Mix #15

Whilst mostly been compiled in November and December, this playlist fits the mood of January, easing you back into life. With a blast of punk in places. 

The Christmas break was nice, went to Rye for a couple of clear, cold days where we lit fires, made fish pie, learnt dance routines off YouTube and had to take our jumpers off (due to dancing in front of a roaring fire). I also stayed on a fort off the coast of Portsmouth. Despite this happening in 2018, 2019 will be the Year of the Fort.

Now to Mix #15

Sophy Hollington

That Kleenex song is in the same vein as Suburban Lawns (if you remember that from a playlist past), Hen Ogledd is Richard Dawson's other band, Jib Kidder reminds me of Animal Collective - nice underwater vibes. There is some sweet harp courtesy of Mary Lattimore, a 1969 corker from Phil Cordell, new sounds from BEA1991. I'm mildly obsessed with that Julia Jacklin song and this playlist wouldn't be complete without the song of the best Christmas parties, 'Thank U, Next'. 

Ursula K. Le Guin sadly passed away last year. Having been introduced to her work by This Is The Kit a few years back, I've still not managed to read any of her books but the track here is her imagining the language of The Kesh - a future tribe of indigenous people living an anti-colonial existence 500 years from now, that she wrote about. Elsewhere,  Insecure Men are doing a shadowy Hawaiian tinged number called 'Ulster', Cate Le Bon has produced the new Deerhunter and a beautiful Dolly Parton song used in Netflix's Dumplin. 

There are three songs from 2019 on this list - Fat White Family with their disco return, Hand Habits and the absolute banger 'Juice' by Lizzo, with a cracking video to match.

And there we have it. 

Other things, we visited London's first International Airport last weekend, aka Croydon Airport - fun little place to go if you're in Waddon. Off to see Sorry To Bother You tomorrow but still very much keen to see Mary Poppins Returns and The Favourite. Oh and I'm doing Vegan January - it's hard. 

The illustration if by Sophy Hollington, I bought the Autonomic Tarot Deck by her and David Keenan last year and since bought a lovely moon linocut from her. She is great.

Well, tonight, thank God it's them instead of you

Got to love Bono, such an ambassador for the people. 

But yes, that does mean Christmas is coming. 

So Slava's snow show at the Southbank last year was pretty wack. It was entertaining by the end because if we didn't join in the laughter, I would have been sad about the time and money I wasted. Best bit was a guy (Russian clown?) sliding across the floor with a fin on his back pretending to be a shark. For 5 seconds. 

This year, I've managed to bag tickets for Westminster's Abbey Carols Service which I'm excited about it. They are free tickets so sell out instantly. Never been inside Westminster Abbey either (you know how it goes when you live in the capital). More info here.

I'm also going to head out with the family to Christmas at Kew, there is Santa and rides for the nephew but also it just looks really nice all lit up - a bit fantastical which I guess is good at Christmas. Let's hope it doesn't rain.

Info here. 

IT'S CHRISSSTTTMMMAASSSS

As part of my way to get all Christmassy - the Oxford Street lights do not count - my family and I are heading to Slava's Snow Show for the first time. Info here. 

Last we did panto - with Jo Brand no less - but I'm very excited about this. 

I'm also heading to Cadogan Hall for the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Christmas Cracker, planning to queue up for the free carols at St Pauls too. 

These other events looks great, but sometimes it's not possible to do everything 
Mrs Hudson's Christmas Corker at the wonderful Wilton's Hall and the Royal Opera House's Alice in Wonderland. 

Your weekend plans

Eel Pie Island - a private island on the Thames home to 26 artists studios - is having its annual Christmas open studios this weekend (It also opens once in the summer).

The public can access the island via footbridge. Twickenham is the nearest station, 12 minute walk.

Sat 6th - Sun 7th Dec 2014

10.30am-5.30pm

Bring cash! 

More information here. 

Interval

So I've decided to try harder to keep at this...

After a delightful Christmas (Die Hard should be on every year)
New Years was spent in Diss, Norfolk - good food, lovely walks and lots of games courtesy of Toby Price - alpaca alert!

Then there was Fela at The National Theatre (don't ever want to see a theatre audiece shaking their hips again), Tom Wrigglesworth at the BBC Studios, Jonny Sweet at The Soho Theatre, The Wild One at The Phoenix, The Big Sleep at the BFI, BUG at the BFI (the videos weren't as good this time), a ski lesson in Hemel Hempstead (I didn't fall over!), Bob Le Flambeur at the BFI (Hello Jonathan Ross), Alex Winston at Bush Hall, The Dogs at Wimbledon's Stadium and a delicious roast at Mason & Taylor.