Daniel Rachel

2 Tone exhibiton: Lives & Legacies
2021-06-03 08:00 - 2021-09-30 17:00 UTC
2 Tone: Lives & Legacies
The first-ever major exhibition in the UK devoted to the 2 Tone music sensation
28 May 1 – 12 September 2021
The 2 Tone sound originated in Coventry’s thriving music scene of the 1970s and the name derives from the legendary 2 Tone record label founded in 1979 by Jerry Dammers of The Specials, referencing a desire to transcend and defuse racial tensions in Britain at that time.

The exhibition will explore the formation of the record label and examine its philosophy, political and social message, design and impact on the music charts of the day. It highlights the bands that were part of the label, focussing on The Specials, The Selecter and other ska-influenced bands such as Madness, The Beat and The Bodysnatchers.
It will look at 2 Tone’s continuing influence on music, fashion, politics and culture. It will include interviews and quotes from original band members and 3rd wave bands from around the world, famous fans and 2 Tone fanatics. It will also bring the story up to date – with band members touring nationally and internationally.
The exhibition will feature fashion items and memorabilia, including the iconic 2 Tone suit, Roddy Radiation’s pork pie hat, Fred Perry polo shirt and the Harrington jacket.
Book your free tickets now.

Images: © Toni Tye
The show will culminate in an immersive 2 Tone experience celebrating the energy and legendary sound of the bands’ performances. There will be special 2 Tone playlists and an area for visitors to leave their own memories, thoughts and highlights of the 2 Tone era.
The exhibition has been organised in partnership with Coventry Music Museum. Guest curators: Simon Reynolds, Cory Barrett, Pete Chambers, Jennifer Otter Bickerdike and Daniel Rachel.
Featuring: Neol Davies, Pauline Black, Rhoda Dakar, Chalkie Davies, John Coles, John ‘Teflon’ Sims, Stewart Francis Easton, Duncan Whitley, Horace Panter, Lynval Golding, Neville Staple, Maff, Compton Amanor, Suggs and Chris Foreman (Chrissy Boy), David Steele and Everett Morton, Miranda Joyce, Don Letts, Dave Kirchgessner, Rick Rocklewitz, Scott Klopfenstein, and Charley Anderson.
Free | Booking Required

Paperback publication: Don't Look Back In Anger
2021-03-18
A METRO & EVENING STANDARD BOOK OF THE YEAR
‘A grade, A list oral history… SUNDAY TIMES (MUST READ)
‘A rollicking read…. MAIL ON SUNDAY

Tony Blair, Noel Gallagher, Damon Albarn, Tracey Emin, Irvine Welsh and an abundance of other contributors unite in this ambitious oral narrative charting the epic highs and crashing lows of the UK’s most creative and hedonistic period: the nineties.
The nineties was the decade when British culture reclaimed its position at the artistic centre of the world. Not since the ‘Swinging Sixties’ had art, comedy, fashion, film, football, literature and music interwoven into a blooming of national self-confidence. It was the decade of Lad Culture and Girl Power; of Blur vs Oasis. When fashion runways shone with British talent, Young British Artists became household names, football was ‘coming home’ and British film went worldwide. From Old Labour’s defeat in 1992 through to New Labour’s historic landslide in 1997, Don’t Look Back In Anger chronicles the Cool Britannia age when the country united through a resurgence of patriotism and a celebration of all things British.

The Mild Mannered Mix
2020-12-10 20:00 - 23:00
#themildmanneredmix will be joined by rude boy and author Daniel Rachel author of the Evening Standard Book of the Year, Don’t Look Back in Anger. If you have ANY interest inbritpop & all the rest then you have to listen to this.
Thursday 10th, 8pm (UK Time).
‘I can tell you now that Daniel has put together a great set and the idea that you won’t enjoy his choices is just ridiculous.’

Times Radio interview with Kait Borsay
2020-12-04 00:00 - 00:30
Daniel will be in conversation with Kair Borsay on Frioday night at midmight chatting about the 90s and Don’t Look Back In Anger.

10pm – 1am

Kait Borsay

Thoughtful debates on current issues

This Spiritual Feeling - A Celebration of The Style Council
2020-11-28 19:00 - 23:00
Saturday 28th March 2020
Holborn Studios, 59- 65 Eagle Wharf Rd, London N1 7ED
The Style Council was a band of its time, but in many ways, ahead of it. The maverick soul collective wasn’t afraid to mix their styles, look, sound, as well as the musicians throughout their 6 year tenure as one of UK’s most forward thinking bands.
Founders Paul Weller and Mick Talbot, who had both been in previous bands of differing success, approached their new venture in 1983, with a new thinking, new ideals and a total anti-rock outlook, with European Modernism at its pulsating heart.
They were soon joined by D.C. Lee on vocals and Steve White on drums, and the 4 mainstays produced a cache of songs that lit up the hearts and minds of those looking beyond the pop pap, and ever-increasing hairstyles of the digital production era.
Through 5 studio albums, countless singles and successful world tours, The Style Council became for many, THE band of the 1980’s
On Saturday 28th March 2020, the curators of the successful London Modernist, Voices and The Who talk events, celebrate The Style Council through some of its key members, background team and documenters.
Each guest will be ‘in conversation’ in a Q&A style and discuss the many facets that make up one the UK’s most-underrated collectives.
Featuring:
Founding Member – Mick Talbot
Fan Club and Solid Bond Studio Manager – Nicky Weller
Polydor Records A&R Manager – Dennis Munday
Author of ‘Walls Come Tumbling Down’ – Daniel Rachel
Authors and Event Curators – Ian Snowball & Stuart Deabill
Plus surprise special guests!
There will also be a chance for the audience to ask each guest questions and rarely shown footage of the band will be screened throughout the day.
A fully stocked bar, hot drinks and food is available on site.
That Spiritual Feeling is sponsored by Mod Shoes – www.modshoes.co.uk
Tickets are priced £20 and are on sale now from http://www.wegottickets.com/event/486092
———————————————————————————————
For all media enquiries contact Stuart on aftn1905@icloud.com

AFTN Presents
This Spiritual Feeling – A Celebration of The Style Council

Laugharne Literary Festival
2020-10-03 14:00 - 15:00
“An annual weekend of music, book readings and poetry inspires much talking and drinking late into the night, a beacon of chaos in an
over-organised world of festivals.”
​
Tracey Thorn in The New Statesman

The Laugharne Weekend is an annual literary and arts festival in West Wales.
The festival is held in the spring in the town of Laugharne.
Dylan Thomas, Laugharne’s most famous inhabitant, described it as a
“timeless, mild, beguiling island of a town.”
The festival is deliberately small-scale. The size of the town – which itself is very small – ensures that the festival will not grow beyond certain bounds. Its location means that festival visitors and townspeople rub shoulders with the artists and performers.
According to the festival’s co-founders, Richard Thomas and the Cardiff writer John Williams,
“The point is that it’s a festival that involves the locality.”
The festival directors have also said:
“I’d sooner start another festival than let it grow too big.”
The Laugharne Weekend concentrates on literature, music and comedy, bringing talent from all over the world but always maintaining a particular kinship with writers and musicians from Wales or who have a connection with Wales.
Previous headline performers have included Patti Smith, Ray Davies of the Kinks, Mick Jones of The Clash, the actor Michael Sheen, the writer Caitlin Moran, the poet John Cooper Clarke, the comedians Harry Hill and Alexei Sayle, the painter Peter Blake etc.
All events take place in Laugharne’s clubs, churches and halls, tiny and intimate venues which entail the close proximity of audience and performers.The principal venues used are the Millennium Hall, the Congregational Church and the Rugby Club
​

BBC Radio 2: Claudia Winkleman Presents Blur vs Oasis
2020-08-29 21:00 - 22:00
In this special show to mark 25 years since the legendary Blur Vs Oasis chart battle, Claudia Winkleman looks back at this pinnacle point of Britpop, which took fan loyalty to a whole new level.

The show features new interviews from the record label teams who were fighting their own battle behind the scenes, as well as archive from the time. Claudia will look at the build up to the battle and what it paved the way for. And of course, she’ll be playing some of the best of Britpop, which will transport listeners straight back to mid-90s.
On Monday 31 August listeners can hear Jo Whiley present the Britpop Top 50 Chart, counting down the biggest-selling hits from this classic 90s era, compiled using exclusive data from Official Charts Company.

Presenter: Claudia Winkleman
Producer: Joe Haddow for Somethin’ Else

Guest speaker: Daniel Rachel

Deer Shed Festival No. 11
2020-07-26 12:00 - 13:30

Also Festival
2020-07-04
DON’T LOOK BACK IN ANGER
DANIEL RACHEL

Bright eyed optimism, hedonism, retro, new Labour, Girl Power, football, fashion, art – what do the 90s mean to you? Award-winning author Daniel Rachel discusses his latest book Don’t Look Back In Anger, diving deep into the political, cultural and social landscape of the 90s, with eyewitness accounts and post-match analysis from those who were there. Followed by Britpopaoke.

In 2020, ALSO reaches the dizzy heights of Seventh Heaven as we present ALSO No. 7. Heaven is right, given that Capability Brown sculpted the 50 acres of sculpted parkland in which ALSO sits to look like heaven on earth.
ALSO is the place where ideas run wild, they run through our programming like letters through a stick of rock. A beautiful and relaxing place to get to grips with ideas that inspire and entertain, from leading authors, academics and experts. We pride ourself on the diversity of our music programming with new bands, sounds and audio adventures on a stage backed by half-mile of lake, fringed with trees.
You’ll find us an ideal place for you and your gang, or you and your family to have your restorative, transformative three-day nature fix, mixed with plenty of eating and drinking al-fresco, plus food tasting and demos and so many, many chances to experience something new.
First wave line up here
The Guardian
Top festivals for 2019
The Week
“A weekend of ideas, inspiration, music and delectable food”
The Independent
“A place to revel in nature and discuss the big ideas”
The Daily Telegraph

Rock Against Racism Film Screening
2020-06-19 20:00 - 21:00
In the spirit of the annual Meltdown festival, to shout out about Love Music Hate Racism and
to connect with Everyman Cinemas’ Music Film Festival, we are pleased to present
EXCLUSIVE VIRTUAL PREVIEW SCREENINGS
17 – 21 JUNE 2020
Following the Rock Against Racism movement of the 1970s, WHITE RIOT reveals both the nastiness of the rising National Front at the time and the amazing power of music, activism and real desire for social change at a grassroots level.
WINNER – BEST DOCUMENTARY
BFI LONDON FILM FESTIVAL
Exclusive to Everyman Cinemas
Presented in partnership with Spiritland music venues and the BFI Lottery-funded Reclaim the Frame film event series

Online Q&A + Live Music
Friday 19 June 2020, 8pm

Event Participants

Host: Daniel Rachel – Musician And Award Winning Author

Musician turned award winning author, Daniel Rachel wrote his first song when he was sixteen and was the lead-singer in Rachels Basement. His books include contributions from people incluing Noel Gallagher, Tony Blair, Tracey Emin, Jimmy Page, Bryan Ferry, Laura Marling, Sir John Major, Steve Coogan, Irvine Wesh, Joan Armatrading, Jerry Dammers, Annie Lennox, Damon Albarn and many, many more…
Daniel is the author of Walls Come Tumbling Down: the music and politics of Rock Against Racism, 2 Tone and Red Wedge – WINNER OF the Penderyn Music Book prize.

Guest: Rubika Shah – Director

Rubika Shah’s critically acclaimed feature documentary WHITE RIOT won the Grierson Award for Best Documentary at the 2019 BFI London Film Festival, and a Special Mention at the 2020 Berlinale. Her previous work includes the proof-of-concept short WHITE RIOT: LONDON, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, and the Berlinale Crystal Bear-nominated LET’S DANCE: BOWIE DOWN UNDER, a rare mini-doc about David Bowie and MTV, which screened nationally through Picturehouse in 2017.

Guest: Bengi Ünsal – Head Of Contemporary Music At Southbank Centre, Meltdown Director

Bengi Ünsal is Head of Contemporary Music at the Southbank Centre, the UK’s largest arts centre, on the south bank of the River Thames, where she is responsible for a year-round programme of more than 200 gigs and contemporary music performances across its iconic venues – the Royal Festival Hall, the Queen Elizabeth Hall and the Purcell Room. She manages the award-winning Meltdown, the longest-running artist curated festival in the world, securing luminaries M.I.A (2017), Robert Smith (2018), Nile Rodgers (2019) and Grace Jones (2020) as curators. Robert Smith’s 2018 festival was the highest-grossing Meltdown ever, nominated for Music Week Awards’ Festival of the Year and winner of the AIM Independent Music Awards ‘Act of Independence’.

Guest: Gary Powell – Musician

He is primarily known for being the drummer for English bands The Libertines and Dirty Pretty Things, as well as Guyanese-British reggae musician Eddy Grant. He also played with the New York Dolls for their 2004 reunion shows, Powell has performed at the Isle of Wight Festival, Wireless Festival, T in the Park and Oxygen, as well as playing with Red Hot Chili Peppers. Gary Powell also has a successful DJ career, deejaying for club NME at London’s Koko and Carl Barat’s club night as well as many other venues in London. Powell also performed drums on Chas and Dave’s 2013 album That’s What Happens. From 2016 to January 2019, Powell was the touring drummer for ska band The Specials, replacing the late John Bradbury. He also runs his own record label, 25 Hour Convenience Store.
Gary has his own radio show on Boogaloo Radio and is currently doing a series of Protest Mix.

After Party DJ sets brought you by Spiritland
Spiritland are supplying the music for the online afterparty with three mixes responding to the film.
Bill Brewster is a DJ, author, journalist and cultural historian – and was there in the front row during the Rock Against Racism movement. He’s selected a mix of music that was around and inspirational at the time – lots of reggae, some punk and some post-punk.
Hollie Cook is a UK reggae singer and keyboardist. As well as her own releases, she was part of the last line up of The Slits.
Dennis Morris is an acclaimed photographer, best known for his intimate photos of The Sex Pistols and Bob Marley. A key documentarian of the UK reggae and punk scene, he’s drawn together a series of tracks that have influenced him for Spiritland.’

Riverside radio
2020-03-17 21:00 - 22:30
Daniel chats on AliceAmelShow*

MODCAST: 2 Tone & Ranking Roger w/Rhoda Dakar
2020-03-17 17:00 - 22:00
Commemorating the life of Ranking Roger, The Beat and 2 Tone

Playlist
‘The Passenger’ Iggy Pop
‘MPLA’ Tapper Zuckie
‘The Earth Dies Screaming’ UB40
‘Mirror In The Bathroom’ The Beat
‘Gangsters’ The Specials
‘Sonny’s Lettah’ Linton Kwesi Johnson
‘The Bed’s Too Big Without You’ The Police
‘Smoking My Ganja’ Capital Letters
‘Too Much Pressure’ The Selecter
‘Twist And Crawl’ The Beat
Starvation – 2Tone Collective
Save It For Later – General Public
Soleil Trop Chaud – The Grammacks
Too Nice To Talk To – Rhoda Dakar
Can’t Get Used To Losing You – Danny Ray
Jackpot – The Pioneers
Stand Down Margaret – The Beat
Free Nelson Mandela – Special AKA
Rock The Casbah – The Clash & Ranking Roger
Close The Door – The Beat ft Ranking Roger

Portobello Radio: Flipside London Radio
2020-03-11 19:00 - 21:00
Portobello Radio

Daniel will be chatting with Aidan McManus on Flipside Five: selelcting five songs with a story about his books.

Home

We celebrate the rich cultural diversity that is the Portobello Road and serve as a hub of the community, streaming its events, offers, news, views and developments. We offer air time to all communities, a regular Latin American show, a Spanish hour, Moroccan, African, Caribbean, Irish & more join the Portobello Radio Melting Pot.
By giving airtime to all of Portobello’s varied residents we wish to bring the community together, entertain, inform and enthuse.

@PortobelloRadio

Unconvention Music Conference with Daniel Levitin
2020-03-05 11:30 - 12:30
In conversation with Daniel Levitin’s
‘This Is Your Brain on Music: The Science of a Human Obsession’ is a ground-breaking exploration of how our brains interact with music. Looking at why we make and love music, Daniel argues that music is fundamental to the human species, perhaps even more so than language itself. In this session he will be discussing his work with fellow author Daniel Rachel, covering themes such as why and how music gives us pleasure, why we are emotionally attached to it, and how we develop musical expertise.

Unconvention Music Conference with Cherry Ghost
2020-03-04 21:00 - 22:00
In conversation with Simon Aldred (Cherry Ghost) about his approach to songwriting. Ivor Novello award winner. Co-writer with Sam Smith, Jake Bugg and Liam Gallagher
Simon will be doing a talk on creativity and his approach to making music, as well as playing some acoustic songs from his catalogue. This promises to be an inspirational insight into the craft of songwriting.

Faversham Literary Festival with Andy Miller (Backlisted)
2020-02-23 15:30 - 16:30
Musician and award-winning author Daniel Rachel charts the epic highs and crashing lows of the 1990s and Cool Britannia, from Tony Blair to Noel Gallagher, Tracey Emin and Irvine Welsh. Erudite, thoughtful and funny, ‘Don’t Look Back in Anger’ is an Evening Standard Book of the Year.
Host Andy Miller of Backlisted Podcast fame.
Daniel is the author of ‘Isle of Noises: Great British Songwriters’; ‘Walls Come Tumbling Down: The Music and Politics of Rock Against Racism’; ‘I Just Can’t Stop It: My Life In The Beat’; and ‘David Bowie: When Ziggy Played The Marquee’.
Sunday 23 February 2020, Arden Theatre, 3.30–4.30pm. £5
Tickets available in early December. Sign up for the newsletter to receive notification

Isle of Noises Masterclass
2020-02-20 19:00 - 21:00
THE DEFINITIVE WORD ON CLASSIC BRITISH SONGWRITING – AS TOLD BY THE SONGWRITERS THEMSELVES
Twenty-seven of the UK’s finest musicians revealed the secrets behind their art in a rare collection of exclusive, in-depth conversations. Daniel Rachel recounts his conversations with them about their individual approaches to writing, the inspirations behind their most successful songs, and the techniques and methods they have independently developed. This masterclass will offer a unique glimpse into the heart of the creative process from some of greatest names in British popular music.
Noel Gallagher: Without doubt the finest book I’ve ever read about songwriters and the songs they write.
Annie Lennox: It makes for a fascinating read…Especially if you’re trying to get a sense of what it takes to write songs…
Joan Armatrading: I think you will enjoy this book. It’s a good read and I was really interested to see what other songwriters had to say about their way of going about the creative process.
John Lydon website This is one of the few interviews that pays full respect to John’s musical and lyrical skills and is highly recommended.
Chris Difford: …so much work. It reads really well and prides a place on my coffee table…
Glenn Tilbrook: It’s a really impressive book.
Mail on Sunday 5 page feature
‘Isle of Noises in Conversation with Chris Difford’ https://vimeo.com/107580836

Walthamstow Rock 'n' Roll Book Club
2020-02-06 19:00 - 22:00
An Evening with DANIEL RACHEL

We blast into 2020 by correcting a wrong. We have signally failed to bring Daniel Rachel to Walthamstow. We somehow missed the boat with the magnificent and timely (Penderyn Award winning) social history, ‘Walls Came Tumbling Down’, and neither of our schedules allowed room to talk about either his great biog of Ranking Roger or the fascinating oral history of ‘Britpop’ ‘Don’t Look Back In Anger’.
That was then.
The nineties was the decade when British culture reclaimed its position at the artistic centre of the world. Not since the ‘Swinging Sixties’ had art, comedy, fashion, film, football, literature and music interwoven into a blooming of national self-confidence. The decade of Lad Culture and Girl Power; of Blur vs Oasis. When catwalks shone with British talent, Young British Artists became household names, football was ‘coming home’ and British film went worldwide. From Old Labour’s defeat in 1992 through to New Labour’s historic landslide in 1997, Don’t Look Back In Anger chronicles the Cool Britannia age when the country united through a resurgence of patriotism and a celebration of all things British. But it was also an era of false promises and misplaced trust, when the weight of substance was based on the airlessness of branding, spin and the first stirrings of celebrity culture. A decade that started with hope then ended with the death of the ‘people’s princess’ and 9/11 – an event that redefined a new world order.
Through sixty-eight voices that epitomise the decade – including Tony Blair, John Major, Noel Gallagher, Damon Albarn, Tracey Emin, Keith Allen, Meera Syal, David Baddiel, Irvine Welsh and Steve Coogan – we re-live the epic highs and crashing lows of one of the most eventful periods in British history. Today, in an age where identity dominates the national agenda, Don’t Look Back In Anger is a necessary and compelling historical document.
Daniel Rachel is a former musician and award-winning author whose previous works include: Isle of Noises (a Guardian and NME Book of the Year), Walls Come Tumbing Down (winner of the Penderyn Music Book prize), When Ziggy Played the Marquee by Terry O’Neill (editor) and co-writer of Ranking Roger’s autobiography I Just Can’t Stop It: My Life in The Beat. Daniel currently lives in North London.
Website: www.danielrachel.com
Twitter: @DanielRachel69

Cheers and Happy New Year! Mark
Walthamstow Rock ‘n’ Roll Book Club

Thursday, February 6, 2020 from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM (GMT)
Waterstones Walthamstow
The Mall, Selborne Walk
#Unit 30 – 31
Walthamstow E17 7JR
United Kingdom
View Map

BBC Radio Merseyside On the Beat with Spencer Leigh
2020-02-02 19:00 - 20:00
Daniel is in conversation with Spencer Leigh discussign Isle of Noises and Don’t Look Back In Anger and a wide range of music and musicians.
About the programme
Spencer Leigh has been broadcasting on BBC Radio Merseyside for over 40 years. “I’m embarrassed to say that my first series was a poetry one called No Holds Bard, and I didn’t appreciate at the time that written puns didn’t work on radio. That was in 1972 and I hope I’ve improved since.”
His music programme, On The Beat, has been on air since 1985 and, as a result, he has interviewed hundreds of musicians. His guest list in 2018/9 included Graham Nash, Jack Douglas (the producer of John Lennon’s Double Fantasy), Richard Hawley, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Lisa Stansfield and Nick Lowe.
On The Beat includes reviews, music news and live performances. “The first live session I did was with Justin Hayward,” recalls Spencer, “as he came into the studio with his guitar and started singing Buddy Holly songs. I remember thinking, ‘This is great but what if he sends in a bill?’”
Another time Mick Fleetwood, the drummer and founder of Fleetwood Mac, was going to telephone Spencer at the station, but the call was diverted by mistake to the live football phone-in programme where Mick was asked if he was red or a blue. Fortunately, Mick thought this was very funny and he knew enough football to continue the conversation.
From time to time, Spencer amalgamates his interviews in special series, the best-known being the 1981 series, Let’s Go Down The Cavern, which led to him writing the first book about the Merseybeat era, also called Let’s Go Down The Cavern.
In recent years, Spencer has been writing biographies of Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Simon and Garfunkel and Buddy Holly, all for the publisher, McNidder and Grace, and he has co-written a Beatles encyclopaedia with his good friend, Hunter Davies. He has written a day to day history of the Cavern and a complete book, believe it or not, about the sacking of Pete Best. He is currently working on a biography of Bob Dylan for Dylan’s eightieth birthday.
Spencer has written the sleeve notes for over 300 albums and was delighted when the soundtrack album, The Best Of Heartbeat, made Number One on the album charts in 1994. “Of course no one bought it for my sleeve notes,” says Spencer, “but it was great to see it at the top of the best sellers.”
You may find Spencer’s work in such magazines as Record Collector, Mojo, Goldmine, Now Dig This and Country Music People. He writes obituaries of musicians for The Independent and The Guardian and he says “When I meet someone, I am tempted to offer them the full package of radio interview, magazine feature and forthcoming obituary.”

Isle of Noises Masterclass at BIMM, Manchester
2020-01-20 14:00 - 15:30
THE DEFINITIVE WORD ON CLASSIC BRITISH SONGWRITING – AS TOLD BY THE SONGWRITERS THEMSELVES

Twenty-seven of the UK’s finest musicians revealed the secrets behind their art in a rare collection of exclusive, in-depth conversations. Daniel Rachel recounts his conversations with them about their individual approaches to writing, the inspirations behind their most successful songs, and the techniques and methods they have independently developed. This masterclass will offer a unique glimpse into the heart of the creative process from some of greatest names in British popular music.
Copies of Isle of Noises will be available to buy and have signed at the end of the session.

Noel Gallagher: Without doubt the finest book I’ve ever read about songwriters and the songs they write.
Annie Lennox: It makes for a fascinating read…Especially if you’re trying to get a sense of what it takes to write songs…
Joan Armatrading: I think you will enjoy this book. It’s a good read and I was really interested to see what other songwriters had to say about their way of going about the creative process.
John Lydon website This is one of the few interviews that pays full respect to John’s musical and lyrical skills and is highly recommended.
Chris Difford: …so much work. It reads really well and prides a place on my coffee table…
Glenn Tilbrook: It’s a really impressive book.
Mail on Sunday 5 page feature
‘Isle of Noises in Conversation with Chris Difford’ https://vimeo.com/107580836

LIPA - Isle of Noises Masterclass
2020-01-17 13:30 - 15:00
Daniel returns to the Liverpool Institue of Performing Arts to dicuss the songwriting techniques of RAY DAVIES, ROBIN GIBB, JIMMY PAGE, BRYAN FERRY, JOAN ARMATRADING, CHAS JANKEL, JOHN LYDON, MICK JONES, PAUL WELLER, STING, ANDY PARTRIDGE, DIFFORD & TILBROOK, MADNESS, JOHNNY MARR, BILLY BRAGG, CHRIS LOWE & NEIL TENNANT, LEE MAVERS, DAMON ALBARN, NOEL GALLAGHER, JARVIS COCKER, LILY ALLEN, and LAURA MARLING
Noel Gallagher: Without doubt the finest book I’ve ever read about songwriters and the songs they write.
Annie Lennox: It makes for a fascinating read…Especially if you’re trying to get a sense of what it takes to write songs…
Joan Armatrading: I think you will enjoy this book. It’s a good read and I was really interested to see what other songwriters had to say about their way of going about the creative process.
John Lydon website This is one of the few interviews that pays full respect to John’s musical and lyrical skills and is highly recommended.
Chris Difford: …so much work. It reads really well and prides a place on my coffee table…
Glenn Tilbrook: It’s a really impressive book.
Mail on Sunday 5 page feature
‘Isle of Noises in Conversation with Chris Difford’ https://vimeo.com/107580836

Virgin Radio 2 Tone documentary
2019-12-22 21:00 - 22:00
Pete Mitchell prsents a celebration to amrk the 40th Anniversary of 2 Tone on @VirginRadioUK

Featuring:

@thespecials
@TheSelecter
@horacepanterart
@RhodaDakar
@TTYears
@DanielRachel69

The Specials performing ‘Concrete Jungle’
https://youtu.be/rpHcIYiihj0

Totally Wired Radio with Steve Rowland
2019-12-05 12:00 - 14:00
Our Favourite Show: in conversation with Steve Rowland discussing Cool Britannia and the 90s
Monthly, Thursday 12-2pm
New Wave, Soul, Punk, Ska, Revival, 2 Tone, Indie
Serving records over the counter from the stock rooms of Our Favourite Shop, spanning five decades of subculture and new releases from under counter, Our Favourite Show will bag up Punk to Soul and anything in between.
Special guests will drop in to to talk about their favourite records and things.
Steve has DJ’d for many bands from Buzzcocks to Saint Etienne, curated record exhibitions instore with Fred Perry, hosted club nights in Brighton and most recently co authored the book Modzines, fanzine culture from the Mod revival, with Eddie Piller and still spending too much time being a Rude Boy.

BIMM Birmingham
2019-11-28 14:30 - 17:00
Isle of Noises Masterclass at BIMM, Bimingham

2.30- 3.30pm and 4-5pm
THE DEFINITIVE WORD ON CLASSIC BRITISH SONGWRITING – AS TOLD BY THE SONGWRITERS THEMSELVES

Twenty-seven of the UK’s finest musicians revealed the secrets behind their art in a rare collection of exclusive, in-depth conversations. Daniel Rachel recounts his conversations with them about their individual approaches to writing, the inspirations behind their most successful songs, and the techniques and methods they have independently developed. This masterclass will offer a unique glimpse into the heart of the creative process from some of greatest names in British popular music.
Copies of Isle of Noises will be available to buy and have signed at the end of the session.

Noel Gallagher: Without doubt the finest book I’ve ever read about songwriters and the songs they write.
Annie Lennox: It makes for a fascinating read…Especially if you’re trying to get a sense of what it takes to write songs…
Joan Armatrading: I think you will enjoy this book. It’s a good read and I was really interested to see what other songwriters had to say about their way of going about the creative process.
John Lydon website This is one of the few interviews that pays full respect to John’s musical and lyrical skills and is highly recommended.
Chris Difford: …so much work. It reads really well and prides a place on my coffee table…
Glenn Tilbrook: It’s a really impressive book.
Mail on Sunday 5 page feature
‘Isle of Noises in Conversation with Chris Difford’ https://vimeo.com/107580836

Deer Shed Social Three Track Podcast
2019-11-23 21:00 - 22:00
With Gabriel Ebulue
Saturday 23rd November 9pm – 10pm
Price £15 plus booking fee
‘The Three Track Podcast’ is a podcast by a music nerd, for music nerds. Comedian, writer and host Gabriel Ebulue is the music nerd in question and each episode sees him invite a new guest on to pick their three all-time favourite tracks, from niche B-sides to the biggest chart hits. They discuss every beat in intricate detail, as well as their general love of music. Gabriel will be joined by a special guest on the second day of the Podcast Social Club – keep an eye out to find out who.
Book Tickets
Link to podcast series
What is the Podcast Social Club?

www.podcastsocialclub.com
The idea is that you become part of the live audience during the recording of many of your favourite podcasts, and perhaps some that are less familiar that you fancy checking out.
Over the Friday and Saturday we have nine time slots and three rooms, with three different podcasts on in each slot at any one time. You choose one of the three. Ticket prices will vary between each podcast. You can choose to attend just one podcast or up to nine if you fancy making a weekend of it.
Between each podcast recording will be some social time to grab the very best in food, drink, conversation and hospitality that North Yorkshire has to offer. We hope the range of podcast topics will mean that you meet someone who you wouldn’t normally bump in to.

Salon London
2019-11-21 19:30 - 22:30
DON’T LOOK BACK IN ANGER

21st November 2019 | Covent Garden

The nineties was the decade when British culture reclaimed its position at the artistic centre of the world. Not since the ‘Swinging Sixties’ had art, comedy, fashion, film, football, literature and music interwoven into an explosion of national self-confidence.
But it was also an era of false promises and misplaced trust, when the weight of substance was based on the airlessness of branding, spin and the first stirrings of celebrity culture.
Musician turned award-winning author, Daniel Rachel brings to life the Cool Britannia age – when the country united through a resurgence of patriotism and a celebration of all things British – and together with Salon London will be exploding, revisiting and reliving those years.
21 November. Central London location, doors open 7pm. Tickets are £15 or £30 with Daniel’s brilliant new book, Don’t Look Back In Anger: The rise and fall of Cool Britannia, told by those who were there.

Doors: 19:00

Ticket:
£15.00
Buy

Ticket + book:
£30.00
Buy

Ticket + book + membership:
£85.00
Buy

Venue: Covent Garden
24 Endell Street, London
WC2H 9HQ

Isle of Noises masterclass
2019-11-19 11:00 - 14:00
Isle of Noises Masterclass
At BIMM, Bristol

11 am and 12.30pm
Noel Gallagher: Without doubt the finest book I’ve ever read about songwriters and the songs they write.

THE DEFINITIVE WORD ON CLASSIC BRITISH SONGWRITING – AS TOLD BY THE SONGWRITERS THEMSELVES
Twenty-seven of the UK’s finest musicians revealed the secrets behind their art in a rare collection of exclusive, in-depth conversations. Daniel Rachel recounts his conversations with them about their individual approaches to writing, the inspirations behind their most successful songs, and the techniques and methods they have independently developed. This masterclass will offer a unique glimpse into the heart of the creative process from some of greatest names in British popular music.
Copies of Isle of Noises will be available to buy and have signed at the end of the session.

Annie Lennox: It makes for a fascinating read…Especially if you’re trying to get a sense of what it takes to write songs…
Joan Armatrading: I think you will enjoy this book. It’s a good read and I was really interested to see what other songwriters had to say about their way of going about the creative process.
John Lydon website This is one of the few interviews that pays full respect to John’s musical and lyrical skills and is highly recommended.
Chris Difford: …so much work. It reads really well and prides a place on my coffee table…
Glenn Tilbrook: It’s a really impressive book.
Mail on Sunday 5 page feature
‘Isle of Noises in Conversation with Chris Difford’ https://vimeo.com/107580836

Tring Book Festival
2019-11-16 15:00 - 16:00
TRING BOOK FESTIVAL

DANIEL RACHEL – DON’T LOOK BACK IN ANGER: THE RISE & FALL OF COOL BRITANNIA
The nineties was the decade when British culture reclaimed its position at the artistic centre of the world. Not since the ‘Swinging Sixties’ had art, comedy, fashion, film, football, literature and music interwoven into a blooming of national self-confidence. It was the decade of Lad Culture and Girl Power; of Blur vs Oasis. When fashion runways shone with British talent, Young British Artists became household names, football was ‘coming home’ and British film went worldwide. From Old Labour’s defeat in 1992 through to New Labour’s historic landslide in 1997, Don’t Look Back In Anger chronicles the Cool Britannia age when the country united through a resurgence of patriotism and a celebration of all things British.
But it was also an era of false promises and misplaced trust, when the weight of substance was based on the airlessness of branding, spin and the first stirrings of celebrity culture. A decade that started with hope then ended with the death of the ‘people’s princess’ and 9/11 – an event that redefined a new world order.
Length – 60 mins
Tickets – £12

Date
Saturday 16th November 2019

Time
3:00 PM

Doors Open
2:30 PM

Venue
High Street Baptist Church

Standard Seats
£12.00

Don’t look back in Anger: The Rise & Fall of Cool Britannia (Hardback)

Tony Blair, Noel Gallagher, Damon Albarn, Tracey Emin, Irvine Welsh and an abundance of other contributors unite in this ambitious oral narrative charting the epic highs and crashing lows of the UK’s most creative and hedonistic period: the nineties.

£20.00

Add to BasketMembers earn 6 points per ticket

Through sixty-eight voices that epitomise the decade – including Tony Blair, John Major, Noel Gallagher, Damon Albarn, Tracey Emin, Keith Allen, Meera Syal, David Baddiel, Irvine Welsh and Steve Coogan – we re-live the epic highs and crashing lows of one of the most eventful periods in British history. Today, in an age where identity dominates the national agenda, Don’t Look Back In Anger is a necessary and compelling historical document.
Birmingham-born Daniel Rachel is a former musician and award-winning author whose previous works include: Isle of Noises (a Guardian and NME Book of the Year), Walls Come Tumbling Down (winner of the Penderyn Music Book prize), When Ziggy Played the Marquee by Terry O’Neill (editor) and co-writer of Ranking Roger’s autobiography I Just Can’t Stop It: My Life in The Beat. Daniel currently lives in North London.

Daniel Rachel Don’t look back in
Anger: The Rise & Fall of Cool Britannia
High Street Baptist Church. 3.00 – 4.00pm
Tony Blair, Noel Gallagher, Damon Albarn, Tracey Emin, Irvine Welsh and an abundance of other contributors unite
in this ambitious oral narrative charting the epic highs and crashing lows of the UK’s most creative and hedonistic
period: the nineties.
For ten days in November, the Hertfordshire market town of Tring will be transformed into a literary lover’s dream as the community welcomes a selection of the world’s finest writers, actors, politicians, poets and leading opinion formers to help celebrate the joy of the written word. The programme will include debates, interviews, presentations and workshops all hosted in a selection of wonderful venues in and around this lovely part of the home counties.
When? Friday 8th to Sunday 17th November 2019
Where? Tring, Hertfordshire. (Various venues)
Who? 2019- Chris Packham, Carol Ann Duffy, Max Hastings, Lisa Jewell, Louise Canlish, Andre Lack Robins, Andrew Lownie, Peter Fiennes, Gail Simmons, Dr. mark Baldwin, Emma Kennedy, Lara Prior-Palmer, Brian Wood, MJ Arlridge, Adele Parks, Paula Daly, Rory Brenner ++
Download the 2019 Programme (pdf 2.34mb)s
Website? https://www.tringbookfestival.co.uk/
Twitter? @tringbookfest
Festival Director? Ben Moorhouse
Facebook? https://www.facebook.com/tringbookfest/
Founded? 2019 witnesses the inaugural festival

Fanzine Culture From The Mod Revival with Eddie Piller and Steve Rowland.
2019-11-10 16:15 - 17:15
Join us for this fascinating in conversation with Eddie Piller and Steve Rowland, focused on their recent publication Modzines – Fanzine Culture From The Mod Revival – an original book that documents the fast living world of fanzines.
Sunday 10 Nov | 4.15pm
Published by Omnibus Press, Modzines is illustrated in full colour with original artwork and photos, and contains insights from leading figures in the scene including fanzine editors, bands, DJs, promoters, journalists and ‘faces’, all of whom share previously unheard stories, anecdotes and memories.
Modzines also contains original and rare artwork, alongside covers and spreads from the most celebrated, culture-defining fanzines including Direction Reaction Creation, Extraordinary Sensations, Roadrunner, 48 Thrills, Maximum Speed, Sense of Style, Sth Circular, Patriotic, Go Go, In The Crowd, Right Track and Beat That, among others.
Author, Acid Jazz label owner and DJ Eddie Piller explains: “I was inspired to work in the music industry by the very first mod fanzine, Maximum Speed. Within a year I had established my own modzine (Extraordinary Sensations) which, by issue 12, was selling approximately 15,000 copies a time. The early ’80s mod world provided the perfect storm for fanzines: a completely uninterested mainstream media, ease of production, a proliferation of groups and an explosion of young kids all around the world meant that the concept of a home made magazine thrived. There were well over 1500 different modzine titles and this extraordinary underground culture has never been fully explored before”

Monocle 24 - Meet the Writers
2019-11-10 14:00 - 14:30
Georgina Godwin talks to Daniel about his background as a musician, writing books and his latest publiaction Don’t Look Back in Anger

Repeated in the evening.
Meet the Writers
Want to know more about the authors behind your favourite books? Tune in to discover the methods of – and inspiration behind – some of the world’s most exciting writers. Every Saturday, Georgina Godwin hosts an in-depth discussion with the person behind the prose.
