TWO important occasions in the life of this ever-wandering poet took place in the last few weeks. 

At the end of June, I performed at my 25th Glastonbury — which officially makes me an old punk-rock git — and as always it was tremendous fun.

Forget Dolly. For me the stand-out performers of the weekend included  Barnsley’s Hurriers (pictured) playing the Leftfield stage,  who are also on this weekend at the Tolpuddle Martyrs’ Festival. 

But topping them were  Paul Heaton, of Housemartins and Beautiful South fame, and Jacqui Abbott. They combine soaring, beautiful tunes with some of the most subversive lyrics around.

Last weekend I went up to Durham for my first Miners’ Gala weekend, invited by Durham Miners’ Association general secretary Dave Hopper, to be the entertainment at the Friday night dinner. I was invited too by Gala legend Barry Chambers, son Ronnie and grandson Joe, to march with them under the Blackhall colliery banner last Saturday. 

I was truly honoured, and then some, when Dave personally requested Prince Harry’s Knob as an encore after my set on the Friday. In case you were wondering, that’s the name of one of my songs, not a modern day take on Bring Me The Head Of Alfredo Garcia.

As for the Gala itself, we set off at 8am on a beautiful sunny day and it was a totally unforgettable experience. 

Over 100,000 people were there, gathered under a seemingly never-ending procession of colliery and union banners and they were serenaded by 56 brass bands playing everything from The Internationale to the Village People’s YMCA. A magnificent sight as they made their way through Durham’s narrow streets to the cricket ground and racecourse. 

The first pint was sunk at 9.50am, the last about 8pm, by which time things were getting rather blurry. I met friends old and new, had loads of discussions and listened to some stirring speeches. Above all there was an inspirational performance from Dennis Skinner.  

As Dave Hopper pointed out as he addressed the multitudes from the rostrum, the right-wing press say the union movement is dead and, if this is the afterlife, then it’s pretty impressive, isn’t it?

Thanks to all who made me welcome, above all Barry, Ronnie and Joe Chambers, not forgetting nice-but-nuts Nobby from Notts!

This Thursday I’m doing a gig for the RMT at the Star of Kings in north London and then, while many of you will be at the Tolpuddle Martyrs’ Festival — which I’d love to do one day — my wife Robina and I are off to the Latitude Festival in Suffolk. 

I’m performing there on the Friday and Sunday and, as I’m sure you know, the weekend after next is 21st-Century Marxism 2014. 

The great political folk singer Robb Johnson and his band The Irregulars plus myself and my band Barnstormer will be performing at the conference social on the Saturday night at the City Pride pub near the Marx Memorial Library. 

Last year there was a “cultural corner” hidden away in the middle of all the other events during the day. 

This time, we’ll be providing the entertainment when everyone knows entertainment should happen — after everything else has finished, in a convivial pub, to the accompaniment of considerable quantities of beer. 

See you there, comrades.

Details of 21st-Century Marxism are at www.communist-party.org.uk/events