Phil Gibby
@philgibby.bsky.social
Area Director, South West at Arts Council England, vinyl nerd, Welsh exile and south Bristol resident. Hello.
Thanks to the cultural & heritage leaders in Portsmouth who joined @henleydarren.bsky.social @helenbirchenough.bsky.social, Ginny Graham and I at Central Library today to explore the city’s future plans. As with last week’s Hampshire & Solent devo discussion, a real sense of optimism/ambition.
December 12, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Thanks to the cultural & heritage leaders in Portsmouth who joined @henleydarren.bsky.social @helenbirchenough.bsky.social, Ginny Graham and I at Central Library today to explore the city’s future plans. As with last week’s Hampshire & Solent devo discussion, a real sense of optimism/ambition.
A couple of very useful days in Gosport, for an Area Council meeting at the museum; a Criterion Theatre site visit, and a chance to admire Portsmouth Historic Quarter’s transformed artists’ workspace at Carpenters’ Yard. Thanks to everyone who gave their time so generously.
December 12, 2025 at 6:39 PM
A couple of very useful days in Gosport, for an Area Council meeting at the museum; a Criterion Theatre site visit, and a chance to admire Portsmouth Historic Quarter’s transformed artists’ workspace at Carpenters’ Yard. Thanks to everyone who gave their time so generously.
Forty five years ago today. We all shine on.
December 8, 2025 at 8:18 AM
Forty five years ago today. We all shine on.
Another one of those glorious Bristol evenings tearing it up with the Blue Aeroplanes at the Fleece. Getting older, but still got all the moves. “I passed the test, I think I passed, I think I'm fine” etc etc. So much love for that band.
December 6, 2025 at 11:33 PM
Another one of those glorious Bristol evenings tearing it up with the Blue Aeroplanes at the Fleece. Getting older, but still got all the moves. “I passed the test, I think I passed, I think I'm fine” etc etc. So much love for that band.
Gary Numan at Bristol Beacon. Telekon at 45. Rolling back the years.
November 18, 2025 at 7:03 AM
Gary Numan at Bristol Beacon. Telekon at 45. Rolling back the years.
Useful time in Cornwall - meetings with Cornwall Council, a first visit to Truro’s Old Bakery Studios and a chance to explore the potential of St Austell’s Market House. Time well spent.
November 18, 2025 at 7:02 AM
Useful time in Cornwall - meetings with Cornwall Council, a first visit to Truro’s Old Bakery Studios and a chance to explore the potential of St Austell’s Market House. Time well spent.
Helsinki mornings. All the calmness.
October 17, 2025 at 6:49 AM
Helsinki mornings. All the calmness.
Belfast. On the Van Morrison Trail. “Caught one more time up on Cyprus Avenue”. Evocative.
October 4, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Belfast. On the Van Morrison Trail. “Caught one more time up on Cyprus Avenue”. Evocative.
Dublin. After all these years, a first encounter with the Abbey Theatre for Marina Carr’s The Boy. Plus Leopold Bloom’s front door at the James Joyce Cultural Centre, and a pint of Smithwick’s and a couple of hours of trad at The Cobblestone. Not a bad effort for a Thursday, that.
October 2, 2025 at 11:32 PM
Dublin. After all these years, a first encounter with the Abbey Theatre for Marina Carr’s The Boy. Plus Leopold Bloom’s front door at the James Joyce Cultural Centre, and a pint of Smithwick’s and a couple of hours of trad at The Cobblestone. Not a bad effort for a Thursday, that.
A few days off. Dublin in the autumn sunshine, on the Ulysses trail. Set foot in Davy Byrne’s. Found the undertakers. Bought my lemon soap.
October 1, 2025 at 9:18 PM
A few days off. Dublin in the autumn sunshine, on the Ulysses trail. Set foot in Davy Byrne’s. Found the undertakers. Bought my lemon soap.
Oasis at Wembley. Magnificent. A reunion for the ages and one of those gigs that’ll stay with you your whole life. Current mood: caught beneath a landslide in a champagne supernova in the sky.
September 28, 2025 at 12:03 AM
Oasis at Wembley. Magnificent. A reunion for the ages and one of those gigs that’ll stay with you your whole life. Current mood: caught beneath a landslide in a champagne supernova in the sky.
I know this account is essentially books I’ve read, gigs I’ve attended and despatches from the south west’s cultural sector, but I’m home alone, I’ve just nailed the *perfect* Omelette Arnold Bennett, and I find myself in need of an appreciative audience. (Unlikely ever to be repeated, I’d suggest).
September 24, 2025 at 7:04 PM
I know this account is essentially books I’ve read, gigs I’ve attended and despatches from the south west’s cultural sector, but I’m home alone, I’ve just nailed the *perfect* Omelette Arnold Bennett, and I find myself in need of an appreciative audience. (Unlikely ever to be repeated, I’d suggest).
Such a fulfilling evening hearing Joanna Pocock reading from and discussing her new book Greyhound at Storysmith Books tonight. Warmly recommended.
September 17, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Such a fulfilling evening hearing Joanna Pocock reading from and discussing her new book Greyhound at Storysmith Books tonight. Warmly recommended.
Well done Inside Out Dorset on the 2025 festival launch at the Red House Museum, Christchurch this evening. Full of admiration as always for the curatorial firepower and audience insights of Kate Wood and Bill Gee. And an evocative start to proceedings with River Of Hope down on Christchurch Quay.
September 12, 2025 at 7:18 PM
Well done Inside Out Dorset on the 2025 festival launch at the Red House Museum, Christchurch this evening. Full of admiration as always for the curatorial firepower and audience insights of Kate Wood and Bill Gee. And an evocative start to proceedings with River Of Hope down on Christchurch Quay.
And, most memorably of all, at B-Side HQ, an excerpt of the Bibby Boys exhibition - a moving record of people and cultures from around the world which, for a few brief months, all intersected at Portland. Magical, deeply human work by Theo McInnes and Thomas Ralph. Deserves to be widely seen. (3/3)
September 11, 2025 at 8:45 PM
And, most memorably of all, at B-Side HQ, an excerpt of the Bibby Boys exhibition - a moving record of people and cultures from around the world which, for a few brief months, all intersected at Portland. Magical, deeply human work by Theo McInnes and Thomas Ralph. Deserves to be widely seen. (3/3)
Earlier, at High Angle Battery, a couple of excellent @bsidefest.bsky.social installations courtesy of Kevin Cameron and Concrete. (2/3)
September 11, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Earlier, at High Angle Battery, a couple of excellent @bsidefest.bsky.social installations courtesy of Kevin Cameron and Concrete. (2/3)
Well done @bsidefest.bsky.social on the launch of The Portland Dress as part of the Big Weekend. Hundreds of local stories embroidered in a very special community textiles project. And beautiful choral work led by Destination Opera to mark the launch at the Old Engine Shed tonight. (1/3)
September 11, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Well done @bsidefest.bsky.social on the launch of The Portland Dress as part of the Big Weekend. Hundreds of local stories embroidered in a very special community textiles project. And beautiful choral work led by Destination Opera to mark the launch at the Old Engine Shed tonight. (1/3)
Huge admiration for Shaun and Abigail Bengson’s show Ohio, which is on at Bristol Old Vic. Indie-folk gig theatre spliced with existential philosophy. Quite the night out. And, although it deals with challenging subjects, infused with joy from start to finish. Warmly recommended.
September 10, 2025 at 6:14 AM
Huge admiration for Shaun and Abigail Bengson’s show Ohio, which is on at Bristol Old Vic. Indie-folk gig theatre spliced with existential philosophy. Quite the night out. And, although it deals with challenging subjects, infused with joy from start to finish. Warmly recommended.
To the cultural capital that is Plymouth in the autumn sunshine for today’s ACE South West Area Council meeting. Thanks to @theboxplymouth.bsky.social for hosting - looking forward to checking out the Jyll Bradley exhibition later on.
September 5, 2025 at 9:51 AM
To the cultural capital that is Plymouth in the autumn sunshine for today’s ACE South West Area Council meeting. Thanks to @theboxplymouth.bsky.social for hosting - looking forward to checking out the Jyll Bradley exhibition later on.
Rambling along the Ridgway on a perfect late summer’s afternoon, amid clouds of hawthorn, elderberry, crabapple. XTC’s English Settlement close to hand. Peaceful.
August 23, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Rambling along the Ridgway on a perfect late summer’s afternoon, amid clouds of hawthorn, elderberry, crabapple. XTC’s English Settlement close to hand. Peaceful.
Delighted to confirm my bank holiday reading arrangements are in place, which is always easily achieved when you live round the corner from Storysmith Books in south Bristol.
August 21, 2025 at 10:10 AM
Delighted to confirm my bank holiday reading arrangements are in place, which is always easily achieved when you live round the corner from Storysmith Books in south Bristol.
Happy Bristol Balloon Fiesta, everyone.
August 8, 2025 at 6:59 AM
Happy Bristol Balloon Fiesta, everyone.
Happy 40th birthday, Rum, Sodomy And The Lash. One of those rare, perfect albums that retains all of its original impact no matter how many times you play it. “McCormack and Richard Tauber still singing by the bed” etc etc.
August 5, 2025 at 9:09 PM
Happy 40th birthday, Rum, Sodomy And The Lash. One of those rare, perfect albums that retains all of its original impact no matter how many times you play it. “McCormack and Richard Tauber still singing by the bed” etc etc.
Finally, a first visit to Sidmouth Folk Festival. Morris on the esplanade. Clog dancing in the market square. Trad sessions. A jig competition. And Richard Thompson performing 1952 Vincent Black Lightning & the rest of his glorious back catalogue in the Ham Pavilion. A summer Sunday very well spent.
August 4, 2025 at 6:44 AM
Finally, a first visit to Sidmouth Folk Festival. Morris on the esplanade. Clog dancing in the market square. Trad sessions. A jig competition. And Richard Thompson performing 1952 Vincent Black Lightning & the rest of his glorious back catalogue in the Ham Pavilion. A summer Sunday very well spent.
Idles. Queen’s Square, Bristol. Owning their home city. Maximum rock’n’roll.
August 1, 2025 at 10:17 PM
Idles. Queen’s Square, Bristol. Owning their home city. Maximum rock’n’roll.