2026-01-17

Biffy Clyro @ Co-op Live, Manchester

Great as always (except for the venue charging £9.30 for a pint).

This is a series of posts about the vinyl I own. It’s important to own music, rather than rely on streaming companies. It supports artists directly and you also get to have a cool thing you can touch, look at, show off.

I bought this album over Christmas (2025). I’ve loved IDLES for years, constantly amazed by their live shows, and it felt right to pick this up to add to the collection.

A Brief Introduction

IDLES are a British punk band formed in Bristol in 2009, emerging from the city’s DIY scene with a sound rooted in post-punk, hardcore, and noise rock.

At some point along the way me and my friends heard some demos and in my years as a music promoter I gave them their first ever live show in Manchester (as support act, at The Castle Hotel).

After several years of touring and lineup...

Haim. Class.

Another 5km. Another new PB. Now agonisingly close to the under 30 minute goal. Next time! (I am so sorry for who I have become.)

I’m at a gig.

Last minute trip to London today. Because Glasto wasn’t enough apparently…

Out of office is on. Alarm set for 4am. It’s happening.

It’s good to look up sometimes.

Behold! I have returned from a hike.

I was in the Lake District this weekend. My parents were there on holiday for the week, and my brother, sister-in-law, and six-month-old niece were also visiting. Savages assemble.

We’re all keen hikers, and it’s my brother’s mission to complete all the Wainwright peaks. This time, the target was Silver Howe.

Silver Howe is one of the smaller fells, standing at 395 metres, just above Grasmere and not far from Ambleside. It’s a gentle climb with a few steep bits, but mostly the path winds up and around through bracken and juniper bushes, with cracking views across to Helm Crag and over Grasmere Water.

Mum stayed behind to chill and read a book, while the rest of us (niece strapped to my brother) headed out and up. The day before had been all torrential rain and thunderstorms, but this morning was...

37!