YESTERSONGS

Music and me? We go back a very long time, from an early taste for seventies rock to a quest for classics and rarities, and for me, this prog-loving music space hits just the right sort of sweet spot, featuring songs that don't necessarily get to live forever in endless top 40 rotation, but end up becoming timeless anyway. There was, for example, an intoxicatingly psychedelic medley from Eloy and a truly vintage Pink Floyd clip. Some sixties Rolling Stones. A cover version of I got you, Babe featuring David Bowie and Marianne Faithful. A live video of Paul McCartney and Neil Young jamming together. The truly splendid pretentions of old Genesis (Dancing with the Moonlit Knight) and a 1977 concert clip of the Eagles performing Rocky Mountain Way with Joe Walsh's delicious trademark weirdness taking center stage. The zany energy of Dutch band Focus. Homage to Blues rock, courtesy of John Lee Hooker, Taj Mahal and Stevie Ray Vaughn. Even a post paying tribute to Cape Town crooner Zayn Adam. I must confess to spending way too much time enjoying all the music, and if you share my taste, you will too. 

Members: 28.9k, at the time of writing.

Trigger Warnings: None.

Go here to visit or join.

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Scotland's Turntable

Keep the Dream Flowing - A Podcast About Woodstock 1969

Back To The Beginning - Black Sabbath's Final Concert

Back To The Beginning - Black Sabbath's Final Concert

 

Heavy metal was born out of the industrial working-class neighborhoods of cities like Birmingham and few bands define its gritty identity better than Black Sabbath. Ozzy Osbourne grew up in abject poverty. Tony Iommi had to adapt his playing style to accommodate an industrial accident. Geezer Butler is an avid supporter of local football club Ashton Villa. Together they crafted dark hard-hitting soundscapes that birthed a new musical genre and numerous related sub-genres. Beyond the changes and controversy, their longevity as a band and in solo careers has to be admired. It is no mean feat to weather more than five decades as torchbearers for generations of metal heads. Almost a week ago, they said goodbye in a heart-felt and emotionally resonant final performance - Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne: Back to the Beginning, featuring guest performances from bands such as Anthrax, Mastadon, Pantera and Metallica. The Facebook Group shares the infectious excitement of audience members representing many different countries, but united in their love for this band and their unique legacy. There are memes, memories, and memorabilia (such as Lego edition Ozzy Osbourne). Snapshots and discussion. A mention of the millions raised for charity. 

(Edit: Adding my heartfelt condolences to all who knew and loved Ozzy Osbourne. The news of his passing adds a new dimension of poignancy to the band's last performance. - 23 July 2025)

Members: 157.1k, at the time of writing.

Trigger Warnings: None.

Go here to visit or join. 

Related Posts: 

Scotland's Turntable

Furries in Unusual Places

hippie trail

Update - This group does not seem to be active anymore. 

Scotland's Turntable

 In a bygone era, musical discoverability was an easy thing - if you had money to burn and the ear of an influential program director or two. Some bands and artists ran up the charts with almost supernatural dexterity and a seemingly permanent exemption from the laws of gravity. Others played their hearts out and it was never enough. Today, new platforms have made it both easier and harder to get noticed. Algorithms analyze your choices on platforms like Spotify and YouTube to craft new suggestions. But sometimes good old word of mouth survives in hallowed spaces such as this Facebook group which combines nostalgic vinyl imagery with song suggestions. It's an elegant fusion of past obsessions conquering new horizons. Music varies from the eclectic, mystical pop of Kate Bush, the gritty realism of Tom Waits, hard rocking Led Zeppelin, Blue Oyster Cult and Scorpions, Marillion to the electronic work of Kraftwerk, Gary Numan and Ultravox. As expected, there's a fair amount of eighties Britpop classics and rarities, but there are also new vinyl re-issues and limited editions featured. I loved seeing records in non-standard colors or even picture disks. In a few cases, even the label art was beautiful. And occasionally something truly obscure gets to be aired again.

Members: 34.1k, at the time of writing.

Trigger warnings: None.

Go here to visit or join. 

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Keep the Dream Flowing - A Podcast About Woodstock 1969

Keep the Dream Flowing - A Podcast About Woodstock 1969

The Woodstock Festival that took place from 15-18 August 1969 in Bethel, New York state was a pivotal moment in popular culture that defined an era and the youthful, idealistic spirit that drove it. Although the generation that experienced those heady days are now in their seventies and eighties, the legacy endures. And, although this particular Facebook group has a very modest membership, it makes up for that in the sheer richness and diversity of the content shared, which delves into numerous different aspects of what made the festival awesome. There are posts about Max B Yasgur, the dairy farmer who hosted the event on his property, the opposition he faced from the neighboring community and even the crazy bet he made with event organizer, Mike Lang. There are details about the stage construction. Snapshots and videoclips. Links to articles, essays and oral history retrospectives from attendees. There's even media about lesser known, contemporary events and posts about artists who were invited to perform but had to decline due to prior commitments. Many artist profiles include set-lists and other details of their performances. Today, the site is demarcated by a memorial marker that remembers the magic of those three, music-filled days. 

Members: 1.4k, at the time of writing

Trigger Warnings: None.

Go here to visit or join. 

Related posts:

hippie trail

Acoustic Guitar Players on Facebook

The history of stringed instruments go back as far as 3000 years (if one considers the oldest lyres found in archaeological sites) or perhaps even 5000 years (if one considers depictions of lutes on other artefacts). Today the acoustic guitar can be found in many varieties, brands and styles. As an instrument, it has played a profound role in the development of popular music and, it remains a first choice for many people wanting to learn to play music. Regardless of your skill level, Acoustic Guitar Players on Facebook is a great community for sharing your love of guitars, your recent (guitar-related) purchases, tips on how to increase proficiency, and even your playing - if you feel confident enough. Get inspired. Keep playing.

Members: 112.9k, at the time of writing

Trigger Warnings: Envy?

Go here to visit or join.

Image Credit: Stew22 on Pixabay

Sounds and Shadows

Music is the thread that runs through so many social connections. It divides us into tribal identities and provides the soundtrack to our secret and deeply meaningful nightlife adventures. Whether it's Goth, shoegaze, hauntwave or whatever that provides the soundtrack to your soul, if a certain type of music makes your world go round,  check out Sounds and Shadows. What's great, is that this connects superfans with the musicians and DJs who create the experience. It also offers event promoters, venues, musicians and DJs the opportunity to network. Share your music, new videos, gigs and other upcoming events. Hit potential fans up with streaming links. Ask questions about music or gear. Discuss new releases with fellow fans. Network with interested parties.

Members: 6.2k, at the time of writing. 

Trigger Warnings: None

Go here to visit or join. 

Music Humor

 Music is universal and the appreciation of music transcends boundaries. But it should be remembered that it is also a coded language with its own inherent puns and plays on, well playing. To get some of the jokes it will help if you can read music, but there are cartoons that allude to inside jokes about bands - the uncanny longevity of Keith Richard, for example - or offers play on song names. And then there are sentiments to which only a musician can relate. There's even a meme that speculates on what happens to missing guitar picks. Your appreciation of this Facebook group for musicians will probably be directly proportional to the depth of your musical knowledge.

Members: 434.2k, at time of writing

Trigger Warnings: None.

Go here to visit or join. 

The Best Bands/Artists You've Never Heard Of

Here's another group to check out if you are on an odyssey of musical discovery. There are over 250 bands listed in the information section of the group and plenty more are mentioned in wall posts.Most often only band names are given, but in a few cases, links to youtube videos or myspace pages are shared as well. There are also over 300 images in the gallery. Threads on the discussion board include 'How do you find your bands?', 'The Most Unknown bands of All time', 'SONGS THAT MUST BE LISTENED TO' and 'Band Name Game'.

What's great about this group: Explore new musical territory.

Update (28 October 2023) 

This group does not seem to exist on Facebook anymore. Which is such a pity. 

I listen to music you've never heard of

Go on, admit it - the majority of us join a Facebook Group because one of our cool friends did, or because we liked the sentiments expressed in the name. Then, once we have publically declared an 'interest', we lose interest and move on to the Next Big Thing without any further involvement. That, however, will get you nowhere with today's featured group. They have a rule. Post four unknown bands you listen to, with links or get kicked out. Threads on the discussion board include 'REQUIREMENT FOR NEW MEMBERS (READ', 'Band list suggestions', 'Does anyone actually try the bands other people post?' and 'Where do you get your music?' In my opinion, this group embodies exactly what the cyberculture should be about, the sharing of obscure information and opportunities and I am seriously pleased to give them my humble badge of approval.

What's great about this group: If you're not afraid to be musically adventurous, this group is for you.

A word of caution: Avoid, if your musical preferences is limited to Top 40 stuff.

Update (29 October 2023)

This Facebook group does not seem to exist anymore.