The Radical History of Hackney A new archival site featuring radical publications from this corner of North East London. Items added so far include A “Hackney Against The Cuts” newsletter from 1991, which is obviously quite topical right now as well. The first issue of the original “Hackney Heckler” newsletter, also from 1991, which includes …
I caught up with Kevin Martin recently at a mad gig by Stephen O’Malley and Steve Noble at Cafe OTO*. He mentioned a whole bunch of stuff which had me reeling – King Midas Sound, “Skeng” remixes, stuff with Scientist. When I woke up the next day, I thought I’d dreamt it. But no, click …
Roots Manuva Meets Wrongtom: Duppy Writer (Big Dada CD/MP3/WAV/2xLP) There’s a bit of a buzz about this right now and rightly so. I’ve previously bigged up Wrongtom on here for his much missed Resonance FM show with Mr Trick and his awesome sleng tengy Tinie Tempah refix. He’s now turned his hands to Roots Manuva’s …
Continue reading ‘Roots Manuva Meets Wrongtom: Duppy Writer’ »
A while ago these images appeared on the North Sixteen Twitter: I recognised them from a 1970s reggae documentary “Aquarius” as they are announced as being Stoke Newington (London N16), which is where I live: (Footage starts at 4:50 but it’s well worth viewing in its entirety) There was some interest about the exact location of …
Continue reading ‘Penny Reel on Stoke Newington Reggae Record shops in the 1970s’ »
Issue 3 of the borough’s scurrilous subversive freesheet is now available online. All your news and analysis as well as a crucial rundown of cinematic masterpieces which have been shot in Hackney. Available around and about, but you can download a pdf here. Pdfs of previous issues also available, including “Top Ten Hackney Tracks” and …
Continue reading ‘Top Ten Hackney Films – Heckler issue 3’ »
On Saturday a young man was shot in London Fields, caught in the cross-fire of what can safely be assumed to be a gang related confrontation. The shooting took place during a community festival. In an uncanny echo of the “Day Today” “Dead Pigeon” sketch, Jules Pipe (the elected New Labour Mayor of Hackney) pointed …
I’m grateful to my old mucker Merrick for dropping by with his thoughts on the election. We’ve argued the toss about politics for well over 15 years now and I’m pleased that it looks like continuing until we are shouty old men. I’m sure that Merrick is correct that, nationally. people avoided the Greens and …
Continue reading ‘election selection correction dejection’ »
Basically turnout was high and Diane Abbott’s vote increased massively. Plus the Greens did much worse than I expected, and I overestimated the prospects for the Indepedents. There’s has been some consternation about a few hundred people getting locked out of polling stations last night. Whilst that’s unfortunate it’s unlikely to have made much of …
Thanks to the three prospective MPs for Hackney who have taken the time to comment below. It’s definitely to their credit that they seem to be seeking people out to have a conversation with, even cynical gits like me. This is for them: A superb bit of live MC bizness recorded at the last Trash …