Bido Lito! Magazine | Issue 116 | August 2021

E D I T O R I A L
This issue of Bido Lito! went off to print in the week we saw the
final lifting of restrictions which have been in place since 23rd
March 2020. It’s a fittingly confusing time to match the out and
out chaos of the previous 15 months. It’s difficult not to be drawn
into reflecting on this time but it’s even more difficult to comprehend how
we are supposed to go about living our lives now.
There are wildly differing schools of thought on this and most of
them are coming from a place of compassion or should be treated with
compassion. We were already divided as a society going into this thing and
long stints of introspection or echo chamber conjecture means a lot of our
thoughts and outlooks are more divergent than ever. However, above the
debates over Covid passports, mask wearing and whether table service is
better than going to the bar, we shouldn’t lose sight of some of the more
constructive dialogue which arose during lockdown.
One of the most heartening things to come out of our enforced
isolation was the near dissipation of stigma surrounding talking about
mental health. It was accepted that lots of people will be struggling due
to the oppressive circumstances and all the uncertainty which came with
them, and we were all encouraged to check in on each other. This shouldn’t
stop now. With our new freedom comes anxiety, for many there’s still lots
of uncertainty and mental health isn’t confined to times of global pandemic.
There was a resurgence of community as people were not just thinking
about getting ahead but getting to know those they shared streets,
interests or other situations with. This is something else to hold on to,
despite perhaps having less time and more on our plates. There’s lots to
be gained from nurturing these connections and relationships and it is
the opposite route to the division and culture wars which we are getting
further engulfed in.
We spoke lots in
these pages about the
importance of the creatives
who helped us through
those harder weeks
and months. Without
the albums, podcasts,
TV shows and books,
the previous year and
a bit would have been
tedious to say the least.
Now we’re able to repay
them by supporting
them through buying
gig tickets, subscribing
to Patreons and making
recommendations to those
neighbours we’re now bezzies with. We should make sure we don’t forget
the artists whose livelihoods have taken such a hit and received such little
support. This also goes for the supermarket workers, nurses, delivery
drivers and other key workers who selflessly helped us through and will
continue to work hard without even pan bashing to keep up morale. Show
your appreciation where you can and don’t forget them in the rush to the
dancefloor.
Talking of appreciation, I want to place on record my thanks to our
departing editor Elliot who has left Bido Lito! in rude health and whose
fingerprints can be seen on this edition. His legacy will be felt on many
issues to come. !
Sam Turner / sam@bidolito.co.uk
Executive Publisher
“Mental health
isn’t confined to
times of global
pandemic”
New Music + Creative Culture | Liverpool
Issue 116 / August 2021
bidolito.co.uk | @bidolito
Second Floor, The Merchant
40-42 Slater Street, Liverpool L1 4BX
Founding Editor
Craig G Pennington
Founding Editor
Christopher Torpey - chris@bidolito.co.uk
Executive Publisher
Sam Turner - sam@bidolito.co.uk
Associate Editor
Matthew Berks - matthew@bidolito.co.uk
Contributing Editor
Elliot Ryder
Live And Partnerships Assistant
El Gray - el@bidolito.co.uk
Editorial Interns
Jeanna Colhoun
Mia O’Hare
Shannon Garner
Design
Mark McKellier - mark@andmark.co.uk
Branding
Thom Isom - hello@thomisom.com
Proofreader
Nathaniel Cramp
Cover Photography
Anthony Wilde
Words
Elliot Ryder, Sam Turner, Matthew Berks, El Gray,
Cath Holland, Lily Blakeney-Edwards, Richard
Lewis, Alannah Williams, Iona Fazer, Mia O’Hare,
Orla Foster, Julia Johnson, Craig G Pennington,
David Roskin, Sanna King, Shannon Garner, Jeanna
Colhoun, Paul Fitzgerald, Luke Furlonger-Copeland,
Samuel Lasley, Georgi Cheers-Aslanian, Clare
Dodd, Bryony Large, Starkey the Messenger,
Jennifer John.
Photography, Illustration and Layout
Mark McKellier, Anthony Wilde, Robin Clewley,
Rosa Brown, Jenn Wilcock, Jen Hollis, Michelle
Roberts, Khalil Musa, Matchbox Productions,
Kim Hiorthøy, Lucy MacLachlan, Brian Roberts,
Alexander Monkhouse, Sane Seven.
Distribution
Our magazine is distributed as far as possible
through pedal power, courtesy of our Bido Bikes. If
you would like to find out more, please email sam@
bidolito.co.uk.
Advertise
If you are interested in adverting in Bido Lito!,
or finding out about how we can work together,
please email sam@bidolito.co.uk.
All contributions to Bido Lito! come from our city’s
amazing creative community. If you would like to
join the fold visit bidolito.co.uk/contribute.
The views expressed in Bido Lito! are those of the respective contributors
and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the magazine, its staff or the
publishers. All rights reserved.
We are contributing one per cent of our advertising
revenue to WeForest.org to fund afforestation
projects around the world. This more than offsets
our carbon footprint and ensures there is less CO2
in the atmosphere as a result of our existence.
EDITORIAL 9