FROM THE TOUR HOTEL DESK OF STEWART LEE July 2026

1. THINGS PEOPLE GAVE ME

People have been very kindly giving me things on this tour – a superbly apposite Don Patterson book with an accompanying name I couldn’t read so could not thank, a spare Art Ensemble Of Chicago album, some Steve Lacy, 3 Australian grunge classics – and it is always so faffy in the queue at the end I can never thank people properly.
I am very grateful for these undeserved things.
That is all. I just wanted to say that.

2. PEA GREEN BOAT AND BOOK TOUR

I will have a book out, illustrated by David Waywell, of my old live show Pea Green Boat in September. The first of four proposed live book events are on sale now but the Liverpool one has sold out..

FROM AWARD-WINNING COMEDIAN AND BESTSELLING AUTHOR STEWART LEE

Pea Green Boat
STEWART LEE

EBURY SPOTLIGHT | 3RD SEPTEMBER 2026 | £16.00 | ISBN: 9781529988604 | HARDBACK

Stewart Lee to release a brilliantly dark comedic retelling of Edward Lear’s The Owl and the Pussycat – alongside a UK book tour.

“I am having problems relating to my crew member, having never been a great fan of cats, nor they of birds. Why have we been press ganged into service together? What can they hope to achieve by sending this absurd duo out to sea? I am an owl. The Cat is a cat…”
In Pea Green Boat, Stewart Lee and David Waywell create a dark, grotesque retelling of The Owl and the Pussycat in which Edward Lear’s characters are revealed to be catastrophically poorly-equipped for maritime travel. Told through the increasingly deranged diary of the Owl, the real story is unmasked – he cannot open the honey jar due to his lack of opposable thumbs, he is terrified the cat will eat him in his sleep, and he struggles to play the guitar despite having no fingers. As hunger, exhaustion and poor navigation take their toll, it becomes clear that these two creatures should never have been put in a boat together.
Inspired by Stewart Lee’s cult 2001 stage piece, Pea Green Boat blends Lee’s fascination with Edward Lear with his own comedy. Now, with David’s gothic-comic illustrations, the story is brought vividly, hilariously and unsettlingly to life.

About the author:
Stewart Lee began performing stand-up in 1988 and won the Hackney Empire New Act of the Year in 1990. He co-wrote the libretto for Jerry Springer: The Opera, which won four Olivier Awards, and is known for his BAFTA-winning BBC series Stewart Lee’s Comedy Vehicle. His major live shows include Carpet Remnant World, Much A Stew About Nothing, Snowflake/Tornado, Basic Lee and Stewart Lee vs The Man-Wulf.
He is also the bestselling author of How I Escaped My Certain Fate, Content Provider, and March of the Lemmings.

David Waywell (Illustrator)
David Waywell is a writer and illustrator based in the North West. He holds a PhD in Romantic Literature from the University of Liverpool and is the author of The Secret Lives of Monks and Second-Class Male (written as Stan Madeley)

3. Stewart Lee PLUS MUSICIANS PERFORM PEA GREEN BOAT

Stewart Lee performs his darkly comic tale based on Edward Lear’s ‘The Owl & The Pussy- cat’ with live improvised musical accompaniment. These live shows mark the publication of PEA GREEN BOAT by Stewart Lee and illustrated by David Waywell, and, at Leicester Square Theatre, every ticket includes a hardback copy (RRP £16.99 Ebury) to be collected at the performance. Copies will be available to buy at other venues. Suitable for age 16+.

‘It’s the Edward Lear / Stewart Lee Mash-Up that I’ve been waiting for!’ Harry Hill

Wed 9 Sept 2026, 7:30pm Liverpool Music Room, Royal Philharmonic with WILL SERGEANT (Echo & The Bunnymen) on ambient guitar (SOLD OUT)
Thurs 22nd October, Wilton’s Music Hall London. With Charlotte Keeffe (Trumpet & Flugelhorn ~ Charlotte Keeffe’s RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW, Sound Brush, London Jazz Composers Orchestra), Thurston Moore (Guitar – Thurston Moore Band, Sonic Youth), and Mark Wastell (Drums – Derek Bailey’s Company, David Sylvian, Maggie Nicols). https://wiltons.org.uk/whats-on/stewart-lees-pea-green-boat/

Tue 1 Dec 2026, 7pm – London Leicester Square Theatre
Wed 2 Dec 2026, 7pm – London Leicester Square Theatre
Thur 3rd Dec 2026, 7pm – London Leicester Square Theatre

Tickets go on sale on Friday, 24th April 2026 go to www.stewartlee.co.uk/pgb. Further dates and accompanying musicians to be announced.

4. The Dig

I cycled around Hackney for a day earlier this year to promote the East London Second Hand vinyl stores’ Dig initiative.
Here’s a compilation of the evidence that people seem to have enjoyed.
I get the name of a market wrong, misidentify a band logo, and mess up the chronology of Peter Hammill’s solo releases. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xN2X_RImdZ8

5. 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.

The Observer is in a moral death spiral, witch sackings and redundancies, clearly only bought for THE BRAND.
But THE NERVE 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.
It’s 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

6. 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

AND! Back in stock! We have restocked our most popular tees including All The Cheeses, YOU CAN PROVE ANYTHING WITH FACTS, “I don’t think that, I think the opposite of that”, and the hit comic book STEWART LEE VS. THE MAN-WULF tee!
All these are available NOW on preorder and will be shipping on April 11th!

Order now via wax face and love all the different cheeses and tees too!

wax-face.com/stewart-lee

7. NEW 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

AND all the tracks are now subsumed into a new mega-mix 12” album, including the extended version of the track as a slow blues, and remixes with big beats and jazzy sax that take it in a whole new direction
https://primevals.bandcamp.com/album/im-the-man-wulf-lp

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

The tragedy of this show is that world events are advancing towards its core conceit at such a speed that it is sharpened daily, even as we as a civilisation head into HELL. But here’s the original blurb…

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.

AND FINALLY THE LAST EVER CHANCE TO SEE THE WEREWOLF COMEDIAN. LEICESTER SQUARE THEATRE. 4TH – 19TH DEC.

June 2026

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
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

December 2026

Friday 4th December 2026 – Leicester Square Theatre, London – TICKETS
Saturday 5th December 2026 – Leicester Square Theatre, London – TICKETS
Saturday 5th December 2026 – Leicester Square Theatre, London – TICKETS
Tuesday 8th December 2026 – Leicester Square Theatre, London – TICKETS
Wednesday 9th December 2026 – Leicester Square Theatre, London – TICKETS
Thursday 10th December 2026 – Leicester Square Theatre, London – TICKETS
Friday 11th December 2026 – Leicester Square Theatre, London – TICKETS
Saturday 12th December 2026 – Leicester Square Theatre, London – TICKETS
Saturday 12th December 2026 – Leicester Square Theatre, London – TICKETS
Monday 14th December 2026 – Leicester Square Theatre, London – TICKETS
Tuesday 15th December 2026 – Leicester Square Theatre, London – TICKETS
Wednesday 16th December 2026 – Leicester Square Theatre, London – TICKETS
Thursday 17th December 2026 – Leicester Square Theatre, London – TICKETS
Friday 18th December 2026 – Leicester Square Theatre, London – TICKETS

9. UP THE ANTI, FUNDRAISER FOR THE N LONDON HUNT SABOTEURS, MONDAY JULY 6TH, LECIS SQ THEATRE, LONDON, 8.45 PM

Join an incredible line up of comedians for a night of laughter in aid of the North London Hunt Saboteurs. Featuring Daniel Fox, Harry Badger, James Gill, Horn Walsh, Sue Jerkins, Shappi Coarse-Angling, Alasdair Bear-Baiting, and Stewart Eel.
NLHS take part in direct action to deter and intervene in organised bloodsports in the countryside around London and beyond.
All profits will go to their work.

TICKETS

Stewart Lee fans can buy using this code UPTHEANTI2026 ahead of the April 13th sale date.

10. SAMHAIN RITUAL, EARTH, LONDON 29TH OCT

I am hosting, and maybe doing a collaborative turn, in Fire Records annual Halloween-tide acid-folk fest. Line up TBA £29.95. But it’s always a blast!
https://dice.fm/event/nv5ml5-weird-walk-presents-samhain-ritual-2026-29th-oct-earth-london-tickets

11. 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
Louis Theroux https://www.louistheroux.com/podcasts
Pod Save The UK https://crooked.com/podcast-series/pod-save-the-uk/
101 Part Time Jobs https://www.louistheroux.com/podcasts
Nick Saloman of The Bevis Frond https://www.nts.live/shows/guests/episodes/stewart-lee-the-bevis-frond-18th-april-2026

ALL PODSCARFS COLLECTING HERE

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

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!

GREEN MAN 20TH – 23RD AUGUST, BANNAU BRYCHEINIOG NATIONAL PARK https://www.greenman.net
Mogwai, Dry Cleaning, Scientist, Tamikrest, Charlotte Church Pop Dungeon, Motrik, New Eves, My New Band Believe, Madra Salach.

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!

END OF THE ROAD 3rd – 6th SEPT, LARMER TREE GARDENS, DOREST. Pulp, Lucinda Williams, Caroline, Brighde Chaimbeul, Mozart Estate, David Thomas Broughton, Gnod.

13. THE MELT IT! TOUR

The documentary film about The Iceman, that I am in a bit, is on tour. Please support it and him.

“In the 1980s and 1990s, Anthony Irvine was a comedian and cabaret performer. His act was a little unusual. As the Iceman, he went on stage… to melt ice. Literally. He’d bring a large block of ice onto the stage then proceed to melt it (or fail to melt it) in a variety of creative ways. Among his fans were Mike Myers, Stewart Lee and Bill Bailey. In 2010, when Robert Wringham wrote his book about this era of comedy, the Iceman could not be found. But a few years later, Anthony Irvine popped up again. This time as a visual artist called Aim. What was going on? Starring – Anthony Irvine & Robert Wringham with Stewart Lee, Jo Brand, Mark Thomas, Robin Ince, Ronni Ancona, Simon Munnery, Neil Mullarkey & Stuart Semple. Producers – Mark Cartwright & Robert Wringham (You are nothing / New Escapologist).

Executive Producer – Michael Cumming (Toast of London / Brass Eye / King Rocker). Director – Mark Cartwright.

**TRAILER LINK**

Praise for the film

“It’s art, it’s odd, it’s fun and you need to see it.” Mark Thomas (Comedian)

“An affectionate and heartfelt celebration of a man who pioneered the idea of melting ice on stage. Immensely charming.” Arthur Matthews (Father Ted / Toast of London)

“This film is n…ice. You must see it. It’s important.” – Iain Lee (TV / Radio)

JULY SCREENING DATES

Documentary screening + Q&A with producers Robert Wringham & Mark Cartwright.

Dundee DCA 2.30pm 12/07/26

Glasgow Glasgow Film Theatre 8:20pm 13/07/26

Liverpool Hot Water Comedy 7pm 16/07/26

Birmingham MAC 7.30pm 18/07/26

St. Leonards on Sea Kino teatr 2pm 19/07/26

TICKETS – WWW.ICEMANFILM.CO.UK & https://linktr.ee/TheIcemanFilm

14. I ARROGANTLY RECOMMEND

The Angels of Mons Exhibition, Southport. A free exhibition opens at The Atkinson in Southport until 17th October.
Produced in partnership with Mons Memorial Museum, it explores one of the most enduring supernatural legends of the First World War — the belief that St George and ghostly archers appeared to protect British troops at the Battle of Mons in 1914, a legend sparked in part by Arthur Machen’s short storyThe Bowmen.
The exhibition examines how religion, propaganda and the need for hope shaped wartime belief, and why such stories took such a powerful hold on the public imagination.

Robert Lloyd Parry’s Machen event, Southport. Writer and performer Robert Lloyd Parry will be hosting a fringe event at the Bijou Cinema in Southport on Saturday 25th July.
The event schedule is still to be announced, but will include screenings, discussions and readings.

ALISON COTTON The violin-toting mystic hits the road

JULY
1 – LONDON – The Old Church, Stoke Newington (SEE ANNA LAETITIA BARBAULD’S GRAVE TOO)
2 – BRIGHTON – The Rose Hill
3 – NORWICH – The Holloway

BEN MOOR & JO NEARY – BOOKTALKBOOKTALKBOOK. This superb piece explodes the idea of the literary event with kaleidoscopic brilliance. Hen and Chickens London on Sunday 5th July

https://unrestrictedview.co.uk/events/booktalkbooktalkbook

OH-SEES Mighty psyche-punk juggernaut. JULY 14^th & 15^th Leeds Irish Centre, 16^th & 17^th London Earth.

MY NEW BAND BELIEVE Lithe Black Midi spin-out

19^thJul – London, UK – Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre (Rough Trade 50 w/caroline)
21-23^rdAug – Bannau Brycheiniog, UK – Green Man Festival

22^ndOct – Newcastle, UK – Cluny 2
23^rdOct – Edinburgh, UK – Cabaret Voltaire

26^thOct – Liverpool, UK – District

27^thOct – Cardiff, UK- The Globe

28^thOct – Brighton, UK – Concorde 2

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

THE BATS Reliably heartbreaking NZ veterans make a rare UK tour
AUGUST 12th/13th Lexington London, 14th Leeds Brudenell, 16th Newcastle Cluny, 19th B’ham Hare & Hounds

BOOTHBY GRAFFOE & ANTONI0 FORCIONE – WOT ITALIAN. Boothby and Antonio are reviving this solid classic slice of virtuoso music and comedy. A must see. All over UK from 30^th Aug – 14^th Nov. Dates here

https://wotitalian.com

THE ROOM Bunnymen/Teardrops-adjacent 80s Liverpool psychedelic survivors return in dishevelled majesty. SEPT 11^TH Future Yard Birkenhead album launch. November 13^that Dublin Castle London with St Vitus Dance & Vernons Future.

CARLTON MELTON The psychedelic warlords manifest in physical form.

SEPT 17^th Hastings Tough Love, 19^th London Strongroom, 19^th Glastonbury King Arthur, 20^th Brighton Daltons, 22^nd Cardiff Fuel, 23^rd N’hampton Lab, 24^th Liverpool Lost Are Skate Shop, 25^th Todmorden Golden Lion w Cosmic Dead, 26^{th MATINEE} Todmorden Golden Lion w Cosmic Dead, 27^th Margate Bar Nothing

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

DELINES Cinematic symphonic country rock sophisticates. OCTOBER 2^nd Glasgow GUU, 3^rd Gosforth Civic, 4^th Leeds City Varieties

BUFFALO TOM Former hardcore types mellowed into folkish indie power trio. OCT 6^th Belfast Limelight, 7^th Edinburgh La Belle Angelle, 9^th M’cr Band On The Wall, 10^TH London Village Underground

THE LONG RYDERS Another go-round for the indefatigable alt country pioneers, now one of the world’s greatest live bands
OCT 6th Liverpool Caverm
7th Newcastle Cluny,
8th Kendal Brewery,
10th Leeds Old Woolen,
13th Nottingham Metronome,
15th London Electric Ballroom,
16th St Leonards Piper,
17th Canterbury Gulbenkian

BORIS Brain melting Japanese heavy-psyche legends return.
OCT 10th Bristol Strange Brew, 11th Newcastle Digital, 12th Glasgow Oran Moor, 13th Leeds Brudenell, 14th M’cr Gorilla, 15th London Brixton Electric, 16th Brighton Concorde 2

BOTTLE ROCKETS Alt-country initiators in rare UK jaunt OCT 16^th North Shields Three Tanners, 20^th Bristol Lanes, 21^st London Lexington

WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM Eco-conscious doom metal.

08/11 Manchester, UK @ Damnation Festival
09/11 London, UK @ 02 Academy Islington

DAMNED/SAINTS (73-78) TOUR

The original Damned line-up, minus Brian James but with Rat Scabies back on drums, were amazing when I saw their 50^th anniversary show earlier this year. And they are supported by an authenticated version of Australian punk pioneers The Saints with original co-frontman Ed Kuepper present, but the late Chris Bailey’s guitar and vocal duties covered by the dream team of The Birthday Party’s Mick Harvey and super-saints fan Mark Arm of Mudhoney respectively, understandably favours the group’s early thrash sound rather than Bailey’s more songwriterly work. But what a pairing! NOV 25^TH Brighton Dome, 27^th London British Airways Arc (?), 28^th Bristol Beacon, 30^th M’cr Academy, Dec 1^st N’castle City Hall, Dec 2^nd Derby Valiant, Dec 5^th B’ham Academy

GOAT Ersatz Scandinavian mystics take their festival field filling ritual rock all the way to the Royal Albert Hall in 2027 April 25th Glasgow SWG3, 26th Cambridge Junction, 28th London RAH, 29th Bristol Prospect, 30th M’cr Victoria Warehouse. I think this will be especially amazing at the RAH, despite its bouncy acoustics.

18. 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)
Pete Frame (Master music-mapper, 1942)
Kenny Morris (Banshee basher, 1957)
Fred Smith (Low end televisionary, 1948)
Mark Kennedy (Australia’s premier prog-psyche percussionist, 1951)
Eliane Radigue (electro-francais, 1932)
John Hammond (Blues believer, 1942)
Walter Martino (The Goblin groover, 1952)
Country Joe McDonald (The psychedelic fishman, 1942)
Augie Myers (The pseudonymous Sir Douglas himself, 1940)
Phil Campbell (Motorheadbanger, 1961)
Dolores Keane (De voice of De Dannan and dat, 1953)
John Dee Graham (Skunks originator and US punk facilitator, 1959)
Matt Kwasniewski-Kelvin (Black Midi founder, 2000)
Bob Weir (Now dead deadman, 1947)
TK Carter (The Chef in The Thing, 1956)
Chip Taylor (The Wild Thing, 1940)
Ben Keaton (Father Austin Purcell, 1956)
Terry Cox (He drove the impossible folk-jazz fusion, 1937)
Sam Keith (Quirky comics guy, 1963)
Pete Dello (He could not let Maggie go, 1942)
Andrew Bodnar (He loved the sound of breaking glass, 1954)
Terry Sullivan (Dry Ice drummer, 1938)
Sheila Burnette (That funny woman from all those things, 1931)
Diana Green (Omaha The Cat Dancer, 1954)
Alex Pretti (Nurse, 1998)
Greg Elmore (He was a miracle worker, 1946)
Mike Westbrook (Blakean British jazzman, 1936)
Patrick Campbell-Lyons (Psychedelic Nirvana, 1943)
David Wiffen (He lost his driving wheel, 1942)
Bill Leader (British folk magnate, 1929)
Beverley Martin (Auntie aviator, 1947)
Sonny Rollins (my jazz gateway jazzman finally crosses the Bridge, 1930)
Marjane Satrapi (Actual graphic novelist, 1969)
Dave Greenslade (Gangsters theme genius, 1943)
Roy Hattersley (He looked at me in a lamplit library, 1932)
Stranger Cole (Bangarangaman, 1942)
David Hockney (He admired legs, 1937)
Steve Barrow (The Rough Guide To Reggae, 1945)
Matthew Biggs (A lovely gardener who was kind to me, 1960)
Michael Pennington (My first Hamlet, 1943)
Michael Keating (Villa!, 1947)
JH Prynne (Poetic licensee, 1936)
Desmond Morris (Birmingham surrealist, 1928)
Dave Mason (He had a hole in his shoe, 1946)
Andy Kershaw (He opened our ears to the world, 1956)
Mike Westbrook (Solid Gold Cadillac, 1936)
Glen Baxter (Surreal draftsman, 1944)
The Major Oak, Sherwood Forest (Mythic tree, c 1000)