Remembering the fabulously scuzzy Mars Bar in East Village, New York
I’ll be the first to agree that it wasn’t the prettiest place to look at – and things only get more gritty inside – but the Mars Bar was one …
Read MoreClubs & Nightlife
Bands, clubs, pubs and drunken escapades
Christmas lights, festive installations and street market at Coal Drops Yard, Kings Cross, December 2020
The coronavirus pandemic has resulted in an incredibly quiet Christmas, with attractions closed and businesses trying to make the best of a really grim festive season. We took a walk …
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Goodbye to the Crobar, one of the last of the central London rock’n’roll bars
Rock and rollers were dealt another grim blow yesterday with the news that the famous Crobar in Soho was closing its doors for good due to coronavirus-related issues.
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Failed bands of my past: east London soul/funk hustlers, Apartment
Here’s another glimpse into one of the long and many ‘lean’ years of my music career. This time it’s June 1983, and I can be seen youthfully posing at the …
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From the Valleys to the Roxy: Welsh punk rock dreams from the 1970s
Here’s the story of how the punk revolution changed everything for this Welsh boy living in Cardiff in the 1970s, and how the dreams of rock’n’roll stardom took a blow when …
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North London music venue The Lexington launches crowdfunding campaign
It’s a brilliant venue – and one I’ve visited and performed at many times – but The Lexington in Islington is now struggling to stay afloat as the coronavirus lockdown …
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Tokyo photos: street scenes, signs, architecture, a beer cocktail and the Monochrome Set
Here’s my final selection of photos from my trip to Tokyo a while back. This time I was taking pictures of the architecture, street signs and people plus some scenes …
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Newcastle and Gateshead photos: Millennium and other bridges, River Tyne, rain and night time street scenes
Newcastle is a bloody great city, and The Monochrome Set always get a particularly raucous welcome when we visit, so it was a pleasure to be back this weekend, despite …
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Dundee photos: Desperate Dan, street scenes, architecture, Tunnock’s and salt shaker seediness
Last weekend, I headed up north to Dundee, a Scottish east coast trading port once known as the city of “jute, jam and journalism” and – of course – the …
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Glasgow photos: rainswept roads, street scenes, urban art and winter sun, Feb 2020
I was up in chilly and wet Glasgow over the weekend playing a show with The Monochrome Set – here’s some photos from my brief stay.
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In photos: the fabulous Gravity Rock bar in Shinjuku, Tokyo
Tucked away in a Shinjuku alley and up a flight of stairs is the wonderful Gravity rock bar, a diminutive venue which wedges in a fully stocked bar and a …
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Norwich at night: street photos, bars, chip shops and architecture
Here’s a set of late night photos of the Norfolk city of Norwich, contrasting the beautiful architecture with images from the lively bars and chip shops.
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In photos: A drinking night out in Liverpool – Jimmy’s, The Grapes and the Motel Bar
On the weekend, I was back up in one of my favourite UK cities, with the Monochrome Set playing a show at Jimmy’s in Liverpool. Here’s some photos from my …
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In photos: Tokyo at night – neon, lights, signs and street scenes
Late last year, I spent a short time in the fascinatingly photogenic Tokyo, and grabbed this selection of 55 photos as i wandered around the streets at night.
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In photos: Paris, street art, architecture and The Monochrome Set
I was back in Paris a few weekends ago, playing a show with The Monochrome Set at the Petit Bain, a floating 45-meter-long floating cultural venue. Here’s some pictures from …
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In photos: Gillett Cubed – Open House and sustainable catwalk, Dalston, 26th Oct 2019
Last Saturday, the Fero Arts Collective, Zero_LDN and ReSpace Projects hosted an Open House event at Gillett Cubed, which included a sustainable fashion catwalk. The fashion show was curated by …
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Bristol photos: street art, station, gigs, pubs and rain
I was back up in Bristol playing a show on the weekend, and although my time in the city was brief, I managed to grab some photos on my travels:
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The Monochrome Set and support at the Lexington in Islington, Sat 28th Sept 2019 – photos
Fresh from a BBC6 radio session in Maida Vale on Thursday, the Monochrome Set played a sold-out album launch party at the Lexington in Islington, north London. We were launching …
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In photos: Exarchia, Athens at night – street scenes, bars, street art and rooftop views
Last weekend, I was wandering around the Athens Exarchia neighbourhood late at night, enjoying some of the bars and taking in the sights. Here’s some photos from my nocturnal travels:
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In photos: London’s Camden Lock late at night, taken on the remarkable Huawei P30 phone
Here’s a small selection of photos of Camden Lock at night – all taken on the rather remarkable Huawei P30 phone which uses exceedingly clever technology to produce stunning low …
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Tour diary – The Monochrome Set on the west coast of the USA
In March this year, The Monochrome Set embarked on a breakneck USA tour, packing in nine gigs in ten days on both the East and West coasts of America. Merchmeister …
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London 15 years ago: Denmark Street, 12 Bar Club & The Astoria, Soho, London in April 2004
It’s now changed out of all recognition with the legendary 12 Bar Club closing and several music stores moving out due to redevelopment, but this small road in central London …
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In photos: The Monochrome Set at the BAM festival, Barcelona, Sept 2018
Last September, The Monochrome Set played the main stage at the BAM Festival in Barcelona and had a brilliant time of it. We were playing in front of thousands of …
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Lost London: photos of The Astoria, 12 Bar Club, Denmark St and street scenes, Nov 2008
Here’s a selection of London scenes photographed over a decade ago. Above, you can see the much-missed Astoria Theatre which was cruelly flattened to make way for CrossRail. Read more …
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A damp and grey day in Sheffield – with high-level flasher, main roads and The Monochrome Set, Feb 2019
Last weekend, I paid my second visit to Sheffield in recent times and once again failed spectacularly to see anything of what I know is a most excellent city.
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Ten Years Ago: London’s Astoria Theatre closes for good, Jan 2009 – in photos
Here’s the sad sight of the Astoria Theatre in central London after it had closed its doors for good in January 2009.
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Zaragoza photos: Colours, life, street art, signs, architecture and The Monochrome Set
The capital of northeastern Spain’s Aragon region, Zaragoza overlooks the Ebro River and is famous for its Islamic and Gothic architecture. However, my attention was more taken by the vivid colours, …
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The Mrs Mills Experience party singalong band are back!
South London’s rowdy singalong tribute to the much-loved queen of the honky-tonk piano, Mrs Gladys Mills, have announced that they’ll be dusting off the party hats and playing some gigs …
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P’tit Faystival – where a tiny village in Belgium goes crazy for music, July 2018
Located in the tiny village of Petit-Fays, near Bièvre, in the south of the province of Namur in Belgium, the P’tit Faystival is one of the most unlikely places to stumble …
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WIN two tickets for this year’s Green Gathering Festival in Chepstow, Wales, 2nd-5th Aug 2018
A splendid four-day festival showcasing live music, spoken word, debates and skillshares, the Green Gathering has become a beacon for sustainability, with the whole event being powered by wind, sun …
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