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POW! When UK Punk Went Pop 1980-84, a Memoir by Tony Fletcher

Music’s Not Dead are delighted to welcome Tony Fletcher to launch his new book “POW! When UK Punk Went Pop, 1980-84. A Memoir By Tony Fletcher“.

Tony will be reading and in conversation with James Endeacott, followed by the debut live outing for The Dear Boys (Acoustic) featuring Tony Fletcher and Tony Page.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Before authoring eleven books, including bestselling biographies of the Who drummer Keith Moon, R.E.M. and the Smiths, Tony Fletcher was a teenaged music magazine publisher in his native England. But, with a degree of industry that sounds absolutely exhausting, he also ran a record label, interviewed rock stars, led a band, promoted concerts, worked as an on-air TV interviewer — and still found time for romance.

Fletcher chronicled the early days of his life and career in Boy About Town (2013) but had enough extraordinary experiences left over for this colourful and engaging memoir. 1980–’84 was an explosive time in British rock, as the disruptive energy of bands like the Clash and Sex Pistols gave way to more sophisticated and chart-friendly genres and bands.

Fletcher was on the front lines, running a record label with the Jam’s Paul Weller, attending all the important concerts and meeting the top acts, many of whom became MTV regulars: Madness, Dexy’s Midnight Runners, Wham!, Echo & the Bunnymen, Killing Joke, Adam and the Ants, the Smiths and more. Then there’s the time he interviewed Paul McCartney… This is a coming-of-age story, the tale of a naïve young man in a cultural whirlwind who learns some hard lessons about business, journalism, love and sex – all the while trying to get his own band a record deal

The Hanging Stars

London’s The Hanging Stars return with their sixth album, Just A Day – a dazzling collection of four-part harmonies, shimmering twelve-string guitars and chiming songs, touching on themes of longing, new beginnings and the fragility of the everyday. Recorded at Edwyn Collin’s legendary Clashnarrow Studios in the Scottish Highlands, the album marks a bold new chapter for the band, produced with the invaluable guidance of Teenage Fanclub’s Gerard Love.

A line-up change at the end of 2024 proved to be a galvanising moment for The Hanging Stars. “We needed to rethink things,” says guitarist Patrick Ralla. “A new leaner approach – bass, drums, guitars, four-part harmonies. Certainly worked for The Byrds, Big Star and Teenage Fanclub.” The result is a wonderfully energising record full of catchy hooks and a renewed vision. The songs are designed to take the listener away from it all… even if it’s just for a little while.

Central to the record’s new direction was the involvement of Gerard Love – one third of Teenage Fanclub’s celebrated songwriting trio and the artist behind Lightships. Starting from demos exchanged between Glasgow and London, Love helped the band strip things back to their essence, ever so gently guiding them toward their finest work to date. He also joined the band for a week of recording, contributing vocals, arrangement ideas and by all accounts a mean vegan curry.

Miki Berenyi Trio In Store

Miki Berenyi Trio head to the De La Warr Pavilion for a special, up-close performance in our Café Bar.

Miki Berenyi Trio (aka MB3) are Miki Berenyi on vocals/guitar, Kevin ‘Moose’ McKillop on guitar and Oliver Cherer on bass/programming. The three musicians (whose former/other bands include Lush, Moose, Gilroy Mere and Aircooled) first worked together during Piroshka’s 2021 tour – Miki and Moose being founder members, Ollie joining to play bass.

MB3 was originally formed to promote Miki’s memoir – Fingers Crossed: How Music Saved Me From Success (published Sept 2022) – playing a few songs to accompany her live book events. However, with three songwriters in the band, it wasn’t long before a full live set came together, and the nimble setup of a trio has allowed them to tour extensively in the UK, Ireland, Europe and the US, playing over 100 shows to date.

April 2025 saw the release of the trio’s debut album ‘Tripla’, released via Bella Union, which garnered critical acclaim, including Rough Trade’s Album of the Month. Subsequent releases include the Lol and Gray Tolhurst collaboration ‘Stranger’, followed by ‘Doldrum Days (Sept 2025) and ‘Island of One’ (March 2026).

Miki Berenyi Trio are currently writing and recording their next album.

The Poor Performer In Store

Poor Performer will be singing songs of joy, melancholy and biting satire from his new album and extensive back catalogue in a free Sunday afternoon session at Music’s Not Dead in the foyer of DLWP.

SIMON RIVERS has a long history of great, unheralded releases, probably in partly due to his penchant for self-releasing his work back when finding a label to do that for you was de riguer for any ambitious performer . . . now everyone does it, which is possibly why Simon stopped! Through a long string of records as leader of The Bitter Springs, founder of Oldfield Youth Club and popping up on an odd release here or there – Band Of Holy Joy springs to mind, in fact we met him when he jumped onstage at one of their shows to sing a tune with Johny Brown.

Si‘s gone solo, more or less, as Poor Performer. His last release, Like Yer Wounds Too, was four long years ago and if you’ve been wondering what he’s been doing, the answer is here . . . 17 songs (one of ’em a “mystery” track”) adding up to more than an hour’s worth of new music, all on one CD + booklet package, like those we’ve done with HOUSE Of ALL, Phil Shoenfelt & Southern Cross and Entracte.

This new opus is confoundingly great . . . odes to pub friends and Andy Williams are among our favourites, and Simon’s association with Vic Godard really shines through in lyrics that are weirdly touching, bitingly cynical and truly romantic, not to mention a drama and production that helps explain the lengthy birthing of this fine work! It’s smart, funny, and stunning.

This marvelous work is a strictly limited edition package with the CD featuring a full-colour sleeve and the booklet is an A5 stapled full-colour one (on every page) with all sorts of art and text and lyrics, and it looks like Simon will be playing some dates around the UK throughout the year.

Ady Johnson In Store

Music’s Not Dead are delighted to announce Ady Johnson is coming to the De La Warr Pavilion to launch his new album, ‘Under Gainsborough Skies’, with a free show on Saturday 18 July at 3pm.

Suffolk-born singer-songwriter Ady Johnson is an accomplished acoustic guitarist whose music blends folk and Americana influences, rooted in the tradition of classic British songwriting. His expressive, soulful vocals are complemented by a distinctive, dynamic guitar style, shaped by his background in classical guitar and characterised by intricate fingerpicking.

Ady Johnson will showcase his new record ‘Under Gainsborough Skies’ in full – an album of intimate, analogue recordings inspired by his life on the Essex–Suffolk border. Recorded live in the studio with producer Nathan Wacey using vintage equipment the album captures raw, unfiltered performances with minimal overdubs. “I wanted it to feel honest and immediate—just my guitar, my voice, and the moment,” says Johnson.

Rooted in folk revival traditions and shaped by Johnson’s background in classical guitar performance, the record blends intricate fingerpicking with intimate vocal melodies, creating beautifully self-contained arrangements. The album explores themes of memory, time and mortality, shaped by personal reflections on family, loss and the possibility of something beyond.

Record Store Day 2026

Record Store Day UK is proud to announce this year’s list of exclusives and special releases coming to independent record shops on Saturday 18th April 2026.

Music fans can expect a stacked list of collectible and limited-edition records from some of the biggest and most exciting names in music including the likes of Elton John, Madonna, Blur, Charli XCX, Primal Scream, Joy Crookes, Paramore, Look Outside Your Window, plus many more surprises.

Hundreds of artists have come together to celebrate the UK’s independent record shops, which are at the heart of local communities nationwide. Now in its 19th year, RSD brings together artists, labels, and record stores across the country to celebrate the unique culture of independent shops and the enduring art of vinyl. There are now over 300 participating record shops across the UK and Ireland!

With special releases spanning rock, pop, soul, jazz, hip-hop, reggae, classical, and folk – even a Sleepy Pokémon Beats soundtrack – music fans of all tastes and genres will find something unique at their local record store this April.

Brit Award nominated artists such as: Bruno Mars, Calvin Harris, Chrystal, CMAT, Gigi Perez, HAIM, Myles Smith, Olivia Dean, PinkPantheress, Raye, Rose Gray, Self Esteem, Sleep Token, The Last Dinner Party and Wolf Alice, all have exclusive releases on this year’s RSD list!

The Continued Vinyl Revival

This year’s Record Store Day arrives as vinyl sales remain at their highest level in 20 years. According to the latest report from the Digital Entertainment and Retail Association, the market for vinyl records grew by 18.6%, in value terms with over 7.5 million discs sold last year, generating £238 million. These exciting numbers highlight the ongoing love for physical music, and the vital role independent record stores play in bringing artists, labels, and collectors together.

Check out the full list now at https://www.recordstoreday.co.uk/rsd-list

Aircooled In Store

Music’s Not Dead are excited to welcome Aircooled for a special FREE live instore to celebrate their upcoming album ‘My God It’s Full Of Stars’, which releases on 3 April.

Recorded at band HQ in St Leonards, new album, ‘My God It’s Full Of Stars’ is a quantum leap, with big songs to fill big venues. This is the album that might just send Aircooled into the stars.

“The greatest Kraut-gospel-funk party album ever.” MOJO Magazine

“The children of motoric Kraut-rock. Kosmische. Exciting, pulsating music for both the dance floor and extended listening at home.” International Times

“I’m totally entranced into an ecstatic reverie” Brighton & Hove News

AIRCOOLED

Danny George Wilson In Store

Music’s Not Dead are delighted to welcome back @dannythechamp Danny George Wilson (Danny & The Champions of the World, Bennett Wilson Poole, Grand Drive) to celebrate the release of Danny’s new album ‘Arcade’ released on the 20th March through Loose Music.

The De La Warr Pavilion
Sunday 22nd March
3pm Free

Come On Down Folks!

Arcade finds Danny George Wilson returning to Hamish Benjamin’s studio in East Sussex – five years on from his startling, post-lockdown album Another Place – to construct its sequel. With Lewes-based Benjamin and right-hand man Henry Garratt again given free rein, Arcade presents a fresh collection of sonically inventive, deeply romantic songs with atmosphere taking primacy over meaning, and narrative dissolving.

First single ‘Distant Seasons’ set the scene for the new album, a song about an imagined return, about losing people, time and place, with a wonderfully melancholic string arrangement. Second single ‘Arcade’ is the album’s title track, taking in youth culture and nostalgia, doffing a cap to influential book ‘Subway Art’, Dinosaur Jr’s ‘Freak Scene’, Sonic Youth’s ‘Teenage Riot’ and Sutton’s long demolished Arcade.

The new album is due 20 March 2026 on the Loose label. Another Place featured contributions from Jeff Tweedy (Wilco), Gerard Love (Teenage Fanclub) and Emma Swift and attracted a raft of praise on its release in 2021:

“an idiosyncratic gem…one of Wilson’s finest” – ★★★★ Mojo

“Wilson’s weather-beaten voice is an atmospheric conduit for tales of troubled romance and hopes for happier times ahead” – Uncut

“mightily impressive” – ★★★★ Daily Express

Majke Voss fka Broken Twin + Helen & Dave (The Equatorial Group)

Music’s Not Dead are delighted to welcome Majke Voss, formerly Broken Twin, to the De La Warr Pavilion’s First floor Café on February 10 2026.

Majke Voss is a composer, singer and songwriter formerly known as Broken Twin. Following her critically acclaimed debut album May, her forthcoming album is written and produced by herself, featuring an array of prominent musicians from the Copenhagen music scene such as Johan Wieth (Iceage) and Nils Gröndahl (Under Byen).

Built from piano, bass, beats and distorted strings and centred around her soulful voice, the coming album – this time set to be released in her own name – is a development and expansion of her distinct songwriting and minimalistic, cinematic sound, widely praised in publications such as Rolling Stone, Vogue,

The Guardian and The Sunday Times. NPR called it a “Breathtaking debut”, while NME dubbed her “the most arrestingly beautiful songwriter we’ve heard in aeons”.

Support Announcement!

We are delighted to announce that Helen & Dave from The Equatorial Group will be playing a special stripped back set.

Kid Kapachi

Music’s Not Dead are delighted to welcome back Kid Kapichi for a special instore, celebrating the release of the new album ‘Fearless Nature’.

Following on the back of the singles ‘Shoe Size‘ and ‘Stainless Steel‘, the new album marks a new era for the band.

Entry is free when you pre-order the CD or vinyl! Albums will be available to pick up from release date Friday 16 January.