The Shrieking Violet Issue 8 — a public transport special! (And a mini-tribute to Alex Chilton)/ Salford Zine Library

Here is Issue 8 of the Shrieking Violet — a public transport special encompassing trams — Alessandra Mostyn has described and drawn her favourite tram journey, Finglands buses — Dan Russell offers a mini celebration of Finglands buses accompanied by a collage and trains — I visit Manchester's second train station, Victoria.

Now it's spring, daytrip season has officially started, and April Preston visits the classic seaside resort Blackpool, whilst rollercoaster enthusiast Dave Robinson recreates the thrill of 'woodies' (wooden rollercoasters) with a guide to Blackpool Pleasure Beach.

There is creative writing by Michael Cassidy and a recipe for spicy vegan hot cross buns by Rebecca Willmott.

Adam Faulkner offers part 2 of his guide to contemporary French music and Alexx O'Shea reviews a night of electronic music at the Briton's Protection.

The cover is by Sophie Wilson, an illustrator currently based in Telford, who has a charming range of merchandise for sale here.

For optimum enjoyment, this fanzine should be read whilst listening to the song Choo Choo Train by the Box Tops. Their lead singer, Alex Chilton, who had a number one record in 1967 with The Letter* (an astonishing 1 minute 53 seconds of pop perfection, all tooting horn chords, swirling organ and shimmering strings over Chilton's gravelly almost-blues growl) at the age of 16, went on to form the powerpop group Big Star, who were my favourite band throughout my teenage years (I spent my schooldays trying to learn their songs on guitar). Alex Chilton died at the far-too-young age of 59 last month. I was very sad, so I suppose this fanzine is kind of dedicated to him. The B-Side to Choo Choo Train, Fields of Clover, is also one of my favourite ever songs (actually I think it's quite a lot better than the A-side).

*

Issue 8 can be downloaded here in pdf form.

Additionally, paper copies might be left in some of the following places: Good Grief (Afflecks Palace), Koffee Pot, An Outlet, Oxfam Originals, Fred Aldous, Oklahoma, Piccadilly Records, Bread and Butter, Cornerhouse, Manchester Craft Centre, Nexus Arts Cafe, Kings Arms.

To have Issue 8 or any back issues* sent to you in the post (free service), email your name and address to Natalie.Rose.Bradbury@googlemail.com.

*Here is a page which has the download links of all the back issues too.

The Shrieking Violet can be read online here, although the pages are in printing rather than reading order.

Open publication - Free publishing

Issues 1-7 of the Shrieking Violet can also be read in Salford Zine Library, which is in the Engine House at Islington Mill.

The Shrieking Violet Issue 6

Issue 6 of the Shrieking Violet is now finished after a month's break (this hold up was largely caused by my busking article taking ages to write because of a series of mishaps such as getting stranded in Paris, all the buskers disappearing because of the snow, recovering from New Year and my phone breaking)!

As well as my ridiculously long busking article, it features poetry by Richard Barrett, creative writing by Brewster Pius Craven and illustration by Andrew Beswick, Alex Boswell and Fuchsia Macaree. Rachel Cranshaw looks at titles of address for women and Tom Whyman visits a church. It is a kind of music special, with Matthew Britton of The Pigeon Post offering a guide to going to gigs alone. As usual, there are also listings and a recipe, which this month is vegan shortbread by Rebecca Willmott. This month's cover is by Alessandra Mostyn.

A self-assembly pdf of issue 6 can be downloaded here (note for folding - page 2, Fuchsia's illustration, is separate to the rest of the zine and should be printed separately then inserted into the front, whereas all the other pages should be printed double sided then folded into the correct order).

In addition, there will be about 50 paper copies, which might be found in some of these places - Koffee Pot, Piccadilly Records, Vinyl Exchange, Central Library, Oxfam Originals, Cornerhouse, Oklahoma, Manchester Craft Centre, URBIS, Noise cafe, Nexus Art Cafe etc - and, of course, Good Grief, the exciting new zine shop in Afflecks Palace!

Unfortunately, the photocopier printed them a little bit grimy, but never mind!

To request a copy/contribute, email Natalie.Rose.Bradbury@googlemail.com

Open publication - Free publishing - More music

The Shrieking Violet Issue 5

Issue 5 of The Shrieking Violet is now finished! It is a seasonal, Christmas special slightly preoccupied with the changeover of seasons from autumn into winter. It features poetry by Andrew Beswick and Rebecca Willmott, my article on Christmas decorations, a piece on Manchester's shortage of social housing by Adam Faulkner, a short story by Sarah Christie and illustration by Fuchsia Macaree, Karis Upton and Alex Boswell. There is a guide to where to drink warming tea in Manchester by Alessandra Mostyn, a recipe for vegan chocolate cake by Morag Rose and listings (December is absolutely full of fun things to do!). Last but not least, Lauren Velvick has stencilled a beautiful cover.

There are two versions available for download; the usual humongous pdf file that takes a long time, plus a lower resolution pdf with slightly blurry pictures that is a far smaller file.

There will also be copies around various Manchester locations as of around 1.30pm on December 1.

To contribute/tell me what I've got wrong/take advantage of the increasingly popular postal order and back issue service, email Natalie.Rose.Bradbury@googlemail.com

Open publication - Free publishing - More recipes