Grand rising! In this midweek edition I welcome STRANiKi (aka Shane Joy) to dive into his raw, northern-soaked debut album. I spin Faith no More, We Lost the North, Locked Behind the Wheel and King of the 90s, and we get into the craft: heavy riffs with shades of The Cure and Bowie, Ian Brown’s renegade spirit, BMX-era nostalgia, and those recurring themes of time, loops and awakening. It’s more than a record; it’s a lived transmission from violent northern streets laced with hope. Later, nurse and whistleblower Carly Lou joins me to reflect on 2020—residents isolated, ethics tested, and why she spoke out despite the cost. I also trail the Weekend Truth Festival (17–19 July 2026, Wrexham) hosted by Prof. Dolores Cahill and David Adelman, and share ways to support independent artists and events. If you’re new, you can catch us live on FFT Radio and join the conversation next week.'STRANiKi by STRANiKi' (album): https://music.amazon.com/albums/B0GMDMPVZXWeekend Truth Festival (17–19 July 2026, Wrexham): https://weekendtruthfestival.co.uk/FFT Radio – Listen live and schedule: https://fftradio.com/The Cure – Official site: https://www.thecure.com/David Bowie – Official site: https://www.davidbowie.com/Ian Brown – Official site: https://www.ianbrown.co.uk/FAC51 The Hae7ienda – Official site: https://fac51-thehacienda.com/Sanctum Bar, Castleford (venue for May shows): https://www.yorkshire.com/castleford/food-drink/nightclubs/sanctum-barIckonic – Independent streaming platform: https://www.ickonic.com/Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) – About: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/disclosure-and-barring-service/aboutDavid Adelman – The Peoplee28099s Lawyer (UK): https://thepeopleslawyeruk.com/Richard Vobes – Official site: https://vobes.com/BSV Blockchain (Bitcoin SV) – Official site: https://bsvblockchain.org/STRANiKi – single ‘Faith no More (Radio Edit)’: https://music.amazon.com/tracks/B0GMDGSZFK