My most excellent Italian dept colleague Professor FrancescaBilliani at her appropriately aestheticized Professorial Inaugural Lecture UoM Languages School of Arts, Languages and Culture this evening, here with her respondent Prof. Stefano Evangelista (Oxford). Massive congratulations, Francesca!

#JohnBlanke & #TheJohnBlankeProject feature in British Library #BeyondBassLine exhibition- 500 years of Black British music - pop from Tudor courts to cyberspace Dr Mykaell Riley Dr Aleema Gray #BlackBritishHistory #BlackBritishMusic #SoundHistory

The calm before the Pet Shop Boys storm John Rylands Research Institute and Library this evening.

Saw some fantastic stuff at Sounds from the Other City at the weekend, not least our very own John Rylands Research Institute and Library Kelly, whose spectacular live set was one of the best things I've seen in years.

Completely reeling from the news of the death of Steve Albini. Guess I'll start with Rid of Me.

TOMORROW NIGHT! Richard King will be here talking to Guyda Armstrong about his stunning new book TRAVELS OVER FEELING - a landmark publication celebrating the life and work of American musician and composer Arthur Russell. 🎫 👇🏻

TOMORROW! DOMANI! YFORY! Our Simon Industrial Fellow John Rylands Research Institute and Library Richard King will be in conversation at Blackwells talking about his magisterial (literal) object biography of Arthur Russell.

Finally stopped laughing enough from the GE announcement to post this glorious 1st-person-POV 1997 instructional film. Make sure you watch to the end for the many 90s delights, not to mention also ominous presages of the future. youtu.be/gi5j7jjhm4M?fe…

TONIGHT! Richard King will be talking to Guyda Armstrong about TRAVELS OVER FEELING - his landmark new book celebrating the life and work of American musician and composer Arthur Russell. Doors 6.30, starts: 6.45 Tickets via link below and we’ll have some on the door.

TONIGHT! STASERA! HENO! I'll be in conversation with our John Rylands Research Institute and Library Simon Visiting Fellow Richard King at Blackwells; (very reasonable) tix below. ⬇️⬇️

Massive thanks to everyone at BlackwellsManchester, Creative Manchester, Richard himself, and our super-engaged audience for making last night's event so great!

I like how we look like we totally hate each other and literally everything about having this In Conversation on this one. (Not true!)

.@Jaketblanchard is a genius artist and maker-musician, not to mention general Tod legend; please consider supporting him by buying some of his excellent work!

A properly amazing trip to see the ancient art at Barclodiad y Gawres passage tomb with Rhys Mwyn at the weekend - diolch yn fawr iawn, Rhys! Anhygoel!