THE DRUGS DON’T WORK
We’re proud of so much about Brighton – we write a magazine about it after all. But there’s one naggingly regular statistic we’d prefer went elsewhere – Brighton is once again the drugs death capital of the UK, for the sixth time in eight years. That’s more deaths than London, Liverpool, Manchester or Birmingham, with 44 people losing their lives here last year. Most were from heroin but coke and ecstasy also figured in the list. It should go without saying but please, be careful out there. Brighton’s for living in, not dying in.

LIVEWIRE CELEBRATES
For the uninitiated, Livewire is a Brighton label working at proper grass roots level, taking undiscovered talent and helping nurture it without sticking its oar into the creative process – a real art-before-commerce venture, the like of which we like to hear about. They’re throwing a first birthday bash at the Greenhouse Effect on Monday 19th, featuring artists from their current roster -The Dan Markland Band, Nick McKenna & The Hop Pickers, Dei Machiavelli, with support from The Stars Down To Earth and Lucy Osborn.

WRITE THE SONGS TO MAKE THE WHOLE WORLD SING
Do you think you can write songs? Songs that people will sing in the shower and hum in the car? Do you? Do you really? Or are you a little bit self-conscious – racked with self doubt and convinced your songs are laughably awful? If this is the case, perhaps the Brighton Songwriters writing circle is for you. A professional songwriter called Mark Allen is hosting a clinic where you present your song and they help mend it for you. The next one’s on Tuesday 6th – visit brightonsongwriters.wordpress.com for more info.

SHRINKING THE MUSICAL GLOBE
Here’s a crazy idea that might just work – take four bands, from Brighton, Leeds, Glasgow and, er, Italy and pack them off on tour together, each headlining in their own hood and hoping some of the love will rub off on the other bands. Friday 23rd sees the Brighton leg of the globe-trotting gigathon land at Jam on Middle Street, where Gloria Cycles will be showing the rest of the bill how it’s done. The other bands are Talk To Angels, A Jokers Rage and The Niro – northerners and foreigners for sure but worth checking out nonetheless.

LAST FIX FOR ART PICS
In what the economy appears to have decided will be their last sponsored exhibition; the North Laine Photography Gallery on Kensington Gardens is hosting Sarah Boyes’ What Are You Looking At – a pair of distinctly different collections of work. One set is photos Sarah took of people from inside the Uni gallery in clear view of the subjects (so expect foolish waving) and the other is indirect portraits of people and things close to her. It probably needs to be seen to be understood, and as the Gallery is forced to focus on a more commercial existence, buy some art while you’re there.

OX ROCKS
Oxfam are a bunch of good people doing good things around the world, so it’s our solemn duty to have a good time while helping them do their thing. Oxjam is a cunningly spelled music festival in aid of aid and it hits Brighton this month The Hanbury, Hectors, Latest Musicbar, The Loft, and Coalition are all hosting events, from lindy hopping and blues to funk and soul. Tickets for all events can be bought from Rounder – oxjambrighton.co.uk is your online information destination.

ANCIENT SOUNDS ABOUND
Bearing in mind how bonkers a lot of Brighton events can be, it’s still no real stretch of the imagination to announce the arrival once again of the most sonically bonkers of them all. The Early Music Festival straddles the divide between early classical, world music, folk and jazz in its theme of East Meets West, as it sprawls across 21 venues throughout the city. It starts on Friday 23rd and it’s a really vibrant and friendly happening, with a knack for engaging all kinds of people.

WORDS BY NICK COQUET, STUART HUGGET