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Mark Braund

@markbraund.substack.com

480 followers 770 following 1K posts

Politics, Economics, Culture, Music & Wine (DipWSET, no less) Writer of fiction: https://bloomsbury.substack.com and non-fiction: https://markbraund.substack.com https://winestories.substack.com/ https://theguardian.com/profile/markbraund

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Mark Braund @markbraund.substack.com · 4d

New post from me on the struggle to prevent what’s currently happening in the United States being repeated here in Europe.

markbraund.substack.com/p/changing-t...

Changing the Minds that Matter

Is there any point in writing for an audience that already shares your views?

markbraund.substack.com

Mark Braund @markbraund.substack.com · 9h

Fascinating article and a great photo. Look at Botham's hand.

www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/o...

Winter is coming: England’s cricketers fly out for long tour that will decide Ashes and World Cup

Four decades ago Mike Gatting lamented 30-game schedule and while improvements were made, players will be weary of gruelling season ahead

www.theguardian.com

Mark Braund @markbraund.substack.com · 1d

Anyone else stunned by this news? Thought not.

www.bbc.com/news/article...

Nigel Farage 'stunned' ex-Wales Reform leader Nathan Gill took bribes - BBC News

Nathan Gill has admitted taking money for pro-Russian statements as a European Parliament member.

www.bbc.com

Mark Braund @markbraund.substack.com · 1d

This is cool. I was at the ICA gig in 1983 that Jakko mentions. By the time they came on, after midnight, it was my 19th birthday.

www.loudersound.com/bands-artist...

#peterhammill #vdgg

“If you see him live, it’s insane! He’s just ripping his heart out in front of you”: King Crimson’s Jakko Jakszyk on his favourite prog vocalist – also loved by David Bowie, Johnny Rotten and the guy ...

Known for a Marmite voice, personal songwriting and a powerful sense of drama, his influence runs deeper than most people realise

www.loudersound.com

Mark Braund @markbraund.substack.com · 1d

If it makes you feel any better, I was in the loo at the RFH on that night in 2005, when VDGG started playing In The Black Room. Never forgiven myself.

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Mark Braund @markbraund.substack.com · 1d

I won't drink beer at gigs now, for precisely this reason. I find whisky does just as well, especially when listening to PH. Agree re: A Way Out, the highlight both in Manchester and London.

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Mark Braund @markbraund.substack.com · 3d

Too sad for words. His Guardian columns were never less than illuminating.

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

Guardian prison columnist Erwin James drowned in Devon marina, inquest finds

Journalist who wrote column A Life Inside while jailed for murder fell into the sea in January 2024

www.theguardian.com

Mark Braund @markbraund.substack.com · 3d

What will the historians of tomorrow make of this?

Beyond tragic.

www.theguardian.com/world/ng-int...

Young lives cut short on an unimaginable scale: the 18,457 children on Gaza’s list of war dead

Every name on a list compiled by health authorities in Gaza of the child victims of Israel’s offensive

www.theguardian.com

Mark Braund @markbraund.substack.com · 4d

New post from me on the struggle to prevent what’s currently happening in the United States being repeated here in Europe.

markbraund.substack.com/p/changing-t...

Changing the Minds that Matter

Is there any point in writing for an audience that already shares your views?

markbraund.substack.com

Mark Braund @markbraund.substack.com · 6d

That's great. I brought a friend who'd never seen him before, and he was blown away. PH was totally in the zone this week. Let's hope he's got at least a couple more years in him.

Reposted by Mark Braund

David Nice @davidnice.bsky.social · 7d

THIS. HAS. TO. STOP. Starmer and Cooper are just digging their own graves, wasting police resources and taxpayers' money - for what? Repeat: 24 thugs arrested during the mess the other week, 415 at a peaceful protest the week before. Insanity.

Defend Our Juries @defendourjuries.bsky.social · 7d

BREAKING: Over a thousand people gather in Trafalgar Square to oppose genocide and the Palestine Action ban.

Police have already started arresting peaceful protestors under the Terrorism Act for silently holding signs which say "I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action"

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Mark Braund @markbraund.substack.com · 7d

Perhaps one for long-standing committed fans, but this is a fabulous review of Peter Hammill's show at the Royal Festival Hall on Thursday.

I've seen him 50+ times over the last 42 years, and Thursday may well have been the best show ever, though Wednesday night in Manchester runs it close.

ORGAN MAGAZINE @organmagazine.bsky.social · 8d

ORGAN THING: #PeterHammill, Royal Festival Hall, London - And then he was gone again, just that almost fragile white-clad figure, by himself, heading for the stage door, cheers ringing around the building, people just nodding at each other, no one saying much, silence... - wp.me/p2ScbB-w2e

ORGAN THING: Peter Hammill, Royal Festival Hall, London, October 2025 – And then he was gone again, just that almost fragile white-clad figure, by himself, heading for the stage door, cheers ringing a...

Peter Hammill – Royal Festival Hall, London, 2nd October 2025 – Just a man in loose fitting white clothes under minimal purple lighting, one orange spot, sat at a grand piano on an almo…

wp.me

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Mark Braund @markbraund.substack.com · 8d

Kemi Badenoch announces plan to return Britain to the dark ages.

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Kemi Badenoch expected to announce plan to leave ECHR

Move to come if Conservatives win next election and is calculated to head off growing support for Reform UK

www.theguardian.com

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Mark Braund @markbraund.substack.com · 8d

So depressing, but it felt inevitable. Anti-semitism and its manifestation in violence and murder is the barometer of a society's moral health. Britain is currently a very sick patient.

Arieh Kovler @ariehkovler.com · 8d

Some thoughts on on the Manchester synagogue attack:

1. This is the first deadly attack against Jews in the UK in my lifetime. That's a big contrast with the US and France, which have seen numerous fatal antisemitic terrorist attacks in recent decades.

Mark Braund @markbraund.substack.com · 8d

He was even better tonight than he was last night in Manchester.

It was a privilege to be there, both nights.

John Earls @johnearls.bsky.social · 8d

Absolutely stunning solo performance by the incomparable Peter Hammill at @southbankcentre.bsky.social’s Royal Festival Hall tonight. A concert not so much of songs as musical dramas that completely held a rapt and rapturous audience. A terrific ‘Refugees’ encore on piano.

Mark Braund @markbraund.substack.com · 9d

Brilliant, wasn't he?!

Mark Braund @markbraund.substack.com · 9d

Oh, I shall miss Monfils. Can't think of a player I enjoyed watching more.

#tennis

www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis...

Gael Monfils to retire from tennis in 2026

French veteran Gael Monfils announces he will retire from tennis at the end of the 2026 season.

www.bbc.co.uk

Mark Braund @markbraund.substack.com · 9d

Such a great set. Wasn't he brilliant?!

Mark Braund @markbraund.substack.com · 9d

We had The Lie, A Way Out and Afterwards in Manchester tonight. He was brilliant. See you in London.

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Mark Braund @markbraund.substack.com · 9d

Wasn't he just brilliant?

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Mark Braund @markbraund.substack.com · 9d

Thank you @sofasound.bsky.social, for a fabulous evening. See you tomorrow.

Mark Braund @markbraund.substack.com · 9d

Peter Hammill is now 76. Tonight at @rncmlive.bsky.social he sang and played like he was 26.

And he finished with Afterwards, a song, as he said, that he first sang in Manchester back in '68.

Remarkable.

Mark Braund @markbraund.substack.com · 9d

I can't believe that Jane Goodall had died. She's just always been there, doing and saying the right thing.

Hillary Rodham Clinton @hillaryclinton.bsky.social · 9d

For over 60 years, Jane Goodall was a force for research about our precious planet—and climate change action to protect it—while breaking glass ceilings along the way.

I'll so miss her courage and commitment to help expand what we know about our world and preserve it for the generations to come.

Jane Goodall holding a sign that says “Vote for Nature!” in a group shot

Mark Braund @markbraund.substack.com · 9d

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Mark Braund @markbraund.substack.com · 9d

What, and condemn some of their key supporters? No chance.

James O’Brien @mrjamesob.bsky.social · 9d

Watching Panorama’s exposé of racist, misogynistic, lying & violent police officers in London, I’m really hoping that all the Farage fans in my industry will manage to condemn it without qualification. We’ll see…

Mark Braund @markbraund.substack.com · 9d

Wow. On that evidence he can go on for years. He sang The Lie and A Way Out, and finished with Afterwards. Definitely worth the trip.

Mark Braund @markbraund.substack.com · 9d

We're already there really, but to suggest making a virtue of it?!