Clues
Across
- 1 Play chords to ‘Street Spirit’ (5)
- 5 Whose argument holds water? (3)
- 7, 4D 3D’s oft-repeated mantra: “not again!” (9)
- 8 Tuber’s bud shows good taste (3)
- 9 Flower pot seemingly empty (5)
Down
- 2 On the way back, encounter swarm (4)
- 3 Dance party close to urban tower resident? (5)
- 4 See 7A.
- 5 Backing stickers are a bargain (4)
- 6 They’ll open for Piers, by the sound of it (4)
Setter’s notes
I don’t usually talk about the setting process, but finding a clue I was happy with for 1 Across took so long that it now feels like a minor miracle. I hope this one brings a little cheer to the end of your week.
Across
- 1 “Street” = ST + “spirit” = RUM, giving STRUM.
- 5 Hidden word: “whoSE Argument”.
- 7 & 4 Down Double definition: Poe’s raven’s refrain, and “not again!” — NEVERMORE.
- 8 Double definition: a tuber’s bud is an EYE, as is good taste.
- 9 “Pot” = PAN + the outside of “S(eemingl)Y”, with its middle emptied out — PANSY.
Down
- 2 “Encounter” = MEET, reversed (“on the way back”) — TEEM.
- 3 “Dance party” = RAVE + the last letter of “urban” = N — RAVEN, famous resident of the Tower of London.
- 5 “Stickers” = PINS, reversed — SNIP.
- 6 Homophone (“by the sound of it”) of “piers” = QUAYS — KEYS.