lawkit: issue one available now

From today, you can download or view your own personal copy of the Lawkit from the shiny new (minimalist) website.

It's deliberately published as a PDF. The layout is minimalist but key. This isn't a blog. It's not a cobbled together list of bullet points. Lawkit is centred on the written content, and it is given priority on every page.

I'll be blunt - I'm spectacularly proud of those who contributed effort to the launch issue. Ever since I appealed for contributions a little over a fortnight ago (the lawkit: a call to arms, March 22nd), more than enough people stepped up to the plate, each not really fully knowing what they were getting themselves in to but more than happy to be a part of it.

And what a result. I'm not going to give much away here, but despite having read, re-read and edited all the text content previously, I still sat down for a full read-through this morning and was still gobsmacked. And so, a few thanks to the contributors for Issue One: Andrew Neill, who was first to submit; Jonny Kirk, who produced a piece with exactly the tone we've come to expect from his writing, and on a subject dearly close to his heart which shines throughout; the indefatigable Graeme Smyth, who applied his unique style to great effect (if you know GS, then you will find reading him akin to listening to him pontificating splendidly); and Matt Gamble, who's article was, I'll admit, an easy choice for the front cover - and which, the first time he recounted the anecdote to me, completely blew me away.

And of course, the biggest thanks go to David Lowry, frequently of this parish, for pulling it all together, not to mention hosting the blooming thing. Top notch.

OF COURSE, this is just the start. Now we've done One, we must do Two. And anyone can contribute. See the back couple of pages of the current issue for the necessary information - there's not much to it!

Most of all - please enjoy. This is (hopefully) just the beginning.

nearly there

It's been a busy couple of weeks, mostly spent working on three separate projects, both in and out of work.

First things first: no, the first issue of the Lawkit is not online. (As you can see.) But it will be soon. Very pleased and excited with the way things have progressed; the text and contents are set, just a few graphical tweaks remain.

Another website still under work, but with much more to look at already, is for the Valley of Angels festival in Bangor next month. It's a fairly unique proposition - bringing together a diverse set of musicians and artists for a mixture of either free or very cheap events in some interesting venues... my pick of the events announced so far are the Avalon Guitars factory tour and the Centre Stage event in the Flagship Centre, both of which are free in. There's also an obscenely large prize in the busking competition on the Saturday. It'll be worth keeping an eye for the Knights In The Round gig, which the line-up has not yet been officially unveiled for. (It's a good one, trust me.)

Of course, though it's great to be so heavily involved in something, I am somewhat gutted that the same weekend sees the quiet visit of Kate Rusby to Belfast as part of the Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival. Having never been able to see Kate live, I would probably have sold my granny to have been there anyway. (In fact, I've just spotted the evening gig is sold out already. There's an afternoon one though.) Kate is, quiet rightly, the first lady of folk music, and an unmissable talent.

Finally, there's an election on - and d'workplace has been no exception when it comes to getting involved. We've got on board with Stratagem to ask some of the biggest observers in Northern Ireland for their thoughts on the past and present of the NI Assembly. The first episode is due online tomorrow - watch d'twitter for that one, no doubt.