The Tories introduced the 50% strike ballot threshold to make industrial action harder. MATT WRACK argues that a Labour government has no justification for leaving it on the statute book
THE return of the vinyl album and record fairs teaming with “pre-owned” albums, 45s, CDs and even 78s has generated a new interest in the history of Britain’s music industry.
A new book Going For A Song: A Chronicle of the UK Record Shop by music critic Garth Cartwright recounts a time when it seemed every town had at least two record shops catering for all tastes.
The book recalls some of Britain’s most loved record shops including Spillers (founded in 1894) in Cardiff which is, according to the Guinness Book of Records, the world’s oldest record shop, and many fondly remembered shops selling jazz, blues, rock and roll, soul, country, folk and classical as well as chains such as Woolworths (and its fabled Embassy record label), HMV, Our Price, Tower and Virgin.
TONY BURKE talks to Garth Cartwright author of Princes Amongst Men — Journeys With Romani Gypsy Musicians
CHRIS SEARLE speaks to Filipino-US saxophonist JON IRABAGON about the threat of AI in the time of Musk and Trump, and how an artist can respond
New releases by Porridge Radio, The Cribs, and Bjorn Meyer
TONY BURKE recommends a new podcast about the legenary Nigerian musician and political activist FELA KUTI


