Author Archives: John S

About John S

I'm blogging about the things I love: music, sport, culture, London, with some photos to illustrate aspects of our wonderful city. I’ve written a novel called “The Decision”, a futuristic political thriller, and first of a trilogy. I’m also the author of a book on music since the 1970s called “ I Was There - A Musical Journey” and a volume of poetry about youth, “Growin’ Up - Snapshots/ Fragments”. All available on Amazon and Kindle.

Roxy Music at the O2 Arena, the Dome, 14 October 2022h

Posted on October 21, 2022 by John S

Last Friday Jon, Dave, Tony and I indulged our tendency to nostalgia and went to see Roxy Music at the O2 Arena in the Dome. The occasion was the 50th anniversary of Roxy’s self-titled debut album. Fifty years of Roxy … Continue reading →

Posted in Music - concerts, lists, reflections | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Lounge Society, Butch Kassidy and Automotion at the Village Underground, 4 October 2022

Posted on October 11, 2022 by John S

Last Tuesday Jon and I, along with Louis and Gab and a few others, went to the Village Underground for a triple bill of indie guitar rock. Not the coolest genre these days perhaps, but we like it! We were … Continue reading →

Posted in Music - concerts, lists, reflections | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

A poem for National Poetry Day

Posted on October 6, 2022 by John S

I was listening to BBC 6 Music this morning and Mary Anne Hobbs was talking about National Poetry Day – which is today! It’s also five years since I published my first book of poetry, called Growin’ Up – Snapshots/Fragments. … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, books, theatre, cinema, Poems | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Alina Bzhezhinska and the HipHarp Collective at King’s Place, 25 September 2022

Posted on September 27, 2022 by John S

Alina Bzhezhinska is a harp player from Lviv in Ukraine. She studied in Poland, Germany and the US, before settling in the UK – for seven years she was a harp tutor at the Royal Conservatoire in Glasgow, but eventually … Continue reading →

Posted in Music - concerts, lists, reflections | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Soccer Mommy at the O2 Forum, Kentish Town, 22 September 2022

Posted on September 25, 2022 by John S

I went up to Kentish Town last Thursday to see Soccer Mommy for the second time this month, having seen them recently at End of the Road. They were good there, very dynamic; but I thought this would be a … Continue reading →

Posted in Music - concerts, lists, reflections | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

End of the Road 2022

Posted on September 12, 2022 by John S

Back to End of the Road at last! My last EOTR was 2019. It was cancelled in 2020; and last year I was confined to the back garden self-isolating when the festival took place. So I was really looking forward … Continue reading →

Posted in Music - concerts, lists, reflections | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

All Points East festival, Victoria Park, Hackney, 28 August 2022

Posted on August 30, 2022 by John S

The All Points East festival, featuring a series of one day concerts, has been taking place in Victoria Park in Hackney since 2018. At the time it began it usurped Field Day from Victoria Park, after a ten year run. … Continue reading →

Posted in Music - concerts, lists, reflections | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

A Thames Journey: (9) From Hammersmith to Westminster

Posted on August 15, 2022 by John S

In the previous episode of this story, the story of the Thames’ journey from source to estuary, we ended at Hammersmith Bridge, just as it had re-opened to pedestrians and cyclists. I published that piece last September – where have … Continue reading →

Posted in A Thames Journey, London | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Sportsthoughts (170) – Premier League predictions for 2022-23

Posted on August 2, 2022 by John S

Is this season starting earlier than ever? The first game, Crystal Palace v Arsenal, takes place this Friday, 5 August. I think that’s a week earlier than last season, and presumably has something to do with the intervention of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Sportsthoughts | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Sportsthoughts (169): England’s Euro 2022 victory

Posted on August 1, 2022 by John S

Four days to go to the start of the Premier League. Normally we can’t wait, after a few desultory summer weeks; but as I write, a day after the England Women won Euro 2022, beating Germany 2-1, do we care? … Continue reading →

Posted in Sportsthoughts | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments