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Ben Bailey

Ben Bailey is the editor of Brighton Source and a freelance writer. He also plays in a few bands and can sometimes be found giving talks on a variety of niche topics. He lives in Brighton and rather likes it.

Simon Munnery delivers a rich comedy show featuring old material, new observations and a wealth of eccentric tangents.

Mar 12, 2024
moulettes

We caught up with the Moulettes as they emerge from an epic recording project to play at The Old Market.

Feb 15, 2024
Scarlett Fae

A new season of shows brings artists, poets and comedians to Hove for an annual celebration of "kick-ass women".

Feb 8, 2024
Big is Beautiful

Another unmissable mega-gig at The Old Market, featuring KermesZ à l’Est and Buffo's Wake Orchestra.

Sep 20, 2023

We chatted to local promoters Fail Better about their plans for a Spiegeltent takeover this month, putting kids on stage and how to go to town on decor.

May 3, 2023

A double dose of bad news from the Albert this month with the sudden death of a soundman and a planning application that threatens the future of the venue.

Dec 23, 2022

When you look back at your phone pics and realise they're all of weird things you saw on walls.

Dec 13, 2022

Brighton carnival punks Buffo’s Wake play a one-off show with an 19-piece orchestra at The Old Market on a huge bill alongside Town of Cats and Los Albertos.

Sep 21, 2022
Melt Plastic Group performing at Lewes Psychedelic Festival

As the Sun heads north across the equator, psych fans will be in a world of their own beneath Brighton station.

Feb 20, 2022

We quizzed the Brighton pub quiz host who gave away £1,000 to a team at the Mucky Duck for beating his absurd music and trivia game.

Nov 24, 2021
Ravine/Machine

New audiovisual duo Ravine/Machine bring their DIY instruments and projections to the Rose Hill for an evening of experimental music and visuals.

Nov 4, 2021
Jack Hues | Brighton Komedia

Wang Chung frontman Jack Hues comes to Brighton with an all-star band to promote two new albums of jazz, rock and pop compositions.

Aug 22, 2021
Anal Beard

As part of our retrospective series on defunct local bands we look back at two decades of absurd antics from notorious Brighton punks Anal Beard.

Sep 25, 2020
The Bobby McGees

As part of our retrospective series on Brighton bands we revisit the strangely affecting and hugely entertaining 'tweecore' folk pop of The Bobby McGees.

Sep 11, 2020
These Animal Men

In a new series of retrospectives on Brighton bands we take another look at the short and controversial career of Britpop forerunners These Animal Men.

Aug 27, 2020

Brighton rapper Jon Clark unveils his monster project RhymeWave, after several decades in the making.

May 12, 2020
Fukushima Dolphin

We spoke to three Brighton bands to get a musician's perspective on the slightly odd experience of performing livestreamed sets from their living rooms.

Apr 17, 2020

Brighton Festival has been cancelled due to coronavirus fears while Brighton Fringe has been postponed until later in the year.

Mar 18, 2020
Stewart Lee Snowflake - T

Stewart Lee's four-date stint in Brighton saw him weaving elaborate comic stories, berating audience members and inciting wanton laughter for no reason.

Feb 19, 2020

Here's what happened when we left our social media bubble to go door-knocking on the streets of Brighton.

Dec 10, 2019

In the last election Brighton was a red/green sandwich. With a bit of tactical voting we can get the same result.

Nov 28, 2019

A new outdoor puzzle game comes to Brighton with AR tech, a spy theme and a special black briefcase.

Jul 17, 2019
BRIGHTON EXTINCTION REBELLION ACTIVISTS STAGE ‘DIE-IN’ AT CHURCHILL SQUARE SHOPPING CENTRE

Ahead of this month's international day of action, we spoke to Brighton's climate activist group about their stunts including a mass 'die-in' in Churchill Square.

Apr 4, 2019
Taking Back Control

Brighton hosts an evening of international spoken word performers alongside local poets and musicians in a celebration of solidarity on Brexit night.

Feb 28, 2019
Nick Cave

Nick Cave is touring a question and answer show around Europe and the UK, ending at Brighton in June.

Feb 18, 2019
poets-vs-mcs-2019-concorde-2-brighton-source-ashley-laurence-time-for-heroes-photography

Brighton's poets and rappers ended their 16-year feud with an epic spoken word battle at the Concorde. The victor here is the winner forever, right? Well...

Jan 29, 2019

Brighton’s legendary spoken word battle is winding down after 16 years. We spoke to the team captains to find out why the war of words is finally over.

Jan 17, 2019
Neil Innes

The eccentric songwriter's set at the Komedia was an uneven mix of acoustic blues and comic ditties from his days with Monty Python and the Bonzo Dog Band.

Oct 11, 2018

Win tickets to see Goldfrapp’s Will Gregory geek out on vintage monosynths at Brighton Dome.

Oct 7, 2018

Brighton loses another music venue - Sticky Mike's Frog Bar has announced that the venue will be closing at the end of this year.

Oct 2, 2018

The Suede frontman discusses his new book, growing up in Haywards Heath and the genesis of his band at this fascinating festival book launch with Alexis Petridis.

May 22, 2018

Rosy Carrick weaves together personal confessions with pop culture obsessions in a compelling time travel adventure that takes in David Bowie, Einstein and the Russian revolution.

May 22, 2018
berlin kabaret

A musical tour of the early 20th century from the rise of the Nazis to the communist witch-hunts, performed with aplomb in a show that unearths curious and sinister songs of the time.

May 18, 2018
Amanda Palmer

The pianist gave her all at Brighton Dome in a confessional show that encompassed grief, comedy and motherhood - along with a surprise announcement for old fans.

May 16, 2018

Journalist and author Tom Hodgkinson came to Brighton Festival to offer advice to on how to escape the rat race and also to plug his latest book. Turns out the two are related.

May 9, 2018

The award-winning comic plays a hometown show full of scatty banter and daft physical comedy - just a shame it was billed as something very different.

May 8, 2018

Mister Adam reckons he's an online sensation. We interviewed him so he'd stop pestering us.

Apr 18, 2018
A Clockwork Orange | Brighton Source

Come viddy Alex and his droogs at this flip sizy and govoreet at The Old Courtroom.

Apr 5, 2018

The Scottish indie band reminded us how far they've come since the 90s at Brighton Dome with a rich mix of music, audience involvement and loads of dancing.

Mar 20, 2018
michael james parker - poets vs mcs - brighton source - concorde 2 - ashley luke laurence - time for heroes photography

There were superb performances all round at the 15th bout of Brighton's annual spoken word battle, even with hosts threatening to drop out. But who won?

Jan 24, 2018

As winter kicks in with a vengeance, a network of local people are trying to share some warmth with the city's rough sleepers - with help from local companies.

Dec 13, 2017

A seated concert at Brighton Dome ended with everyone up and dancing after Neil Hannon treated the crowd to some witty orchestral pop and a few brilliant surprise covers.

Dec 5, 2017
The Mountain Goats | Brighton Source

Comical and literate as ever, The Mountain Goats played a gig full of surprises for a packed-out Brighton crowd at The Haunt.

Oct 19, 2017
Mountain Goats | Brighton Source

The American indie folk band return to Brighton for more lyrical brilliance and a compelling new album all about goths.

Sep 12, 2017
The World Transformed | Brighton Source

Ken Loach, Owen Jones and Naomi Klein are among the big names coming to Brighton this month for a four-day festival of politics that runs alongside the Labour Party conference.

Aug 23, 2017

SOURCE makes an away trip to catch the likes of The Divine Comedy, Petula Clark and Marillion at Fairport Convention's 50th anniversary festival bash.

Aug 21, 2017
Gogol Bordello | Brighton Source

For an intense two hours Gogol Bordello brought an unruly and internationalist gypsy punk celebration to Brighton Dome.

Jul 21, 2017
The Richmond Bar | Brighton Source

A long-lost Brighton music venue has reopened in a new guise. We went in to find out why it's carrying the torch for a venue that closed twenty years ago.

Apr 4, 2017

Staff picketed Duke of York's on Saturday following strikes at four other cinemas in a dispute over pay, union rights and wonky tills.

Mar 21, 2017
Poets vs MCs 2017 | Brighton Source

The annual spoken word battle saw Brighton's best wordsmiths slugging it out at the Concorde in a heated but brilliant lyrical display.

Jan 24, 2017
Gramski | Brighton Source

We caught up with controversial freestyler Gramski ahead of his last appearance at the annual Poets Vs MCs spoken word battle at the Concorde.

Jan 15, 2017
Jeremy Corbyn | Brighton Source

A concert organised in support of Jeremy Corbyn saw a surprise appearance from the man himself alongside an extraordinary bill that included Paul Weller, Robert Wyatt, The Farm and Temples.

Dec 20, 2016

Brighton Dome was an unlikely venue for the famously divisive Nottingham duo. SOURCE went along to see the Sleaford Mods rally the downtrodden in a Regency concert hall.

Nov 4, 2016
Rose Tinted Spectacular | Brighton Source

The Rose Hill Tavern hosts a zine fair this month celebrating self-publishing and raising funds for migrant groups. We chatted to the organisers about the power of paper.

Oct 19, 2016
Strip The Beach | Brighton Source

We speak to the Brighton campaigner who wants to set the record and promote marine conservation by getting his kit off. Will you join him?

Sep 12, 2016
Octopuses | Brighton Source

The Brighton band try to save the bees with a cheeky video that has attracted support from Caroline Lucas.

Sep 12, 2016
The Rosehill Tavern

Brighton's just got itself a new venue. We chatted to the Beatabet collective about how they rescued the Rose Hill and their plans to turn it into a hub for local arts and music.

Jul 12, 2016

Protestors gathered at the station yesterday to make a noise about the ongoing cancellations, overcrowding and general chaos affecting Southern trains.

Jun 15, 2016
Jo Neary | Brighton Source

Following her Brighton Festival spoof of Laurie Anderson, local comedian Jo Neary is back in town with a new show she describes as a cross between The Vicar Of Dibley and Viz.

Jun 1, 2016

Hot on the heels of Brighton Festival comes the biggest free street arts event in the South East - nine stages, 50+ bands and over 800 carnival performers.

May 4, 2016
Kimya Dawson | Brighton Source

The anti-folk singer treated a packed-in Patterns crowd to a set of kids' tunes, protest songs and a saucy Prince tribute.

Apr 26, 2016
King Porter Stomp | Brighton Source

Brighton's jazz/ska big band bring conscious lyrics and good time party music to the Synergy Centre with support from JFB.

Mar 23, 2016

Surgeries are shutting, doctors are striking and corpses litter the streets. While Brighton protestors pull a stunt to highlight the local effects of the healthcare crisis, a certain MP heads to parliament to lead the fight to save the NHS.

Mar 8, 2016
Christy Moore | Brighton Source

Tickets went on sale this weekend for the Irish folk legend even though he's not coming to Brighton until April.

Mar 2, 2016
Fifi Rong | Brighton Source

Mesmerising, dreamlike and unique, the Beijing-born singer and producer is coming to the Green Door Store this month.

Feb 13, 2016
Poets vs MCs | Brighton Source

Now a Brighton institution, the annual spoken word battle got hot and heavy at the Concorde last week. Here's what happened.

Feb 2, 2016
Xelis de Toro | Brighton Source

A day of music, poetry and performance art took place in the obscure environs of a community art studio in Hollingdean. SOURCE was there with a camera in one hand and an organic micro-brewery pint in the other.

Jan 25, 2016
Brighton Science Festival | Brighton Source

Brighton's annual science fest has just landed - with a month of hands-on workshops, engaging talks and live experiments. We've got tickets to give away for some of the top events.

Jan 1, 2016
Lady Chastity's Reserve | Brighton Source

We went to try out a new immersive team game set in a spooky period parlour above a pub. Will we bag the booze or end up trapped in dark room with a scary rabbit?

Nov 21, 2015
Small Pond | Brighton Source

Small Pond Recordings opens today in the centre of town with six rehearsal rooms, a recording studio and live gig space. Enter the SOURCE competition to win free practice time for your band.

Oct 20, 2015
Nordic Giants | Brighton Source

Win T-shirts and tickets to this double bill of ambient and cinematic soundscapes. Apply within.

Oct 18, 2015
Two Gallants | Brighton Source

We got a good dose of angsty and intelligent indie rock from the California duo at The Haunt last week.

Oct 14, 2015
Rag N Bone Man | Brighton Source

We spoke to the Brighton soul singer and rapper about playing Glastonbury, working with DJ Premier and putting on a special curated show at the Concorde later this month.

Sep 19, 2015
Anal Beard | Brighton Source

The notorious Brighton band split up after 20 years of failure, disappointment and hilarious comedy punk.

Sep 6, 2015
Bloom | Brighton Source

After being forced to take a year off, The Beautiful Word bounced back at the Albert last week with a change of name and an all-new set.

Aug 25, 2015
Dreadzone | Brighton Source

Dreadzone headline a launch party for a new venue and community centre which opens this weekend in a somewhat unlikely location.

Jul 3, 2015

The squatters who hoped to turn the old Barclays bank on Preston Circus into a community centre were evicted today - a few hours after SOURCE went to have a look around.

Jun 19, 2015
Taina Asili | Brighton Source

The Greys hosts a night of reggae rock and riot-folk with two queer radical singer songwriters from the States.

Jun 15, 2015
Andrew Jackson Jihad | Brighton Source

Angry, political and hilarious - the Arizona folk punks made a rare visit to Brighton for a wonky and rocking set at Sticky Mike's.

Jun 11, 2015
Swenglish | Brighton Source

Book launch for the local author who went to live with 30 different people for 30 weeks to study the differences between Brighton and Sweden and work out what to do with her life.

Jun 10, 2015
People's Assembly | Brighton Source

One month on from the election we look at some of the grassroots groups in Brighton - for those who don't want to wait another five years to get political.

Jun 4, 2015
Shakes

The spoken word show returns for a youth special on The Level as well as a Brighton Vs London battle at The Old Market.

May 22, 2015

The Alternative Escape kicks off at the North Laine pub with hip hop and house DJs from London's Bubble Club.

May 13, 2015
Blind Tiger BrewDog | Brighton Source

The craft ale company sign a lease on the former music venue, then fly over London dropping stuffed animals from a helicopter.

May 12, 2015
Darkest Day | Brighton Source

We interviewed the director who spent eight years making a low-budget horror film on the streets of Brighton.

Apr 23, 2015
Wild Cat Strike | Brighton Source

The brilliant new video from Wild Cat Strike sees the band rocking out above a Brighton coffee shop.

Apr 20, 2015
Big Green Comedy Gig | Theatre Royal | Brighton Source

Mark Steel headlined the Green Party's brilliant benefit gig alongside a bill that included Robin Ince, Jeremy Hardy and Rob Newman.

Apr 1, 2015
SeaBed EP Review

Our round-up of new Brighton releases from Seadog, Cousin and Howls plus debut EPs from Kanzi, Krak Krak and Sea Bed.

Mar 22, 2015

We chatted to the filmmaker, activist and promoter behind this month's two-day punk festival at the Green Door Store.

Mar 13, 2015
The Decemberists | Brighton Source

It's been over a decade since they last came to Brighton and four years since their last album. If that's a long time in pop, it's even longer in the world of literate folk rock.

Mar 8, 2015
The Geekend Starts Here | Brighton Source

A science festival, a zombie conference and a gaming convention all on the same few days. The geeks have got it good this weekend.

Feb 26, 2015
Brighton Science Festival 2015

Celebrating ten years of proving there's more to science than men with lab coats and beards, BSF returns with a month-long programme of live experiments, talks and comedy.

Feb 5, 2015

An evening of music, stories and film celebrating the singer and former Soft Machine drummer.

Jan 26, 2015

The Concorde was at bursting point for the annual spoken word showdown, still packing in the surprises twelve years on.

Jan 25, 2015

We chatted to the Brighton wordsmith, musician and mentor about this week's Poets Vs MCs spoken word battle at the Concorde.

Jan 18, 2015
Fvnerals | Brighton Source

Fvnerals are joined by Vincent Vocoder Voice and Pink Lizards for some dark delights at GDS.

Dec 24, 2014

We joined the indie oddballs Octopuses for some lo-fi jollity at their Marwood Christmas bash.

Dec 23, 2014

We chat to Brighton's doom surfers ahead of their sort-of-homecoming show at DRILL festival.

Nov 29, 2014

The film festival returns with some classic 60s cinema, a slew of sci-fi flicks and a few choice music docs.

Nov 21, 2014

Brighton gypsy punk band set off on a fifty-date tour of the UK after getting dirty down by the seaside.

Oct 17, 2014

Our adventures in the Welsh mountains with music from the likes of Beirut, Mercury Rev and Neutral Milk Hotel.

Sep 18, 2014

The likes of Neutral Milk Hotel, Beirut and Caribou are on the bill at next month's festival in Wales.

Jul 11, 2014
Vincent Vocoder Voice | Brighton Source

A midweek gig at the Hope, a sinister group of masked men and some fabulous art rock chaos.

Jun 7, 2014
Poets Slash MCs | Brighton Source

This spoken word festival special saw Brighton's poets and rappers getting all loved up at the Spiegeltent.

May 15, 2014
Tommy Sissons | Brighton Source

Veterans of Brighton's spoken word scene train teenagers for a Fringe slam showcase.

Apr 28, 2014
The Wave Pictures | Brighton Source

Insanely prolific indie pop band comes to the Green Door Store - with support from Tyrannosaurus Dead.

Dec 8, 2013
brighton-science-festival

Brighton Science Festival is back - bringing with it some fighting robots, musical roads and exploding whales.

Dec 6, 2013
Leonard Cohen | Brighton Source

At £75 a head there probably wasn't many people walking out early at this Brighton Centre show - except us.

Sep 27, 2013
Tiger Lillies @ Brighton Dome - Brighton Source

The dark cabaret band came to Brighton Festival with a macabre take on The Rime Of The Ancient Mariner.

Jun 11, 2013
Andrew Simms | Cancel The Apocalypse | Brighton Festival

Andrew Simms came to Brighton Festival to reassure us that we have five years left to cry in.

May 28, 2013
Sussex Univeristy Student Occupation Demo

The student occupation stepped up a gear on Monday with a thousand-strong demonstration. Here's what went on.

Mar 28, 2013
Villagers @ Old Market - Brighton Source

A brilliant Villagers set at the Old Market proves second albums don't always have to be difficult, writes Ben Bailey.

Mar 1, 2013
The Wave Pictures @ The Haunt - Brighton Source

Hardworking indie band with brilliant lyrics seeks open-minded fans for music, laughter and maybe something more.

Dec 15, 2012
Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster @ Concorde - Brighton Source

The Brighton boys returned to the fray with a reunion gig that was harder, faster and louder than ever.

Nov 19, 2012
Damien Jurado @ Blind Tiger - Brighton Source

The venue must have seen its fair share of singer songwriters over the years, but it's unlikely any of them captivated the crowd quite like the Seattle singer did tonight.

Sep 6, 2012
Found Footage Festival @ Komedia - Brighton Source

We thought it'd be interesting, we weren't ready for the sheer oddness of the clips presented by this hilarious video roadshow.

Jul 12, 2012
Richard Herring @ Caroline of Brunswick - Brighton Source

The humble dick gag. It's harder than you think to pull off. We went to the Caroline to catch the master of the art knock them out.

Jul 5, 2012
Patrick Wolf @ Komedia - Brighton Source

Donning a shoulder-mounted stuffed bird, Patrick Wolf overcame an exhausting amount of instrument changes as he wooed a Komedia crowd with his romantic pop. Ben Bailey witnessed the goings on.

Nov 10, 2011
Out Of The Ordinary Festival Review

After the array of summer festivals, there are still plenty of local field-parties to attend such as Out Of The Ordinary Festival. Ben Bailey was there to explain why the party season doesn't have to stop.

Oct 13, 2011
Amanda Palmer @ Concorde - Brighton Source

There were only six dates on Amanda Palmer's European tour. That Brighton was in there alongside Amsterdam and Vienna should come as no surprise to those acquainted with the 'Brechtian Cabaret Punk' of her former band, The Dresden Dolls.

Sep 12, 2011
Brighton Source - Ben Bailey