Mike Press
@mikepress.bsky.social
Writer - about music, about London, often both together. Sometimes about design.
One half of the Walk on the Wild Side project.
https://walkonthewildside.substack.com
We write, take photos and organise walks.
One half of the Walk on the Wild Side project.
https://walkonthewildside.substack.com
We write, take photos and organise walks.
Our story of a most remarkable woman.
Soo Catwoman: The Woman Who Invented Herself
How a young West London outsider, a Soho lesbian club, and a £2 barber’s cut helped ignite a cultural revolution.
open.substack.com
November 25, 2025 at 8:30 AM
Our story of a most remarkable woman.
Reposted by Mike Press
Who’s up for a two hour walk around Soho where we discover the story of Christmas songs? Our Substack project takes to the streets - a fundraiser for Centrepoint Homeless Charity.
Santa Claus is Coming to Soho
Made with Tally, the simplest way to create forms.
tally.so
November 23, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Who’s up for a two hour walk around Soho where we discover the story of Christmas songs? Our Substack project takes to the streets - a fundraiser for Centrepoint Homeless Charity.
Join us on 13 December for a guided walk through Soho. From wassailing to Wham!, Georgian masked balls to Fairytale of New York, we’ll explore how Soho shaped the xmas soundtrack. Free to join — donations invited for Centrepoint Charity. Wrap up warm & join us for two hours of festive conviviality.
Santa Claus is Coming to Soho
Made with Tally, the simplest way to create forms.
tally.so
November 20, 2025 at 12:17 PM
Join us on 13 December for a guided walk through Soho. From wassailing to Wham!, Georgian masked balls to Fairytale of New York, we’ll explore how Soho shaped the xmas soundtrack. Free to join — donations invited for Centrepoint Charity. Wrap up warm & join us for two hours of festive conviviality.
Reposted by Mike Press
Please read, listen, and share widely. www.theguardian.com/music/2025/n...
‘I never wanted to sing into a vacuum’: Scottish folk pioneer Dick Gaughan’s fight for his lost music
A skilled interpreter and social justice champion, Gaughan is a hero to the likes of Richard Hawley and Billy Bragg. Yet much of his work has been stuck in limbo for decades – until a determined fan s...
www.theguardian.com
November 19, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Please read, listen, and share widely. www.theguardian.com/music/2025/n...
Reposted by Mike Press
What does her look mean to you? Soo Catwoman was “the female face of punk”. She passed away this September. As part of our stories about music in Soho we are writing about her. I’m interested in what her iconic look meant to people, whether they were punks or not. Please share your thoughts. Thanks.
November 19, 2025 at 2:40 PM
What does her look mean to you? Soo Catwoman was “the female face of punk”. She passed away this September. As part of our stories about music in Soho we are writing about her. I’m interested in what her iconic look meant to people, whether they were punks or not. Please share your thoughts. Thanks.
November 19, 2025 at 2:40 PM
What does her look mean to you? Soo Catwoman was “the female face of punk”. She passed away this September. As part of our stories about music in Soho we are writing about her. I’m interested in what her iconic look meant to people, whether they were punks or not. Please share your thoughts. Thanks.
November 19, 2025 at 11:55 AM
What does her look mean to you? Soo Catwoman was “the female face of punk”. She passed away this September. As part of our stories about music in Soho we are writing about her. I’m interested in what her iconic look meant to people, whether they were punks or not. Please share your thoughts. Thanks.
Reposted by Mike Press
Something else that begins the last week of January (now with corrected dates)...
November 18, 2025 at 8:37 PM
Something else that begins the last week of January (now with corrected dates)...
Reposted by Mike Press
The Beatles Anthology is not meant to be a primer or even an encyclopedic final word on the foursome. It’s a vehicle for those who may want insight – from the sources, for better or worse – into events that have shaped and will continue to shape generations to come.
Book Review: The Beatles 'Anthology' 25th Anniversary Edition
Reintroduce yourself to the band you've known for all these years
writehearpopculture.substack.com
November 16, 2025 at 9:33 PM
The Beatles Anthology is not meant to be a primer or even an encyclopedic final word on the foursome. It’s a vehicle for those who may want insight – from the sources, for better or worse – into events that have shaped and will continue to shape generations to come.
Reposted by Mike Press
A seasonal walk around London's most musical neighbourhood.
Santa Claus is Coming to Soho
Made with Tally, the simplest way to create forms.
tally.so
November 9, 2025 at 4:49 PM
A seasonal walk around London's most musical neighbourhood.
Reposted by Mike Press
Buckle up - because this now amounts to a direct and deliberate attack on our country and its cultural sovereignty. Which side our politicians take - Trump's or the BBC's - over the coming days and weeks will speak volumes about their patriotism.
Trump says he will sue BBC for at least $1bn over Panorama edit
The US president confirmed he intends to sue the broadcaster for at least $1bn over the Panorama edit of a 2021 speech.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 15, 2025 at 7:10 AM
Buckle up - because this now amounts to a direct and deliberate attack on our country and its cultural sovereignty. Which side our politicians take - Trump's or the BBC's - over the coming days and weeks will speak volumes about their patriotism.
Reposted by Mike Press
The Bert Jansch Toppermost from @pangurdubh3.bsky.social www.toppermost.co.uk/jansch-bert/
Bert Jansch - Toppermost
Bert Jansch was one of the trinity of great guitarists who emerged from the British folk revival of the 60s. He was also a first-rate songwriter as his classic first self-titled album clearly demonstr...
www.toppermost.co.uk
November 14, 2025 at 8:50 PM
The Bert Jansch Toppermost from @pangurdubh3.bsky.social www.toppermost.co.uk/jansch-bert/
The new album by Squeeze goes back to the future.
‘We had to dumb ourselves down to fit in’: Squeeze’s Glenn Tilbrook and Chris Difford on finally making the first album they wrote as teens
Written in 1974, the Bowie-influenced songs on Trixies are set in a fictional south London nightclub, but were shelved when punk took the band in a new direction. Now, after Squeeze’s 50th anniversary...
www.theguardian.com
November 14, 2025 at 1:53 PM
The new album by Squeeze goes back to the future.
Reposted by Mike Press
I'm doing some walking tours of Seven Dials with @stanfordstravel.bsky.social on Saturday Nov 15.
Come for coffee, cheese, & overpriced street food, stay for overexcited historian, whistle stop tour of the Dials, & sideways look at 1920s and 1930s London.
www.stanfords.co.uk/event-songs-...
Come for coffee, cheese, & overpriced street food, stay for overexcited historian, whistle stop tour of the Dials, & sideways look at 1920s and 1930s London.
www.stanfords.co.uk/event-songs-...
November 12, 2025 at 8:37 PM
I'm doing some walking tours of Seven Dials with @stanfordstravel.bsky.social on Saturday Nov 15.
Come for coffee, cheese, & overpriced street food, stay for overexcited historian, whistle stop tour of the Dials, & sideways look at 1920s and 1930s London.
www.stanfords.co.uk/event-songs-...
Come for coffee, cheese, & overpriced street food, stay for overexcited historian, whistle stop tour of the Dials, & sideways look at 1920s and 1930s London.
www.stanfords.co.uk/event-songs-...
Reposted by Mike Press
Gary Lineker: "This is the mistake the BBC makes. The BBC tries to appease the people that hate the BBC, rather than worrying about the people that love the BBC."
April 22, 2025 at 7:35 AM
Gary Lineker: "This is the mistake the BBC makes. The BBC tries to appease the people that hate the BBC, rather than worrying about the people that love the BBC."
A seasonal walk around London's most musical neighbourhood.
Santa Claus is Coming to Soho
Made with Tally, the simplest way to create forms.
tally.so
November 9, 2025 at 4:49 PM
A seasonal walk around London's most musical neighbourhood.
Reposted by Mike Press
Our guided walk on 13 December will explore how Soho shaped the sound of Christmas. From wassailing to Wham!, the puritans to The Pogues, the streets of Soho tell a story of how Christmas songs have celebrated, offended, satirised and glorified in equal measure. Join us!
Santa Claus is Coming to Soho
Made with Tally, the simplest way to create forms.
tally.so
November 4, 2025 at 3:32 PM
Our guided walk on 13 December will explore how Soho shaped the sound of Christmas. From wassailing to Wham!, the puritans to The Pogues, the streets of Soho tell a story of how Christmas songs have celebrated, offended, satirised and glorified in equal measure. Join us!
Reposted by Mike Press
NEW post:
In 2001, ‘Penguin Eggs’ by Nic Jones was voted into 2nd place "Best Folk Album of all Time" on the Mike Harding show on BBC Radio 2 (just behind Fairport's ‘Liege & Lief’)
@pangurdubh3.bsky.social picks 10 tracks from the albums of #NicJones
www.toppermost.co.uk/jones-nic/
In 2001, ‘Penguin Eggs’ by Nic Jones was voted into 2nd place "Best Folk Album of all Time" on the Mike Harding show on BBC Radio 2 (just behind Fairport's ‘Liege & Lief’)
@pangurdubh3.bsky.social picks 10 tracks from the albums of #NicJones
www.toppermost.co.uk/jones-nic/
November 4, 2025 at 4:59 PM
NEW post:
In 2001, ‘Penguin Eggs’ by Nic Jones was voted into 2nd place "Best Folk Album of all Time" on the Mike Harding show on BBC Radio 2 (just behind Fairport's ‘Liege & Lief’)
@pangurdubh3.bsky.social picks 10 tracks from the albums of #NicJones
www.toppermost.co.uk/jones-nic/
In 2001, ‘Penguin Eggs’ by Nic Jones was voted into 2nd place "Best Folk Album of all Time" on the Mike Harding show on BBC Radio 2 (just behind Fairport's ‘Liege & Lief’)
@pangurdubh3.bsky.social picks 10 tracks from the albums of #NicJones
www.toppermost.co.uk/jones-nic/
Our guided walk on 13 December will explore how Soho shaped the sound of Christmas. From wassailing to Wham!, the puritans to The Pogues, the streets of Soho tell a story of how Christmas songs have celebrated, offended, satirised and glorified in equal measure. Join us!
Santa Claus is Coming to Soho
Made with Tally, the simplest way to create forms.
tally.so
November 4, 2025 at 3:32 PM
Our guided walk on 13 December will explore how Soho shaped the sound of Christmas. From wassailing to Wham!, the puritans to The Pogues, the streets of Soho tell a story of how Christmas songs have celebrated, offended, satirised and glorified in equal measure. Join us!
Reposted by Mike Press
Recents: Sandy Denny, Penny & Sparrow, Marcus Miller, Leo Kottke, Rain Parade, Stray Cats, Billy Mackenzie, Death Cab, East River Pipe
@rusky.bsky.social @paulwonvinyl.bsky.social @marcfagel.bsky.social @dlew919.bsky.social @pangurdubh3.bsky.social @mikepress.bsky.social
www.toppermost.co.uk
@rusky.bsky.social @paulwonvinyl.bsky.social @marcfagel.bsky.social @dlew919.bsky.social @pangurdubh3.bsky.social @mikepress.bsky.social
www.toppermost.co.uk
October 31, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Recents: Sandy Denny, Penny & Sparrow, Marcus Miller, Leo Kottke, Rain Parade, Stray Cats, Billy Mackenzie, Death Cab, East River Pipe
@rusky.bsky.social @paulwonvinyl.bsky.social @marcfagel.bsky.social @dlew919.bsky.social @pangurdubh3.bsky.social @mikepress.bsky.social
www.toppermost.co.uk
@rusky.bsky.social @paulwonvinyl.bsky.social @marcfagel.bsky.social @dlew919.bsky.social @pangurdubh3.bsky.social @mikepress.bsky.social
www.toppermost.co.uk
Reposted by Mike Press
NEW post: "Listen, Listen (from 1972's 'Sandy') - something timeless about its stately rhythm and lyrical restraint, it could just as easily be a 17th-century lament as a 1970s ballad."
@mikepress.bsky.social picks 10 from the ‘solo’ records of #SandyDenny
www.toppermost.co.uk/denny-sandy/
@mikepress.bsky.social picks 10 from the ‘solo’ records of #SandyDenny
www.toppermost.co.uk/denny-sandy/
October 29, 2025 at 9:45 PM
NEW post: "Listen, Listen (from 1972's 'Sandy') - something timeless about its stately rhythm and lyrical restraint, it could just as easily be a 17th-century lament as a 1970s ballad."
@mikepress.bsky.social picks 10 from the ‘solo’ records of #SandyDenny
www.toppermost.co.uk/denny-sandy/
@mikepress.bsky.social picks 10 from the ‘solo’ records of #SandyDenny
www.toppermost.co.uk/denny-sandy/
Reposted by Mike Press
NEW post: "Late November (from 1971’s 'The North Star Grassman and the Ravens') is perhaps her most cinematic song - full of streams, temples and phosphorous sands."
@mikepress.bsky.social picks his 10 best songs from the ‘solo’ records of #SandyDenny
www.toppermost.co.uk/denny-sandy/
@mikepress.bsky.social picks his 10 best songs from the ‘solo’ records of #SandyDenny
www.toppermost.co.uk/denny-sandy/
October 29, 2025 at 7:37 PM
NEW post: "Late November (from 1971’s 'The North Star Grassman and the Ravens') is perhaps her most cinematic song - full of streams, temples and phosphorous sands."
@mikepress.bsky.social picks his 10 best songs from the ‘solo’ records of #SandyDenny
www.toppermost.co.uk/denny-sandy/
@mikepress.bsky.social picks his 10 best songs from the ‘solo’ records of #SandyDenny
www.toppermost.co.uk/denny-sandy/
Reposted by Mike Press
NEW post: Sandy Denny ... "Her voice and vision still resonate: a reminder that the most profound melancholy can also be luminous, alive and simply beautiful."
@mikepress.bsky.social picks 10 from the ‘solo’ records of #SandyDenny (photo Keith 'Keef' MacMillan)
www.toppermost.co.uk/denny-sandy/
@mikepress.bsky.social picks 10 from the ‘solo’ records of #SandyDenny (photo Keith 'Keef' MacMillan)
www.toppermost.co.uk/denny-sandy/
October 29, 2025 at 2:23 PM
NEW post: Sandy Denny ... "Her voice and vision still resonate: a reminder that the most profound melancholy can also be luminous, alive and simply beautiful."
@mikepress.bsky.social picks 10 from the ‘solo’ records of #SandyDenny (photo Keith 'Keef' MacMillan)
www.toppermost.co.uk/denny-sandy/
@mikepress.bsky.social picks 10 from the ‘solo’ records of #SandyDenny (photo Keith 'Keef' MacMillan)
www.toppermost.co.uk/denny-sandy/