents alike. Although, I hate the kid who deleted Otis’ message. That was torture!”
We have hopefully learned a lot this year. Hopefully. Which campaigns have inspired you?
“I mentioned Captain Tom earlier. Right alongside him for me is Marcus Rashford’s campaigning. The dignity of the man is incredible. Shrugged of tory lies and calmly asking the Daily Mail to understand his background felt like it did more for social progress than anything else for a decade. The ability to win hearts and minds is what has been missing from Labour (of which I am a member) for generations, they’ll do well to learn from him.”
Agreed. When you can cross the party politics line and touch the hearts of the people we feel like Great Britain. What they have inspired is immense, so finally, what have you created in 2020 that lifts you?
“Every November, I venture West with friends to the Shiiine On Weekender. Many write it off as a nostalgia-fest but, it's so much more. The bands are reforming friendships and so are the crowd.
The bands release new music, there are lots of new bands playing, gaining more fans. However, it's the people and the spirit that I fell in love with there and, it was that I dearly missed this year when it was cancelled.
So, on a whim, I decided to write about the excitement of the weekend over three days. Loosely based on the five years I had been going, the bands I'd seen and the aggressive seagulls.
It's not the writing I'm proud of, its the guys who run the festival and the people who attend. The warmth and hilarity of the responses that came from those articles were enough to see me through to next year.”
Have not been to Shiiine On, yet but surely any festival revellers can relate to the line “That first walk to the main arena is like the coronation.” read on:
“It’s another time and another world and one no one wants to leave.” - Evocative traveller’s tales in Travellers Tunes.
Now I have a burning desire to be in a field again, even for just that one day, roaring along, rain or shiine(!) with The People’s Choir of Woohoo, or whatever we are. Or just a few hours in a small bar, grinning and pulse racing. Thank you so much for this interview, Mike.
Providing angry, loving musical insights:
From TheZineUK picture diary documentary