COVENTRY Music Museum curator Pete Chambers BEM writes for the Observer.
Best book ever?
Author Rob Ganley’s new book ‘111 Places In Coventry That You Shouldn’t Miss’, is a fascinating tour around the city, highlighting some of the gems that are sometimes obvious but often hidden in plain sight.
Yes, the Coventry Music Museum and The 2-Tone Village both have separate entries, and I’m proud to be named checked in here.
But when I say this is probably the best book I have ever read, I say it from a proud Coventrian’s point-of-view, not from someone who has a vested interest in it.
I like to think I know a lot about Coventry culture, but even I was astounded by some of the facts that were lying within the books sky blue covers.
I asked Rob a few questions about the book and what inspired him to write it.
He said: “I’m a Coventry kid – I was born at the hospital in Walsgrave, grew up in Tile Hill, went to the Woodlands School – and I really wanted to play some small part in the excitement around Coventry’s UK City of Culture status for 2021.
“So, researching and writing the book was a labour of love.”
How much did you have to leave out?
He added: “At least half as many places again as I eventually included.
“I really was spoilt for choice, even though photographer Ian Williams and I produced it during the pandemic late last year.”
111 Places In Coventry You Shouldn’t Miss costs £12.99 and is available online at Hive, Waterstones and Amazon.
The publisher, Emons, is currently in discussion with a number of the places featured in the book, and other retailers too, who are invited to order and stock it.
And the winners are?
I’m proud to be a judge on ‘Coundon’s Hot Talent 21’ and the winners are.
Although without wanting to sound glib, everyone was a winner and as a judge it was really a hard task to decide who deserved to win.
All hail Coventry Arts Collective ie, local legends Neil and Gayle Bradley are involved and have worked tirelessly to make this happen.
Plus, a huge thanks to another local legend Roze Navab and her media and tech skills that made it all work.
Everyone really was amazing, but congratulations to the amazing Lyra Sandu who won over all and the -15 category.
Lydia Rogers won the solo 16+ category and Duke Keets won the group category.
The Wall of Hits
It’s taken many years, but finally the Coventry Music Museum has a new addition to their Wall Of Hits.
Now that half of the rap duo A1 x J1, is 15-year-old Cov rapper A1 who has achieved a number two in the BBC Top 40 charts with the finger-on-the-pulse song ‘Latest Tends’.
This is Coventry music history and something I always get excited about, especially after such a long wait.
This dynamic partnership was formed during lockdown and a sample of the song went viral on Tik Tok and the rest as they say is history.
It’s great to see Coventry finally becoming a base for Rap and Grime.
It’s of course, wonderful for Cov to always be linked with Ska music, but so refreshing to see fresh blood help shape the current Coventry music scene with its on-trend sounds as we emerge as a new young city.
