busy behind the scenes

we have been back in tge UK almost 4 weeks.

The japan tour is now in tge memoey files.. on the laptop.. engrained in socials.

so we move on.. like the wheel.. this sonic osych ounk sound must keep turning.. standing still gives you cold feet.

so in the last few weeks we have kept moving..

merch restocks.. bandcamp new products.. And most importantly new music.

we have 2 tracks that will firm part of our live sets.. time permitting. “one day” and “Borders”.

There are four more too.. in the tidy up stages.. with a view to a third studio album.. That will beva while off.

we still have “Monkeypunch” to share and further embrace!..  Still a priority this year.. And its packed with mega gig fests support slots.

From This friday in Manchester at The Peerhat to a fest slot at the academy in Manchester at INFest late August.

Autumn is currently been built!!

So.. we are ready to launch 2026.. The new lyrics still started at poems.. And will reflect the current political sh1t5h0w that is present in both the UK and worlwide..

oh.. we are not easing back…

just going to deliver it inna new vibe..

so come join us.. take a peek..

Remember the revolution will not be televised..

its in the basements.. lofts.. side venues of the underground…

Full listing of gigs on Facebook / instagram.. Please take a look..

Been busy

Yep.. no rest!!..

Back in the UK only 10 days…

Been busy behind closed doors!

Writing verse … yes… always..

But its with The Dirt in mind.

With 30+ events scheduled already this year its a good year, not only to spread Monkeypunch album further but to try out new stuff that was dabbled with pre japan trip.

Sachiko geabbed a new (another!) pedal so new textures and sounds in the locker

We have 3 new tracks already getting ramped up.. loving the new sound.
ready to road test live – gather opinions.
They Have names too!

One Day
Borders
PAIN

Theres 3 others in scratch form too.. Going to mess about with them once these first few are tweaked..

Thats almost an album!!!… exciting!..

We will start airing a couple of them from Fri 6th Feb at The Peer Hat Manchester at Abattoir Blues Records night.

Thats in 20 days!

Then at selected events throughout spring…

More exciting times ahead.. weve got a great batch of gigs this spring, a load of great festivals innsummwr and a handful in Autumn already…

For now its announce a couple more soon.. Then knuckle down and get the gig sets ready.

still mostly Monkeyounch – bits of Agitator and where possible new noise!!

So.. going to lock ourselvescaway for another week and get tge sonic psych punk primed to light this years fuse!

in other news .. recently announced the Newcastle.. Stoke , coventry and leeds are imminent!

And i turned 55 at the week.. great numerology posirion too..

will post morw gigs on next post.. all are on Dirt socials.

https://facebook.com/events/s/the-dirt-plus-serfs-and-the-pa/803462112739404/

And just like that

its over.. 7 weeks in japan, it flew by. we split tge trip into 3 parts. Early family time – gig tour – local festive season. Full on diverse cultural immersion. Off the tourist trail places.

Family time chilling post uk gigs on the coast – Namerikawa

Gig tour – The Dirt did 7 gigs. Kanazawa – Kyoto – Nagoya – Kobe – Toyohaahi – Tokyo and Osaka.  Made some great new friends, caught up with old. Even had some uk based folk drop in to watch!

Festive season – new places – Fukui and Kawasaki, and 2 day pit stop back in Namerikawa for new year. Lots of reflection too.

The trip has been nuts. on the move, on the go and etched in the mind. Its as far to say life changing. Learnt alot this trip about myself and whats needs doing.

Its now 6pm UK time, in london having landed last night. straddled between 2 extreme time zones.

Now for a month off – get the houses in order – Home and Head.

A steady year in the Dirt awaits in uk as does bits of Leon creative stuff.

But first – Lock ourselves away – recalibrate and reappear in Feb with some new stuff created that we need to polish and present. And new places we plan to gig at!

First gigs-

Fri 6th Feb – Manchester The Peerhat

Sat 7th Feb – Hull New Adelphi (Budfest)

Fri 13th Feb – Middlesboro (cafe etch)

Sat 28th Feb – Cambridge Portland arms

RIGHT… heres some pics and posters.

off to try gran another hours kip!

all done

Reet. last gigs done.. Monkeypunch put to bed.. for 2025..

Osaka on saturday concluded 7 japan dates. And a mega year as The Dirt as we released second studio album “Monkeypunch” ..

Many cracking fests in the summer, a Spring of trying out live flavours of the new recorded album..

weve had some great reviews – landed on some end of year lists… and netween had some memorable gigs, met some cracking folk.

Thanks to those close to us on this journey.. Family for keeping my head in check.. From me to Sachiko guitarist and wife for been a talent and amazing wife.

The team – Jason shaw producer at Fuzzfacestudios. Neal Simmonds – Album and new Tee logo artist. Steve Reilly for digital finishing of all art.

Ta to every one we crossed paths with promo – sound / stage folk event space/ venue folk. The merch buyers the followers and gig attendees..

everyone played their part in keeping this DIY sonic psychpunk machine going..

we now camp up in Fukui for a week.. home if jaoans dinosaurs.. Fitting for two elder artists navigating the music scene!.

we chill take stock reflect and plot 2026.

lots in the diary already which have been announced or will be soon..

Thanks again everyone.. still Buzzin..

not seen or heard us yet.. come see what the fuzz is about…

As for Leon.. he did a couple of slots tjis year..  maybe 2026 is time to do a bit more.

few recent pics

Last leg.

2 more done – Kobe and Toyohashi.

both different.. both mega.

we landed in Kobe hit 3 days of tourism first. Street life – museums – Himeji castle. Food & craft beer!! Love Kobe, a vibrant city. not too big  but packed with culture and a global vibe.

The Gig – mega!. Makeshift is located one short stop on train out of town under a railway arch. run by a canadian fella. Rustic dive bar with a small cap and venue in loft area. Lots of local underground folk dropped in amongst a sprinkle of western expats.

Bands were mega – Mother (metal) Bibs (punk) loveLove (shoegaze/alt pop) Then… Blonde new Half (psych- punk!).. on our wavelength.. love jonnie the singer. 2nd time watching BNH and play again with them in Osaka.

we will be back!!!.

Next stop Toyohashi. (2 days).. more a mates catch up and matinee vibe gathering.

Plotted by our pal  Mitsugu at local venue bar calked Rin. He played solo loops. Also Bona played who we know. They are bass / Guitar duo make dance music.. theres a live feed on my FB personal page.. nuts!..  Also female solo singer Ako brought a great mix to the event.

I first met Mitsugu in Manchester at Rose snd Monkey 6 years ago. He was doing gigs and i did a Leon set same night. top fella!..

So… We are now in Tokyo.. here for 4 days..

Gig at HK 20000v is on Thursday and we play with more folk we like. Nettanoyoi from Koenji.. who i first watched at a protest march on back of a flatbed lorry chucking out bags of garage psych..

will be a belter!!

We then move onto Osaka…

And play a mega DIY underground venue, run by one of Hibushibire lads. They play, as do Blonde new half again.. And more belters..

we are blessed…

So.. after leaving my passport/bag on a train 2 days ago in Nagoya. i am reunited with bag (as lost) in tokyo.. Its the japanese honest and efficient way..

now for some tourism.. heres a snapshot of the last week.

living on a prayer!

well we are half way there .. in a faahion… almost!.. 3 dates done – Kanazawa – Kyoto and Nagoya.  4 to go!

whats left ? – Kobe (12th) – Toyohashi (13th) – Tokyo (18th) and Osaka (20th).

This week saw us travel to kyoto on Wednesday, hook up with  pal “mistake” from band P.C.2 who played Kanazawa gig! We got shown some cool bars. top fella..  Thursday joined up with Mark Garner – Koenji music.

Friday gig day great to see Aztec overdrive play who we met on last trip. And share a stage with Osaka mega psych heads Hibushibire again. Thanks to KT at Gattaca for sorting.

Top trivia – David Atkin, brother of EMF James Atkin came to watch! last met in Shrewbury, worlds apart. well continents!

Saturday – Gig at Stiff slack records in Nagoya. Sorted by pals Red Flag waltz (met in Toyohashi 2 years ago on Matt McManamon /Leon tour)

Good to see them live and other new folk. Nice to have sachiko friends join us and Mark again.  Good pal Mitsugu who i first met 6 years ago in UK when he toured and i did a leon set joined us too!.

Top Trivia – Koike of electrograve came he makes Fuzz pedals – sachiko has two – Bo Ningen folk use tgem. I use his quad oscillator box!!

So today we kicked back. Tomorrow we Alt tourism.

Then we move onto Kobe…

Lots bubbling in UK.. gigs been announced!.. keep an eye on socials. A busy year awaits as we continue to promote the Monkeypunch!

Right back to Japan. heres some pics.. we gave been putting gig vids on our you tube – thedirt1971

*First gig back in UK is Fri 6th Feb at Peerhat for Abattoir blues records. We will be playing/Trying new stuff!*

up and running

Yep. First gig as The Dirt in Japan ticked off!!.. Buzzin.. The warm up … in Kanazawa (Sachiko old gigging town!).

Thanks to pal Kinya for plotting with band Downes. And venue Guernica.

Was cracking to get stuck in to a thriving underground scene.. meet new folk.. Play with some cracking bands. Downes – Killpianist and P.C.2.. last couple bands are on Insta too…

Guernica – cafe by day, gig venue by night and a record shop.. Run by an Alt / shoegaze fanatic playing VHS vids of uk bands on loop… Top place!!..

This week we go full on..  2 gigs each weekend now for next three.

First up Kyoto at Gattacca (5th) then Nagoya at Stiff Slack (6th)… Bits of tourism in both towns either side.

While here we are  dropping plenty of UK gigs to get stuck into in 2026. Few announces in the last week.. Gig list poster on its way soon!!..

heres a few bits of the weekend and whats coming…

Airport natter

Sat in terminal 4 LHR.

Checked in.

Pint of Brewdog in Hand

Chatting with Sachiko. The box to box midfield general Engine room of what we (The Dirt) Have ahead.

On the way here… Met Stuart Pearce on the Train down. Nice fella Then…  Found out Mani suddenly Died. Ace bloke whever i met him!.

Life is Mega and suddenly wounding.

That why when opportunities come… fkn take em..

We are now chatting our next chapter – 7 Japan dates with some of the best DIY post punk – psych bands we know there.

if not heard, please check out Hibushibire – HalfnewBlonde – Netanoyoi – Schizophram – Bono – Red flag waltz – Aztec overdrive to start with.

Kanazawa – Kyoto – Nagoya – Kobe – Toyohashi – Tokyo and Osaka await!

I will be blogging after each weekend set of gigs.. Freshening up this weird natter indo.. Providing an insight into the Japanese DIY music scene.

we return to UK in 2026.. stacks of gigs events and fests planned…

Loving what is thrown in front of us.

Next chat – Japan!

Done.. Dusted.. Delivered.

So.. weve come down to Earth…
(back in the home rehearsal studio for Japan gigs now). stripped down gear.

Before we spread the japan tour love… would like to reflect on a mad 3 months and thank many folk.

Sister 9 Recordings Ta youve been mega. Thanks for having us with you.

The promoters – venues – event organisers that answered our DIY promo emails and provided us a stage. Trusted us… Thank you!
True gatekekeepers of the alternative.

The gig folk – Ace to see people turn out.
New and old.
Thank you! For joining us.
For supporting our unknown underground uncoventional and somewhat unfashionable and off- trend noise. New friends found all over
Buzzin..

The album and gig reviewers, and photographers who caught the events and brought them to life for others in words and images… Than you.

Ta to the folk who played our music on the wireless!!
And those in the album making.

The merch purchasers… youve been ace!Thank you so much..
You dug deep..
Presale, at gigs and online.. repping on socials too
You kept this DIY machine running… Ta

Lastly.. i (jack) would like to thank my wife Sachiko Wakizaka who IS The Dirt.
The box to box midfield general engine room who keeps this alt sonic psych punk noise alive and who grafted so hard relentlessly.

We now prep for 7 japan dates with a new stage set up.. Then rest…
And return to uk events in February.

Again to all who took part

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

couldnt get to one?.. lots next year!

New tunes in 2026?.. you bet!

As for this year we fly to Japan soon.. do 7 gigs over a few weekends then kick back for the festive season.

next year has new created projects in the pipeline. plenty of gigs booked.

Next few posts will all be Japan music.. an insight into the DIY scene. This will be fun!

Now at a Days inn

The conference centre is a distant memory.. But the gigs not. We had a top time mooching on our last batch of four gigs. Luton was nuts loved it.. And got a mixed and matered copy of our set.. Setmixer is a beltin concept. Top work at Castle live and by VBAH promo..

Pre set even did a music documentary interview. The DIY independent underground scene.. watch the space!!

Defo love a revisit too..

Cov was fun and to meet up with some mates along the way…  Ta GLC promo folk.. We were however clearly a sore thumb in a clean fistful of indie pop…

we then had a few days off in St Ives Cambs. And onto some Tourism in Norwich. I even let Leon out the cage for a local poetry spoken word night!!.. Buzzin..

Norwich gig was beltin last Friday.. Annie at Pica x4 .. ta for the invite… Voodoo daddys is a top gaf.. cool bar.. ace pizza. cracking venue… we will go back.. as performer or punter!!

Family time detour to York.

Then Leeds for 01977 promo.. Alan gathered a line up  and we bounced in the Fox n Newt. Great to hang out with family followers and Friends.

And now.. we sit in the M6 days inn. Barrow tonight for BUMS and tomorrow whanga records host The Dirt in Dunfermline.

we then finish this years monkeypunch tour next week … in Sheffield (5th) and lastly Leek (8th)… No digs needed for them!!

Between the road trips.. we gathered 5 new songs in Demo stages. We plotted spring/summer gigs for 2026.

Weve prepped for Japan trip n gigs.

we have some mega stuff to announce soon..  2026 is bubbling..

on that note.. heres some pics and posters..

Jack & Sachiko