021 09 (September 2021)

A Vivid September 2021

TheZineUK Doc Thank you to everybody in TheZineUK doc, you are a story of arts movement. #FertileEnvironment https://theZineUK.co.uk https://www.facebook.com/TheZineUK https://www.instagram.com/thezine.uk/ Chattiness https://www.twitter.com/thezineuk https://www.tiktok.com/@thezine.uk? https://youtube.com/c/TheZineUKMagazine TheZineUK Editor : Dizzy Spell. Photography; Cover image of The Wire

by Lorna Cort + images: Jon Mo, Keira Annee, Polstar , Ruby Blue, Events Department and Diary/Snapshots : Caffy St Luce

September 2021 To be honest, a unicorn at a music festival is probably the most realistic thing about what passes for “real life” currently, but thank feck that 4REAL life also exists. What happened next to the cast and crew of this tale since the August 2021 issue? As a mostly true tale of alternative rock rising AND interdependence, we could make a festival of Manics tinted arts from our cast and crew, alone. Three degrees of celebration, and all that. #TheZineUK doc is such a tiny fraction of Britain Ireland under the radar life in this brand new world misruled by baddies, but it’s a tale worth telling on a planet worth fighting for. Kudos to the media - DIY and otherwise - who support emerging artists and their allies with exposure. C’mon the newer wave! Yeeeeah!

More evidence of this parallel universe, follows. Welcome to Awetumn!

TheZineUK doc memories: 2015 Lewisham (London Borough Of Culture 2022 - hopefully alternative rock music life will be included) Top. #TheZineUK curated #No3Expo in ”The Ministry Of Fluff And Dreams” (a Deptford Warehouse Gallery space ). Pissed off with how so called festival bookers were finding it hard to find guitar bands with female musicians, the front cover is Amy of Nova Twins and Claudia of Cat Bear Tree by Polstar Photography.

By 2021, some festival bookers/promoters are changing the script while others can get stuffed.

Bottom. The Blasphemy Ring (The Wildness Jewellery / Sir Tom Baker). Stage Style! The pig’s head is on stage with The Soap Girls at Amersham Arms the year an effigy of Prime Sinister, David Cameron with his penis in a pig, was burned on bonfire night. Cheer up? We hadn’t even spiralled down to tory Brexshit yet!

September 2021

2nd September #AusterityPop Power: Weather Underground Positive feedback for the debut single from Weather Underground DIY created, recorded and released with a video in Spring 2021 by Weather Underground.

The cast and crew of #TheZineUK are proactive in the arts and over the 7 years of this documentary it’s been a thrill watching our team bloom, release, perform and speak up.

This is how we roll . . .

#AusterityPop Power: Weather Underground 1/7

Music's Political Weather

Living through crapitalist insanity's era, I can only dream of Benjamin Zephaniah or Benefits doing a live, global broadcast from Westminster.

"...our very existence has become a political act" (Weather Underground)

In fact, post Bloc Party and Fontaines D.C. on mainstream TV, why am I still waiting to see more of the new star turns in their wake?

Unpublished from September 2021

Article and Interview by Caffy St Luce

Anti-facts adults deny climate emergency.

Others believe music and politics don't mix.

In 2021!

To name but few: Big Joanie, The Tuts, Bugeye, iDestroy, Blab, Polarized Eyes... entertainers from our pages, with impactive releases and thoughts.

Politics weave into all the above.

It doesn't make them MPs, but they are seeds of interdependence.

#AusterityPop Power: Weather Underground 2/7

Gate keepers, step aside and watch the trickle up become a flow of literate, audiovisual art sparks helping to save what Jister and more wryly refer to as 'Normal Island'.

These twinkling stars radiate escapist reality. I'm not the only person who needs such inspirations.

Inbred establishment "elite" thugs can only inspire flaccid stupidity because (crazed by greed) they 're too removed from humanity. Their trolls are missing a potential fairyland of friendly fun. Good.

Something vital is happening in spaces that are (often) still open, largely thanks to Music Venue Trust.

Protecting grassroots havens from the CONs cull of culture, assists the biggest story to develop nationally, intimately and - despite the lack of funds - rapidly (additionally in the homes we've seen much more of, lately).

Self expression with nothing, has nothing to lose. The last five years, especially, are rich with heroic truths and poignancy.

Instinct won't compel villianaires (the few), to value our planet.

The many, passionately rebelling against evils and extinction, don't touch the ghost of a heartless soul.

#AusterityPop Power: Weather Underground 3/7

With no other way out, we surf Brexit's fetid tides powered by rebellious positivity beyond genres, genders, generations and generalisations.

With common decency and a moral compass, we uphold the law, unlike the lawless "Law"...

Generation Tremorists: Youthful creators and documentors like Nandi Bushell, Arlo the Pint Sized Punk and Scarlet Hall of Mash zine - keep things on their creative toes when we're told (by the old) that ”the young don't care about rock music”. They never all did, but some always will.

Image from Twitter

#AusterityPop Power: Weather Underground 4/7

The aptly monikered band, Weather Underground, debut single, 'Sister Palestine', regularly plays in my head as social media scrolls into my mind. Dizzy (blue hair) can articulate 2021 music politics and DIY, so much better than I. "Lockdown was weird for us.

As key workers we didn't get any time home - but what we did get, was to witness a ghost town, to experience hyper-vigilance and a feeling of an electricity that something - or nothing - may happen at any minute - like a Ray Bradbury novel, or the curated suspense in a film.

#AusterityPop Power: Weather Underground 5/7

It made us ultra aware of how delicate that switch between 'normalcy' -the base level of insanity we live in - and anarchy, actually is.

I - someone who has always felt born to thrive in an atmosphere like that, to be ready for it - like a guerrilla fighter trying their best to hide a pacifist heart - felt in a weird way liberated by it. For the first time in years, I felt unbound enough to create.

What the lockdown also did for us, however, was cut off our access to gigs which is where we go to feel belonging, to feel validated and seen - so we had to learn to see ourselves. To look inwards to find that freedom we’d become accustomed to finding in a room

full of fellow freaks, rouges, drunks and libertines.

So what started off as play acting with makeup and the drag we had nowhere to wear, became actually translating what we were experiencing into art. We had nothing, coming home from work, but the news. The news made us angry, and we had no release for that anger outside, with friends, and comrades, but we had voices, pen and paper, so we used what we did have.

We're skint, so it was an illegally downloaded collection of recording software & Cash Converters microphones. None of which worked properly

#AusterityPop Power: Weather Underground 6/7

When writing 'Sister Palestine' - a reaction to the fact people were scared to even say the P word- at the forefront of my mind was the forward to 'Fuse' (selected works of Patrick Jones) where Nicky Wire wrote "The words are coming..."

Until I had a moment to breathe in lockdown, I forgot the power of words, the fact that every revolution starts, not with a bullet, but with a pen.

There's not only a place for politics but our very existence has become a political act.

One of my pet hates are people especially artists - who say they 'don't do politics'

#AusterityPop Power: Weather Underground 7/7

Everything is politics, everyone is a politician. Art itself, at it's best, is an act of defiance.

We're living in a world where every atom of our existence is being slowly made illegal with legislation.

Art is the ultimate form of nonviolent protest, even if it isn't obvious.

Making a happy disco beat whilst living in dystopia, is as political as 'Sister Palestine', if not more so. It's a huge fuck you to the FEAR.

Jeremy Corbyn created a new political class, despite the so-called failure of the "Corbyn Project", we're going to see the fall -out from that for the next few decades, and MI6's Keith expelling the socialists is only going to expedite that.

Is there a place for politics?

Well you're either with us, or against us."

(Weather Underground)

December 2021 update; as the year winds down, politicians are defecting t(including to The Breakthrough Party and Northern Independence).

Young Labour and Unite retain the original principles of the party while the selfservative tories and their lickspittles are going full blown goose step…

TheZineUK catches multi-music-tasking/creating wonder woman Lori, on her (sold out) solo headline tour - now a bonafide chart star, her songs mean a lot to many. Her supportive fans are aces FertileEnvironment (cont.)

Autumn 2021

"We can finally celebrate our album in style" (Weekend Recovery, Lori is singer/guitarist).

The Leeds based rock band’s new album ‘False Company’ is out now on pro-active Criminal Records.

More sell-out shows!

Opp.page

Lori is also the force of nature behind November 2021’s Ghost Road Fest.

More on that to follow.

Images ©

3rd September 2021 - M O S E S, Birmingham Tour Manager show day: Shades, specs, mask, Indian Queens lighter, purse, Love Quota anti viral hand gel, Flare Audio ear phones (hand made sunflower from the Dizzy n Caffy performance art installation for Platform 7 (the link? M O S E S are head-lining the Sunflower Lounge!), Thanks, again to gig promoters, Modern Age Music. The band are a man and a van down today, but will do anything not to cancel a show.

Thanks, big time, Elias Wachenje for standing in on bass. Also to Birmingham Sound Hire for the kit!

It was a fun train trip adventure to Brum - with group travel discount.

Friday 3rd September, Birmingham Sunflower Lounge, more cool supports for M O S E S: EXTRAS (pictured) and REDHAUS

Birmingham Sunflower Lounge, 3rd September 2021 (continued) I’m savouring every chance to travel and/or to gig. Today feels beautiful.

I’m sipping a pint, listening to britpop classics and smiling at familiar friends faces on the poster wall - they are also coming to play this Midlands, up n comers tour circuit, fave space.

Being their first chance to play a headline tour of small venues, there’s no guarantee of a crowd for a band whose majority of streaming listeners are overseas, but there are some MOSES fans who are coming this evening, including travellers from the North and South of the country. The band’s biggest joy is just getting to play live to an audience. Let’s GO!

We were going to be cutting it fine to get the last train from Birmingham to London after the show so the merch sales plan didn’t happen this evening.

Now out of lockdown , at least we can make some more for the next tour.

Reality permitting.

Alternative Rock musicians The Sunflower Lounge, Birmingham, Friday 3rd September 2021

More →

I even get that pre-doors kick from the anticipation of wondering if anybody will come for the headliners. Call me biased, but people leave entertained. There’s a raging energy from openers, Redhaus, who have a 1970s edge to their presence.

Next are Extras who go down a noisily cheered treat. Music fans have obviously travelled to see them too. It makes for a buzzing vibration all night. Then, I’m so chuffed at how many people are singing and dancing along to MOSES songs (including a heavily pregnant lovely, hope that the baby enjoyed the tunes too!). The band’s faces are a pleasantly surprised picture and as they leave the stage somebody leads a chant singing to them, which more of the crowd join in. True though. “We love you, MOSES, we do!”

No van meant a dash after the gig to New Street Station for the last service “What an amazing night, full of to London. MOSES were recognised energy, the band sounded brilliant on the platform, from the train, by as always. musician Jean Genie (promoter/radio presenter) who joined us for a kinda Victor was full of life and getting the after show. Everybody got home by crowd involved. about 3 or 4am but it had definitely been worth being knackered! even better when someone started singing "we love you moses we do" Thanx Brum!

Shame I didn't record that bit.

More opinion from the show:

So sad I never got to the 2 London gigs, ,but will look forward to the next one and as I write this Vonnie (another fan) has MOSES playing.”

Wendy A., Stourbridge

Saturday 4th September When you get home around 4am the best thing to do is get up and go to an all dayer.

Modern Age Music’s SOMA Festival happened across four Shoreditch (central E.London arts n gigs catwalk). I enjoyed another Indie Rock all dayer loaded with musical goodness, loud fun, lots of friendly faces (some video clips on TheZineUK insta and TikTok).

I’m not gonna lie, by the evening I was a bit tiddly and was leaning heavily on my friend Pauly, while trying to walk.

In short, it really did feel like (rock n roll) Nature is healing…

So much buzzing on here, including that Himalayas would go on to support Manic Street Preachers at a couple of arena shows and Cobain Jones to support Paul Weller.

9th September 2021, Brighton Prince Albert

10th September, New Cross Over a (locked down, then seated gigs) year after being announced, the London leg of the Passports Back To Our Roots tour to #SaveOurVenues happened at Amersham Arms - Public Service Broadcasting play.A band who are no strangers to supporting Manic Street Preachers (next page) on more than one occasion…

10th September 2021 - The Ultra Vivid Lament Zeenagers are Generation Tremorists. The Manics are a golden thread in this tapestry of newer wave rock music movements. On the same night that Public Service Broadcasting are in New Cross, our intrepid photographer (and stage style star) Lorna is in Yorkshire catching them live. Again! Quite a few of TheZineUK doc cast and crew have seen MSP more than once!

Manic Street Preachers - Halifax.

The Piece Hall is a stunning venue for live music. The Grade 1 listed, pale stone square was originally built as a cloth merchants hall and dates from the 1700’s.

The cloth merchants are now long gone (unless you count the band merch stalls) but promoters, Futuresound, are making the most of this outdoor space with three weeks of sell-out shows including The Specials, New Order and Kaiser Chiefs. Tonight it’s the turn of Manic Street Preachers, here to play songs from their new album The Ultra Vivid Lament, which just happens to be released the same day. Support comes from female Welsh language trio Adwaith, the very cool Talking Heads-tinged Low Hummer and classic indie rock from Sea Power. (Words: Lorna Cort) Lorna’s picture gallery of the above bands is further on in this issue ->

16th September 2021, The Fiddler, Kilburn. If you trust my tips then believe me when I share the fact that Helve are no ordinary musical force.

16th September Love Pirate on Safari! #MusicTourism - from being thrilled by Helve at The Fiddler in Kilburn, I hop on the Jubilee Line to Canada Water then New Cross and see the welcoming ‘Take Courage’ sign on the front of Amersham Arms.It’s a Kick Out The Jams night and the music interdependent are again gathered for select performances.

16th September 2021 - Alice Is Sleeping. Crowd is enjoying. The Deptford Mix Up at Amersham Arms

Kontrol Freaks and Snayx, represent!

16th September 2021 The Deptford Mix Up Amersham Arms

The newer wave of post punk music socials that make all the difference to TheZineUK’s doc are our (Artists, Audiences, Allies) collective sanity on “Normal Island” Step through the doors of a grass-roots music venue back into civilisation for a few hours.

Come with us! Kick Out The Jams is one of the gateway promoters. Big up their sponsors, Rotor Videos, for helping to create this melting pot.

16th-19th September

The original one returns and so many of TheZineUK doc’s talented cast and crew are here. With the amount of events in uncertainty this year, a huge sigh of relief that Isle Of Wight is not only a success, but a kind, safe and fun one.

Congratulations!

With the hugest appreciation to This Feeling. Our reporter/TF Zone DJ, Louise Schofield, definitely got the goods from some of the aces on that stage (a few pics over the next pages). Long live Isle Of Wight Festival!

Look New

#StageStyle Primordial Rings was repping at the Cirque de la Quirk stage. See near future for further details.

Louise Schofield interviews Lock-In, Gen and the Degenerates, Nia Wynn, The Skinner Brothers and more at IoW Fest 2021, This Feeling Stage.

TheZineUK doc & https://youtube.com/c/ LouiseSchofieldTV

The weekend has been a huge one!

Louise Schofield and Shiner Sam on This Feeling Zone DJ Decks - IoW Fest

Ready, Steady… BANG! Electro punks, BUGEYE, (who were bumped UP the bill), have just exploded on the Kashmir Stage at Isle Of Wight Festival Photo ace, Jon Mo, captured their end-of-set MOMENT.

17th September 2021

Did you know that Patrick Jones is the reason that TheZineUK doc exists?

Six degrees of seperation. Three degrees of celebration and all that.

Something Must Grow.

So, yeah, we always like to see his story woven into this tapestry and continuing to bloom

Saturday 18th September at 229 Great Portland Street

This mega weekend’s essential gatherings included a Loud Women Fest 5 supergroup rendition of ‘Reclaim These Streets’ (”The Feminist Band Aid” Louder Than War)

live on stage.

Just look at the line up on this Central London all-dayer!

September 2021 is also when journalist Everett True (pictured with Kurt Cobain) signed to Criminal Records home of ace hearts, Weekend Recovery/Lori, mentioned earlier this issue.

Image via Twitter.

And I Run. Run. Run. Run. Run. Run. Run…

Saturday 18th September. MOSES, Manchester Gullivers. The gig and reactions attracted strangers to pay in and join the fun. Image by Ruby Blue.

Manics! (Continued from earlier in this issue) September 2021 The Ultra Vivid Lament of Manic Street Preachers live.

The new album is a sonic artwork of classic melancholy that gets under your skin like a tattoo. It toped the album charts. An educational course heritage in their own right, as well as an Artbeat inspiration, the Manics have earned their 20th AND 21st Century National Treasure status. Lorna Cort photographed the band and supports Sea Power (kudos on the name update!), Low Hummer and Adwaith at Halifax Piece Hall. Some images over the next few pages.

Lorna’s FB page /lornacortphotography is also home to the popular annual Manic Street Preachers photos calendar which raises money for Velindre Cancer Care. ← Nicky Wire, Stage Style runs through his veins.

Adwaith © Lorna Cort

Adwaith © Lorna Cort

Adwaith © Lorna Cort

Low Hummer © Lorna Cort

Low Hummer © Lorna Cort

Low Hummer © Lorna Cort

Low Hummer © Lorna Cort

Sea Power © Lorna Cort

Sea Power © Lorna Cort

Sea Power © Lorna Cort

Sea Power © Lorna Cort

Manic Street Preachers © Lorna Cort

Manic Street Preachers © Lorna Cort

Manic Street Preachers © Lorna Cort

Manic Street Preachers © Lorna Cort

Getting on tour had even more obstacles than just trying to exist on tory Brexshit’s “Normal Island” with petrol shortages this month making a gamble of travelling to play or watch a live show. I am one of thousands who did it anyway and so are MOSES who played Leeds Lending Room (first booked for Spring 2020, then Autumn 2020, then Spring 2021 and finally played in Autumn 2021. A story repeated across the music world, while it’s grassroots circuit struggles to exist for up and coming artists to have somewhere to perform, to connect in person.

Reflective in soundcheck.

Pre-gig chill

On stage thrill

Massive appreciation for all who were at the show (including a gang had travelled from Hull!), for the superlative feedback and to The Lending Room. The band left the venue and their first headline tour with their own song, ‘River Thames’ being chanted outside. #thatbandMOSES - new album 2022

September was 4REAL.. WITH guitars!

Currently we’re in Plague Island groundhog day mode, yet still have an elite empire of inbreeding ingreeding establishment (hisstablishment) - for now.

Mainstream media and other right-wingers of every political shade, built in.

Never mind the bollocks, here’s the humanity: The Arts will always move spiritual hearts. Hence the cull of music education, venues and musicians.

TheZineUK is fanzine level with talent spotting soul. Part of the interdependent multi media who tip. 2022? (pronounced “twenty twenty, too” - oh oh!). If we we want change, let’s keep fighting for justice. We have the best soundtracks.

Normal Island got a Rolling Stone UK? Whatever. Gonna leave the last word with the legendary Mary O Meara from a previous article with us.

Kontrol Freaks, September 2021 (Kick Out The Jams at Amersham Arms).