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Astatke, Hampton, Ayers, Underwood, Tjader, Canelario.. Marimba, balafon xylophone….. Time for some good vibes!

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I have a considerable soft spot for that family of percussion instruments which are played with mallets. So, last week I was delighted to discover what a prominent role the marimba plays in the music of Latin America.

There have been several vibes virtuosi in jazz such as Lionel Hampton, Roy Ayers and Milt Jackson. But these versatile instruments appear in many different styles of music. Let’s not forget how much multi-instrumentalist Ruth Underwood contributed to the quirky sound of the Mothers of Invention. Or how the balafon playing of Malian Keletigui Diabate complemented Toumani Diabate’s kora so well. Without the stupendous Mulatku Astatke, the Ethiopian Jazz would never have happened.

My new discovery is Colombian marimbero, Hugo Canelario from the Pacific Coastal town of Guapi, who with his band , Grupo Bahia, has done much to spread the popularity of the “marimba de chonto.” I should also mention a tip from @Alias. From Ecuador, a vintage salsa album. Andarele by Carmen Gonzalez and Koral Y Esmeralda, which makes very effective use of marimba.

And these new discoveries are due the fact that @Salwarpe is currently on a new road trip in Darkest Colombia, » Continue Reading.

Vulnerable

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It’s scary how vulnerable we are in our modern, linked-up society.

As everybody in Sweden knows, last weekend the Coop supermarket chain had to temporarily close 500 or so supermarkets due to a cyber-attack which meant that it was impossible to use the tills.

Customers could not even pay with cash. Even bartering with a piglet or a chicken or two was out. A nightmarish weekend for shoppers and the staff of the stores. It’s been three days now and they are still not open properly.

Personally I have nothing to whinge about. We just went to ICA instead. But for those living in the countryside where Coop is the only supermarket for miles, it must have been a big inconvenience.

As a layman, I can’t understand the need to create a system where all the tills are linked in this way.

And what it there is a cyber-attack on pharmacies, hospitals, the blue light services, public transport, air traffic control..?

Heaven help us if the Systembolaget, the state liquor monopoly, gets hit, Swedes will be manning the longboats to sail offf and find the culprits.

I was told that this kind of ransomware attack happen far more often » Continue Reading.

Tardis 2021? I nominate Jarvis Cocker, Lady Gaga, John Cooper Clarke and Lizzo as prime choices for the new Doctor!

by 55 Comments

The twittersphere is in a tizzy of speculation as to who might be taking over as the Tenant of the Tardis, the Wielder of the Sonic Scredriver.

Along with the four mentioned in the OP, my candidates are Phoebe Waller Bridge, Bill Bailey or DJ Lance Rock from Yo! Gabba Gabba (with the other cast members as his companions).

Or to really the boat out, why not Bagpuss as Dr Who!

The very first “saggy, old cloth cat, baggy, and a bit loose at the seams” to play the roll.

Anyway, amidst all the rumours, I was fascinated and excited to read that David Tenant and Catherine Tate are continuing to travel time and space together in Adventures of the 10th Doctor a series of audio dramas for UK company Big Finish Productions.

It must be like listening on the BBC Light Programme. Radio is quite wrongly seen as a poor relative in 2021. A medium which allows our imaginations to flourish so healthily deserves our greater respect.

The standard career arc for many shows is radio show to TV show to feature film to stadium extravaganza to theme park to breakfast cereal to Free toy with your Happy Meal.

» Continue Reading.

Sorry IKEA! The only piece of furniture I need is my Tiny Desk!

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The pandemic may mean that Bob Boilen and his team from NPR are working from home, leaving the world-famous Tiny Desk to gather dust. But the Tiny Desk (At Home) concerts are continuing to deliver a magnificent musical smorgasbord form all over the world.

In the past week I’ve greatly enjoyed:

Men I Trust – gorgeous, suggestive, melancholy dreampop from Quebec, recorded in a cabin on the Saint Lawrence river.

Tom Jones -a powerful, very moving set in celebration of his 81st birthday including a cover of Dylan’s One more cup of coffee.

Mdou Moctar – perfoming in a tent in Niamey,Niger. This extraordinary desert blues maestro is my discovery of the week.

From the archives:

The magnificent Lizzo. “How we feeling at this tiny ass desk??”

Taimane – Bouncy, joyous ukulele virtuoso from Hawaii

It must be a real letter day when an artist gets invited to do a TD gig for NPR. Rather like doing a session for the Venerable Peel back in the day.

Anyway, the location may have changed but the Tiny Desk spirit is alive and well.

It’s impressive how they’ve been able to adapt and continue to deliver their short, intense, joyful unplugged » Continue Reading.

Adieu les cons! Farväl fåtöljerna!! Arriverderci Cinema Paradiso???

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Last week was a turning point for live events here in Sweden. After 6 months during which the largest audience for any kind of cultural or sporting event was eight people, the restrictions have now been eased and 50 socially distanced people are now permitted. Not enough to generate much income, but definitely a step in the right direction for those in the culture sector.

Time for a cinema thread! here’s a place for some meanderings on cinema present, cinema past, cinema future.

Adieu les cons! (Bye bye morons!) is a wickedly funny, 2020 French road movie by Albert Dupontel which I saw as a preview at the weekend. I‘ll tell you more later.

Hiveminders! What are the new films that you are looking forward to seeing at the cinema? Which movies should we all be looking out for?

Farväl fåtöljerna!!(Swedish for Goodbye cinema seats). Last week, some geezers came to Biograf Reflexen in Kärrtorp where I am a volunteer and removed almost all the seating. After 40 years of noble service to the bottoms of Stockholm, they are off to that great multiplex in the sky. I got a little sentimental and cinematic memories came thick and fast. (The » Continue Reading.

Introducing DJ Cummerbund: A Mash-up Maestro with a fondness for bangers

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It’s bucketing down with rain here today. Everything is gloomy, dreich, dreary and wretched.

Like me, I’m sure you are all missing all your glittering, glamorous, bubbly, effervescent ESC pals: Efendi, Daði & Gagnamagnið, TIX, Tornike Kipiani, Gjon’s Tears, Tusse, Destiny Chukunyere, James Newman, Natalia Gordienko, Jendrik, Hooverphonic and Mariana Trench.

But fear not, pop pickers I have found a crazy cove who will bring a smile to your face..

It’s time to follow Alice down the rabbithole and visit the wacky, phantasmagorical, hilarious, funky musical Twilight Zone of N.Y. Mash Up Meister, DJ Cummerbund.

We’ve all had those bizarre dreams where people and places suddenly transform before your eyes. You are sitting in the Ritz talking to your primary school teacher (who you now realise you had a bit of a crush on) talking about Brian Eno, when suddenly you find yourself in the Grand le Opry, she has morphed into Chaka Khan and is handing you a mike to sing. It’s a Ken Dodd tribute gig and you are on next with the Diddymen singing Tubthumping. For some reason, the entire venue is full of Norwegian ninjas and Icelandic geisha girls.

Know the feeling?

That’s how I feel » Continue Reading.

17th May! Syttende mai!!

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Today is the Norwegian National Day. A perfect opportunity to post a few musical favourites from that most magnificent of countries.

I once spent May 17th in Oslo. Not an experience I am likely to forget! An explosion of joyous patriotic fervour.

I am now a Swede and am a tad envious of their flag-waving enthusiasm,

But they do make some fine music.

Grieg, Jan Garbarek, Odd Nordstuga, A Ha, Kari Bremnes, Jaga Jazzist, Valkyrien Allstars, Katzenjammer, Radka Toneff, Kings of Convenience, Terje Rypdal, Sissel, Tord Gustavsen, Majorstuen, Sigrid, Mari Boine…..Your Norwegian favourites please!

Hey Ho! Let’s go! Hey ho! Let’s Nonny No!

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Here is thread about springtime. I have two questions for you:

What are the signs that you notice in your local area that indicate that spring has arrived?

Have you any favourite pieces of music about spring?

For me, one primary sign of the oncome of spring in Stockholm is the arrival of the fieldfares. This will be odd to those of you in the UK, for whom the fieldfare is an uncommon winter bird Suddenly in late March, they are everywhere.

I knew nothing about these feisty little thrushes until I watched David Attenborough’s magnificent TV series The Life of Birds. There is a sequence, shot in Sweden, in which a group of fieldfares work together to chase away a hungry raven which is after eggs and chicks.

They are the avine equivalent of the Neighbourhood Watch.

The Swedish name is björktrast (birch thrush). Linnaeus’s Latin name was the unappealing Turdus pilaris.

And now for some springy songs.

Jazz, folk music, madrigals, musicals, Americana.. every musical genre has great song or two about the joys of spring. The birds are singing vigorously and it’s almost as though we humans are inspired to do likewise.

How about It » Continue Reading.

“Danser encore”! Zut alors! Time for titillating terpsichoreans, magnificent moshers, rambunctious rugcutters and flashy flashmobbers.

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Here’s a thread about wild sensual abandon, sweaty bodies, and refusing to conform to bourgeois norms. Yes: the joy of dance.

Looking through my YouTube recommendations yesterday, I found myself watching a splendid flashmob from the Netherlands. What a joy! A 12-year-old had filmed it all and he had done a wonderful job.

But what was the tune they were dancing to?

A quick Google revealed it to be Danser encore, by HK et les Saltimbanks, which has been inspiring dancing flashmobs all over France and beyond. Just search for “Danser encore” on YerTube and you’ll see what I mean. There are some wonderful clips.

Preposterously catchy, it reminds me a little of my old favourites Les Negresses Vertes.

I know! All these frisky French bohemians in the clips should be socially distancing or queuing up in an orderly fashion to get vaccinated. But even so, I feel invigorated by watching them.

What do I want from you?

Please post your favourite flashmob or other dance clips. Stuff that will make us smile or even wiggle a bit.

Soul Train, Moscow moshpits, rugcutting penguins, TOTP, majestic morrismen, tango dancers in Buenos Aires, Austenesque soirees at the Pump Rooms in Bath, » Continue Reading.

From the northern forests of Sweden and the meandering moose of Umeå to the transient beauty of cherry blossom on the Setouchi Islands in Japan’s Inland Sea …

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Tomorrow evening we will be lighting bonfires all other Sweden to celebrate the arrival of spring. Fair maidens will be singing in joyous anticipation. And over in the UK you will be greasing your maypoles and giving them a hearty rub to ensure they are ready for the rollicking revels that await.

So here’s a curate’s egg of a thread about a whole bunch of this sort of stuff. Go with the global flow of Spring.

In 1998, during Stockholm’s year as a European City of Culture, an elegant avenue of cherry trees was planted in Kungsträdgården in central Stockholm. It soon became a spring tradition for Stockholmers to gather and enjoy the blossoms in April. You can’t hang around. Once you hear that the trees are in bloom, it’s time to plan a visit.

My daughter and I popped down on Saturday afternoon. One thing that struck me immediately was that watching the people was as much a part of the fun as the beauty of the trees. A lot of laughter and joy at meeting up with family and old friends. And lots of selfies. It’s a lovely spontaneous event. Nobody selling anything. No organised activities. No compere » Continue Reading.

“Let them eat wallpaper” #CarrieAntoinette

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I do love a good nickname.

Tricky Dicky. Fab Macca Whacky Thumbs Aloft. Thatcher Thatcher – Milk Snatcher.

Especially when it is one that sticks and annoys the hell out of the person it refers to. Or in this case their partner.

So I was delighted this evening to hear that the First Fiancée has landed herself the nickname CarrieAntoinette due to her elaborate plans for the makeover of their Downing Street flat.

In Sweden a politician would win votes by mentioning that they can assemble a piece of IKEA furniture.

Boris, by contrast, doesn’t know his Allen Key from his elbow. And is ordering wallpaper that costs 840 quid a roll!

This is, of course, all very trivial compared to comments he has allegedly made. And many things he has done

But that nickname is a doozy!

Wife during wartime.. or New Brides for the Hebrides!

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Getting to know me, getting to know all about me….

I find it almost spooky how the YouTube algorithm seems to know me better than my own family.

Have any of you had any pleasant suggestions while watching clips on Yer Tube?

Or conversely unpleasant suggestions?

This morning before breakfast, for example, YT gently suggested that I might enjoy a 1941 clip of Hebridean housewives whacking their wool and singing while doing so. An offer I could not refuse. The girls are shown “waulking” (a.k.a. felting) the wool for Harris Tweed and singing together in Scottish Gaelic as they do so. A tradition that goes back many generations in their community.

This is true folk music. How wonderful that someone had recorded it for posterity.

It gets better. Who was the cameraman? Jack Cardiff, famed for his work with Powell and Pressburger. Look at IMDB, His career was amazing.

Cinematography for everything from the African Queen, A Question of Life and Death and Black Narcissus. And director of …..Girl on a Motorcycle. Oh dear! A film I saw at a very impressionable age. Marianne Faithful looking stupendous in leather and getting undressed rather frequently.

I got so excited that » Continue Reading.

Play an instrumental so we can all go mental!

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One of the great AW treats of the last week has been Guiri’s Instrumental Comfort thread. Some gorgeous pieces of music got posted.

Some common features of the instrumental tracks chosen were that they were often atmospheric, introspective, delicate, cinematic, sparse…. All rather like the artists on the ECM label. A big compliment in my book.

Not only did we get perennial AW faves like Ry Cooder, Toumani Diabate, Virginia Astley, Eno, J.J. Cale, Boards of Canada, but also new names ( to me) like Sarah Devaci, Martti Pokela, Susumu Yakota, William Johnson and Chuck Tylor.

Visit the thread. Enjoy. And add a few favourites of your own.

But that got me thinking about another kind of instrumental.

More extrovert, flamboyant, catchy, floorfilling, rowdy, attention seeking…

Back in the day, instrumentals could be enormous hits. And there were some absolute crackers.

The kind of…. tune that would get crinolines a fluttering and fill the dancefloor at the tearooms in Bath.

groove that would tempt the hipsters at Studio 54 to strut their stuff.

monumental , shuddering bassline that made everyone at the Carnaval feel thoroughly irie

sizzling riff that would fill the Roskilde moshpit in seconds

» Continue Reading.

BTS, Metallica, Beatles, Blue Peter, Mr Blobby: Fans ain’t what they used to be!

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What is it like to be a fan in 2021? Or to be an artist with a fan club?

Listening to 1960s international Beatles covers last week got me thinking about how mop-top fever spread across the world. And how Brian Epstein recruited Liverpudlian uberfan, 17 year-old Freda Kelly, to be the secretary for the band’s new fanclub home in Liverpool. A bit of a cottage industry: neither of them could have suspected how that job would grow.

Freda had a wide variety of tasks. For example, one fan sent her a pillowcase, asked her to get Ringo to use it for one night and then post it back.

Fast forward to the present. I don’t think BTS get sent my pillowcases.

In April 2020, K Pop boyband SuperM sold over 75,000 tickets to 109 countries for a live-streamed arena concert. A new Korean company, Beyond Live, are developing this new product. When performing live BTS speak in five different languages. The Beatles did rather well in German and French.

Here’s @deramdaze commenting on the difference between Xmas 1963 and April 2021:

”I think we can all agree that fame has changed. It seems mighty strange that » Continue Reading.

Mi’kmaq Emma meets Macca in Vancouver and talks about blackbirds

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Here’s the second half of a sunshine story which @mikethep mentioned yesterday.

Back in 2019, Emma Stevens, a 16 year old school girl at the Allison Bernard Memorial School on Cap Breton, was encouraged by her teacher, Carter Chiasson, to do a version of Blackbird in the indigenous language, Mi’kmaq to post on YouTube. The goal was to spread awareness of Mi’kmaq and other endangered languages.

She has a gorgeous voice and the clip, quite rightly, went viral.

A few months later, Paul McCartney was on tour and was due to visit Vancouver.

The enclosed CBC article tells the second art of the story. Carter says that his brother “emailed the right person and said the right things and all of a sudden we had an invitation.”

“It was pretty surreal,” said Chiasson, still sounding a little shell-shocked by the experience. “I probably wouldn’t be who I am if it wasn’t for the music of the Beatles. It’s a big part of why I’m a musician and a music teacher and a producer. It’s just surreal. It feels like it didn’t happen. But I’m so grateful that it did.”

Emma commented in a text: “Meeting Paul was » Continue Reading.

High tech Todd Rundgren on live-streaming tour is the bees’ knees

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As you will have noticed, I have, thanks to some fantastic suggestions from you lot, been bingeing on music from Manchester all week.

I didn’t feel quite right to leave that great northern city without paying a visit to the Twitter account of one of the AW’s most eminent Mancunians, Beany. I am rather glad I did as he had posted a swinging piece of modern pop music: Busy Bee by Buddy Merrill from 1965.

Weird eh? How can one explain to modern kids that a guitarist could have a hit record? When was the last time a guitar instrumental was in the charts? The glory days of Link, Django, Hank, Carlos et al are long gone.

And then again, how can we explain that in 1949, a man playing zither instrumentals, Anton Zaras, was not only a world renowned hitmaker, but also an A list celebrity and best mate of all the beautiful people?

Back to the future. Is there any way we could ( without being locked away) convince the musicians and fans of 1965, not least that gangly teenager, Todd Rundgren, (born 1948) that he would in 2021 be doing a major US “tour” without even leaving » Continue Reading.

Manchester June 1986. The Festival of the Tenth Summer Revisited in Andrew O’Hagan’s Mayflies.

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I suspect several of you know the Scottish writer Andrew O’Hagan.

He was a new name to me but our book circle have just been reading his excellent novel Mayflies, a very funny and moving portrait of male friendships. And once I finished that I’ve been browsing sundry short pieces about his Glasgow childhood and his family. The more I read, the more I like him.

Fireflies is such an Afterword novel. The first half of the book describes a visit to Manchester in 1986 by a group of five Scottish lads from Ayrshire to attend the Festival of the Tenth Summer. This was a ten-event, week-long extravaganza held to celebrate 10 years of punk, culminating in concert headlined by New Order and The Smiths at the GMex Centre. A gig and a half! Was this Manchester’s finest musical hour?

O’Hagan captures the excitement of a group of devoted Peelite teens visiting what must have been one of the most exciting cities in the world for music. He has a great ear for the banter of nerdy 80s music fans.

I never got to Manchester in the heyday of the Hacienda or go for a haircut at the Factory » Continue Reading.

”I’m gonna put on an iron shirt, and chase Satan out of earth”

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Many of you will recognise the lyrics of Chase the Devil by Max Romeo. Such a wonderfully powerful opening line. But how any singers could deliver it with conviction?

Max Bygraves, Ken Dodd, Val Doonican? Not a chance! And when it comes to hairstyles, Max is the hands down winner.

Inspired by our recent homage to U Roy, here’s a thread in which I would like to hear a little more about your favourite reggae songs, particularly those which you feel have the most interesting, moving, bizarre, soulful lyrics. The Great Reggae Songbook covers so many areas of activity and has so many memorable gems.

Race horses – The Pioneers

What a weepin’ and wailin’ dung a Caymanas park Long Shot, him kick de bucket Long Shot kick de bucket

Flying preachers – Prince Far I

Some come from the east Like a big leggo beast, Fi guh dip inna di healing stream.

A night out on the razzle – Anthea and Donna

See me in me ‘alter back Sey me gi’ you ‘eart attack Gimme little bass, make m’wine up m’waist

NHS staff – Gregory Isaacs

I don’t want to see no doc I need attendance from my nurse » Continue Reading.

I’m leaving… On the midnight train for Sapporo. And other sizzling, snowy Enka hits!

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This evening SVT broadcast the grand finale of the Swedish STV quiz show På Spåret (On the right track). This will be of no interest to any of you except for AW’s hardcore PS fans in Spånga and Bagarmossen. Both DuCool and I will be glued to the box along with our wives.

The one thing that might interest the rest of you is that the house band this evening is First Aid Kit who have been in fine form for the past two weeks. The Söderberg sisters are big fans of the show. The quiz consists of a series of rounds, each of which is a based on a city. The first question is to guess which city we are heading for. This is based on some very cryptic clues, and a film clip from the view from the train driver’s cab (or driver’s seat) which is travelling towards the destination. I enjoy it because it’s all done with such sense of fun. Losing gracefully gets as much respect from me as winning.

I wonder; have SVT have ever used a train journey from or to Tokyo?

I ask this because this morning I was listening to a » Continue Reading.

Come on ye wee, sleekit, cowrin, tim’rous beasties!

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It’s Burns Night this evening and Scots all over the world will be celebrating the birthday of Robbie Burns, The only Burns Supper I have ever been to was in the rather posh Stockholm suburb of Lidingö. I do wonder if home-sick ex-pats take it even more seriously than those who live in Scotland. I did learn that evening that Burns is rather popular in Russia.

Do any of you normally attend an event or watch a special Burns Night TV programme? Or attend a gig at Celtic Connections?

Are young people interested or is it just something for the oldies?

This year will be a very Zoomy, YouTubby Burns bash.

I have not a drop of Scots blood in my body (but rather too many drops of Famous Grouse), but I would greatly enjoy a little celebration of Scottish music, poetry, fiction, cinema, cooking…

Please post a track or two of your favourite Scottish artists. Or give us a few tips on books or movies. I am going to kick off with a clip that MikeH recommended recently. Iona Foyle singing a song by Michael Marra. Perfect!

I just found out that Iona has been receiving a lot of » Continue Reading.

Keyharp solo in the Toledo snow: Danza de los Carámbanos

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We all know abut the rain in Spain.

However, when Storm Filomena swept through the Iberian Peninsular earlier in the month, it was a great surprise for the citizens of the ancient city of Toledo to find themselves deep in snow. Keyharp virtuoso, Ana Alcaide, made the most of the white stuff and filmed herself playing with her snowy home city providing a magnificent backdrop.

An exquisite combination of music and landscape. A real pick-me-up.

Just in case you don’t know it, the nyckelharpa is one of the most popular instruments in Swedish folk music. It is fairly rare sight in Spain. Ana discovered it while studying in Sweden,

During these very peculiar times, morsels like this are an enormous tonic.

Here is a thread to celebrate stuff (YTclips, news stories, weather, anecdotes, cartoons, books etc) that has brightened your month.

A few of mine:

A Danish TV concert programme featuring Muddy Waters in concert in Copenhagen in 1968 on YT.

Two weeks of deep snow here in Stockholm. Suddenly the whole forest became glittery, white and amorphous. It was like being transported off to Narnia for a fortnight.

Scottish folk-singer, Iona Foyle singing a wee song about Trump to » Continue Reading.

A Sunday of song, sea and sperm… Wales and whales are both welcome!

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Thanks to Cap’n Salwarpe and his crew, yesterday we enjoyed a splendid Shanty Saturday,

A cavalcade of nautical songs from favourite artists, old and new, including the singing postie Nathan Evans, the Longest Johns, the Pogues, the Wellington Sea Shanty Society, Cyril Tawney, the Wilsons, Triakel, Ewan Macoll, Coope, Boyes and Simpson, Seán Dagher, Alestorm, La Nef, The Sheringham Shantymen, The Watersons and the Storm Weather Shanty Choir.

Such was my nautical enthusiasm that I had to dash down to Systembolaget and buy a large bottle of rum. (I was hoping to get myself a bird to sit on my shoulder too, being a great fan of that shantyastic movie, Parrots of the Caribbean, but even Norwegian Blues were out of stock.)

Leading the singing was the AW’s very own Shantyman, The Cheshire Cat and he offered the following explanation of the genre:

”The purpose of a shanty is to give co-ordination to heavy team work; that can be on dry land, but is most remembered for being at sea. But some wipsy ballad about missing one’s sweetheart back in port, don’t count as a shanty just ’cause it’s being sung at sea.”

Twang posted Nic Jones’s The Humpback Whale, » Continue Reading.

Prequels, sequels and reboots: from Higher Fidelity to Prim Suspect

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One of the finest novels I’ve read in the past few years was Irish writer, Sebastian Barry’s Days Without End. It is a gay love story set in the American Civil War. Beautifully written and an exciting, epic tale which is hard to put down.

I was extremely surprised however to discover that Barry has now written a sequel: A Thousand Moons. No spoilers please, but that avid bibliophile, Locust of the Afterword, assures us that the new book will not disappoint.

The ingenuity of the entertainment industries when it comes to devising sequels and prequels is legendary and right now there seem to be a lot of them about.

Yesterday we watched the first episode of Prime Suspect 1973 which stars Stefanie Martini as a 22 year old Jane Tennison in her early years as a cop. Gritty, unsentimental and unglamorous: her fellow officers are a sty-full of MCPs who expect the women officer to do all the dirty job and speak when spoken to. Not easy to step into Helen Mirren’s shoes, but Stef is doing rather well. Endeavour, another show following the younger days of a famous sleuth has shown this is fruitful territory.

Nick Hornby is » Continue Reading.

One vote wonders and no vote blunders – let’s have some love for the ones that almost got away!

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Call me perverse, but when I read through Lodestone’s Labour of Love, The List of 2020, the albums that attract my interest most are those that got the fewest votes. Or perhaps no votes at all.

Here is a chance to give them an extra mention.

I’ll kick off with Americana, a gorgeous ACT album by harmonica player, Gregoire Maret, together with ever reliable Bill Frisell on guitar and Romain Collin on piano. It was mentioned by DuCool in his 45 best albums of the year.

What a gem! Three superb musicians at the top of their game playing some modern standards.

Some of you may comment it’s a little MOR. What’s the German term? Mitt zum Autobahnen?

Frankly, I don’t give a damn,

Who else deserves an extra mention?

It is a joy reading through all your lists…

The Unthanks, the Sixteen, Claire Martin, reen Seagull, Wire, the Lemon Quartet, Eighth Blackbird, Eels, Pere Ubu, ???

Saturday Night Live, Panto at Blackpool Grand Theatre, Footlights, National Lampoon, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, YouTube, The Comedy Store, Brighton Pier …..or??

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Here is a thread what is the bastard offspring of the Comedy Films and Comedy TV shows threads.

Back in ye goode olde dayes, if you were looking for a career in comedy, you grabbed your bells, put on a funny hat and headed for the nearest castle.

But what about recent times?

Looking through all the things we’ve mentioned, it reminded me of how some shows, festivals, TV channels etc have provided very fertile soil for young comedians, scriptwriters and comic actors at the start of their career.

Beyond the Fringe – all four of them!

The Goon Show – likewise

Crackerjack

Private Eye, Punch, Mad or other humorous magazines?

Do not adjust your set

Carry on Films

Green Wing – Olivia Coleman, Mark Heap, Tamsin Greig

The Fast Show

SNL – Tina Fey, Kristen Wiig etc

I would be very happy if you could add to my list.

Do feel free to post some examples too.

In 2020, does the road to comedy fame begin on YouTube?

Do you find tubers amusing?

Personally I’ve always thought that swedes were far more amusing than potatoes…

I’ll get my wheelbarrow!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0qOD9rtOEE