Hello again, paper punks. We are half an orbit in, three heatwaves down and only a few suspicious fires under our belt so far, and the July 2026 issue has made it around the city - if you haven't downloaded or found a copy yet, go and see what's still in store:

• Download the July issue now

• Subscribe to get punk post for £3 a month

Another Subculture’s next event: Saturday 25th July

The next gig hosted by yours truly is coming up soon, with an apparent niche forming wherein I host Oakland's nicest rockers in the big smoke once a year or so. It’s a good system! Neutrals have been a Static Shock Records mainstay with their provincial post punk, and they've never done a UK tour until now, so this is a real treat. ‘New Town Dream’ is a record full of memories past, present and imagined futures for anyone who loves a bit of Postcard Records and Hygiene, so come on down.

I’m also thrilled that Marcel Wave are playing their first gig in a while on this night, along with synth punk party rockers Morreadoras and a welcome round from Benny Lager & the Tops, who will include yours truly on rhythm guitar. It’s all happening at New River Studios, Saturday 25th July from 7pm. £12 if you can afford that, £6 if you can’t.

Get tickets on GEL or WeGotTickets. ❗‼️

Getting the excuses in early

I should apologise for neglecting the 'newsletter for the newsletter' for a couple of issues, the summer bringing with it all sorts of PERSONAL EVENTS that have ruffled me and my partner's feathers – let's just say that, oops, it's landlords all the way down and untold horrors and truths are laid bare with a cursory click of Companies House.

We also moved studios, which acted as a miniature reminder that I need to organise both of our zines into something coherent. I’ve got something to do in August! Got a real temptation to finally scan everything in, make an Internet Archive corner for everything A-S related? Need to keep making the new first…

August's issue will continue along consistent lines, but will go to press earlier to ensure that it's ready for a certain Saturday... which means if you have a gig / night / BBQ you want including, submit it as soon as possible!

I’ve been wondering too about the back page over the next few months, and I am once again keen to hear from you - what’s been interesting, are the photos that bad, who do you want me (or you? pitch away!) to chat to?

Of course, you should just make your own zine instead and we can do a trade? Was glad to be featured in this Guardian rundown of ‘hey, the kids are photocopying!’; it’s worth clicking every link and finding a new favourite, and super to see one of mine SELouT given a spotlight too! If you need inspiration, the South London Comic and Zine Fair is happening this weekend down at Stanley Halls (near Norwood Junction on the Windrush line), and has always been a treat (also, a big hand to ARC whose first weekend looks to have gone down a storm last weekend!)

Building, dismantling, carrying on

Speaking of picking your brains! The back of July’s zine features the numbers from my tax return, oops. With apologies to the estate of Chris Burden.

Well, excluding the real job of course but these are the costs of D-I-Y for me and the zine. £14,66 made, £750 lost between September and now comes mostly from the last gig making a loss, coupled with Royal Mail postage prices continuing to take the piss (tempered by my embrace of the philatelists and their bulk listings), but then it is fantastic to have enough support from subscribers as it is.

Not a sob story, more a way to try and get similar tales out of others as this idea of writing down all I know about making our own culture bubbles to the surface. Would a Book Your Own Fuckin’ Life for 2027 be at all useful, is it all really who you DM, how much of that Scritti Politti record guide still holds up? The Los! Compesinos blog has been an inspiration, as have candid conversations on the 101 Part Time Jobs podcast and the entire ouvre of The White Pube, and I continue to dive into self-hosted solutions and noise pedal schematic layouts… so there’s something in this, possibly.

So I will keep on and keep on asking for your thoughts. [email protected] is the email address you need.

Music? Oh, yes. Gorgon Vomit at IKLECTIK: fucking get in. Gimic’s record: a hopeful listen. Most excited to see return: Kelela. Glad to see the return of the Nits too. Molten Slag rock and I should finally catch them in Deptford somewhere. Not music, but you should watch Make That Movie and then watch it again.

That will do. Next email will include August’s listings with plenty of notice - thank you as always for subscribing and reading, however you’re doing it. Try it yourself!