Words & Pictures by Chris Flack

31/10/2024

Happy Halloween ya hallions!

I realise many of you heathens still use Spotify and your response to support artists' in the streaming wars went as far as the point where you realised you would have to move your music and rebuild your playlists, but, it's okay. I forgive you, and I await your end-of-year round-ups with bated breath. (That was a lie)

For the rest of you, my Halloween playlist is on this link. I realise this is on Amazon, and honestly, they aren't much better. But I've made my bed and need to lie in it. Buy music, like actual music you can hold in your hands, from bands, and get off your arse to go to a gig. Stop giving that gobsh*te from Spotify your money.

Playlist

02/12/2021

Went to see the brilliant Joshua Burnside on Sunday in Jimmy's Liverpool, it's not often you walk into a bar where Ian Paisley is in the middle of a sermon but it's a hell of a way to start a gig. A sublime show it was too, if Mr Burnside happens to pass your way you need to go see him.

15/11/2021

An old picture of mine popped up on a BBC 6 Music post this morning about Lia from The Mysterines appearing on the wireless having a wander down memory lane and through the Northern Quarter of Manchester. The pic was taken in 2018 at the Zanzibar for Getintothis magazine and sent me on a wander down memory lane of my own. It was a hell of a gig. If you want to relive it, tap the link.

👀 👂 https://t.co/46GgkggHqi

30/09/2020

“We can’t save every job”
"Would will support viable jobs”
"targeted and focused on supporting viable jobs"
"this means a new approach"

“Re-train as quickly as possible”
“Re-train as quickly as possible”
“Re-train as quickly as possible”

There are 1 million people being ignored.
There are 1 million people being left behind.

Those in the night time economy, the arts, cultural and sports sectors are being hung out to dry by a government that can't figure out a way to strip it of value. This government doesn't care what happens to the people who create amazing experiences, create stories you can tell your grandchildren, they do not care.

And it's about to get worse.

If you want to keep music alive, if you want to support the people that inspire hope in millions of others then today is the day you shout the loudest. Before it gets worse, before it is lost forever.

I wrote a piece for Sun 13, have a read and share if you like it.

“The arts are yet again a gaping hole in the government’s plan”

09/09/2020

*test!

11/08/2020

🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨

The people who make events are struggling, they were the first to close down over -19 and they'll be the last to get going again. Most of them are freelance and the are cutting them adrift. Most of them are also magicians, the magic of a show is created by a veritable army of people you never see. Hell, some of them even work on Tory events.

The sound crew, the lighting techs, the venue manages, the site managers, floor sweepers, the riggers, the stage managers, the bookers, promoters, hell, even the writers and photographers. The folk who man the trenches so that tens of thousands of people can land in a field in the middle of nowhere and have access to everything they need to party in a safe place and make memories that will last a lifetime. Those folk are magicians and they're so good no one ever sees them.

Well, it's time to see them now, because without them those awe inspiring moments that stay with you for life can't happen again.

We are calling for meaningful support from the Government until the industry is allowed to operate in a way that is not limited by social distancing policies including:

1. Grants – not loans – made available to businesses in the events supply chain

2. Furlough scheme extended until the industry is back to work

3. Extension of the self-employment scheme, tailored towards the industry

Visit plas a.org for more and keep buying tickets when you see them come up.

🚨

05/08/2020

26/07/2020

We got membership recently as holidays are out the window, took advantage today and went to for a wander. It is beautiful, the Japanese Garden is like nothing I've ever seen!

23/07/2020

There is an update to this post. I managed to track down the old teacher who inspired me to write the words and pick up the camera in the first place. It's worth a read!

For the love of cameras.

22/07/2020

A friend has reminded me that it is on this very day a mere 25 years ago that REM played at Slane Castle with , Sharon Shannon, Michael Franti and Spearhead, Luka Bloom and Belly. It was one hell of a day.

"The first proper gig we ever went to was REM in Slane Castle, just outside Dublin. The year was 1995, the date was July 22nd and we were in our late teens and early 20’s. A bus load of us set off in the wee small hours to make the trek and beat the queues at the gates. The show was intense, primal almost, it remains the gig of a lifetime for many of us, it was the moment we truly fell in love with the most amazing band we’d ever seen"

Lifes Rich Pageant, 30 Years on.

22/07/2020

There have been a dozen updates on the site, new galleries, new words and a refreshed look. Go, go, you'll love it.

By Chris Flack

16/07/2020

Here's a blast from the past!

June 16th 2011 - All photos by Chris Flack @ www.punksatonyphil.com - Copyright Chris Flack - email [email protected]