I'll Miss Us When We're Gone

"Journey Into Another Dimension" is a well-told, spooky story from The Moth.

And "Nancho Challenge" is powerful.

I thoroughly recommend "Stan & Ollie" if you get the chance to see it. Lovely, loving and lovable:

And The Young Offenders Christmas Special on BBC i-player is a reassuring hoot.

The other week I recorded some new music with my ol' folk-fiddling' pal John McCusker (violin, viola) and the wonderful harpist Sharron Griffiths (who also played on this). The fruits of our labours feature in this powerful documentary, 10pm Jan 1st BBC Two Scotland:

And on Hogmanay on BBC Two you can catch this:

Loved composing for this. Director Lou Lockwood and editor Jonathan Seale were brilliant to work with. Briggs is a fascinating character; a quiet, English revolutionary. I would recommend this one hour of TV to anyone.

Teenage Fanclub are joining Belle & Sebastian's Boaty Weekender in August 2019, alongside Camera Obscura, Yo La Tengo and others.

All our Christmases are coming true as @TeenageFanclub confirm for @BoatyWeekender! 😍 pic.twitter.com/6scGDmB9rg

— belle & sebastian (@bellesglasgow) December 20, 2018

Info on all Teenage Fanclub live activity - shows & festivals in Hong Kong, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, North America and Europe - can be found here.

These folks made my album of the year.

Tracyanne & Danny are coming Way Out West soon, of course...

Tracyanne & Danny ticket info here.

15th December in Glasgow

Looking for something to do this Saturday 15th December? Come  along to the University of Glasgow Memorial Chapel for a special gig. I will be singing some songs alongside Belle & Sebastian's Stevie Jackson, Richard Luke, A New International and.......a Surprise Guest.

I'll be performing in aid of British Heart Disease and in honour of the late Simon Cottrell.

Tickets here.

Recent films, you say? I liked Mary Queen Of Scots, The Outlaw King and most especially The Favourite. However - this was heart-wrenching and amazing:

Best last scene of a movie that I can think of.

V. glad that Vic & Bob are on the telly. An antidote to the depressing baloney of Brexit.

In my last blog I posted a letter I got from Alex Chilton. Well, here's the letter he sent my ol' pal Joe.

I have been working on the music for "Snowmen, Bogeymen & Milkmen" - a beautiful profile of Raymond Briggs, directed by the amazing Louise Lockwood and edited by her Sancho Panza Jonathan Seale. A brilliant experience for me. Tune in at 9pm, BBC Two on 31st December.

RIP, Pete Shelley. Another life not lived long enough.  Not everyone gets to leave behind great art like this.