Remembering Jackie Leven

Opening post by the forum user “Moonidus” for Leven's 70th birthday (18.06.2020): he says he organised a bench in London's Soho Square in his memory, near the bench for Kirsty MacColl – both wrote songs about the square. He calls on people to listen to a song, drink a “wee dram” and visit the square after lockdown.

Eleven replies, all from 18 to 20.06.2020. The regular users (Artery, SteveT, Baron Harkonnen, Vulpes Vulpes, Lando Cakes, retropath2) express admiration, call Leven one of the best British songwriters and storytellers and miss unreleased material at Cooking Vinyl. retropath2 reports Facebook mentions, including at the Wickham Festival – Wickham in Hampshire was Leven's home in his late years; Deborah Greenwood is pleased when his memory is kept alive. Sitheref2409 tongue-in-cheek criticises a lyric line. The most important is the post by “Bogart” (20.06.): on Thursday evening (18.06.2020) there was a virtual concert, organised by Deborah Greenwood and Jinder, with cover versions by musicians from Leven's circle – named are Deborah, Jinder, the former Doll by Doll members Jo Shaw and Kevin Foster, Tom Burgess – as well as Ian Rankin, who read Leven's lyrics. Available in the Facebook group “Burning The Box Of Beautiful Things” and on YouTube. Toasts to Leven were drunk with “toffee vodka”.