Regular listeners will be aware that I have a lot of time for Sunderland, the city in north east England that I attended university in, and for a time, made my home. I used to be in a band up there. I put on shows. Did a radio show. A fanzine. And I thought I had a good handle on what was going on up there. But then my old friends in the city started telling me about this kid called Tom A. Smith, a musician. Only 18 and he’s played Glastonbury already, supported Sam Fender, and impressed the likes of Tim Burgess and Billy Bragg. I checked him out. I think he’s smashing.

And so on this episode - recorded just before Christmas 2022 - I check in with the most exciting thing going on in the old country. No, not Ross Stewart, Tom!

Oh, if you'd like to donate to the Fight for Faye fund mentioned in the episode - and do dig deep if you can - you can do that here. 

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