DJ: Frances Ambler
Illustration: Shutterstock
Our soundtrack to December. Take a listen here.
Or have a look at previous Christmas playlists here, here and here.
DJ: Frances Ambler
Illustration: Anneliese Klos
Playlist | Jewels
Shimmer and shine, glinting and gleaming, our latest playlist celebrates jewels, jewellery and precious metals – you can have a listen here.
It’s taken from our November JEWEL issue, which is on sale from 31 October. Order a copy in the Pics and Ink shop.
Playlist | Night-walking
DJ: Dan Richards
Image: Vanessa Grzywacz
In our October WEAVE issue, Dan Richards takes us along on a night walk through Wigtown. He’s shared a taster of his soundtrack with us: you can take a listen here.
DJ: FRANCES AMBLER
IMAGE: VANESSA GRZYWACZ
Playlist | My patch
Whether it’s your house or your neighbourhood, our latest playlist celebrates your patch. It’s taken from our September PATCH issue (see what we did there?) in shops from 28 August 24.
Take a listen on Spotify here
Have a browse of all our playlists here
DJ: Frances Ambler
Image: Anneliese Klos
Playlist | Feel-good summer
Summer songs to lift the spirits – and a touch of summertime nostalgia – whether the sun is out or not. Take a listen on Spotify here. You’ll find this playlist in our August HAVEN issue, on sale from 24 July.
For more summer playlists, take a look at our Spotify profile, where we’ve got playlists for a barbecue, summer memories, midsummer magic and also for lazing on a sunny afternoon.
IMAGE: Shutterstock
Playlist | Songs for a barbecue
While our unreliable weather means that we don’t have a great culinary tradition of barbecuing, we do have a great tradition of spontaneous barbecuing. It doesn’t matter if it’s just you, or you manage to gather a gang together – when the sun’s out, it’s time to seize the opportunity for some al fresco cooking. And even better if you pop some sunny tunes on too – just like our new ‘songs for a barbecue’ playlist.
You can take a listen on Spotify here. Or have a browse of all our previous playlists here. We compile a playlist for every issue of the magazine.
Playlist | Folk
DJ: Frances Ambler
Image: Shutterstock
Our May issue celebrates the goodness of FOLK in all its forms… including folk music. Have a listen to our latest playlist here.
Or have a browse of all our playlists here. We publish one in each monthly issue.
Happy listening!
Image: istock
DJ: Frances Ambler
Playlist | Whatever the weather
Never let rain stop play. Our latest playlist celebrates all kinds of weather, whether sunshine or showers.
Take a listen on Spotify here.
Image: iStock
DJ: Frances Ambler
Listen | Time after time playlist
Our latest playlist is inspired by the March clock change to British Summer Time. You can take a listen on Spotify here.
The March BRIGHT issue of The Simple Things is available to order from Pics and Ink now.
We publish a playlist in each issue of The Simple Things – you might enjoy our playlist celebrating spring light or our ‘vårdrypp’ playlist, too.
DJ: Frances Ambler; Illustration: Anneliese Klos
Playlist | Tender
Our latest playlist is inspired by our February 24 issue, TENDER. Take a listen here.
You can order a copy of the TENDER issue from our shop Pics and Ink.
We publish a playlist in each issue of The Simple Things – have a browse of them all here.
DJ: Frances Ambler; Illustration: Anneliese Klos
Playlist | Eight days a week
Our latest playlist celebrates the days of the week. Take a listen on Spotify here.
You’ll find it in our January NOOK issue, on sale from 27 December.
For more seasonal listening, you might enjoy our Rest playlist or our Winter songs.
Have a browse of all our playlists here.
Playlist | Christmas favourites
We asked you to share your Christmas favourites and we made them into a playlist. Take a listen here. Find yourself a mince pie, sit back and enjoy.
If you want more Christmas tunes, you can listen to some of our previous playlists here, here and here.
DJ: Frances Ambler
Image: Shutterstock
Playlist | Threads
Our latest playlist celebrates the clothes that we wear. Take a listen here.
After more playlists? Visit our Spotify profile for a browse and find playlists on themes including Harvest and An autumn mood: both lovely for a listen this month.
Our November issue, THREAD, is on sale from 25 October. Visit picsandink.com to order a copy, or pick one up from your local shop.
Playlist | Colours
Embrace a rainbow of colours with our October playlist. Take a listen on Spotify here.
We publish a playlist every month: you can browse through them all here.
Our October issue, SEED, is on sale from 27 October. Visit picsandink.com to order a copy, or pick one up in your local shop.
DJ: Frances Ambler; Illustration: Shutterstock
Playlist | A September ramble
Join us on a ramble this month with our latest playlist. Take a listen on Spotify here
Or have a browse of all our playlists here.
DJ: Frances Ambler
Playlist | Summer memories
Our August playlist sees us take a trip down memory lane. Take a listen on Spotify here.
Have a browse of some of our other playlists, from a bit of midsummer magic to lazing on a sunny afternoon.
Image: Shutterstock; DJ: Frances Ambler
Playlist | Hello & Goodbye
Wave hello to our playlist for our July issue – full of good greetings.
Take a listen on Spotify here.
Have a browse of all our playlists.
Order a copy of July WAVE.
Playlist | The best of the festivals
Image: Shutterstock
In our June LINGER issue we take a look back at the history of the music festival. Pop this playlist on as you have a listen to really immerse yourself in the moment – and take a read of the stories behind our selection below.
Listen to the playlist on Spotify here.
DJ: Julian Owen
The Wailing Boat by Ted Heath
Recorded at the Beaulieu Jazz Festival (1959)
Up Jumped the Devil by The New York City Ramblers
Recorded at the Newport Folk Festival (1961)
It’s All Over Now by The Rolling Stones
Studio version of a song they played at the National Jazz & Blues Festival in 1964
Light my Fire by The Doors
Their first hit, heading up the charts as they played the Fantasy Fair and Magic Mountain Music Festival in 1967
Shake by Otis Redding
Live at Monterey (1967). Has there ever been a better festival set opener? Look up Monterey Pop, filmmaker D. A. Pennebaker’s magisterial overview of the pioneering Californian gathering.
Woodstock by Matthews Southern Comfort
With a respectful nod to the Joni Mitchell original, which isn’t available on Spotify
Oh Happy Day by The Edwin Hawkins Singers
On the same June weekend that Woodstock rocked upstate New York, Stevie Wonder, Mahalia Jackson and Nina Simone headed a stupendous line up of funk, gospel and soul as the Harlem Cultural Festival hit the city – this is a live recording from that event (aka the Summer of Soul) in 1969.
So Long, Marianne by Leonard Cohen
Live at the Isle of Wight in 1970.
54-56 Was my Number by Toots & The Maytals
One of the stars of the 1970 Caribbean Music Festival at Wembley. As featured in Reggae, an evocative look at reggae’s impact on Britain
I’ll Take You There by The Staple Singers
Recorded at Wattstax in 1972 – in 1972, the celebrated Stax label put on a Los Angeles benefit concert to commemorate the Watts riots, showcasing its stellar soul roster.
Kama K’iwacu by The Drummers of Burundi
Recorded at the first WOMAD in 1982
It’s Like That by Run-D.M.C. Vs. Jason Nevins
The old school rappers headlined the first Creamfields in 1998, the year after Jason Nevins’ remixed their 1983 debut single
If It Makes You Happy by Sheryl Crow
Recorded at the notorious Woodstock 99 and thereby drenching the “… it can’t be that bad” payoff in irony
Ziggy Stardust by David Bowie
Recorded at Glastonbury 2000
Photo: Corine Cumming / EBU
Playlist | Eurovision
It’s Eurovision week! Time for camp costumes and ridiculous sets, at-home score cards and barefaced political voting.To get you in the spirit, our resident Eurovision enthusiast Fiona has put together a playlist of some favourites from over the years. You can have a listen on Spotify here, or see the full track listing below. Have we included your favourites?
Remember, some Eurovision songs should only be experienced in all their bizarre staged glory: see Finland’s monstrous 2006 hit, Hard Rock Hallelujah, Ukraine’s fabulous 2007 drag act Verka Serduchka and Moldova’s ‘epic sax guy’ from 2010.
Download at-home score cards here, or just make your own by scoring Song, Performance, Staging and Surprise factor out of 10.
The Eurovision playlist track listing
DJ: Fiona Hamilton
Nel Blu Dipinto Del Blu by Domenico Modugno
Italy, 1958
Boom Bang A Bang by Lulu
UK, 1969: WINNER!
Puppet On A String by Sandie Shaw
UK, 1967: WINNER!
Waterloo by ABBA
Sweden, 1974: WINNER!
Save Your Kisses For Me by Brotherhood of Man
UK, 1976: WINNER!
Making Your Mind Up by Bucks Fizz
UK, 1981: WINNER!
Love Shine A Light by Katrina & The Waves
UK, 1997: WINNER!
Fly on the Wings of Love by The Olsen Brothers
Denmark, 2000: WINNER!
Divine by Sébastian Tellier
France, 2008
Fairytale by Alexander Rybak
Norway, 2009: WINNER!
Amar Pelos Dois by Salvador Sobrai
Portugal, 2017
Sebi by Zala Kralj & Gašper Šantl
Slovenia, 2019
Think About Things by Daði Freyr
Iceland, 2020: Eurovision cancelled due to Covid
Voilá by Barbara Pravi
France, 2021
Set Me Free by Eden Alene
Israel, 2021
Love Is On My Side by The Black Mamba
Portugal, 2021
Stefania by Kalush Orchestra
Ukraine, 2022: WINNER!
I Wrote A Song by Mae Muller
UK, 2023: WINNER?
Image: Shutterstock; DJ: Frances Ambler
Playlist | Kings & Queens
Take a listen to our really royal playlist on Spotify here.
Or browse all our playlists.