Battle of the Bands and a Battle of the Books: The Jam or The Clash?

Battle of the Bands and a Battle of the Books: The Jam or The Clash?
More than 40 years since two of Britain’s finest bands split up, fans of The Jam and The Clash still cherish the memories. Authors Iain Key (All The Young Punks) and Malcolm Wyatt (Solid Bond In Your Heart) make the case for their respective bands, while Manchester-based indie publisher Richard Houghton (Spenwood Books) will outline why his company commissioned books on both and why the oral history tradition is so relevant to the music of the past.

Come join the debate, state your case, join the fun and hear more about the craft and commissionng of great writing. A must for any music fan and/or aspiring writer!

Copies of both Iain and Malc's books will be available for purcjase and signing as well as a dedicated book stall of other titles brought to us by Spenwood Books.

Richard Houghton lives in Manchester. He's the author of more than 25 books on music and is the Managing Director of Spenwood Books.

Before becoming a publisher, Richard worked in social housing for 40 years.

Iain Key has been a recognisable face on the Manchester Music Scene for many years. He rediscovered his love of writing about music during the pandemic which saw him invited to join the team at Louder Than War. Since late 2020 he’s written over 400 pieces including music, book and gig reviews and also produced a weekly music show, Indie Brunch featuring both new and established acts.

Iain’s love of music began with The Jam and The Clash as a 12 year old in 1982 and over the next couple of years was introduced to the likes of The Smiths, The Housemartins and Billy Bragg. He decribes the latters debut album, Life's a Riot with Spy vs Spy, as lifechanging, sighting the artists unique ability to educate and inform via a mix of pop, politics and love songs the reason he’s has remained a devotee ever since.

Iain has contributed to a number of Spenwood Books including those on Happy Mondays, The Wedding Present and The Jam

Away from Louder Than War Iain has worked in the Telecoms industry for over 25 years, is a lifelong Manchester United fan and shares his home with 3 cats, Storm, Shadow and Thunder and occasionally his son, McKenzi.

Malcolm Wyatt is the author of 2025’s Solid Bond In Your Heart: A People's History of The Jam, his follow-up to 2023’s Wild! Wild! Wild! A People's History of Slade, both for Spenwood Books, having debuted in 2018 with This Day in Music's Guide to The Clash.

A former newspaper journalist, Malc relocated to Redruth with better half, Jayne, in Autumn 2024, living his best life in West Cornwall after three decades juggling work and play in Lancashire. And while geography rules out many Woking FC matches these days, he remains prolific online - nearly four decades after self-publishing the first of his music and football fanzines - not least via regular feature-interviews and reviews at www.writewyattuk.com

A devoted dad of two daughters in their early twenties, he’s also a foster carer, freelance copywriter, editor, proofreader and ghostwriter, in his spare time walking rescue dogs and honing novels for adults and children. Self-employed for 15 years after a similar amount of time as a regional news, sports and features writer, he grew up amid the Sound of the Suburbs in Surrey, the youngest of five children, an early love of The Beatles and Slade leading to a passion for punk, new wave and much more.

Host or Publisher Louder Than Words Festival