VOODOO WESC NIGHT AT RIKI-TIKS
Teaming up with the creative clothing company WeSC, Voodoo is a new night at hip hop hold-up Riki Tiks. The request-friendly DJs Nick Maxwell and Insight will be spinning the voodoo that is groove, bringing back old school sounds, retro funk, soul and all that jazz. Every Friday from 9-3am, featuring special guests and monumental WeSC giveaways to follow, with free entry all night long.
BAKKHEIA LAUNCH AT LATEST MUSIC BAR
A live music night with a twist, Bakkheia sees artists and audiences alike exploring and deconstructing the boundaries between performer and punter. Opening night Wednesday 2nd one-man-loop-pedal act Cosmo will be performing a totally improvised sets with just his wits about him. Vocal group +? will harmonise lyrics written by the audience, and Puncture Kit performs a truly inspired drum set from an assortment of bicycle parts. Nick Tann, Billy Irvine and Fred Kinbom all play upstairs throughout the evening.
B-SIDE NIGHT IS BACK AT FORTUNE OF WAR
Throughout the summer nights, B-side at The Fortune of War brings us top-dollar DJs playing to raise awareness for Brighton-based charity, Bottletop. The £4 donation entry goes towards supporting the grass-roots educational projects Bottletop run to empower, educate and alleviate poverty in Malawi, Brazil, Rwanda and the UK, with an especial programme to raise awareness of sexual health too. Upcoming acts rumoured to support this worthy cause are Adam Freeland, Evil Nine and Dekker, look out for the next one.
BRIGHTON BLOG HUNTS FOR THE BEST ROAST
As you know, dear readers, nothing is closer to our hearts (and stomachs) than a good roast dinner of a Sunday. That’s when new blog The Great Brighton Roast Hunt caught our eye. Starting out with in-depth reviews from all over, featuring Temple Bar, The Foragers in Hove to The Pub With No Name. Covering all aspects of a good meal, with average drinks and dessert prices covered, ambience and service all scrutinised with a fair hand and hearty appetite. http://www.brightonroasthunt.blogspot.com/
HA HA BAR LAUNCH NEW MENU
Undergoing a transformation, the Ha Ha bar and grill adjacent to the Pavillion has re-emerged as a stunning new setting for alfresco dining, pre-theatre drinks, or somewhere to sit down in style for afternoon tea. Offering the best seasonal foods and ingredients from all across the British Isles, serving up a contemporary British menu. With Fresh Sea Bream stuffed with fennel, orange and spinach, five different types of steak to hand-crumbed Haddock fish fingers, there’s something to suit everyone’s tastes.
PRETTY IN PINK VINTAGE KITSCH
After a sucessful transition from Ebay to the general e-commerce market, Brighton based internet shop Pretty In Pink is the go-to source for tracking down those original forties through to eighties kitchenware, accessories and now vintage clothing for men and women. Recycling is also a factor owner Patricia N. Maggs says, ‘ as buying vintage is a great way of recycling’ and have been nominated for the Sussex Eco Awards for their green initiatives. Selling vintage knitting patterns, so keen kitsch-followers can unpick and transform an old jumper or two. Take a peek at www.prettypinkantiques.co.uk
DIE HARD MOD BOOK LAUNCHES AT SHORT FUSE, KOMEDIA
Regular literary cabaret night Short Fuse at Komedia are set to launch new pulp novella Die Hard Mod written by Charlie McQuaker on Sunday 13th. A fitting place for the launch, Brighton being the historical home of Mods and Rockers ruckuses, the night is dedicated to all things Mod, with a short film on Mod culture, local fiction writers reciting some of their work, Mod DJ Stan Ogden playing in between readings and rock writer Paolo Hewitt also in attendance.
JAM RE-FURBISHMENT
Aiming to fill a certain niche in the smörgåsbord of live music destinations is Jam. They’ve been dipping their toe in those beery waters for a while now – Little Dragon and Plugs being two recent highlights – but now, they’ve finally stripped off their bathrobe and taken the plunge. Just in time for a brilliant if gruelling road test at this years Great Escape, they’ve moved the bar (to open up the room), bought and repositioned a swanky modular stage (to accommodate bands of various numbers), and given the sound system a dose of the ‘roids.
WORDS LYDIA STOCKBRIDGE