How are we all?
I have a secret that I can finally share.
@bbc6music have included me as part of their Class Of 2025!
I have done another session for Craig Charles that will go out this afternoon. Huge thanks to everyone for supporting what I do. It's not easy at times so this goes a long way.
More news soon. Un abrazo/ diolch/ NICE ONE.
I've started a new gig with @ilovemanchester this month.
Here's a selection of some of the features I've done so far. Really enjoyed writing again about a city I absolutely love that still has untold stories every day. You can read them by heading over to the website.
If you've got anything interesting going on here that's community focused let me know!
Returning to the fantastic @strinesnightingale this Friday supporting @belowsky_spoken who's got a book out and worked with Andy Bell (OASIS, RIDE) and has a record on Alan Mcgee's Creation 23 label.
Tickets are £12 + a booking free and you get his poetry book with that. See you there. 20 minutes from Piccadilly on the train 👍
I THOUGHT LOVE WAS STANDING ON THE STRETFORD END..
Supporting the fantastic @getnermcr (part of the @akoustikanarkhy family) at @malcolmses before @fcutdofmanc VS @hednesfordtownfootballclub on Easter Monday. 1st Vs 3rd, huge game, nearly 2k tickets sold.
Would normally say pay on the gate but it could actually sell out so if you want to come get a ticket 👍 🇾🇪🇾🇪
Joining this fantastic lineup on Easter Friday over at @strinesnightingale put on by @mrandyvotel at the most fun venue in the woods in the Pacific State of STRINES!
Tickets are a £10 donation and available to purchase online. See you on the rattler from Piccadilly.
Feigning interest at the in laws instead? Don't worry, I have another gig to announce on Easter Monday as well very soon with some great friends of mine that are also part of Manchester's best Automobile association. See you soon mate.
Some thoughts on the Copa Libertadores final from Lima on The World Football Phone-In over on @bbc5live
Head over BBC Sounds to listen to the full thing from Tuesday morning's programme.
Finally got some signal in a bus station in Bolivia so here's some photos from the Libertadores final in Lima on Saturday.
Absolutely amazing atmosphere. Flamengo took over the entire city for the week. They are the biggest club outside of Europe, 4 million registered fans.
Fireworks flying all over the shop, loads and loads of colour, police with batons, proper picture postcard South American football. Although the game is now one legged and played a netural venue and CONMBOL are trying their hardest with an opening ceremony and a DJ to sanitise it, the atmosphere is still miles ahead of any European final.
It's loud, infectious singing. Despite the fireworks and the furore, all I can look at are both sets of fans. The Flamengo Torcida to my left swaying and shouting and Palmerias to my right through a barbed wire fence. "PALLL MERI ASSS", they repeat non stop and whistle, embracing the underdog mentality.
Danilo gives Flamengo the lead with a header with 20 minutes left to play and that ends up being the winner. The Torcida bounce up and down all in unison, knowing that they are very close to being champions again of South America.
Moments later, the players and backroom staff all run onto the pitch to celebrate. They dance to songs by popular Brazilian singer and Flamengo fan Jorge Ben Jor and run over to the Torcida to celebrate with the fans whilst the trophy is getting ready. Huge base at the bottom with all the winners on, big long neck, it's an iconic trophy in world football. Somehow they find space to etch the name on the bottom. The celebrations continue long into the night in Miraflores for those staying.
More over on @mundialmag soon
What's that you say? Oasis AND Colo Colo winning 4-1 in the same week. Incredible scenes in Chile.
First part of this trip has been amazing. Last day in Chile today before going onto Peru tomorrow. Santiago, Vina Del Mar and then up to La Serena and Arica. All great for different reasons.
Always a risk when you go back somewhere that you're just trying to recreate memories from before but not at all here. Stories to tell people when I'm 60 in the pub.
If you haven't already give my feature a read I did on Oasis here. Link in bio. Cheers. Speak soon. 🇨🇱🇨🇱
Something I've been playing around with for you.
A poem that I wrote called Slip Roads about sitting in traffic at Junction 33 on the M4.
I've been reliably informed the food in the Garden Centre is fantastic apparently but you have to book ahead because it's always busy.
Anyway, more to come soon.
