This months cover star is Marizanne Kapp, a South African cricketer who really impressed during the first ever final of the women’s Hundred tournament this month. I thought it was a top drawer sporting spectacle really, no matter what all the Cricket purists might have to say. Kapp drove the Oval Invicibles to victory with a devastating opening bowling display, an especially notable achievement in a Cricket format that tends to be driven by the aggressive power hitting of the batters. The thing that kept me glued to the action was the intensity of Kapp, she was just so fired up and in the zone, so much in fact that even when she gained the upper hand by taking wickets she could not let a smile emerge, the only emotions cracking the surface were determination and a burning desire for victory. Even when the game was won it was clear she’d pushed herself so far into the cause that she could not wind down and celebrate like her team mates, she seemed wholly drained. A magnetically gripping effort in top flight sport and exactly what the Hundred needed in it’s debut year, personally I hope it sticks around.

Musically the big news this month has been the death of Charlie Watts. His passing followed shortly after he’d announced his non-participation in forthcoming Rolling Stones shows due to a medical issue, stating typically drolly that “for one my timing was off”. I kind of hope the Stones don’t continue without him, if ever there was a band that just wouldn’t be the same without the original drummer it is surely them? I listened to a lot of the bands big hits when the news of his passing broke and what strikes you is what an incredible back bone he really was. The beating heart of Rock ‘n’ Roll indeed. And if that news wasn’t bad enough, the beating heart of Dub has left the stage in the past few days, with news of the death of Lee Scratch Perry also being announced.

Still, let’s be glad that incredible new music talent continues to arrive and there’s plenty of fresh juice to enjoy in this months playlist too. By the time I write the notes for Octobers playlist I may have even been to my first gigs in 18 months. I intend to step up the content on the Fruit Tree Records blob from here on in. I launched it not exactly sure what I was going to focus on beyond my journey in music discovery and enjoyment, looking both forward and back and joining a few dots along the way. But the ideas are all starting to come together now and I am ready to take this thing forward. OK well it’s all over now for this month but I’m free for more of this very soon but for now, just get your rocks off to the September 2021 playlist.