Bands, clubs, pubs and drunken escapades
Last week I had the absolute pleasure of watching the Grammy-winning, blues legend Bobby Rush perform a superb set at the Camden Jazz Cafe.
In photos: blues legend Bobby Rush at the Camden Jazz Cafe – still rocking at 92 years old! Read More
On Saturday I was back in Camden DJing at a special David Bowie celebration at the Elephant’s Head. On the day Bowie died in 2016, I hosted a jam-packed event …
In photos: Celebrating David Bowie at the Elephant’s Head, Camden, Sat 10th Jan 2026 Read More
Although I’m usually to be found DJing south London, I was at the Elephant’s Head in Camden on the 19th December, DJing with my old friend Disastronaut and 90s legend …
In photos: DJing the Elephant’s Head in Camden with Normski and Disastronaut, 19th Dec 2025 Read More
North London has gained a new independent record shop, bar and café in the shape of One Eighty One on Holloway Road in Islington.
One Eighty One – a new record store, bar and cafe in Islington, north London Read More
Located in New York’s East Village, the Double Down Saloon is a legendary and infamous dive bar, full of old school post-punk/rock energy. We love it!
Life in a New York dive bar – 20 photos of the Double Down Saloon in the East Village Read More
I love a no-nonsense dive bar, and during my visits to Lancaster in Pennsylvania, I got to visit two great examples, starting with Brendee’s Irish Bar in W Lemon Street …
Great Dive Bars in Lancaster, Pennsylvania: Brendee’s Irish Bar and Hildy’s Tavern – in photos Read More
The Face Magazine: Culture Shift at the National Portrait Gallery celebrates iconic fashion images and portraits from The Face, a trail-blazing youth culture and style magazine that helped shape the …
The Face Magazine: Culture Shift – London exhibition charts the work of the iconic style publication Read More
London is blessed with some incredible old-school pubs, and last week we took in four of the best, with our pub crawl starting by Blackfriars and progressing to Holborn.
Photo feature: a short but magnificent pub crawl in central London, taking in four traditional boozers Read More
Just over 20 years ago, I saw the absolutely wonderful Le Tigre perform at the Carling Academy in London. I’ve just unearthed my review from the night – along with …
In photos: Le Tigre play Carling Academy in London,14th October 2004 Read More
This small but entertaining exhibition at the Barbican is definitely worth visiting if, like me, you have a soft spot for emo culture (well, I was a bit of a …
I’m Not Okay: An Emo Retrospective at the London Barbican Centre Read More
Cardiff’s Caroline Street is famed for its wonderfully chaotic scenes on weekends, and there was a lot to see last weekend, with ‘Chippy Alley’ filled with revellers in Halloween fancy …
Halloween party night in Cardiff’s Caroline Street, Sat 28th October 2023 – 37 photos Read More
The Raven was a small but truly fantastic rock’n’roll bar in the East Village, situated at 194 Ave. A, NY 10009. It’s getting on for 20 years since it burnt …
In photos: Remembering The Raven punk and rock’n’roll bar in East Village, New York Read More
Celebrating Soho’s legendary club The Batcave is a small exhibition dedicated to what was a central part of the Goth scene in London in the early 1980s.
The Batcave – 40th anniversary exhibition at the Museum of Youth Culture, Soho, London Read More
Lewes is poorly served when it comes to late night bars – most people bugger off to nearby Brighton – so we were happy to find that the Volunteer in …
In photos: late night Saturday at the Volunteer in Lewes Read More
Last night I ventured east to return to the Paper Dress Vintage venue in Hackney to watch a powerful performance by The Shattercones.
In photos: The Shattercones at Paper Dress Vintage, Hackney, Feb 2022 Read More
After my band had played a show at the excellent New Adelphi venue in Hull on Saturday night, we decided to hit the town for some post-gig drinking. Our original …
In photos: late night drinking in the bars of Hull Read More
I enjoyed a fabulous time in Bristol over the weekend, starting with a gig with The Monochrome Set at the splendid Thunderbolt venue, and then dancing to 60s garage music …
A cracking night out in Bristol: The Monochrome Set at the Thunderbolt and dancing at Elmer’s Arms Read More
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 …
Remembering the fabulously scuzzy Mars Bar in East Village, New York Read More
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 …
Christmas lights, festive installations and street market at Coal Drops Yard, Kings Cross, December 2020 Read More
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.
Goodbye to the Crobar, one of the last of the central London rock’n’roll bars Read More
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 …
Failed bands of my past: east London soul/funk hustlers, Apartment Read More
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 …
From the Valleys to the Roxy: Welsh punk rock dreams from the 1970s Read More
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 …
North London music venue The Lexington launches crowdfunding campaign Read More
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 …
Tokyo photos: street scenes, signs, architecture, a beer cocktail and the Monochrome Set Read More
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 …
Newcastle and Gateshead photos: Millennium and other bridges, River Tyne, rain and night time street scenes Read More
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 …
Dundee photos: Desperate Dan, street scenes, architecture, Tunnock’s and salt shaker seediness Read More
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.
Glasgow photos: rainswept roads, street scenes, urban art and winter sun, Feb 2020 Read More
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 …
In photos: the fabulous Gravity Rock bar in Shinjuku, Tokyo Read More
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.
Norwich at night: street photos, bars, chip shops and architecture Read More
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 …
In photos: A drinking night out in Liverpool – Jimmy’s, The Grapes and the Motel Bar Read More