The Grumpy Cyclist Talks Music

Nik Kershaw… yes, the musician, songwriter, entertainer and all-round nice chap!

I went to see him on his ‘Music & Lyrics’ chat tour at The Tivoli in Wimborne, Dorset — and it was absolutely brilliant.

I even recorded a little conversation with a couple of lovely people who were there, and I share my own thoughts on why I’ve always liked Nik and his music.

Cliff Richard v’s Elvis Presley?

That was the debate Rob brought up — apparently our mums had a full-on rivalry back in the day over who was better! And that little comment is exactly what led into this week’s episode…

I had a brilliant chat with Rob, who genuinely believes (like MANY do!) that 1990/91 was the moment the UK musical landscape changed for the better — the dance explosion, the rise of the Manchester scene, the birth of grunge, and then of course the Britpop era.

Rob looks back on those years of his “youth” with real fondness.

Hearing him talk about seeing his favourite band Oasis in LA earlier this year was fantastic… and listening to him gush about the artists he loves — Radiohead, Michael Jackson, Phil Collins, Paul McCartney, Kylie Minogue (yes, you read that right!) — was a real treat.

A fascinating insight into Rob’s musical journey, full of memories, surprises and proper passion for music.

This episode is Part 2 of me diving into all the brilliant answers you sent in when I asked for your thoughts on CONCERTS — the best, the worst, the loudest, the most unforgettable… all of it!

I thoroughly enjoyed going through every single response and sharing my own grumpy (but lovable!) views along the way.

Have a listen — you might just feel the same 🙏🏻🎧

🎧 Episode 40 is here! (Yes… the 40th one already!!)

This episode’s a little different from the usual format. A while back, I put out a Q&A on social media with ten questions — things like your favourite, loudest, most-seen, worst, and dream concerts.

The responses were brilliant! So in this episode, I’m chatting through your answers — sharing my views, opinions, a few laughs, and even some astonished reactions along the way.

I thoroughly enjoyed recording this one… and I think you’ll have just as much fun listening!

🎙 This week’s episode is with Josh — someone I’d never met before, who kindly reached out wanting to be part of the podcast.

Living ‘up north’, his musical influences are very much Manchester-based — and his love for Oasis still burns bright to this day (to say he’s a fan is putting it mildly!).

We chat about what on earth Cher’s “Believe” has to do with football, and Josh shares a thoughtful take on Lewis Capaldi returning to music and touring after the tough times he’s been through.

A fascinating, honest conversation (recorded over the phone) that could have gone on and on — an absolute joy to record.

Dirty Dicks… Rise to the Occasion!”

Yes, you read that right — that was the name of the mobile disco that first sparked Ian’s love for DJ’ing!

In this episode, Ian returns to share how his DJ journey began: from those early disco days and building the confidence to speak on the mic, to choosing the right tracks to suit the mood and keep the crowd buzzing.

We also chat about his views on cassettes vs CDs, and hear about his eye-opening trip to Gambia, where he discovered and brought home some truly wonderful music.

It’s a brilliant, warm, and musical episode with a very charming and knowledgeable gentleman. One not to miss!

“Dirty Dicks… Rise to the Occasion!”

Yes, you read that right — that was the name of the mobile disco that first sparked Ian’s love for DJ’ing!

In this episode, Ian returns to share how his DJ journey began: from those early disco days and building the confidence to speak on the mic, to choosing the right tracks to suit the mood and keep the crowd buzzing.

We also chat about his views on cassettes vs CDs, and hear about his eye-opening trip to Gambia, where he discovered and brought home some truly wonderful music.

It’s a brilliant, warm, and musical episode with a very charming and knowledgeable gentleman. One not to miss!

This episode features a chat with a regular friend of the podcast — the ever-entertaining Ian!

We dive into his love of dancing and his unforgettable nights out at a nightclub in Oxford during the late seventies. Ian also shares memories of his time in Bournemouth, where he saw The Ramones, Dexys Midnight Runners, and even The Clash performing in an underground car park!

He reminisces about the first Christmas present his wife-to-be ever bought him — a vinyl record, of course — and his bargain-hunting adventures at the legendary record shop Armadillos.

Ian’s passion and knowledge for those original classics — like Tainted Love — really shine through in this conversation.

And who knows… this episode just might plant the seeds for what we chat about in the next one — DJing! 🎧

This episode was the second time Val & Chris joined me to chat about their musical journeys…

One of the most fascinating parts was hearing Chris talk about his hands-on involvement with Judas Priest — incredible stuff!

And then there’s Val, sharing her love of going to live gigs (but definitely not a fan of girl bands like Girls Aloud or Sugababes!).

I’ll admit, I said “why” quite a lot during this episode — but with a couple of glasses of wine flowing, it turned into such a relaxed, fun, and genuinely enjoyable conversation that I just wanted to keep digging deeper! 🍷🎶

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This episode was a real treat… a wonderful chat with Val and Chris, a couple I’ve known for many years. Married for decades, they have such an incredible mix of stories, emotions, history, and knowledge when it comes to music.

The dynamic between them was fantastic—I laughed, I learnt, I was in awe. From their love of Fleetwood Mac and Eric Clapton, to their early days of dancing together at the village hall… the stories just kept coming.

There was so much to talk about that we couldn’t fit it all into one conversation—so yes, we’ll be doing another podcast together!