The Long Play Sessions presents: Debsey Wykes in conversation with Daniel Rachel
Thu 19 Feb 2026 7:00 PM - 10:30 PM Venue and Cafe, ICMP Queen’s Park Campus, NW6 6PA
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Join us for a special evening with musician and writer Debsey Wykes, as she discusses her acclaimed book Teenage Daydream: We Are the Girls Who Play in a Band, a Rough Trade and The Times Book of the Year 2025.
This event forms part of The Long Play Sessions, a curated series hosted by ICMP celebrating some of the most acclaimed and influential authors writing about music today. Each session goes beyond the page, bringing live conversation, cultural context and creative insight to the stories that shape music history.
Debsey will be joined in conversation by award-winning author and broadcaster Daniel Rachel, one of the UK’s leading voices in music writing. Known for his sharp, empathetic interviewing style and deep cultural knowledge, Rachel brings a vital perspective to the discussion and will also appear as a featured guest in The Long Play Sessions in February 2026 (view event).
Teenage Daydream is part memoir, part cultural history, celebrating the untold stories of girls and women who formed bands, picked up instruments, and carved out space in a music industry that rarely made room for them. Through personal experience and wider reflection, Wykes explores creativity, friendship, rebellion and music as a force for self-expression and resistance.
The book shines a light on the realities of growing up in bands, navigating gender expectations, and finding your voice both on and off stage. It is an essential contribution to conversations around youth culture, feminism and popular music history.
What to expect
- Screening of Take Three Girls: Dolly Mixture Story (40mins)
- An inspiring talk from Debsey Wykes on the stories and themes behind Teenage Daydream
- In-depth conversation with Daniel Rachel on music, gender and creativity
- Audience Q&A
- Book signing opportunity. Bring your copy or purchase one on the night
We look forward to welcoming you to The Long Play Sessions for what will be a fascinating evening with two outstanding voices of music culture.
