Simon Coates
@simonjcoates.bsky.social
words: (New York) Observer, The New World, Discogs, ArtUK & more
"utterly cretinous" - man on Facebook
"brilliant work" - Amnesty International
"finally..." - Dua Lipa
🏠 London, UK
"utterly cretinous" - man on Facebook
"brilliant work" - Amnesty International
"finally..." - Dua Lipa
🏠 London, UK
Strangely moving to visit the new David Bowie Centre at the V&A Storehouse. Maybe it's due to the current parlous state of mainstream music, but it's worth wondering where the world would be without the influence of the wondrous chameleonic alien.
December 21, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Strangely moving to visit the new David Bowie Centre at the V&A Storehouse. Maybe it's due to the current parlous state of mainstream music, but it's worth wondering where the world would be without the influence of the wondrous chameleonic alien.
My latest for the New York Observer is a review of the 'Wright of Derby: From the Shadows' exhibition that's on now at London's National Gallery. Read it here 👉 observer.com/2025/12/exhi...
December 17, 2025 at 9:36 AM
My latest for the New York Observer is a review of the 'Wright of Derby: From the Shadows' exhibition that's on now at London's National Gallery. Read it here 👉 observer.com/2025/12/exhi...
Legendary Jamaican trumpeter Eddie 'Tan Tan' Thornton has died aged 94. A member of Georgie Fame's Blue Flames band, Tan Tan also played with Rico Rodriguez (pictured), Jazz Jamaica, Aswad and on The Beatles' track, 'Got To Get You Into My Life'. RIP.
December 13, 2025 at 9:45 AM
Legendary Jamaican trumpeter Eddie 'Tan Tan' Thornton has died aged 94. A member of Georgie Fame's Blue Flames band, Tan Tan also played with Rico Rodriguez (pictured), Jazz Jamaica, Aswad and on The Beatles' track, 'Got To Get You Into My Life'. RIP.
More sad news. The inimitable British photographer Martin Parr died yesterday. RIP to a gifted social documentarian and image maker.
December 7, 2025 at 2:34 PM
More sad news. The inimitable British photographer Martin Parr died yesterday. RIP to a gifted social documentarian and image maker.
Reposted by Simon Coates
Omega Institute feature on the new Collapsing Drums compilation tape, available here collapsingdrums.bandcamp.com/album/collap...
Collapsing Tape, by Various Artists
23 track album
collapsingdrums.bandcamp.com
October 17, 2025 at 10:16 AM
Omega Institute feature on the new Collapsing Drums compilation tape, available here collapsingdrums.bandcamp.com/album/collap...
Reposted by Simon Coates
Next Saturday 13/12/25 2pm at Elmers Arms Bristol BS2 0ER - free improv with Luke Annesley alto sax/Phil Gibbs guitar/Hugh Kirkbride double bass/Aidan Searle drums
Rich Hughes accordion, flute thing maybe/Nigel Bryant electronics
Mark Pearce poetry, words/Roger Skerman percussion
Be there!
Rich Hughes accordion, flute thing maybe/Nigel Bryant electronics
Mark Pearce poetry, words/Roger Skerman percussion
Be there!
December 6, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Next Saturday 13/12/25 2pm at Elmers Arms Bristol BS2 0ER - free improv with Luke Annesley alto sax/Phil Gibbs guitar/Hugh Kirkbride double bass/Aidan Searle drums
Rich Hughes accordion, flute thing maybe/Nigel Bryant electronics
Mark Pearce poetry, words/Roger Skerman percussion
Be there!
Rich Hughes accordion, flute thing maybe/Nigel Bryant electronics
Mark Pearce poetry, words/Roger Skerman percussion
Be there!
I contributed an utterly broken beats track (as Tse Tse Fly Middle East) to @citiesandmemory.bsky.social's new Echoes For Palestine compilation album curated by Rafael Diogo. Proceeds go to Gaza children's charity Hope and Play. Get it on Bandcamp here 👇 citiesandmemory.bandcamp.com/album/echoes...
Echoes for Palestine, Volume 2, by Cities and Memory and Deep Dive Sound
25 track album
citiesandmemory.bandcamp.com
December 5, 2025 at 10:06 AM
I contributed an utterly broken beats track (as Tse Tse Fly Middle East) to @citiesandmemory.bsky.social's new Echoes For Palestine compilation album curated by Rafael Diogo. Proceeds go to Gaza children's charity Hope and Play. Get it on Bandcamp here 👇 citiesandmemory.bandcamp.com/album/echoes...
This is quite something - Erykah Badu and band performing live for a surprised New York Times office 👇 www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQqd...
Erykah Badu Performs Surprise Concert For Us!
YouTube video by Popcast
www.youtube.com
December 4, 2025 at 8:35 AM
This is quite something - Erykah Badu and band performing live for a surprised New York Times office 👇 www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQqd...
"Call a public inquiry into Russian influence on UK politics & democracy" - this petition is really gaining traction. Get involved by signing here 👇 petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
Petition: Call a public inquiry into Russian influence on UK politics & democracy
We are concerned about reported efforts from Russia to influence democracy in the US, UK, Europe and elsewhere. We believe we must establish the depth and breadth of possible Russian influence campaig...
petition.parliament.uk
November 29, 2025 at 8:12 AM
"Call a public inquiry into Russian influence on UK politics & democracy" - this petition is really gaining traction. Get involved by signing here 👇 petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
Reposted by Simon Coates
RIP. The Harder They Come is an incredible movie. Go watch it if you haven't seen it.
Rarely is an artist the soundtrack to a whole life. Jimmy Cliff was one of those rare individuals. RIP. www.theguardian.com/music/2025/n...
Jimmy Cliff, Jamaican reggae singer, actor and cultural icon, dies aged 81
Star of The Harder They Come had hits including You Can Get It If You Really Want and I Can See Clearly Now
www.theguardian.com
November 24, 2025 at 1:59 PM
RIP. The Harder They Come is an incredible movie. Go watch it if you haven't seen it.
Rarely is an artist the soundtrack to a whole life. Jimmy Cliff was one of those rare individuals. RIP. www.theguardian.com/music/2025/n...
Jimmy Cliff, Jamaican reggae singer, actor and cultural icon, dies aged 81
Star of The Harder They Come had hits including You Can Get It If You Really Want and I Can See Clearly Now
www.theguardian.com
November 24, 2025 at 12:53 PM
Rarely is an artist the soundtrack to a whole life. Jimmy Cliff was one of those rare individuals. RIP. www.theguardian.com/music/2025/n...
My latest short film, 'The Moon is a Pyramid Under Water', is screening at Stuttgart's IDK Festival on Nov 28. Taking place at the Kulturinsel Stuttgart, Güterstraße 4, doors open at 6PM and entry is free.
- pictured: stills from the film
- pictured: stills from the film
November 18, 2025 at 10:40 AM
My latest short film, 'The Moon is a Pyramid Under Water', is screening at Stuttgart's IDK Festival on Nov 28. Taking place at the Kulturinsel Stuttgart, Güterstraße 4, doors open at 6PM and entry is free.
- pictured: stills from the film
- pictured: stills from the film
"For most of her life, she helped her family bring up their kids and worked on cattle stations. Then, in her late seventies, she began to paint."
My New York Observer latest is a review of the Emily Kam Kngwarray exhibition on at Tate Modern right now. Read it here > observer.com/2025/11/art-...
My New York Observer latest is a review of the Emily Kam Kngwarray exhibition on at Tate Modern right now. Read it here > observer.com/2025/11/art-...
November 15, 2025 at 8:59 AM
"For most of her life, she helped her family bring up their kids and worked on cattle stations. Then, in her late seventies, she began to paint."
My New York Observer latest is a review of the Emily Kam Kngwarray exhibition on at Tate Modern right now. Read it here > observer.com/2025/11/art-...
My New York Observer latest is a review of the Emily Kam Kngwarray exhibition on at Tate Modern right now. Read it here > observer.com/2025/11/art-...
With W.I.T.C.H. currently touring Europe, maybe it's time to find out how they helped shape the Zamrock sound via my
@discogsofficial.bsky.social list on the psych-heavy 70s rock sound here 👉 www.discogs.com/digs/music/e...
@discogsofficial.bsky.social list on the psych-heavy 70s rock sound here 👉 www.discogs.com/digs/music/e...
November 14, 2025 at 4:17 PM
With W.I.T.C.H. currently touring Europe, maybe it's time to find out how they helped shape the Zamrock sound via my
@discogsofficial.bsky.social list on the psych-heavy 70s rock sound here 👉 www.discogs.com/digs/music/e...
@discogsofficial.bsky.social list on the psych-heavy 70s rock sound here 👉 www.discogs.com/digs/music/e...
"Like Jimi Hendrix and Ike Turner jamming Zambian Badima drum grooves"
For another @discogsofficial.bsky.social piece, I zoomed in on Zamrock, the short-lived but fiery mash-up of rock and Zambian rhythms that surfaced in the early 1970s. Check it here 👉 www.discogs.com/digs/music/e...
For another @discogsofficial.bsky.social piece, I zoomed in on Zamrock, the short-lived but fiery mash-up of rock and Zambian rhythms that surfaced in the early 1970s. Check it here 👉 www.discogs.com/digs/music/e...
Welcome To Zamrock: The Albums That Drove the Zambian Movement
Discover the electrifying rise and fall of Zamrock — Zambia’s 1970s fusion of fuzz, funk, and freedom.
www.discogs.com
November 11, 2025 at 9:33 AM
"Like Jimi Hendrix and Ike Turner jamming Zambian Badima drum grooves"
For another @discogsofficial.bsky.social piece, I zoomed in on Zamrock, the short-lived but fiery mash-up of rock and Zambian rhythms that surfaced in the early 1970s. Check it here 👉 www.discogs.com/digs/music/e...
For another @discogsofficial.bsky.social piece, I zoomed in on Zamrock, the short-lived but fiery mash-up of rock and Zambian rhythms that surfaced in the early 1970s. Check it here 👉 www.discogs.com/digs/music/e...
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Thrilled to have @simonjcoates.bsky.social writing a piece for us. Read it now! :)
"Artefacts used for clandestine operations and activist activities line up alongside documents used in socio-political change and enforcement."
I've reviewed the British Library's new Secret Maps exhibition for @trebuchetmag.bsky.social. Check it here 👇 www.trebuchet-magazine.com/secret-maps-...
I've reviewed the British Library's new Secret Maps exhibition for @trebuchetmag.bsky.social. Check it here 👇 www.trebuchet-magazine.com/secret-maps-...
November 6, 2025 at 5:28 PM
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Discover more about Art Nouveau in the UK with this new story by Simon Coates 👉 https://artuk.org/discover/stories/art-nouveau-in-the-uk-how-british-artists-drew-influence-from-europe
'Frontispiece for 'Venus and Tannhauser'' by Aubrey Beardsley (1872–1898) 📷 The Higgins Bedford
'Frontispiece for 'Venus and Tannhauser'' by Aubrey Beardsley (1872–1898) 📷 The Higgins Bedford
November 5, 2025 at 8:30 AM
✍️ 👇
Reposted by Simon Coates
Whoa Nelly, didn’t know that. Am going to have to check them as they sound right up my strasse. They sound interesting.
November 4, 2025 at 12:42 PM
Whoa Nelly, didn’t know that. Am going to have to check them as they sound right up my strasse. They sound interesting.
Reposted by Simon Coates
Wow! What a list of great albums and what a time to have been a teen. These were the sounds of my youth Simon. Thanks so much for sharing. Only one I didn’t know was the Freestyle Fellowship. Another great piece too. Hope you’re well! ✊🏻
November 4, 2025 at 10:22 AM
Wow! What a list of great albums and what a time to have been a teen. These were the sounds of my youth Simon. Thanks so much for sharing. Only one I didn’t know was the Freestyle Fellowship. Another great piece too. Hope you’re well! ✊🏻
"In interviews around 1988, Chuck D declared rap was Black America’s CNN. The Native Tongues added to the conversation. This was the start of rap music’s Daisy Age. "
My latest for @discogsofficial.bsky.social looks at the Daisy Age rap movement. Check it here 👇 www.discogs.com/digs/music/e...
My latest for @discogsofficial.bsky.social looks at the Daisy Age rap movement. Check it here 👇 www.discogs.com/digs/music/e...
Exploring Hip-Hop’s Daisy Age
Explore the essential Daisy Age hip-hop records of the ’90s — the socially conscious era defined by artists like De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest, and Jungle Brothers.
www.discogs.com
November 4, 2025 at 9:59 AM
"In interviews around 1988, Chuck D declared rap was Black America’s CNN. The Native Tongues added to the conversation. This was the start of rap music’s Daisy Age. "
My latest for @discogsofficial.bsky.social looks at the Daisy Age rap movement. Check it here 👇 www.discogs.com/digs/music/e...
My latest for @discogsofficial.bsky.social looks at the Daisy Age rap movement. Check it here 👇 www.discogs.com/digs/music/e...
"Artefacts used for clandestine operations and activist activities line up alongside documents used in socio-political change and enforcement."
I've reviewed the British Library's new Secret Maps exhibition for @trebuchetmag.bsky.social. Check it here 👇 www.trebuchet-magazine.com/secret-maps-...
I've reviewed the British Library's new Secret Maps exhibition for @trebuchetmag.bsky.social. Check it here 👇 www.trebuchet-magazine.com/secret-maps-...
Secret Maps at the British Library: How Cartography Shaped Power, Protest and Survival - Trebuchet
From colonial plotting to refugee escape routes, the British Library's latest exhibition reveals the hidden stories behind maps
www.trebuchet-magazine.com
November 3, 2025 at 6:14 PM
"Artefacts used for clandestine operations and activist activities line up alongside documents used in socio-political change and enforcement."
I've reviewed the British Library's new Secret Maps exhibition for @trebuchetmag.bsky.social. Check it here 👇 www.trebuchet-magazine.com/secret-maps-...
I've reviewed the British Library's new Secret Maps exhibition for @trebuchetmag.bsky.social. Check it here 👇 www.trebuchet-magazine.com/secret-maps-...
"I don't often dream, but when I do, I dream about Kylie Minogue's hotpants." - Nick Cave
Preview episodes of the forthcoming TV adaptation of Nick Cave's The Death of Bunny Munro novel, plus a chat with Lord Cave and Matt Smith (who plays Bunny) at the Royal Festival Hall last night. Cosy.
Preview episodes of the forthcoming TV adaptation of Nick Cave's The Death of Bunny Munro novel, plus a chat with Lord Cave and Matt Smith (who plays Bunny) at the Royal Festival Hall last night. Cosy.
October 31, 2025 at 11:19 AM
"I don't often dream, but when I do, I dream about Kylie Minogue's hotpants." - Nick Cave
Preview episodes of the forthcoming TV adaptation of Nick Cave's The Death of Bunny Munro novel, plus a chat with Lord Cave and Matt Smith (who plays Bunny) at the Royal Festival Hall last night. Cosy.
Preview episodes of the forthcoming TV adaptation of Nick Cave's The Death of Bunny Munro novel, plus a chat with Lord Cave and Matt Smith (who plays Bunny) at the Royal Festival Hall last night. Cosy.
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Discover more about Art Nouveau in the UK with this new story by Simon Coates 👉 https://artuk.org/discover/stories/art-nouveau-in-the-uk-how-british-artists-drew-influence-from-europe
'Frontispiece for 'Venus and Tannhauser'' by Aubrey Beardsley (1872–1898) 📷 The Higgins Bedford
'Frontispiece for 'Venus and Tannhauser'' by Aubrey Beardsley (1872–1898) 📷 The Higgins Bedford
October 25, 2025 at 8:11 AM
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'Art Nouveau in the UK: how British artists drew influence from Europe' - my latest for Art UK looks at how the Art Nouveau movement became a fixture of UK art and design. Check it here 👉 artuk.org/discover/sto...
October 20, 2025 at 1:00 PM
'Art Nouveau in the UK: how British artists drew influence from Europe' - my latest for Art UK looks at how the Art Nouveau movement became a fixture of UK art and design. Check it here 👉 artuk.org/discover/sto...