1.MACHYNLLETH COMEDY FESTIVAL MAY 1^ST – 3RD

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 2^nd, 2 pm, Ysgol Bro Hydden – Main Hall

https://machcomedyfest.co.uk/show/2026/joking-apart-stewart-lee-asks-robert-lloyd-to-explain-old-jokes/

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/

2. THE BIG MIDWEEK

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…

https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/The-Big-Midweek-Audiobook/B0FXBJJD4X?source_code=AUKFrDlWS02231890H6-BK-ACX0-479031

3. THE NERVE

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

4. THE MEMORY BLOCKS, SAT 28^TH MARCH, WATERSHED, BRISTOL

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

5.NEW MERCH

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

wax-face.com/stewart-lee

6. MAN-WULF BY THE PRIMEVALS

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

7. BASIC LEE IS ON NOW TV

https://www.nowtv.com/ie/watch/entertainment/collections/ultimate-comedy/asset/stewart-lee-basic-lee…/A5EK6949itCVNKaChrDXN

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

8. STEWART LEE VS THE MAN-WULF

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.

May 2026

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

June 2026

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

July 2026

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

September 2026

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

October 2026

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

November 2026

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

9. SNOWFLAKE TORNADO / BASIC LEE

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.

10. TEENAGE CANCER TRUST COMEDY NIGHT

– ROYAL ALBERT HALL, 24^TH 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

11. KEVIN ELDON’S PODCAST

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.

12 CHURCHILL’S URINAL BY ROSIE HOLT, KING’S HEAD THEATRE, ISLINGTON LONDON 13^TH MAY – 6^th JUNE

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

13.SKIDS PORTMERION WEEKENDER 13^TH – 15^TH MARCH

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.

14. PODSCARFS AND ONLINERS

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

15. LAUGHARNE WEEKEND March 20^th – 22^nd

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

16. FESTIVALS I will be doing short stand-up sets at the following festivals

BEARDED THEORY 20^TH – 24^TH 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 24^TH – 26^TH 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, 28^TH-30^TH 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

17 CULT NIGHT 30^th April Moth Club, London

Weird muso’s Grham Reynolds and Mike Lindsay soundtrack weird films The Portcullis and The Last Sacrifice and I introduce them.

https://dice.fm/event/oegabm-cult-night-graham-reynolds-mike-lindsay-30th-apr-moth-club-london-tickets

18. GOLDSMITH’S TALK, GOLDSMITHS, LONDON MARCH 10^TH. I blab on.

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).

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/stewart-lee-in-praise-of-the-outcast-ma-art-politics-goldsmiths-tickets-1981087512078

19. I ARROGANTLY RECOMMEND

WHO’S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? – EDWARD ALBEE, DIR MIKE TWEDDLE. Oxford Playhouse until March 7^th. 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 1^st – Adam Bohman art book launch, 2pm to 5pm, Cafe Oto, London https://www.cafeoto.co.uk/

March 5^th– Royal Albert, New Cross, London, TBA

March 22^nd 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 25^th – The Hundred Years Gallery, Hoxton, London, Duvel Mortgage + William Lyons + tba, http://hundredyearsgallery.co.uk/events/upcoming/

April 2^nd– Royal Albert, New Cross, London- TBA

April 17^th 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, 23^rd – 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 9^th-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 12^TH 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 13^th Leeds Seven Arts, 19^th Oxford Bullingdon, 20^th 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 1^st B’ham Digbeth Crossing, 3^rd Southampton 1865, 4^th 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 5^th Ramsgate Music Hall, 6^th Paris Petit Bain, 8^th London Lexington all ages matinee, 14^th Oxford Nest, 18^th M’cr Yes, 19^th Glasgow Mono, 20^th Sunderland Pop Recs, 21^st Sheffield Sidney & Mathilda, 26^th Brighton TBC, APRIL 4^th 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 5^th B’ham Hare & Hounds, 6^th Oslo London, 7^th Nottingham Boat Club.

KEIJI HAINO Japanese brain-bending noise improvisor London ICA 17^th March

A BELTER FOR THE SHELTER, HACKNEY EMPIRE, LONDON MARCH 19^TH. 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 21^st Trowbridge 7 Hills Fest, 22^nd Bury Met, 23^rd L’pool Hangar, 24^th Nottingham Metronome, 25^th Norwich Epic, 26^th London Union Chapel, 27^th Brighton Old Market, 28^th Cardiff Gate, OCTOBER 2^nd Glasgow GUU, 3^rd Gosforth Civic, 4^th 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 22^nd Kinross Backstage, 23^rd N’castle Cluny, 24^th B’ham Hare & Hounds,  25^th Leicester Int’l, 26^th Swansea Hangar 18, 27^th Aberdare Jacs, 28^th St Leonards Piper, 29^th 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 4^th London Electric Ballroom, MAY 22^nd Dunfermline PJs, 28^th Glasgow King Tut’s, AUG 21^st 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 7^th Nottingham Bodega, 8^th Glasgow Nice’n’Sleazy, 9^th M’cr Pink Room, 10^th London Dome, 11^th Cardf Clwb Ifor Bach, 12^th Brighton Green Door

THE ROOM  Bunnymen/Teardrops-adjacent 80s Liverpool psychedelic survivors return in dishevelled majesty. APRIL 24^th Future Yard in Birkenhead 24^th April, 25^th Aces & Eights London, SEPT 11^TH Future Yard Birkenhead album launch. November 13^th at Dublin Castle London with St Vitus Dance & Vernons Future.

COWBOY JUNKIES Smoke-suffused Canadian country stoners. APRIL 29^th Bath Komedia, 30^th Bexhill De-La-Warr, MAY 3^rd Edinburgh Queen’s Hall, 6^th Sunderland Fire Station, 7^th B’ham Town Hall, 11^th London Palladium, 14^th Norwich & Norfolk Festival

THE UTOPIA STRONG Snooker genius’ Steve Davis’ space-rocking outfit. May 8^th N’castle Star & Shadow, 9^th N’hampton Black Prince, 15^th London St Mattias Stoke Newington, 17^th Luton Castle, 20^th Glasgow Cottiers, 22^nd Cambridge Storey’s Field, 24^th St Leonard’s Piper.

THE EX Heroically inspiring Dutch jazz-punks. MAY 20^th London 100 Club, 21^st B’ham Castle & Falcon, 22^nd Glasgow Flying Duck, 23^rd M’cr White Hotel.

SUGAR Apparently they’ve reformed MAY 23^rd, 24^th London Forum

TAMIKREST Malian blues-wranglers in snake-charming mode JUNE 8^th Glasgow Rum Shack, 9^th Leeds Belgrave, 11^th Norwich Arts, 12^th Bristol Strange Brew, 13^th London Jazz Café, 15^th M’cr Band On The Wall, 176^th 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 5^th M’cr Pink Room, 7^th Edinburgh Sneaky Pete’s, 8^th Gateshead Central Bar, 9^th Leeds Attic, 10^th London Moth Club (hosted by S Lee)

OH-SEES Mighty psyche-punk juggernaut. JULY 14^th Leeds Irish Centre, 16^th & 17^th  London Earth.

MILLIONS OF DEAD COPS Hardcore originators. New Cross Inn, London August 10^th

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

20. IN OUR LAMENTATIONS 2026

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)