Simon Coates

It's been three years since Jah Shaka left us. Many treasured memories of Shaka dances at The Rocket, The Dub Club, Jackie's and others. Sorely missed.

In the last decade, the media landscape has become unrecognizable. Independent magazines are endangered. But POW has weathered the storm and built a space for analog futurists, digital crate-diggers, and people who love and care deeply about music. We have no illusions about saving music journalism on our own, but with your help we can be part of the solution. Today, we're relaunching POW in its most fully realized form. Please consider a subscription. The letter below explains more. The next episode starts now. powmag.net/p/pow-mag-ente…

Massive Attack and Tom Waits. It's on 👇 tomwaits.ffm.to/bootsonthegrou…

The irony in a ragebait article on a tech site being the most read feature on a rising musician in the last decade. Outraged at bot farms being used to push new bands to the masses? SUPPORT MUSIC JOURNALISM. There are plenty of magazines doing brilliant, honest work.

A Tribe Called Quest sampled Ian Dury and the Blockheads' 1978 UK hit ‘What a Waste’ on their classic 1990 single, ‘Can I Kick It?’

Leaving Jet Star one afternoon, I passed a scruffy Ford Capri with the Cool Ruler sitting alone inside. He looked at me and nodded. Doubt that's in this book, though... caribbeannationalweekly.com/entertainment/…

I interviewed Shariful Islam when I wrote about Dhaka's experimental music scene for The Wire mag. This is his brand new track, and I defy you not to like it. youtube.com/watch?v=B6TSeS…

The death of a genuine superstar and pioneer. RIP Asha Bhosle bbc.com/news/articles/…

The feature documentary about legendary Alabama-born singer and musician Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton hits UK cinemas soon. Trailer here 👇 youtube.com/watch?v=oYVm4g…

Watch it here > bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00…

UCL Associate Professor Dr Clive Chijioke Nwonka will be the Academic-in-Residence for The Music is Black Festival at East Bank. He will curate a series of talks and screenings honouring Black British Music’s impact on film, sport and fashion. ucl.ac.uk/news/2026/mar/…

Kiddus I in the studio recording the 'Graduation In Zion' track in the 1978 film, 'Rockers'. youtube.com/watch?v=UIC562…

Black Sea, Ozuluce - Hiroshi Sugimoto (gelatin silver print, 1991)

no tilting allowed

I used to work in a record shop across the road from here. It's so, so sad to see Dalston getting sliced up and resold to trust fund hipsters at insane prices.

this will not end well...

Spendid afternoon spent in the company of Wild Billy Childish & CTMF at London's premier music venue, The Lexington. Punk rock, rock'n'roll, rockabilly and some (probably libellous) anecdotes. Excellent.

'The Watt From Pedro Show', Mike Watt's podcast, is well worth a listen > podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the…

A planning application for a development adjacent to London's @Moth_Club has been refused following a community-led campaign. ra.co/news/84850

My latest for City AM looks at the story behind the Southbank Centre's Undercroft Skate Park in London, and the forthcoming 'Skate 50' exhibition that celebrates its enduring importance. Have a look here 👇 cityam.com/the-inside-sto…