The Honky Tonk Demos

Little Palaces

In this episode of The Spider Speaks His Mind - Gary Owen speaks to Ronan MacManus. Ronan is a singer/songwriter from West London who is proud Irish Londoner who has played in venues across the world, including Royal Albert Hall, Glastonbury, Twickenham Stadium, Celtic Park to name a few . His album called Storyteller features tracks from his work with The Bible Code Sundays, Brand New Zeros and his solo work. as well as brand new songs. His father Ross MacManus was one of Birkenhead's finest who was a musician and trumpet player with Joe Loss and his orchestra and a successful singer in his own right who passed on the musical tradition to all five of his sons, the eldest being known around the world as Elvis Costello.  Ronan speaks openly about his own personal experiences, his deep family roots in Merseyside and his plans for the future.He is soon to release the beautiful,  Song for Richenda, on the Not Saints record label; Not Saints is a recovery record label. You can download a free album by visiting https://ronanmacmanus.fans/ [https://ronanmacmanus.fans/] https://www.notsaints.co.uk/ [https://www.notsaints.co.uk/]

The Other Side Of Summer

This episode Gary Owen speaks to Beth Saunders, Community Organiser for Wirral Foodbank.  Amongst other things, Beth gives us an insight into current campaigns such as:  Turning local empty buildings into social housing and the Guarantee our Essentials, which is calling for a stronger social security system that ensures everyone can afford the essentials which includes ensuring Universal Credit is fit for purpose, helping to prevent people from having to use foodbanks and how local MP’s can play vital roles in the campaign.  Beth is a staunch supporter of one of Merseyside’s7 football teams…her favourite colour is red! https://wirral.foodbank.org.uk

Last Boat Leaving

In this episode of The Spider Speaks his Mind Gary Owen speaks to Jack Prince, they discuss his lifestyle choices and his way to recovery, from being the percussionist in The Coral, drumming for The Lightening Seeds and Bill Ryder-Jones, amongst others. Achieving his UEFA A badge and coaching football at RCD Espanyol in Barcelona to returning to the Mersey shores as a crew volunteer with the RNLI.  His first shout recently with The RNLI was part of a dramatic rescue of three swimmers who were caught in difficult conditions in Leasowe Bay that involved several RNLI vessels and a HM Coastguard Helicopter.  The New Brighton and Hoylake crews will have their pagers on over Christmas and New Year and like RNLI crews around the coast of the UK and Ireland, they are ready to leave their celebrations with friends and family to battle the elements and save lives at sea.

Turning the Town Red

Following a serious workplace accident Paul soon realised that things aint what they used to be... Gary speaks to Paul who shares his personal battles with mental health and how he deals with those battles. How one phone call changed his relationship with his dad and the cruelty that Covid-19 bestowed on his family.  Paul is one of Spider Projects' much appreciated volunteers. The podcast aims bring in a range of voices, each with a perspective on the impact of drugs, alcohol and mental health awareness.The conversations do not just raise  awareness they help dispel myths and break down stigma, through conversations of personal journeys.

(I don't want to go to ) Chelsea...reach

In this episode Gary welcomes one of Birkenhead's finest, Hocky - singer with the easy listening beat combo InStaNT AgONy and BITEBACK. Arthur Billingsley (AKA Arturo Bassick) of the Lurkers and 999 amongst others was sitting post gig with another Londoner Gary Cooper (Coops) on the Holloway Road. After chatting for a while Coops told Arthur that he was now living in Birkenhead, to which Arthur replied "dya know Hocky ?" I Apart from talking about good record shops, the Birkenhead Underground Sound and first concerts. We take a quick look over the shoulder to the past and are reminded of a place in time that spawned a movement fueled by frustrations with social and economic conditions... Margaret Thatcher: "There’s No Such Thing as Society" https://www.facebook.com/p/Birkenhead-underground-sound-100063491195202/