Common People - Britpop: The Story 3 CD boxset

Can you believe it is 15 years since the phrase Britpop was coined? To celebrate this and all the bands who fell under its banner, Universal is releasing a 3CD boxset titled Common People - Britpop: The Story.

Yes, this is the A-Z of all who things Britpop, which means you get the good, the bad and the plain ugly - yes Space and Dodgy, we're looking at you. Most of the 'name' acts are here, including Pulp, James Suede and Supegrass with two massive omissions - Blur and Oasis. Still, at least we can compensate with more obscure and credible acts like Denim, The Auteurs, Super Furry Animals and Saint Etienne.

Talking of Saint Etienne, Bob Stanley does sleevenotes for each of the 54 tracks in the box, say within a 24-page booklet in the style of a classic Select issue from April 1993. It's out on June 22nd 2009 for a very affordable £11.98. See over for the full tracklisting.

Find out more about the boxset at Amazon.co.uk

Manchester's Hideaway Club does a Roger Eagle tribute

It's 10 years this month since the passing of Roger Eagle, so to commemorate this date, Manchester's Hideaway Club is offering up its own Roger Eagle tribute.

If you didn't know, Roger Eagle, was DJ at Manchester's Twisted Wheel club (at the original home of Brazennose Street '63 - '65) and later at places like Eric's in Liverpool as the punk scene blossomed. This Saturday sees Eagle-inspired sets from both the Hideaway's resident DJs and guests, which include Roger Fairhurst(Eagle's fellow DJ at the Brazennose St club), Barry Tasker and Stan Evans.

It takes place on Saturday 30th May at the Hideaway, which takes place Upstairs at the Deansgate Pub (next door to the Hilton Hotel Beaton Tower), Deansgate, city centre, Manchester. It runs from 9pm until 2am, £4 admission for members, £5 for guests.

Hideaway Club website

Adidas 1970s Greenstar trainers make a return

A classic no-nonsense trainer has been reissued, with the Adidas Greenstar looking every bit as relevant today as it did all those years ago.

The Greenstar was first seen back in 1970 and this terrace classic is described as a  'one-to-one replication' of the original as part of the company's '60 years of Soles and Stripes' range, available in three colours, each with soft suede uppers, contrast detailing and the Greenstar name on the heel.

Yours for £55.

Find out more at the Adidas Shop website

Via Retro To Go

Awaydays - best movie soundtrack of 2009?

Awaydays hits the cinemas today, promising to being wedge haircuts, anoraks and (best of all) the sound of post punk Britain back into the public eye.

If you want to know about the film, check out our earlier write-up here. But we'll concentrate on the soundtrack right now, 28 tracks (including movie dialogue) that pretty much sum up the hip side of music from the late 70s and early 80s, throwing in everyone from name bands like Joy Division, The Cure and Echo and the Bunnymen through to more obscure acts like Cabaret Voltaire, the Mekons and The Rascals.

Want a full tracklisting? Check it out over the turn. If you like what you here, get yourself over to Amazon, which is selling it for a bargain £8.98. Get in!

Find out more about the album at Amazon.co.uk

Saint Etienne announces more Foxbase Alpha shows

The first batch all sold through, went off splendidly and after the gigs 'people danced to the sounds of Numero Uno, Grand Piano,Boca Juniors etc 'til the mornin' light'. Which is all good reason for Saint Etienne to do more Foxbase Alpha shows.

Two more dates have been announced:
15th Oct Manchester Ritz
16th Oct London Shepherds Bush Empire

 - if you want tickets, check with your local purveyor of such things from this weekend.

Saint Etienne website