MC Asher Senator @ Merton Arts Space, Wimbledon Library, 20 October, 2016

Libraries do incredible things. Who would expect to be treated to a live reggae MC, after hours, in the reference library? And all for free.

Asher Senator is a man who influenced generations of musicians in reggae, hip-hop, R'n'B. I know he's a big deal, because when I met up with my brother - a DJ and hip-hop and dub fan who's been through the 80s and 90s - his smile said it all when I handed him a signed book! -

Asher's vibrant energy, wit, and warm personality brought the house down. A great sound system backed him as he performed old favourites.

Live performances were interspersed with fantastic old tales from his years working with Smiley Culture. Whilst Smiley Culture is sadly no longer with us, the friendship was relived via all the anecdotes of friendship in youth, starting up in music, and jetsetting. As Asher pointed out, if you were a new MC in 2016, you'd just turn up to the club with your USB stick with your backing track, plug in and go. Back then, Asher and Smiley had to build their own sound systems from scratch, lug their gear around in dodgy old bangers, and got into scrapes.

My favourite story was hearing about the duo's acquaintance with a man who owned a field of the green stuff. Cue a song featuring the lyric: 'Me no wake for 24 hour' !

These days, Asher runs a charity for kids getting into multimedia arts, and it sounds like he's doing a noble job, inspiring future generations, anew.

Asher is a joyous bloke, and it all came through with the songs, readings, and stories. Listen to the songs, buy the book!

Wimbledon book exchange

I smiled when passing the book exchange in the waiting room on platform 5 of Wimbledon train station - a fanzine was placed on the window sill inside! I have been thinking of leaving my mini zines there for a while but every time I pass, I've forgotten and am empty handed. Not so today - today I could leave a lovely handful of the latest mini issue of The All Thrills No Frills Music Bill.

The zine I picked up in return was a railway walkers' enthusiasts magazine - excellent! not what I'd ever usually read so I enjoyed that little peek into this world - of lists of railway bridges, reports on disused railway line walks, and updates on minutiae changes to stations all round the UK. A strange breed of people - but I am the music fan equivalent so I identify, frankly.

I've thought of at least three people I could pass this little magazine onto and no doubt will. It feels good leaving your zine in random places. I finally had my first feedback from a stranger via a comment on here, and it felt good to have that communication, to know that someone gets what I'm doing and enjoys it.