BRIGHTON BEST OF BRITISH
Brighton has always had a pedigree as a great city for dance music, and despite the focus on our bands over the last few years, that’s still true. Says who, you ask? Says dance music bible DJmag who have nominated loads of our beat experts for gongs in this year’s Best Of British Awards. Audio, Burns, Mount Kimble and Shogun Audio (alongside ex-Brighton legends Annie Nightingale and Bonobo) have all made the shortlists for this year. Head over to djmag.com/bestofbritish/ to vote them to success.
SHOP TIL YOU…OK,
remember you promised yourself you’d start early this year? Like, not leaving it to the circle of hell that Dante forgot – Churchill Square on a mid-December weekend. The Komedia has a couple of options as an alternative – first they’re hosting Brighton’s Secondhand & Craft Bazaar on Sunday 5th from 10am-4pm, featuring pre-loved gear and locally designed handmade items to suit the more individual taste. The event’s on Facebook at /secondhandbazaar. …
DROP
A week later on Sunday 12th, The Handmade Brighton Christmas Special at Komedia is the ideal way to pick up something unique and genuinely thoughtful-looking. The fair runs all day and displays handiwork by local artisans and designers, so you can be sure to find lots of vintage-inspired jewellery, accessories and artwork. Ideal for the discerning housemate, less ideal for the DIY dad.
MATCHBOX FLARE-UP
It seems like only yesterday that we were sat in The Foundry with the Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster for our chat with them last month, hearing of their plans to release another album way sooner than the previous six-year wait and their general bonhomie and optimism. So when a week later they took to the stage at Digital and Guy McKnight announced it would be their last ever show, we were as surprised as anyone. They were ace and we’ll miss them.
CLASSICAL CHRISTMAS
Those of you already fed up with Christmas and its credit-hammering spend fest could probably do with imbibing some genuine festive spirit. No, not advocat – get yourself in front of some lovely old Christmas music by candlelight at the St Nicholas Church on Dyke Road, on Saturday 18th at 7.30pm. The Hanover Band will be playing seasonal hits from Bach and Handel, and everyone promises not to mention their overdrafts.
KATE ATTONES FOR GMTV
We believe she used to fart into the same sofa cushion as Eamonn Holmes, but to be honest we never watch ITV as it’s rather common. But now she’s doing good work for the Make A Wish people, who help sick kids jump queues at Disneyworld and stuff. Kate apparently has this website now – goodypass.com – where punters buy stuff at keen discounts through the site from local and national businesses. The site’s Save To Give charity campaign has just launched in Brighton, helping local kids with life-threatening diseases by donating 5% of their profits to the cause. And presumably offering tax benefits to Ms Garraway, but let’s not be churlish about that.
A SIDEWAYS LOOK AT THE GUITAR
Writing about music every month, we come across a lot of guitars. A LOT of guitars. So when someone like Ollie Friend comes along, we sit up and take notice. He lays the instrument across his lap and hits the body and the strings to create a completely unique and original sound. It’s winning him fans, too – he’s competing in the south of England final of Open Mic UK, which is one step away from the grand final at the o2 up Fancy London. Check him out: myspace.com/olliefriendmusic
NO SHAME IN THE GAME
If gaming’s your thing, a couple of things are certain – your girlfriend will usually be cross with you, and you’ll like this exhibition. Another Castle: Illustrations From A Lifetime Spent Gaming features some of London and Brighton’s top up and coming illustrators and designers depicting their favourite games. You can challenge them in a Nintendo face-off to win discounts of the artwork of your choice. That’ll cheer up her indoors – a framed likeness of Sonic The Hedgehog…
WORDS BY NICK COQUET, JAMES KENDALL, JESSICA MARSHALL MCHATTIE
