I fucking loves Barry Island (or "Barry's Island" if you've been watching the fantastic Gavin and Stacey BBC TV prog). It's right tidy.

Here's a few pics:

Labels: barry island, cardiff, wales

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Phew! That was a whle heap of fun last night with a fantastic bill including Shazia Mirza, Gin Riots, Mark Hibbett, The Boycott Coca Cola Experience, Vic Lambrusco, Richard Allen and DJs Nipsla, Bluestreak, Torchsong and Editor.





Comedian Shazia Mirza was absolutely hilarious, managing to insult just about everyone in the venue - and quite probably the surrounding area - while keeping us in stitches of laughter.

Look out for the next Offline on May 17th at the Albert!

Offline website

Labels: brixton, offline

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The game was a whole load more fun than our recent Wembley semi final clash with Barnsley and it was a great way to end the season.





Who would have thought that Cardiff would end up in the FA Cup Final, but we'll be there on May 17th!! (Well, I say "we" but it looks like I haven't got a hope in hell of getting a ticket).



Come on City!!!

Labels: cardiff, football

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Latest reports have that toff fop buffoon Boris ahead in the London mayoral election.

He might be a right laugh as a dinner guest, but having that clown in charge of London would be no fucking joke.

Labels: london

Me: Hello Ken. I run the urban75 website where Paddick used to post
Livingstone: Is that the Anarchist website?
Me: No. The press made that up in an attempt to discredit Paddick - it's never claimed to be an 'anarchist website'
Livingstone: That should teach me not to believe what I read in the press!

Labels: brixton, ken livingstone, london, politics

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After documenting the depressing roll call of closed Brixton pubs, I decided to collate some useful information together and provide a short guide to Saving Your Local Pub.

There's some excellent downloadable PDF files on the page full of tips, information and strategies for keeping your local open, so check it out pronto if your boozer looks like it;s about to close.



It can work too: the community around one of my old pubs in Cardiff recently fought a long and hard battle against developers and emerged victorious!

Pantmawr Inn saved!


More: Save your local pub: a guide

Labels: pubs

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On Friday we headed south and up hills for an Offline gig back at the Alma, a friendly old school boozer on Church Road.



We had the No Frills Band playing a set and they were excellent as usual. You gotta love a band that packs mandolins, a tuba and a spoon player!

More pics here: Offline at the Alma



On Saturday, we grabbed a couple of beers at Mango Landing in Brixton. It's a nice, friendly bar but the service is mighty s-l-o-w.



We wrapped up the evening's drinking at the daftly named Hootananny, a large Brixton boozer which - despite some opposition from locals - has managed to get a bit of a good thing going, with free nights offering live acts.

Labels: brixton, offline, pubs

A few photos from a short (6 mile) birthday walk around Ashtead and Epsom Commons on the borders of Surrey and London.



Ashtead station faces right out into the countryside, so you're straight off the train and getting down with nature in seconds.



It was pretty much deserted for the walk, but the ground got very muddy later on, forcing us city slickers to delicately tip toe over deep, troublesome puddles.



Groovy stripy tree.



Cast iron London boundary markers were situated in amongst the trees. Which was a bit odd.

Read the full story of the walk here: Ashtead and Epsom Commons - a short six mile, birthday walk

Labels: photos, surrey, walk

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Pubs are still continuing to disappear from the area at a worrying rate of knots.

Today I took a look up Lyham Road, Brixton SW2, a road that has lost no less than four of its five pubs in the last five years or so.



I'd rushed up to catch the last rites of the Royal Oak at 2, Lyham Road - the pub was open for business only a couple of weeks ago, but the digger moved in late last week and had promptly set to work.


Attractive etched glass window on half-demolished wall. Judging by the destruction of the rest of the pub, I don't think any of these lovely windows are going to be preserved.



Another casualty was the Waggon and Horses at 206 Lyham Road, which, despite appearances, has been closed for some time.



The old Duke of Cornwall at 89, Lyham Road has had some rather bizarre alternations made to it, and the building looks quite ugly with its bolt on balconies..



There's barely anything left of the Red Lion at 191, Lyham Road, with the frontage being completely rebuilt.

Happily, the sole remaining boozer in Lyham Road, the Prince of Wales, appears to be in reasonable health for now.

See the ever growing list of closed Brixton pubs here: Lost pubs of Brixton

Labels: brixton, pubs london

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With so much going on every night on Brixton, I rarely venture south for a night, but I was glad I made the effort to go nearby Tulse Hill for a few ales at the Railway.



It's a lovely friendly boozer with regular live events upstairs. I caught the tail end of the Folkaoke (Karoake with a full on folk band) going on upstairs and it was a hoot!

We might be putting on an Offline event there soon, so stay tuned! Oh, and don't forget - we're at the Alma in Crystal Palace next Friday with the excellent No Frils band. It's going to rock!

offline-club.com

Labels: railway, tulse hill

I've just been sent an interesting YouTube animation of one of the most bonkers railways ever built - Volk's Brighton to Rottingdean Seashore Electric railway.

This mad piece of Victorian eccentricity saw what amounted to a part-submerged moving pier travelling through the sea from Brighton to Rottingdean.



The whole venture lasted less than seven years, but you can see a short animation of the electric railway tram, 'Pioneer,' which was officially classified as a ship and had to be piloted by a trained sea captain!

Labels: brighton, railways, sea

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In the face of increasing heavy manners towards photographers doing their job, I've posted up a guide to your rights when you're out snapping on the streets.



It can get a little complex, but fundamentally, if you're on a public right of way - such as a public pavement, footpath or public highway - you're free to take photographs for personal and commercial use of whatever you like.

Photographers Rights And The Law In The UK

Labels: law, legal, photography

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What a terrific night it was at the Albert in Brixton last night!


Jason from the Bridport Dagger gave us a great solo set.





Amycanbe are one of my very favourite Offline bands and I enjoyed every minute of their set. Check out their MySpace site for some of their tunes.

I love 'Yellow Suit!'

Labels: offline

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Last night's Offline at JAMM was a real treat with some great acts and a top atmosphere. Here's some pics:






Captain Hotknives was absolutely hilarious. We definitely want to get him back to Brixton soon!


Ukulele Gangsters sport their Slade-meets-ska image!

I later remembered that this was the 50th 'big' Offline night (so that's not including all the Albert, Alma, Charterhouse, Birkbeck College and NYC gigs). Blimey!

Labels: brixton, offline

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I've just posted up my photo report of this glorious day. And there's also a short video of delirious Cardiff fans after we scored the winning goal too. Oh yes indeedy!


Snowball fight in Brixton to start the day.


Behold! The majesty of Wembley!





Check out the full match report by our roving ace reporter Paul Davies here: Barnsley 0 Cardiff 1

Labels: cardiff city, FA cup, photos, wembley

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Some more photos from Friday's almighty mash-up!











Don't forget - the next Offline is this Thursday with top comedian Luke Toulson and three great live acts, plus cabaret.

More info here: Offline Club, 10th April

Labels: brixton, offline

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Oh joy! In a tense (and, let's be honest) frankly dull game, the mighty Cardiff City beat Barnsley at Wembley 1-0 to go through to the final of the FA Cup for the first time since 1927. Fantastic!



The view was great, but the corporate soundtracks and huge space made it difficult to really get a good atmosphere going.



Five minutes after the final whistle and the Barnsley fans have disappeared,



A Barnsley fan. Bless 'im.

Labels: cardiff city

There was an almighty night at the Albert on Friday with two top bands - the DeBretts and I Wanna Be Sedated, a UK film premiere of the Last Days Of CBGBs and a stand up set from Vic Lambrusco. And it was my birthday party too!

Check out the mosh pit action!





We woke up to find a huge fire going on Brixton Road which resulted in some of our friends nearby being evacuated and the tube being closed.



Last night I was doing the sound and DJing at the Albert, with the excellent Petunia playing a live set. The (very mixed) crowd were a very lively bunch so me and Nipsla had to work hard on the decks to keep 'em entertained (and I got away with playing the mighty Welsh rockers Budgie again!)!



Best of all, woke up this morning to find Brixton covered in a layer of snow. Lovely!

Right now, London protesters are doing themselves proud turning the Olympic torch procession into a total PR farce, and we're getting ready to head off to Wembley to see the mighty, mighty Cardiff City play Barnsley in the FA Cup semi final.

Come on you Blooooobirds!

Labels: brixton, football, offline cardiff city, snow