VOLUME 6 ISSUE 8 AUGUST 2015
r o u q i l T A E M LLING A C D N ROA LONDO
MORE S PHOTO ! E ID S IN
INSIDE:
TIM BURGESS MNEK RYAN CALLANAN BRIGHTON DIGITAL FESTIVAL BRIGHTON GIN
BRIGHTON’S DEFINITIVE CULTURE AND EVENTS GUIDE
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
www.brightontaxis.com YOUR LOCAL 24 HOUR TAXI SERVICE
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AUGUST. 2015. “Summer afternoons; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.” Let’s not forget those August evenings though. The sun might not be beating down upon us every day, and the darkness may be forever encroaching, but the days are still warm enough to permit all kinds of outdoor activities. There are plentiful clubs and festivals to entertain us in the weeks ahead, so we’re taking a look at the best places to swing your pants.
CONTENTS. 4.
COMPETITION TIME!
5.
GUEVARA CAR INSURANCE
6-7. 8.
BRIGHTON DIGITAL FESTIVAL
9.
JAZZFIT AT BIRD STUDIOS
10-11.
RYAN CALLANAN
12.
BEN THOMPSON
14.
TIM BURGESS
16.
MNEK
18-19. 20. 21-27. 29. 30-31.
More seriously, we also examine a unique and community spirited platform for insurance, and glimpse the fast approaching Brighton Digital Festival. If you fancy toasting the sunset, we’ve been getting fruity with Brighton Gin, the city’s very own local spirit. As always we’re highlighting the city’s best music, comedy and theatre events for this month. Check out the best food and film in the city too. So don’t stay in, because the streets are lined with excitement. At least, I think that’s what I was told.
NEWS
WELCOME.
CLUBBING LIVE MUSIC PLANNER MEATLIQUOR PHOTOSHOOT COMEDY PLANNER FESTIVAL GUIDE
32.
THEATRE PLANNER
34.
CINEMA RELEASES
36.
BRIGHTON GIN
38.
FOOD: VELVET JACKS
40.
FOOD: THE PARK CRESCENT
42.
FOOD: THE GEESE
44.
BE GLUTEN FREE!
46.
CRYPTIC CROSSWORD
Want to become part of the BN1 Magazine team? Internships available for local writers, photographers, creative types and enthusiasts to join one of Brighton’s best community and lifestyle magazines! Just email your CV and a little about yourself to the office: info@bn1magazine.co.uk.
Want to be noticed by thousands of readers across Brighton and Hove ADVERTISE IN BN1 MAGAZINE: SA L ES@B N1M AG A Z I N E .C O.U K All rights reserved including rights of reproduction and use in any form or by any means, including the making of copies by any photo process or by any electronic or mechanical device (printed, written or oral), unless permission in writing is obtained from the copyright proprietor. All textual content, design graphics, images and specific photographs used in the magazine are Copyright © BN1 Magazine 2015.
EDITORIAL DESIGN
CONTRIBUTORS
Lucy Hallett, Holly Cozens, Stuart Rolt, Freya Hughes, Sarah Smith, Mila Statham, Maddie Maynard, Rachael Cattermole
LISTINGS
SUPPORTERS:
Rachael Cattermole
MARKETING & SALES Holly Cozens, Freya Hughes
PHOTOGRAPHERS
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
Editor—Chris Sadler, Editor—Stuart Rolt, Sub Editor—Freya Hughes
James Daly - jamesdalyphotography@gmail.com listings@bn1magazine.co.uk
4.
BN1MAGAZINE.CO.UK
WIN BRIGHTON TOTE COMPANY BAGS Want to carry all of your shopping in something more attractive and less environmentally damaging than a common supermarket-branded plastic bag? Now there’s a good looking Brighton-centric answer to your concerns. Made up of a small group of friends - all with a common interest in sustainability - Brighton Tote Company produce natural canvas tote bags. As the need to protect the environment becomes greater, the use of reusable natural material becomes the choice of many. Their bags are large enough to eliminate the need for potentially harmful plastic bags, and small enough to be folded up and kept in your bag or pocket. The innovative design features the seagull - synonymous with the beautiful Brighton seaside. The lovely people at Brighton Tote Company have given us ten of their finest bags, worth £7.95 each, to simply give away. To win one, all you have to do is answer the question below: Which one of these is a type of bag? A. Bagpuss B. Tote Bag C. Baggy Trousers Send your answer including your name, address and telephone number to:
COMPETITION@BN1MAGAZINE.CO.UK Please put ‘BAG’ as the subject header. Terms and conditions apply. A winner will be chosen and notified at the end of August.
WWW. BRIGHT ON T O TECOMPA NY.C O.UK
WIN FANTASTIC FOUR GOODIES With great power comes great prizes. And boy, do we have some prizes for you. To celebrate the release of ‘Fantastic Four’ this August, we have teamed up with our buddies at 20th Century Fox and Cineworld Brighton to reward all you lucky fans. ‘Fantastic Four’ - a contemporary re-imagining of Marvel’s original and longest-running superhero team - centers on four young outsiders who teleport to an alternate and dangerous universe, which alters their physical form in shocking ways. Their lives irrevocably upended, the team must learn to harness their new abilities and work together to save Earth from a former friend-turned-enemy. In order to get your hands on a pair of free cinema tickets and a bunch of ‘Fantastic Four’ goodies, you just have to answer this simple question: The ‘Fantastic Four’ is made up of Mr Fantastic, The Invisible Woman, The Human Torch and one more member…. Who is it? A. The Thing B. Batman C. Green Lantern Send your answer including your name, address and telephone number to:
COMPETITION@BN1MAGAZINE.CO.UK Please put ‘F4’ as the subject header. Terms and conditions apply. A winner will be chosen and notified mid August.
GOOD LUCK!
WIN
BN1MAGAZINE.CO.UK
5.
VIVA LA REV-OLUTION! By Stuar t Rolt Bringing a gentle revolution to a previously rigid and detached market, new car insurance platform ‘Guevara’ encourages people to work together. This peer-to-peer (P2P) based service is making the process of taking out insurance more fun, personal and transparent. “Every one of us in the business has had a bad experience with insurance,” says Guevara’s co-founder and marketing manager Rich. “We’ve got a passion to do something that’s slightly different… and make a difference.” Drivers using this new system can expect the same cover, only without the marketplace. The system is simple. You pay money with other members of a social or community group into a pot. Whatever is left over at the end of the year, after any claims have been made, is returned, minus a small fee.
G U E VA R A R E VO LU T I O N I S E S C A R I N S U R A N C E We, as consumers, are legally compelled to pay people to assume our risk, but there’s no pleasure in the traditional ways of buying insurance. The Guevara platform returns humanity to the process. “We don’t believe that it’s right, how insurance companies have entrenched themselves into a place where they don’t care about the human element,” says product development manager and cofounder JP. The name ‘Guevara’ is a subtle nod to the revolutionary figure, rather than a wholesale endorsement of his political beliefs, but as a platform it recognises the power of a community. It’s assumed people won’t enter needless or fraudulent claims, when this will affect people they know. Amongst all the regulatory compliance are safeguards against unscrupulous exploitation of the system. Ultimately the system’s strength comes from trust. I’m meeting the pair in an airy Sydney Street café, both of them having spent the morning on the seafront picking litter with The Big Clean Up. They’re young, enthusiastic and confident they’ve created something game changing. At the moment, Guevara has only been rolled out in Brighton & Hove and its surrounding areas, but the city has been quietly utilising other P2P services for decades; everything from car shares to leaving useful items in the street. “It thrives on change, in making things better and believing there’s a future which could be better,” says JP. As a place where people genuinely understand the power of working together, Brighton offered the platform an ideal test bed. “Everyone we’ve talked to gets it very quickly,” agrees Rich. “It’s a model that resonates with people here.” Providing circumstances don’t change, a premium cap means you never pay more than you did initially. It’s even possible
to save up to 80% in successive years. Unless you’ve pooled your money with boyracers or the pathologically unobservant, this system could significantly reduce your motor insurance outlay. Obviously the system isn’t for everyone. If you’re governed by self-interest or simply a careless driver, there’s little to be gained. If you know, and are willing to trust a small group of likeminded individuals, the benefits could be endless. If the scheme is working smoothly for a group, there’s no reason why it can’t be used to cover other insurance situations. Although Guevara gives people the ability to understand where their money goes and work together, JP is pragmatic about its immediate obstacles. “The challenge with what we’re doing is being trusted to hold the money and being prudent with it. It’s also hard helping people to trust each other.” Previously advising banks and telecom companies, he left to begin banking and healthcare projects in Kenya. There, 90% of the population have no access to banking or adequate healthcare, many living dayto-day and unable to build up a financial safeguard. In the developing world, many traditional systems encourage everyone to place money into a central fund to benefit those falling behind. Apparently the Western world’s higher standard of living is accompanied by a loss of this community spirit. Until now, everyone relied on individual relationships with a big insurer, who essentially didn’t care. Surprisingly, similar closed-access insurance systems are standard practice. Large vehicle fleet owners hold money on their own balance sheets to cover claims, only going to outside insurers for extraordinary coverage. Rich, having worked extensively in customer-
orientated roles, understands the value of building an emotional connection with their brand and their clients. “People have been buying based on price, and their experience has been terrible.” The economics of big insurers seems to be profit-driven and stacked against the customer experience. Propelled by a loss of faith, our society is reassessing the power of the individual in the marketplace. Many realise that whilst their money sits in a bank earning minimal interest, it’s not helping anyone except the big institutions holding it. With careful regulation and technology bringing people together, new financial methodology is aiding those who need to borrow and yielding a larger return for savers. Che Guevara himself once proclaimed: “The people liberate themselves.” While the enigmatic Marxist now finds himself resigned to countless student posters, the communal ethos behind this platform would have thrilled him. All you need is a desire to work together and dissatisfaction with how big business treats customers. “In terms of outlaws, we genuinely believe the future of how insurance works will be like this,” says JP. “All revolutions have to start with someone who is willing to go outside the system and try to change things.” Diverting power from big business into the hands of the individuals actually paying the premiums, Guevara is a reflection of society’s shifting economic attitudes. Now there’s a new chapter of change, one where people demand transparency, responsibility and co-operation.
WWW.HEYGUEVARA .COM
BLOOM TO BE THEATRE ROYAL UNVEILED AT PIONEERS APP PRINCE ALBERT GIG FOR KIDS WITH
OSKA BRIGHT FILM FESTIVAL
THURS 20 AUG
ADDITIONAL NEEDS
MON 9 - WEDS 11 NOV
After 12 months off, Brighton DIY indie superstars The Beautiful Word have renamed themselves as Bloom. During their enforced hiatus, due to singer Megan suffering a vocal cyst, the band decided to recognise the last eight years of musical progression with a name change. The time away gave them space to explore new ideas, embrace new influences and write loads of fresh material.
Theatre Royal Brighton has developed ‘Inside The Magic’, an app designed to enhance visiting the theatre for children and families, primarily those with additional needs. It is understood to be the first resource of its kind created by a theatre in this country.
Oska Bright, the award-winning international film and digital media festival, returns to Brighton Dome on Mon 9 – Weds 11 Nov 2015. This event is a joint venture between Arts Council England’s learning disability arts charity Carousel and JUNK TV, a Brighton film production company.
Now this reincarnation of Brighton’s cheeriest band is being unleashed at a special show at The Prince Albert on Thurs 20 Aug. Known for their infectiously upbeat live shows, they’ve attracted a loyal following with their cheery ‘mystery pop’ music. Although they’ll be performing some old live favourites at The Albert, this much anticipated show definitively draws a line under The Beautiful Word. Tickets are a svelte £5/£6 in advance. See you down the front!
WWW.WECANBLOOM.COM
BLOOM
The 208-year-old Brighton theatre holds regular tours of the auditorium, backstage, under stage and dressing rooms. The completely interactive app will add to participants’ involvement, bringing the rich history of the theatre, and the fascinating characters that visited it, to life. Inside The Magic has been designed to be used either in situ or taken out to families and used as a “virtual visit” for users who have mobility issues or are unable to come to the theatre.
The festival is run by, and for learningdisabled people, with the aim of providing a platform for a range of innovative, striking and quirky works. It brings together filmmakers and film lovers, demonstrating the impact of the arts on our communities with over 100 screenings, masterclasses, Q&A sessions and an award ceremony.
Commenting on the app, General Manager John Baldock said: “Theatre Royal Brighton’s history and heritage are internationally celebrated. But it is wonderful to think that we are also leading the field helping every single member of our community experience the joy of live theatre”.
Universally accessible, this diverse event provides a unique opportunity for learning disabled film-makers and audiences, challenging common perceptions of who can create great art. Not only offering recognition for the participating artists, it also enables learning-disabled artists to engage in the wider artistic and cultural community.
WWW.ATGTICKETS.COM/BRIGHTON
WWW.OSKABRIGHT.CO.UK
PHOTO CREDITS : NATHALIE HAMMOND
BN1MAGAZINE.CO.UK
PING! PONG IN BRIGHTON
MO:VEL
Brighton & Hove’s ping pong season is well underway. Ping! Brighton has placed 34 tables around the city, available for people to play on free of charge. Bats and balls are available from nearby cafés for many of the tables. A launch event last month packed more than 400 ping pong players of all ages into Jubilee Square. It saw Mayor of Brighton and Hove - Cllr Lynda Hyde - and the Junior Mayor - Wednesday Croft - testing their skills.
42 BOND ST, BRIGHTON
Tables can be found at: Hove Lagoon, Wish Park, St Ann’s Well Gardens, Hove Park, Hove Lawns Café, Sussex County Cricket Ground, The Bandstand, Brighton Sailing Club, Churchill Square and Preston Park. There’s free ping pong and lots of special events.
WWW.PINGBRIGHTONANDHOVE.CO.UK WWW.PONGPLEXED.COM
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With 2014’s FIFA World Cup and next year’s Olympics, the sounds, styles and spirit of Brazil is flowing around the world. Infused with the pleasure, rhythm and joy of Ginga - the rocking footwork of fighting/dancing style Capoeira - Mo:vel trainers are inspired by the Brazilian idea of cool, fluid movement. Displaying a new approach to sports footwear, Mo:vel offers a fashion item with the flexibility and agility of a performance shoe. Elegant in design, comfort is as important as aesthetics. Mo:vel think “moving is better when you enjoy the journey, when you walk with attitude and style.” Beneath their smooth exterior lines, every shoe provides the ultimate in flexibility and support, with a Phylon midsole and pivot points for freedom of movement. Inspired by Brazilian music, designers Bruno Nunes Coelho and André Coelho Moreira have helped create a range of special limited edition prints (only around 100 pairs per artist being produced). The location for Mo:vel’s first store, Brighton shares the brand’s free spirited and colourful ethos. Here they’ve created a unique shoe shopping experience. From selection to purchase, the concept ensures a simple process. Designed to let the feet move freely, fluidly and with confidence, Mo:vel shoes are helping us discover our inner Ginga.
BREAKOUT FESTIVAL 2015 SAT 26 SEPT Waking up Sussex, Breakout Festival returns to Brighton Racecourse on Sat 26 Sept. With over 30 bands performing across three stages, this is the first and only outdoor heavy rock festival to have hit the city. On a mission to bring rock back to Brighton, the organisers have booked an incredible line-up for this second year. Confirmed so far are: Deaf Havana, SikTh, We Are The Ocean, Blitz Kids, Martyr Defiled, Black Tongue, TRC, Dead Harts, Zoax, and By Definition. The festival also gives aspiring musicians the incredible opportunity to share a bill with the headliners.
WWW.BREAKOUTFESTIVAL.CO.UK
INK_D GALLERY & STUDIO RARE ART SALE SAT 26 SEPT – SUN 18 OCT Calling all sellers and buyers of rare prints! Do you have art in the loft/under the bed you would like to sell? Are you still on the hunt for that illusive print you missed? Maybe you would like to release some funds to get a new piece of artwork? Ink_d Art Gallery on North Road are inviting submissions of mint condition prints ready for a ‘Rare Print Sale’ on Sat 26 Sept – Sun 18 Oct with a private view on the Friday. All artwork chosen will be hung during this time so people can find their pieces a new home, re-invest in some forgotten treasures or give the general public a chance to get excited about some rare art. Items will need to be framed if possible, and have a provenance or invoice from where it was bought.
WWW.INK-D.CO.UK
WWW.MOVELSHOES.COM
BRIGHTON DIGITAL FESTIVAL OOH AHH THAT’S A LOT OF BITS “It’s like an all-you-can-eat buffet of digital cultural tech.” That’s how Genevieve Smith-Nunes sees Brighton Digital Festival - a month long celebration of digital culture which will return for its fifth year this September. Genevieve is the founder of Ready Salted Code, a creative, non-profit computer science education company who will be showcasing their latest work, DataStorm, at this year’s festival. Despite how it may sound, it’s not all screens and lectures, as Genevieve explains: “we write curriculum and workshops and then we have the innovation side, which is the ballets and the big installations.” In her youth Genevieve went to dancing school, but this had to be put on hold when she underwent two spinal fusions that still affect her today. Now she uses Ready Salted Code to combine her love of ballet with her other main interest – technology. “I think I’m just vicariously living through the dancers but I really love tech. It’s kind of like a double passion,” she enthuses. The two may seem poles apart, but dance and digital aren’t all that different to Genevieve. “I DON’T KNOW IF YOU’VE EVER DONE BALLET BUT IT’S QUITE FUNCTIONAL, IT’S VERY STRUCTURED. IT’S NOT EXACTLY THE SAME AS PROGRAMMING OR COMPUTATIONAL THINKING, BUT TO ME THEY’RE JUST TOTALLY THE SAME THING.” “Ballet has its own language the same way as programming and Python or C or Java Script does, it’s just the language of feet and body.” Not only do they show these similarities, but ballet and technology can also compliment each other, and this can be seen in DataStorm. “It allows people to see the really kind of abstract, complex elements of computing science theory in a way that feels comfortable and accessible,” says Genevieve of the project. “It’s a beautiful piece as well, which is what people don’t think about computer science. They think it’s very analytical when actually code is incredibly creative and people who are really good at programming have beautiful, elegant written code. You can look at it and see the beauty in it, if you’re kind of crazy in a way, like me.” DataStorm is the follow up to last year’s [arra]stre, and the second in Ready Salted Code’s three part Art of Computer Science series. “Like any good sci-fi, it has to be a trilogy.” Based on the theme of oceans and weather, DataStorm follows the journey of one piece of data as it travels from the US to the UK. Each of the dancers will hold a glowing cube representing one piece of data, in an attempt to simplify and educate the audience on this complex process. “It’s about them associating the imagery with the theory, so how data is transferred via a network. The whole notion of jumping from server to server, that’s quite hard to visualise as humans.”
By Maddie Maynard “PEOPLE THINK COMPUTER SCIENCE IS SCARY, IT’S KIND OF LIKE NERDS IN BASEMENTS WITH SANDALS, YOU KNOW THAT WHOLE NOTION THAT IT’S SOLO ACTIVITY, THAT IT’S NOT INCLUSIVE, BUT ACTUALLY IT’S INCREDIBLY SOCIAL.” Along with the cubes, the dancers will wear ballet shoes adorned with Arduino lights as well as headdresses, which they will code with their own personal touch: “we go through with them and they just decide collectively on what kind of pattern they want and they pick the particular colours. “This year, audience members will also be able to get involved in a way that will affect the live performance. “We have a set piece of code that we’re using for how the lights trigger on the installation and they’re going to be able to modify that. They’ll make them different colours and different patterns, and we want people to go ‘oh my god, that’s my bit of code!’” But not all of the technology will be coded beforehand. The dancers will wear sensors to monitor their sweat, and the data generated will trigger lights and visuals including storm videos, satellite data and isobar maps. Visuals will also be triggered by genuine weather data to help the audience feel the storm around them. “We’re looking at wave map data and the sound effect that waves have, then we have Met Office data, oceanographic data, heat maps of weather and jet streams.” When creating DataStorm, Genevieve decided to continue a theme that she touched on in [arra]stre. “That was choreographed on the patterns of the storm data from July last year when it flooded everywhere and everyone was inundated with rain, and actually the weather maps were really beautiful to look at.” Constantly inspired and exploring new developments in technology, Genevieve is already planning her next project, which will be ballet focused on a much more personal theme – herself. “YOU CAN’T SEE I’M IN CHRONIC PAIN, YOU WOULD NEVER KNOW THAT I SIT HERE AND IT’S PAINFUL. SO IT’S ABOUT MAKING THE AUDIENCE AWARE IN AN EMOTIONAL SENSE, AND USING TECHNOLOGY TO DEMONSTRATE IT.” And who better to dance in the piece than the subject herself? “It’ll probably be me dancing that bit, so I start on ballet lessons in September,” Genevieve reveals. September’s going to be a busy month.
WWW.READYSALTEDCODE.ORG WWW.BRIGHTONDIGITALFESTIVAL.CO.UK WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/BRIGHTONDIGITALFESTIVAL
BIRD STUDIOS TIME FLIES WHEN YOU’RE HAVING FUN By Sarah Smith Entering a space dedicated to singing, dancing, acting and fitness would usually be an intimidating experience, and enough to make your inner wallflower quake with fear. However, Bird Studios on New England Street is the kind of place that turns whatever apprehension you may have into anticipation. It must be said first what an impressive space Bird Studios is. With three large dance and acting studios with full length mirrors, ballet bars, sprung floors and a powerful sound system, it’s easy to feel like a pro, regardless of your performance experience. What’s more, there is a recording studio/band rehearsal room for all those budding artists out there. With their Youth Theatre Group, and classes for adults and children that range from Flamenco to Kickboxing to Pregnancy Yoga, Bird Studios really does have, and do, it all!
EXCITING NEWS! Roller Derby Triple Header
Sunday 9th August Doors from 11am
ADULTS - £12 STUDENTS - £10 UNDER 12s FREE Now’s your chance to see ALL of the UKRDA Championship Tier 2 Southern division teams compete in one day, at one venue Brighton Rockers host this exciting derby-filled day at the Dolphin Centre, Haywards Heath, where you can catch all the action See Brighton Rockers vs London Rockin’ Rollers, Portsmouth Roller Wenches vs Seaside Sirens Roller Girls, and Bristol Roller Derby vs Royal Windsor Roller Girls 4 for 3 offer (£36) available from
brightonrockers.com @BRIGHTONROCKERS FACEBOOK.COM/ BRIGHTONROCKERS
Against this backdrop, a few of us from BN1 headed down to Bird Studios to give it a go ourselves. We did Jazz Fit, a dancebased fitness class, with the lovely Charlotte Summers who holds her class every Tuesday at 6pm. She had the difficult task of convincing three people, who had led a sedentary day in the office, that exercise is fun. Charlotte described how doing press ups and sit ups can sometimes scare people off, so she tried to take the chore out of exercising and make it fun whilst still getting in key ab and butt exercises. She completely succeeded in doing this as we not only found ourselves sweating, but laughing too! Although it could be said that it was our renditions of Charlotte’s moves that were laughable, it was more likely to be the enthusiasm and feel good atmosphere in Bird Studios that really put the smiles on our faces.
BIRD STUDIOS, VANTAGE POINT, NEW ENGLAND STREET, BRIGHTON, BN1 4GW WWW.BIRDSTUDIOS.CO.UK WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/BIRDSTUDIOSBTN WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/JAZZFITBRIGHTON
RYAN CALLANAN SIGN OF THE RHYMES By Maddie Maynard When a young Ryan Callanan started work at a London sign making company, it’s unlikely that he pictured himself where he is today. With celebrity collaborations, US exhibitions and a British Visual Artist of the Year award under his belt, the artist commonly known as RYCA is now preparing for a display at Brighton’s Ink_d gallery.
“I’VE JUST DONE TWO SHOWS IN CALIFORNIA SO THIS IS THE FIRST TIME ANY OF THIS STUFF HAS BEEN EXHIBITED IN THE UK.” RYAN EXPLAINS OF HIS UPCOMING SHOW, ENTITLED ‘LIFE’S A GAMBLE’. Partly inspired by a recent trip to Las Vegas and named after a record by hip-hop artist Jay Rock, the exhibition will feature 25 pieces of Ryan’s unique ‘poptorian’ artwork; pop art made using Victorian techniques that he learnt during his aforementioned career.
“MY FIRST JOB WAS TO SCULPT HEADS OF VARIOUS PUBS, THINGS LIKE THE MARQUIS OF GRANBY AND THE KING’S HEAD. JUST BEING AT THAT COMPANY I LEARNT THE OLDSCHOOL TECHNIQUES OF GILDING AND THE OLD-FASHIONED WAY OF HOW THINGS WERE MADE. “BEING INTO WARHOL I SAW HOW HE TOOK SCREEN PRINTING FROM BEING AN ADVERTISING PROCESS INTO AN ART FORM, I JUST THOUGHT WELL, THIS HASN’T BEEN DONE. THE FIRST PIECE I EVER DID WAS A MOVIE QUOTE AS A MINI PUB SIGN. ” Apart from using modern technology to get the job done quicker, nothing’s really changed for Ryan as he now produces his artwork using the very same skills. But the signs no longer depict the names of the local boozer; instead, they are inspired by music and immortalise the lyrics of some of Ryan’s most admired hip hop artists.
“I’VE DONE A LOT OF LYRICS OF PEOPLE WHO I DEEM OUT OF REACH OR WHO ARE DECEASED. YOU’RE NEVER GOING TO GET A SEAL OF APPROVAL FROM BIGGIE SMALLS OR TUPAC, SO YOU’VE KIND OF JUST GOT TO DO IT, AS AN ARTIST I THINK IT’S IMPORTANT TO JUST DO IT. I’M DOING IT IN A TASTEFUL WAY, I’M NOT DISRESPECTING THESE PEOPLE, I’M TRYING TO PAY THEM THE MOST RESPECT POSSIBLE.” When selecting the next lyric to use in his artwork, lifelong music fan Ryan tries to choose snippets that are not exclusively obvious to hip-hop fans. He cites his Wu-Tang Clan-inspired piece, ‘Cash Rules Everything Around Me’ as a perfect example.
“PREVIOUSLY, BANKERS HAVE BOUGHT IT NOT KNOWING ABOUT HIP-HOP, NOT KNOWING ABOUT THE WU TANG CLAN, JUST BECAUSE THAT’S THEIR WORLD, IT SUMS IT UP AND THAT’S THE KEY; I WANT MY ART TO BE ACCESSIBLE INSTANTLY. “YOU DON’T NECESSARILY HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THE REFERENCE POINT BUT HOPEFULLY PEOPLE MIGHT LIKE A LYRIC IN THE SHOW AND THEN GO AND FIND THE TRACK.” But of course, a lot of hip-hop fans do appreciate the references, and because of Ryan’s use of gold and precious metals in the finishing of his work, this also hints at the ‘bling’ side of the genre. One of Ryan’s famous fans is Sergio Pizzorno, guitarist and vocalist with Kasabian, who agreed to a collaboration a few years back. Ryan took a lyric from their single ‘Shoot The Runner’, and produced ‘I’m The King and She’s My Queen’.
“THE FIRST THREE SALES WERE TO GAY COUPLES AND IT WAS FUNNY BECAUSE THEY WERE LIKE, ‘HE’S THE QUEEN AND I’M
THE KING’. THEY DEFINITELY SOLD TO PEOPLE WHO WEREN’T AWARE OF WHERE IT CAME FROM.” Other artists that have inspired Ryan’s work include Brighton’s own Fatboy Slim, Cypress Hill and more recently Kendrick Lamar, who Ryan praises as one of modern hip-hop’s biggest talents.
“KENDRICK’S GOT THE RIGHT ESSENCE ABOUT HIM, HE’S GOT A REALLY GOOD FLOW, HE’S NOT NECESSARILY TALKING ABOUT EVERYTHING ELSE THAT 90 % OF HIP-HOP IS TALKING ABOUT, WHICH IS CARS, WOMEN, JEWELLERY; HE’S GOT A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT, SMARTER TRACK LIST.” The acid house era also inspires Ryan and led him to produce his personal favourite piece; his take on the famous smiley face.
Youth Theatre 16–25 yrs
“WITHOUT ANY WORDS IT IS MUSICALLY RELEVANT, IT’S JUST POTENT FOR ME. THAT SMILEY FACE EPITOMISES MY CHILDHOOD, GROWING UP IN THE 80S NOT REALLY UNDERSTANDING WHAT WAS GOING ON, AND THEN LATER ON GETTING INTO DANCE MUSIC AND FINDING OUT HOW IMPORTANT THAT ACID HOUSE ERA WAS.” And the smiley is a continuing source of inspiration for Ryan, as he believes it influenced the emoticon culture of today.
“I LOOK AT THE SMILEY AS THE GRANDAD OF THE EMOJIS. I REDRAW THEM IN MY STYLE AND MY CRITERIA FOR IT IS I DON’T EVER DO ANY NEGATIVE ONES, ANY ANGRY ONES. THE SORT OF UNDERLYING JOKE IN MY SERIES IS THEY’RE ALL GRANDSONS OF SMILEY AND RAVE, AND THEY’RE STILL HAVING A GOOD TIME SO I’VE DONE THE WINKER, THE HEART EYES, I’VE DONE TONGUE OUT AND THE CURRENT ONE I’M ABOUT TO LAUNCH IS THE BLOWING A KISS EMOJI. I JUST SAW THEM AS THAT REFERENCE POINT AND FOR ME I BELIEVE THAT’S WHERE THEY COME FROM.” It’s clear that Ryan uses his art as a way of materialising a lifetime’s love of music. By encapsulating symbols and lyrics in precious metal and glass, Ryan is making them timeless for himself, for the artists, and for the people who see or buy his art.
“THINGS HAVE A SHORTER LIFE NOW. WHETHER IT BE DESIGN, MUSIC… THE INTERNET HAS SPED UP HOW QUICKLY SOMETHING EXISTS AND YOU GET BORED OF IT AND THEN PEOPLE MOVE ON TO THE NEXT THING. MOST OF MY STUFF KIND OF PRE-DATES THE INTERNET WHICH IS INTERESTING, SOME OF IT’S MORE RECENT BUT THE ONES THAT I CHOOSE, THEY’RE KIND OF TIMELESS. FOR ME, SOMEONE LIKE BIGGIE SMALLS I THINK YOU’RE GOING TO BE LISTENING TO IN A HUNDRED YEARS. HE’S AS IMPORTANT AS THE OLD POETS TO ME.”
AUDITIONS STARTING SOON! This show is NOT for the faint hearted. This show is full of vice, energy, excitement, dabaucery and punk rock. The Tony award-winning musical based on the generation defining 2004 album by Green Day is coming to Brighton. Contact us to audition.
It’s going out to idiot America.
RYAN CALLANAN: LIFE’S A GAMBLE INK_D GALLERY, 96 NORTH RD, BRIGHTON BN1 1YE
birdstudios.co.uk
SAT 8 AUG – SUN 6 SEPT
INFO@birdstudios.co.uk
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BEN THOMPSON Since studying at the British and Irish Modern Music Institute (BIMM), Ben Thompson has become the live drummer for Two Door Cinema Club and a range of other famous bands. He recently took a break from playing shows and festivals across the world, to tell BN1 about how it all happened…
CAN YOU TELL US HOW THE SKILLS YOU LEARNT AT BIMM TRANSFERRED INTO THE PROFESSIONAL WORLD? ‘BIMM always taught me how important it was to be professional. I learnt very early on in the music industry that this business is about who you are as a person, as well as your technical ability. So being easy to get along with and a nice, reliable person will get you a long way. BIMM also regularly mentioned the importance of networking with people in all situations. This industry relies so heavily now on word of mouth, you’ve gotta be good at it.’
WHY DID YOU GET INTO DRUMMING? WHAT WAS YOUR INSPIRATION?
connections in the industry to help you... you’ve just got to show them your passion to succeed. I finished my first year diploma at the age of 17. I’d worked hard and the Head of Drums at the college introduced me to a London agent. She went on to offer me an audition with Two Door Cinema Club. From the day of that audition I literally haven’t stopped! Two Door and I really clicked and worked really well together. I ended up doing both world tour album campaigns which lasted over five years, at 250-300 shows a year worldwide. Two Door Cinema Club are taking some time off to write a new record. I got a call to work with Producer/DJ Hudson Mohawke at the beginning of this year. He’s produced a lot of artists, from Kanye West and Drake to Pharrell and Mark Ronson. I’ve been touring around the world with him for six months now and love playing some dance music. It involves a lot more electronic triggering of samples etc, so is nice to have a challenge. In the last month I got asked to play some shows over the summer with Gorgon City as well. So I have my first show with them in a few weeks, which I’m really looking forward to doing!’
‘My family have always been very musical so I’ve always had music around me. I first wanted to play the drums when I was about 12/13. My dad showed me amazing inspirational musicians so I instantly had good role models. Jeff Porcaro, Bernard Purdie, Simon Phillips and Steve Gadd were my main guys. My dad gave me a challenge and said to me: “When you can play ‘Rosanna’ by Toto, I’ll get you your first drum kit.” (No pressure Dad, cheers!!) So I locked myself in a room for a few hours and worked it out and shouted down at my dad: “I’ve done it!” Much to his shock, he was a man of his word and down to the music store we went. For my birthday, my parents surprised me and booked me onto one of the BIMM Summer Schools to get a taster. It was the most amazing experience; it really made me want to consider music as a career.’
SO WHAT ABOUT THE RIGOURS OF TOURING? HOW DIFFICULT IS IT TO FIT INTO AN ESTABLISHED GROUP OF MUSICIANS?
CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCES IN THE INDUSTRY?
ANY HOPES/ASPIRATIONS FOR YOUR CAREER?
‘I went to BIMM at 16 and knew exactly where I wanted to be by the end of my time there. I think this is my best bit of advice about going there. If you just think you can rock up and walk out famous... It’s not going to happen. You’ve got to work hard to reach goals and network to get to where you want to be. They have the
‘People think of touring as a holiday and a party. Don’t get me wrong, it is amazing fun and you see the world doing what you love, but it is a very physically exhausting job. The travelling involved is crazy, and don’t forget all the jet lag jumping from country to country. So you’ve got to try and keep on top of being as healthy as you can in order to physically being able to play for an hour and a half a night, six times a week, sometimes in six different countries! I’ve always been good with new people. I love meeting and working with new people and they develop into strong friendships over the years.’
‘I feel so lucky to be where I am now. I’m just going to continue working as hard as I can at doing what I love most. Being able to say I make a living from music is amazing and I will continue to do so for as long as I possibly can! In terms of artists I’d absolutely love to work with - it would have to be Stevie Wonder!’
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TIM BU RGESS LATTE NIGHT SPECIAL By Stuart Rolt From an internet in-joke to a real-life place bursting with flavours and sounds, Tim Peaks is more than your average coffee shop. Often the setting for impromptu DJ sets and shows from acts like Roddy Frame, The View, Nick Heyward and Edwyn Collins; it’s fast becoming a major attraction across the UK. Its founder, The Charlatans’ singer Tim Burgess, admits it’s been an amazing few years with the spontaneous atmosphere of his travelling venue always offering something memorable.
“LOTS OF THINGS AT FESTIVALS ARE A COUPLE OF STEPS REMOVED FROM REALITY ANYWAY...SO IT’S SOMETHING THAT HITS YOU WHEN YOU GET HOME.” Recently (in typical Tim Peaks fashion) the Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics’ director - Professor Tim O’Brien - brought in the observatory’s audio archive containing sounds from the Big Bang and storms on Jupiter. Jim Spencer, producer for New Order and The Charlatans, mutated them into a banging techno track which people could download for free.
“WHEN WE TELL PEOPLE ABOUT THOSE KIND OF THINGS, IS WHEN IT SEEMS A BIT OUT OF THE ORDINARY.” The concept began in the Twitter-sphere. Burgess found himself with 4,000 followers, but wondered how to best use the platform. One morning he jokingly asked them if anyone wanted a coffee. Orders for virtual hot beverages flooded in from around the world. Evolving into a daily event, this metaphysical coffee shop was dubbed Tim Peaks. Merchandise was made and quickly sold - with the profit going to charity - showing its potential. The growing popularity of listening parties and radio slots based around Tim Peaks spurred Burgess to spend less time on Twitter, and more time making a reality of this strange place. Kendal Calling’s organisers then offered him a log cabin at their festival. So he brought along a Wurlitzer jukebox, booth, his own special coffee blend and performances from a few UK music legends. Everyone involved felt something very special happened over that weekend. Now a blossoming physical entity, Tim Peaks tours the nation’s festivals, with proceeds going to The David Lynch Foundation. Set up by the film director, this charity offers transcendental meditation to people unable to afford it. In the UK, the foundation teaches this drug-free therapy to war veterans, the homeless and those in prison.
“WE BORROWED THE NAME TIM PEAKS FROM DAVID LYNCH, SO IT’S GOOD TO GIVE SOMETHING BACK.” This meditation technique has been shown to help with people with post-traumatic stress disorder. Children with ADHD have also found it aids concentration and improves school grades. Obviously every festival stint is planned (to an extent), but most of the magic at Tim Peaks ‘just happens’. Often the acts playing are booked elsewhere on site or, in the case of Suzanne Vega, simply attending the festival as a punter and fancy knocking out a tune or two. When it comes to Forgotten Fields this month, London indie stars Hatcham Social (coincidentally the backing band for Burgess’ solo shows) will be there, sporting a new brass section. When
Image by © Jen O’Neill
bands are queuing up to play, you simply need to get the coffee aspect perfect; the rest will take care of itself. The growing success of Tim Peaks coincides with a renewed interest in Burgess’ original band. For some long-established artists it could be a delicate balancing act - remaining relevant and appeasing the revivalists. But The Charlatans have always lived in the moment. “When it comes to playing live, I think the audience has expectations about hearing older songs.” Their most recent tour saw them play over two hours each night, bringing the old and new.
“EVERYONE SEEMED TO KNOW ALL THE WORDS AND SING ALONG FROM THE START. MAYBE THE ANSWER IS JUST TO PLAY LONGER SETS AND THEN EVERYONE’S HAPPY.” It’s likely Tim Peaks has the best-dressed staff at any festival. An event in Wales saw someone from legendary shirt manufacturer Ben Sherman spending a lot of time with them. They received some specially designed shirts just a few weeks later. It demonstrates the appeal of this roaming venue. People understand, and want to contribute to its uniqueness. There is something about a good coffee experience that unites people. It can be a positive start to a morning, especially when getting back on your feet at a festival. It’s almost a therapy in its own right.
Many of the Peaks experience’s most important facets have emerged from pure chance. Burgess once heard a child utter the term: ‘totes amazeballs’. Thinking it sounded like a Willy Wonka product, he tweeted that it was the name of a new breakfast cereal he’d successfully pitched to Kellogg’s. The food giant then actually contacted him, subsequently making the cereal a tasty reality, just for his patrons. Whilst The Charlatans generally had lots of people looking after them at festivals, Tim Peaks means Burgess increasingly appreciates the drama behind the scenes.
“JASON, WHO ROASTS THE TIM PEAKS COFFEE, ALWAYS COMES WITH US AND NOTHING GETS THE BETTER OF HIM. I’M BETTER AT STEPPING IN IF A DJ HASN’T TURNED UP... IT’S ALL ABOUT TEAMWORK AND PLAYING TO YOUR STRENGTHS.” From an imaginary place to meet and chat, Tim Peaks has evolved into something special. Don’t dispute the positive power of communication, or people’s ability to bond over a cup of good coffee.
1 Aug
Duckie: Border Force
2 - 6 Aug
Comedy Summer
School
TIM PEAKS COMES TO FORGOTTEN FIELDS, AT ERIDGE DEER PARK NEAR ROYAL TUNBRIDGE WELLS.
2 Aug
Max and Ivan
30 Aug
Jimmy Carr
10 - 11 Sep
Bryony Kimmings
19 Sep
Seun Kuti and Egypt 80 + Akala
22 - 26 Sep
Avenue Q
FRI 7–SUN 9 AUG 2015 WWW.TIMPEAKS.CO.UK WWW.FORGOTTENFIELDS.CO.UK
01273 709709 brightondome.org
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MNEK
MASTER AT WORK By Sarah Smith Producing, song writing and collaborating with some of the UK’s biggest artists makes a pretty impressive addition to your CV by the time you’re 20. Most have a bit of retail/bar-work and a splattering of GCSEs and A Levels, however Uzoechi Emenike is not your usual 20-year-old and, along with his reputation as a successful producer, is set to be one of the hottest artists of 2015. Known better under his artist moniker ‘MNEK’, he is now ready to step out from behind the scenes and pursue a career centre stage.
quality of his work, he hardly spreads himself thin. “I think I was meant to do all those things,” he tells me. “I like multi-tasking.”
Despite his distinctive sound, no two MNEK tracks sound the same; each one has a very unique flavour. “I have so many influences, I try to not keep my options linear. I think it’s important for me to showcase all kinds of genres through my own music.” Although displaying a wide range of influences - from pop to soul to 90s RnB in his 2015 EP ‘Small Talk’ - he sometimes feels pigeonholed and restrained If you haven’t already heard his work as a solo artist, you’re sure by people’s expectations of him. “There is this idea that I’m just a to know songs he has been instrumental in creating. If you’ve ever house artist or something, but when it gets into album mode, I really hope to show that I’m more than heard Gorgon City’s ‘Ready For Your Love’ (which I’m sure “ T H E R E I S T H I S I D E A T H AT I ’ M J U ST A H O U S E that and there’s more to what I do.” you have), then take note that A R T I ST O R S O M E T H I N G , B U T W H E N I T G E T S If anything, MNEK is an artist it was MNEK that provided the smooth vocals. Duke I N TO A L B U M M O D E , I R E A L LY H O P E TO S H OW grounded in the here and now; Dumont’s number one hit ‘Need T H AT I ’ M M O R E T H A N T H AT A N D T H E R E ’ S someone who explicitly acts spontaneously and tries to resist U (100%)’ - yep, he co-wrote M O R E TO W H AT I D O . ” expectation. This lack of planning, and performed backing vocals which is typically attributed to on that too. He’s also written and produced songs for The Saturdays, Little Mix and Kylie youth, is often seen as a curse. However, he sees this as fundamental Minogue. Essentially, this article could be dedicated to outlining to his creative freedom and the thrill he gets from creating music. MNEK’s various collaborations, such is his ubiquity in the industry, “I just want to keep creating without expectation, I think when I’m however what is perhaps more exciting is his decision to go solo. expecting something, it’s not fun anymore. I just wanna like, surprise all the time.” Although he refuses to calculate his every move, he Considering how young MNEK was when he started writing and does reveal to me that he’d “love to have a Grammy and tour the producing (age nine!), it could be assumed that he is from a long line world.” Having been nominated for a Grammy last year, and with fans of music moguls. Of course this is not true, and he reveals to me that from across the pond begging him to visit their neck of the woods, simply “there was always music in the house.” He grew up listening to it seems highly likely that both of these things could come true. his parents’ collection which, he says, consisted of “a lot of Whitney, a lot of Bob Marley.” Hearing these legends as a child seems to have The question remains - is there anything MNEK can’t do? With rubbed off on him and helped make him the distinctive, yet diverse various festival appearances announced for this summer, and artist he is today. “It was a good palate to have as a kid, and that’s with his eyes already firmly set on a Grammy, he shows no signs something that I’ve carried with me through the years and up until now.” of slowing down. However, concerning his future escapades and the lure of America he remains true to himself and concentrates Since having his work signed when he was 14, he has contributed on where he is now. “I want people to know who I am here first, I to three UK number ones. While some may need a breather from the don’t want to be jumping on something else.” It seems like there whirlwind of such success, he works tirelessly to define who he is is nowhere MNEK would rather be than right here, right now. as an artist against the expectations placed on him through years MNEK WILL PERFORM AT THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY V FESTIVAL of writing and producing songs for other people. “I have something different to say when it comes to my own artistic projects... I know ON SAT 22 - SUN 23 AUG AT HYLANDS PARK, CHELMSFORD AND what a song is to me, I know my process, the sounds I want to WESTON PARK,STAFFORDSHIRE. use.” Having a reputation as a producer, songwriter and now performer can seem like a lot to juggle. However, considering the VISIT WWW.VFESTIVAL.COM FOR TICKETS
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CLUBBING PLANNER
SUNDAY SUNDAE OFFICIAL PRIDE PARTY
ALTER HOUR
EVERY SAT KOMEDIA
SUN 2 AUG PATTERNS
FRI 7 AUG THE ARCH
The Komedia’s weekly night takes you back to a Detroit that never imagined urban farms. Even before MC5 and the Stooges rewrote the rock ‘n’ roll playbook, the city produced a musical revolution that would bridge gaps between age, ethnicity and language.
It’s Pride, and some of you don’t want lose that feeling. So here’s a late night session to keep the heart rate racing. As you’d expect from the official party, it’s got the perfect line-up.
After a string of successful parties around the city, Alter Hour begins a residency at The Arch. Already in a league of her own, Anthea brings her bass-laden, rhythmic, dynamic selections. Joining her is the London-based DJ/producer Archie Hamilton, who’ll take an inspiring trip through house and techno, with deep rolling bass and groove.
MOTORCITY
Image by Marie Staggat
Using a classic mix of the best Motown as a foundation, the night provides soul, funk and rock ‘n’ roll anthems to keep your feet stomping into the early hours! Best of all, if you’re at a Komedia comedy show on a Sat, then you get in here for free!
Keeping the energy up will be familiar faces, circuit stars and local heroes including: Paul Coals, Jeffery Hinton, Mr Haywood, Kidology, Mikalis, Kate Wildblood and Queen Josephine. Expect an upfront selection of funky tech house and sexy electro grooves. Best of all, it’s in the middle of the Pride Village.
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WWW.PATTERNSBRIGHTON.COM
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SPELLBOUND
DENSE & PIKA
RINSE FM
SAT 15 AUG KOMEDIA
SAT 22 AUG PATTERNS
FRI 28 AUG PATTERNS
The team behind legendary London glam night ‘Stay Beautiful’ bring you another evening of 80s perfection. Billed as ‘the 80s club night for people who HATE 80s nights,’ it shows there’s more to this decade than social inequality, crap computer games and monotonous electronic music.
A couple of uncompromising DJs dropping a succession of warehouse techno bangers is just what the doctor ordered. So get ready for a dose of Dense & Pika. Formed from Glimpse’s Chris Spero and Hypercolour’s Alex Jones, this rather super group have been dropping startlingly good white labels since 2011.
For over 20 years, Rinse have been providing the more discerning young Londoners with a rich and varied urban soundtrack. Once a pirate and now legit, this upstanding community broadcaster is showing us how they do it in the capital.
Jenna Allsopp and Simon Price spin a range of alternative classics, including the likes of Siouxsie, Soft Cell, Stray Cats, Smiths and Specials (and that’s just under ‘S’). The technology back then might have been prehistoric and the hairstyles atrocious, but some of the music was amazing! The Campaign for Real Eighties starts here!
WWW.KOMEDIA.CO.UK/BRIGHTON
Digging deep from the crates will be Peter Glasspool. Known for his elegant mixing style, he brings a timeless escalation of perfect house music. With a 24-hour licence and an epic sized Funktion 1 system, this bash will literally be rocking the seafront all night.
Now they’re hitting the top of Beatport’s techno chart. The pair’s jammed-out, clubready style is quickly establishing them as a major force on the club circuit.
The station’s Tuesday stalwart Oneman comes to the coast, to demonstrate why he’s considered one of the most technically skilled spinners on the scene. He’ll be genre spanning, and cranking up the energy all night long. Stay tuned!
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ZED BIAS
BREAKIN SCIENCE
DISCO DEVIANT
FRI 7 AUG PATTERNS
SAT 8 AUG CONCORDE 2
SAT 15 AUG PATTERNS
Reports of his musical demise have been greatly exaggerated. Mancunian bass legend Zed Bias has not retired from the music industry, but is now concentrating in giving a platform to some of the incredible talent he’s met during his career.
Breakin Science Brighton offers a Sunbeatz Ibiza warm up. Centre stage are bass legends G-Dub. Comprised of DJs Original Sin and Sub Zero, their eclectic influences and superior production values have seen the duo stamp an indelible mark on the scene. Now both are separately in demand, as remixers and producers.
You should know the score with Disco Deviant by now – fabulous house and fierce disco served up in the city’s newest club. But it’s unlikely they’ve seen anything like this yet. Dapperly attired and deploying some weapons-grade banter, Detroit Swindle play a three-hour set this month.
So it’s down to Brighton with his new outfit, Madd Again. A collaborative project from Zed Bias, Trigga, Specialist Moss & Killa Benz blend bashment, grime and garage into something unmistakably British and booming.
WWW.PATTERNSBRIGHTON.COM
Also getting the crowds jumping is the legendary MC Trigga, with his deadly microphone technique and razor-sharp wit. Mix sets from Majistrate, DJ Guv, Voltage, Kombo, Mekar and Deefa, and we’ve got us a party.
WWW.CONCORDE2.CO.UK
Swindlers Lars Dales & Maarten Smeets are famed for their energetic DJ sets and playing a range of new, electrifying sounds. Support comes from DD’s very own Pablo Contraband. So what’s not to love?
WWW.PATTERNSBRIGHTON.COM
SH*T POP
VANISHING POINT
BLACK KEY RECORDS ALL-DAYER
LAST FRI OF EVERY MONTH THE HAUNT
SAT 29 AUG PATTERNS
SUN 30 AUG THE JOKER
We all have a love affair with the epically uncool. No matter how much we fake abhorrence for the worst of pop music, given a few drinks all embarrassment is shed when Backstreet Boys’ ‘Everybody’ starts booming over the PA.
DJ, producer, remixer and co-owner of legendary German label Kompakt, Michael Mayer may be the busiest man in dance music. A seasoned provider of top quality progressive, contemporary music, there are few people who understand the dancefloor better.
Back in Brighton for one last all-day party for 2015, Black Key Records will bring some of the city’s finest DJ talent to the London Road venue. Not only that, but this booming bash will see a very special two-hour set from underground house & techno legend Mosca.
With a playlist featuring the likes of Scatman, Right Said Fred, Taylor Swift, Will Smith and Peter Andre, it’s a tortured soul that isn’t buoyed by this cheesy pop onslaught. If a record is untrendy, uninhibited and under five minutes long, they’re likely to give it a go. So crank up the devil’s jukebox, and let’s have a party.
With over 20 years in the game, he’s become a regular fixture at some of the world’s greatest clubs. An innovator entertainer and educator, this playful and passionate DJ is all set to thrill the Vanishing Point crowd. Joining him are Teamy and Matthew Balaam, keeping everyone on their toes.
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WWW.PATTERNSBRIGHTON.COM
Joining him are residents Tom Sevinski and Neil Brown, plus special guests Pablo Contraband, the Keep It Moving DJs and Markus Saarländer. It’s a ticket only and attitude-free affair, so get those dancing trousers on, and see this summer out in style!
WWW.BLACKKEYRECORDS.CO.UK
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LIVE MUSIC PLANNER
SPONSORED BY
QUEENSRŸCHE
SAMANTHA CRAIN
DEERHOOF
FRI 7 AUG CONCORDE 2
FRI 7 AUG LATEST MUSIC BAR
WED 26 AUG PATTERNS
There have been personnel changes, disputes over the name and a few minor tweaks to the sound, but Queensryche remain as powerful as they did at their formation in 1982.
Pushed to the front by the minimal production on her last album, the talent and potential of this Oklahoman chanteuse has been revealed in all its glory. She certainly has enough skill with her voice to fill any void left when everything is stripped back.
Fractured, whimsical-noise pop comes to Patterns, courtesy of the revered San Francisco–based indie rockers. Disorientating, with an ear for a blissful groove or two, they’ve turned being weird into an art-form. Some might call what they do avant-garde, but there are discernable moments of self-parody.
Having sold over 20 million albums worldwide, this progressive metal band made a recording comeback with 2013’s eponymous album. It marks a return to the sound which made them unique. Expect massive vocals, tripped-out classics and a slew of rock hits. This will be a night of epic proportions in almost every sense.
The recorded material has yet to capture the sweeping charm of her live performances. The endearing fragility of her voice belies a painful past, one she’s sharing with us all. That’s not to say there aren’t hidden depths concealed amongst her critique.
Their 13th album, ‘La Isla Bonita’, is, however, surprisingly accessible. Yet it still manages to gleefully swing between ferocious heavy metal and saccharine-sweet guitar pop. Properly bonkers...
WWW.CONCORDE2.CO.UK
WWW.THELATEST.CO.UK/MUSICBAR
WWW.PATTERNSBRIGHTON.COM
MANCHESTER ORCHESTRA
ARC
AT THE EDGE OF THE SEA
THUR 27 AUG CONCORDE 2
FRI 28 AUG THE JOKER
SAT 29 – SUN 30 AUG CONCORDE 2
The Atlanta-based hard rockers are finally doing a European tour. Last year saw the release of their critically acclaimed album, ‘Cope’, accompanied by a stripped-down, reimagined version of its songs called ‘Hope’. Even for a band at the peak of their powers it was a bold move.
The Joker continues to bring the finest emerging bands to its stage. This time the Brighton-based alternative rock band Arc, are rocking the London Road venue. The band’s new EP ‘Dopamine’ is out now, and ripping it up on SoundCloud. Check it out now.
With tales of rejection, 180mph jangly guitar riffs and a defiantly uncool attitude, The Wedding Present returns for another Bank Holiday mini-festival. Curated by their imitable singer David Gedge, it shows all those unbearable hipsters what indie means.
These chaps effortlessly bang out energetic pop riffs and high-energy anthems. It’s the kind of melodic, hooky and thrilling indie rock that everyone needs in their lives.
With a sumptuous wall of washy sound, they’re a little bit ambient, somewhat reverberated and undeniably garage. But you can be certain they’ll gently caress you in all the right places...
Sat features the band playing the A side from their ‘Saturnalia’ album, with guest slots from Watoo Watoo and Cinerama. Sun sees Saturnalia’s B side, with another appearance from Cinerama, plus The Nightingales. Go out and get ’em, boy!
WWW.CONCORDE2.CO.UK
WWW.THEJOKERBRIGHTON.COM
WWW.CONCORDE2.CO.UK
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MEATING PLACE MEATliquor Brighton is an impressive eatery dressed with a bucket-full of the city’s unique charm, bringing a taste of the capital to our seaside town. Alongside taste sensations such as the ‘Dead Hippie’ burger, to-die-for chilli cheese fries and any sides you can think of, MEATliquor Brighton also serves up a delicious range of fried shrimp and some neat vegetarian options. These can be served with buckets of ice-cold beer, whiskies for all tastes and plenty of luscious cocktails including the ‘Red Snapper’, crafted by Soulshakers. You can even grab a good old-fashioned ice cream shake.
WWW.MEATLIQUOR.COM/BRIGHTON
Designed by interior architects Shed, the London Road restaurant draws inspiration from Brighton’s lurid history, bringing all the controlled anarchy of its London sites to the city. This atmospheric uniquely themed joint is a showcase of mixing cages, intricate patterns, fantastical illustrations, obscure seaside personas, luminous clowns and neon flamingos behind its tinted windows. It is like nothing else in the city. Part rock ‘n’ roll hangout and part cocktail bar paradise, this restaurant is contemporary and exciting, with a menu to match. The first establishment to truly embrace the new attitude of this revitalised quarter of Brighton, MEATliquor might be edgy and urban but its welcoming staff, amazing food and inspired décor will give you an evening like no other…
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PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAMES DALY WWW.JAMESDALYPHOTOGRAPHY.COM HAIR AND MAKE UP BY MARTHA JOY WARNES LIZ SAMWAYS MODELS JON RUS AMY GRAFTON-MITCHELL ROXY WOOD JOE BURKE-BURROWS CLOTHES FROM JUJU TO BE WORN AGAIN ODDBALLS
COMEDY
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29.
PLANNER
PETE’S COMEDY CAPER
AMY HOWERSKA & ANDREW WATTS
MAX AND IVAN: THE END
EVERY FRI DURING AUGUST THE NIGHTINGALE ROOM
SUN 2 AUG KOMEDIA
SUN 2 AUG DOME STUDIO THEATRE
The greatest ever ‘Big Brother’ contestant and consummate man about town, Pete Bennett brings a crazy caravan of comic capers to Grand Central’s lovingly restored venue.
Komedia’s Edinburgh preview season draws to a close with a bang. Andrew Watts wants his son to be everything that he’s not, so he’s exploring ‘How To Build a Chap’. The last thing he wants for his offspring is to grow up and become a comedian. Join him in the hilarious follow-up to the five-star ‘Feminism for Chaps’.
Welcome to Sudley-on-Sea. Take a look around. You don’t have long... seriously. It’s an epic tale of a small town, on the day of its destruction. As the end approaches, there are choices to be made... This non-descript island hamlet is facing a nuclear meltdown. Which is a shame, as many of its inhabitants will be people you feel you already know.
Raised by a pack of wild Welsh skydivers, Howerska’s show ‘Sasspot’ offers the notion that comedy is not ‘brave’ compared to going home for Christmas. Her household is not a party until everyone discusses their head injuries. Get ready for some sharply observed stories of death, extreme sports and Swansea.
Foster’s Edinburgh Comedy Award and Melbourne Barry Award-nominees Max and Ivan (BBC1’s W1A, Radio 4’s Casebook of Max and Ivan) come to Brighton Dome with a preview of their 2015 Tom Parry-detracted Edinburgh show.
WWW.KOMEDIA.CO.UK/BRIGHTON
WWW.BRIGHTONDOME.ORG
It’s at a fabulous, intimate and comfy venue with full table service, good food and an extensive list of craft beers and spirits accompanying some of the UK’s best up and coming comic talent. Pete is going to ensure you have a great time.
WWW.THENIGHTINGALEROOM.CO.UK
ALAN CARR – YAP, YAP, YAP!
MICHAEL MCINTYRE
JIMMY CARR - FUNNY BUSINESS
WED 5 AUG CONGRESS THEATRE, EASTBOURNE
THURS 27 - SUN 30 AUG BRIGHTON CENTRE
SUN 30 AUG BRIGHTON DOME
Loveable, lively and loud... the Chatty Man returns, this time travelling without a plethora of celebrities to play with. The BAFTA and British Comedy Award winning star is returning to his stand-up roots with a new and hilarious take on life.
Happy & Glorious, the new stand-up show from one-man circus Michael McIntyre, finally comes to town. His previous tour in 2012 was the biggest selling comedy tour in the world, playing to over 640,000 people including a record-breaking ten-night residency at London’s O2 Arena.
Ribald, provocative and utterly hilarious, the ‘8 Out Of 10 Cats’ frontman returns to Brighton. If you can get enthusiastic about quick-fire quips covering anal sex, gender politics, child abuse, air disasters and disability - all delivered in a relentless and gleeful manner then this is for you. The abhorrent cruelty isn’t the comic masterstroke though, how the jokes are meticulously constructed is what stands his work apart.
With plentiful charm, vivid use of language and exaggerated facial expressions, he’s certainly no shrinking violet. He might be a big deal, but he still realises how ridiculous he can seem. That’s what makes him special.
WWW.EASTBOURNETHEATRES.CO.UK
The appeal of this everyman is clear. While he’s happy to indulge in the mass appeal observational material, he’s also similarly willing to be more personal. When he starts building up that comic momentum - get out of the way, because nothing is stopping him.
WWW.BRIGHTONCENTRE.CO.UK
We all know it’s an act. Carr is far from the ignorant deviant he portrays himself to be. So is this a rally against a world of unbridled political correctness, or someone simply behaving like an epic fool to entertain his adoring audience? You decide.
WWW.BRIGHTONDOME.ORG
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FESTIVAL GUIDE
SPORTBEAT
REBELLION
LAKEFEST
THURS 6 - SUN 9 AUG WINTER GARDENS , BLACKPOOL
FRI 7 – SUN 9 AUG CROFT FARM WATERPARK, GLOUCESTERSHIRE
SAT 15 – SUN 16 AUG OXSTALLS SPORT PARK,GLOUCESTER
Forget donkey rides and ice creams on the beach, because Blackpool is about to get a whole lot louder. Rebellion, the annual independent punk and alternative festival, will be taking over Blackpool’s Winter Gardens for a four-day celebration of all things rock.
Lakefest began as a humble cider festival back in 2011, when punters enjoyed 9,000 pints of cider and were entertained by the likes of The Wurzels and The Roving Crows.
For summer fun combined with three stages of brilliant live music plus sports tournaments and attractions, look no further.
Starting out in 1996 under its original guise ‘Holidays In The Sun Festival’, the event has gone on tour around the globe and continues to present the best in retro and new breed rock. Six stages will host a jam-packed bill of more than 250 acts, including the legendary Boomtown Rats, Buzzcocks, Gang of Four and The Damned.
Now in its fourth year, the family festival at Croft Farm Waterpark has grown into a three-day event that will this year feature performances from Billy Bragg, Ash and The Magic Numbers, to name but a few. The independent ethic of the festival makes for a safe and fun-packed family experience without the huge queues and crowds. Or in the organisers’ words – ‘it’s Latitude without the commercial edge’.
Musical highlights will include The Fratellis, The View and Grandmaster Flash, as well as dance remix maestro Jaguar Skills. And in between acts you can entertain yourself by watching or taking part in a sports tournament, which will range from volleyball to rugby sevens. There will also be a silent disco, laser tag, street art and a vintage fair, so there’s something for everyone at this fun-packed family event at Oxstalls Sports Park, Gloucester.
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END OF THE ROAD
MOSELEY FOLK FESTIVAL
ONE LOVE
FRI 4 – SUN 6 SEPT BLANDFORD, DORSET
FRI 4 – SUN 6 SEPT MOSELEY PARK, BIRMINGHAM
FRI 4 – SUN 6 SEPT COXFORD DOWN, WINCHESTER
Deep in the beautiful Dorset countryside lies a magical place called Larmer Tree Gardens. Its magnificent lawns and ancient woodland are home to free flying macaws, roaming peacocks and above all, some outstanding music events.
Celebrating its tenth birthday this year, Moseley Folk Festival will once again take over Moseley Park this September. The festival offers a healthy mix of traditional, contemporary and downright experimental folk and acoustic music over their annual three-day event.
The country’s most popular celebration of reggae and dub will return this September for three days of good music and good vibes. One Love, which aims to spread Bob Marley’s message of peace and unity, is a place to see familiar faces from the reggae world as well as upcoming talent. Standout acts will this year include Mykal Rose, The Maytones and Little Roy.
The most famous of these events is the End Of The Road festival. Receiving unfaltering critical acclaim year on year, the festival boasts appearances from some of the indie scene’s most sought-after acts. This year’s headliners Tame Impala, Sufjan Stevens and The War On Drugs will lead an outstanding bill including the likes of Future Islands, Mac Demarco, Sleaford Mods and Happyness.
WWW.ENDOFTHEROADFESTIVAL.COM
Topping the bill this year are 60s legends The Monkees with an exclusive UK festival performance, as well as Spiritualized and Idlewild. Other highlights will include the 22-member Polyphonic Spree, the stunning vocals of Anna Calvi and alt-rock newcomer Du Blonde. Championing the folk genre are acts including sisters The Unthanks, best friends Twelfth Day and The Cadbury Sisters, great granddaughters of the famous chocolate businessman himself.
WWW.MOSELEYFOLK.CO.UK
With the festival’s chilled days also comes great nights with DJs playing until late. Plus, witness the return of the Battle of the Dubplates - the ultimate soundclash featuring last year’s winners Fatman International Sound and competitors King Tubby’s Sound System and Mackabee Sound.
WWW.ONELOVEFESTIVAL.CO.UK
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VICTORIOUS
CREAMFIELDS
V FESTIVAL
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Image by Marc De Groot
Image by George Salisbury
SAT 22 – SUN 23 AUG HYLANDS PARK, CHELMSFORD & WESTON PARK, STAFFORDSHIRE
FRI 28 – SUN 30 AUG DARESBURY, CHESHIRE
SAT 29 – SUN 30 AUG SOUTHSEA SEAFRONT, PORTSMOUTH
One weekend, two locations and scores of chart-topping artists, V Festival is back to bring you the best of British and international pop. Boasting huge acts such as Kasabian, Calvin Harris, Sam Smith and this year’s hottest artists, V will feature four stages including a brand new dance tent where you can catch the likes of Toddla T, My Nu Leng and Hannah Wants.
The UK’s largest dance festival is back over the August bank holiday weekend. Superstar DJs The Chemical Brothers will be headlining one of the festival’s many stages on Saturday night, and other highlights will include the legendary Fatboy Slim, Avicii and Tiësto.
Bigger and better than ever before, Portsmouth’s Victorious festival will return over August bank holiday weekend.
In fact, just about anyone who is anyone in the dance music sphere will be appearing over the weekend. So if you love dance music, there really is no other alternative.
The brand new Common Stage will host performances from huge acts including the Flaming Lips, Ray Davies and Primal Scream, whilst smaller stages will be showcasing some great upcoming talent.
So dig out your raving shoes, book your Big Green Coach to Liverpool and prepare for the wildest weekend of the summer!
The festival is also home to a bustling market where you can find vintage gems, handcrafted treats and lots of tasty things to eat. And don’t forget to visit the Boutique Gardens, where you can catch some live music on the Seaside Stage as well as arts, crafts and the Twisted Tearoom.
WWW.VFESTIVAL.COM
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TOGETHER THE PEOPLE
ON BLACKHEATH
SOUTHDOWNS FOLK FESTIVAL
SAT 5 – SUN 6 SEPT PRESTON PARK, BRIGHTON
SAT 12 - SUN 13 SEPT DARTMOUTH FIELD, BLACKHEATH
FRI 25 – SUN 27 SEPT BOGNOR REGIS
Get the gang together for Brighton’s first greenfield festival Together The People, which will take place in Preston Park this September.
On Blackheath is a two-day family festival in the heart of the capital. Get ready to sing along to Elbow and stomp away to Madness as the sun sets behind the London skyline in the distance, after enjoying acts such as Kelis, Laura Mvula and Temples during the day.
There are plenty of other activities to get involved in, including a comedy tent where you can rest your dancing feet and have some laughs with Frankie Boyle, Seann Walsh and many others.
Image by Malin Johansson
Mums and dads will be transported back to the festivals of their youth as topping the bill are legendary troubadour Billy Bragg, Brighton’s own Levellers and the Super Furry Animals. Teens should love some of the city’s brightest hopes including Tiago Saga and Aniseed Treats, and there’s something for the little ones in the form of Horrible Histories and Cat In The Hat live shows. Plus, Jose Gonzalez has now been announced as the very special headliner!
WWW.TOGETHERTHEPEOPLE.CO.UK
The Food Village will feature tasty pop-up restaurants as well as The Chef’s Club Banquet, where guest chefs, authors and presenters from the foodie world will be cooking up some treats for you to sample. There’s plenty to entertain the kids as well, with a dedicated playground for them to explore. Here they can experiment with screen-printing, dance and many different workshops.
WWW.ONBLACKHEATH.COM
Southdowns Folk Festival returns to the sunny Bognor seaside. The headline acts this year include Irish multi-instrumentalists Craobh Rua, Show of Hands and Pilgrim’s Way. Most of the event is completely free, and acts such as harmonious and critically acclaimed Yorkshire duo O’Hooley and Tidow, who will stop off at the festival as part of their 30-gig micro tour, will be playing sets from the beach all the way to the town centre. There should be plenty to entertain avid folk lovers and families alike, so keep an eye on the festival’s website for more details and announcements.
WWW.SOUTHDOWNSFOLKFEST.CO.UK
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THEATRE PLANNER
QUENTIN CRISP: NAKED HOPE
HAMLET
IOLANTHE
FRI 31 JULY - SUN 2 AUG RIALTO THEATRE
SUN 2 AUG BRIGHTON OPEN AIR THEATRE
FRI 7 AUG BRIGHTON OPEN AIR THEATRE
From a conventional Surrey upbringing to global notoriety through his autobiography ‘The Naked Civil Servant’, Quentin Crisp led an extraordinary life. This muchacclaimed production, following a UK tour and off-West End season at the St. James Theatre, relives the wit of this controversial raconteur.
Folksy Theatre brings their open-air Shakespeare production to Brighton’s beautiful new open-air theatre. The Prince of Denmark battles inner demons and seeks to avenge his late father. Pathologically indecisive and somewhat confused by his feelings for his mother, the lad’s got a few issues to work through.
Gilbert and Sullivan’s most satirical comic opera is set half in Fairyland, half in Westminster. Surprisingly topical, it pokes fun at love, class and politics, and how those in authority really wield the powers they have.
The piece shows Quentin both in his beloved Chelsea flat as the 70s dawned, and in his final years in his adopted New York, with the new millennium beckoning.
Filled with riddles and hidden agendas, this is the ultimate tale of a man’s search for meaning. Filled with live folk music and colourful characters, it’s a magical version of this great tale as you’ve never seen it before!
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The titular fairy has sinned against the laws of Fairyland by marrying a mortal, which simply won’t do. Many believe its sumptuous harmonies to be the most beautiful Sullivan wrote. Faithfully performed by a reduced cast with live piano accompaniment, this is openair theatre company Illyria at their best.
WWW.BRIGHTONOPENAIRTHEATRE.CO.UK
ALICE IN WONDERLAND
TALKING HEADS
OUR MUTUAL FRIEND
SAT 8 AUG BRIGHTON OPEN AIR THEATRE
TUE 11 - SAT 15 AUG THEATRE ROYAL
WED 19 – MON 31 AUG BRIGHTON OPEN AIR THEATRE
On the 150th anniversary of Lewis Carroll’s tale of nonsense, The Young Actors Group stage their first ever outdoor show. With original music from the young actors themselves and adapted for the stage by Adrian Mitchell, this version promises to delight the whole family.
The multi-award winning Alan Bennett sealed his reputation as the master of observation with this series of groundbreaking monologues. This is a rare opportunity to see three of these darkly comic, poignant and uplifting modern classics.
Split into parts by Two Bins Company, this is a revival of the much-loved production, which took place in Brighton in the late 90s. Part love story and part thriller, this epic tale of murder, greed and obsession features 18 actors playing around 40 roles.
A young girl must find her way through the very strange place she’s stumbled across. Full of symbolism and outrageous characters, Carroll’s enduring tale offers plenty of lessons on how to grow up in a complex world.
‘A Cream Cracker Under The Settee’ sees Stephanie Cole play 75-year-old widow Doris, obsessing about tidiness. Karl Theobold portrays a devoted son, whose life unravels in ‘A Chip in the Sugar’, when his aging mother finds love. The acerbic curtain-twitcher Miss Ruddock expresses her ill-informed worldview in ‘A Lady of Letters’ with Siobhan Redmond.
In Dickens’ last completed work, the heir to a family fortune is presumed dead, so his father’s money passes to the working-class boffins. Then the family hire a new secretary, which has consequences on several corners of London society. See website for specific dates.
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Free Children’s orkshops Take-W Make-And- Same Sky With METHING WITH SO
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LATEST CINEMA RELEASES AUGUST 2015
FANTASTIC FOUR - THURS 6 AUG With the second ‘Avengers’ entertaining a mass of cinemagoers in Apr and ‘Ant-Man’ hitting the big screen last month, ‘tis definitely time for some more superhero action. And as always, with a new reboot comes a new cast. Forget 2005’s Jessica Alba and Chris Evans (who has ditched his Human Torch days and found new super status in ‘Captain America’), and welcome Miles Teller (‘Whiplash’), Michael B. Jordan (‘Fruitvale Station’), Jamie Bell and Kate Mara (‘House of Cards’). After having their physical forms altered in crazy ways, the ‘Fantastic Four’ must work together to save Earth from a dangerous enemy.
PIXELS – WEDS 12 AUG These days, when Adam Sandler and Kevin James are mentioned in connection with a new movie, it is more than likely a sign to stay well away. However this August, ‘Pixels’ is set to be a family summer hit. Directed by Chris Columbus (‘Harry Potter’ 1 & 2, ‘Home Alone’ and ‘Mrs Doubtfire’), this is a story about aliens who misinterpret video feeds of classic 80s arcade games from Earth as a declaration of war. This brings on their inevitable attack in the form of the video games. A fun film all round for ‘rents and kids alike.
MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E – FRI 14 AUG Apart from his most recent ‘Sherlock Holmes’ adaptations, director Guy Ritchie’s career dwindled significantly since his ‘Lock, Stock’/ ‘Snatch’ infamy. Four years since ‘Game Of Shadows’, he is back with his cinematic version of the 60s TV show ‘The Man From U.N.C.L.E’. Superman himself, Henry Cavill (‘Man Of Steel’) and Armie Hammer (‘Social Network, Lone Ranger’) are secret service operatives who must work together against a sinister organisation to stop the production of nuclear weapons. This already looks set to be wonderfully slick and stylish, hopefully putting Ritchie back in the game.
STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON – FRI 28 AUG ‘Straight Outta Compton’ – does exactly what it says on the tin. This is the story of the infamous group N.W.A., who emerged from Compton, California in the 1980s. Anyone familiar with rap legends Dr Dre and Ice Cube will enjoy this biographical drama about the rise and fall of these hip-hop guys, who revolutionised pop culture with music drawn from their own life experiences growing up in the hood. This is a slightly different cinema trip to take compared to the other big releases this summer, but ‘Straight Outta Compton’ is not to be missed.
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BRIGHTON GIN SP I R I TED AWAY The British love affair with gin is well-documented. Its production was once a thriving cottage industry, before legislation curtailed widespread home distillation. A recent legal ruling has seen a sudden boom in independent distilleries, so the subtle complexities of this humble spirit are being rediscovered by a whole new generation. While many of us can name at least five gin brands, can any of us describe their individual characteristics? While gin’s base flavour is obviously juniper, each gains its uniqueness from botanicals - natural aromatic flavourings. An increasingly competitive market is seeing branding take precedence over quality or taste. Anyone can throw the finest ingredients together, but the team behind Brighton Gin has produced something genuinely exceptional. From the city’s first licensed still, Brighton & Hove now has a proper geographically linked spirit to play with. “It needed to be done,” Helen Chesshire, the brand’s co-founder tells me. Brighton Gin’s origin is another unorthodox tale of passion and innovation which is ‘typically Brighton’. A couple of years ago, co-founder Kathy Caton was out for a morning run, in spite of being up until stupid o’clock the previous night. Her sense of well-being sat at odds with her evening’s excess, something she could only attribute to the quality of the gin she’d been enjoying. She found out most quality gins are forgiving by nature, their purity presenting little in the way of a hangover. A mutual friend then introduced her to Chesshire, and the seeds of Brighton & Hove’s first home-produced spirit were born. After talking to distillers about the process and to botanists about possible flavour combinations, they purchased a small still from eBay and began experimenting. Five months were spent working on the perfect recipe, with new team members adding their expertise to the project. “That moment when we realised we were actually making gin was really exciting.” With the obvious juniper flavouring, it has fresh orange peel and fresh lime lending citrus notes. Rounding the flavouring off is a touch of coriander, sourced surprisingly from Ringmer. In fact every ingredient is as local and organic as possible. At Brighton Gin’s
By Stuar t Rolt core is 100% organic British grain spirit. “It’s three times the price of any other base alcohol, but it’s really, really good.” Nearly devoid of hangover-inducing impurities, any liver strain is further reduced by the addition of toxin-fighting milk thistle. As with any self-respecting brand, the concept travels beyond creating a fine drink. A cheeky call to the council’s maintenance department revealed the exact shade of the city’s trademark colour - Brighton Seafront Blue. The bottle and labelling reflect the colour seen on taxis, railings and signs everywhere. The label design further adds to the mystique, shaped like a ticket it invokes a feeling of journeying and adventure. “We knew what we wanted. It’s a ticket to ride. A ticket for the pier, or maybe a London to Brighton ticket... It’s all about Brighton being a destination.” Two years on from that morning run, and Brighton Gin is flourishing. Over 100 stockists from The Grand to independent off-licences have enthusiastically embraced the brand. The recently refurnished Grand Central has even seen Brighton Gin become their top-selling spirit. It’s not popular simply because the bottle has ‘Brighton’ emblazoned upon it either. “It’s a time when the gin renaissance is coming. There’s a slightly naughty side to gin.” It fits rather perfectly amongst Brighton & Hove’s flourishing food and drink scene. The city has always been fertile ground for innovations in the spirit market, especially when one embodies the spirit of its home so well. Chesshire says she is constantly surprised by the overwhelmingly reaction to their craft. There is even semi-serious talk of a Hove strength version being produced, so the city’s genteel half doesn’t get left out. While their new bespoke still is capable of producing 600 bottles a day, they’re wary of expanding too quickly. The aim is to remain relevant, flexible and consistent for now. “I think we’re here to stay. It’s not just an expensive hobby!” Chesshire laughs. “It’s fun, irreverent and we don’t take ourselves too seriously. But we really love what we do.”
WWW.BRIGHTONGIN.COM @BRIGHTONGIN
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VELVET JACKS REAL SMOOTH Do you ever have those weeks where every night you have a nightmare? Over the last week I’ve been chased by a ghost that looked remarkably like Maggie Thatcher and a couple of nights ago I was bitten by a rabid dog. I’ve done what everyone does in the modern age and that is consulting the Internet as to what it means. After bypassing the ads for dream-catchers and mood rings, I got to the verdict: I’m bloody stressed. Anyway, last night I had pretty much the nicest dream I’ve ever had. I was a good couple of stone slimmer, at least half a foot taller and everything was just great. The sun was shining and I was casually strolling around Brighton as if seeing it for the first time, all to an amalgamation of my favourite songs. My mood, when I woke up, could have only been bettered by turning round, looking in a mirror and seeing I’d managed to keep the couple of stone off, so when I got told I was off to a cool new hangout to drink and eat pizza, I must have looked like the Cheshire Cat. Velvet Jacks opposite Norfolk Square on Western Road has that awesome welcoming vibe that places all too often try to emulate, but all too often fail at. It’s an atmosphere that not only radiates warmth, but also feels like invisible hands are excitedly coaxing you into it. This feeling overwhelmed me as I walked up to the café-bar and immediately, we were greeted with customers who had the same sort of Cheshire Cat smiles I had worn myself earlier in the day. The rustic wooden tables are accentuated not only by lovely bursts of colour throughout the bar, but also by the ornate and interesting dappled effect that spreads over the ceiling, making the place look like a friendly cave. A quick trip to the toilet confirmed its continuation of effective and unique décor as I noted the rainbow lights going down the stairs, the sparkly loo seat and flamingo wallpaper! I was surprised it was so busy mid-week and on such a sunny day, when most locals normally stomp in herds to the beach with a cheap four pack... this place, however, has some seriously appealing deals during in their ‘Happy Hour’ (4-7PM), such as two cocktails for a tenner and 3-for-2 on bottles of beer. I overheard someone talking about the quiz and asked why this one was so special (because let’s be honest, there is some stiff competition in the Brighton world of quizzes). Costing £2.50 to enter but including pizza - yes really - Velvet Jacks run it like a crazy version of the National Lottery by all accounts, with some rounds involving hands-on tasks like ‘what’s in the bag’ and a choice at the end of
By Lucy Hallett
picking three envelopes; a booby prize, another boozy prize and cash. If the money isn’t picked then off it rolls to the next week. Making a mental note of the date (every other Tuesday, but more often if its current popularity continues), I sat down with my first drink. It was an exceptionally lovely and smooth Pinot Noir (175ml £4.80) that really did taste of the cherries that it purported to. I heard that the wines had been rigorously selected by friends of owners Eve and Jackie, who ‘sampled’ a whole selection of possibilities, narrowing it down to their favourites. Surveying the pizza menu, there was only one option for me - The Meat Treat (£7.90), while my dining companion opted for the Classic Jack (£7.50). The pizzas are ten inches of wood-fired gorgeousness and have that really tasty stringy mozzarella that makes the whole thing a messy but incredibly rewarding experience. I’m not usually a fan of chicken on pizza, but the smoky flavour and succulence made this a cut-above, complimenting the salami and pepperoni perfectly. The olives were excellent, as were all the ingredients and it was clear that they had gone to some length to ensure that only the highest quality fare made the cut. In the daytime they serve sandwiches and cakes, all of which sounded like the sort of food that would ensure I never attained the lithe figure from last night’s dream. I washed the lovely slices down with an Espresso Martini, which were two for a tenner as it was 6.30pm, and can genuinely say it was one of the nicest I’ve had. This was due to the high quality of the coffee used, and the liberal glug of booze. Velvet Jacks is LGBT, dog, and generally people friendly and it really was very unusual to find somewhere so welcoming. I left feeling incredibly happy and full, more than a little tipsy and can say with absolute certainty that I’ll be back - not only for the food but for the quiz night too. So if you see an overly competitive blonde girl with mozzarella running down her face and many empty martini glasses at her side, then you know who it is.
VELVET JACKS, 50 NORFOLK SQUARE, BN1 2PA, BRIGHTON AND HOVE WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/VELVETJACKSBRIGHTON VELVETJACKS@YAHOO.CO.UK
SATURDAY 12TH SEPTEMBER
SUNDAY 13TH SEPTEMBER
Tickets available at BoomerangHickstead.com
THE PARK CRESCENT A DAY IN THE PARK By Freya Hughes By now I’ve been to quite a lot of pubs. For food, quiet drinks or an evening of unapologetic hedonism, they are a staple of British life and provide a backdrop for countless different situations. The Park Crescent area feels like a miniature village nestled away just north of The Level. At the heart of which is the aptly named Park Crescent pub - a meeting place for the community and a place loved and maintained by locals. Walking in on an evening after a day in the office, my colleague and I are greeted with a low hum of regulars unwinding and the staff chatting and laughing away with them. One thing that catches my eye is the distinctive back bar, crafted by a local punter, which gives the entrance a smart and unique look. With low-hanging lamps across the bar shaped like the top of the Pavilion, this pub is Brightoncentric through and through. As we’re directed to our table, classic songs are played at a low level. Catchy enough to tap our feet to, I feel like we’ve arrived home after a long day. The décor nods to the musical inclination of the city, adorned with old trumpets and guitars. To match this, there are posters up for the monthly Saturday evening swing music nights that bring the community together for a stomping time. These nights are hosted by local DJs and take attendees on a tour through jazz, jive, boogiewoogie and swing. As we settle in, we grab a couple of drinks. I go for a delicious Sauvignon Blanc (a favourite for me), while my colleague opts for a Brighton Gin and tonic. The latter seems fitting, as The Park Crescent was one of the first premises to stock the local spirit. Our menus are presented to us from the franchised ‘Pickled Kitchen’, who work closely with landlord Kate and her team to perfect the dining experience. Studying our options, we decide to share king prawns with garlic and a sweet chilli sauce (£6.50). They arrive promptly and taste fresh with a meaty texture; gigantic in size, we’re impressed with our first course. For our main course, we indulge in a mixed meat grill (£13), consisting of succulent chorizo sausage, chicken breast and steak (cooked medium-rare). The chicken breast stood out for me in particular. Cooked to perfection and lightly seasoned, the chefs manage to present some of the moistest and most tender chicken I’ve ever eaten. Topped off with fat chips and salad, we contentedly recline in our seats and relax. The grill is great to share (unless you’re insatiably hungry) and brings more of a social aspect to our dining experience. Sharing our plates reminds us of being at a summer barbeque, picking and choosing while chatting away. The ingredients are all locally sourced, which always brings an extra special feel to a meal out. Following our feast, we withdraw to the garden. We can tell that Kate has a keen eye for colour matching as the inside seamlessly transitions out. As we relax with drinks, we chat to Kate about the place. She tells us about their fantastic fortnightly quiz, held every other Wednesday. With a pub quiz game as big as Brighton’s, uniqueness is key. We learn of quizmaster and local, dubbed ‘John the Barnet’ (the reason for which is apparent if you have the pleasure of meeting him), who has a vast knowledge of all things musical and offers up creative rounds and dance offs for tiebreakers. From our evening in The Park Crescent, my colleague and I feel as if we’ve uncovered a hidden gem in the middle of a bustling community that is perfect for any kind of evening out.
THE PARK CRESCENT, 39 PARK CRESCENT TERRACE, BRIGHTON, BN2 3HE WWW.THEPARKCRESCENT.CO.UK WWW.THEPICKLEDKITCHEN.CO.UK WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/THEPARKCRESCENT @PICKLED_KITCHEN
NEW Menu at The Victory Inn Your friendly local in the heart of town, serving great food with real ales and ciders For more information call 01273 326555 or email victoryinnkitchen@hotmail.com
The Victory Inn, 6 Duke Street, Brighton, East Sussex BN1 1AH
THE GEESE NOT JUST GOLDEN EGGS This summer I’ve made The Level my go-to sunning spot. This has lead to a fair bit of exploring the surrounding streets (pubs) and landmarks (shops), which I’m really glad I have taken the time to do. I think Brighton & Hove is improved and characterised by independent and locally owned businesses. It makes such a difference to walk in to a place that is lovingly built up over time by its owners – bars decorated with photos of the team and stickers they’ve accumulated add to the authenticity of the experience. This describes The Geese on Southover Street down to a T. Hearing of the swanky bangers and mash being served up; I headed over with a companion of mine for the evening. Greeted by Mark - one of the managers - we chat away about the choices available to us. Fancying a drink before we begin our meal, we grab a pint each (they have a variety of popular ales) and relax in the sunshine. Finishing these, we head to our table in the middle of the pub floor. The large windows bring the outside in, and feeling as though we’re on holiday, we turn our attention to the extensive range of sausages and mash. I choose the wine for our meal – a bottle of the house white – a crisp Sauvignon Blanc (£9.95). We have a gander (sorry) at the menus mounted on the wall - it’s almost like a pick ‘n’ mix, as customers are encouraged to assemble their own dish. Fortunately for indecisive punters such as myself, the staff are highly knowledgeable and on hand to recommend flavour combinations. After a
By Freya Hughes
considerable amount of bickering over who’s having what, we eventually decide. I go for the rich and fresh tasting wild boar sausages, garlic and herb mash and meaty gravy. As I tuck into the beautifully presented pub classic, I note the perfect crispness of the sausage’s skin, so nicely complimented by the tenderness of the inside. My mash proves to be on point too, as the flavours are present but not overpowering. The carb-y component is lifted with an exciting twist as I’m surprised by crunchy spring onions hidden within. The rich, thick gravy finishes off the meal for me, bringing all of the flavours together in mouthfuls of palate-pleasing bliss. My companion opts for the venison – rich, gamey and exquisite! With horseradish/chive mash and red wine gravy, his meal is an eclectic melody of fine flavours. At £8.95 per main, The Geese can be proud of their value for money – especially as Wednesdays offer two for £12 on their bangers and mash. Sitting back and enjoying the feeling of a full stomach, we enjoy the playlist that’s had us grooving since we entered. After a short break we give in to a sweet treat that we share – a banoffee sundae (£4.95). Layered up with fresh bananas, this decadent dessert tops off our evening in style and gets people flocking in from all over the city.
THE GEESE, 16 SOUTHOVER STREET, BRIGHTON, BN2 9UA WWW.THEGEESE.CO.UK WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/THEGEESESOUTHOVER @GEESEBRIGHTON
RE
E
, FINE ALES WI NE AL
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TH
E ES G E GOOD TIMES
16 SOUTHOVER STREET BN2 9UA, 01273 693491
BRIGHTON “THE BANGERS & MASH PUB”TM
www.thegeese.co.uk
44.
BN1MAGAZINE.CO.UK
BE GLUTEN FREE
Ricotta Risotto Cakes Recipe By Mila Statham (MAKES 5 CAKES) 600g cold leftover 150g ricotta 60g plain gluten free flour blend, plus extra for dusting 1 slice white gluten free bread 1 tbsp polenta 1 tbsp grated Parmesan Salt & pepper Sunflower oil, for frying Lemon, to serve Salad leaves, to serve Chives, to serve Optional; also serve with balsamic tomatoes and a poached egg
Place the risotto in a bowl and separate with a fork so its not all stuck together. Add the ricotta and mix. Then add the flour and seasoning and mix until combined. Tear up the bread and place in a food processor, whizz until breadcrumbs are formed. Add the polenta, Parmesan and a little seasoning and pulse until combined. Tip onto a plate. Using flour dusted hands, divide the rice mixture then roll into 5 balls. Take one ball and press into a cake shape. Place in the breadcrumbs and cover with the mixture until completely coated then place on a flour dusted plate. Repeat with the other four and leave in fridge to set for a few hours. Bring the cakes back to room temperature then heat a couple of tablespoons of oil in a large frying pan. Cook on a medium to high heat for 10 minutes (5 minutes on each side) until golden and crispy. Serve with salad leaves, chives and a lemon for squeezing and the balsamic tomatoes and a poached egg if you fancy it.
Bill’s, Brighton WWW.BILLS-WEBSITE.CO.UK Bill’s Brighton restaurant opened in 2005 following the success of their restaurant in nearby Lewes.
Located on North Road in a former bus
depot, Bill’s is a very popular restaurant for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Bill’s now has a gluten free menu and offers gluten free bread, buns and croutons. They can substitute normal bread with gluten free bread in their dishes. From bruschetta to salad, halloumi burgers or steak, the gluten free lunch and dinner menu has plenty to offer. The breakfast menu has a great choice too. Please note that Bill’s do advise that despite their strict controls, it is not possible to guarantee that their kitchens are completely free of allergens. Their allergen list is kept up to date and should be checked each time you visit.
movelshoes.com Mo:vel
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Š Stuart Mackay
42 BOND st BRIGHTON
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You can now breeze up to Devil’s Dyke on an open top bus.
www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/breezebuses for times, fares, leaflets and walk ideas or call 01273 292480 Or visit www.traveline.info/se to plan your journeys.
5569
Go to Stanmer Park and Devil’s Dyke by bus seven days a week, and up to Ditchling Beacon at weekends.