The Geno Project

It's been 30 years since Dexys Midnight Runners released their riotous first album, 'Searching For The Young Soul Rebels'. It was all brass and shouting, outsider mythology and reefer jackets on loan from On The Waterfront. To mark the occasion, there will be a special night on July 17 at Flapper's in Birmingham.

My understanding is that Kevin Rowland will be there with some of the old crew plus writers like Paolo Hewitt and Belfast's Anthony O'Shaughnessey, who became an accidental cover star after Kev spotted his picture in a newspaper. He'd just been intimidated out of his home, another wretched totem of our city in conflict. Kevin's own family story goes back to Kiltimagh, just like that other famous Culchie, Louis Walsh. And when Kevin's parents saw the album sleeve, they noted with satisfaction that it in was in the Mayo colours.

The night has been partly organised by Gavin Martin, co-founder of Alternative Ulster fanzine and now a mainstay of Talking Musical Revolutions, which aims to put discourse and participation back into the music experience. We're hoping to put together a Belfast wing of TMR quite soon, so keep on searching, soul people.