Adventures on the High Teas - In Search of Middle England

Following on from Cider with Roadies and Pies & Prejudice, Adventures on the High Teas - In Search of Middle England is due for launch on 5th March 2009. Can Stuart Maconie make it a trio of excellent books?

As with Pies & Prejudice - In Search of the North, Stuart goes on a journey of discovery - trying to find the real 'Middle England.'

"Is Middle England about tradition and decency or closed minds and bigotry? Is it maypoles and evensong, or flooded market towns and binge drinkers in the park? Stands the church clock still at ten to three, and is there honey still for tea? And is Slough really as bad as Ricky Gervais and John Betjeman make out? Does Middle England hark all the way back to Arthurian legend and Merrie England, or is it a modern concept borne of Top Gear and Princess Diana? From Shakespeare to JK Rowling, Vaughan Williams to Craig David, William Morris to B&Q, "Morte D'Arthur" to "Midsomer Murders", Stuart Maconie leads the expedition, with plenty of stop-offs for tea and pastries, to discover the truth".

Perhaps his book jacket copy is getting a bit formulaic, but I'm sure he will come through with the goods.

30 years in an open neck shirt

The Seven Oaks (fortunately not Paddy's Goose) is the start venue for the latest Open Neck Shirt event on Friday 28th November 2008. The usual suspects will be in attendance apart from Mr Clark who is away supporting a southern team in France.

Really 30 Years is quite an achievement for the boys - let the celebrations commence.

Albums of 2008

The best of 2008.

1. Paul Weller -22 Dreams

2. Elbow - Seldom Seen Kid

3. Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes

4. Lykke Li - Youth Novels

5. Last Shadow Puppets - The Age of Understatement

6. Emiliana Torrini -Me and Armini

7. Noah & the Whale – Peaceful the World Lays Me Down

8. The Verve – Forth

9. TV on the Radio – Dear Science

10. David Byrne & Brian Eno – Everything That Happens Will Happen Today

Everything That Happens Will Happen Today

David Byrne and Brian Eno and have recently finished their first collaboration in about 30 years. The name of the new record is 'Everything That Happens Will Happen Today'.

The album is available exclusively from this Web site. You can listen to all of the songs for free or purchase it in a variety of digital and physical formats. All formats can be downloaded immediately and physical CDs will be available soon. Enjoy!

The Word Magazine Album Map

Interesting developments on the Word Magazine website, they've added an album map.
The map in typical Google Maps fashion pinpoints the spots where iconic album cover photographs were taken. You can zoom in by double-clicking an area of the map or by using the slider on the left hand side. Click on a blue marker to see details of that album.
Some recommended locations for music connoisseurs are:

• The Smiths - The Queen is Dead
• Microdisney - The Clock Comes Down The Stairs
• London Calling - The Clash
• Heaven Up Here - Echo & The Bunnymen
• Coles Corner - Richard Hawley (It's not Sheffield)
• Spring Hill Fair - The Go-Betweens

But don't stop there - you can add your own favourites to the map. It's really simple to do - well for some people....
http://www.wordmagazine.co.uk/album_atlas/

By the way, there is a Summer Open Neck shirt on Friday 25 July 2008, I might go along...

Poor Rochdale

You have got to feel sorry for Rochdale fans. The club have played since 1974 in the Football League's bottom division, currently entitled League Two. This is the longest time any team has been in the bottom division of the football league. Rochdale looked as though they might finally escape from the endless disappointment, but lost 3-2 to Stockport in the in 2nd Division play off final at Wembley.

I have enjoyed many days out at Spotland as a Wigan Athletic supporter - we usually won. But if I had been born in Rochdale I would have been a Rochdale supporter and what a thankless cause that would be. However, I have a great respect for those who support their local clubs. You have to be a dedicated to support a team like Rochdale. It would be so easy to support Man Utd or Cheslea or one of the other big four. Respect to Rochdale and good luck next season.

The Wonderful North

The splendidly titled 'The Wonderful North’ at http://www.thewonderfulnorth.com/ is an innovative public art project created by digital media agency Numiko with Leeds-based artists Bryan and Laura Davies. The ‘Online Expo’ is a virtual art exhibition that communicates the artists’ experiences of the North gained during a month-long road trip undertaken in January 2008. The Davies toured the North; meeting the public and researching some of the regions’ popular landmarks and hidden treasures before creating the exhibition. The artists have created the ‘Expo’ to showcase their art.

The result is a series of themed virtual pavilions dedicated to ‘Geography’,‘Culture’, ‘Economy’, ‘Society’ and ‘International’, each containing 20 exhibits that convey the artists’ ideas about the things they have seen and experienced, indexing the background to their inspiration alongside the exhibits. The exhibition focuses on issues that pertain to the changing nature of everyday life in the North, such as new housing and architecture, transport infrastructure, established industries and traditions as well the current push for regeneration through cultural landmarks.

Public participation and ‘real world’ interaction are central to the Wonderful North project. The project focused on suggestions made by registered users during the road trip to guide the artists on their journey in which they met people and visited places nominated by the public.
Check out the site at http://www.thewonderfulnorth.com/

The Coming of the Messiah

To mass hysteria, not unlike Christ's entrance into Jerusalem - Kevin Keegan has been hailed as the new Newcastle United Manager and the saviour to all their endless suffering.
After a few months immersed in the madness that is north-east football, Mike Ashley Newcastle's owner, is sufficiently confused to give in to the clamour of the Geordie fans.
The appointment may not ultimately end in a crucifixion, but it will certainly end in tears.

The Keegan age has gone, football has moved on since Keegan was last in charge. The Big 4 dominate the game in England and Newcastle are unlikely to win a trophy in the forseeable future. And do not forget King Kev didn't win anything the first time around. Football Fans en masse are often like over excited children and Geordie fans in particular are the most delusional of any in the Premier League. The disappointment will be palpable.

Albums of 2007

I thought I'd get in early this year, before all the crits have their say.

1. Arcade Fire - Neon Bible

2. Cherry Ghost - Thirst for Romance

3. The Decemberists - Crane Wife

4. Editors - An End Has A Start

5. Laura Veirs - Saltbreakers

6. Artic Monkeys -Favourite Worst Nightmare

7. Richard Hawley -Lady’s Bridge

8. The New Pornographers - Challengers

9. Edwyn Collins - Home Again

10. LCD Sound System - Sound of Silver

What do you think?

I look forward to your lists....

Open Neck Shirt November 2007

Open Neck Shirt 2007 will commence this Friday 16 November at 1.15pm in the Salutation Public House, All Saints , Manchester, England.

Enjoy!

http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.srf?x=384210&y=396896&z=0&ar=Y

Still Worth Seeing Live?

Still worth seeing live - which musicians have stood the test of time?
Who would you still go and see after all these years?

I'm afraid some groups are just past their 'sell out by date'. The Police, Pink Floyd and Status Quo now provide a cabaret for the over 60's. They really should forget it.

I recently saw the Blue Nile at the Bridgewater Hall and they certainly managed to recapture their heyday, but as you may know the Blue Nile are hardly the most animated group on stage.

I think Talking Heads could still cut it, I saw David Byrne a couple of years ago and he still has an incredible creative energy. Elvis Costello is another who can still rock it, when he sees fit.

Howard Devoto and Magazine would be worth seeing, especially if they could re-create the ground breaking 'Real Life. Although Howard and friends probably decided years ago that it was best not to remake some 'Secondhand Daylight'.

I suppose the Jam would be incredibly popular, but I can’t see Paul Weller getting back together with Bruce Foxton & Rick Buckler.

The Smiths would be an unlikely reunion given their acrimonious split, but if the original line up did get back together, I'm sure they could hack it.

My personal favourite would be Cathal Coughlan, at the controls with Microdisney or raging with the Fatima Mansions, either incarnation would be a very special event.

Cathal Coughlan - Only Losers Take The Bus

Cherry Ghost - Thirst for Romance

How could anybody from Bolton be this talented?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXi6hg90LUU

The Return of Phil 'the Swagman' Sorah

The Return of the Swagman.

Rumour has it that Phil 'from down under' Sorah is due to return to dear old blighty on October 15.

After three years in the outback, Phil and his Jillaroo Margaret have decided to return to the northern hemisphere and what we like to call civilisation.

If all goes plan Phil will be joining us at the next Open Neck Shirt on Friday 16 November 2007.

I'm sure we are all looking forward to hear his stories of how he wrestled crocodiles and had to eat witchitty grubs.

Welcome back the Swagman.

MyFootballClub

Well I've finally gone and done it....I've bought a share in a football club. Bizarrely it's not Wigan - I can't afford a Premier League club and Mr Whelan is running things quite nicely - I've signed up for a share in 'MyFootballClub' http://www.myfootballclub.co.uk/

Perhaps for the first time in football history, fans have been given the opportunity to buy and then take control of a professional football club – both on and off the pitch. Every MyFootballClub member has an equal say in team selection, player transfers and the running of the club. Members own the club through their MyFootballClub Trust, and together will attempt to guide the football club to success.

I have chosen Halifax for several reasons: firstly, both my children were born in Halifax hospital, secondly, Halifax are on the verge of financial extinction - see http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/halifax_town/6975489.stm

and thirdly, they fit the criteria of a lower league club with the potential for expansion.

The most popular club, as voted for by MyFootballClub members, and the one that most closely meets the following criteria, will be purchased:

• 51% or more of the football club shares can be bought
• There is none, or a manageable debt
• The club has the potential to reach the Premiership
• The size of the stadium and the availability of public transport
• The club is amenable to our approach

When you pay your membership fee, you will become a member of the MyFootballClub Trust. The Trust will purchase a controlling interest in the football club, in effect making you a joint owner of your football club. The MyFootballClub membership fee is £35. £27.50 will go towards purchasing a football club, buying new players and other club expenditure. £7.50 will go towards the administration of the MyFootballClub Trust and the building and management of the MyFootballClub website.

Looks like Fantasy Football can become a reality. Why not sign up and maybe save Halifax Town in the process.

Tony Wilson

Relecting on the life and times of Tony Wilson, I think it is only right and appropriate that there is a tribute on the open neck shirt blog.

BoredByTheBig4

There is a strong feeling that monopoly power is condemning the ideal of the people's game to an early twenty-first century grave. Not only do the 'Big 4' have the Premiership and Cups to themselves year after year, the rich runners-up Euro league guarantees them wealth in perpetuity. And as for the TV, radio and back pages, they fill the lot. I know that many of you are supporters of the 'Big 4', particularly Man Utd, but I think it is time for a re-assessment of how the power is divided. The T shirt entrepreneurs Philosophy Football have produced a special T shirt to highlight the problem at http://www.philosophyfootball.com/
Some of you may want to join the fans resistance with the Club 88 second choice strip.

Hitlers Sheffield Utd Suffer Their Downfall

A meisterwerk....

The Summer Open Neck Shirt 2007

The Summer Open Neck Shirt will commence at Dukes 92 in Castlefield, Manchester, England

at 12.45 on Friday 13 July 2007.
Full location details at: http://www.dukes92.com/location.php
See you there...

A Conversation....

harry

just had a look at the blog, very interesting mate, good work.
excellent weather isn't it ?
went to see a french thriller called "tell no one" yesterday, very good indeed.
didn't watch much glastonbury but really enjoyed the arctic monkeys on friday night although i was a bit drunk.
nice to see you last wed, turned into a very nice evening and the loch fyne oyster bar was excellent, hope the office move has gone well.

peter

Pete,

Glad you enjoyed the blog - I've had an email from Clarkey, I think he's interested in joining us on the 13th. Do we have an itinerary yet? I think it would be good to take in the Festival Pavilion at some point. Good to see you as well - went to the X Keys again on Thursday. Office move isn't until mid July - just planning where everyone will sit at the moment.

Cheers Harry
PS Let me know when we have an itinerary and I will blog it!

harry
itinerary ?
don't really know. meet about 12.30-1.00 is
if the weather is okay then somewhere outside like dukes 92 would be good.
visit festival pavilion.
eat something.
go home not too late.
i haven't heard anything from clarky.
i'm on hols next week but will concentrate on details upon my return and e mail people.
bought the editors cd yesterday, very good indeed.

cheers
peter