https://machcomedyfest.co.uk/category/year/2026/
It’s the best comedy festival in the world, but don’t tell anyone about it!
We are screening the KING ROCKER movie with Q&A on Saturday morning, I am doing Man Wulf on Sunday, and on Saturday afternoon there’s this…
Joking Apart: Stewart Lee Asks Robert Lloyd to Explain Old Jokes. 2 Pilot episodes of an exciting new podcast featuring Stewart Lee and his mentor, the Birmingham punk legend Robert Lloyd of Prefects, Nightingales and King Rocker repute. Saturday May 2nd, 2 pm, Ysgol Bro Hydden – Main Hall
The King Rocker screening is at 11 am on Saturday https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002qc91
Stewart Lee Vs The Man-Wulf is on Sunday at 1.30
https://machcomedyfest.co.uk/show/2026/stewart-lee-stewart-lee-vs-the-man-wulf-4/
I am the reader of the audiobook of The Big Midweek, Steve Hanley from The Fall’s book about playing bass for two decades in the greatest British band, against twenty years of social change. You can hear it here…
I am now writing 1000 funny words a week for Carole Cadwalladr’s new on-line newspaper The Nerve, run by people who were sacked or quit when Tories and Telegraph/Times types took over The Observer. It is immediately ace. Sign up here and it would also really be great if you could pay them £6.95 a month as the 5 women at the helm sunk all their redundancy money into it. Carole understands that the only story in town is how the tech-bros choose what news we see and how we understand the world, and The Nerve will address this head on. The only news that matters. Please send the link below and this begging request to anyone you can. https://www.thenerve.news
This recent piece on enshittification is especially good https://www.thenerve.news/p/cory-doctorow-enshittification-internet-craphound-lyft-political-organising
All my columns are collected here, but please donate
https://www.thenerve.news/stewart-lee
My favourite pan-disciplinarians Andrew & Eden Kotting want me to arrive as unprepared as possible and host this experimental investigation of memory, from 6pm – 8.15. In the future, people will say, if you can remember it you were there!
https://www.headfirstbristol.co.uk/whats-on/watershed/sat-28-mar-the-memory-blocks-145381#e145381
Along with WAXFACE’s usual line of Stewart Lee merch there are new for 2025 t-shirts and hoodies on the Man-Wulf theme, all of the highest quality. I’d wear them myself but I’d look arrogant. Waste the money your Nan gave you for Xmas here




Glasgow’s garage punk veterans The Primevals’ new single is featured in the new Stewart Lee vs The Man-Wulf U.K. tour. There are 3 versions. Side a I’m The Man-Wulf. Side b I’m The Man-Wulf (long nail edit). Plus a 9 minute I’m The Man-Wulf (long nail version). Vinyl sides a&b were released on a 7” 45 in January. https://primevals.bandcamp.com
There’s now a cool arty video for the song too www.youtube.com/watch?v=yazuiF0OiAI
You’ll have to subscribe though.
Here is a thorough, and not entirely positive, review from a thoughtful young man on Youtube, still better than most pro-critics.
https://youtu.be/kdOYgqCzJ4s?si=1uIZBn8tMWsAiS0h
John Mackay & Sally Homer, in association with Debi Allen/Curtis Brown present
STEWART LEE vs THE MAN-WULF BRAND NEW SHOW
UK TOURING THROUGHOUT 2026
NB: TICKETS FOR THESE SHOWS WILL REMAIN AT THE ADVERTISED PRICE. SURGE PRICING IS IMMORAL AND TICKETMASTER AND OASIS ARE WANKERS, ENCOURAGED BY SUCCESSIVE TORY CULTURE SECRETARIES IN THEIR CRIMINAL ENDEAVOURS.

In this brand-new show, Lee shares his stage with a tough-talking werewolf comedian who hates humanity. The Man-Wulf lays down a ferocious comedy challenge to the culturally irrelevant and physically enfeebled Lee. Can the beast inside us all be silenced with the silver bullet of Lee’s unprecedentedly critically acclaimed style of stand-up.
The show will tour the UK throughout 2026.
I AM VERY PLEASED WITH HOW THIS SHOW IS SHAPING UP – PRESS IS COLLECTING HERE.
Sunday 3rd May 2026 – The Mach Arena, Machynlleth Comedy Festival – TICKETS
Wednesday 6th May 2026 – The Playhouse, Weston Super Mare – TICKETS
Thursday 7th May 2026 – The Playhouse, Weston Super Mare – TICKETS
Friday 8th May 2026 – Northcott Theatre, Exeter – TICKETS
Saturday 9th May 2026 – Richmond Theatre, Richmond – TICKETS
Monday 11th May 2026 – Playhouse, Leeds – TICKETS
Tuesday 12th May 2026 – Playhouse, Leeds – TICKETS
Wednesday 13th May 2026 – Playhouse, Leeds – TICKETS
Thursday 14th May 2026 – Floral Pavilion Theatre, New Brighton – TICKETS
Friday 15th May 2026 – Opera House, Buxton – TICKETS
Saturday 16th May 2026 – Stockton Globe, Stockton On Tees – TICKETS
Tuesday 19th May 2026 – Palace Theatre, Southend On Sea – TICKETS
Wednesday 20th May 2026 – Palace Theatre, Southend On Sea – TICKETS
Monday 1st June 2026 – 3Olympia Theatre, Dublin – TICKETS
Tuesday 2nd June 2026 – Bord Gais Energy Theatre, Dublin – TICKETS
Wednesday 3rd June 2026 – The Tommy Leddy Theatre, Drogheda – TICKETS
Thursday 4th June 2026 – Millennium Forum, Derry – TICKETS
Friday 5th June 2026 – National Opera House, Wexford – TICKETS
Sunday 7th June 2026 – Opera House, Cork – TICKETS
Wednesday 10th June 2026 – Theatre Royal, Waterford – TICKETS
Sunday 14th June 2026 – Cambridge Arts Theatre, Cambridge – TICKETS
Monday 15th June 2026 – Cambridge Arts Theatre, Cambridge – TICKETS
Tuesday 16th June 2026 – Cambridge Arts Theatre, Cambridge – TICKETS
Thursday 18th June 2026 – Alban Arena, St. Albans – TICKETS
Friday 19th June 2026 – Alban Arena, St. Albans – TICKETS
Sunday 21st June 2026 – New Victoria Theatre, Woking – TICKETS
Tuesday 23rd June 2026 – Venue Cymru, Llandudno – TICKETS
Wednesday 24th June 2026 – Lawrence Batley Theatre, Huddersfield – TICKETS
Thursday 25th June 2026 – Grand Opera House, York – TICKETS
Friday 26th June 2026 – Grand Opera House, York – TICKETS
Saturday 27th June 2026 – Grand Opera House, York – TICKETS
Tuesday 30th June 2026 – Mercury Theatre, Colchester – TICKETS
Wednesday 1st July 2026 – Mercury Theatre, Colchester – TICKETS
Thursday 2nd July 2026 – Mercury Theatre, Colchester – TICKETS
Saturday 4th July 2026 – The Hawth, Crawley – TICKETS
Tuesday 7th July 2026 – Lyceum, Crewe – TICKETS
Wednesday 8th July 2026 – Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury – TICKETS
Thursday 9th July 2026 – Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury – TICKETS
Friday 10th July 2026 – The Lowry, Salford – TICKETS
Saturday 11th July 2026 – The Lowry, Salford – TICKETS
Monday 13th July 2026 – King’s Theatre, Glasgow – TICKETS
Tuesday 14th July 2026 – King’s Theatre, Glasgow – TICKETS
Wednesday 15th July 2026 – Playhouse, Edinburgh – TICKETS
Thursday 16th July 2026 – Perth Theatre, Perth – TICKETS
Friday 17th July 2026 – Eden Court, Inverness – TICKETS
Thursday 3rd September 2026 – King’s Theatre, Portsmouth – TICKETS
Friday 4th September 2026 – Pavillion, Weymouth – TICKETS
Saturday 5th September 2026 – Hall For Cornwall, Truro – TICKETS
Thursday 10th September 2026 – Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool – TICKETS
Friday 11th September 2026 – Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool – TICKETS
Saturday 12th September 2026 – William Aston Hall, Wrexham – TICKETS
Sunday 13th September 2026 – Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton – TICKETS
Wednesday 16th September 2026 – Marina Theatre, Lowestoft – TICKETS
Thursday 17th September 2026 – Marina Theatre, Lowestoft – TICKETS
Friday 18th September 2026 – Castle Theatre, Wellingborough – TICKETS
Saturday 19th September 2026 – The Central Theatre, Chatham – TICKETS
Sunday 20th September 2026 – The Central Theatre, Chatham – TICKETS
Thursday 24th September 2026 – Bristol Beacon, Bristol – TICKETS
Friday 25th September 2026 – Bristol Beacon, Bristol – TICKETS
Saturday 26th September 2026 – Bristol Beacon, Bristol – TICKETS
Tuesday 29th September 2026 – Truck Theatre, Hull – TICKETS
Wednesday 30th September 2026 – Truck Theatre, Hull – TICKETS
Thursday 1st October 2026 – The Spa Centre, Scarborough – TICKETS
Friday 2nd October 2026 – Alhambra Theatre, Bradford – TICKETS
Saturday 3rd October 2026 – Alhambra Theatre, Bradford – TICKETS
Tuesday 6th October 2026 – Festival Theatre, Malvern – TICKETS
Wednesday 7th October 2026 – Festival Theatre, Malvern – TICKETS
Thursday 8th October 2026 – Belgrade Theatre, Coventry – TICKETS
Friday 9th October 2026 – Belgrade Theatre, Coventry – TICKETS
Saturday 10th October 2026 – Belgrade Theatre, Coventry – TICKETS
Monday 12th October 2026 – Playhouse, Nottingham – TICKETS
Tuesday 13th October 2026 – Playhouse, Nottingham – TICKETS
Saturday 17th October 2026 – Waterside Theatre, Aylesbury – TICKETS
Sunday 18th October 2026 – Hippodrome, Birmingham – TICKETS
Friday 23rd October 2026 – New Theatre, Peterborough – TICKETS
Saturday 24th October 2026 – Tyne Theatre & Opera House, Newcastle Upon Tyne – TICKETS
Sunday 25th October 2026 – Tyne Theatre & Opera House, Newcastle Upon Tyne – TICKETS
Friday 30th October 2026 – Pavilion Theatre, Worthing – TICKETS
Saturday 31st October 2026 – Lighthouse, Poole – TICKETS
Sunday 1st November 2026 – Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne – TICKETS
Thursday 5th November 2026 – City Hall, Salisbury – TICKETS
Friday 6th November 2026 – The Anvil, Basingstoke – TICKETS
Saturday 7th November 2026 – New Wimbledon Theatre, Wimbledon – TICKETS
Monday 9th November 2026 – Playhouse, Oxford – TICKETS
Tuesday 10th November 2026 – Playhouse, Oxford – TICKETS
Wednesday 11th November 2026 – Playhouse, Oxford – TICKETS
Thursday 12th November 2026 – Chelmsford Theatre, Chelmsford – TICKETS
Friday 13th November 2026 – Chelmsford Theatre, Chelmsford – TICKETS
Stewart’s 2019-2022 touring show Snowflake/Tornado, which was originally broadcast as a BBC Special in Autumn 2022 is now available to buy or rent “on demand” from www.mediagarageproductions.com
Both shows also appear to be free as part of the current Amazon Prime rosta, but buy them from us to defeat American fascism.
We are currently preparing a physical release of these shows but it’s got delayed as I got pneumonia and have been bogged down in picking through a wealth of possible, and very exciting, audio extras, where the material worked much better than in the broadcast show itself.
– ROYAL ALBERT HALL, 24TH MARCH. I am on in this with Bridget Christie, Athena Kugblenu, Miles Jupp and more. Robert Smith from The Cure is in charge this year. http://lnk.to/TCT26
The actor Kevin Eldon has a new podcast called Speakers.
I listened to it.
It is funny and also uses the fact that it is made of sound!!! Find it wherever you find your podcasts. Kevin Eldon is 98 years old.
I did a script editing pass on an early draft of this play last year, which was full of great funny ideas about the comedy of the culture war, and contributed some end of the pier gags to lower the tone of an otherwise sophisticated conceit, but it sounds like the writer-performer and the director have really moved it on and massively changed and upgraded the central thrust of it. I am looking forward to seeing it in its first incarnation.
“Freshly installed in 11 Downing Street, a fearless female Chancellor of the Exchequer is determined to get rid of the ancient urinal in her grace-and-favour en-suite. Intrigue overflows into outrage when it transpires that the porcelain was first tinkled on by that undying icon of Britishness, Winston Churchill. Soon, the whole nation has a view on this storm in a pisspot. Join us for this rambunctious romp through the corridors of power and discover whether our fearless Chancellor’s grip on her Budget red box can survive the clamour for her Whitehall washroom to be awarded a Blue Plaque. Known for her alter ego MP who has achieved more than seven million views with her online videos, and toured two stage shows nationally, satirist and Chortle award-winner Rosie Holt shares the world premiere of her new play, first seen in a reading at Shedinburgh last year. Directed by Dan Clarkson, whose previous show starring Rosie Holt The Crown Live sold out at the King’s Head Theatre, and whose other credits include Olivier Award nominees Potted Potter, and Potted Panto, as well as Biff To The Future which is currently on an extensive tour. Early Booker Preview Special: First two performances (13 & 14 May) – top price tickets only £25.” https://kingsheadtheatre.com/whats-on/churchill-s-urinal-ncmf
Kevin Eldon (above) used to get the bus to school in Scotland with The Skids, and I am special stand-up guest of the Scottish punk pioneers at their weekender at Portmerion Prisoner village in N Wales. Come and see me get booed off by old geezers. https://skidsofficial.com/news-1/f/the-absolute-weekend-2026-1 What an amazing life I am having in my late 50s.
Strong Message Here – I am in lots of editions of Armando Iannucci’s podcast. There’s an extended version https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0024cp6
Harry Hill Podcast – I did the first episode of this brilliant new thing https://harryhill.co.uk/podcast/
The Trawl Marina Purkiss and Gemma Forte had me on their unashamedly political podcast. They are twin national treasures. You can find it in the usual places.
Alexei Sayle Podcast I just done this again with the Podfather of Alternative Comedy. Usual outlets.
Gilles Peterson Podcast I did the groovy jazz guru’s outlet https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002qc91
Albert Genower’s Conversations With https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qeNnR_ygm5A
Always Be Comedy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxwIXtrA9yc
Cats’ Protection League – Cat Got Your Tongue https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aB0oEiZtRYc
Lenny Bruce Q&A https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWQiFMgknmc
It’s the best book festival in the world but don’t tell anyone about it. I will be amongst many appearing at Laugharne including Carole Cadwalladr, Gwenno, Budgie, Laetitia Sadier, Nicky Wire, Nigel Planer, Angeline Morrison, Dave Rowntree, Armando Iannucci, Joe Dunthorne, Martin & Eliza Carthy, Tessa Hadley, Elizabeth Alker, Mark Thomas, Kate Mossman, Mike Joyce, Henry Normal, Lucia Osborne-Crowley, Jeremy Deller, Charlie Higson, Zakia Sewell, Luke Wright, Carys Eleri, Nick Revell, Fflur Dafydd, Daniel Rachel, Robin Ince, Emma Warren, Jake Arnott, Steve Punt, Debsey Wykes, John Higgs, Paul Gorman, Peter Finch, Pete Brown.” https://www.thelaugharneweekend.com
BEARDED THEORY 20TH – 24TH MAY, CATTON PARK DERBYSHIRE https://beardedtheory.co.uk w Pixies, Damned, Maytals, Au Pairs, Nightingales & Ted Chippington. This is a great, friendly festival that totally feels like it is run for the benefit of the people, and it has a brilliant tent called Convoy Cabaret which is all proper hardcore anarcho-punk and traveller music.
DEER SHED 24TH – 26TH JULY, BLADERSBY PARK, N YORKS https://deershedfestival.com Sleaford Mods, Angeline Morrison, New Eves & The Adam Buxton Band. The village fete vibe of indie rock!
KRANKENHAUS, 28TH-30TH AUGUST, MUNCASTER CASTLE, LAKE DISTRICT. It’s the best music festival in the world but don’t tell anyone about it. Sea Power, House Of All, Laura Cannell, Fallen Women, Stereolab, lectures, talks, walks, mountains. All the fun of the farm!
More to follow
Weird muso’s Grham Reynolds and Mike Lindsay soundtrack weird films The Portcullis and The Last Sacrifice and I introduce them.
Stewart Lee: In Praise of the Outcast – MA Art & Politics,
Tuesday, Mar 10 from 12 pm to 1 pm GMT
MA Art & Politics + Art & Politics Society, Goldsmiths, London present a talk by comedian Stewart Lee. In Praise of the Outcast: Stewart Lee on clowning and the essence of comedy (hint: to overturn the rules).
WHO’S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? – EDWARD ALBEE, DIR MIKE TWEDDLE. Oxford Playhouse until March 7th. If you hurry you might get into the superb production which I saw on the opening night. I say, “Mike Tweddle’s radical new production of Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Woolf runs at Oxford Playhouse until March 7th and crumbles the colossus of the Burton-Taylor reading in a quietly radical reinterpretation. Innovative staging frames the two couple’s conflicts very much as a form of performance, sets of curtains in the increasingly claustrophobic house echoing our assumptions about theatre, confessional monologues repositioned downstage like old-school front-curtain stand-up comedy, and fourth-wall breaking antics spilling the collapsing third act into the main house itself. Big laughs! Sick revelations! And lots of booze! It’s the shortest three hours you’ll ever experience.” https://www.oxfordplayhouse.com/events/edward-albees-whos-afraid-of-virginia-woolf
BOHMAN BROTHERS AND CO Stunning sound artists the Bohman Brothers appear in various combo’s.
March 1st – Adam Bohman art book launch, 2pm to 5pm, Cafe Oto, London https://www.cafeoto.co.uk/
March 5th– Royal Albert, New Cross, London, TBA
March 22nd Christ Church John Marshall Hall, London. The Remote Viewers – John Edwards (double bass), Steve Beresford (electronics), Adrian Northover (soprano sax), Dave Petts (tenor sax,composition)-quartet/Annie Kerr (violin, piano) & Matt Clark (guitar)-duo/ Sue Lynch (tenor sax), Adam Bohman (amplified objects) , Rory Salter (guitar,electronics)-trio/ Doors 5.00pm – Music 5.30pm-8.00pm 27 Blackfriars Rd SE1 8NY Suggested fee £8/10 cash or card OTD https://horseimprovclub.wordpress.com/
March 25th – The Hundred Years Gallery, Hoxton, London, Duvel Mortgage + William Lyons + tba, http://hundredyearsgallery.co.uk/events/upcoming/
April 2nd– Royal Albert, New Cross, London- TBA
April 17th Christ Church, John Marshall Hall, 27 Blackfriars Rd SE1 8NY, Teresa Hackel + Eiko Yamada (recorder duo), Rex Casswell (electric guitar), Phillip Marks (percussion), Paul Obermayer (electronics), Adam Bohman (amplified objects) Doors 7.15pm-Music 7.45pm., Venue- Suggested fee £8/10 cash or card OTD https://horseimprovclub.wordpress.com/
April 21st, 22nd, 23rd – Café Oto, London Adam Bohman residency, https://www.cafeoto.co.uk/
ROB AUTON The comedian poet philosopher is on tour with a new show called Can. “ This year my new show is an hour long story, written and performed by me. It is about a man who at one point in his life was the world’s best motivational speaker, and then something happened. If you would like to come to one I’d love to see you there.” March 5 – Edinburgh Stand, March 7 – Glasgow Stand, March 8 – Newcastle Stand, March 10 – Cambridge Junction J2, March 11 – Margate Where Else, March 12 – Brighton Komedia, March 13 – Bristol- 1532, March 18 – York- Crescent, March 19 – Sheffield- Steamworks, March 20 – Chester- Storyhouse, March 21 – Chorley- Theatre, March 29 – Colchester- Arts Centre, April 9 – Salford- Lowry Quays, April 10 – Lancaster- Dukes, April 11 – Birmingham- Rep The Door, April 15 – Bath- Rondo, April 16 – Cardiff- Sherman, May 2- Machynlleth Comedy Festival, May 26-30 LONDON SOHO THEATRE EXTRA DATES
THURSTON MOORE 3 DAY CAFÉ OTO RESIDENCY, LONDON March 9th-11th
Monday 9 March – Thurston Moore (guitar), Akira Sakata (sax), Evan Parker (reeds)
Thursday 10 Match – Thurston Moore (guitar), Ståle Liavik Solberg (percussion) + guest TBA
Friday 11 March – Thurston Moore (guitar), Carlos Giffoni (electronics) + guest TBA
https://www.cafeoto.co.uk/events/thurston-moore-2026/
The 4th Kallin Family Exhibition The wonderful Kallin family make an exhibition of themselves at Burgh House, Hampstead, from 11th – 29th March 2026. Once again the Kallin Family bring together their artworks into a joint exhibition showcasing their textile landscapes, ink drawings, paintings, dollshouse sculptures and mysterious figures. The collection explores themes of childhood nostalgia, dreams and the urban landscape. Featuring the work of: Sophie Levi-Kallin, Hamish Kallin, Jenny Kallin and Phoebe Bowman. Also featuring the launch of Outwith, a book of ‘poetry’ by Ivor Kallin, with illustrations by Jenny Kallin. Burgh House, New End Square, NW3 1LT
JETSTREAM PONY 12TH March, Waiting Room, London. Rare one off from the Trembling Blue Stars descended indie pop classicists.
WARRINGTON RUNCORN NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT PLAN I am late to the WRNTDP party, but he/they play/s 70’s style public information electronica that suggests the dashed hopes of the post war Utopian social project. I don’t know how it will work live. I wish I could see it but I am touring. MARCH 13th Leeds Seven Arts, 19th Oxford Bullingdon, 20th Liverpool Capstone.
RON SEXSMITH The taken-for-granted Canadian troubadour is back.
MARCH
01 LIVERPOOL Hangar 34
04 LIMERICK Dolan’s Warehouse
05 WATERFORD Theatre Royal
06 KILKENNY Set Theatre
07 CORK St Lukes
08 DUBLIN Ambassador Theatre
10 GALWAY Town Hall
11 DUNDALK Spirit Store
12 BELFAST Limelight
PSYCHEDELIC PORN CRUMPETS Australian prog-psyche MARCH 1st B’ham Digbeth Crossing, 3rd Southampton 1865, 4th London Forum
HEAVENLY Suddenly boosted by fleeting Tic Toc fame with Punk Rock Girl, here’s another victory lap for the mould-making indie veterans in 2026. MARCH 5th Ramsgate Music Hall, 6th Paris Petit Bain, 8th London Lexington all ages matinee, 14th Oxford Nest, 18th M’cr Yes, 19th Glasgow Mono, 20th Sunderland Pop Recs, 21st Sheffield Sidney & Mathilda, 26th Brighton TBC, APRIL 4th Cardiff Wales Goes Pop
THE WAVE PICTURES Brilliant British indie rock band in the vein of Go-Betweens, Loft etc… All the greats. MARCH 1st – Oxford @ Jericho Tavern – TICKETS, 3rd – Bristol @ Strange Brew – TICKETS, 4th – Cardiff @ Clwb Ifor Bach – TICKETS, 5th – Manchester @ YES – TICKETS, 6th – Brighton @ DUST – TICKETS. MAY 9th – London @ Bush Hall – TICKETS
KID CONGO & THE PINK MONKEY BIRDS Cramps/Gun Club/Bad Seeds/Knoxville Girls gunslinger with current combo MARCH 5th B’ham Hare & Hounds, 6th Oslo London, 7th Nottingham Boat Club.
KEIJI HAINO Japanese brain-bending noise improvisor London ICA 17th March
A BELTER FOR THE SHELTER, HACKNEY EMPIRE, LONDON MARCH 19TH. Benefit for Hackney Night Shelter. Belter for the Shelter is back! Hackney Night Shelter’s legendary comedy benefit night returns to the Hackney Empire. Get ready for a stellar line-up hosted by Laura Smyth with the likes of Jeff Innocent, Red Richardson, Rosie Holt, Athena Kugblenu taking to the stage, plus more. Your ticket doesn’t just get you an evening of laughs, it raises crucial funds to keep Hackney Night Shelter open all year round. With your support, the shelter can provide emergency accommodation and routes out of homelessness for another 200 people each year who would otherwise be sleeping on the street. Full line-up: Jeff Innocent, Red Richardson, Rosie Holt, Kevin Eldon, Andrew Mensah, Bobby Mair, Athena Kugblenu, Sharon Wanjohi, Laura Smyth (MC)
https://www.hackneyempire.co.uk/events/belter-for-the-shelter-2026
DELINES Cinematic symphonic country rock sophisticates. MARCH 21st Trowbridge 7 Hills Fest, 22nd Bury Met, 23rd L’pool Hangar, 24th Nottingham Metronome, 25th Norwich Epic, 26th London Union Chapel, 27th Brighton Old Market, 28th Cardiff Gate, OCTOBER 2nd Glasgow GUU, 3rd Gosforth Civic, 4th Leeds City Varieties
MAN Welsh 70s psyche-blues outfit appear to be on the road, and are supported in London by survivors of Help Yourself as The Green Ray, who are currently superb live. MARCH 22nd Kinross Backstage, 23rd N’castle Cluny, 24th B’ham Hare & Hounds, 25th Leicester Int’l, 26th Swansea Hangar 18, 27th Aberdare Jacs, 28th St Leonards Piper, 29th London Leytonstone O’Neills.
SIMON LOVE Welsh purveyor of a certain kind of vintage indie pop.
2 April – The Waiting Room, London (album launch show)
3 April – Wales Goes Pop, The Gate, Cardiff
26 June – The Fighting Cocks, Kingston-Upon-Thames
28 June – Prince Albert, Brighton (Afternoon show)
RUTS DC Reggae-punks on the road. APRIL 4th London Electric Ballroom, MAY 22nd Dunfermline PJs, 28th Glasgow King Tut’s, AUG 21st Dublin Academy No
COSMIC PSYCHOS Australian idiot-savants who have reduced rock and roll, and by association, life itself to its core essentials. Profound. But last time I had to leave ‘cos it was TOO LOUD. APRIL 7th Nottingham Bodega, 8th Glasgow Nice’n’Sleazy, 9th M’cr Pink Room, 10th London Dome, 11th Cardf Clwb Ifor Bach, 12th Brighton Green Door
THE ROOM Bunnymen/Teardrops-adjacent 80s Liverpool psychedelic survivors return in dishevelled majesty. APRIL 24th Future Yard in Birkenhead 24th April, 25th Aces & Eights London, SEPT 11TH Future Yard Birkenhead album launch. November 13th at Dublin Castle London with St Vitus Dance & Vernons Future.
COWBOY JUNKIES Smoke-suffused Canadian country stoners. APRIL 29th Bath Komedia, 30th Bexhill De-La-Warr, MAY 3rd Edinburgh Queen’s Hall, 6th Sunderland Fire Station, 7th B’ham Town Hall, 11th London Palladium, 14th Norwich & Norfolk Festival
THE UTOPIA STRONG Snooker genius’ Steve Davis’ space-rocking outfit. May 8th N’castle Star & Shadow, 9th N’hampton Black Prince, 15th London St Mattias Stoke Newington, 17th Luton Castle, 20th Glasgow Cottiers, 22nd Cambridge Storey’s Field, 24th St Leonard’s Piper.
THE EX Heroically inspiring Dutch jazz-punks. MAY 20th London 100 Club, 21st B’ham Castle & Falcon, 22nd Glasgow Flying Duck, 23rd M’cr White Hotel.
SUGAR Apparently they’ve reformed MAY 23rd, 24th London Forum
TAMIKREST Malian blues-wranglers in snake-charming mode JUNE 8th Glasgow Rum Shack, 9th Leeds Belgrave, 11th Norwich Arts, 12th Bristol Strange Brew, 13th London Jazz Café, 15th M’cr Band On The Wall, 176th Bristol Hope & Ruin.
BEVIS FROND One of Britain’s all-time greats, frontman Nick Saloman now a 70-something psychedelic survivor still at the top of his game. Will it ever end? JUNE 5th M’cr Pink Room, 7th Edinburgh Sneaky Pete’s, 8th Gateshead Central Bar, 9th Leeds Attic, 10th London Moth Club (hosted by S Lee)
OH-SEES Mighty psyche-punk juggernaut. JULY 14th Leeds Irish Centre, 16th & 17th London Earth.
MILLIONS OF DEAD COPS Hardcore originators. New Cross Inn, London August 10th
LEMONHEADS Melodic hardcore countryfied punk cherub soldiers on
30 Sep: Electric, Sheffield, UK
01 Oct: De La Warr, Bexhill, UK
02 Oct: Troxy, London, UK
03 Oct: UEA, Norwich, UK
05 Oct: Boiler Shop, Newcastle, UK
06 Oct: SWG3, Glasgow, UK
07 Oct: Albert Hall, Manchester, UK
09 Oct: Electric, Bristol, UK
10 Oct: O2 Institute, Birmingham, UK
11 Oct: Rock City, Nottingham, UK
Finally, the wonderfully dry comedian Jackie Kashian, who I did a lovely tour of Australia with 21 YEARS AGO!!!! has a new video/album out.
https://youtu.be/v5kJlI41V2g?si=OTmK7h7fsYu1yrGK
Gunter Schickert (G.A.M guitar man, 1949)
Amos Poe (He squashed a banana in the street, 1949)
Sly Dunbar (definitive dub drummer, 1952)
Sal Buscema (Marvel mastercraftsman, 1936)
Catherine O’Hara (Fucking hilarious, I wish we’d met, 1954)
Philippe Gaulier (Our clown enemy, our clown king, 1943)
Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
Z-factor, Twitter.
Z-factor, Twitter.
Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
Len Firewood, Twitter
Len Firewood, Twitter
Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
Peter Ould, Twitter
Peter Ould, Twitter
12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
Keilloh, Twitter
Keilloh, Twitter
Horatio Melvin, Twitter
Horatio Melvin, Twitter
Foxfoxton, Youtube
Foxfoxton, Youtube
General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
Clampdown59, Twitter.
Clampdown59, Twitter.
Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
Mrdavisn01, Twitter
Mrdavisn01, Twitter
Stokeylitfest, Twitter
Stokeylitfest, Twitter
Tokyofist, Youtube
Tokyofist, Youtube
Brighton Argus
Brighton Argus
Borathigh5, Youtube
Borathigh5, Youtube
Frankie Boyle, Comedian
Frankie Boyle, Comedian
Richard Herring, Comedian
Richard Herring, Comedian
Dick Socrates, Twitter
Dick Socrates, Twitter
Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
Mini-x2, readytogo.net
Mini-x2, readytogo.net
Mearecate, Youtube
Mearecate, Youtube
Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
Wharto15, Twitter
Wharto15, Twitter
Aiden Hearn, Twitter
Aiden Hearn, Twitter
Fowkes81, Twitter
Fowkes81, Twitter
Microcuts 22, Twitter
Microcuts 22, Twitter
Anon, BBC Complaints Log
Anon, BBC Complaints Log
Meninblack, Twitter
Meninblack, Twitter
Peter Fears, Twitter
Peter Fears, Twitter
Bosco239, youtube
Bosco239, youtube
Chez, Chortle.com
Chez, Chortle.com
Jamespearse, Twitter
Jamespearse, Twitter
Birmingham Sunday Mercury
Birmingham Sunday Mercury
Zombie Hamster, Twitter
Zombie Hamster, Twitter
Danazawa, Youtube
Danazawa, Youtube
Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
Fairy Pingu, Twitter
Fairy Pingu, Twitter
Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
FBC, finalgear.com
FBC, finalgear.com
Pudabaya, Twitter
Pudabaya, Twitter
Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
Emilyistrendy, Youtube
Emilyistrendy, Youtube
Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
Lents, redandwhitekop.com
Lents, redandwhitekop.com
Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
Liam Travitt, Twitter
Liam Travitt, Twitter
Anon, westhamonline.com
Anon, westhamonline.com
Al Murray, Comedian
Al Murray, Comedian
GRTak, finalgear.com
GRTak, finalgear.com
Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
Sidsings000, Youtube
Sidsings000, Youtube
Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
Anamatronix, Youtube
Anamatronix, Youtube
Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
Aaron, comedy.co.uk
Aaron, comedy.co.uk
Tweeterkiryakou, Twitter
Tweeterkiryakou, Twitter
Jackmumf, Twitter
Jackmumf, Twitter
NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
A D Ward, Twitter
A D Ward, Twitter
Tin Frog, Twitter
Tin Frog, Twitter
Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
Secretdeveloper, Youtube
Secretdeveloper, Youtube
Joe, Independent.co.uk
Joe, Independent.co.uk
Iain, eatenbymissionaries
Iain, eatenbymissionaries
Rubyshoes, Twitter
Rubyshoes, Twitter
Pnethor, pne-online.com
Pnethor, pne-online.com
Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
Funday’schild, youtube.
Funday’schild, youtube.
Leach Juice, Twitter
Leach Juice, Twitter
Shit Crit, Twitter
Shit Crit, Twitter
Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
John Robins, Comedian
John Robins, Comedian
Alwyn, Digiguide.tv
Alwyn, Digiguide.tv
Gwaites, Digitalspy
Gwaites, Digitalspy
Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
Peter Ould, Youtube
Peter Ould, Youtube
Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
Carcrazychica, Youtube
Carcrazychica, Youtube
Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
Robert Gavin, Twitter
Robert Gavin, Twitter
98rosjon, Twitter
98rosjon, Twitter
Sam Rooney, Youtube
Sam Rooney, Youtube
Joycey, readytogo.net
Joycey, readytogo.net
Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
World Without End, Twitter
World Without End, Twitter
Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
Visualiser1, Twitter
Visualiser1, Twitter
Sweeping Curves, Twitter
Sweeping Curves, Twitter
Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
Stuart, Chortle
Stuart, Chortle
Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
Cyberbloke, Twitter
Cyberbloke, Twitter
Idrie, Youtube
Idrie, Youtube
Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
Hiewy, Youtube
Hiewy, Youtube
Etienne, Chortle.com
Etienne, Chortle.com
Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
Kozzy06, Youtube
Kozzy06, Youtube
Rudeness, Youtube
Rudeness, Youtube
Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
Gabrielle, Chortle.com
Gabrielle, Chortle.com
Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
Tres Ryan, Twitter
Tres Ryan, Twitter
Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
Slothy Matt, Twitter
Slothy Matt, Twitter
Mpf1947, Youtube
Mpf1947, Youtube
Contrapuntal, Twitter
Contrapuntal, Twitter
Guest1001, Youtube
Guest1001, Youtube
James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk