Talented, Exciting, Brave New World

Cabbage, The Blinders, Strange Bones and friends. London, Birmingham and beyond...

Rebellious Summer Of Love and Kindness with the best soundtracks and groundswell of formidable talent, since the 20th century. Not only that, but youth is quite rightly seizing control of destiny and doing things their own way. The news is sad and bad but the escapism is inspirational and loaded with laughter and affection. Below, backstage at Jack Rocks This Feeling stage, a lesson in how to hold a business meeting.

On this rock n roll underground, bands are supporting bands, on and off stage. Coming to each other's shows. Collaborating, crossing over their followings. Their supporters and allies make the audiences reactive and receptive, so quality classic song writing and charismatic performance is appreciated. New media and music industrious are springing up, as there are no end of ready made stars with massive potential, below, Trampolene.

We are "living" in a brexit broken Britain afflicted by austerity, downtrodden by dystopia - but something rooted in necessarily DIY resourcefulness is (all) happening.

"Theresa Is A Terrorist" "Born In The NHS" signs of the time at The Scala, London just before the first of three landmark gigs (29th June) by three game changing bands; Cabbage, The Blinders and Strange Bones played the first show. They were friends before the first note, already. Image below is from the last night of the first half of 2017, June 30th. Around midnight, we are in a magic garden in Birmingham with producer, Gavin Monaghan and many friends. Local musicians The Surrenders (on stage) and The Assist are having a proper Saturday night rocking out. On a Friday!

At a time of condoned corruption, hatred and horrorism, music is the (r)Evolution that will not be trivialised. Below, TheZineUK music social took over St Paul's in Central London, so many artists in the house and new futures made. Members of Feral Five, Sabatta, Careless Sons, 485C, writer Stephen Dalton, our compere, musician Jean Genie and our tour DJ Disco MarkY of Team Rock/The Guardian.

And yes, we do live in somewhat scary times but, hey, evolution has happened so what can ya do but come together and let the good times roll. Some serious ideas, art, poetry, politics and style are kicking against the establishment pricks. The Blinders (below, captivating at The Scala) being a good/vital case in point.

Far from being a tediously trendy clique, there is a warm welcome of social inclusion and the bottom line is obviously having FUN. Below, there was an after after party, pictured; The Blinders, 485C and friends including TheZineUK's photographer, Sandy K. Moz and tour poet, Rohan Murray with members of Paves, MOSES and Sisteray at Abbie McCarthy of BBC Introducing's Good Karma Club.

I'm not the only person with many visual shots of new guitar music rising rapidly, almost without permission. Making a refreshing change to war, friendships are breaking out. Some of our (fans of the artists) social media exchanges mention disbelief that we can experience such high calibre bands affordably and close up. Below, the Cabbage gig is packed with feverish friday frolicks at Birmingham Institute. It's undeniable that they've stepped up to the next level since last summer so it is fitting that they take "The Healing Brexit Towns Experiment Tour" around the disunited queendom this autumn.

Recent right wing shite was supposed to divide us, and with hate crime rising five fold within one year, then the inauguration of an idiot king, the world turned into a never ending Doctor Who episode. But what they've done is sparked creative brilliance, rebellious unity, random acts of kindness and senseless acts of beauty. The best "fuck you" ever. Unlike the hold over hype that printed music press had a couple of decades ago, you can not fabricate a scene in the age of the internet, but you can check out word of mouth music tips from independent media like Little Indie Blogs, Northern Exposure etc. Maybe join The Zone Rangers that frequent This Feeling club and be part of something genuinely and organically exploding. Much appreciation for Mikey Jonns - UK's No.1 guitar band scout, for being a key mover shaker for what happens next. Key, youth and style focused brands that support new music are quick off the mark to associate themselves with this roller coaster. At a This Feeling night, you you will bump into some of these lovelies somewhere, no doubt...

This is the atmosphere that flavoured home grown, DIY punk REVOLT as June ended and July began.

Check out Trust A Fox photography for images from the third punky CABBAGE, The Blinders, Strangebones circus. Below a mini picture diary from the first two.

The Scala is one of the capital's next level venues. Image; The Blinders look so far away, in this wide open space, as they soundcheck for their biggest London show to date. Music fans poured in and filled the place from the moment the doors opened though. The word was out about Strange Bones. Insane. In the best possible way.

Strange Bones - certified #BigIn2017, and deservedly so...

... as are The Blinders

Both bands are perfect supports for the wave of electricity that crackles around the packed out venue for headliners, CABBAGE.

All three sets had myriads of influences from what is now generations of the rock'n'roll years - but managed to make anthems at decibels that sounded ripe, fresh and unique, which is how things feel now.

Sure great things have happened before. History only ever grows. Right now, it's the future of potential where the expansion really is. Right here, right now, there's something vital pulsing that some people here tonight will appreciate as classic in twenty years time. So many Brits will never be able to hear 'Seven Nation Army' by The White Stripes (British rebellion, song by The People. Scaring the establishment. At time of writing, it is forbidden to sing "Oh Jeremy Corbyn" at Wimbledon tennis tournament). Or it may just be a case of remembering a t-shirt slogan, with a wry smile...

It's been a special night for British rock music's future. Wickedly talented folks are here and at the buzzing after show party by This Feeling (raising donations for Musicians Against Homelessness on the door), including Sisteray, Paves, False Heads (below, Luke Griffiths), The Caress and Breed among a turn-out of mainstream music biz faces and London gigging aces. There was a time that nearly everybody mentioned on this page couldn't get a foot through the door of the annual music festivals. In the last couple of years, The Zone has increasingly crashed that party, and flavoured it with potential future headliners that an unsuspecting public are claiming for their new favourites.

At some point while I was at The Scala, I bumped into Paul Draper, now a solo artist who has sold out his September (debut album/tour) dates. It feels right, as a few months earlier, at a Mansun convention were people who been at steaming hot, alternative rock shows like this and appreciated them as classic twenty years on...

We are witnessing Britain's first great guitar band and cottage industries of arts movement of the century. This genie ain't going back in the box. Too many massive tunes and excited music fans now... Too much laughter.

Above, Matty of The Blinders n Nineties Mike on the decks at the hugs n giggles loaded after show for the Scala gig. Look out for more pix from the night courtesy of Northern Exposure and Sonic Shocks, and many more allies of TheZineUK, who were out to play that night.

The following evening the triple set riot rolled into Birmingham for the second gig. Gotta love a town that looks like a load of parallel dimensions and centuries, held together by magic and chips.

My ankle sometimes feels like it will never heal. I did my limpy dance thing to The Blinders, so didn't take any pictures and just a few of CABBAGE who were welcomed to the sold out Institute like they'd just removed the tories from downing street.

It's a Friday night and the gift that keeps on giving. That afternoon, had been singing along to "It's A Kind Of Magic" by Queen. You have to believe though, or you don't get the full effect. I went from an Institute to a magic garden for even more rock n roll, via art and words that seemed so right to the world on the news, right now.

The safari of beautiful art on industrial buildings led to The Wagon and Horses pub, where there were many familiar faces I'd seen on and off stage at the Jack Rocks This Feeling Stage, at few weeks earlier, on the Isle Of Wight. It was like being at another festival. A young wizard led me through to the back, and The Magic Garden studios live music gathering. It was like a house party outdoors and just perfect. Friends old and new that weekend give me an even softer spot in my heart for The Midlands than I already had, from previously living there. Dear Youth, you're surviving whatever THIS is. And you party. You are the fucking best. Keep up the good work. (A mad old bat, deluxe, advises). Below, Charlie (The Blinders) and Rich (The Surrenders)

woooooooohoooooooooo maaaaaaaan!

Above Connor of The Surrenders sporting The Assist #stagestyle - their set went off like a fireworks display, spot The Cosmics, Harley Cassidy and more. It's like being in rockumentary sometimes. All these movers n shakers. People don't care that I'm not cool. Proper. 4REAL. Below, introducing the legend that is Gavin Monaghan. Artists that have recorded at his studio playing live, an extended family supported by loads more bands having a dance and laugh, the places was buzzing and the sound was made my ears smile.

This evening also had the vibe of TheZineUK music social events, spoken word included, sometimes feels like we were all supposed to meet each other for a reason.

Lovely lads n lasses unleashing love n laughter

Gavin has produced all The Blinders tunes so far and achieved that mighty phat sound. It is gone midnight, a few days before the band's next release, 'Brave New World', revealed on Independence Day.

At dawn, after what could have been a trip to outer space, for all I know, I leave Birmingham. The last three things I remember are a girl shouting "I've got glitter up my fanny!" in panic, a man offering to share his chicken nuggets with anybody, and a chant of "nuggets nuggets nuggets" going up along New Street and somebody's phone playing "It's Magic" by Pilot, then "Don't Look Back in Anger" by Oasis. Little things like this, mean a lot as a I catch the train back to the Orwellian Dickensian Murderochian darker ages of dystopian Reality.

It's been surreal. Real surreal. And awesome. And then some. Ah to be from the land of the free...

Above, kindness, romantic ideals, friendship, hope and fun. A completely different kind of Brave New World which the three northern bands, CABBAGE, The Blinders and Strange Bones took to local turf Manchester for a Saturday night which the city will not forget, in a year to make a mark on.

snapshots (unless water marked otherwise) and chatter; Caffy