October 8th - Amy Rigby "Girl To City: A Memoir"

This October Amy Rigby releases her memoir, "Girl To City" (Southern Domestic). On the evidence of her incredible songs and her self-effacing but winningly astute blog, it's sure to be an entertaining, sharply-written document of a fascinating life. Over the last few years, through some genuinely moving shows (yeah, there have been unexpected tears) and perceptive/touching records Not Unloved has come to regard Amy as one of the greatest songwriters, well, ever. There are very few writers whose songs are so emotionally direct without ever being awkwardly confessional. She's a real talent, that's for sure and I hope the book is real success - she deserves it. Here's the trailer (what a song!):

If amazon's your thing, it's available pre-order in kindle and paperback versions.

A Scene In Between Launch at Mono this Monday

(click to enlarge!)

Unmissable!

I wonder who the 'special guests' could be...

Update 06/10/2013: The 'special guests' are:

Sweet!

Tracey, Vic & Vini

This week Tracey Thorn is reading from her excellent sounding biography on BBC Radio 4's Book of the Week.  According to today's excerpt, when she first went to Ben Watt's shared student flat in Hull and ran the rule over his record collection, she was pleased to find that he had both of her then favourites: recent releases by Vic Godard and Vini Reilly's group The Durutti Column.  What fine taste they had in 1981 - no wonder they bonded!  Roll on 30+ years and it's hard not to contrast Vic's situation with Vini's.  Vic seems to be having a rare old time, playing celebratory gigs all over the country to adoring audiences and working with a succession of friends and admirers.  Vini, on the other hand, has gone through a series of sobering, difficult times although, thankfully, the most recent update on his situation was more upbeat.  Hopefully, somebody will do for Vini what Paul Kelly did for Lawrence Hayward and provide a focus to bring his music back to some kind of prominence so that he, too, can feel that he has a future and an immediate connection with his audience.  I wonder if in 1981 they both imagined that they'd still be part of the music industry three decades on.  I'd be surprised if they did; pop seems like such a young person's game when you're young.  I bought Vic's new single in Monorail at the weekend.  At a tenner it wasn't cheap (it's an import on Spain's famèlic) but a) IT'S VIC and b) it's great and a lot of fun, especially "(Oh Alright) Go On Then".  I wonder, too, if Tracey's still listening to Vic and Vini's records.  I hope so as, for my money at least, the music they're releasing and re-releasing now deserves it.  I'll be reading Tracey's book, for sure and it was a lovely surprise to hear even the briefest snatch of Marine Girls' sublime music on the radio during my commute to work - it felt like spring had truly arrived.

Update

Tracey Thorn appears in Glasgow at Aye Write! on the 12th of April.  Full details here.  If I can arrange it, I'll be there.

How Soon Is Next Wednesday?

Wednesday, 9th May at Mono looks interesting.  Richard King is reading from his first book "How Soon Is Now?: The Madmen and Mavericks Who Made Independent Music 1975-2005" (pictured above).  I haven't read the book yet but if this article on the endearing chaos of his time at Revolver Records of Bristol is any guide, it will be an excellent read.  The event starts at 8pm.  Should be fun!

Facebook event here