2022 Term Freshers

AWEtumn 2021, hope that you are having fun.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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

EBGBs, Liverpool

That Break! This Feeling!

Artists blown away by audiences and vice-versa = This Feeling!

Louise Schofield presenter (also a This Feeling DJ over the weekend)

Louise Schofield presenter (also a This Feeling DJ over the weekend)

#TheZineUK - September 2021

Informative informal interviews by Louise Schofield where excited, exciting talents talk feedback, creative process and more!

Despite everything, artists are still coming through.

The Chase (who started their rock n roll dreams as child musicians) had just played their first major event.

Isle Of Wight is the daddy of music festivals and This Feeling is the mother of opportunity for guitar graced talent.

There’s a soft spot for both in our tale.

In the Skinner Brothers interview,  Zach reveals some introspect (and amusing) angles on being in the public eye.

It’s All Happening - Still!

Over the last five years, especially, grassroots venues have  witnessed a (r)evolution, despite mainstream media's opinion that "Guitar bands are OVER".  In a year of Manics, Inhaler AND The Lathums albums - to name but three (the latter two, also TF alumni) I’d tell these sofa critics, "nah, wakey wakey!"  Guitar genres and beats fuse, now that audiences make the trends.  

Lock-In. Rock out.

Lock-In. Rock out.

A tragic world needs musical joys for escapism.

In that vein, Lock-In blew the roof off This Feeling’s tent. Again, Isle Of Wight was their first festival! These uplifting, step-on-the-ladder tales are so needed.

Look again at TF “The Zone” social media and what a wealth of artists have to say.

Our  music world is devastated by the pandemic. Many things have to change.

Small venue communities like this, are a vocal blueprint for social collusion. Under the radar, over the rainbow.

Lou and Zach

Lou and Zach

Get involved at local shows like it's your last chance to dance with like-minded souls. Maybe one day, it will be, if we don't support each other.

Look what happens when they come together!

New music industrious add fresh talent to future potential by supporting a more diverse heritage: Mixing in working class to give the lucky posh some extra playmates.

We're all Playing Class Friends at gigs.

Some of the most heartwarming stories are unfolding and necessary, especially since Brexit piled on more misery. Just to be an artist or one of their allies, takes drive and determination. They deserve attention.

Spyres, for instance, are another band with a wealth of activity in the pipeline for popular music’s alternative tapestry. The reactions from their headline set at This Feeling set are jungle telegraph fireworks.

Nottingham in the area at This Feeling’s ReWired Festival Weekend (August 2021 - London/Leeds)

Nottingham in the area at This Feeling’s ReWired Festival Weekend (August 2021 - London/Leeds)

TheZineUK doc, in turn, consistently has new threads to weave, because we’re all part of a (perfectly imperfect) artful and rising entertainment network.

It doesn't look, think, sound or act like the old guard.

It's not so busy trying to be clique / cliche that it doesn't feel passionate, fun (and frankly often bonkers!).

It’s a moving movement and This Feeling are in the eye of a storming storm.

Want a great series to watch. It’s more Nutflakes than Netflix, but still, follow all these tales as they unfold. Gripping tunes.

Massive thanks (as ever!) to Mikey, George, Zone Rangers, the interviewees and our "Lullaby Lou" for these engaging and revealing chats. Very best wishes all, for the future - oh, and there’s more to come!

Watch here:

Have A Zone-tastic Isle Of Wight Weekend

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The Isle Of Wight Festival returns and it’s JUST what’s needed to round off the great(er) outdoors that has been so much needed by so many people.

cinch presents Isle Of Wight Festival 2021 - Thursday 16th to Sunday 19th September - that’s some harvest!

One of the best things is the adventure that most of the people who will be there travel across water to attend the arts and hearts music festival that has inspired so many more over the decades.

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Fwar, look at the line up on This Feeling’s increasingly iconic Stage - Zone Island is deffo in the house! (Or should that be the field?)

Up n comers who are definitely in a field of their own, it’s always ace to see faces from this doc as well as find new faves.

This year too many to mention individually and after what the human race has been through and is still coming to terms with, just want EVERYBODY to have the best weekend possible.

More on This Feeling in a bit as it’s a stage that TheZineUK can’t help but be magnetised by (and the documentary story with guitars, affected by).

There’s so much on, all over, all weekend.

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It feels like there is eternally an eye/heart opener happening at the Cirque de la Quirk.

Say hi to one of #TheZineUK doc contributors, Heather Minx, if you see her (quick anecdotes teaser from her interview with festival head, John Giddings, pre pandemic)

At 7pm on Saturday evening, we’d recommend a highlight of the very cool Kashmir Café stage will be the UK’s top disco punx, Bugeye!

Having caught This Feeling tips, The K’s, at Manchester Night & Day a couple of years ago, their steady rise to this weekend’s main stage has been highly visible.

In fact, every festival has TF alumni blowing up on various stages and that’s not the half of it. If you want to catch talent on the rise, The Zone’s reputation is second to none for indie rock alumni.

For 2021, Isle Of Wight’s four day weekend gifts you this fest within it’s fest…

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Many images from TheZineUK’s first trip to Zone Island became part of our Season 1 (2014-2017) Slideshow.

These early days images of our 2021 cast and crew prove that the biggest new story in music is in the grassroots music venues that we’ve all had to fight for so hard.

The 20th century had The Cavern, Erics, CBGBs etc to break out of and now in 2021 it feels like every artist is brand new all over again post lockdown.

We really do have a lot to celebrate, even while taking as much care of each other, and ourselves as possible.

Vibes! A “first band on” memory from This Feeling Stage 2017!

Vibes! A “first band on” memory from This Feeling Stage 2017!

One way is to have the best times. Charge those endorphins!

It’s a fact that for fans of rock, indie, punk and alternative pop adventures, This Feeling tent is a stage, a community - a positive future boost giving opportunities to so many artists…

And FUN.

Trust.

Many people do not leave the zone all weekend except to (possibly) get some kip!

Look out for multi talent tasking music industry/media mover shakers Kelly Munro (End Of The Trail Creative) and Louise Schofield (who will also be DJ-ing for This Feeling) - TheZineUK’s reporters for the weekend. We’ll be sharing their Zone Rangers clips and quips.

Argh, Rianne Downey, hope that you’re feeling best soon again, you were fab the other weekend at Werkhaus. Yaay, Big Image to the rescue stepping in last minute. Have a very big one!

Oh and if you don’t get why the small venues are ON freaking fire right now, it’s because we’re seeing star turns, up close, affordably, inclusively, theatrically. We’ll keep on about it. This documentary has so many receipts . Many of them postmarked This Feeling (much appreciation).

Just one example: Gen and the Degenerates ‘Underwear’ to seeya onto your box-ticking-free adventures.