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Hard-Fi at Brixton Academy, The BBs, and Ping Pong at The Swan Inn - 15th May 2006

Nosher and The Boy Phil go down to Brixton to see Hard-Fi, but it turns out to be a bit of a job getting there. As we get to Vauxhall station on the Victoria Line, it's announced that service has been suspended to Brixton, and so, with groans from all round, an entire train-load of people stream out of the station and try and all get on the same Number 2 bus, the driver all the while looking nervous in case a riot broke out when it turned out he could only fit another 20 people on. Sticking this out for a while, but quickly giving up, Nosher and The Boy Phil get a taxi for the last few miles to the venue, but at least the cab takes us right to the entrance. Following a somewhat incongrous rap act, the legendary Billy "little bit of politics" Bragg takes to the stage and performs a suitably fierce set. Hard-Fi follow, after what seems like three hours, but don't disappoint the crowd by pretty much playing the entire "Stars of CCTV" album, with a couple of new tracks thrown in for good measure. A major highlight is the appearance of an actual legend in the form of Paul Weller, who plays "A Town Called Malice" with the band and then guests for another number. After the gig, almost everyone seemed to be saying "wow, it was Paul f***** WELLER!!". Later on, The BBs are rehearsing in the Youth Services building, there's a Spitfire flyover and Liam Harvey out of the Harvs is playing at the Cock Inn on Fair Green in Diss.

next album: Henry and Fiona's Wedding Reception, Oakley, Suffolk - 2nd June 2006
previous album: Fun With Bellows: Macro Photography, Brome, Suffolk - 13th May 2006

Billy Bragg does his set under a single spotlight, Hard-Fi at Brixton Academy, The BBs, and Ping Pong at The Swan Inn - 15th May 2006

Billy Bragg does his set under a single spotlight

Hard-fi are about to take to the stage, Hard-Fi at Brixton Academy, The BBs, and Ping Pong at The Swan Inn - 15th May 2006

Hard-fi are about to take to the stage

Hard-fi in action, Hard-Fi at Brixton Academy, The BBs, and Ping Pong at The Swan Inn - 15th May 2006

Hard-fi in action

Close up in orange, Hard-Fi at Brixton Academy, The BBs, and Ping Pong at The Swan Inn - 15th May 2006

Close up in orange

The crowd goes nuts, Hard-Fi at Brixton Academy, The BBs, and Ping Pong at The Swan Inn - 15th May 2006

The crowd goes nuts

More singing, Hard-Fi at Brixton Academy, The BBs, and Ping Pong at The Swan Inn - 15th May 2006

More singing

Paul Weller sings 'A Town Called Malice', Hard-Fi at Brixton Academy, The BBs, and Ping Pong at The Swan Inn - 15th May 2006

Paul Weller sings 'A Town Called Malice'

Paul Weller and Hard-Fi, Hard-Fi at Brixton Academy, The BBs, and Ping Pong at The Swan Inn - 15th May 2006

Paul Weller and Hard-Fi

The finale, Hard-Fi at Brixton Academy, The BBs, and Ping Pong at The Swan Inn - 15th May 2006

The finale

Crap grammar seen at Liverpool Street Station, Hard-Fi at Brixton Academy, The BBs, and Ping Pong at The Swan Inn - 15th May 2006

Crap grammar seen at Liverpool Street Station

Wavy reads out some sort of prepared speech, Hard-Fi at Brixton Academy, The BBs, and Ping Pong at The Swan Inn - 15th May 2006

Wavy reads out some sort of prepared speech

There's a Ping Pong presentation up at The Swan, Hard-Fi at Brixton Academy, The BBs, and Ping Pong at The Swan Inn - 15th May 2006

There's a Ping Pong presentation up at The Swan

Rob and Max in the youth club for a BB's practice, Hard-Fi at Brixton Academy, The BBs, and Ping Pong at The Swan Inn - 15th May 2006

Rob and Max in the youth club for a BB's practice

Jo waits for the band to set up, Hard-Fi at Brixton Academy, The BBs, and Ping Pong at The Swan Inn - 15th May 2006

Jo waits for the band to set up

The BBs set up for rehearsal in the youth club, Hard-Fi at Brixton Academy, The BBs, and Ping Pong at The Swan Inn - 15th May 2006

The BBs set up for rehearsal in the youth club

Nosher's microphone, Hard-Fi at Brixton Academy, The BBs, and Ping Pong at The Swan Inn - 15th May 2006

Nosher's microphone

Rob and Max do some twanging, Hard-Fi at Brixton Academy, The BBs, and Ping Pong at The Swan Inn - 15th May 2006

Rob and Max do some twanging

Henry and Max, Hard-Fi at Brixton Academy, The BBs, and Ping Pong at The Swan Inn - 15th May 2006

Henry and Max

Hollywood's Spitfire flies over the house, Hard-Fi at Brixton Academy, The BBs, and Ping Pong at The Swan Inn - 15th May 2006

Hollywood's Spitfire flies over the house

The Spitfire flies off, Hard-Fi at Brixton Academy, The BBs, and Ping Pong at The Swan Inn - 15th May 2006

The Spitfire flies off

Cat A - Sophie - looks up, Hard-Fi at Brixton Academy, The BBs, and Ping Pong at The Swan Inn - 15th May 2006

Cat A - Sophie - looks up

Sophie in a tree, Hard-Fi at Brixton Academy, The BBs, and Ping Pong at The Swan Inn - 15th May 2006

Sophie in a tree

Liam Harvey's playing down at the Cock Inn, Diss, Hard-Fi at Brixton Academy, The BBs, and Ping Pong at The Swan Inn - 15th May 2006

Liam Harvey's playing down at the Cock Inn, Diss

Liam Harvey, Hard-Fi at Brixton Academy, The BBs, and Ping Pong at The Swan Inn - 15th May 2006

Liam Harvey

Liam and a harmonica, Hard-Fi at Brixton Academy, The BBs, and Ping Pong at The Swan Inn - 15th May 2006

Liam and a harmonica

Singing in the Cock Inn, Hard-Fi at Brixton Academy, The BBs, and Ping Pong at The Swan Inn - 15th May 2006

Singing in the Cock Inn

Nosher creates a cover for the BB's CD, Hard-Fi at Brixton Academy, The BBs, and Ping Pong at The Swan Inn - 15th May 2006

Nosher creates a cover for the BB's CD

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Billy Bragg does his set under a single spotlight

Billy Bragg does his set under a single spotlight

Hard-fi are about to take to the stage

Hard-fi in action

Close up in orange

The crowd goes nuts

More singing

Paul Weller sings 'A Town Called Malice'

Paul Weller and Hard-Fi

The finale

Crap grammar seen at Liverpool Street Station

Wavy reads out some sort of prepared speech

There's a Ping Pong presentation up at The Swan

Rob and Max in the youth club for a BB's practice

Jo waits for the band to set up

The BBs set up for rehearsal in the youth club

Nosher's microphone

Rob and Max do some twanging

Henry and Max

Hollywood's Spitfire flies over the house

The Spitfire flies off

Cat A - Sophie - looks up

Sophie in a tree

Liam Harvey's playing down at the Cock Inn, Diss

Liam Harvey

Liam and a harmonica

Singing in the Cock Inn

Nosher creates a cover for the BB's CD