It’s almost like the UK’s right-wing press doesn’t actually reflect public opinion but instead the fevered imaginations of a very small group of sociopaths.

YouGov@yougov.co.uk · 8mo ago

Opposition to the United States' military action against Iran has risen by 10pts among Britons over the last week Support: 25% (-3 from 2 March) Oppose: 59% (+10) yougov.com/en-gb/daily-...

Can't wait for the AMW episode of 24 Hours in Police Custody.

What a great birthday present for Andrew Mountbatte-Windsor.

New Keenan is on the way. A cause for celebration in these terrifying times.

David Keenan@reversediorama.bsky.social · last yr.

Had a blast touring Boyhood around our favourite booksellers in Glasgow and Edinburgh over the last few days. Thank you all for bringing the magic and enthusiasm. What a vibe x @whiterabbitbks.bsky.social

Very sad news

Carol-Anne Lennie@carolannelennie.bsky.social · 10mo ago

A message from Eliza Carthy about her dad, #MartinCarthy

Rob Reiner's America will be the one that endures. Trump's America, on the other hand, is a death cult.

Terrible news. 51 is no age. D'Angelo was not prolific, but all three of his albums - Brown Sugar, Voodoo and Black Messiah - are masterpieces. The greatest soul star of the past 30 years? He has to be a strong contender. www.theguardian.com/music/2025/o...

D’Angelo, Grammy-winning neo-soul pioneer, dies aged 51

Singer known for tracks such as Brown Sugar and Untitled (How Does It Feel) died at home from pancreatic cancer

theguardian.com

This is not a drill. The things we said would happen, are happening.

Athena Kugblenu@athenakugblenu.bsky.social · last yr.

Free speech www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

AKA the next much-loved artist I will singularly fail to get tickets for (although delighted they are returning to service after so long). www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Radiohead to tour for first time in seven years

The revered band will play four nights at London's O2 Arena in November as part of a European tour.

bbc.co.uk

My last living musical hero is still my hero but unfortunately no longer living. RIP to the great, great Mr. Tom Lehrer.

An extraordinary artist. An amazing life. And a lovely person to boot. Farewell to the great Cleo Laine. www.theguardian.com/music/2025/j...

Cleo Laine, Britain's most successful jazz singer, dies aged 97

Versatile singer straddled jazz, classical, pop and musical theatre with four-octave range, and collaborated for decades with husband, John Dankworth

theguardian.com

A cause for celebration in these terrible times. Solo or with VDGG, the Hammill live experience is without equal.

Peter Hammill@sofasound.bsky.social · last yr.

About time too you might say. In September/October I'll be doing my first solo UK shows since 2018. Details at sofasound.com

Van Morrison, 80 in August, remains in astonishingly fine voice. From best-in-years new LP Remembering Now, Stretching Out is a classic Van evocation, recalling milestones like Ancient Highway (from 1995's Days Like This) and Summertime in England (1980's Common One). www.youtube.com/watch?v=0I-H...

Stretching Out

YouTube video by Van Morrison - Topic

youtube.com

“A mind still happiest when noodling around with sounds on a lavish scale.” I think the last time I cried at a gig was watching #BrianWilson at the Royal festival hall in 2011. Goodbye to a remarkable talented man. samiraahmed.blog/brian-wilson...

RIP #SlyStone. One of the greatest of all time. Go listen to Stand!, There's A Riot Goin' On and Fresh to be reminded of his genius. www.theguardian.com/music/2025/j...

Sly Stone, pioneering funk and soul musician, dies aged 82

American songwriter lit up generations of dancefloors with his group Sly and the Family Stone

theguardian.com

Martin Bell is spot on here. Cutting back the World Service seems like a colossal act of self-sabotage, and especially difficult to justify at a time when reliable news is at a premium in so many countries. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Having risked my life in war zones for the BBC, I know this: cuts to the World Service will be disastrous | Martin Bell

In an age of disinformation, our broadcaster is trusted to find and tell the truth. Now more than ever we need it, says former reporter, MP and Unicef ambassador, Martin Bell

theguardian.com

VERY classy touch by BBC Sounds to release a Dolby Atmos version of Matthew Sweet’s superb new Ray Dolby documentary. Dolby, of course, celebrates its 60th birthday in 2025. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

Artworks - Surrounded by Sound: Ray Dolby and the Art of Noise Reduction (Dolby Atmos Version) - BBC Sounds

Matthew Sweet discovers the life and work of Ray Dolby, inventor of Dolby Noise Reduction.

bbc.co.uk

And, in keeping with tradition, we have a Pope accused of covering up sexual abuse in the church.

It was a pleasure speaking with Joseph Patel about the extraordinary Sly Lives! doc - one of the most thrilling and insightful docs of recent years.

tvbeurope.bsky.social@tvbeurope.com · last yr.

A new documentary about Sly Stone reinforces his influence on a half-century of popular music. @ddaviesscribe10.bsky.social speaks to producer Joseph Patel about a film whose themes feel highly resonant in 2025 www.tvbeurope.com/production-p...

There was some wonderful programming to mark VE Day, but this ep of Front Row - presented by @samiraahmeduk.bsky.social and featuring contribs from @kategarnermusic.bsky.social, Michael Billington etc - was exceptional. A vivid snapshot of the arts emerging out of WWII. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

BBC Radio 4 - Front Row, A snapshot of culture on VE Day 1945

The music, books, films and theatre that defined VE Day 1945.

bbc.co.uk

This is shaping up to be one of the more exciting Proms seasons for some time. The attention given to Ravel and Shostakovich is very welcome, as is the somewhat reduced exposure of Beethoven, who has arguably been over-represented in recent years. www.theguardian.com/music/2025/a...

BBC announces 2025 Proms lineup – including first female-fronted Last Night

The 86 concerts this summer will include anniversary celebrations of Shostakovich, Ravel and Boulez, a Traitors-themed Prom presented by Claudia Winkleman – and a record number of female conductors

theguardian.com

Europeans should take over Radio Free Europe if Trump cuts it - because Europe will need more than just weapons to defend itself, writes @peterpomerantsev.bsky.social on.ft.com/42hSOEO

Radio Free Europe, Trump and the fight for ‘sharp power’

Stepping in to save the media outlet after US cuts could help European democracies combat Russian disinformation, writes Peter Pomerantsev

on.ft.com

Such a brilliant piece by Kate Mossman about Paul Brady, whose extraordinary subtle political songs still don't get the credit they deserve. He is one of the songwriting greats, make no mistake.

UK Politics News // Papernaut@ukpolitics.papernaut.co · 2y ago

THE NEW STATESMAN: The hidden depths of Paul Brady: A masterful blend of music and politics from Northern Ireland's 'secret hero' navigating a lifetime of conflict and creativity. - by Kate Mossman

I'd take issue with 'descending into' - it started off deeply authoritarian and is getting more and more horrific every single day - but otherwise this is an excellent overview of the present moment of terrible danger in the US. (1/2) www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i...

The Trump administration is descending into authoritarianism

From media to culture and the arts to the refusal to abide by court orders, we’re nearing ‘Defcon 1 for our democracy’, experts say

theguardian.com

I wouldn’t normally highlight this - but I think it is important to understand the sort of mind Peter Hitchens has - he lacks empathy - if he doesn’t experience it then it is made up and can be dismissed. An arrogance devoid of imagination and sadly prevalent in our world.

RIP percussionist and painter Jamie Muir. An integral part of the extraordinary King Crimson line-up that made Larks' Tongues in Aspic. And his life after Crimson was every bit as novel and intriguing. www.nme.com/news/music/t...

Tributes paid after King Crimson's Jamie Muir dies, age 82: "A wonderful and mysterious person"

Tributes have been paid to the former King Crimson percussionist Jamie Muir, who has died at the age of 82.

nme.com

I was led to believe by R.E.M. that I would feel a lot better about this.

A third runway at #Heathrow in the midst of a climate emergency is a vile act of vandalism. Rachel Reeves is happy to burn the planet for a tiny (probably elusive) increment of GDP. How does this benefit us? Article coming later today.

The last member of The Band falls silent. RIP to the astonishing multi-instrumentalist Garth Hudson. www.theguardian.com/music/2025/j...

Garth Hudson, founder member of the Band and Bob Dylan collaborator, dies aged 87

Hudson was the last remaining member of the folk-rock group, releasing 10 studio albums with them and touring with Dylan in his newfound electric period

theguardian.com

The jokey flippant lads down the pub way @bbcradio4.bsky.social Today programme is covering Trump Day One is perhaps the most worrying indication of how the creep of fascism is now officially in the room. Grow up.