Yes they  were a good band-  I bought the CD reissue of the Machine That Cried.   I always liked them but it was a long time before I caught up with them . Couldn't buy a lot of albums back in those days 🙂

I think I stumbled across STD because of the VdG(G) connection.  I've got a couple of their early albums on cassette (really nice copies) and I picked one out (Machine that Cried, I have a feeling JC may have already left by then?) last year and gave it a spin - great stuff.

An original and exciting band. I took a chance on a sale LP and loved the raucous energy of the group. His guitar sound was fabulous. Sad to hear of his passing
 

one of my favourites in the 70's but he was only in a very early incarnation. Saw one particularly stunning gig where they were called back at least seven times. Only ever seen The Pretenders match that.

John Mannion of   String Driven Thing.

Saturday 8th & Monday 10th August...

https://www.picturehouses.com/movie-details/004/HO00018378/grateful-dead-meet-up-at-the-movies-2026?filter=

Come celebrate the 35th anniversary of an iconic Grateful Dead show as it makes a high- energy return to the big screen! On August 8th & 10th, join Dead Heads in your neighborhood - and around the world - for the 2026 Grateful Dead Meet-Up at the Movies. This can’t-miss event features the complete June 17, 1991 concert from Giants Stadium. The performance launches with a shocking "Eyes Of The World," finding the band in peak form from the very first notes. The setlist continues, seamlessly blending beloved classics like "Truckin’" and "Uncle John’s Band" with rarities such as "Saint Of Circumstance," "Might As Well," "New Speedway Boogie," and "China Doll." The major highlight of the night is the continuous teases of “Dark Star” edging its way in and out through the evening at six different points before finally exploding into the full song. The Dead capped off the spectacular night with The Band’s “The Weight,” a perfect song to send the crowd on its way. Considered one of the greatest shows of the band's final decade of performing, 6/17/91 offers a unique auditory experience as one of only two shows captured on 48-track tape. Enjoy a masterful surround sound mix by Jeffrey Norman and multi-camera visuals, featuring a rare cinematic appearance by both Bruce Hornsby and Vince Welnick. As a bonus, this extraordinary screening will also feature an exclusive sneak preview of the legendary “Shakedown Street” from the upcoming Merriweather 6/30/85 release, and a special introduction by Grateful Dead Legacy Manager and Audio archivist, David Lemieux. Join us, won’t you?

Tonight, 9pm 'til 11pm : Scattering The Roots with Dan Ogus...two hours of the finest folk, roots, blues, etc...plenty of etc...

I've rifled through my vaults to bring you some excellent music both new and vintage every Wednesday evening...

This week's show features the following artists :

Kezia Gill, Bonnie Raitt, Blair Dunlop, Nate Currin, Sean Taylor, Boss Caine, Fiona Apple, Fleetwood Mac, Robert Plant, Bob Dylan, Katie Spencer, Pentangle, Heart, Isaac Guillory, The Paper Trains, The Band, Patty Griffin, Paul Simon, Kirsty MacColl, Yes, Elvis Costello, Beatles, Pink Floyd...

Listen tonight, 9pm 'til 11pm on Portsmouth's Express FM, on DAB and online here :

https://www.expressfm.com/programmes/scattering-the-roots/

Sounds grand.  Who were the musicians involved?

Pentangle:  Finale  (Record Store Day 3LP, 2016).

I must only have played  this  a few times but it's very good.  It's from the 2008  anniversary tour  and I was at one of the concerts.    .  RIP John, Bert, Danny,  Terry.

Attended a concert about the 1826 Lancashire Loom Breakers riots when workers turned against the increasing mechanisation of their jobs and rampaged around East Lancashire for a week destroying the new fangled looms.
A mix of narration, song and dance, that was a wonderful afternoon. Of course it all failed. The mill owners hijacked the money coming in to look after the poor to rebuild their mills with even better equipment, but at least the workers tried.
Sadly some died, but many who were sentenced to death had their sentences commuted and were imprisoned for a maximum of 18 months.

See more here :

https://digspag.org.uk/riot-the-story-of-the-east-lancashire-loom-breakers-in-1826/?fbclid=IwY2xjawTLWUxleHRuA2FlbQIxMABzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEejaWW-p7OqJGRseK2OQNWMFwNBPrX6lSpdYJ7KN2XTrlLPxtTqI5FuTRdq98_aem_Eq6oa1TO3T8ZvjFIcyEOCw