In a neck and neck tie with The Jam, The Specials were my favourite band in 1979/80, and their debut album remains in my top five of all time. As a 13/14 year old you’re looking for idols, for cult figures, for inspiration, and The Specials ticked all those boxes brilliantly. I never saw them ...

Well, that was fun! Six months planning, and every single minute was time well spent. It is impossible for me to look at last Saturday’s Oxjam Bournemouth Takeover objectively – it has been the most important thing in my life for the best part of six months, so I can only look from the inside ...

Rubber Soul is back. When bh one first launched, Solid Air’s weekly Thursday’s were at the height of their popularity, having long been the focal point for upcoming and well established original local bands. Then five years ago after an unbroken 300 week run, Rubber Soul came to an end, seemingly unable to remain inspired ...

That was the best ever Endorse it in Dorset Festival. Easy. The comedown now is beginning to ease and real life seems okay again. My main focus for the weekend was with Oxjam at the Wig-On Casino Stage on Sunday, so I make no excuses for a slight bias in that direction, but from the ...

Tonight was a special gig. Betika and Dutch Husband both tipped their respective hats to the Swamp at bh one’s fifth birthday bash, acknowledging their absent colleagues, thinking they were no more. The prospect of this gig was therefore rousing for many. When I heard tonight was happening I had a genuine stir of emotions, ...