Strong Island Co

22/05/2026

The Skatepark Revived film project is hands down one of the most exciting projects I’ve been lucky enough to work on, for a number of reasons. The first is that Rom Skatepark was the first skatepark I ever visited as a kid, back in 1987. I had been skateboarding with my friends in Chelmsford and around our local area and had seen photos in the magazines, and I will never forget arriving through the garage and seeing the Rom concrete for that first time. I have now been skateboarding for 40+ years and along the way cut my teeth filmmaking by filming my friends skateboarding, going back to 1992 with my first video camera.

The next reason is that as a filmmaker for the last 15 years, I get the opportunity to work with an inspirational group of local young people to help them find their story at the skatepark, then support them through the filmmaking process and empower them to create their own film, together. I’ve worked with dozens of groups from all ages, backgrounds and additional needs over the years and the best part of my job is being able to support and empower people with new skills to discover the impact of their authentic voice through creativity. The skatepark itself has a rich, lived history that we will draw from, but the group will explore themes from their own shared experiences and the things that impact them today, and then use the skatepark as a unique canvas to place their original story.

Lastly, I get to work in collaboration with a creative I really admire, Adam from Lawker Media. Adam is an inspiring creative person from graphics through to video. I should know, we first met skateboarding in the late 80s and have been firm friends ever since. Adam and I would often skate Rom together with the rest of the Monster Network crew throughout the years, taking photos and filming. Adam would also design stickers, t-shirts for us all and is a pro with paint pens and griptape.

So, to come back to one of my favourite skateboarding places to be and to work together in collaboration with Adam, Andrew from Rom, Nom and the team at Havering London and the young filmmakers is an incredible opportunity and I can't wait for the young people to see their finished film screened at the skatepark in July! - Paul

14/05/2026

Coming back from a public transport photo shoot on the Isle of Wight, and despite the long day I was still in that creative mindset on the heading home to Portsmouth across The Solent. My favourite views of the carrier markers are always from the deck of the ferry: closer, always changing, and perspectives you can only get from the water. - Paul

12/05/2026

If you're heading to Brighton this week, Strong Island Recordings have 3 stages from Wednesday until Friday at The Pink Moon (upstairs) and The Pipeline. Free entry. No festival wristband required.

08/05/2026

It's been a big week in the Strong Island Recordings camp, with the new release of LIPWORMS 'worm101', which has already seen support from the likes of BBC Radio 6 Music and DIY Magazine.

Our little label have also announced 3 stages across Great Escape weekend next week, all free entry for those who are in Brighton next week.

Also, Pompey's own psych-techno titant, LIPWORMS play a rare hometown show at Kola 5 June with Fast Trains and Lugnut.

12/04/2026

✍️ Takedown Festival is Portsmouth's celebration of heavy music. This year's headliners Therapy? and President topped a huge bill of rock, metal and alternative music.

Read the full review https://www.strongisland.co/2026/04/11/takedown-festival-2026/

10/04/2026

Strong Island Recordings return to Kola tomorrow, bringing label family country-psych outfit Frank Lloyd & The Wleft to the city. Support comes from Conor Clements (Hallan) plus band, Lurker with their wondeful Velvet Underground meets Nick Cave esque sounds & also a solo set from Sam of Portsmouth post-rock outfit, Making Eyes

Strong Island Recordings welcomes London Americana meets country-psych outfit Frank Lloyd Wleft and band to Portsmouth, along with support from Hallan frontm...

31/03/2026

Strong Island Recordings have a couple of new shows in Portsmouth at Kola soon.

Firstly, new SIR family being psych-country crooner Frank Lloyd Wleft, who's latest single is out today. Support comes from Conor Clements (Hallan) plus band, Lurker and Sam from Making Eyes play Kola Basement on the 11th April.

Then on the 5th June, LIPWORMS return to their hometown for a headline show at Kola.

Tickets:
https://linktr.ee/strongislandrec

15/02/2026

I occasionally daydream of living in different places, and then I step out my front door and walk down to the beach.

05/02/2026

A wonderful sunny launch to the Natural England South Hayling to East Head stretch of the King Charles III England Coast Path, at Itchenor Sailing Club yesterday. I worked on the videos and photography with Jake at NE that is now online and it was great to see the work on screen during the presentations too.

After the ribbon cut outside Chichester Harbour Conservancy I walked the path myself for a couple of hours with my camera, exploring east up from Itchenor and then around East Head.

A huge thank you to Jake and the Natural England team for having me involved on this incredible project, with many, many happy hours walking the path with my cameras and drone. I'll share the route video and photos very soon, plus the work I created for the Portsmouth to South Haling route too, which launched late last year. - Paul

29/01/2026

LOCAL CHARITY NEEDS YOUR HELP and it only takes 60 seconds to make a big difference!

As a trustee of the charity that runs Southsea Skatepark I know the impact poor weather has on the many users who call the skatepark a 2nd home. As the skatepark approaches its 50th year, our new ROOF PROJECT aims to get the skatepark ready for the next 50 years and the new generations of talent that call Portsmouth home.

Talent like Olympic Bronze medalist Declan Brooks, professional skateboarders in the 80s, Flatland BMX World Champion in the 90s as well as national and European champions in BMX and Scootering in the 2020s. The skatepark has a proven track record for nurturing home grown talent, imagine what could be achieved with an all year round indoor facility in Southsea, that supports wheeled sports here and across the UK...

Our plans have taken years of time & investment and are now currently going through planning consent with Portsmouth City Council, we would love for more public comments on the proposal to show the wide range of support the skatepark has both locally but globally.

It takes 60 seconds to register and post a comment, but it can make a huge difference to the skatepark and its users.

Find out more on the PCC planning portal and have your say. Thank you in advance! - Paul

https://publicaccess.portsmouth.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=makeComment&keyVal=T29KKAMOIIW00