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Richard Balls @musicbiographer.bsky.social · 18h

Remembering the late Kirsty MacColl on her birthday. She had the perfect voice for pop and They Don’t Know remains my go to song of hers. Such a tragedy that we lost her so young.

#kirstymaccoll

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Richard Balls @musicbiographer.bsky.social · 4d

Thank you, Nice. You’ve been everything we could have wanted and more. Until
Next time!

#nice #southoffrance #traintravel

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Richard Balls @musicbiographer.bsky.social · 4d

I gave up my season ticket two years ago after 24 years. Not because of results, but the way fans were being taken for granted so badly.

Some people said that meant I wasn’t a fan. But I had got to the point where enough was enough and this past week has not made me rethink. Sad times.

#ncfc

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Richard Balls @musicbiographer.bsky.social · 7d

The only seats at Carrow Road that need moving are Ben Knapper’s and Zoe Webber’s. This is no time for musical chairs.

#ncfc #otbc #norwich

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Reposted by Richard Balls

Birmingham 81 @birmingham81.bsky.social · 8d

Dug out this badge to celebrate Phil Oakey's 70th birthday

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Richard Balls @musicbiographer.bsky.social · 11d

@brightbookfest.bsky.social @beyondbookfest.bsky.social @dinglelit.bsky.social @reelconnections.bsky.social @turnarounduk.bsky.social @roughtrade1976.bsky.social
@latitudefestival.bsky.social

Richard Balls @musicbiographer.bsky.social · 26d

Calling all book and music festivals…

2026 marks the 50th anniversary of punk and I would love to join you to talk about Stiff Records - the label that released the first ever punk record in the UK and which is also 50 next year.

Let me know if you’d like to discuss.

#punk #books

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Richard Balls @musicbiographer.bsky.social · 14d

Looking forward to seeing The Skids again at @waterfrontUEA tonight. For me, they were always a cut above most of the post-punk bands, their records defined by Jobson’s urgent vocals and Adamson’s majestic playing which chimed with their Scottish roots.

#skids #Norwich

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Richard Balls @musicbiographer.bsky.social · 19d

A belter and they still play it live.

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Richard Balls @musicbiographer.bsky.social · 21d

Today’s game feels like it has quite a lot of importance attached to it. We’ve had a decent start to the season with the away results, but that’s not where the perceptions of most supporters are formed. A home win is needed and this is an excellent opportunity to record one.

#ncfc #Norwich #otbc

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Richard Balls @musicbiographer.bsky.social · 25d

Stiff Records landed its first UK number 1 in January 1979 when Ian Dury & The Blockheads climbed to the top spot with Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick.

And with that, one of the industry’s square pegs became a household name.

Buy Be Stiff to read more!
www.amazon.co.uk/Be-Stiff-Rec...

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Richard Balls @musicbiographer.bsky.social · 25d

Absolutely love this! Same year I went to my first ever gig - Madness at the UEA in Norwich, supported by Stiff bandmates The Belle Stars.

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Richard Balls @musicbiographer.bsky.social · 26d

Calling all book and music festivals…

2026 marks the 50th anniversary of punk and I would love to join you to talk about Stiff Records - the label that released the first ever punk record in the UK and which is also 50 next year.

Let me know if you’d like to discuss.

#punk #books

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Richard Balls @musicbiographer.bsky.social · 28d

American fans of The Pogues can buy copies of A Furious Devotion online and via bookstores.

‘A deep dive into the legacy of an Irish icon. Richard Balls served up the most thorough account of the man - and the myth - to date’ - Rolling Stone.

www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-furious-...

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Richard Balls @musicbiographer.bsky.social · Sep 7

Lovely to see this stunning tribute to Shane MacGowan’s The Broad Majestic Shannon unveiled in Nenagh, depicting one of his favourite spots.

Congratulations to Tipperary County Council for commissioning this latest mural by artist Neil O’Dwyer.

#Tipperary #ShaneMacGowan #RiverShannon #ThePogues

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Richard Balls @musicbiographer.bsky.social · Sep 6

If there are any book festivals planning events around the 50th anniversary of punk next year, I would love to join you.

Stiff Records is also 50 in 2026 and released the first ever punk record in the UK.

Let me know if you are interested.

#bookfest #punk #musicbooks

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Reposted by Richard Balls

Birmingham 81 @birmingham81.bsky.social · Sep 1

Happy 70th birthday to Bruce Foxton. Here are The Jam performing David watts on Revolver in 1978

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Richard Balls @musicbiographer.bsky.social · Sep 1

Big shout out to my partner Emma as her positive news channel Folk Features marks its fifth anniversary.

If you want an antidote to the gloom and doom, then give it a follow, and if you want to support by becoming a key partner, get in touch.

folkfeatures.co.uk

#norfolk #suffolk

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Richard Balls @musicbiographer.bsky.social · Aug 30

One of the best ever days of vinyl hunting around Cambridge yesterday and some fantastic new places discovered.

Eight miles walked and a terrific vinyl haul to show for it. Highlights included bagging the @cmatbaby.bsky.social album Euro Country on release day and some cool charity shop finds.

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Richard Balls @musicbiographer.bsky.social · Aug 30

Wreckless Eric’s debut single Whole Wide World was released on Stiff Records in August 1977, an instantly arresting song with a DIY sound that typified the label’s early releases.

Read about this and other certified Stiff classics in this book www.amazon.co.uk/Be-Stiff-Rec...

#books #vinyl

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Richard Balls @musicbiographer.bsky.social · Aug 27

I see Demon is releasing a 9-CD boxset containing all Ian Dury’s studio albums and the posthumously released Ten More Turnips From Tip.

Available for pre-order
iandurymusic.lnk.to/toonutty?fbcli…#ianduryry

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Richard Balls @musicbiographer.bsky.social · Aug 27

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Richard Balls @musicbiographer.bsky.social · Aug 25

Sad to read that the presenter and commentator Gerry Harrison has died.

I was an avid watcher of Match Of The Week on Anglia TV and will always associate him with that era. Back then, any football on TV was treasured and Norwich City coverage even more so.

Thanks for the memories.

#ncfc

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Richard Balls @musicbiographer.bsky.social · Aug 25

Cool compilation from Chiswick Records’ vaults coming soon, including The Damned, Motörhead and 101’ers, courtesy of @acerecords.bsky.social

www.acerecords.co.uk/search?query...

#records #vinyl

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Richard Balls @musicbiographer.bsky.social · Aug 25

Happy 71st birthday to @ElvisCostello. Songwriter supreme and collaborator extraordinaire.

The artist I have seen live and have more records by than any other.

#elviscostello

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Richard Balls @musicbiographer.bsky.social · Aug 25

The record that started it all for Stiff. So raw and immediate - almost 50 years on.