Stewart Smith
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drstewartsmith.bsky.social
Stewart Smith
@drstewartsmith.bsky.social
690 followers 690 following 300 posts
Writer: jazz, improvised, experimental, Scotland & the avant-garde @ The Wire, Bandcamp, The Quietus, We Jazz, Guardian. Associate lecturer Newcastle University. Musician. He/him. 🇵🇸
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Reposted by Stewart Smith
zackpolanski.bsky.social
Pleased to see the jury make this decision.

We need to have eyes wide open this is exactly why the Government wants to abolish juries.

People protesting against a genocide are not the criminals here - it's the politicians who continue to provide cover.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Palestine Action protesters not guilty of defence firm burglary
The group are cleared of aggravated burglary over the alleged raid at an Elbit Systems warehouse.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 4, 2026 at 12:54 PM
drstewartsmith.bsky.social
Promentalshitbackwash-psychosis enema squad (the doo-doo chasers) (Funkadelic)

You Ain’t Gonna Know Me Cos You Think You Know Me (Louis Moholo-Moholo)
waiterich.bsky.social Richard Waite @waiterich.bsky.social · 15h
Deleted a post about “what’s your least favorite song” because the vibes are bad enough already.

Instead: what’s your favorite song that has a long title, say at least 6 words long?

Mine: “Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town” (Pearl Jam)
February 4, 2026 at 12:15 PM
Reposted by Stewart Smith
burningambulance.bsky.social
Thanks to @drstewartsmith.bsky.social for the excellent review of Diego Caicedo's Eidos Daemonium and Ivo Perelman & Nate Wooley's Polarity 4 in the latest issue of @thewiremagazine.bsky.social!
A review of Diego Caicedo's Eidos Daemonium and Ivo Perelman & Nate Wooley's Polarity 4 Diego Caicedo - Eidos Daemonium cover Ivo Perelman/Nate Wooley - Polarity 4 cover
February 3, 2026 at 5:00 PM
Reposted by Stewart Smith
alasdairmackenzie.bsky.social
Also I’m bound to point out: yet another issue on which the left were obviously correct, years ago
alasdairmackenzie.bsky.social Alasdair Mackenzie @alasdairmackenzie.bsky.social · 2d
That this transparently venal and self-seeking individual remained so influential for so long ought to utterly lay waste to what’s left of the Labour Party’s credibility. How could they possibly come back from this.
Starmer believes Mandelson should leave Lords as files suggest he shared government emails with Epstein
Emails released in the Epstein files suggest Lord Mandelson forwarded internal government information to Jeffrey Epstein in 2009.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 2, 2026 at 1:25 PM
drstewartsmith.bsky.social
Duncan Williamson coming to my primary school and sharing his stories was a formative experience. What a wonderful resource.
asls.org.uk Association for Scottish Literature @asls.org.uk · 4d
The Scottish Traveller Duncan Williamson (1928–2007) was known for his vast store of traditional tales & for his dynamic storytelling. Tobar an Dualchais/Kist o Riches has over 200 recordings of his stories & songs gathered over a lifetime
#BookWormSat
www.tobarandualchais.co.uk/major-contri...
Duncan Williamson
The Scottish Traveller Duncan Williamson is widely regarded as one of Scotland’s greatest tradition bearers. Although primarily known for his vast store of traditional tales and for his dynamic story...
www.tobarandualchais.co.uk
January 31, 2026 at 5:19 PM
Reposted by Stewart Smith
glasgowbell.bsky.social
🚨 BREAKING: The CCA is "No longer able to continue operating and is entering liquidation."

Tomorrow we're publishing the inside story of how it all went wrong for the arts organisation - read our first report and sign up below 👇
www.glasgowbell.co.uk/cca-liquidat...
The CCA goes bust, entering liquidation
All staff are being made redundant and operations are ceasing with “immediate effect”
www.glasgowbell.co.uk
January 30, 2026 at 2:45 PM
drstewartsmith.bsky.social
Looks good. Hard to top Robert Mugge's Joyful Noise (1980), but there's some enticing archival footage, and the presence of Fred Moten, Brent Hayes Edwards and others as talking heads suggests they're doing it right.
January 29, 2026 at 12:41 PM
Reposted by Stewart Smith
westcoastsmirr.bsky.social
Dick Gaughan with 'Now Westlin Winds' or 'Song Composed on August' by Robert Burns.
Dick Gaughan - Now Westlin Winds
YouTube video by 76AMD
youtu.be
January 25, 2026 at 8:55 AM
Reposted by Stewart Smith
kidcongopowers.bsky.social
The Cramps @ Emerald City, Cherry Hill, NJ. May 8, 1981 (Full Show) . Shot by the great and wonderful Rich Lustre of Sic Kidz Lights by fab Rick Schmidlin on this tour if not mistaken ! Lux Interior, Poison Ivy, Kid Congo Powers, Nick Knox . What a gas it was! youtu.be/Kx0f_posfFg?...
The Cramps @ Emerald City, Cherry Hill, NJ. May 8, 1981 (Full Show)
YouTube video by rlustre
youtu.be
January 21, 2026 at 8:13 PM
drstewartsmith.bsky.social
If you enjoyed reading my chat with Thurston Moore about Black Woman @thequietus.com, check out this guide to the music of Linda Sharrock I wrote a few years back.
thequietus.com The Quietus @thequietus.com · 18d
'Its slick 70s soul influences suggest the Sharrocks were aiming for a more commercial sound. But then how commercial can an album full of wordless vocals and unhinged slide guitar be?'

#SonnySharrock And #LindaSharrock – Paradise (Atco, 1975) - The Strange World of Linda Sharrock

buff.ly/vhyxdPA
Sonny Sharrock And Linda Sharrock – Paradise album front cover. Linda Sharrock with red plumes sticking out of her ponytail hairdo. Sonny Sharrock And Linda Sharrock – Paradise album back cover. A bird of paradise with red plumage matching Linda's hairdo on the front cover.
January 17, 2026 at 6:37 PM
Reposted by Stewart Smith
soozuk.bsky.social
I can't trust politicians who are anti-trans. Not because I'm "only searching for perfection" which is what centrists will be accusing me of for the rest of my life, it's because if you're not pro-trans you'll be garbage on lots of other issues too. Being anti-trans NEVER exists in a vacuum.
January 17, 2026 at 9:42 AM
Reposted by Stewart Smith
thequietus.com
With a focus on the years between 1960 and 1980, Thurston Moore provides Stewart Smith with ten entry points into the wild world of free music.

Now Jazz Now100 Essential Free Jazz & Improvisation Recordings 1960-80 is out now via Ecstatic Peace

buff.ly/diU2uZn
Now Jazz Now100 Essential Free Jazz & Improvisation Recordings 1960-80 book cover. Don Cherry playing the flute, wearing a robe and a skullcap. On the back cover is a selection of classic free jazz labels, such as Black Saint.
January 15, 2026 at 7:00 PM
drstewartsmith.bsky.social
“Record nerds unite!” Had the pleasure of geeking out with Thurston Moore about classic free music LPs on the release of his, Byron Coley & Mats Gustafsson’s monumental new tome Now Jazz Now. He selects 10 essential recordings to liberate body & mind @thequietus.com thequietus.com/interviews/s...
The Strange World Of... Free Jazz & Improvised Music  | The Quietus
Thurston Moore offers us ten points of entry into the wild, massive world of free jazz and improvised music
thequietus.com
January 15, 2026 at 2:37 PM
drstewartsmith.bsky.social
The dream team of Mariam Rezaei & Bill Orcutt makes their live debut at Brooklyn’s Roulette in March 🔥🔥🔥
billorcutt.bsky.social Bill Orcutt @billorcutt.bsky.social · 26d
We've added a THIRD show to the Palilalia bash at Roulette. It's Sunday March 22. Tickets, they are on sale now!

FRIDAY 3/20: roulette.org/event/bill-o...

SATURDAY 3/21: roulette.org/event/bill-o...

SUNDAY 3/22: roulette.org/event/orcutt...
January 9, 2026 at 2:39 PM
Reposted by Stewart Smith
robertdallasgray.com
good article here on bc daily from a while ago: daily.bandcamp.com/features/dog...

also see our own @drstewartsmith.bsky.social on dawson! daily.bandcamp.com/features/daw...
The Uncompromising Creative Politics of Dog Faced Hermans
Exploring the history and discography of this singular band, who played a mix of post-punk and free jazz with an eye toward liberation.
daily.bandcamp.com
January 7, 2026 at 4:22 PM
Reposted by Stewart Smith
mcduff.bsky.social
Again: Starmer is less popular than Truss and Johnson because he was supposed to not be this, he was the lifeline people desperately reached out for. But the job of the Labour right is to say, no, fuck you, whoever you vote for, it's just us again. Be grateful, peasants.
avdeggar.bsky.social A.V. Deggar @avdeggar.bsky.social · Jan 2
In today's episode of Everything Is America Now, here's Starmer's disgraced ex-director of political strategy blaming Labour's failures on a Brit version of the US Deep State, made up of NGOs, activists, lawyers & regulators.

If this sounds like far rightism à la Cummings, that's because it 100% is
Politicians have given away too much power to lawyers, activists and regulators, and cannot deliver their promises, an ex-aide to the prime minister has said.
January 2, 2026 at 2:07 PM
drstewartsmith.bsky.social
There’s a fair bit of jazz/hip-hop crossover about, some more convincing than others, but the most exciting stuff for me is operating in an open-genre space where it’s more about sound and interplay than a conscious fusion…
thewiremagazine.bsky.social The Wire Magazine @thewiremagazine.bsky.social · Jan 2
Far beyond novelty or experiment, 2025 was the year that crossover projects rejected genre labels for endless sonic possibilities, writes Stewart Smith in The Wire 503/504.

Read the full article here: www.thewire.co.uk/in-writing/e...
Hybrid Vigour - The Wire
Far beyond novelty or experiment, 2025 was the year that crossover projects rejected genre labels for endless sonic possibilities, writes Stewart Smith in The Wire 503/504
www.thewire.co.uk
January 2, 2026 at 12:15 PM
drstewartsmith.bsky.social
Right Said Fred Again
fendersonia.bsky.social Rev. Deral "FreeLink" Fenderson @fendersonia.bsky.social · Dec 29
ruin two bands by combining them:

Fugazi Osbourne
estroclysm.neocities.org soup_ @estroclysm.neocities.org · Dec 27
ruin two bands by combining them:

kornplay
December 30, 2025 at 12:35 AM
drstewartsmith.bsky.social
Viennese vinyl haul. Top 3 from Alt & Neu (the middle Bley is a record club edition of Tropic Appetites), rest from Substance. Merry improv Christmas!
December 20, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Reposted by Stewart Smith
robertdallasgray.com
hello just a reminder you should never work with or buy from last night from glasgow because they are run by transphobes x
December 19, 2025 at 1:27 AM
drstewartsmith.bsky.social
Highest possible recommendation!
johnchantler.bsky.social John Chantler @johnchantler.bsky.social · Dec 17
A third physical edition of [Ahmed]'s landmark Giant Beauty 5CD boxset has now been put into production.

Generally available next March, but you can pre-order already here: ahmedquartet.bandcamp.com/album/giant-...

'Apricot' ribbon for this batch.
Giant Beauty, by أحمد [Ahmed]
5 track album
ahmedquartet.bandcamp.com
December 19, 2025 at 10:22 AM
Reposted by Stewart Smith
vijayiyer.bsky.social
a blessed 84th birthday to the greatest, Wadada Leo Smith 🙏🏾❤️♾️
Smith & I embracing after a concert in Berlin, 30 Oct 2025
December 18, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Reposted by Stewart Smith
goodlawproject.bsky.social
Eight Palestine Action activists are being left to die in prison – all without even facing trial.

We must force the government to act, before it’s too late ⬇️
https://goodlaw.social/3e3320
December 18, 2025 at 10:54 AM
Reposted by Stewart Smith
histmat.bsky.social
In memoriam: Asad Haider (1987–2025).
In memoriam: Asad Haider (1987-2025) - Historical Materialism
‘Our subjective horizon is the optimism of the intellect; our objective, structuring condition is pessimism of the will. Without optimism of the intellect, we have the party without the people. Withou...
www.historicalmaterialism.org
December 14, 2025 at 11:22 AM
Reposted by Stewart Smith
robinince.bsky.social
Very sad that I felt I had no choice but to resign from The Infinite Monkey Cage - a victory for the transphobes and other bigots - I did it because so much of the media has chosen to believe the kind and empathetic people are a fiction - they are real and so often unrepresented.
This is the saddest day of my professional life. Today is not only the final recording of the latest series of The Infinite Monkey Cage, it is my last ever Monkey Cage. I never thought that I would have to leave the show. I always imagined going on until | dropped dead under the studio lights due to a brain aneurysm caused by my final attempt to understand notions of quantum gravity or the shock of being told about fly maggot infestations in the sacks of macaque monkeys. I resigned in September, after sixteen years of dedication to the show, A show that I named and helped develop over all those years. Unfortunately, my opinions outside the BBC have been considered problematic for sometime, whether it has been voicing support for the trans community, criticism of Donald Trump, numerous other outlandish opinions, including once gently criticising Stephen Fry. These things were considered to conflict with being a freelance BBC science presenter In a recent meeting where BBC Studio executives again voiced problems with me, I realised my choices. Obedience and being quieter to remain making Monkey Cage, or 'Resign and have the freedom to speak out against what I believe are injustices'. • I chose the latter. It broke my heart. I love this show and I love the audience, and it is because of the audience in particular, that this decision was so difficult to make. I kept thinking about all the extremist voices promoting hate and division. They are being given so many platforms, while voices that represent kindness, open mindedness, empathy seem to be scarcer and scarcer. I felt I couldn't pamper myself with the luxury of silence. One of my many privileges is that I am able to resign and I can speak out even if it is to the detriment of my career. I have thought a lot about my heroes, Sinead O Connor, James Baldwin, Audre Lorde, and so many more. I think of Sinead's words, "the job of an artist is to be themselves at any cost". James Baldwin said prejudice was really just a word for cowardice. Audre Lorde, viewing her life, wrote that her only regrets were her silences. I think of my father as I resign, he brought me up to believe in fairness , justice and kindness. Though my heart is broken, it is also full of fire. I apologise to our incredible listeners for my departure, your love of the show means a great deal. I am so sorry to let you down. I hope that you can understand my reasoning. I have to accept that I am not what the current BBC expects of their freelance presenters. Despite this I should add that I have always worked far more than my contracted hours to try and ensure the show was always the best it could be, as well as making myself accessible and responsive to the audience wherever and whenever I met them. Every night, we have recorded, I have been filled with determination to make the best show possible. This was not "just a job" I hope that with my departure I can be a better ally to the LGBTQ community, to the neurodivergent community, to activists fighting against those who aim to brutalise society, to those currently in prison on hunger strike, and to all those who fight for a more inclusive world. From many conversations, I know there are many Monkey Cage listeners who support these communities and activists too. The strawberry is dead. Long live the strawberry. B
December 13, 2025 at 12:02 AM