Profiles
Johny Brown
We preview our next London Bands' Night which will feature The Band of Holy Joy's Johny Brown, Hector Gannet and Idiot Son's Andy Thompson.
Lulu
Nick Dent-Robinson looks back on the career of Scottish singer Lulu, who has recently announced that her forthcoming 'Champagne for Lulu' tour will be her final tour.
Mad Cool Festival
Philamonjaro previews this year's big names Mad Cool Festival in Madrid in Spain.
Harvey Lee
Eoghan Lyng enjoys entrepreneur Harvey Lee's book about his business experiences in rock.
David Hamilton Golland
Eoghan Lyng reflects on a new book by David Hamilton Golland about piano balladeering 1970's/1980's American rock band Journey
Annie Nightingale
Nick Dent-Robinson pays tribute to Annie Nightingale, who was the first female DJ on Radio One,
Priscilla
Nick Dent-Robinson finds Sofia Coppola’s new film ‘Priscilla’ about the relationship and marriage of Priscilla and Elvis Presley uncomfortable viewing.
Squaring the Circle: The Story of Hipgnosis
Maarten Schiethart finds the new documentary by Anton Corbijn ‘Squaring The Circle' about the Hipgnosis sleeve design company striking.
Hardcore Never Dies
Maarten Schiethart introduces us to an unusual Dutch crime drama set against a 1990s hardcore rave backdrop.
John Lennon
Nick Dent-Robinson assesses a new three-part documentary from Apple TV+ about the murder of John Lennon.
Mars Williams
Lisa Torem recollects meeting, interviewing and enjoying Chicago-based saxophonist Mars Williams’s music and endearing personality over the years.
Beatles
Nick Dent-Robinson reflects upon the Beatles' much anticipated new single, 'Now and Then'.
Cliff Richard
Bob Nicholson examines a new memoir from Cliff Richard in which he reflects upon thirty of the songs that have had the most influence on him.
Kenneth Womack
Eoghan Lyng assesses Kenneth Womack's latest book about Beatles road manager Mal Evans.
Dan Callahan
Eoghan Lyng reflects on Dan Callahan’s ambitious new book about Bing Crosby and some of the other major artists of the 1940 and 1950s.
Pennyblackmusic
Some of Pennyblackmusic's favourite artists and labels help us celebrate our 25th Anniversary by sending us their birthday greetings.
Pennyblackmusic
Our writers list some of their favourite interviews of the last 25 years.
Pennyblackmusic
Some of our writers and photographers reflect on their Pennyblackmusic highlights.
Geoff Davies
Steve Kinrade pays personal tribute to Geoff Davies, the manager of the legendary Liiverpudlian-based record shop and label Probe Records. who died in September.
Robbie Robertson
Nick Dent-Robinson reflects on the career of Band frontman, film composer and solo artist Robbie Robertson who died aged 80 on the 9th August.
Swansea Sound
We preview our 25th Anniversary gig which will take place with Swansea Sound. Keiron Phelan & Peace Signs and The Volunteered at The Water Rats in London on the 28th October 2023.
Sinead O' Connor
Zena Greig reflects on the career of Sinead O: Connor, who died aged 56 in July.
Squaring the Circle: The Story of Hipgnosis
Nick Dent-Robinson watches a new documentary about pioneering design company Hipgnosis, which was responsible for many iconic album covers from the late 1960s until the early 1980s.
Paul McCartney
Nick Dent=Robinson attends a new exhibition of photographs taken by Paul McCartney during The Beatles' rise to fame over for months between 1963 and 1964.
Doris Brendel and Lee Dunham
Nick Dent-Robinson previews Doris Brendel and Lee Dunham's forthcoming new album, 'Pigs Might Fly', which will be released in September.
The Times They-Are-A-Changing
Bob Nicholson reflects upon the themes and lyrics of several pop songs of the late 1950s and early 1960s, which, while innocent then, seem much more debatable now\
Tina Turner
A true legend, Tina Turner who has died at the age of 83 emerged in the 1960s rhythm and blues era and following her mid-1980s re-emergence was hailed the Queen of Rock N’ Roll. Nick Dent-Robinson pays tribute.
William E. Spevack
[subhead] Noting and commenting on a band’s every album and song involves a lot of facts but how much fun can you squeeze in too? Fiona Hutchings checks out the new addition to the Sonicbond Publishing libraryon Green Day.
David Paton
Fiona Hutchings has no idea if David Paton’s life story will be magic or not but she gives it a go anyway,
Don Short
Nick Dent-Robinson pays tribute to pioneering music and show business reporter Don Short, who has died aged 90.
Harry Belafonte
Nick Dent-Robinson reflects on the career of singer, actor and civil rights campaigner Harry Belafonte, who died in April at the age of 96.
Various
Eoghan Lyng is impressed by 'Pleased', a new anthology of short stories, each of which have been inspired by The Beatles' 'Please Please Me'.
Stories on Songs
'Baby boomer' Bob Nicholson, enjoyed popular music of the late 50’s and early 60’s; he didn’t learn life lessons from their messages, but considers the songs 'all good'.
Luca Perasi
Eoghan Lyng profiles Italian author Luca Perasi's impeccably researched book on the stories behind Paul McCartney's songs.
Fairport's Cropredy Convention
Nick Dent-Robinson previews this year’s Faiport’s Cropredy Convention, which, as well as Fairport Convention, will also include sets from Chic, 10CC, Toyah, Kiki Dee and the final ever UK performance by The Strawbs.
Bathers
We preview our gig with The Bathers and The Cowboy Mouth at The Wee Red Bar in Edinburgh on the 14th April.
Burt Bacharach
Nick Dent-Robinson pays tribute to composer, songwriter, record producer and pianist Burt Bacharach who died this month.
Jeff Beck
Nick Dent-Robinson pays tribute to guitar legend Jeff Beck, who died in January at the age of 78.
Soup Dragons
Fiona Hutchings checks out Precious records’ four latest 10 inch classic BBC radio sessions. This time it’s The Soup Dragons on the turntable
Big Feastival
Nick Dent-Robinson previews Blur star Alex James’ annual family festival The Big Feastival, which will include sets from Sigrid, Tom Grennan, Blossoms, Mel C and The Vaccines.
Alan Rankine
'Hungry Beat' co-author and 'Big Gold Dream' director Grant McPhee reflects on working with and interviewing Associates' keyboardist and guitarist Alan Rankine, who died on the 3rd January.
Festival Guide
Nick Dent-Robinson looks at some of the highlights of this year's summer festivals
Heist
We preview our next London gig which will take place at The Water Rats on the 31st March with Heist, the black watch and Moon Under Water.
Jet Black
Denzil Watson pays tribute to Stranglers' drummer Jet Black who died in December.
Christine McVie
Julie Cruickshank reflects on the career of Fleetwood Mac keyboardist Christine McVie who died in November.
Bathers
We preview our first gig of 2023 which will take place at The Wee Red Bar in Edinburgh on the 25th March with The Bathers, the black watch (acoustic solo) and Stephen McLaren.
Professor Elemental
Professor Elemental always likes to keep it eclectic but even mega fan Fiona Hutchings is surprised by the number of plans he has bubbling away at the moment, which include collaborationss to a boardgame to working with a neuroscientist via a dark techno fetish night,
Opher Goodwin
Longtime Beefheart enthusiast Opher Goodwin has researched and written an essential reference work for fans old and new. Nicky Crewe takes us through the pages
Jerry Lee Lewis
Lisa Torem recalls the positive effects that Jerry Lee Lewis had on her musical career and why he should be forever remembered.
Beatles
Julie Cruickshank reflects on a mystery surrounding The Beatles playing her home town of Romford in Essex twice in 1963 and Ringo Starr's stepfather Harry Graves who came from there
Kevan Furbank
Malcolm Carter finds that Managing Editor of the Irish Daily Mirror and author of music books Kevan Furbank has issued a fact-filled and entertaining paperback of that most crucial year in music 1967.
Ain't That Always The Way
In the first part of a two-part feature on Alan Horne's career after the implosion of his influential record label Postcard Records, 'Big Gold Dream' director and 'Hungry Beat' co-author Grant McPhee looks at his short-lived follow-up label Swamplands.
Ain't That Always The Way
In the second part of his feature on the latter career of indie record label owner Alan Horne, Grant McPhee looks at his resurrection of Postcard Records twice, firstly in the early 1990s and again in 2021
Prolapse
When is a reissue worth buying? Fiona Hutchings isn’t entirely sure. as she reflects upon the new vinyl version of Prolapse's 1994 debut album 'Pointless Walks To Dismal Places'.
Ash Gray and the Burners
Nicky Crewe experiences all the excitement of Ash Gray and the Burners’ latest album, 'LIVE 55', which, out in December, was recorded live at The Dorothy Pax in Sheffield.
Bob Gruen and Leee Black Childers
Dastardly travels to the D'Stassi gallery in Shoreditch to hear legendary rock photographer Bob Gruen talk about some of the iconic images on display in a new exhibiton.