John Kell
@johnkell.bsky.social
Some indie music, radio, archive TV, F1. Roobarbarian. Personal account. My views.
@samholloway.bsky.social I'm off out to the Bedford Radio Christmas social in a few minutes, so will be on catch-up for the Decade Dip. Is it the 0s?
Must listen to that Snocaps record at some point...
Must listen to that Snocaps record at some point...
December 3, 2025 at 7:22 PM
@samholloway.bsky.social I'm off out to the Bedford Radio Christmas social in a few minutes, so will be on catch-up for the Decade Dip. Is it the 0s?
Must listen to that Snocaps record at some point...
Must listen to that Snocaps record at some point...
Last night's JKVS was the last regular one of the year, and for a while. Special edition(s) at the end of the month though. www.mixcloud.com/bedfordradio...
December 2, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Last night's JKVS was the last regular one of the year, and for a while. Special edition(s) at the end of the month though. www.mixcloud.com/bedfordradio...
I get a bit introspective in this one. Or possibly just drone on a bit, YMMV. On air from 9.
There's lots of new music to catch up on before the end of the year - tune in at 9 for the latest alternative releases and previews, plus some newly announced gigs in Bedford and a 20 Years Young album from Half Man Half Biscuit.
December 1, 2025 at 8:55 PM
I get a bit introspective in this one. Or possibly just drone on a bit, YMMV. On air from 9.
That's got to be the angriest Oscar Piastri has sounded in his entire #F1 career. Understandably so. Had the pace to claw himself back into the title race, but had his chances ruined.
November 30, 2025 at 5:33 PM
That's got to be the angriest Oscar Piastri has sounded in his entire #F1 career. Understandably so. Had the pace to claw himself back into the title race, but had his chances ruined.
Operational sharpness has been the big question mark for McLaren this year, not the engineering of the car or speed of the drivers. It's proving a big enough weakness that it could cost them the drivers' title. Wow. #F1
Absolutely mad decisions coming from McLaren. Piastri had to force their hands and make them pit him.
November 30, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Operational sharpness has been the big question mark for McLaren this year, not the engineering of the car or speed of the drivers. It's proving a big enough weakness that it could cost them the drivers' title. Wow. #F1
I've seen Wenzels' mince pies so strongly recommended I'm thinking I need to pick some up next time I'm in London... But maybe the crunchy top isn't all that?
I have no idea why the bloody hell Wenzels SMOTHER their mince pies in brown sugar. A light dusting of icing sugar would be more than sufficient.
I scrape it all off before eating.
I scrape it all off before eating.
November 28, 2025 at 6:48 PM
I've seen Wenzels' mince pies so strongly recommended I'm thinking I need to pick some up next time I'm in London... But maybe the crunchy top isn't all that?
Reposted by John Kell
who else is playing sharedculturegeddon this december? it’s where, if you encounter an artistic work that’s so beloved that it is part of the fabric of your nation’s culture, you’ve lost, like a big fucking loser
November 26, 2025 at 11:10 PM
who else is playing sharedculturegeddon this december? it’s where, if you encounter an artistic work that’s so beloved that it is part of the fabric of your nation’s culture, you’ve lost, like a big fucking loser
@samholloway.bsky.social Only tuned in for song 3 so am short on thinking time... Mid-decade for sure. 4s or 5s... Torn!
November 26, 2025 at 7:51 PM
@samholloway.bsky.social Only tuned in for song 3 so am short on thinking time... Mid-decade for sure. 4s or 5s... Torn!
Jack Shepherd gone - that's sad news. Was thinking the other week I'm well due a re-watch of Bill Brand.
November 25, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Jack Shepherd gone - that's sad news. Was thinking the other week I'm well due a re-watch of Bill Brand.
No FM Nights this evening because grrr bloody computers.
November 24, 2025 at 7:34 PM
No FM Nights this evening because grrr bloody computers.
Did you say Opposites Attract by Paula Abdul, covered by Art Brut *and* Bis?
OK, thought you did.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDjK...
OK, thought you did.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDjK...
Opposites Attract (Paula Abdul Cover)
YouTube video by Art Brut - Topic
www.youtube.com
November 20, 2025 at 8:56 PM
Did you say Opposites Attract by Paula Abdul, covered by Art Brut *and* Bis?
OK, thought you did.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDjK...
OK, thought you did.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDjK...
Been a bit lax with the self-promotion lately, so let's sort that out. Here's FM Nights from last week... www.mixcloud.com/bedfordradio...
November 20, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Been a bit lax with the self-promotion lately, so let's sort that out. Here's FM Nights from last week... www.mixcloud.com/bedfordradio...
@samholloway.bsky.social I'll be on catch up today (assuming there's a show?). Is it the 8s?
November 19, 2025 at 6:16 PM
@samholloway.bsky.social I'll be on catch up today (assuming there's a show?). Is it the 8s?
Was reminded of this story during Chris's performance of The English Earth tonight. Back in 2002 I played that and other tracks from The 253 on student radio. A random American online listener emailed in, more than once, to ask who the artist was, sounding increasingly infuriated about it.
I sometimes agonise when putting shows together or just listening to music generally that I lean too hard on old favourites. But of course it's the fact I've had relationships with artists like Chris T-T, Pulp or the Hidden Cameras for so long that makes nights like tonight so valuable and precious.
November 16, 2025 at 12:00 AM
Was reminded of this story during Chris's performance of The English Earth tonight. Back in 2002 I played that and other tracks from The 253 on student radio. A random American online listener emailed in, more than once, to ask who the artist was, sounding increasingly infuriated about it.
The only very very slight downside to this was not being able to see @thejustjoans.bsky.social playing Cambridge tonight, but I'm hugely looking forward to catching up with them in January at the Winter Sprinter.
Well. Music's quite a thing, isn't it? Chris T-T's brief roar out of retirement. Lots of thoughts, lots of feelings. Remarkable performance, remarkable evening.
November 15, 2025 at 11:41 PM
The only very very slight downside to this was not being able to see @thejustjoans.bsky.social playing Cambridge tonight, but I'm hugely looking forward to catching up with them in January at the Winter Sprinter.
Well. Music's quite a thing, isn't it? Chris T-T's brief roar out of retirement. Lots of thoughts, lots of feelings. Remarkable performance, remarkable evening.
November 15, 2025 at 11:13 PM
Well. Music's quite a thing, isn't it? Chris T-T's brief roar out of retirement. Lots of thoughts, lots of feelings. Remarkable performance, remarkable evening.
Reposted by John Kell
The sheer cheek of writing "oop north" when you pronounce it "ap north".
Always eye-opening when someone with a southern English accent tries to write a northern English accent "phonetically" revealing what an alien perspective they have of the relationship between sounds and letters
November 8, 2025 at 2:10 PM
The sheer cheek of writing "oop north" when you pronounce it "ap north".
@samholloway.bsky.social Will be catching up. Is it the 9s? (I got the 3s the other week from Howard Jones; it had cropped up in the FM Nights top 10 the week before!)
November 5, 2025 at 7:42 PM
@samholloway.bsky.social Will be catching up. Is it the 9s? (I got the 3s the other week from Howard Jones; it had cropped up in the FM Nights top 10 the week before!)
Monday's show! Featuring a rather extreme radio edit... www.mixcloud.com/bedfordradio...
November 4, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Monday's show! Featuring a rather extreme radio edit... www.mixcloud.com/bedfordradio...
On now!
We've got more great independent and alternative music for you in John Kell Vs Satan at 9pm, with a 20 Years Young album that's newly reissued on vinyl, and a clutch of long-awaited new releases. Tune in on DAB in Bedford, online, on your smart speaker or on the Bedford Radio app!
November 3, 2025 at 9:02 PM
On now!
This is nice. I've occasionally wondered what the state of play is between the ex-Pipettes - lovely to find they're still pals!
GIG UPDATE: Gwenno. Beautiful and gorgeous and full of cornish joy and sadness. And Gwenno was also joined by her former Pipette pal Rose Elinor Dougall for a song, so that was an unexpected Halloween treat!
October 31, 2025 at 11:38 PM
This is nice. I've occasionally wondered what the state of play is between the ex-Pipettes - lovely to find they're still pals!
Reposted by John Kell
Genuinely delighted to download a PhD thesis from a university repository where the author has neglected to remove the words "BITCH THIS IS YOUR THESIS" from the filename.
October 30, 2025 at 8:21 AM
Genuinely delighted to download a PhD thesis from a university repository where the author has neglected to remove the words "BITCH THIS IS YOUR THESIS" from the filename.
The gig: Courtney Marie Andrews! Previewing her new album and also, it turns out, another recorded but unreleased album that may emerge at some point! A treat to see her in such a small venue - this sold out very quickly!
October 29, 2025 at 10:47 PM
The gig: Courtney Marie Andrews! Previewing her new album and also, it turns out, another recorded but unreleased album that may emerge at some point! A treat to see her in such a small venue - this sold out very quickly!
@samholloway.bsky.social I'll be on catch up again. 9s?
October 29, 2025 at 7:13 PM
@samholloway.bsky.social I'll be on catch up again. 9s?
This is beautiful.
A bit of advice for journalists: At least *read* the quotes you’re cut and pasting into a story.
October 29, 2025 at 6:17 PM
This is beautiful.