Thursday 3 September 2020

Shindig! No.107

I'm not the only Budd in this month's Shindig! which includes a great feature on soundtrack composer Roy. Elsewhere we've got Eddie Piller, Jack Nitzche, Love, and a big big feature on CSNY's Déjà Vu, one of my all time faves. I've added my bit to that by talking to the brilliant Tom Gundelfinger O'Neal about that lovely leathery cover. Carry On.

Thursday 6 August 2020

Shindig! No.106

Although time is now largely meaningless, the arrival of your favourite music mag can still be a small window into a now-lost universe of order and normality. This month I got to chat to the frankly wonderful Dick Ellescas about movie titles, cosmetic colours, the GI Bill, and Barbie doll in an offbeat Vinyl Art column. But the showstopper is Martin Ruddock's terrific cover story on Marsha Hunt. Until we all get back to where we ought to be, this is the kind of stuff that might just keep us sane.


Thursday 23 July 2020

Visual Magic in the Musicals

As part of the WEA's programme of free online taster sessions I'll be presenting 'Visual Magic in the Musicals' next Friday, a two hour appreciation of cinematic invention in the golden age of Hollywood. For more info and to enrol, follow the link. Did I mention it's free?

Thursday 4 June 2020

Shindig! No.104

I had great fun making my selections for the giallo Deep Cuts feature in this month's Shindig! Magazine - out today - but it did leave me with a strange aversion to ketchup on my chips. Elsewhere from the mag's talented team there's a nice Vinyl Art for fans of my old pal Guy Webster; a great long Amon Düül II feature (fifty years!); and an interview with Leon (El) Michels about his influences that should come with a Discogs marketplace blocker - you will buy records. And why not?

Thursday 7 May 2020

Shindig! No.103

Happy SD! Day everybody. Some fantastic stuff in issue 103, including that Eric Burdon cover story, a catch up with Paul Weller, a rather lovely obituary of Marie Laforêt, a real bit of deep-digging with Amanda Trees, and me in the Family Album column unwinding the colourful threads that led to France Gall's 1968. Lots to keep you busy!

Friday 28 February 2020

Cambridgeshire Alliance of Lifelong Learners

The Cambridgeshire Alliance of Lifelong Learners is a new initiative in the city, and a very welcome one. With any luck I'll be getting involved and teaching 5 weeks on Film Music in April, but like all new ventures it needs bums on seats. So if you're in Cambridgeshire and you like film music, then above the Baptist church on Friday mornings is the place to be. Spread the word!

Friday 7 February 2020

Shindig! No.100

I'm still so pleased to have the opportunity to contribute to Shindig! Magazine every month. And out this week is issue 100! I made a long distance call to the desert for Vinyl Art this month, and boy was it worth it. Here's to the next 900 issues.

Thursday 30 January 2020

Special Effects in the Movies

Starting 26th February I'll be presenting 5 weeks of 'Special Effects in the Movies' at the lovely Letchworth Settlement. It'll be great fun so click through and sign up!

Thursday 2 January 2020

Shindig! No.99

Happy New Year! Out this very day is Shindig! Magazine issue 99 in which I speak to the brilliant Michael Trevithick about Nick Drake's Pink Moon. This month SD! also posed 20 Questions to the supercool Nicolas Godin of AIR, which was great fun to contribute to. Elsewhere there's a tribute to Terry O'Neill and a a bunch of superbly soulful Brit-organ stylings. Next month, the big one!