A free post-punk party and book launch is set to take place at The Ferret to celebrate Preston author Paddy Shennan’s new title, Not JUST About The Fall: 50 adventures in a post-punk paradise.
A former journalist at the Lancashire Post and Liverpool Echo, Paddy has previously released The Talk of Liverpool in 2022, and ghostwrote the 2024 Sunday Times bestseller The Radfords: Making Life Count.
His new book, published by Earth Island Books, pays tribute to the forgotten heroes of the music industry – the fans. Paddy recalls the musical adventures of his adolescence, including gigs by The Clash, Joy Division, The Smiths, Buzzcocks and The Fall, as well as encounters with Bono, Alan McGee and Garry Bushell.
At the launch event, Paddy will be interviewed by Stoko and John from Preston label Crackedankles Records. Former Blank Students frontman Miles Salisbury will play an acoustic set, including songs not performed since 1981.
Preston post-punk legend, fanzine writer and mover and shaker Andrew Hobbs will host alternative bingo with prizes. There will also be a post-punk disco, a merchandise stall selling the book, and Crackedankles Records goodies.
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Looking ahead to the event, Paddy told Blog Preston: “It’s great that the launch will be held at The Ferret – not only because it’s such a special and much-loved music venue, but also because it’s just across the road from where I saw The Fall for the first time, at the old Preston Poly, on 12 November 1979.
“Crackedankles Records is at the beating heart of the city’s music scene, so I’m delighted that this brilliant label is going to be a big part of the day. Miles Salisbury and my great friend Andrew Hobbs are two of my post-punk heroes.
“I was also chuffed when Gordon Gibson, owner of Action Records, told me he wanted to get behind the event by putting posters up in his legendary shop. It should be a fun day!”
The launch for Not JUST The Fall will take place at The Ferret, Fylde Road, from 4pm to 8pm on Sunday 7 December. To find out more, visit The Ferret website.
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