Mike Press
@mikepress.bsky.social
Writer - about music, about London, often both together. Sometimes about design.
One half of the Walk on the Wild Side project.
https://walkonthewildside.substack.com
We write, take photos and organise walks.
One half of the Walk on the Wild Side project.
https://walkonthewildside.substack.com
We write, take photos and organise walks.
Yes, as soon as I heard that I thought it was certain to swing the by-election.
MP being interviewed on @channel4news.bsky.social talking about how their policies will improve people's "lived experience". Yeah, just throw in a buzzword you don't understand, that'll get the votes.
February 10, 2026 at 9:07 PM
Yes, as soon as I heard that I thought it was certain to swing the by-election.
Reposted by Mike Press
I wrote this song on Saturday, recorded it yesterday and released it to you today in response to the state terror being visited on the city of Minneapolis. It’s dedicated to the people of Minneapolis, our innocent immigrant neighbors and in memory of Alex Pretti and Renee Good.
Stay free
Stay free
Bruce Springsteen - Streets Of Minneapolis (Official Audio)
YouTube video by Bruce Springsteen
youtu.be
January 28, 2026 at 5:02 PM
I wrote this song on Saturday, recorded it yesterday and released it to you today in response to the state terror being visited on the city of Minneapolis. It’s dedicated to the people of Minneapolis, our innocent immigrant neighbors and in memory of Alex Pretti and Renee Good.
Stay free
Stay free
This is rather wonderful
Last year I started a Valentine’s themed series inspired by old vintage, romance comics. I had loads of fun doing them so have drawn a few more and decided to make it an annual thing. I’ll be posting the new ones, as well as some of last year’s, over the next couple of weeks.
January 26, 2026 at 5:56 PM
This is rather wonderful
Reposted by Mike Press
If Starmer were a more effective prime minister he wouldn’t need to worry about Burnham. I’m not sure Burnham would even try to get back to Westminster if current Gov was doing a good job. Starmer allies should try fixing the actual problem rather than playing student politics.
January 25, 2026 at 1:05 PM
If Starmer were a more effective prime minister he wouldn’t need to worry about Burnham. I’m not sure Burnham would even try to get back to Westminster if current Gov was doing a good job. Starmer allies should try fixing the actual problem rather than playing student politics.
Reposted by Mike Press
I see that after a relatively positive week for Starmer on the international stage, he simply couldn’t resist the urge to come home and shoot himself right through the foot. The fucking idiot.
January 25, 2026 at 12:41 PM
I see that after a relatively positive week for Starmer on the international stage, he simply couldn’t resist the urge to come home and shoot himself right through the foot. The fucking idiot.
Reposted by Mike Press
Help us make hope normal again.
Join the Green Party now.
Join the Green Party now.
January 22, 2026 at 7:07 PM
Help us make hope normal again.
Join the Green Party now.
Join the Green Party now.
Reposted by Mike Press
"...a cost-of-living crisis, the resurgence of the far right, and a culture increasingly saturated with algorithmic noise and AI slop. Once again, the values Bowie articulated...feel urgently relevant."
Joyous writing @mikepress.bsky.social
walkonthewildside.substack.com/p/ziggy-play...
Joyous writing @mikepress.bsky.social
walkonthewildside.substack.com/p/ziggy-play...
Ziggy Played Guitar
The history made on Heddon Street
walkonthewildside.substack.com
January 12, 2026 at 1:04 PM
"...a cost-of-living crisis, the resurgence of the far right, and a culture increasingly saturated with algorithmic noise and AI slop. Once again, the values Bowie articulated...feel urgently relevant."
Joyous writing @mikepress.bsky.social
walkonthewildside.substack.com/p/ziggy-play...
Joyous writing @mikepress.bsky.social
walkonthewildside.substack.com/p/ziggy-play...
Reposted by Mike Press
Coming Soon - to the music site with a difference ...
Chet Atkins, Pete Cummins, Bess Atwell, Mazzy Star, Dollar, Vulfpeck, Bothy Band, John Farnham, Peter Case, Joe Pass, Lucy Kaplansky, Living Colour ...
"That's (not) all Folks"
www.toppermost.co.uk
Chet Atkins, Pete Cummins, Bess Atwell, Mazzy Star, Dollar, Vulfpeck, Bothy Band, John Farnham, Peter Case, Joe Pass, Lucy Kaplansky, Living Colour ...
"That's (not) all Folks"
www.toppermost.co.uk
December 21, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Coming Soon - to the music site with a difference ...
Chet Atkins, Pete Cummins, Bess Atwell, Mazzy Star, Dollar, Vulfpeck, Bothy Band, John Farnham, Peter Case, Joe Pass, Lucy Kaplansky, Living Colour ...
"That's (not) all Folks"
www.toppermost.co.uk
Chet Atkins, Pete Cummins, Bess Atwell, Mazzy Star, Dollar, Vulfpeck, Bothy Band, John Farnham, Peter Case, Joe Pass, Lucy Kaplansky, Living Colour ...
"That's (not) all Folks"
www.toppermost.co.uk
Reposted by Mike Press
The Kirsty MacColl Toppermost from @mikepress.bsky.social www.toppermost.co.uk/maccoll-kirs...
Kirsty MacColl - Toppermost
There was a raw honesty and melancholy in both the lyrics and the voice that made 'Kite' utterly unique.
www.toppermost.co.uk
December 18, 2025 at 3:40 PM
The Kirsty MacColl Toppermost from @mikepress.bsky.social www.toppermost.co.uk/maccoll-kirs...
Reposted by Mike Press
This week's Book Choice on the site.
@mikepress.bsky.social reviews “The Story Of The Christmas No.1” - the new book by Marc Burrows
"a joyful, affectionate exploration of a uniquely British cultural institution: the annual scramble for the Christmas chart top spot"
www.toppermost.co.uk
@mikepress.bsky.social reviews “The Story Of The Christmas No.1” - the new book by Marc Burrows
"a joyful, affectionate exploration of a uniquely British cultural institution: the annual scramble for the Christmas chart top spot"
www.toppermost.co.uk
December 17, 2025 at 12:03 PM
This week's Book Choice on the site.
@mikepress.bsky.social reviews “The Story Of The Christmas No.1” - the new book by Marc Burrows
"a joyful, affectionate exploration of a uniquely British cultural institution: the annual scramble for the Christmas chart top spot"
www.toppermost.co.uk
@mikepress.bsky.social reviews “The Story Of The Christmas No.1” - the new book by Marc Burrows
"a joyful, affectionate exploration of a uniquely British cultural institution: the annual scramble for the Christmas chart top spot"
www.toppermost.co.uk
Reposted by Mike Press
For several years @katiedd.bsky.social from @indexoncensorship.org has been covering books bans and librarian censorship, and it's here in the UK
www.indexoncensorship.org/2024/08/bann...
She's going to be at my conference After Section 28 talking censorship
🎟️ www.tickettailor.com/events/after...
www.indexoncensorship.org/2024/08/bann...
She's going to be at my conference After Section 28 talking censorship
🎟️ www.tickettailor.com/events/after...
Banned: school librarians shushed over LGBT+ books - Index on Censorship
A special investigation reveals more than half of UK school librarians surveyed by Index have been asked to remove books from their shelves
www.indexoncensorship.org
December 17, 2025 at 10:04 AM
For several years @katiedd.bsky.social from @indexoncensorship.org has been covering books bans and librarian censorship, and it's here in the UK
www.indexoncensorship.org/2024/08/bann...
She's going to be at my conference After Section 28 talking censorship
🎟️ www.tickettailor.com/events/after...
www.indexoncensorship.org/2024/08/bann...
She's going to be at my conference After Section 28 talking censorship
🎟️ www.tickettailor.com/events/after...
Reposted by Mike Press
That’s why I’m organising:
After Section 28: LGBTQIA+ Rights in an Age of Censorship and Backlash
This rollback isn’t neat or legalistic.
It’s fragmented, networked, and people-driven.
www.tickettailor.com/events/after...
After Section 28: LGBTQIA+ Rights in an Age of Censorship and Backlash
This rollback isn’t neat or legalistic.
It’s fragmented, networked, and people-driven.
www.tickettailor.com/events/after...
December 15, 2025 at 2:13 PM
That’s why I’m organising:
After Section 28: LGBTQIA+ Rights in an Age of Censorship and Backlash
This rollback isn’t neat or legalistic.
It’s fragmented, networked, and people-driven.
www.tickettailor.com/events/after...
After Section 28: LGBTQIA+ Rights in an Age of Censorship and Backlash
This rollback isn’t neat or legalistic.
It’s fragmented, networked, and people-driven.
www.tickettailor.com/events/after...
Should anyone suggest that typography is not political, point them in the direction of this - ideology now trumping accessibility.
Font of ‘wasteful’ diversity: Trump’s state department orders return to Times New Roman
A cable from Marco Rubio reportedly said cutting Calibri from official communication would ‘abolish yet another wasteful DEIA program’
www.theguardian.com
December 10, 2025 at 10:21 AM
Should anyone suggest that typography is not political, point them in the direction of this - ideology now trumping accessibility.
There's a Beatles festival in Ireland at the end of January. Excellent speakers. Very tempting.
Kinsale Beatles Festival 2026 | The Beatles | Mark Lewisohn, Kenneth Womack & Tom Dunne
The Kinsale Beatles Festival is Ireland's biggest Bealtes Festival. Friday 31st Jan to Sunday 1st February 2026. Join the world's most renowned Beatles authors, scholars, historians and musicians in K...
www.kinsalebeatlesfest.com
December 9, 2025 at 6:21 PM
There's a Beatles festival in Ireland at the end of January. Excellent speakers. Very tempting.
Reposted by Mike Press
DESIGNER: “So, what did you have in mind for this … peace prize?”
FIFA: “We were thinking maybe zombies emerging from the soil, grabbing at a Christmas pudding.? Oh, and a cheap nameplate left over from that Maplins fire sale”.
DESIGNER: “Got ya …”
FIFA: “We were thinking maybe zombies emerging from the soil, grabbing at a Christmas pudding.? Oh, and a cheap nameplate left over from that Maplins fire sale”.
DESIGNER: “Got ya …”
December 5, 2025 at 10:15 PM
DESIGNER: “So, what did you have in mind for this … peace prize?”
FIFA: “We were thinking maybe zombies emerging from the soil, grabbing at a Christmas pudding.? Oh, and a cheap nameplate left over from that Maplins fire sale”.
DESIGNER: “Got ya …”
FIFA: “We were thinking maybe zombies emerging from the soil, grabbing at a Christmas pudding.? Oh, and a cheap nameplate left over from that Maplins fire sale”.
DESIGNER: “Got ya …”
We're exploring the meaning of Christmas songs on the streets of Soho - Saturday 13 December.
Santa Claus is Coming to Soho
Made with Tally, the simplest way to create forms.
tally.so
December 5, 2025 at 12:12 PM
We're exploring the meaning of Christmas songs on the streets of Soho - Saturday 13 December.
Reposted by Mike Press
I hope someone draws this wonderful story about Tom Stoppard's Arcadia and the power of the arts to help us see things differently, to the attention of our Education Secretary. Do read it, it will lift your spirits.
December 2, 2025 at 10:59 AM
I hope someone draws this wonderful story about Tom Stoppard's Arcadia and the power of the arts to help us see things differently, to the attention of our Education Secretary. Do read it, it will lift your spirits.
Reposted by Mike Press
Recent post: The Sandy Denny toppermost from @mikepress.bsky.social www.toppermost.co.uk/denny-sandy/
Sandy Denny - Toppermost
Sandy Denny possessed a clear musical vision and pursued it with energy and conviction over a brief but dazzling decade.
www.toppermost.co.uk
December 2, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Recent post: The Sandy Denny toppermost from @mikepress.bsky.social www.toppermost.co.uk/denny-sandy/
Reposted by Mike Press
This cause is close to my heart - please sign: www.megaphone.org.uk/petitions/ch...
Chief Executive and Trustees of National Coal Mining Museum MUST RESIGN NOW!
The National Coal Mining Museum for England, based at Caphouse Colliery in Wakefield, is a national treasure. What makes the Museum so unique and special is that it is not just a Museum of objec...
www.megaphone.org.uk
December 2, 2025 at 5:28 PM
This cause is close to my heart - please sign: www.megaphone.org.uk/petitions/ch...
Our story of a most remarkable woman.
Soo Catwoman: The Woman Who Invented Herself
How a young West London outsider, a Soho lesbian club, and a £2 barber’s cut helped ignite a cultural revolution.
open.substack.com
November 25, 2025 at 8:30 AM
Our story of a most remarkable woman.
Reposted by Mike Press
Who’s up for a two hour walk around Soho where we discover the story of Christmas songs? Our Substack project takes to the streets - a fundraiser for Centrepoint Homeless Charity.
Santa Claus is Coming to Soho
Made with Tally, the simplest way to create forms.
tally.so
November 23, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Who’s up for a two hour walk around Soho where we discover the story of Christmas songs? Our Substack project takes to the streets - a fundraiser for Centrepoint Homeless Charity.
Join us on 13 December for a guided walk through Soho. From wassailing to Wham!, Georgian masked balls to Fairytale of New York, we’ll explore how Soho shaped the xmas soundtrack. Free to join — donations invited for Centrepoint Charity. Wrap up warm & join us for two hours of festive conviviality.
Santa Claus is Coming to Soho
Made with Tally, the simplest way to create forms.
tally.so
November 20, 2025 at 12:17 PM
Join us on 13 December for a guided walk through Soho. From wassailing to Wham!, Georgian masked balls to Fairytale of New York, we’ll explore how Soho shaped the xmas soundtrack. Free to join — donations invited for Centrepoint Charity. Wrap up warm & join us for two hours of festive conviviality.
Reposted by Mike Press
Please read, listen, and share widely. www.theguardian.com/music/2025/n...
‘I never wanted to sing into a vacuum’: Scottish folk pioneer Dick Gaughan’s fight for his lost music
A skilled interpreter and social justice champion, Gaughan is a hero to the likes of Richard Hawley and Billy Bragg. Yet much of his work has been stuck in limbo for decades – until a determined fan s...
www.theguardian.com
November 19, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Please read, listen, and share widely. www.theguardian.com/music/2025/n...