BRIGHTON MUSICIANS BREACH CITY WALLS
News reaches us as we go to press about the pleasing fortunes of some of our favourite Brighton musicians. We’re not laying claim to the entire credit for this, despite having variously reviewed and interviewed them in these very pages, but it can’t be a coincidence. Ex-Pippette Rose Elinor Dougall (read the review of her brilliant new album in Critic this month) is appearing on Mark Ronson’s new album, Esben & The Witch have signed to Matador, and The Valentines should, by the time you read this, have just supported The Libertines. Good work, local music folk!
MUSIC MANIFESTO
If you like your music with a passionate and political tinge to it, get down to Concorde 2 on Wednesday 15th for the Music and Freedom show. Put together by local musician Kit Ashton, the night involves local acts with something to say, soapbox-style short films and speeches from local community-involved spokespeople. The event will see The Agitator, Thomas White and Chris T-T all performing in between speeches from the likes of Green MP Caroline Lucas concerning issues of climate change, strengthening communities and imagining beyond consumer capitalism.
POP-UP SHOP, YEAH?
The massive response we got to our snazzy Modern Toss cover last month shows we’re not the only ones who think they’re ace – anyone who advertises a Newcastle cartoon art exhibition as ‘The North East England Felt Tip Shit House’ certainly gets our vote. Now they’ve brought their acerbic art back home to Brighton with a pop-up shop at the Fishing Quarter Gallery in Kings Road Arches, open until Tuesday 7th. As well as art prints and assorted nik-naks, you can also get knitted gear from Cardigan, in case it turns cold or something. Sounds like a good place to part with some cash, yeah?
GREEN GONGS
Voting for nominees has now closed, and the judging begins for the Sussex Eco Awards. With 592 nominations for various organisations and businesses, it’s going to be a tough task. The ceremony will be taking place Wednesday 15th at the Sussex County Cricket Club, open to all who get a ticket. Our fingers are crossed for the Lewes Road Community Garden project winning the Community And Campaign Organisation Of The Year category, to even the score just a little bit.
HANOVER AND OVER
Hanover Day is one of the few remaining street festivals in Brighton, so to help secure it for 2011 they’re putting on an event called Dress Up Sunday at the Concorde (who’ve donated the venue for free) on Sunday 19th. They have a line-up including AK/DK, :Kinema:, Yokoko, DJ Bugs Raplin and a collaboration between King Porter Stomp and Elemental. If that’s not enough, there’s also games, deck chairs, dinosaurs, stalls, ice cream races and paddling pool competitions. We’re not sure what the ‘dress up’ element is, so let’s just say ‘general dressing up’.
FALL FOR AUTUMN
Friday 17th-Sunday 19th is autumn equinox celebrating time, Out of The Ordinary style. The moon-attuned festival at Knockhatch farm features local acts Andy Barlow of Lamb fame headlining, alt. Indie from Forestears and folk-punk revellers Zora and the Tatsmiths kick-starting the party. But there’s more to see at OOTO, the whole site centres around the stone Peace Circle, a Green market selling local and fair trade goods, and an emphasis on family workshops, all powered by the sun and wind.
JIMMY IS THE STRONGEST LINK
The Bobby McGee’s’ very own Jimmy – aka Coco The Bastard – has won The Weakest Link. The ukulele-wielding alt-folker took on Anne Robinson and made her look pretty damn stupid. “So, do they let women into your beard club,” she asked him. “I’m sure we can find a space for you,” he retorted without missing a beat. The hunter becomes the hunted. Watch it on iPlayer – it’s a good 45 minutes of entertainment. He took home £2,500 despite many of the other players being idiots.
UNDER MY LTD EDITION UMBRELLA
Thursday 9th sees Nola previewing their Autumn/Winter 2010 collection. Attending guests will be treated to a 10% discount for the exclusive stock, as well as the opportunity to get their hands on a beautiful bespoke umbrella from print-mad designers Basso & Brooke. As designers in residence at Turning Leaf, they’ve created a limited range of umbrellas inspired by the marvelous colours of the beautiful grape. Who said winos can’t be fashionable, eh?
WORDS BY MATT BARKER, NICK COQUET, LYDIA STOCKBRIDGE
