The Charlatans - Barrowland Ballroom - Dec 25

Last night The Charlatans played the famous Glasgow Barrowland Ballroom for the 17th time. By my reckoning, I think I've caught them 10/11 times out of 16. Pretty good going. They should really just book an annual night/weekender given their affinity with the venue, Glasgow and Scotland.

It's a home from home, like a cup final of a gig for band and audience who share and display genuine affection for each other.

The Charlatans played with, and generated, incredibly energy, lifting the crowd, who in turn, lifted the band to even higher heights.

Tim Burgess was like a kid in a sweet shop on a trolley dash. The happiest guy in Glasgow, a smile so wide and bright that The Charlatans probably didn't need a light show. He was beaming throughout, radiating pure positive vibes.

I first caught The Charlatans live in April 1994 when they played The Tramway as part of Radio 1 Sound City in Glasgow. Tim Burgess was mesmerising, dancing about the stage, looking super cool. The next day I queued in the rain to meet the band at Tower Records to get loads of CD's and records signed. 

I have no idea how many times I've seen the band or Tim play since. God, it's been over 31-years. I'd hazard a guess at between 50-60. The Charlatans and Tim are frequent visitors to Glasgow and were regulars at T in the Park. 

Riding in on the back of We Are Love, their 14th album, Tim had announced that the band would be playing a 2.5 hour set (with a short 10-minute break) with no support. Fans were encouraged to make sure they were in promptly for the band taking to the stage at 8.10pm. 

There was a small squad of us. Me, Lynn and our friends Robbie, Clare, Joe, Emma and Susie. I bumped into many more friends from down the years in the venue. Great to see my friend Gerry with his son Liam, he wasn't the only Dad introducing the next generation to The Charlatans last night - good to see.

Kingdom of Ours is a slow burner - an opener to allow the band to find their groove, which develops as the song goes on. Then Tim took his jacket off and Weirdo had the place bouncing. It  never stopped! That hammond sound! Beats and bass and then the piercing guitar - sublime!

For the Girls is a real favourite from the new album, super melodic and soulful. North Country Boy was euphoric. Many a Day a Heartache flowed effortlessly and by this point I had ventured from underneath the glitter ball to 3 rows from the front by Tony on keyboards.

Just in time for one of my very favourite Charlatans songs, the absolute banger that is Oh! Vanity. The band didn't let up, rolling out the extended groove of Let The Good Times Be Never Ending,  the powerful Blackened Blue Eyes and then .... Then. Modern(ish) day psychedelia, still sounding super fresh and vital.

No wonder the band needed a 10-minute break to compose themselves! 

10-minutes (on the dot) later, The Charlatans returned and started their second set of the night by jamming the intro to Forever, dedicated to Mani. This glorious song has a menacing groove, before breaking into a beautiful piano led section that ends with Tim declaring.

I know my star, I know my star

Is a brighter star, brighter star

Forever be in my arms

Gorgeous! 

The Charlatans were in full flight, new singles We Are Love and Deeper & Deeper sound like set staples, Tellin' Stories was gorgeous - the perfect winter warmer, Just When You're Thinkin' Things Over was spine tingling perfection, with Ride's Loz Colbert joining on percussion. Toothache was a deep, down n dirty groove, Soul Saver sounded like it could save lost souls and last night The Charlatans may well have managed that with their performance. Smiles all round. Life affirming stuff. A stunning trilogy from their eponymous album.

New song Appetite sounded even better live than on record, especially when Mark's guitar kicks in. In the Tall Grass was a welcome deeper cut, before Tim and co eased into top gear with a spellbinding One To Another - epic, powerful, groovey ... arms in the air on stage and off. The groove at the end was one you wanted to keep on going.

But ... as it ended, we were straight into another groove as The Only One I Know was teasingly started before the place exploded again. Wow! Hearing the Barrowland Ballroom sing the chorus of everyone has been burned before, everybody knows the pain was incredible. Like a mass choir, it was like our hymn. The Barrowland is our church.

Tim touched upon the audience response several times through the show - off the scale ... the best venue ... the best crowd ... the best city. 

Closing with a sublime Get On It, with another extended jam at the end, Loz Colbert gelled effortlessly with the rest of the band. Martin Blunt in shades, holding the groove throughout the set, Pete Salisbury on drums - driving things on, Tony on hammond and keys - not to mention his stunning backing vocals and Mark Collins on lead guitar.

BOOM an encore of Now Everything was followed by Tremelo Song (one of my real favourites from last night - from an extended list!) and then Sproston Green. The long intro started slow, almost delightfully sticky and sludgey, before becoming beautifully sugar sweet as the band stirred it up and found the mix.

This one knows, she comes and goes

And when she goes, she goes

What a night! Thank you to The Charlatans for giving me so many of them down the years, likewise to the Barrowland Ballroom and to all the fans who grace it. I am still buzzing!

Albums of the year 2025

2025 was a year where reunions, anniversaries and nostalgia threatened to cast a shadow over new music and breaking artists ... it didn't though. 

The year also saw artists (recording, releasing and touring at all levels) speak out to highlight how difficult it was to make it all financially viable and sustainable and for the importance of small and independent venues throughout the country.

• Credit to Myles Smith for making an impassioned speech while accepting his Rising Star award at The Brit Awards in March.

"To the biggest venues in the country and around the world - if artists selling out your arenas and your stadiums started in grassroots venues, what are you doing to keep them alive? Stick with artists. Moments, they fade, but careers last forever."

• Credit to Coldplay for donating 10% of earnings from their UK tour to the Music Venture Trust to support small venues. 
• And to Sam Fender who donated his £25,000 prize for winning the Mercury to the MVT. Well played to both. They have set a bar for others to follow.
• And (of course) to Glasgow - a city blessed with so many small venues, the places I predominantly go to experience music - The Old Hairdressers, Mono, Stereo, McChuills, upstairs in The Doublet ... Saint Luke's and The Barrowland tend to be as big as I usually go.

The cost of everything has gone up. Musicians, roadies, sound engineers, lighting operators, merch managers, bus drivers ... all need to be paid. Then there are food and hotel costs. Touring isn't cheap. 

A few musicians I know said that their hometown shows tend to help them break even on touring smaller venues in the UK and Europe. Merchandise is a saviour. Never feel guilty about buying a t-shirt! Although the cost of gig going has risen!

So, as always, there are challenges. And as always, there is creativity - new bands and artists breaking through, artists who can't stop writing and recording and veteran artists finding a new generation of fans falling for them. 

Back to my albums of the 2025 though. Albums that need to be toured, artists that need venues of all sizes to take them (ideally) to places that want them to play. Whether that is to 200 people or 13,000. 

Here are my 6 favourite albums of the year, plus a further 11 that I have enjoyed. As always, I'm sure other end of year lists will send me off to check albums I might have missed over the course of the year. 

I've also created a playlist with one song from each album - check it HERE

2025 - 6 favourite albums

Snocaps by Snocaps

Twin sisters Allison and Katie Crutchfield are twin sisters who decided to form a new band to get back to working together like they did in their teens (they were 15 when their first band The Ackleys played their first show) and early twenties (P.S. Eliot). 

Katie now records as Grammy nominated Waxahatachee and her Tigers Blood album was one of my albums of 2024. Allison records with her band Swearin' who I need to check out.

Backed by a cracking band including MJ Lenderman on guitar, this is gorgeous alt country indie guitar pop, 13 songs in 33 minutes - sunshine inducing and spine tingling harmonies, warm guitar sounds, sublime heart string pulling slide ... this is fresh and pure, this is the twins, Lenderman and producer Brad Cooks, with all 4 playing a variety of instruments. This is currently my favourite album of 2025.

Playlist - Heathcliff is one of my favourite songs of 2025.

Getting Killed by Geese

Geese exploded in 2025. They were everywhere. Getting Killed is actually their third album in four years. Singer Cameron Winter also released his acclaimed (and highly recommended) Heavy Metal album late in 2024. He seems to be a prolific songwriter. We'll see if he can keep that up while he is on a constant tour for the next year. Expressive, eclectic, emotive and exciting - a brilliant album.

Playlist - Cobra (see blog)

In Limerence by Jacob Alon

What a gorgeous album. Alon's voice is beautiful and the textures on In Limerence are sublime. This is an album full of warmth, sounding familiar, yet distinctive. Alon has you hanging on every word, every finger picked riff. You're almost waiting to hear a pin drop. Enthralling, I found myself getting sucked in. 

Playlist - I Couldn't Feed Her

Waves by Frank Popp Ensemble

I fell for this album back in April. I described its eclectic nature as being like a mixtape - a vibrant blend of northern soul, psychedelia and garage rock, embellished with strings and drenched in reverb. Cool!

Playlist - Heartbreak (In A Really Good Way)

The Cords by The Cords

Strong debut album by teenage sisters Eva and Grace, first blogged on HERE in January 2024. The Cords have gained huge support among the Glasgow indie community and have bagged a great record label in Slumberland. I look forward to seeing and hearing what they do next. Raw guitars, a beautiful voice with a natural knack for melodies and cool playful and primitive beats - joyful. 

Playlist - When You Said Goodbye

Unclouded by Melody's Echo Chamber

This early December release really won me over, resulting in my having a top 6 favourite albums rather than a top 5! 

I had heard a couple of songs on 6Music in advance of the album, so I was waiting for it. And Unclouded didn't disappoint. Cinematic strings, dreamy and seductive vocals, super cool beats (drummer Malcolm Catto who plays with DJ Shadow and The Heliocentrics) and a gorgeous feel throughout. Melody describes her rhythm section as 'masters of the velvet groove'. Absolutely! Sadly there is only a London date in her scheduled European April tour.

Playlist - The House That Doesn't Exist

11 more albums I have enjoyed through 2025

Anxious by Nell Smith

Posthumous release by a young singer songwriter who was bursting with creative ideas. A lovely album, tinged with sadness and thoughts of wondering what she could have gone on to do.

Playlist - Billions of People

We Are Love by The Charlatans

Keepin' on keepin' on. The band that keeps giving. A very organic and Autumnal (season and in band lifespan) album. Producer Blood Orange captures the band beautifully. Their Oran Mor launch show was a delight. Roll on the Barrowland end of year show!

Playlist - Deeper and Deeper

Love Chant by The Lemonheads

A new album, an autobiography and seemingly a new Townes Van Zandt covers album on the way. Now managed by Alan McGee, Evan Dando seems to have a structure and guidance to support his creative nature. I love Evan Dando! It sounds like he had fun recording this album with Juliana Hatfield and J Mascis guesting. Garage guitar pop forever!

Playlist - Cell Phone Blues

Double Infinity by Big Thief

A gorgeous album. Whether hushed and sparse, or lovingly layered. A special band.

Playlist - All Night All Day 

Pinball Wanderer by Andy Bell

Andy Bell has it all going on. Before he embarked on rehearsals and then a mammoth tour with Oasis, he released Pinball Wandered (great title!) at the end of February. Bell has been releasing a steady stream of albums under his own name and his alter ego GLOK for more electronic ventures. In addition to recording a touring with a reformed Ride, Bell pretty much has the creative musicians life nailed! This is dreamy, trancey, psychedelic pop. Lovely!

Playlist - I'm In Love w/ Dot Allison

Idlewild by Idlewild

A supremely confident and consistent album by a band who have always played by their own rules. 

Playlist - End With Sunrise

Loner by Barry Can't Swim

Scottish producer who is consistently producing euphoric electronic music with delightful pop melodies and hooks.

Playlist - All My Friends

Bleeds by Wednesday

Another album I got into through 6Music. I wish I had gone to see them at Tuts earlier in the year. I love their sound - raw, soulful and cool.

Playlist - Phish Pepsi

The Life of a Showgirl by Taylor Swift

Probably my most listened to album courtesy of our youngest daughter Rosie. Funny, loving, biting and enjoyable pop music. 

Playlist - Opalite

It's A Beautiful Place by Water From Your Eyes

An album I discovered via Spotify algorithms kicking in. I love it. The album has experimental jams and then gems like Playing Classics.

Playlist - Playing Classics

41 Longfield Street Late 80's by Kieran Hebden and William Tyler

This album is really dreamy and chilled and it soundtracked a drive home from an overnight in Anstruther. My youngest daughter Rosie slept in the passenger seat as I drove West towards the sunset. The perfect soundtrack.

Playlist - If I Had A Boat

Never Ending Mixtape part 105

Futuristic Retro Champions

Welcome to part 105 of my Never Ending Mixtape!

I started this blog/playlist/mixtape back in October 2016 with the simple intention of creating a playlist that I would add songs to on a regular basis and then blog about the latest additions every month.

There would be no thought to the structure of the playlist, unlike the mixtapes and CD's I would make in my younger days. I'd just add songs when I felt like it, depending on what I was listening to.

As a result, my Never Ending Mixtape jumps from 4,651 to 4,718 with the addition of Lanasana's Priestess and Flight-Time by Donald Byrd. I heard the former at the wonderful Somethin's Cookin' night in Uddingston aong with loads of other cracking soul tunes.

You'll find a few of the additions listed below. 

Search for Everything Flows Never Ending Mixtape on Spotify or CLICK HERE

Recent discoveries

I Happen To Love You by The Electric Prunes

Survival Car by Fountains of Wayne

Patterns by Laura Marling

Lansana's Priestess by Donald Byrd

New releases

Togetherness Is All I'm After by The Lemonheads

Deeper and Deeper by The Charlatans

For the Girls by The Charlatans

Dopamine by Robyn

Alcohol by Kerr Mercer

Heathcliff by Snocaps

Cherry Hard Candy by Snocaps

Angel Wings by Snocaps

Phish Pepsi by Wednesday

You Never Give Me Your Money (Take 36) by The Beatles

Old favourites

Lay This Burden Down by Mary Love

Chelsea Girl by Simple Minds

It's Up To You by Ben Kweller

Is It A Dream by Miaoux Miaoux

Kitten With A Loaded Gun by Futuristic Retro Champions

Classic Line-Up by The Pastels

Hands of Time by Groove Armada

Snocaps

Cobra

Trust me #108
Cobra by Geese

Sometimes I discover a song, fall for it and then play it non-stop. And annoy my wife and daughters! I am happily guilty as charged. Sometimes you just find something that stops you dead in your tracks, causes you to turn up the volume and marvel at the melodies, delivery and sound. Right now, that song is unequivocally Cobra by Geese.

They are the band of the moment. Latest album Getting Killed, released at the end of September, is likely to be riding high in end of year lists, it certainly will be in mine. My friend Joe alerted me to their song Taxes prior to the albums release and we bagged tickets for their Barrowland shows next August as a result. It's quite rare for me to buy tickets so far in advance.

Then, when I saw Gigs in Scotland post that their SWG3 show in March had been upgraded to the Barrowland, I jumped on and bagged tickets straight away.

I've really fallen for the band and singer Cameron Winters. They seem to be prolific and in a rich vein of form. Check out Winters debut solo album Heavy Metal that he released in December 2024.

With Projector (2021), 3D Country (2023) and Getting Killed (2025), Geese are in the groove of releasing an album every couple of years. Hopefully something they can keep going after this years breakthrough and year long + touring schedule.

Photo by Galea McGregor

Cobra rides in on a slightly weird, wonky, woozy and delightfully playful riffs that somehow gel. Then Cameron Winters voice comes in, instantly grabbing attention. The use of baby in songs has been around for decades; sometimes it can be used at the wrong time, sometimes it can be overused, but when it's used at the right time and in the right way ... it really hits the mark. 

Baby, let me dance away, forever

Baby, let me dance away, forever and ever

Probably the 'poppiest' moment on the album, and at just over 3-minutes - the shortest, Cobra immediately has me reaching to turn up the volume when it comes on 6 Music. The station have championed Geese - good on them. The song builds naturally and beautifully with Winter seemingly ad libbing over his bands groove. 

You can get it on your own

You can make the cobras dance

But not me, yeah

Cobra is added to my Trust Me playlist; search for Everything Flows - Trust Me on Spotify or CLICK HERE. Check below for all previous blogs in my Trust Me series.

Previous Trust Me blogs

1. Something On Your Mind by Karen Dalton

1A. Crimson and Clover by Tommy James and the Shondells

2. I Am, I Said  by Neil Diamond

3. Where's The Playground Susie?   by Glen Campbell

4. If You Could Read My Mind by Gordon Lighfoot

5. Gimme Some Truth by John Lennon

6. Gone With The Wind Is My Love by Rita and the Tiaras

7. In The Year 2525 by Zager and Evans

8. The Music Box by Ruth Copeland

9. The Ship Song by Nick Cave

10. Sometimes by James

11. I Walk The Earth by King Biscuit Time

12. Didn't Know What I Was In For by Better Oblivion Community Centre

13. When My Boy Walks Down The Street by The Magnetic Fields

14. The Man Don't Give A F**k by Super Furry Animals

15. All Flowers In Time Bend Towards The Sun by Jeff Buckley and Liz Fraser

16. Are You Lookin' by The Tymes

17. A Real Hero by College & Electric Youth

18. Feelings Gone by Callum Easter

19. Sunday Morning by The Velvet Underground

20. Did I Say by Teenage Fanclub

21. Don't Look Back by Teenage Fanclub

22. Your Love Is The Place Where I Come From by Teenage Fanclub

23. Belfast by Orbital

24. Clouds by The Jayhawks

25. Dreaming Of You by The Coral

26. Everlasting Love by Love Affair

27. Walk Away Renee by The Left Banke

28. Teenage Kicks by The Undertones

29. Shaky Ground by Sneeze

29. Rill Rill by Sleigh Bells

30. I Can Feel Your Love by Felice Taylor

31. The State We're In by The Chemical Brothers w/ Beth Orton

32. Sunshine After The Rain by Ellie Greenwich

33. Losing My Edge by LCD Soundsystem

34. Mondo 77 by Looper

35. Les Fleurs by Minnie Riperton

36. Rat Trap by The Boomtown Rats

37. How High by The Charlatans

38. I Can't Let Go by Evie Sands

39. Pop Song 89 by R.E.M.

40. Summertime Clothes by Animal Collective

41. There She Goes by The Las

42. We're Going To Be Friends by White Stripes

43. Autumn Sweater by Yo La Tengo

44. Sister Rena by Lomond Campbell

45. Revolution by The Beatles

46. Lazarus by The Boo Radleys

47. Wrote For Luck by Happy Mondays

48. American Trilogy by The Delgados

49. Loser by Beck 

50. Silent Sigh by Badly Drawn Boy

51. Comedy by Shack

52. Take The Skinheads Bowling by Camper Van Beethoven

53. Freakscene by Dinosaur Jr

54. Thank You For Being You by The Pastels

55. I Think I'm In Love by Spiritualized

56. Chestnut Mare by The Byrds

57. Cannonball by The Breeders

58. Like A Rolling Stone by Bob Dylan

59. You Make Me Weak At The Knees by Electrelane

60. Lucky by Radiohead

61. Strange Currencies by R.E.M.

61. I Am The Cosmos by Chris Bell

62. Like A Ship (Without A Sail) by Pastor TL Barrett and the Youth for Christ Choir

63. Nothing But A Heartache by The Flirtations

64. Made of Stone by The Stone Roses

65. Tonight In Belfast by Orbital, David Holmes, DJ Helen and Mike Garry

66. Anything by Adrianne Lenker

67. I Hold Something In My Hand by Bill Ryder-Jones

68. I Meant Every Word by Burnett Sisters

69. Dream Baby Dream by Suicide

70. Stove by The Lemonheads

71. Red Lady by Phil Cordell

72. Little Fluffy Clouds by The Orb

73. I Can Do It With A Broken Heart by Taylor Swift

74. Turnin' My Heartbeat Up by The M.V.P.'s

75. Razzle Dazzle Rose by Camera Obscura

76. Such Great Heights by The Postal Service

77. The Rat by The Walkmen

78. My God Has A Telephone by Aaron Frazer

79. Unfinished Sympathy by Massive Attack

80. Sweet and Tender Romance by The McKinleys

81. Hoppipolla by Sigur Ros

82. 69 Police by David Holmes

83. Hey Lisa by David Holmes

84. I Am A Rock by Simon & Garfunkel

85. Kung Fu by Ash

86. Kids by MGMT

87. Slight Return by The Bluetones

88. Give Peace A Chance by John Lennon / Plastic Ono Band

89. Cut Your Hair by Pavement

90. Race for the Prize by The Flaming Lips

91. Waitin' for a Superman by The Flaming Lips

92. Acquiesce by Oasis

93. This Is Music by The Verve

94. Lone Swordsman by Daniel Avery

95. Sparky's Dream by Teenage Fanclub

96. Common People by Pulp

97. Let Our Love Grow Higher by Eula Cooper

98. Regret by New Order

99. Keep On Keepin' On by Nolan Porter

100. Sit Down by James (Live at G-Mex) by James

101. Never Lose Your Sense Of Wonder by Yeti

102. Just When You're Thinkin' Things Over by The Charlatans

103. Life Is Sweet by The Chemical Brothers 

104. How Can I Tell You (To Love Me More) by Brooke Coombe

105-107. Wigan Casino - Three Before Eight - Time Will Pass You By by Tobi Legend, Long After Tonight Is All Over by Jimmy Radcliffe, I'm On My Way by Dean Parrish

Mani R.I.P.

I started this blog last night, still in a state of shock from the news of Mani's death. The news of a hero dying is difficult to take. It feels surreal. I had photos of Mani on my wall, rocking his bass while playing live on the Other Side of Midnight, a performance that would be captured on the bands eponymous debut album sleeve. I had a big poster of the Roses memorably covered in paint, in homage to both Jackson Pollock and the Roses visit to the the offices of FM Revolver, where Mani and his mates covered owner Paul Birch in gloss paint. Payback for repeated re-releases of Sally Cinnamon and a shoddy video that didn't do the song or band justice.

Last night I lay in bed with headphones on watching YouTube clips of the Roses. I'll move on to the Scream in the coming days. But Mani was a Rose. He always will be.

In one of his last interviews, with Gary Kemp and Guy Pratt, for their Rockonteurs podcast (a great watch - see below), Mani talks openly of how hard life has been for him since the passing of his beloved wife Imelda a couple of years ago. He also laughs hard when reminiscing about the paint episode with Paul Birch.

Mani fucking loved the Roses. He talks so fondly of them all.

Towards the end of the podcast I cried a few tears as Mani spoke about both Weller and Marr wanting him to play with them and he said he felt he was ready to get out and play again. Sadly, we'll never see the loveable rogue on stage with his massive grin, never feel his rumbling, funky and/or pulsating bass.

I'm glad I caught him with the Roses, the Scream and even with Freebass over the years. 

Heroes can seem indestructible. Mani's death doesn't feel real. It can't be true. Reading obituaries and tributes feels surreal. 

It hit me this afternoon. I was driving home from lunch with my friend Elliott and Craig Charles started talking about Mani, telling a great tale of going out to one pub and then another with him. Oozing fond memories about Mani as a person and his love of life. Then he played Adored and tears fell from my eyes.

Photo by Kevin Cummins

Gary Mountfield, better known, and almost universally known as, Mani, was a larger than life character - on stage, on TV and in person. I know loads of people who met and hung out with Mani over the years - on European always for his beloved Manchester United, and in his native Manchester and second home (for a while) Glasgow. 

Nobody ever had a bad word to say about Mani. He was a delight to be around and was very much a people person. He enjoyed company, chat and antics. Everyone enjoyed his chat, company and antics, his energy was infectious, his cheeky smile was a delight. He had a unique vibe, beautifully positive and up for life.

I think Mani knew how his fans and friends adored him. That's a good thing.

Mani came to my attention through the Stone Roses, a band I described in this blog just last month as - the most perfect band I have ever fallen for. Their music, artwork, hair, clothes, personalities ... 

Mani, Glasgow Rooftops, 1989

I had the good fortune to meet Mani twice. In March 1999, when I ended up going for a couple of pints with him and his friend Phil (Smith, Oasis tour DJ) and then in the summer of 2012 in Amsterdam when I travelled to see one of the Roses first comeback shows.

I've reminisced about that first time (blog here) - when I went for a couple of pints with him one lunchtime after meeting him on Sauchiehall Street - several times since learning of his death. Some say you should never meet your heroes. I'm so glad I met Mani. He didn't have to invite me for a beer after I showed him to the pub he was looking for. He did.

Mani didn't have to answer all my questions about the Roses and the Scream. He did. He was buzzing for his bass on the Scream album that they were working on. Mani's bass was central and crucial to 2000's XTRMNTR. Who needs lead guitar when you have lead bass?!

I was tempted to run across the road to HMV, buy all the Roses records I could afford (even though I had them all) and ask Mani to sign them. But I didn't. (a) it wouldn't have been cool (b) I just basked in the warmth radiating from him.

Primal Scream were a perfect fit for Mani. The friendship he developed with Bobby Gillespie was natural and pure. They always came across as soul brothers. They could both party with the best of them. And by all accounts they did.

Mani was always likely to be the Rose who broke through the thorns to bring the band back together again. Everyone else had fallen out with each other. Their reunion came through heartbreaking circumstances, when difference were put to one side and they all attended Mani's Mums funeral.

No-one wanted a reunion more than Mani - he was very arguably the biggest Roses fan in the world.

The second time I met Mani was after the Roses played Amsterdam in June 2012. It was the night after Reni had walked off stage early. Mani was nursing a pint in a central square and looked like he might have been up all night. He made time for photos with people and I mentioned that we had shared a couple of pints in Glasgow years previously. He thanked me and posed for the photo below.

I loved his sweatshirt so much that my wife tracked one down for my Christmas that year. I still have it.

Look at the beautiful photo below of Mani super charged at Heaton Park. I was there on the Sunday and there were times when the camera honed in on Mani and he looked as if he was partying as much as the crowd :-) 

I'm so glad the Roses reformed and toured the world to make so many people happy.

I'm heartbroken by the news. in recent times I've enjoyed Mani's Instagram posts about the dinners he has been making. His humour shines through.

Tragically, Mani lost his beloved wife Imelda to cancer two years ago (almost to the day), at the age of just 53. They leave behind twin boys who are only 12. My thoughts go out to them, Mani's family, all those closest to him and all fellow fans who are feeling it. 

R.I.P. Mani. Thank you so much for your energy, passion and bass lines. 

The Teenage Fanclub Fanclub at The Doublet

The Teenage Fanclub Fanclub is a community I joined via the bands old message board that was on their website for a long, long time. There was daily content from fellow fans from across the globe - long running threads, humour, politics, the odd dash of football, music recommendations and the running joke during spells of inactivity ... check the news page!

As was the case with so many message boards, things navigated towards social media and the Teenage Fanclub Fanclub Facebook group has brought even more people together!

Over time, I've met and become friends with many fellow Fanclub Fanclub members. It's a very friendly and supportive community.

The Fanclub Fanclub has recorded a number of tribute albums over the years. I'm delighted and proud to have played a part in the recent What They Do To Me trilogy of tributes. Volume 3 (post Creation years, solo and side projects) came out earlier this year, largely thanks to the drive and patience of Gill Ross, along with the brilliant Mark Rolfe of Winnetka Records and a pool of talented fans.

Gill was determined to bring everyone together for a launch party and yesterday it happened! What an amazing day of music, friendship, community and generosity for a good cause. Proceeds from the album (available by donation), ticket sales and raffle proceeds all went to Tiny Changes.

Here is a little blog on what happened.

Bands assembled from 1pm and there was time for quick line checks, with the very lovely Kenny doing a grand job on sound engineer duties. Doors opened at 2.30pm and after a nice Guinness Zero and a blether outside in the sunshine, I was back in for Michael Vickers, who has designed the covers for the What They Do To Me trilogy, starting things off. 

Michael goes under the guise of My Cover Story and he chose his covers well - including Alison's Starting To Happen and Rudderless by The Lemonheads, Thirteen and The Ballad of El Goodo by Big Star. Michael's fingers danced effortlessly up and down his guitar and he also made clever use of a loop pedal.

Covering Slow Fade and Getting Real by Teenage Fanclub was joyful, but there was a surprise! Duglas T Stewart of the BMX Bandits joined Michael for a beautifully tender take on Serious Drugs. December closed a cracking set.

What a start to the day!

Seahorse Migration (amazing band name!) were on next. The duo of Neil and Matthew created some beautiful music, playing some of their own songs, some covers I didn't know - to the extent I messaged Neil to get his setlist, some I did and a couple of Fanclub numbers. 

Seahorse Migration setlist

Sweet Days Waiting (Fanclub), Survival Car (Fountains of Wayne), new song (namesless and original), Gun (Uncle Tupelo), Waving (Bevis Frond), another new song (also nameless and original), Head Rolls Off (Frightened Rabbit), Every Sweet Soul (Tobin Spout), Up The Wolves (Mountain Goats) and Speed of Light (Fanclub).

Seahorse Migration's take on Frightened Rabbit's Head Rolls Off was sublime, soulful and very apt given our choice of charity. Here we all were, alive, and making tiny changes to earth.

Neil, hailing from the Isle of Lewis, sounds amazing when he talks, even better when he sings. His friend Matthew on lead guitar coaxed all kinds of shimmery sounds and riffs. It was a lovely set and I hope he names and records his original songs. Check their covers. The Fountains of Wayne song is ace.

Next up was Beckie Rahman and friends, also known as the lo-fi hi 5. They recorded a swoon-y take on Lightships Sunlight To The Dawn for volume 3. It's very possibly my favourite Lightships song and I loved their chilled take on it. 

Joined by friends Sheila McConnell on harmonies and tambourine and Mairead Hughes Green on penny whistle, the lo-fi hi 5 melted hearts with their covers of The Beatles Blackbird and Something - helped out by the crowd for the guitar solo on the latter.

Planets by Teenage Fanclub oozed the kind of warmth required for a Sunday afternoon down the pub in November. Gorgeous. Beckie's friends had come over from Ireland and it is safe to say that they loved Glasgow and it was great when Mairead won a couple of prizes in the raffle later on. 

On to headliners Broken by Rock who had the added bonus of live drums to take things up a notch. Their set was laden with Fanclub songs to please the crowd.  

Broken by Rock setlist

Candyfloss (Jonny), Older Guys (Flying Burrito Brothers/Teenage Fanclub), It's All In My Mind, Start Again (Fanclub), Videostore (original), Radio (Fanclub)

Candyfloss off the superb Jonny album, that Norman and Euros released way back in 2011, got things off to a flyer with Alan's wife Rachel singing harmonies and backing vocals. Alan (guitar and vocals), Andrew (bass) and Derek (drums) raced through the set with a real zip. Videostore (blogged on here) may be my alt pop song of the year. It's super catchy and had people singing a-long. While Radio was an absolute joy - guitar power pop perfection. Alan has a naturally melodic voice and can turn his hand to anything - a top guy and musician.

Alan, Derek and I recorded under the guise of Acer Trees for the third of the tribute albums. I do hope to record an EP or mini-album of originals with them one day. We have exchanged demos.

In the meantime, I got to join Broken by Rock for a 4-song set of; Mellow Doubt, So Far Gone, Crush On You and then The Charlatans classic The Only One I Know. The trio are excellent musicians and it was a joy to practice and play with them. 

I was having fun with Jad Fair and the Fanclub's Crush On You and pointed to people in the crowd while singing I've got a crush on you ... only to turn and point to Alan's daughter! And then his wife! Very funny!A funky skiffle busk through The Only One I Know seemed to go down well with Alan, Andrew and Derek locking into the groove.

There was just time to play a suitable song to end the day. Broken by Rock were joined by members of two of Glasgow's hottest young bands - Ben and Christopher from Fatale and Becky from Vanderlye for harmonies, while Rachel was back for some melodica action.

Fatale (09/01) and Vanderlye (24/01) have both just announced headline shows at King Tuts in January.

The Concept is quintessential Teenage Fanclub. The guitars, the melodies, the harmonies, the humour ... Broken by Rock and guests captured all of that and more. Del's mini drum solo to usher in the extended outro was glorious. It was a fitting end to a very memorable day.

We have raised over £1,000 for Tiny Changes through album sales (donations), tickets and the raffle. I'll update this total once it is confirmed.

Thanks to all who contributed to the trilogy (we need to make it a quadruple - right?!), donated money and prizes, came down to The Doublet and got up and played.

Never Ending Mixtape part 104

Welcome to part 104 of my Never Ending Mixtape!

I started this blog/playlist/mixtape back in October 2016 with the simple intention of creating a playlist that I would add songs to on a regular basis and then blog about the latest additions every month.

There would be no thought to the structure of the playlist, unlike the mixtapes and CD's I would make in my younger days. I'd just add songs when I felt like it, depending on what I was listening to.

As a result, my Never Ending Mixtape jumps from 4,588 songs to 4,651 with the addition of a David Holmes remix of Delakota's I Think I Caught.

You'll find a few of the additions listed below. There are loads of new discoveries and new releases. Check the magnificently named Kids On A Crime Spree! (Pictured above under The Beatles)

Search for Everything Flows Never Ending Mixtape on Spotify or CLICK HERE

Recent discoveries

Liquid Gold 25 by Jacob Alon

Rainbow Chaser by Nirvana

Look At The Sun by Felt 

I Don't Want to Call You Baby ... Baby by Kids On A Crime Spree

Feeling Fine by Ocie Elliott

New releases

Happy With You by Big Thief

How Can I Tell You by Brook Coombe

Brand New Me by Saint Etienne

Everybody Laughs by David Byrne

If I Had A Boat by Kieron Hebden and William

Cobra by Geese

One Hand Free by Ezra Furman

Old favourites

Feel Good Inc by Gorillaz and De La Soul

Half the World Away by Oasis

Everybody'a Gotta Live by Arthur Lee

Drivin' on 9 by The Breeders

She's A Rainbow by The Rolling Stones

Hey Bulldog by The Beatles

Keep Your Dreams by Primal Scream

Fatale at McChuills

Fatale played their first ever headline show at McChuills on Friday night - Halloween. As singer Ben Robertson pointed out when thanking everyone for coming, it felt like the band had come full circle. McChuills was where they played their first gig, back in May. Now, just shy of 6-months later, they had sold it out.

After playing King Tuts Summer Nights in July, a venture through to Edinburgh in September and then Tenement Trail in October, it definitely feels like Fatale are on the rise.

Tenement Trail was great, but this was the best I have seen the band. A headline slot gave them longer to play with, so a packed McChuills was treated to a 45-minute, 11-song set.

Making the most of the screen behind the stage, Fatale came on and fuzzed up their guitars for opening number September. The visuals of logos behind them added to the vibe and a hyped up, dressed up Halloween crowd were well up for it. There was a definite sense of occasion to the night.

The Vaselines Molly's Lips was played next and they tore through it, Robertson was in the crowd at times, bouncing a-long with them. Another Sunrise, with the brilliant hook I'm going out tonight, is becoming more familiar to me with every gig. Definite future single potential.

Speaking of hooks and single potential, new song By The Tide is another that I look forward to hearing again soon. The hook I don't care about what's going on is one I would have loved to have sung as a teenager, but it feels just as relevant to me now. 

A cover of the Mary Chain's Taste of Cindy was a glorious riot. Scuzzed and fuzzed up guitars. Top marks to the couple (pictured below - parents of Adam from support band Bogle) dressed as Jesus and Mary Chained! 

Bogle were on first and their set mixed songs that sounded like early Pink Floyd with songs that sounded like the early Ride EP's. They can play! I'm way more into Ride than Floyd, so those songs were my personal favourites. I really enjoyed their dreamy shoegazey guitars and harmonies. I'll hopefully write a blog on them sometime soon. Their debut EP Shimmer Guitar Pop was aptly named. Also hailing from Lanarkshire, I hope to catch them again soon.

Speaking of Jesus Christ, Fatale singer Ben Robertson had been wandering around dressed as Christ (or now I come to think of it - was he Caesar?)  earlier. He had changed into stagewear for the show but kept his crown of thorns on. I assumed it was Christ because of Fatale's brilliant song Jesus Christ - a song that left its mark on me after I first heard it back at their Tuts show in the summer.

The guitars of Euan and Christopher collide gloriously, there are more hooks than Rocky Bilbao fighting at his peak. Most bands would love to have the verses to this tunes as choruses! The bridges/pre-chorus are even catchier and then there is the chorus itself;

Jesus Christ knocked on my door

Just let me sleep ten minutes more

Coming out with songs of praise

Righteousness lost in the haze

With Han Solo (James) driving things along furiously and beautifully on drums and bassist Oscar in the groove, this is a delicious slice of guitar punk pop. 

How could I hold my head up when you're down

How can I stand the world when you're not around

The little fuzz bass break after the middle eight is superb. Then it's straight back into the chorus for a final blast. Think God Knows It's True era Fanclub meeting The Undertones for a couple of pints of Guinness and then having a jam. Catchy guitar brilliance.

Ending with their (fast becoming) traditional one-two of their demos (CHECK THEM HERE) and currently the only material they have released.

I'd never have thought that The Velvets Femme Fatale would become a sing-a-long anthem for teenagers in 2025, but Fatale are making it one! Their (largely young) crowd lapped it up.

Ben announced that set closed Moves You will be released as their debut single in the very near future. The band tore through it, slowing things beautifully for a breakdown. 

Understand what I'm going through, tried to paint, but it's never you

Understand what I'm going through, tried to paint, but it's never you

It's never you

After another chorus and searing and soaring guitar solo, it's back into the groove with a verse and the catchy hook that is the chorus.  

Keep an eye on Fatale's Instagram for updates.