Author Archives: John S

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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.

Honeyblood, White Lies, Superfood at the Goose Island LDN Block Party, Shoreditch, 24 September 2017

Posted on September 24, 2017 by John S

A few weeks ago, I saw on Honeyblood’s Facebook page that they were playing a beer festival in Shoreditch. A place called Red Market, on Old Street.  I was intrigued. My favourite band right now, performing in Hipsterville.  And a … Continue reading →

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lovelondonscenes 134 – St George’s Tower from Vauxhall station

Posted on September 9, 2017 by John S

7pm yesterday evening, as the sun began to set. Just round the corner from this view were some very threatening grey clouds.

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A Latitude/End of the Road selection 2017

Posted on September 9, 2017 by John S

I’ve put together a playlist of songs from bands at Latitude and End of the Road who I enjoyed seeing this year. If you have Spotify, give it a whirl.          

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End of the Road festival 2017

Posted on September 4, 2017 by John S

And so, as summer ends, it’s time for End of the Road. Jon and I went for the first time last year, and enjoyed it so much we had to do it again this year. Last year, some of my … Continue reading →

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RIP Walter Becker of Steely Dan

Posted on September 3, 2017 by John S

We got the news today that Walter Becker, one of the two main men – with Donald Fagen – behind Steely Dan, had died. The band were due to tour the UK this autumn. I read that Fagen said that … Continue reading →

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King Nun, Venture Lows and Kid Wave at the Finsbury, North London, 24 August 2017

Posted on August 26, 2017 by John S

I went up to the Finsbury pub in North London on Thursday to see a band called King Nun, with my friend Jon G and his son Louis. They’d seen King Nun at Latitude and really liked them. I was … Continue reading →

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“Chasing Trane” – the life and music of John Coltrane

Posted on August 20, 2017 by John S

Last week I went to the ICA Cinema to see John Scheinfeld’s “Chasing Trane”, a new documentary about the great jazz saxophonist John Coltrane. For me, the greatest of the sax players, the man who took the instrument to the … Continue reading →

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Laura Gibson at Oslo, Hackney, 16 August 2017

Posted on August 17, 2017 by John S

  On Wednesday I went to see Laura Gibson at the Oslo, Hackney. A great place for a show. A good space upstairs and an excellent bar downstairs, which serves one of my favourite IPAs, Beavertown Gamma Ray. I first … Continue reading →

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A few days at the Edinburgh Festival, August 2017

Posted on August 14, 2017 by John S

My wife, Kath,  and I have just spent a few days at Edinburgh Festival. It’s the first time I’ve been to the festival since 1981, when I went up for a week and slept on a friend’s floor, while going … Continue reading →

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Some poems – “Growin’ Up – Snapshots/fragments”

Posted on August 8, 2017 by John S

So, this is a new venture for me. Poems. The poems here are snapshots and fragments of memories from the first 25 years of my life. Some of the memories may be faulty, but they are moments which resurface from … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, books, theatre, cinema, Poems | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments