Profiles
Roberta Flack
Nick Dent-Robinson pays tribute to legendary soul singer Roberta Flack, who died in February
Sharks
With a new box set ‘Car Crash Supergroup – The Island Years 1973-1974’ being released on Cherry Red, Eoghan Lyng looks back at the early career of seminal cult act Sharks
14 Iced Bears
Dave Goodwin reflects on two John Peel Sessions from indie band 14 Iced Bears which have been released on vinyl by Precious Recordings of London.
Big Feastival
Nick Dent-Robinson previews this year’s Big Feastival in Oxfordshire which will include a star-studded Britpop Classical session as well as performances from Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Travis, Faithless and Maximo Park.
Marianne Faithfull
Nick Dent-Robinson reflects on the life and career of Marianne Faithfull, who died on the 30th January.
Laura Nyro
With the release of a new box set that collects together all ten of her albums plus extras, Eoghan Lyng assesses the career of still under-rated American singer-songwriter Laura Nyro.
Predictions
Nick Dent-Robinson picks three UK female artists who he believes are destined for big success before the end of 2025.
Johny Brown
John Clarkson reflects on Band of Holy Joy frontman Johny Brown's new book, 'Corpse Flower'.
Bob Dylan
Lisa Torem enjoys new Bob Dylan biopic, ‘A Complete Unknown,’ but still has burning questions about the Nobel Prize Winner’s legacy.
Alan Edwards
Alan Edwards’s career in music PR spanned the glory days of rock and pop, and his memoir is a great read, says Nick Dent-Robinson
Richard Houghton
Zena Greig finds Richard Houghton’s new book ‘Cropredy Caper - Another People’s History of Fairport Convention’ to be a heartwarming chronicle of the iconic band and its annual Cropredy Convention.
Autumn 1904
We preview our forthcoming gig at at The Wee Red Bar at the Edinburgh College of Art on the 1st November which will feature a headline set from Autumn 1904 who will be playing their first home city gig in almost forty years and support from The Normans and Eve Davidson.
Herbie Flowers
Nick Dent-Robinson pays tribute to influential bassist Herbie Flowers, who died in September.
John Mayall
Nick Dent-Robinson commemorates blues titan John Mayall, who spearheaded a whole movement of musicians.
Beach Boys
Eoghan Lyng says about new film documentary 'The Beach Boys', “older fans might get a kick from the nostalgia,” but the documentary “will appeal to newcomers,” too.
Anita Pallenberg
Sympathy for the Pallenberg? Nick Dent-Robinson gives his verdict on the new documentary.
Nige Tassell
Acclaimed music writer Nige Tassell turns his attention to folk – soul alchemists Dexy’s Midnight Runners in an impressive biography. Eoghan Lyng reviews
Cliff Richard and The Shadows
Bob Nicholson enjoys the new release of Cliff Richard and The Shadows' Final Reunion tour from 2009. but asks why it is so belated and asks if recording remotely can ever replace working in a studio together.
Dodson and Fogg
Malcolm Carter reflects on two new stunning albums from Chris Wade (aka Dodson and Fogg, which showcase all sides to his many talents.
Steve Harley
Nick Dent-Robinson pays tribute to Cockney Rebel frontman Steve Harley, who died in March.
Nico
Eoghan Lyng examines the late 60's/early 70's career of Nico and the recent reissue of her two albums. 'The Marble Index' and 'Desertshore'.
Simon Heavisides
John Clarkson examines Simon Heavisides' sympathetic biography of Sound frontman and solo artist Adrian Borland
Mary McGlory and Sylvia Saunders
Nick Dent-Robinson enjoys Mary McGlory and Sylvia Saunders’ new book about their experiences in The Liverbirds, one of the few UK all-girls 60’s groups.
Harvey Lee
Eoghan Lyng enjoys entrepreneur Harvey Lee's book about his business experiences in rock.
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.
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
Mad Cool Festival
Philamonjaro previews this year's big names Mad Cool Festival in Madrid in Spain.
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'.