You can pretty much guarantee that anyone in the UK who was in their teens or twenties in the early 90’s will have fond memories of dancing The Spin Doctors alt-pop chart toppers like Two Princes and Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong, you might even find they have a copy of multi-platinum album Pocket Full Of Kryptonite in […]
Author: stephaniedarkes
I heart the 90’s alternative scene

This evening me and the Mr took a trip down memory lane and played some of the tunes from back in the day, (we actually first met at 6th form college). We listened to Arrested Development, Faith No More, Smashing Pumpkins and the very awesome soundtrack to Judgement Night featuring a fine mash-up of Rock […]
Listen to this – interview with Squarepusher and Charles Hazlewood

‘Listen to this’ set to “engage, inspire and excite and generally blow the mind of the entire audience that come and witness it” (Charles Hazlewood) 2011 saw massive cuts to the arts budget in Croydon Council, closing the Clocktower and cutting the summer festival. Croydon now seems to be going through a period of significant […]
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Interview with Baz Warne (The Stranglers)

In 2000 Stranglers fan, Sunderland native and Smalltown Heroes guitarist Baz Warne was invited to London to audition for The Stranglers. He was given the gig on the spot. Since then the band have made three albums, played sold out gigs, been on several tours and played many festivals including Glastonbury. After the success of […]
Return of the Bush

Today, tickets went on sale for Kate Bush’s (allegedly) one off comeback show, I say ‘allegedly’ because the cynic in me is sure that these ‘one off’ gigs are just test gigs to build demand and see if there is a possibility to do more (see the Stone Roses 2011). The tickets for Kate’s gig […]
Radio Show: Croydon’s music scene in the 70’s – The Greyhound

Tune into Croydon Radio at 10 am tomorrow for my latest show, focusing on The Greyhound music venue, Croydon in the 70’s and the bands who played there. Featuring music from: Queen, Mott the hoople, Genesis, Pink fairies, Elton John, T-Rex, Roxy Music, ELO, David Bowie & Lou Reed and an interview with the old manager Howard […]
Heart of the Community Awards, Sept 2014

Last night I attended the Croydon Heart of the Community Awards, an award set up by the Croydon Advertiser to assist people working hard to make a difference in the community in Croydon. I was humbled and blown away by the amazing people in Croydon making differences in their own ways, quietly & wholeheartedly with […]
Rockacry Baby

Dear Parents, friends of parents, anyone who has to buy presents for babies and has any musical integrity, When you are looking for that perfect present for a new baby or when you are looking for the soundtrack to your babies dreams do not – I repeat, do not consider the purchase of Rockabye baby […]
The bees knees – children’s activities in Croydon

It’s my first proper summer holiday as a Mum, I had six weeks of entertaining the kids ahead of me, admittedly, most of it has been strategically planned with trips to see far away friends and days out. But today I had a window and I wondered what to do with the kids. Logically, I […]
The Purley Festival Meltdown on Croydon Radio

After the success of Purley festival I chat to some of my fellow organisers about what it takes to put on a great local series of events on a £0 budget, plus I play a load of music from some of the local acts that performed. Guests: Mat martin – from the Brit School, plays […]