Yeah ‘sometimes work (and artists) benefit from a bit of mystery!’

"We established the Orchard in 2001 and it has been managed by local people for local people ever since, becoming a trusted and highly-respected local resource and a key feature in the lives of children and their families. Now in its second generation, many parents bringing their families" - STAA

God, these lovely, peaceful morning hours in Europe before that stupid cunt wakes up.

The US military has 22 sites in the UK.

Every day long range US bombers are taking off here to drop bombs on Iran.

This is a rogue state carrying out war crimes, and threatening more.

The UK Government must grow a spine - and stop our bases being used for this war.

Middle East crisis live: Trump says he is ‘not at all’ worried about possible war crimes as his deadline for Iran nears Israel warns Iranians to immediately stop using trains or being near railway lines, saying it would ‘endanger’ their lives

Kier Starmer when are you going to show s courage & leadership & call this out for what it is & stop air bases being used to commit these crimes, continue to make yourself an accomplice. Otherwise you should stand down, you are endangering the people you govern.

www.theguardian.com/world/live/2...

‘It’s all around St Anns — old summer houses being (barely) held up by ivy, rusted corrugated iron roofs, wooden benches sinking back into the murky soil stew.’

Wrote some words about Allotment Tapes for the fabulous @caughtbytheriver.bsky.social .

www.caughtbytheriver.net/2026/04/allo...

Doug looks pretty happy to be there at least!

Looking forward to experiencing the plagues of frogs… thanks @caughtbytheriver.bsky.social .

Daily Mail headline says "Drill, Ed, Drill"

Translation: Net Zero threatens the value of our proprietor's investments. The world must cook for the sake of his portfolio.

Meanwhile, slightly bizarrely, if you have an electric car and charge it on Octopus Agile tomorrow lunchtime, you'll be paid several quid to do so because there's going to be TOO MUCH WIND POWER FOR THE GRID TO HANDLE. Time to open the oven door, turn the heat to max, and reduce your energy bill!

Australian oud virtuoso Joseph Tawadros offering a hymn of thanks...

I came to allotments, and St Anns in particular, via a rather wavy process… I think I wanted to do something connected to land use/nature as these are subjects that are important to me. What I love about allotments is the real DIY, non- conformist vibe that purveys them.

Allotment Tapes #4 - St Anns In The Countryside (with Mo Cooper), by Ben McElroy 4 track album

benmcelroy.bandcamp.com/album/allotm...

April is here! No fooling, the preview track for Allotment Tapes #4 - St Anns In The Countryside (with Mo Cooper) is up today on my Bandcamp. You can pre-order or become a subscriber and get every release in your inbox each month, along with special bonus and behind the scenes sound and footage.

Allotment Tapes #3 - We Are All Visitors Here (with Rachel Brooke), by Ben McElroy 3 track album

And if you do fancy popping onto the allotments afterwards #3 is out now talking to Rachel Brooke about the community orchard.

benmcelroy.bandcamp.com/album/allotm...

St Ann's, by David Boulter 13 track album

Exploring St Ann’s beyond the allotments today via David Boulters ‘St Ann’s‘ courtesy of @claypipemusic.bsky.social . Thanks @moonbuilding.bsky.social for the heads up!

claypipemusic.bandcamp.com/album/st-anns

Thanks @moonbuilding.bsky.social for the lovely words about Allotment Tapes 3 (Out today!)…

Allotment Tapes #2 - The Lungs of the City - (with Steven Vitale), by Ben McElroy 4 track album

Last chance to listen to Allotment Tapes 2 before it disappears back underground tomorrow:

benmcelroy.bandcamp.com/album/allotm...

This looks great!

If I wasn’t up to my armpits in my own field recordings atm I’d be routing through.

TOMORROW! Come down to the plot for March's Listening Party. Allotment Tapes #3 - We Are All Visitors Here will play in full. Unfortunately, due to family circumstances, I won't be able to join you this time but the event will go ahead as planned. Links below
benmcelroy.bandcamp.com/merch/allotm...

Thanks!

Fiddle player (well viola) spotted in the depths of St Ann’s Allotments! Lovely to have a bit of a jam with nature, thinking up new ideas.. thanks to Val @ 326artspace for the filming.

March's Allotment Tapes will be released on Friday 27th March via my Bandcamp. Links in all the usual places

And gated snares!

I think the 80s did that to a lot of the artists of the 60s… mullets and shell suits.

Lovely stuff... does this mean we can all go back to bed?

Many thanks to Reece Jeffrey for these ace photos from my last gig By Our Hands for Hello Thor alongside Strangeloop and Boci.
I’m taking a breather from gigging for the first part of this year, but plans in place from June.. If you would like me to come and play for you please do get in touch.

Thanks all- if you feel inspired to write a little Bandcamp review that would be amazing.

ah really? Here’s a few more, hopefully one of them works!

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