The Trial Of Jonah

Justin Robertson has been doing a mini- tour to promote the publication of his second novel, The Trial Of Jonah. He was at Head in Stretford last Thursday doing a reading, a Q&A with Stephen Molynoodles and then a DJ set. The novel tells the story of Jonah Plantaganet, a time travelling demon and cultural vampire, but also of Justin Robertson, a childhood in a small town in the Home Counties, a move to Manchester in the mid- 80s and a life in music and art. In the novel Jonah meets Roman legionaries, saves the life of John Lennon and turns The Beatles onto electronica, hangs out with King John after the Baron's rebellion of 1215- 1217, and zig zags through 20th century counter- culture. In the semi- autobiographical version of Justin's life, Jonah is entranced by the woodland near his childhood home, guided by an older relative into buying dub records, and bedazzled by the Hacienda in the mid- 80s. He also kidnaps Mike Pickering but I'm not sure we ever really got to the bottom of that particular story. I've not read the book yet so I may be mixing up some of the novel and what Justin talked about- but that seemed to be part of the point of it all.

Justin read two sections from the book and during the Q&A talked about everything that went into the writing of it and into Jonah- not least the struggle between originality versus influences and the act of creation as an act of possession. Stephen asked all the right questions and Justin is a relaxed and articulate interviewee, open, reflective and funny. Justin talked about the creation of music and the alchemy that comes from people who don't really know what they're doing but want to make music getting into a studio with machinery and equipment that enable them to do that and then misusing it, the genesis of both punk and acid house. Eventually we get to the phrase, 'it could have been worse', a very British response to things. You can buy The Trial Of Jonah here. 

It's a fun evening, free and local. Justin sets up to begin playing and it's a Temple Of Wonders style set (a monthly radio show he does with a wide ranging musical policy). It's a work night, 11 PM, a lovely June evening, and Justin is playing proggy, folky psyche in a bar in Stretford. 

Back in the early 90s Justin formed Lionrock with Mark Stagg and MC Buzz B and via Mike Pickering they signed to DeConstruction, one of the early/ mid- 90s key UK dance labels, one that put out records by K- Klass, Black Box, Bassheads, M- People and Kylie Minogue. Lionrock's first single was a self titled progressive house thumper with Justin's signature trumpets, a track that was inescapable in Manchester in 1992/ 1993.  

Lionrock (Most Excellent Mix)