Sarah L Dixon Writer

A mission on slow-running trains and along roads like rivers

A bus and a train and then a photo with the Children in Need people at Leeds station. Muttley was pleased I knew who he was. I get the impression not many people knew who he was… even though I said ‘the dog from Wacky Races, right?!’ It was an early start. Then a very slow train from Leeds to Taunton (even slower as speed restrictions were in place due to Storm Claudia). The train took 5 hours instead of 4. I met a group of Shiiiners who had been to all but one and we had a bit of a chat on and off.

I met up with Amanda who I knew from the Shiiine Singles Whatsapp group but had not met in real life. A lovely Red Coat, Ollie, came to collect us and we all gabbled on, happily oversharing and knowing each other a lot better by the time we arrived at Butlins. We talked partly because we were trying to ignore the fact there were side roads joining the road we were on which were true rivers themselves.

The wristband experience was much quicker as an artist and I was surprised it was just me at a desk, then done. I checked into the Premier Inn, two of the dresses in my case were soaked through. I quickly checked in and dropped my bags off and then back over to Butlins – it was wild but not too wet by then.

Disorientation and food and fans

Senser

I caught a little Senser on the way across and enjoyed the few songs I heard but to be honest was distracted by the fact I had only had a bagel and a banana all day and was really hungry.

I went to find the food hall and queued in the wrong place twice. I was glad to eat (at last) and then went off to find other Singles group friends for Jesus Jones and we were near the front. A good dance with Julia and Fi.

I was still a bit disorientated as it felt a little like Skegness Butlins but not quite and nothing was in the same place. After a while, especially when wandering around by myself I started clocking the same security staff and they were always friendly, helpful and made me feel safe. I remember saying to someone ‘I don’t have any friends!’ at one point. I didn’t mean that at all, just meant it was just me at that moment…

I love Shiiine and for anyone who saw me over the weekend and thought I was dressed like this because it was Shiiine On. This is how I always dress but as soon as I arrived at Butlins I realised why Christopher Thorpe-Tracey said he couldn’t believe I have never been to Shiiine, I dress like Shiiine all the time!!

Jesus Jones

Ash woke me up!

I was flagging a little with the journey and hadn’t slept well as for two days waking with my head buzzing about the weekend and my set and I still had to wait until the Sunday for that.

The lack of seating was a big difference between Skegness and Minehead. I had been warned but with the storm there was very little seating as most of that was based outside in the rain! I found a space between two sets of steps in the bar and was resting in this space when I heard ‘Sarah L Dixon!’ and I met three men I caught a taxi to the station with in Skegness – I had not met them all weekend and we shared a taxi and I talked them into buying my book in the length of a 20 minute taxi ride! 🙂 They remembered that. They told me I needed to come near the front with them for Ash and I didn’t take much talking into it!

I thought Ash would be good but they were great and that was the best the crowd experience of my weekend. I enjoyed the different Ash fonts on the projectors and the crowd were loving the songs. I also met up with a dozen of the Gig Life Crisis crew in the crowd, hugs, grins, chat.

T-shirt with line up and name/face on screen all weekend

I found a t-shirt with the line-up, including me on it. The whole weekend every time something was brilliant I felt pressure to live up to being on the line-up. A friend on Whatsapp shared a photo of me up on the screen in Centre Stage – on a Tonic Mental Health poster for my chat with Simon Williams from Fierce Panda Records. I had not seen this yet! How strange and wonderful that was!

I am going to apologise now as I recognise lots of people by their face or their energy but I often forget their names, so I will often not give people their names in this account as while I was attending solo, I made more friends while I was there and met people I hadn’t in real life and many from other gigs and circles again.

After Ash I found a seat over by the E bars and a keg ran out when I was pouring a pint and I was about to go home after that and then the woman who was servicing these gave me another pint at no extra cost. I got chatting with a Dave and a David separately and sold them books. I also got chatting with two men whose names I have lost but I remember their faces and the fact they came to my set on the Sunday morning because my enthusiasm won them over. So, even if I win people over two at a time that will do me nicely.

After I finished one of the pints I then went to Inn on The Green where I met up with Amanda, Roger and Nathan and Emily and we had a good dance. I was trying to find my way out and bumped into Danny Bowden and Laura and they were directing me to the Premier Inn and then said they were going back that way and offered me a lift.

Tam Coyle and his manager, Gerard, who were absolute diamonds when I was sitting for meals by myself in the artist section. With no crew that did feel a lonely experience so their reaching out and welcome helped me feel like I belonged in there. Our meals seemed to coincide often.

Saturday starts here!

First Stop Studio 36

Firstly, I went to check out Studio 36 and I let them know I was performing there the next day and just wanted to get an idea of the scale and space. I did just happen to bump into a nervy Rob Newman – he was worried they wouldn’t take to his more recent humour and comedy stuff. He didn’t need to worry, there were about 800 in there at the point I sneaked out to watch some Prowsey.

Kirk Field – Rave New World

Not really knowing much about the rave scene I found this insight interesting and engaging and I bought a book and swapped a book with Kirk at the end of the show. He was annoyed he had missed a poem off that he meant to perform at the end and shared that later on the Shiiine On Appreciation page.

A short while into Kirk’s set James Atkin walked in and gave me a wave and mouthed ‘Hi Sarah!’. He came over at the end of the show and said Hello as we hadn’t met properly before. He said ‘You going to be up there soon! How you feeling about it?’

It was brilliant to have such a friendly welcome in the space I would read the next morning and helped ground me a little that I was also a performer here and this was going to happen. While at the same time being totally surreal to be giving the singer of the band of my first album (Schubert Dip) signed poems I have written about their gig in mid October and him being excited by this fact (15 year old Sarah — how giddy would she have been at that moment? I think she would have frozen and not said a word for the whole day!)

Thankfully, I did not lose the power of speech and was my usual bouncy and enthusiastic self, as I had my interview with Simon at Scoop early afternoon…

Rob Newman set

Prowsey dance

I had let Rob know I would have to leave in the middle of his set for an interview at Tonic. But that wasn’t the exact truth. I wanted to catch some of Ian Prowse and Amsterdam set on my way to Tonic but I couldn’t stay until the end. I am glad I caught the moment where Morgo totally derailed Ian’s story of who came to him in a dream and told him who would be on tour with him. I love that bit and he really builds it up but it is also a great way to thank all the band and keep the crowd on side. My photos are not the best as I didn’t want to get all the way in to have to try to get out again. There was a big crowd in and they were looking at me in confusion that I would be leaving but I had another mission… and I will catch Prowsey, Amsterdam, Miles and Tom Hingley at Prowsey Big Knees Up with Amsterdam 13-piece band at Liverpool O2 Academy on Saturday 6th December. There may still be some tickets available if you are quick here:

Ian Prowse & Amsterdam Tickets, Tour and Concert Dates – www.academymusicgroup.com

See some of you there!

Tonic Music interview at Scoop with Simon Williams

I arrived just in time to catch the end of the chat with Tiny from Ultrasound. I settled in with a shot of whisky for my voice (a hint from a friend). Simon, from Fierce Panda Records, and I had a quick chat and he asked if I has seen the questions he had sent me a couple of hours earlier. Hmmm! No. I had been at a music festival and making the most of it. So, I quickly thought about my answers and he was impressed I had the tracks for my birth, early school, late school, creative fire and death noted within a couple of minutes.

Simon was a natural interviewer and easy to talk to. Our half an hour went by fast. We chatted about the tracks I had chosen and I shared some poems from the book/show and some new ones on the podcast too, including my new EMF/Jesus Jones inspired ones. There were not many audience in but a few friends were there and enjoyed it. I was competing with Miles Hunt who was on at Reds. I will share the link to the podcast when it is out. Clint Boon told me he enjoyed the poems I read. He was taking the next place for interview on the comfy Tonic settee.

Miles Hunt (I caught last few tracks)

I managed to get over to Reds just in time to catch the last song or three by Miles and my first pint of the day. Around 4pm, I think. I had just been too busy to grab one really. I passed one of my Singles crew on the corridor. I recognised his face but couldn’t work out where from and was running from one place to the next. Sorry Goughie! I owe you a pint and a hug soon!

Being fan-girled and fan-boyed

So, it was a little strange over the weekend to be asked for photos and chats by people I hadn’t met before or not in this new guise as a minor celebrity! Someone posted on the Shiiine page that they had seen me but were too scared to say Hello! I said to them they should say Hi! next time they saw me. We met up on the Saturday and had a photo and her boyfriend pointed out later that I was dancing by them (haha!). Very strange to be on the other side of the fan/performer interaction. I am used to it at poetry festivals just because the poetry circles are small and so many of us know each other after 30 years but in the 90s indie circles this is a strange, glorious thing and new to me. One friend, also called Sarah, said they made sure someone who had hurt their hip was okay. When she said her name was Sarah they said ‘Sarah L Dixon!’ Haha! Another friend with the surname Dixon was confused for me a few times! To have mistaken identity stories was amusing too!

Security was trying to clear Reds and he said ‘Who is being fan-girled here, then?’ I met up with Sarah and Jez who are Stuffie crowd friends I made at Rock City back in 2023. It is always good to see them, loaded with grins and hugs and bounce. No crowd dancing with them this time but I am sure we will resolve this soon in a crowd somewhere – maybe Vent 414 and The Stuffies in Manchester!

(We went back to their chalet for a bit on the Sunday though and caught up and got all enthusiastic about bands we had seen over the weekend and ones we would be seeing soon).

The Undertones

I thought I would listen to a song or two by The Undertones but was pulled into the whole set. Great band. Such energy, humour and musical prowess. Loved them! Paul McLoone is a perfect front man too.

If you can (and there are any tickets left) go and see them at Shepherd’s Bush on Saturday 6th December 2025! Frank and Walters are support too. What a great gig that will be. If I wasn’t already with Ian, Miles and Tom and thousands of other people I would have been tempted.

Tickets: The Undertones with special guests The Frank & Walters, London | Sat, 6 Dec 2025, 19:00 | Ticketmaster UK

The Inspiral Carpets

Manchester legends and that is my home town! Great set!

Pacing myself a little

No all-in mosh pit bands for me at this Shiiine this time – they were all either ones I had seen recently or ones I wanted to check out, but didn’t want to take front row for, apart from ones where I was busy being interviewed or on stage.

This meant I got to be in more crowds for bands but further back than usual. I learnt from Skegness Shiiine a couple of flat-out sets and that is me done! (Jesus Jones and Neds & Franks and Jim Bob). So pacing myself means I can see more bands. That said, I did miss the full immersion thing a bit though. It meant I had chance to chat with new friends in The Inn on the Green garden and in a couple of chalets for afternoon recharges. Staying in the Premier Inn I missed not being able to go back for a breather from music and people and just be still for an hour.

The Jesus & Mary Chain

Not a particularly dance in crowd type band but Wow! They knew how to put on a show – music, moves, lights – immense and impressive. Deserved headliners.

Ultrasound

I didn’t catch as much of Ultrasound as I hoped to but enjoyed what I heard and would try to catch them again.

UNKLE (revelation)

So, I didn’t know how to dance to this type of music but we had space to move how we wanted, staying further back. Amanda and I danced for the whole UNKLE two hour set, which I felt was a little excessive when I saw it on the schedule (I was also thinking about the fact I needed to be at Studio 36 for 10am!). Totally loved this time – chill and great graphics on the screens and the light show too.

Danny Bowden DJ set

Danny and I had chatted after he played Gigantic in Bristol in May this year and I had some photos of him and Bez. Danny’s set was varied and assured but the thing I loved about it most was the contrast between his yellow top with two men in white in front of the decks. Also, capturing him and James between sets.

I had to get used to my face or my name flashing up on the screen every 20 minutes or so in Centre Stage. I didn’t see it anywhere else so it kept catching me unaware and reminding me of my alarm clock set for 830!

James Atkin DJ Set

I stayed for about two-thirds of James Atkin’s DJ set. I was planning to leave and spend some time at Steve Lamacq but I knew his space would be packed out and I think all but one of my Shiiine Single friends were at Lammo. It was a chilled out, smaller crowd with space on the floor to dance a bit. I had to make myself leave the music around 3.00 to walk back to the Premier Inn. I was still buzzing as I went to sleep and it was difficult to get a good sleep as I was thinking about the morning. Shiiine On had been so good so far and now it was almost my turn to prove I belonged on the line-up, to earn and own that space…

Sunday and show day

A couple of people in the performers canteen wished me luck with my set as I ate a hasty breakfast. I was pacey and just wanted to get on with performing. I was on around 3 hours’ sleep but not too hungover as I didn’t start drinking until late on and had swapped in waters too.

I turned up at Studio 36 just before 10. The tech person led me up the 7 steps to the stage so I got my first view of the room full of empty chairs. Then I put Lovehearts on the tables and worked out which props I needed on stage with me and lay my encore costume change on a chair just off stage.

They asked me about tech requirements and I asked if they could play the Jim Bob voice tracks (apparently the way we shared this was a little quiet so I need to look into that). I had a headset rather than a mic with wire but the tech person did not explain I could wear it under my clothes. I did ask how I wore it and he said however you like so I put the beige mic belt on over my black and white Jim t-shirt – I am a little annoyed about that but am saying it was a bold fashion choice. They probably didn’t realise how new I was to venues and audiences of this size and I wasn’t about to tell them.

Green room rider of Niknaks, Dr Pepper, ale, extra crisps and chocolate bars.

My show went well

I got 10 minute, 5 minute and then 1 minute warnings and I didn’t want to run away at any point. I was worried I would lose the words or just freeze. Instead, I walked on to the stage and performed 6 1/2 out of 7 memorised pieces without resorting to the book. I am well-chuffed with that considering the lack of sleep and the point of the festival we were all at by then!

I chose to read the two I know less well from the book. I realised about 30 minutes in that I was running a little fast but this meant I could slip in some more poems from the book as a bonus – I remember adding the Jarvis one and I started with the Body as an Ageing Indie Mosh Pit. I cannot remember what other poems I decided to share – I know I shared the one in memory of my friend Steff, but I think that one may have been on the podcast on the Saturday.

Oh wow! To get the audience to chant, cheer, whoop and whistle for encore was a lot of fun with a larger and a music audience rather than a poetry one. They went full on encore racket which was great. I did managed to get my head tangled in the t-shirt and headset and I heard them going quieter and had to stick my head around the corner, tell them I was having a wardrobe issue and they would have to carry on for another few seconds, and then appeared in my, not-so-surprising-by- that-point encore costume!

Thanks to Cathy Louise, Sarah Bant, Amanda Andsell, @loch_narrative for photos. Sorry if I missed anyone out. Will thank you here if I missed you.

‘Loved listening to @90sindiekid this morning at Studio 36’. @loch_narrative

‘Sarah took me right back to being 15 but this time I wasn’t alone. She manages to capture the innocence of youth seen through the lens of adulthood with charm, humour and relatable storytelling.’ Amanda Andsell

More quotes and photos would be welcome by anyone who was there. Thanks.

We fell straight into the quiz after my show, though Ollie (our red coat) came to my Green Room to tell me they had tried to make it but were just too late. He wanted to know how it went and gave me a hug. I set up a book table for the way out from the quiz and got lots of lovely feedback. One of security guards was telling me about how much he enjoyed it and we talked about other poets/poetry. He told me there were 250 in by the end of my set. Pretty happy with that.

If you haven’t got it yet, you can buy my book here:

A Bit Like Falling in Love | Sarah L Dixon

Scoop decompression

I went to sit outside Scoop and listen to DJ sets, feel the cool air and decompress. I was handed a can of cider and felt like I was 15 again. The two men I had met on the Friday and won over, despite the fact they were unsure about poetry both bought my book, took photos with me and told me what they liked about my set.

I went into Scoop and James A was still in there and was really apologetic about missing my set as he had to set up for his DJ set for noon. He wanted to know how it went and we had a good chat about that, he gave me a hug and said he had to leave the festival early.

So, I was beginning to have a post show dip…

I am not used to morning performing and the rider ale and can of cider probably hadn’t helped with the dip of energy. Caught a little of The Soup Dragons who I knew would be ace (saw them at Gigantic in Bristol).

I messaged Sarah and Jez and went over to their chalet for a bit and then back for Sleeper. Sleeper were good but couldn’t pick my energy up was good to catch up with some of my Shiiine Singles group and exchange hugs.

Sleeper

Space

I missed Cast as I needed a sit down outside for a bit and some food. I made sure I was at Centre Stage for Space and they sparked my energy again to keep going to the end of Sunday.

Lots of our Shiiine Singles were running out of energy and we kept missing each other too. I was glad to find Roger and we took a seat at the back for Space.

My Life Story

Then Nathan found us as My Life Story came on. They were another band I knew very little about. Jake owned that final spot and put on a great show. They did well to keep the audience after Space and there was a great crowd considering how late they took to the stage. My new favourite song title has to be ‘If you can’t live without me then why aren’t you dead yet?’

I met Jake afterwards and we were both saying what a diamond Marc Ollington is. My Life Story badge is my newest one now – a good design and I like their logo and will be looking out for more gigs by then soon.

A random photo as we were walking out the door.

I love the fan photos I saw on Facebook and I hope they don’t mind I stole their photos as they had shared them on social media anyway. It is strange to think there are photos of people with me I won’t get to see. (again if you have any you want to share I can add here if you want me to).

Final morning and sad farewell

I was feeling a little broken on the first morning and could see a Shiiine Single group person through the window and just needed a hug. The Butlins staff said I couldn’t go in and needed to go to the performers food area. I said I just needed a hug and they let me through as long as I was quick.

The mist had lifted and the sun was out for our last sad, tired, tearful-eyed farewell. I shared a taxi with Amanda and then met Ian Littlefair (Shiiine Appreciation Society Moderator) on the station platform.

A brilliant weekend and hassle-free journey home. I thought my next gig was going to be on 6th December but I managed to squeeze two more in that I only decided to go to a day in advance (Frank and Walters in Hull and a secret EMF gig in Todmorden). More about those in another blog…

Coming soon…

Frank and Walters Interview on Morecambe Fringe Podcast & Franks gig in Hull

Write up of Prowsey Knees up

Jesus Jones ‘Doubt’ album influence

Tops Tens of 2025

Secret EMF gig in Todmorden (mini account because secret!)

2026 gigs list