BRIGHTON MUSIC HALL
Gemini was always a nice beachside boozerama on a sunny day, but they never really made anything of the inside. Now taken over by the Ohso Social crew, it promises Brighton’s biggest heated outside terrace and the introduction of a newly restored first floor cocktail bar and restaurant with pier-to-pier views. Live music, cabaret and burlesque are all on the cards. Find them on Facebook for opening night entry.
STABPROOF
We all know that only morons carry knives about – sadly we also know there are a lot of morons about. Educating young people about the idiocy of blade brandishing is what Stabproof are all about, to help save kids from having bits of themselves sliced off. Stabproof.org has more info about their valuable work, plus details of a benefit night at Jam on Friday 29th with DJs and live graffiti displays that they’ll be auctioning off. Go along and have a stab at helping them out, but nothing else please.
LGBT POLICE DROP-IN
A couple of nice local cops have set up a new drop-in centre at the Kemp Town Crypt Community Centre on St George’s Road, where you can go and tell them about any LGBT hate crime stuff you’ve been unfortunate enough to be on the end of. On the last Wednesday of the month you can join PC Rachel Piggott and PC Rich Bridger for coffee and a chat between 7pm and 8pm.
WHITE MINK SPEAKEASY
The sound of 2010 (according to MixMag), White Mink’s electro swing fusion has really caught the public’s imagination and this new Brighton institution has had to move its club night to bigger premises to cater for demand. They’re now doing their thing at The Haunt on the third Friday of the month, with world-class electro swing bands, DJs, circus, cabaret and burlesque performers. The launch party’s on Friday 15th from 10pm to 3am.
DIRTY SUNSET DISCO
Clubbing against a sunset backdrop needn’t be reserved for those with the EasyJet fare to Ibiza going spare. Ohso Social have brought the same vibe back to Brighton as the house and electro crowd spills out onto the seafront while the day’s decorum turns into night time naughtiness. It’s kind of an obvious idea for the venue really, and one that definitely pays off – the big, busy, all-persuasion crowd makes it a summer night worth knowing about. Back at the beach from Friday 29th.
XANADU
This dance party collective of DJs, video artists and fierce drag superstars is building bridges between the alternative, disco and gay scenes, with a fusion of new tracks, high energy Italo, house classics and, of course, plenty of disco. They’ve just relaunched at The Jazz Place, bringing a tribute to the glory days of Detroit, New York and Chicago clubbing by turning the basement into their own disco spaceship. Check Facebook for the April date.
PRODUCERS’ RETREAT
Brighton is a city of creatives: whether it’s art, graphic design, fashion, photography or music you’re into, you can be sure you’re not alone. The Producers’ Retreat is a multi-talented collective aiming to bring together the hottest music producers in Brighton and put on a monthly showcase of the best new and unreleased electronic music our city has to offer. Get yourself to the Caxton Arms on Saturday 23rd.
TRU THOUGHTS
Starting a new and free bi-monthly night at the Green Door Store on Saturday 2nd, Tru Thoughts present their own main man Robert Luis playing a marathon five-hour set. He’s the guy who brought us the likes of Bonobo, Alice Russell, Quantic and Belleruche, and his box is stacked with unreleased, upcoming, exclusive and classic Tru Thoughts tunes along with a huge collection of hip hop, reggae, soul, dubstep and drum’n’bass. The man’s a local music biz hero – go check him out.
BBQ SHACK
The notion of Prince Alberts has always suggested tender meat to us, and the pub of the same name is getting a more palatable version via BBQ Shack, the south coast’s sole purveyors of authentic American pit barbecue. These British barbecuing champions will be cooking up everyday from noon til nine – there’s a launch on Sunday 10th with a Hillbilly Hoedown from 2pm, so get yourself down there for a redneck roast.
WORDS BY NICK COQUET, ED ISAACS.
