You’ve got to admire Playgroup for not rushing into things on their redesign of Hector’s House. Now settled in, they’ve taken hammers to the place and The Blind Tiger has emerged – an understatedly stylish 300-capacity café bar, serving food in the day and providing the usual madcap Playgroup entertainment in the evening. They’ve put in a great height stage and a custom-designed soundsystem so it’s also a great place to see live music. It opens, incredibly, at 8am in the week if you’re looking for coffee and breakfast. And every time you empty your wallet there, they give money to deserving local art projects. Jesus, it might just be perfect.

For the opening night their huge network of friends – and plenty of well-wishing strangers – turned up for a night of bands and DJs, and though the place was packed to bursting point there was nothing but good vibes. We fully expect this to become a major nocturnal stop-off as well as a great place to get caffeine and a bacon sandwich before those demanding drawing lessons at the university next door.

FYI
WEBSITE: playgroupbrighton.org
FACEBOOK: tinyurl.com/TigerFace
WHERE: 52-54 Grand Parade
DOWNLOAD PHOTOS: On Our Flickr

TOP TEN
All coming live to The Blind Tiger
Sam & The Womp ‘Bom Bom’ (15th Oct)
Euphoria Steel Band ‘Sugar Bum Bum’ (29th Sept)
Zen Death Squad ‘L. Ron Hubbard vs Jacques Cousteau’ (30th Sept)
Kid Kanevil ‘Words & Spit’ (29th Sept)
Grasscut ‘The Door In The Wall’ (23rd Oct)
Derriere ‘Battle Plan’ (4th Nov)
A.Skillz ‘California Soul’ (14th Oct)
Gypsy Hill ‘Balaka’ (13th Oct)
Prince Fatty ft. Horseman ‘Shimmy Shimmy’
(7th Oct)
Yes Sir Boss ‘Not Guilty’ (21st Oct)

WORDS AND PHOTOS BY JAMES KENDALL