Get your event tickets
Backstory is all about going beyond the book, getting the story behind the story. We’d love to give you a warm Backstory welcome at one of our in-person events soon (I promise you: our wine is worth the northern line).
Free kids signing: Louie Stowell, author of the Loki books
THIS TUESDAY, 20th June, 5pm, Backstory - no need to buy a ticket, just turn up
Bring the kids to meet the author of the brilliant Loki series. We'll be selling copies of all Louie's books, which she will be signing.
Michael Reid - Spain: The Trials and Triumphs of a Modern European Country
THIS WEDNESDAY, 21st June, 7.30pm, Backstory
There are few better guides to Spain than Michael Reid, a former columnist and senior editor who covered the country for decades for The Economist. As we contemplate heading back to Spain for summer holidays, he will talk us through its recent history from the death of Franco to the Catalan referendum.
Alice Vincent - Why Women Grow
Wednesday 28th June, 7.30pm, Backstory
Women have always turned to the earth, as gardeners, growers and custodians. Alice Vincent, a journalist, author, Substacker and publishing staffer, is on a quest to understand why.
Kenan Malik in conversation with Stephen Bush - Not So Black and White
Wednesday 5th July, 7.30pm, Backstory
Writer and lecturer Kenan Malik talks to Stephen Bush, FT columnist and ex-New Statesman newsletter writer, about today's heated debates on race, culture, whiteness and privilege.
Team pick of the week
Tom recommends: This is Europe by Ben Judah
The best non-fiction book I’ve read so far this year. This is a masterfully crafted portrait of Europe, stitched together from dozens of pen sketches of its ordinary citizens, from a man whose job it is to shepherd supertankers into Rotterdam to an Erasmus love story. Gorgeously told, affecting and ever so timely. Strong recommend.
RORY, MY MULTI-TALENTED COMRADE, has an annoyingly good memory. Especially annoying for someone like me, a specialist in the art of spitballing. He will regularly bring up the first conversation we had, over a casual coffee more than a year ago. “You said Backstory was going to do X,” he’ll say. “When are we going to start that?”
But I’m glad for it, really. If it weren’t for him, I’m pretty certain we’d never have had music nights at Backstory. If you’ve enjoyed them so far, you have him to thank a) because of the aforementioned memory for something I randomly dropped into conversation as part of a long list of things I thought we could host and b) because, as a keen musician himself, he was never going to let me forget that particular thing.
They’ve been some of my favourite nights so far. One of the things I’ve always relished on holiday is propping up a bar as a band begins to play. Our Backstory sessions have provided a similar feeling of unwinding, a collective letting-out of breath, but in my own bookshop. They have been all the more joyous for being exactly the opposite of what an old-fashioned bookshop experience might be: raucous not hushed; fun not worthy. Better still, since I am not remotely musical, they have all been organised by Rory. All I have to do is sit at the back and drink. (Cheers, Rory!)
So we thought we’d bring music into the shop a bit more regularly. We’re still going to have ticketed gigs on occasional Saturday nights, some with Sofar sounds, some organised ourselves. But, from July, we’re also going to experiment with free live music every Thursday night, when our bar is open until 9pm (as it is on Fridays, too).
And, as always, we thought we’d ask your help.
Do you know anyone who performs in bars who might be interested in doing the occasional set at Backstory? Are they a singer-songwriter? Perhaps jazz is their thing? Or a more chilled vibe? We’d love to hear from them.
To manage expectations, I should say that we are going to pay properly, so this isn’t an open call for newbies or novelty acts of the farting duck variety. This isn’t Balham’s Got Talent. Nor is it karaoke, much as I’d love to give you all my best Bonnie Tyler.
But if you know someone who fits the bill, please do pass on our form.
And if you’re as musical as I am… looking forward to seeing you in the audience on Thursday nights from July!
In the meantime, thanks so much for all of you who provided your feedback on nibbles and alcohol-free beer recently.
We’re now delighted to serve some dangerously delicious brownies and ginger cookies made by prisoners studying for their NVQs at The Clink Bakery at Brixton Prison. And we have a very refreshing 0.3% booze Beavertown IPA on offer, too, as well as rather more boozy beers, wines and a peachy gin cocktail.
See you soon!
Tom