Little Way is a new family-friendly music and arts festival happening in Brighton this coming Saturday, 27th February, at the One Church on Grand Parade.
Inspired by Saint Therese of Lisieux, Little Way aims to provide introductions to new things. The intention is to create a sense of an artistic community, providing a shared home where musicians and audience can interact easily. There is free entry for under-12s (if tickets are booked in advance) which should guarantee a relaxed family-centred atmosphere, where both adults and children will be able to enjoy the music.
One Church provides a beautiful and intimate Victorian setting and attending events there will help support its work with the homeless and young unemployed.
On the day Mexican street food will be served at dinner time from the salvaged food kitchen (Pay what you feel) and will include vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options. There are of course plenty of eateries in the vicinity too. Drinks will be provided by Old Tree Brewery (based in Silo restaurant) and will include quality ales, botanical cordials and other soft drinks.
The music will feature more than a dozen acts, starting a little after noon.
Headliner is Rozi Plain (pictured) who Lauren Laverne (BBC Radio 6) called “brilliant” and whose third album ‘Friend’ was released last year to rave reviews. The album featured contributions from Hot Chip’s Alexis Taylor amongst others and Folk Radio called it “utterly spellbinding”, describing the music as being “serene and subtle on the surface, with a deeper undercurrent running through”. The Skinny write it was “shot through with elements of folk and psychedelia, its timing is spot on: it feels like the coming of spring!”
There will be the new band Modern Studies, made up of the brilliant Glasgow chamber-folk singer Emily Scott and her long-time conspirators Rob St.John, Pete Harvey and Joe Smillie. This act has reputedly evolved from the presence of a Belfast-born Victorian harmonium and should be a treat.
Also featured are a bevy of acts from Brighton’s Willkommen Label, including multi-instrumentalist Marcus Hamblett who released an album of 70s film soundtrack-inspired music last year, harpist Emma Gatrill who has a new work in the pipeline and the excellent Kristin McClement whose debut album ‘The Wild Grips’ received rave reviews, including from ourselves when we interviewed her.
We’re also looking forward to the soulful Americana of Grand Palace, the oddly beguiling new-folk songs of Astra Forward and the electrified passion of Philippe Nash amongst others. The full line up is here:
Rozi Plain
Modern Studies (featuring Rob St John and Emily Scott)
Kristin McClement
Banu
Strange Boy
Hilary Repko
Astra Forward
Grand Palace
Adam Stafford
Nick Austin
Marcus Hamblett
Emma Gatrill
O Chapman
Philippe Nash
Louis Walkden
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Little Way, One Church, Gloucester Place, Saturday 27th February.
Tickets from www.littleway.co.uk – £15 advance, £20 on the door, Free for Under-12s (advance bookings only)
