As another year turns, here’s a look back over 12 months of mischief and mayhem.

2025 marked a decade of WSO, and a time to reflect on the 1250+ events run under that banner and the £1 million worth of food, cash, clothing, bedding and toiletries raised for folks who needed the solidarity of our raised fists and helping hands.

…..and a time to reflect on the political betrayals which all but ensure we’ll be needed for the rest of our lives.

But mostly, 2025 was a year of getting out on the road and doing my thing. ‘Sledgehammer Songs’ was a year old, but the need for gigs to be uplifting and spontaneous was obvious as the political situation here in the UK and around the world deteriorated. I felt the shows had to be a safe place to offload all that overwhelm, so the singalongs were more manic, the end of the night more collaborative, and the explosions of emotion more messy as a result.

The year began with a double-up at Groovy VI as I followed a Lithium Joe set with a solo one and just about made it over the line….

Then a couple of Miner’s Strike commemoration events, one at The Broadway for the Hatfield Brigade, and the other at Betteshanger for the Kent Brigade. The latter a particularly memorable day as I received the Ron Todd Foundation ‘Peter Todd Award For Creativity’ at the Marx Memorial Library in London beforehand.

And then embarked on a whistle-stop tour of Mick Jones‘s ‘Rock’n’Roll Public Library’, Soho Square to sit on Kirsty MacColl‘s bench, and what was once The Roxy for the most middle class sandwich I’ve ever eaten.

Before Chip Hamer and I embarked on a mad dash over to Betteshanger….

….followed by a last-minute detour to catch the end of Swill and Bobby‘s set in Margate where I ended a frantic day singing ‘Ghosts Of Cable Street’ alongside my heroes once again.

From there began the ‘Do Not Despair. That’s Exactly What They Want’ Tour and thousands of miles in poor Rosie, my long-suffering car, every last yard of it worth it to see the looks on your faces and hear those choruses bellowed back at me with such passion and commitment. It was a fantastic Spring.

Including two stand-out memories. Firstly, the graveyard shift opening up Ey Up Mi Duck Festival on the Sunday to a packed tent….

….before sharing a couple of songs with Jess Silk and spending an afternoon in the sun talking shop and putting the world to rights.

And secondly, a really special weekend playing the WI Hall in Bridport followed by Glastonwick Festival, again alongside Jess and with added The Men They Couldn’t Hang for icing on the cake.

There was a Strummercamp/Bearded Theory dash in there, a fantastic weekend made possible by Gail Something-Else and Phil Fitzpatrick…..

….a cracking WSO event in Derby courtesy of Joe Zux….

…..and in the middle of it all, the Three (+1) Shall Overcome hike from Scarborough to Robin Hood’s Bay along the Cleveland Way in the company of Steve and Kev, and this year, added Tim Hoy.

We raised around £1200 for Medical Aid For Palestinians, a cause which called to me as the appalling situation in Gaza worsened and governments around the world appeared to join a conspiracy of silence, with a complicity implicit within. My tour money was split between WSO Central for Pauline Town, Hull Unity Shop, and MAP. There was little I could do other than voice my solidarity, share the daily death toll, and donate what I could, but I drew enormous inspiration from the likes of Greta Thunberg, Carsie Blanton, Chris Smalls, and Thiago Avila as they joined the hundreds attempting to break the illegal sea blockade. Respect to all.

The Summer was spent playing a string of gigs and festivals, including a return to play the main stage at Durham Miners Gala….

…I played house concerts….

….NHS Solidarity events….

Pauline‘s birthday at The Station….

A very sunny Burslem for Potteries Chartist Festival eye-balling Lemmy‘s statue from the FBU Fire Engine….

….two very special in-the-round gigs alongside Carol Hodge and Daniel Lucas in London and York….

…..and a memorial gig for Annie Rodgers at Stainforth Pit Club.

We lost some dearly-loved and much-missed people this year, and although it’s impossible to list them all, Annie, Monologue John, and Pauline’s Mum are three who hit me very hard.

Into the Autumn I took up the Stride For Gaza challenge and hobbled my way through the virtual miles eventually raising upwards of £1400 for MAP…..

….hit Brighton with Chip for Robb Johnson‘s Railway Roots gig in Portslade….

…..played a wonderful inclusion event for the wider WSO Family at The Station….

….played both Musicport Festival and the 10th Anniversary WSO event in Whitby and Middlesbrough respectively on the same September Saturday, and basically just made a nuisance of myself whilst I prepared for the ‘Inspireography’ Tour with Jess.

There’s something really special about sharing a stage with Jess Silk. It’s not just that we bring out the best in each other, or our shared commitment to the ‘Big Gigs In Small Rooms’ ethos grassroots live music will need in order to survive, it’s that there’s just something unexplainably magic about it.

I loved every second of that tour alongside Jess, Joe Zux, Caroline and Tarby, and if you missed us, you really need to bag tickets early next year!

2025 also saw the launch of ‘SONGS & VERSES’ the collection of my lyrics and poetry painstakingly edited and presented by Chip for Picket Line Press, and designed by Mark Welland. It’s a thing of beauty, and I can’t thank them enough for making it happen. I’ll be doing a couple of spoken-word shows with that in the new year.

Behind the scenes this year has been about seeing the new album ‘Punk Rock Prepared Us For This’ over the line. I began the year writing and recording, and finished it tying off the loose ends having spent much of the last 12 months overseeing the various collaborations and bouncing back and forth with Lee Huck, who took over mixing and mastering duties.

I’m pleased to report it’s currently at the pressing plant and the pre-order will go live on Bandcamp on FRIDAY FEBRUARY 6TH so please get on this early so I can pay the not inconsiderable bills.

Here’s a first look at Kevin Pearson‘s artwork….

The first single ‘Rise Up! Rise Up!’ will launch with a video on MONDAY FEBRUARY 2nd and will be available to download with the pre-order on the 6th.

The tour begins at The Station on SATURDAY MARCH 21st and doesn’t really stop until the Summer.

I want to thank each and every one of you for your support and solidarity, your voices and applause. Without it I’m screaming into the void and raising not a single penny.

It always has been, and always will be, very much appreciated.

And a special mention to all the photographers whose images make this blog what it is. I know I’ll miss someone, so apologies in advance, but thank you to Neil Terry, Kate Clark, Ian Ladlow, Kenny Brown, Pete Yen, Chip Hamer, Lyric Lounge Review, Joe Zux, Pauline Town, Mark Whyatt, Joe Grint, and everyone else whose images come to define our memories.

That’s me for the year.

See you on the other side.

Remember NEW ALBUM February 6th.

See you down the front x