Back in 2022, Gary Numan stated that he really didn’t expect his comeback to take 41 years. Maybe four, he suggested with a laugh. Of course, Numan never quite left the spotlight – the ‘comeback’ in question only refers to his return to big stadiums. And in particular a return to Wembley – something of a symbolic and anxiety-ridden journey for Numan; coming full circle after previously announcing his farewell from live shows at the capital’s stadium in 1981.

Numan at the Agra Hall in Liepzig, June 2022. Photo by Stefan Bollmann, Wikimedia Commons.

Glastonbury at last

Fast-forward again to 2025, and Numan needn’t look back now. Fresh off the back of a stellar Glastonbury debut aged 67, he’ll be embarking on both a US and UK tour starting in the autumn.

But this – amazingly first ever – Glasto appearance wasn’t just a novelty because of how late in his life it happened. In fact, the turnout at the Park Stage to see the new-wave singer points towards a prevalence and relevance that can never fade.

Gothic icon?

At any of his new shows, you’ll find a crowd plenty full of silver hair, but balanced equally with plenty of young heads. Who, in fitting fashion, might also still have a deliberate silverish look in their hair.

Numan’s place as a goth artist has always been a touchy subject in the goth community. He came from humble, working-class roots, and his handling of fame was almost punk-like.

But his popularity amongst the masses and the unapologetic pop-appeal of tracks like Cars left him on the gothic side-lines for many years, in spite of his undeniable role in pioneering dark, electronic sounds. Even in a forum from 1999, Google users still bickered over the subject.

As a pretty avid Numan fan, I could dispute this by simply referencing the fact that he tried to sign gothic icons Depeche Mode after seeing them in 1979, as told to Amoeba in 2013. But now, to the kids of today, his status is totally undisputed anyway.

One TikTok video by silver dance creator Lunie Moon depicts her dancing expressively and enigmatically to Numan’s M.E. One young user in the comments stated: ‘I see my future and it’s bright.’

@luniemoon Post punk dystopia Sunday vibes. #garynuman #danceimprovisation #kitchendance #80smusic #dancelife #fitcheck ♬ M.E. – Gary Numan

Numanoids: the Numanites and Numanarti

The fairly recent introduction of TikTok and Instagram reels has been pivotal in younger people discovering his music. During the pandemic, the shared boredom of lockdown saw younger users form communities and shared meaning after becoming inspired by the lives, oral histories, or even just the vibe of certain older users, such as Lunie (above).

The masses of this content resulted in certain elements of goth and other subcultures becoming absorbed into an all-encompassing subculture, umbrella term, and stylised hegemony of ‘alternative’, or simply known as ‘alt’ – where it is often used as a self-describing label.

The fact that Numan has prevailed as a key alternative idol probably says enough about his relevance in goth and popular culture. Cars has been used in over 50,000 videos on TikTok, and features on 15,000 Instagram reels along with plenty more of his tracks hitting the thousands on both platforms.

Furthermore, there’s also the hugely popular samples of Numan out there, such as the use of not one – but two – samples in Basement Jaxx’ Where’s Your Head At. Such uses (honourable shoutout to the Suga Babes’ Freak Like Me) demonstrate how beloved and important his music is to all generations.

M.E’ is used in Where’s Your Head At‘s bassline and ‘This Wreckage’ for the bridge, for those interested.

On a fan level, one user calls Are Friends Electric a ‘retro banger’, whilst comments under videos of Numan posted by his daughters Raven and Persia state how much of a ‘flex’ it is to have him as a father, or call Numan an icon.

@ravennuman uh what the hellyberry #garynuman #fyp ♬ original sound – FreshOutTheCrate

@debussywoman Since dads song is trending rn @Gary Numan #garynuman #fypviralシ #fypシ ♬ original sound – FreshOutTheCrate

It’s clear that Numanoids are no longer just the hardcore fans that stuck with Numan throughout his live hiatus the (the -oids). They are now those who continued to be inspired by Numan, either abstractly as fans, or by creating work derivative of his gritty synth sounds (the –arti). The amount of eighties-reminiscent tracks and an ‘edgy’ wave is monumental, and truly dominates pop music at the moment.

But of course this in itself is still nothing new. Nine Inch Nails’ Trent Reznor claimed to have listened to the track every day in the making of his band’s album Pretty Hate Machine. All roads lead back to Gary.

Even his daughters clearly find their father cool, both during and after growing up. All three have featured on stage multiple times in the past few years. Raven and Persia – his eldest and middle children – even had their own spotlight as artists during his Glastonbury show. Raven performed one of her own songs, which she co-wrote with her father, entitled Nothing’s What It Seems, while Persia contributed backing vocals to the song My Name Is Ruin.

I can tell you now, there’s not a whole host of dads out there who can wear that badge.

The new sound: he’s gone electric again

Numan’s new work brilliantly reflects both his own evolution and his absorption (or at the least recognition) of the changing world around him. His 2021 album, Intruder (which hit No.2 in the UK charts) features heavy use of guitars combined with industrial soundscapes. Whilst these sonics are distinctively him, and certainly resemble his 1980 album Telekon, it meets the ears as cinematic, eerie, and brooding. A fresh and fitting feel for the 2020s.

The future of Numan’s music will likely continue to reflect this mutual influence, where the new world and younger generations around him affect him as much as he might affect them. Speaking to BBC 6 Music, out of all his back catalogue he was most excited to play the new, unreleased song titled Nothing’s What it Seems, which he wrote with Raven.

@bbc6music Synth-pop legend @garynuman makes his Glasto debut a family affair. Listen on @bbcsounds | Watch on #bbciplayer ♬ original sound – BBC Radio 6 Music

Catch him while you can

Off the back of the US tour, and starting off with a show at the 02 Academy in Glasgow and finishing at Liverpool’s 02 this November, there’s plenty of opportunities along the way to catch Numan performing the classics with an extra chance to catch his inevitable next sound.

Find Gary Numan tour dates

For those interested, the run up to Numan’s Wembley homecoming is documented in the documentary Gary Numan: Resurrection, and you can fill in the other gaps with his 2017 autobiography ‘(R)EVOLUTION’.

Numan’s new album A Perfect Circle: Live is out now.

Finn Norris

Finn is a writer and musician. He has written on internet culture, technology, and reviewed music, film, and television. When not frantically tapping away he can be found kicking back with the simpler things: coffee, cats, and football.

The post Gary Numan, Gen Z and beyond: why all ages are tuning in appeared first on Silver Magazine.

Rights and fights in 2025

June may mark the official Pride Month in the UK and in fact globally, but in an age where Pride has become a global, marketable phenomenon it’s hard to miss the signs of celebration and awareness.

It’s a sign of how far we have come as a society, to see a Tesco logo integrated with rainbow colours, and even rural parish councils hosting their own parade.

Yet with this comes the accusations of ‘pink washing’, a term referring to where companies’ support for the LGBTQIA+ community is merely superficial. Or sometimes contrasted by their other (unethical) business partnerships.

Whatever the case, Pride is neither watered down nor chaos, even a handful of the countries’ largest events – Brighton, Birmingham, London and Manchester – released a joint statement barring all political parties. Business will continue as usual, both feisty and flamboyant.

So, what’s on?

June only marks the start and the official, international month of Pride. Around the country, thousands of cities, towns, and villages prepare themselves to participate in Pride celebrations that extend well into August. We hope that the guide below gives you a couple ideas on what to explore this summer and beyond.

Brighton Pride

When?

2-3 August 2025

Where?

The main parade begins in Hove Lawns by the seafront, travelling through the main parts of town (and past the Kemp Town street party before ending up at the top of London Road – next to the ‘Fabuloso’ festival at Preston Park.

Key events

Over the years Fabuloso (also known as Pride in the Park) has emerged as the place to be over the weekend,  boasting an impressive range of acts each year. 2025 will be headlined by Mariah Carey following past appearances by Britney Spears, Kylie Minogue, and more. The parade is one of the largest in Britain and takes you past the other the street party, where people take over and dance on the main roads amidst drag and DJ royalty. Plenty of family spaces and outposts are scattered along the route and open across the two days.

Things to note

It wouldn’t be a complete list of Pride events in Britain without referencing one of the largest LGBTQIA+ communities in the country, where I write from today. Brighton Pride itself has an equally rich history being one of the first Pride parades in the country – the 1973 march by the Sussex Gay Liberation followed London’s that happened the year before.

Brighton Pride, https://www.brighton-pride.org/

London Pride

When?

 5 July 2025

Where?

The main parade begins at Hyde Park Corner and finishes at Whitehall place. The route isn’t particularly long and goes past or nearby all of the main stages open later into the day.

Key events

During and after the parade there will be an electric range of music, speeches, poetry, drag, and more taking places across stages in all of the capital’s biggest parks and squares. The main stage will be set up in Trafalgar square and is bound to attract a huge crowd. Elsewhere, Dean Street will be home to a cabaret stage, and Soho and Leicester squares dedicated to lesbian, trans, and non-binary themes – just to name a few.

Things to note

Kicking off the summer on the 5 July, this tightly packed day of Pride is bound to carry over and amplify the energy of Pride month. Despite the hustle and bustle, it will be a safe day and offers something for everyone. For the first time ever there will be a dedicated family space in the Victoria and Embankment Gardens to make sure of this.

 London Pride, https://prideinlondon.org/

Read more: Pride. The kickass famous LGBTQ icons through history

Cornwall Pride

When?

28 June – 25 October 2025

Where?

Respective festivities in Falmouth, Liskeard, Isles of Scilly, Truro, Camborne, St Austell, Saltash, St Ives, Launceston, Bodmin, Bude, Penzance, Redruth, Newquay, Helston, Calstock

Key events

Every area will have its own march, accompanying events, and will be free to attend. Falmouth may be the centrepiece this year, it is tipped that the parade will be flying the world’s largest Pride flag through the seaside town’s streets. The flag appeared last year at Newquay Pride.

Things to note

The four months of Pride events offer ample opportunities to explore one of the most beautiful parts of England for visitors. That being said, the celebrations and protests are carefully catered by local communities and will carefully reflect a marrying of Cornish culture and Pride. Expect beautiful scenery matched with queer serenity across the county.

Cornwall Pride, https://cornwallpride.org/

Edinburgh Pride

When?

21 July 2025

Where?

The parade begins at the Scottish Parliament budling, next to Holyrood Park, and ends near the University of and Bistro Square, which will be home to the festival and Pride Village.

Key Events

Free entry into the music festival, and the parade that traverses through the city’s iconic and historic centre.

Things to Note

Edinburgh Pride is the longest running parade in Scotland – and 2025 will mark its 30th anniversary. Most of the parade route meanders through Edinburgh’s old town, making for an interesting contrast of colourful vibrancy and gothic tradition. During and after the parade you can expect a camp cohesion of Scottish style and sound with the infectious Pride celebrations.

Edinburgh Pride, https://www.prideedinburgh.org/

Belfast Pride

When?

18 – 27 July 2025

Where?

The main parade is on the 26^th and starts at Custom House Square and ends in Victoria Street, tracing its way around the city centre. Other Pride festivities that week and on the day and the rest will take place next to Donegall Quay.

Key Events

After the official parade the child friendly, alcohol- and smoke-free Pride village/market will be open next to the main festival.

Things to Note

Founded in 1991, Belfast’s Pride is another that has become a staple protest and celebration in contemporary queer history. In a city full of recent hurt and struggle, Belfast pride is one of the more politic and activist based events in Britain and this list. Indeed, this year’s theme of ‘NO GOING BACK’ also makes a bold statement that acknowledges the recent surge of hateful ideology, making sure feistiness is in both flair and fight.

Belfast Pride, https://belfastpride.com/

Leeds Pride

When?

19 – 20 July 2025

Where?

The parade begins at the town hall and finishes at ‘The Calls’ a river-side area in a different side of the city centre.

Key Events

All across the city there will be a mix open air and small venue parties such as the bottomless bunch Pride party at the iconic Drag Brunch venue.

Things to Note

Everything under the official Leeds Pride will be fully-free despite being one of the biggest Pride hotspots in the country. There will be optional wristband donations that offer perks and discounts on and off site, however. Wherever you find yourself it looks set to be a great party. Much like Manchester, Leeds has an already vast queer community, with an estimated 10 per cent of the population identifying as part of the LGTBTQIA+ community.

Leeds Pride, https://leedspride.com/

Cardiff/ Wales Pride

When?

21 – 22 June 2025

Where?

The parade will start and end near Cardiff’s castle, which is also the site for all official parties, resources, stalls, and the two-stage festival.

Key Events

A Pride Festival headlined by Ella Henderson and featuring popular Queen tribute act ‘Flash’. Outside of the usual Pride activities will be creative and slower-paced events, like the dog walk hosted by Rainbow Pooch Pride and cabaret workshops.

Things to Note

Cardiff Pride or Pride Cymru is biggest Pride celebration in Wales and indeed this corner of the nation. It has a brilliant attention to the intersection of disability and queer rights and is undeniably the most accessible in the country. Although the official Pride is just two days, readers may be interested in the Iris Prize LGBTQ+ Film Festival between 13 – 19 October that also takes place in Cardiff later this year.

Pride Cymru, https://pridecymru.com/

Other Pride events throughout the UK

There are hundreds of other Pride events throughout the UK that scarcely get a mention. Here are just a few we found:

Northern Pride, Newcastle, 19-20 August: By no means small, but outside of Newcastle Pride itself, the organisation (Northern Pride) will be running a series of fringe events across the Northeast in the run-up.

Kendal Pride, Cumbria, 13-15 June: A small, rural pride celebration1 in the Yorkshire dales featuring open-air parties and a queer-led film festival.

Exmouth Pride, Devon, 21 June: Small parade followed by a rich selection of local music and comedy in the pretty, sea-surrounded Manor Gardens.

King’s Lynn and West Norfolk Pride, 16 August: Parade and party in East Anglia just off the beautiful River Great Ouse.

Whilst we’ve tried to highlight a geographical range here, we know there are plenty more parties and protests out there this year – please drop your details below in the comments, and we’ll add them to the article. Pride Month in the UK Pride Month in the UK Pride Month in the UK

Finn Norris

Finn is a writer and musician. He has written on internet culture, technology, and reviewed music, film, and television. When not frantically tapping away he can be found kicking back with the simpler things: coffee, cats, and football.

The post It’s Pride Month – exploring Pride Month in the UK appeared first on Silver Magazine.

The wait is over – in case you hadn’t already sussed it, and plenty of people had! The 1975 take one of the coveted headline slots as the Glastonbury Festival lineup is officially announced. Set to play on Friday June 27th, the Manchester band will lead an eclectic mix of artists across the legendary Worthy Farm stages.

The announcement cements The 1975’s status as one of the UK’s biggest bands, known for their genre-blending sound and theatrical live shows. With frontman Matty Healy at the helm, fans can expect an electrifying set packed with hits like Somebody Else, The Sound, and Love It If We Made It.

Read more: You don’t have to be over 50 to make the best of festivals, but it helps…

A diverse and star-studded lineup

It’s a fairly wacky linup this year. There’s no doubt Glastonbury 2025 has delivered one of its most diverse lineups yet. Across the weekend, festivalgoers will be treated to a wide range of genres. With Neil Young and the Chrome Hearts, Charli XCX, Rod Stewart, and The Prodigy all taking top billing.

Friday’s bill is stacked with talent, featuring Loyle Carner, Biffy Clyro, Alanis Morissette, and Busta Rhymes alongside rising stars like Wet Leg, PinkPantheress, and Gracie Abrams. Dance music lovers will also be pleased with performances from Four Tet, Floating Points, and Fatboy Slim.

On Saturday, Neil Young will bring his legendary folk-rock catalogue to the Pyramid Stage. Also appearances from Charli XCX, RAYE, Doechii, and Deftones. Rock fans can look forward to sets from John Fogerty, Kaiser Chiefs, and Weezer. While the electronic crowd will be drawn to Caribou and Leftfield.

The festival will close on Sunday with Olivia Rodrigo, Rod Stewart, and The Prodigy. The Libertines, Wolf Alice, Nile Rodgers & Chic, and Jorja Smith also feature, ensuring a mix of nostalgia and fresh talent.

Glastonbury 2025: a true musical spectacle

This year’s Glastonbury promises something for everyone, with a lineup spanning rock, indie, pop, hip-hop, and electronic music. The festival will also continue its commitment to activism, supporting Oxfam, WaterAid, and Greenpeace.

With more acts still to be announced across 100+ stages, Glastonbury 2025 is shaping up to be one of the most exciting editions yet. Whether you’re heading to Worthy Farm or watching from home, it’s clear this year’s festival is one for the history books.

www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk

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Set your alarms for next week. Glastonbury Festival has revealed the details of its 2025 Emerging Talent Competition, and entries are next week.

It’s an initiative aimed at giving promising new acts from the UK and Ireland a chance to perform on one of the festival’s main stages. The competition, which is free to enter, is supported by PRS for Music and PRS Foundation.

Open to artists from all musical genres, the competition will run for one week only, opening at 9am on Monday 27 January, and closing at 5pm on Monday 3 February 2025. To enter, acts are required to submit a YouTube link to one original song, along with a link to a video of themselves performing live.

What the winners get…

The winner of this prestigious competition will secure a performance slot at the 2025 Glastonbury Festival, one of the world’s most iconic music events. They’ll also receive a fat £5,000 Talent Development prize from PRS Foundation. This is to support the next steps in their songwriting and performing career.

Two runners-up will each receive a PRS Foundation £2,500 Talent Development prize.

A commitment to diversity and inclusivity is central to the competition. Glastonbury Festival has encouraged entries from disabled artists, with additional support available to ensure equal opportunities for all participants.

We’re assuming this commitment to diversity also includes mature entrants. Waiting to hear back from them on this but will update you!

Read more: Jed Novick on why festivals are perfect for the over-50s

The selection process begins with a panel of 30 leading UK music writers who will create a longlist of 90 acts from the entries. This longlist will then be reviewed by a judging panel, including Glastonbury organisers Michael and Emily Eavis, to identify eight finalists. These finalists will compete in live performances at the Pilton-based finals, where the ultimate winner will be decided.

Michael and Emily Eavis have expressed their excitement about the upcoming competition, which continues to serve as a vital platform for emerging artists. Previous winners of the Emerging Talent Competition have gone on to achieve significant success. Many have returned to perform on Glastonbury’s stages in subsequent years, such as Declan McKenna and Marie White.

For aspiring artists, this is a unique opportunity to showcase their talent on one of the biggest platforms in music. Entries open on 27th January 2025, and the Festival team is eager to discover the next wave of musical talent.

How to enter

For more details on the competition and how to enter, visit the official Glastonbury Festival website. The entry form will be available on the website when entries open at 9am on Monday 27th January 2025.

www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk

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The post Glastonbury Festival 2025 Emerging Talent Competition appeared first on Silver Magazine.

Okay, we don’t do this sort of thing a lot, but this is an amazing deal. As festival season is still very much upon us, what better way to get your groove on than with the fabulous, amazing deal that is the Boots Festival Edit Beauty Box?

There’s a catch – this limited-edition gem is available only while stocks last, so act quickly to snag this must-have festival essential.

Packed to the brim with goodies, worth over £103, all wrapped up in a £40 package, this beauty box is the ultimate steal you won’t want to miss.

What’s in the box?!

(See below for full details including sizes etc)

1. Boots Glow Banana Tonic: Kickstart your beauty routine with a burst of radiance. This tonic will have you glowing like a festival fairy in no time.

2. SHRINE Drop It Hair Colourant: Embrace your wild side and experiment with your hair colour. Unleash your inner unicorn or mermaid with this vibrant hair colourant.

3. Benefit 24HR Brow Setter Brow Gel: Keep those brows on fleek even through the wildest dance-offs with this long-lasting brow gel.

4. Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Crush Cheirosa 62 Perfume Mist: Immerse yourself in the scent of a Brazilian paradise with this alluring perfume mist.

5. Shiseido ControlledChaos MascaraInk: Flutter those lashes with confidence using this mascara that promises bold and captivating eyes.

6. Shiseido WASO Yuzu-C Beauty Sleeping Mask: Recharge your skin overnight and wake up looking refreshed and rejuvenated.

7. Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray: Dance the night away knowing your makeup will stay put thanks to this cult-favourite setting spray.

8. Patchology Serve Chilled on Ice Firming Eye Gels: Revive tired eyes and reduce puffiness, ensuring you’re ready for each new day of festival fun.

9. Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb Heat Universal Lip Luminizer: Get those lips festival-ready with a touch of shimmer and a burst of colour.

10. 17 Beauty Gel Eyeliner: Define your eyes with precision using this gel eyeliner that stays put through the most energetic dance moves.

11. NARS Highlighter Powder: Illuminate your features and capture the spotlight with a radiant glow that’s visible even from the main stage.

12. IT Cosmetics Confidence in a Cream: Hydrate and nourish your skin, because your beauty routine shouldn’t take a vacation during the festival.

13. Grown Alchemist Natural Hydrating SPF30 Sunscreen: Shield your skin from the sun’s rays while looking effortlessly chic.

14. ARKIVE The Reset Dry Shampoo: Don’t let greasy hair cramp your style; refresh and revitalize with this dry shampoo.

With the Boots Festival Edit Beauty Box in your hands, you’re not just attending a festival – you’re owning the spotlight. This is a little treasure trove of beauty essentials.

Read more: Still time for these summer beauty essentials

Boots Festival Edit Beauty Box available until stocks last

GET IT HERE!

RRP £40, worth over £103*

The box contains:

• Fenty Beauty – Gloss Bomb Hot Cherry Deluxe 2ml
• Patchology – Serve Chilled On Ice Eye Gels Single Pair (Full Size)
• Boots Glow – Boots Glow Banana Toner 100ml (Full Size)
• ARKIVE – The Reset Dry Shampoo 200ml (Full Size)
• Sol de Janeiro – Cheirosa 62 Mist 30ml
• Shrine – Peach Hair Colour Drop It Kit 20ml (Full Size)
• Urban Decay – All Nighter Setting Spray 15ml
• IT Cosmetics – Confidence in a Cream 7ml
• Shiseido – Waso Beauty Sleeping Mask 15ml
• HUDA Beauty – Liquid Matte Lipstick Perfectionist 4.2ml (Full Size)
• Grown Alchemist – Natural Hydrating Sunscreen 50ml (Full Size)
• NARS – Blush Behave 1.2g
• Shiseido – ControlledChaos Mascara Ink 4ml
• Benefit -24hr Brow Setter 2ml
• 17 – White Liquid Liner (Full Size)

*Worth value based on price per ml of standard size products and/or products when purchased separately. 

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If you’d like to receive a regular mini-magazine direct to your inbox with a selection of editorial features to read at your leisure, please sign up for our newsletter. We also run the odd competition and offer and whatnot, and newsletter members get the heads-up first.

The post Amazing deal with the Boots Festival Edit Beauty Box appeared first on Silver Magazine.

Crystal Palace Park is probably best-known for its dinosaur sculptures, but over the weekend, it came alive with the music of such legends as Blondie, Iggy Pop, and Billy Idol. It would be unkind to say these ageing rockers were the real dinosaurs. Instead, they all demonstrated, along with the Buzzcocks and Stiff Little Fingers, that sexagenarians and septuagenarians have plenty of business headlining festivals.

My husband and I impulse-bought tickets to Dog Day Afternoon, reasoning that we’d never forgive ourselves for missing this line-up when they were playing nine miles from our house. Iggy Pop was the main drawcard for my husband, while I have wanted to see Blondie since I first heard The Tide Is High on Countdown – the Australian equivalent of Top of the Pops – as a kid.

Kickstarting the day

We arrived in time for the opening act, Lambrini Girls, to mostly scream at us about trans rights and police brutality. I’m not sure anyone’s views on these contentious issues were swayed in either direction by the energetic performance of TERF Wars, and their set ended abruptly when the mics were cut.

That was a convenient time for the first loo break of the day. As per the lyrics of TERF Wars, gender neutral toilets were not the problem. Having all the bogs at one end of a rather large area, however, was not the greatest idea for an assembly of thousands of ageing bladders. It was probably just as well for all concerned that it was a long wait for a £6 can of Carlsberg at the bar. It was ice cream for dinner for us, washed down with an alarming brand of canned water called Liquid Death.

Buzzcocks and Stiff Little Fingers

Buzzcocks – Photo: Victor Frankowski

We settled down on a patch of grass for the Buzzcocks, with a 12-song set belted out amiably by frontman Steve Diggle, resplendent in a very M&S Blue Harbour-looking jumper. His attire was an intriguing juxtaposition against such tracks as Orgasm Addict and Why Can’t I Touch It?.

Ever Fallen In Love (With Someone You Shouldn’t’ve) was the one everyone was waiting for and it didn’t disappoint. Next up, Stiff Little Fingers were cheerful and melodic, with a detour into melancholic nostalgia with Doesn’t Make It Alright, a cover of The Specials’ song as an emotional tribute to Terry Hall.

My husband noted that the Buzzcocks and Stiff Little Fingers do a roaring trade as support acts, so it’s inevitable that we’ll all end up seeing them at some point in our lives. We ticked them both off our list within about two hours.

Generation Sex

Billy Idol – Photo: Victor Frankowski

And speaking of lists, when Generation Sex came onstage, the bucket list came out earlier than expected. Comprising Billy Idol, his long-serving bassist, Tony James, and Steve Jones and Paul Cook of Sex Pistols fame, their renditions of God Save The Queen and I Did It My Way were almost worth the admission price alone.

Billy Idol was clearly having a great time up there. Although I felt more comfortable on his behalf when he ditched the leather jacket in the heat. Hell, I was starting to regret my sparkly synthetic leggings for hot flush-related reasons, rather than mutton-dressed-as-lamb fears.

Blondie

Blondie – Photo: Victor Frankowski

For me, the absolute highlight was Blondie. There were plenty of predictably terrible comments on Twitter about how Debbie Harry’s voice had gone at Glastonbury, along with the usual ageist bollocks about women of a certain age having the temerity to exist.

But Debbie celebrated her 78th birthday in fine style in Crystal Palace. Obviously, the upper register that could bring out all the dogs in a 10-mile radius wasn’t quite what it used to be, but nobody cared. One of the communal highlights of the set was the whole crowd joining in with the piercing “Ooh-oh-ooh-ah-oohs” of Heart of Glass.

My only disappointment was the absence of Denis, Denis from the set list – a gorgeous track that my husband and Alexa insist on calling “Dennis, Dennis”. But this was more than made up for by being in the live presence of The Tide Is High, One Way Or Another, Hanging On The Telephone, Call Me, Sunday Girl, Atomic, Rapture, Maria, Dreaming…

It really was banger after banger. Singing along at the top of my lungs, along with passively smoking more weed in an afternoon than I did in my entire misspent 20s, contributed to this Sunday Girl waking up with a sore throat and a drag queen voice.

Read more: You don’t have to be over 50 to enjoy festivals but it helps

Iggy Pop

Iggy Pop – Photo: Victor Frankowski

The finale was Iggy Pop. By this point, my arthritic knees, ankles, two club feet and knackered lower back were starting to bite me. We found a spot on a little hill overlooking the whole spectacle that gave me plenty of room to sit down, as well as a good vantage point for my husband to enjoy the show without it being too peopley. The only problem was that I sat in front of a wall that doubled as a men’s toilet. I avoided looking behind myself to prevent seeing actual wee that could not be held in for the long walk to the portaloos.

When I worked on the Australian edition of FHM, I saw pictures of Iggy Pop’s penis frequently. On this occasion, he did not rock out with his cock out. But it would have been disappointing if he didn’t stride on stage and divest himself of his waistcoat in mere moments.

He was a shirtless spectacle, remnants of his muscular days lurking under scars, creases and sagging skin. He didn’t care and why should he? At 76, if he can bend and contort around the stage without missing a beat, he can wear as much or as little as he likes. Damn, if I can still get upstairs unaided at 76, I’ll be joyous.

Iggy Pop – Photo: Victor Frankowski

And as for me…

As my beleaguered feet swelled up in my shoes in time to the music, I started to wonder if I should follow my own advice and start carrying a fold-up walking stick to such occasions. I’m Blue Badge-eligible. Maybe the time has come to avail myself of the disabled access areas.

No matter where you sat, Iggy Pop offered brilliant value for money with an 18-song set that featured five tracks in the encore alone. The more mobile members of the crowd bounced as the likes of Five Foot One, Raw Power, I Wanna Be Your Dog and Search and Destroy eloquently roared out.

Everyone sang along with gusto to Lust For Life – a song that must keep Iggy Pop in the best tight jeans on royalties alone – proving that while a large proportion of the audience, myself included, must have been in a world of joint pain on Sunday morning, we’re not dead yet. I just hope everyone was able to have a nice sit-down on the train ride home.

Connect with your fellow rockers in the Silver Lifestyle Facebook group

Georgia Lewis

In a career that has spanned Australia, the Middle East and the UK, Georgia has written about all sorts of things, including sex, cars, food, oil and gas, insurance, fashion, travel, workplace safety, health, religious affairs, glass and glazing… When she’s not writing words for fun and profit, she can usually be found with a glass of something French and red in her hand.

The post The joys of ageing rockers for an ageing crowd appeared first on Silver Magazine.

Determined not to let parenthood rob them of their raving days, ten years ago Hannah Saunders and Natasha Morabito had a revelation. Meeting in a parenting group, and finding themselves kindred spirits (ex-ravers always know each other, have you noticed?), they decided that no, they weren’t done with raving. They’d just have to do it differently. 

“We got together when I had come up with the idea of BFLF and decided to tell everyone I knew about it – as a way to embarrass myself into getting it off the ground,” grins Hannah. 

…parents, grandparents, and kids dance joyously until the sugar rush runs out

“Tash and I were both on a small private Mumsnet group because our children were born in the same month and we had gone through our pregnancies together online. Had never met in real life. I told this group, and Tash asked to meet up as she wanted to help me get it off the ground and we lived reasonably near. Her eldest child is 10 days younger than my eldest.”

So Big Fish Little Fish was created; the family rave for ‘two-to-four hour party people’. Parents, grandparents, and kids dance joyously until the sugar rush runs out, and the events are run throughout the UK and across Australia. It’s a phenomenal success and testament to anyone who always believed it was about the music, and not about the drugs.

I caught up with Hannah as Big Fish Little Fish (I always want to say cardboard box after) hits a remarkable decade.

Who are you and what do you do?

Hannah Saunders, at BFLF

I am Hannah Saunders and I created family raving!  Afternoon clubbing and festival events for families with children aged 0-8 years. My company Big Fish Little Fish holds events all over the UK and Australia.

Tell us a bit about the events – what can one expect to happen?

First of all, great dance music is at the heart of what we do. We book DJ legends of the rave scene (Terry Francis, 2 Bad Mice, Mark XTC, Aphrodite, London Elektricity, Louise + 1 etc) and they play the set they would at a grown-up club night only at lower volumes and without any swears. 

The venues we play range from pubs to state-of-the-art nightclubs (we’re the only all-ages event that has ever played fabric) to festivals to museums – taking in concrete floor warehouses, castles, breweries and even a cathedral. We particularly love taking BFLF outside – to Camp Bestival, Blue Dot, Glastonbury, and other festivals.

You can expect to see parents and grandparents dancing with their littlies in fancy dress, loads of balloons, foam and bubbles and some craft tables, a colouring mural, and face painters away from the dancefloor action. Also there’s always a bar.

…great dance music is at the heart of what we do. We book DJ legends of the rave scene and they play the set they would at a grown-up club night

Our raves are two hours long, and finish up with a giant parachute dance, inspired by going to Whirl-Y-Gig events in the 90s. Though we dance under ours and at the Whirly, people sit down.

Where did the concept originate?

I loved taking my kids to festivals. As a Bristolian, I’ve been to Glastonbury almost every year since the mid-90s and having a five-month-old baby wasn’t going to stop me. At Glastonbury I saw how my baby enjoyed the multi-sensory experience, while I too was enjoying the music as I always had done – it was a shared experience of joy.  

While I was on maternity leave, I attended all the usual parent and baby groups, but none captured that sense of togetherness and fun that taking my young family to festivals did. When I returned to work (senior Whitehall civil servant!) I just didn’t enjoy the environment anymore, so I jacked it in.

[perfectpullquote align=”right” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]At Glastonbury I saw how my baby enjoyed the multi-sensory experience[/perfectpullquote]

I then needed to do something for work and decided to set up my own business to create the thing I wanted to take my own family to. Something that gave me the fun and freedom of a festival but that I could do near my home and for a few hours at the weekend.

Who typically comes to the events? 

We find more and more that people in their late 20s and 30s don’t just bring their babies; they bring their mums and dads too, who were the first-generation ravers. It’s always fantastic fun to see three generations raving together. Obviously with the raver’s ‘Summer of Love’ being in 1988, the people who were there then are now in their 50s and 60s – as are many of our DJs!

The BFLF dancefloor really is a joyful, bonding experience and I’ve had grandparents tell me they’ve always wanted to come to a rave and now they felt they had. BFLF does provide the essence of raving, in a family friendly way.

Read more: the Summer of Love – the rise of house music as a great British institution

Do people come without kids? Or is that just an insane thought?!

We don’t let any lone adult groups (or lone children!) come to Big Fish Little Fish, but if they are a child-free aunt, uncle, or friend and want to come in a group with people with kids then that’s fine. We try not to have groups of more than four adults to one child, as we like to keep the right balance of big and small people.

Do the kids ever get freaked out by the loud music, lights etc?

Depending on the venue we try to ensure there are quieter spaces, and even baby chill areas. Music is played at lower levels than at an adult club (in fact I have recorded higher levels of noise at large soft play centres) and there are no strobes, just colour changing and moving lights. 

Rather than the music and lighting, it can be the size of the crowd (each event has 400 – 1,000 attendees) that I think some children – and parents – find daunting. We make it very clear in our publicity that the events are busy and loud, often more from children’s excited squeals than music), and that they are a ‘proper’ clubbing experience. So it’s not for everyone, but the families who do love it, really love it. 

We are very aware of kids with additional needs and want to make it as inclusive as possible

We are very aware of kids with additional needs and want to make it as inclusive as possible – so, say there’s a family with an autistic child – we can let them into the venue a few minutes before everyone else to give them time to acclimatise before the crowds arrive. This way we can help to make sure they know where to go if they need a breather from the action.

Drugs – one would hope people are responsible if they’re there with kids, but have you observed people taking dancing ‘enhancements’?

I have been running these events for 10 years, and BFLF has played to around 800,000 people and it’s never come up.

If you are responsible for young children, you just don’t consider it. BFLF is a place where you celebrate being a family, and delight in it together. Drugs are a complete no-no.

I’ve just had a look at the line-up of events. That’s a phenomenal output! Who handles all the management and bookings etc? There must be quite a team of you.

We recently had a TikTok that went viral in the US so I’m talking to some interested people over there

Thank you! Yes, there is a team of lovely people (all of them parents and ex-clubbers) who run Big Fish Little Fish in their areas. We cover the whole of the UK and the big cities in Australia.

We recently had a TikTok that went viral in the US and had over three million views, so I’m talking to some interested people over there about launching BFLF in the US and Canada.

You’ve got some big names playing too. Has it been tough to get them to play or are they right up for it?

You have to find the right people, people who fundamentally ‘get’ what we do. Most of our DJs are parents themselves and bring their kids along to show them what mum or dad does for work.

DJs love playing us, often seeing BFLF as the true carriers of the rave flame to pass on through the generations – and will recommend us to their DJing mates.

You’re at some festivals this summer. Where is best to catch BFLF?

We are doing a tour with Camp Bestival ahead of the festivals in Dorset and Shropshire – and other festivals you can see us at include Elderflower Fields, Blue Dot, Beautiful Days, Geronimo, Festival 14, Milton Keynes, We Out Here, and many others yet to be announced.

Hannah at Bluedot Festival (Credit: One Eye In at Bluedot Festival)

The festival events – do you take your own tent, etc? Tell us a bit about how that works.

We take our own tents to sleep in! Otherwise we will play wherever in the festival we’ve been programmed to play – sometimes there is a big stage with an open air crowd, sometimes it’s in a big tent like the Bollywood at Camp Bestival. Unlike a lot of performers we usually slum it in camping, and take our kids too. We LOVE a festival – it’s what inspired BFLF after all.

It’s your tenth anniversary this year – what plans have you got for the future?

World domination baby! Hopefully we will get BFLF North America up and running (plus some new cities in Europe), stay true to our ethos of being proper old ravers, and work with lots of lovely people and make lots of families very, very happy.

What’s the best thing about BFLF?

Making families happy. When you become a parent, you can feel like you have said goodbye to your carefree youth and these events give people a bit of that back. It lets them know that it isn’t finger food and nap schedules forever. You’re still in there and you don’t have to cut part of yourself off to be a great parent. 

Big Fish Little Fish Manchester at the Birdcage 11-03-18

So much parenting is about saying ‘no’, ‘stop that’ or ‘don’t do that’. So when children see their parents happy and smiling at our events they respond in kind and it’s a virtuous circle of happiness – a rave hug! BFLF is a great way for parents to role model how to have fun with others.

Will there be a tenth anniversary party?!

Oh yes – quite a few! Hopefully a big one at Ally Pally this summer. You heard it here first!

Buy tickets for the Ally Pally event here

Listen to some BFLF grooves…

[mixcloud https://www.mixcloud.com/BigFishLittleFish/cyndi-wallauper-live-big-fish-little-fish-belladrum-festival-2022/ width=100% height=120 hide_cover=1]

Sam Harrington-Lowe

Sam is Silver’s founder and editor-in-chief. She’s largely responsible for organising all the things, but still finds time to do the odd bit of writing. Not enough though. Send help.

The post Big Fish Little Fish is ten years old. How old are your raving roots? appeared first on Silver Magazine.

Flicking through the news stories this morning I’m seeing a slew of bad stuff going down at festivals. The final day at Reading saw mobs setting fires and brawling, with other safety concerns raised such as needle spiking, looting, and people throwing big stuff at each other.

A 16-year-old lad has died at Leeds Festival, possibly after taking MDMA. A rape has happened at Green Man festival in Wales. We’ve got arrests at Notting Hill Carnival for offensive weapons, sexual assault, and drugs; and this is over just one weekend. And only in the UK.

I guess if you lock young people up for a couple of years and then let them go berserk in a field with loads of alcohol, drugs, and loud music, some of this might have been expected. But if that’s the case, why aren’t there measures in place to manage this?

And what is the future of our festivals looking like?

She's moving to the arena but security are thin on the ground. This is orange camp off Little John's Lane pic.twitter.com/1VmP25xfLw

— Alison (@999bradders) August 28, 2022

Have we learned nothing from Woodstock 99 or Fyre?

Last weekend I sat down to watch Woodstock 99, and ended up binge watching the whole thing, my jaw falling increasingly south. Like most people, I could hardly believe was I was seeing. If you haven’t seen it yet, it’s quite the watch.

As someone who owned an event management business for a decade, I was shocked and astonished at the appalling organisational tactics, mostly. And as a TV voyeur with a dark and twisted sense of humour, I confess to being absolutely glued to the whole debacle. I think I must have said “holy fuck” about twenty times per episode.

Off the back of that, even though I kinda knew the story, yesterday I watched the Fyre Festival one. Shocking in a different way, slightly more amusing because honestly, who the hell falls for that sort of PR based on an event that has never existed before? The fact that people parted with thousands of dollars for what was essentially a ponzi scheme, like Woodstock 99 also was, is appalling, of course it is. But this felt like a much more modern calamity, and I’m afraid I laughed anew at the cheese sandwich Tweet.

This stuff is so predictable, really

I was struck by a few things, watching both these documentaries. First and foremost, the ego – and astonishing charisma – of the men at the helm. To have pushed huge scale events that far forward without having everyone just downing tools is frankly astounding. You’ve gotta have some hutzpah for that kind of bullshit. Interestingly neither Billy McFarland (Fyre) nor the late Michael Lang (Woodstock) were the slightest bit repentant after the events. A psychologist would have a field day.

Secondly, how making things about money is never a great idea. Woodstock 99 was a scamola from start to finish, and Fyre was SO much about money, that people couldn’t even trust their own gut instincts about the whole thing until it was too late.

Thirdly, choosing the right acts is important. Who the hell thought Woodstock 99 should have a lineup that included Limp Bizkit, Kid Rock, Rage… etc? What kind of vibe did they expect to create with that kind of music? Doesn’t look very Woodstocky to me – and Fred Durst has a lot to answer for, in my humble opinion. Apparently at Reading, the fights started breaking out when two acts with differing subcultural followings were mixed together, resulting in the modern-day equivalent of mods and rockers going at it. Jesus, first rule of large scale events – know your audience.

Fourth, if you treat people like animals, very often they’ll behave like animals. That’s in any situation.

Fifth, you can never have enough decent security, risk assessments, or medics. And I don’t just mean to keep crowd control, I mean to keep people actually safe. Stop them getting spiked or raped. Take care of them when they’re hurt or ill. Prevent people setting fires, and so on. When things get ugly in crowds, that vibe spreads FAST, motherfucker. Remember football violence?

Finally, it’s young, mostly white males who do this shit. Most people over 35 at festivals have zero energy or tolerance for this kind of crap. They’ve either got kids with them, or they’re not interested. They’re there for the music, and the vibe. And yeah, I know there are exceptions. And if I’m going to go with sweeping statements, I’m also going to bet that the boys do the damage, but often the girls egg them on. Come for me on that, I’ll stand by it.

So, should we stop letting in young people?

Now look. I’m out here fighting ageism, and that means in ALL its forms. So I don’t do the whole ‘young people today are so ghastly’ thing. Mostly they’re not. Mostly they’re brilliant. But I’m also 52 years of age and I’ve had my fair share of mosh pits and danger. If I go to a festival, honestly, I want a nice tent with a proper bed, some hot showers and clean lavs, decent food, great music, the chance to wear stupid clothes – that kind of thing.

I don’t want to set fire to others’ belongings, throw chairs at people who like folk music, fight with the vegan felafel vendor for not having bacon, or kick down a stage. None of these things feel like fun. Well, maybe kicking down a stage would feel kinda cool. But I wouldn’t do it. I’m there to have a nice time.

Like this article? You might like You Don’t Have to be Over 50 to go to a Festival but it Helps

But, yaknow, there are issues here. And the issues need fixing

We need better security – not just a ton of first year uni students volunteering so they get to see the bands for free. Properly trained people that cost actual money.

We need better first aid and medical support, better drug testing. There is no point telling people not to take drugs at a festival, but you CAN make them safer.

More security looking out for idiots with needles. This needle-spiking trend is grim. I honestly don’t know how to fix it, but how about stop looking for people smoking weed, and start expending more time looking for real wrong ‘uns?

And treat people well. They have paid good money to come to an event, put their trust in the organisers to look after them, entertain them, feed them… it’s not much to ask. And the prices are high – festivals are not a cheap ticket. If you treat people badly, they’ll behave badly.

Sam Harrington-Lowe

Sam is Silver’s founder and editor-in-chief. She’s largely responsible for organising all the things, but still finds time to do the odd bit of writing. Not enough though. Send help.

The post Have large scale music festivals had their day? appeared first on Silver Magazine.

‘What to wear to a festival when you’re older’ turns out to be a fairly common search term on the google. We know, we’ve checked.

The answer is, of course, wear whatever you want – go comfy or go crazy. It’s nobody else’s damn business.

Have you tried our Pro-Ageing Stem Cell Serum yet?

It doesn’t necessarily mean you have to go crazy for colour, slap on the glitter, and dress like a fairy (or a wizard!). But if you DO fancy that, then these festival looks are for you. And yes, you can. Get on with it!

Above and below – Helene wears…

Sunglasses: Heart Shaped Sunglasses with Pink Lens, ASOS DESIGN, £14
Dress: Cami Wrap Maxi Dress with Lace Up Back, ASOS DESIGN, £35
Pink Fur Coat: Model’s own
Shoes: It’s Always Sunny trainers, Irregular Choice, £119
Bag: It’s Always Sunny Crossbody Bag, Irregular Choice, £39.99
Necklace: Poodle Oodle Necklace, Irregular Choice, £19

Below – Laura wears…

Sunglasses: Mid Square Sunglasses with Pink Lens in Green, ASOS DESIGN, £13.50
Co-ord: Vendala Fringed Crop Top, L.O.M Fashion, £120 and Vendala Leggings, L.O.M Fashion, £99

Below – Helene wears…

Co-ord: Tall Exclusive Modal Palm Short Sleeve Pyjama Set in Orange, ASOS DESIGN, £32
Vest: Model’s own
Shoes: Summer Slips, Irregular Choice, £99
Sunglasses: Mid Square Sunglasses with Bevel in Pale Yellow, ASOS DESIGN, £12
Necklace: Beaded Necklace in Turquoise, & Other Stories, £17

Above and below – Laura wears…

Shoes: Chillaxing Sandals, Irregular Choice, £49.99
Top hat: Model’s own
Sunglasses: Model’s own
Catsuit: Mitosis Party Catsuit, L.O.M Fashion, £155
Cape: Körpermitose Shoulder Cape, L.O.M Fashion, £120

Below – Helene wears…

Catsuit: Körpermitose Fringed Catsuit, L.O.M Fashion, £185
Robe: Forest of Dreams Sequin Festival Robe, L.O.M Fashion, £160
Sunglasses: Model’s own

Below – Laura wears…

Sunglasses: Street Ready Sunglasses in Pink, Vans, £12
Shoes: It’s Always Sunny Trainers, Irregular Choice, £119
Co-ord: Indus Sequin Leggings in Dahlia, £135 and Twinks Sequin Crop Top in Dahlia, £48, both Rosa Bloom
Bracelet: Model’s own

Header photo and below: In the van…

Laura as previous image
Helene wears…
Sunglasses: Model’s own
Catsuit: Körpermitose Fringed Catsuit, L.O.M Fashion, £185
Robe: Forest of Dreams Sequin Festival Robe, L.O.M Fashion, £160
Shoes: Booyah Sandals in Purple, Irregular Choice, £49.99

SHOOT CREDITS

Photographer: Erika Szostak
Lighting assistant: Lili Harrington-Lowe
Production assistant: Carly Pepperell
Makeup artist: Charlene Howells
Hair: Melodie at Restore
Models: Helene Evans and Laura Hazeldine
Dressers: Genevieve Ng and Bella Currie
Social/locations: Nathalie Everlong
Stylist/producer: Sam

SHOOT STOCKISTS

L.O.M Fashion: lomfashion.co.uk
Irregular Choice: irregularchoice.com
ASOS: asos.com
& Other Stories: stories.com
Rosa Bloom: rosabloom.com
Vans: vans.co.uk

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The post What to wear to a festival when you’re not 21 anymore appeared first on Silver Magazine.

The Women Over 50 Film Festival (WOFFF) supported by FilmDoo, taking place on 16th & 17th September 2017 in Brighton, East Sussex, UK, is an international film festival aiming to redress the age and gender imbalance older women face in the film industry.

WOFFF champions women over 50 in front of and behind the camera, and this September’s third annual, interactive, engaging, entertaining weekend of films and activities for older women and their friends looks to be the largest event yet with 55 films being screened, from over 150 submissions from around the world, the largest number of submissions ever received.

Festival Director Nuala O’Sullivan said, “We’re excited to see the depth and breadth of talent on display, both on screen at the festival and in our other events. We’re delighted to have film industry professionals, like Felicity Beckett and Claire Lamond, on our jury panel and University of Brighton film academics, Vanessa Marr and Louise FitzGerald, hosting workshops and delivering lectures at this year’s WOFFF.”

For tickets go to www.wofff.co.uk/2017-festival/tickets
Prices start from £8.55 per programme
A Weekend Pass giving you access to all eight programmes is £56.35
All tickets are available via Eventbrite at https://wofff17tickets.eventbrite.co.uk
Some events are free but still require booking via Eventbrite. Limited concession tickets are also available.

For more information about the Women Over 50 Film Festival 2017, visit www.wofff.co.uk

silvermagazine

If you’d like to receive a regular mini-magazine direct to your inbox with a selection of editorial features to read at your leisure, please sign up for our newsletter. We also run the odd competition and offer and whatnot, and newsletter members get the heads-up first.

The post Women Over 50 Film Festival unveils full 2017 programme appeared first on Silver Magazine.