WOW June 2014

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SATURDAY 14 JUNE 11AM – 5PM DESIGNER & MAKER FAIR MEDWAY TAKING PLACE ALONGSIDE SUN PIER HOUSE

FREE ENTRY WWW.BESPOKEMEDWAY.CO.UK SUN PIER, MEDWAY STREET, CHATHAM

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Your complete journey to academic success

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• Year 7 to 6th form • Average class size 8 • High performing & non-selective • 1 year GCSE & A level courses

CONTENTS 4 WELCOME 5 5 REALLY GOOD THINGS 6 NEWS 9 SOUTH EAST OPEN STUDIOS 10 WELCOME TO RECREATE 13 CASTLE CONCERTS 14 FILM 15 NICK WALKER: 3 TO WATCH 16 INTERVIEW: PATIENCE AGBABI

18 A THOUSAND WORDS 20 NUCLEUS AT FUSE 2014 21 FUSE 2014 22 MUSIC 1 24 MUSIC 2 26 INTERVIEW: JIM RILEY 28 THEATRE 30 VISUAL ART 32 BEN CAMERON 34 TONE FESTIVAL

EDITORIAL: editor@wowkent.co.uk 0845 388 2243 (local rate from BT landlines) ADVERTISING: advertising@wowkent.co.uk New advertiser & excellent series booking discounts available to all. All ads also appear in the online edition at wowkent.co.uk FREE LISTINGS: listings@wowkent.co.uk DESIGN: A Stones Throw astonesthrowdesign.co.uk PRINTING: Complete Print Group (CPG) 9-10 Orchard Business Centre Sanderson Way, Tonbridge Kent TN9 1QG 01732 366666 cpg-net.co.uk PUBLISHER: Emma Dewhurst WEBSITE: wowkent.co.uk CURRENT PRINT CIRCULATION: 8000 copies DISTRIBUTION: Medway Towns, Maidstone & Gravesend Copy/listings deadline for July issue: Wednesday 18 June 2014 ©WOW Kent magazine All rights reserved. While every effort has been made to ensure that details in this publication are correct, we cannot accept responsibility for such.

Readers are advised to check information listed, to avoid disappointment.

Views expressed by contributors and advertisers do not necessarily reflect those of the editor and publisher.

WELCOME TO WOW! Your guide to the best of What’s On Where Medway, Maidstone and the accessible beyond Welcome to a bumper issue! This month’s 36 pages, an all-time first in WOW’s short life, reflect the astonishing range of events on offer, local, far and wide. We are blessed with two fantastic festivals on consecutive weekends: FUSE 2014 will fill your every waking hour between 13-15 June, while an impressive international line-up of contemporary artists awaits you the following weekend, ready to launch the first edition of TŐNE, the UK’s first festival of sonic and visual arts.

There really is something for everyone. Medway is positively buzzing with new projects, small-scale and major (see WOW’s introduction to the work that Project Recreate is undertaking over the coming year); countless artists based in Maidstone and beyond are participating in the annual, highly successful South East Open Studios event and Gravesend’s visual arts scene is starting to bloom.

Find something that suits, and go!

Emma Dewhurst editor@wowkent.co.uk

wowkent.co.uk

CONTRIBUTORS

BRYAN TALBOT GRANDVILLE BÊTE NOIRE (VOL 3) 2012 (PEN & INK). SEE MAIN FEATURE P18 PHOTOGRAPH OF THE EDITOR BY RIKARD ÖSTERLUND

AMBASSADORS PLEASE! If you use any of our advertisers’ services, or attend an event because you saw it in WOW, please mention it! Thank you.

Find us on Facebook facebook.com/WOWMedway @EmmaDewhurst7

Phil Dillon is a former Medway musician, radio producer and general protagonist who has decided to calm things down a bit and concentrate on the photography for which he is best known. That, and the occasional spot of writing.

Mathilde Guenegan is a dynamic freelance journalist and founder of ‘People of Medway’, a vibrant new website about the area. She arrived in Medway last September to study journalism at the University of Kent.

She is passionate about art, design, fashion and photography. You can find her on Twitter @MATOUG4 and @PeopleOfMedway. Her portfolio: 365pathsonearth.com Nick Walker is the director of the Rochester Film Society, screening Contemporary World Cinema and classics at various venues around Medway. Nick previously wrote for The Guardian, was director of National Schools Film Week and is a freelance writer, teacher and film cinema/festival programmer. For more information on the Rochester Film Society visit rochesterfilmsociety.co.uk Kevin Younger is a writer and editor based in the Medway Towns. He also dabbles in blogging, although he wishes there was another name for it: familiar-unknown.blogspot.co.uk

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GET THEE TO THE CATHEDRAL: Rochester Cathedral excels with interesting special events this month. Internationally renowned poet Patience Agbabi performs extracts from her stunning new work ‘Telling Tales’, a contemporary retelling of Chaucer’s ‘The Canterbury Tales’; Rochester Choral Society perform Handel’s ‘Israel in Egypt; there is a jazz night par excellence with the James Taylor Quartet (with an appearance by the Rochester Cathedral Choir); and Harry Christopher’s The Sixteen return with their Choral Pilgrimage tour of heavenly Tudor works.

See pages 16-17 and Music listings for details.

THE 106th MEDWAY BARGE MATCH: One of eight matches in the ‘Barge Championship’, the Medway Barge Match is the longest running, premiere barge match around.

This year’s match is on Saturday 7 June, with up to 20 barges from far and wide competing for the title. Watch the start from Gillingham Pier. Programme (£2) available from Rochester’s Baggins Bookshop, or the Visitor Information Centre. medwaybargematch.co.uk

REALLY GOOD THINGS TO DO THIS MONTH IRON MEN IN WOODEN BOATS: Best talk going! Polar explorer Tim Jarvis was expedition leader of the 2013 Shackleton Epic Expedition, a successful attempt by a team of modern day explorers to emulate the extraordinary voyage by Sir Ernest Shackleton and his men to cross the world’s most tempestuous ocean in order to save 22 men marooned on a remote island after their ship Endurance was crushed by icepack. Jarvis recounts his team’s adventures on Saturday 7 June at the Royal Dockyard Church at the Historic Dockyard Chatham, ME4 4TY. 11.30am and 2.30pm. Tickets £10 on the door, with proceeds going to the Scott Polar Research Institute.

MEET THE SUMMER DAWN: This month’s most unique live arts offering… On 21 June (4.30am) Japanese-French artist Tomoko Sauvage performs ‘Ringing dew drops, beneath the waves…’, a free, sonic performance combining light, ice and sound through her porcelain bowls. Part of the TŐNE Festival (p34), the performance takes place at POP Creative Space in Chatham (see p 10). tonefestival.com FOOTFALL EXHIBITS: The ‘Footfall’ project is a vibrant community initiative based in Gravesham Borough Market which has provided space for artists to showcase their work and lead popin art workshops with local residents.

Approximately 40 artists and crafters from a wide variety of backgrounds were involved and there is an exhibition of all that has been achieved over the course of the project on 7 & 8 June at the St Andrew’s Centre, Gravesend. See Visual Art listings for details.

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FESTIVAL CHECKLIST JUNE / JULY ROCHESTER DICKENS FESTIVAL 30 May-1 June LOVE MUSIC HATE RACISM 7-8 June FUSE 2014 Outdoor Arts Festival 13-15 June TŐNE FESTIVAL Pre-festival events 9-19 June Festival 20-22 June WIGMORE ARTS WEEKEND ‘Arts in the Widest Sense’ 28-29 June FAVERSHAM OPEN GARDENS & GARDEN MARKET DAY Sunday 29 June MAIDSTONE ARTS FESTIVAL Every Saturday to 12 July RIVER FESTIVAL & NUCLEUS ARTSFEST 12 July VINES CHERRY PICNIC 13 July MEDWAY OPEN STUDIOS & ARTS FESTIVAL 12-20 July CASTLE CONCERTS 16-19 July UNDER SIEGE 20 July HOMESPUN Independent Music Festival Medway 23-26 July

THE SMARDEN CLASSIC

21 -22 June 1pm Incorporating Smarden Open Gardens and Classic Car Show Smarden TN27 8QD What more could you ask of a summer’s day? Billed as ‘the prettiest village in Kent’, Smarden is hosting this weekend of family entertainment to raise funds for a new sports pavilion and rewire the local church.

Classic Car Show, twelve open gardens and a Hop Garden tour, live music, home-made teas, mini bell-ring, stalls, Smarden at War exhibition, Art in the Garden, theatre performances, Classic Aircraft display and hot air balloons (weather permitting).

FILM COURSE STARTING… Presented by Nick Walker, from the Rochester Film Society This previously advertised course has been rescheduled to run weekly on Saturday mornings between 10am – 1pm for 10 weeks at Sun Pier House, Chatham. The course gives participants the chance to examine the careers of various filmmakers and movements and how genres co-existed, investigate their cultural and political influences and observe their lasting legacy, with supporting clips to demonstrate key moments.

Starts Saturday 5 July £6 per class (or £50 for all 10 classes)/ £5 concession For more information or to book a place please email: nickwalker62@yahoo.co.uk

AYLESFORD PRIORY’S SUMMER FAYRE

Entrance £8, children free.

Aylesford Priory, Aylesford, Maidstone ME20 7BX

smardensports.org Tel: 01233 770429

Family fun day, entry charge applies

Sunday 22 June Tel: 01622 717272 thefriars.org.uk

SUPER SILHOUETTES FAMILY WORKSHOP, MAIDSTONE MUSEUM SATURDAY 14 JUNE, 11AM-3PM Free sessions celebrating the new Age of Glamour exhibition by making life-size caricature silhouettes.

Maidstone Museum, St Faith's Street, Maidstone ME14 1LH maidstonemuseum.gov.uk

THE ART OF A GOOD PARADE!

MAIDSTONE ARTS PARADE Saturday 5 July THANKS to our lovely customers for all their support over the years 25% off SALE until 31st July 118 Maidstone Road, Rochester ME1 3DT Tel: 01634 843024 sweetpeaandolive.co.uk

CREATABOX AT HOME Do you know someone who has difficulty getting out, for whatever reason, and would benefit from taking part in CreataboX? CreataboX founder, Natasha Steer, came up with the idea to help people in Swale and Medway who are often excluded from taking part in arts-related activities due to health problems.

There will be a carnival atmosphere on the streets of Maidstone this July as the town stages a parade of local arts and culture. More than 40 arts and voluntary organisations will parade from County Hall to Jubilee Square, via Week Street and Fremlin Walk. The parade will then become a two-hour showcase performance of Maidstone talent.

The new event, which is being organised and partly funded by the Maidstone Town Team and the Maidstone Area Arts Partnership, is the first to receive a grant from the ‘Make Maidstone Smile’ fund – a borough council scheme to encourage new art and cultural development.

Any schools, arts or voluntary organisations that want to be involved can contact Project Manager, Richard Gretton on 07802 425022 or email:grettonr@gmail.com maidstonetownteam.co.uk

31 MAY 15 JUNE

Natasha has won funding from Ideas Test to provide crafting kits to make items that will go into their art vending machine (CreataboX) which appears at community events through the year.

The project caters for people of all creative abilities and organises for relevant materials to be provided. There is also funding available for transport to events and workshops if the participant is able.

If you or someone you know is interested in being part of the project and receiving free art and craft materials please visit www.creatabot.co.uk/creataboxathome or call Natasha on 07541 072603 or email natasha@creatabot.co.uk

RECOLLECT MUSIC FAIRS RAINHAM Next fairs: June 8 & July 20 Rainham Mark Social Club ME8 6YX 9.30am-3.30pm. Refreshments.

Free parking. Admission £1

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Welcome to the

Chatham Historic Dockyard ME4 4TY NEXT FAIR:

SUNDAY 1ST JUNE 9AM - 2PM ANTIQUES, CURIOSITIES, COLLECTABLE ITEMS AND MORE!

Chath a Antiqu m es, Vinta Collec ge& tables Fair

Contact 01634 648309 or 07799 678333.

Email: phoenixfairs@ yahoo.com facebook.com/ ChathamDockyard VintageAndCollectablesFair

Refreshments available. Entry only £1.50, under 16s go free Please note: you don’t need a ticket to the Dockyard to come to the AVC, though your Fair admission gives you a discount to a day ticket to the Dockyard!

“Rochester’s Best Kept Secret”

Serving the highest quality coffees, teas, hot chocolate and pastries made on the premises by award winning pastry chef, Bruno Breillet 10 High Street Rochester ME1 1PT Hours: Tue - Sun 9am-6pm; closed Mondays Late opening til 9pm on Thursdays T: 01634 780 506 www.brunosfrenchbakes.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/brunosfrenchbakes Twitter: @brunofrenchbake

MATHILDE GUENEGAN meets some of the participating Maidstone artists Have you ever wanted to look inside the places where artists spend hours creating their masterpieces?

Well, this month’s South East Open Studios event enables you to do just that.

With venues across Kent, East Sussex and the Surrey borders, SEOS is an annual opportunity to go behind the scenes and enter artists’ studios. About 300 Kentish artists are taking part in this year’s event, many of them based in and around Maidstone.

Art lovers, artists, buyers and tourists can explore each artist’s atelier for free. Open Studios are not like galleries. There is no obligation to buy and in most cases it is a chance to meet the artist in person, who will be glad to chat to you about their work, often passing on hints and tips.

Paul Williams, Chairman of the South East Open Studios, says: “SEOS is the most extensive Open Studio event in the South East. For 17 days in June, Artists and Makers across Kent and East Sussex open their doors to the public every year, creating a once-a-year unmissable opportunity.”

A wide range of work will be on show from traditional oil, watercolours, glass fusion and sculpture to contemporary ceramics, textiles and jewellery.

“SEOS is very local so it allows us to connect with people around us. I am going to have it in my own house and I will invite all my neighbourhood to come,” says Paula.

Some artists also offer workshops and demonstrations, such as Jan Wilson and Sue Pearce at their Maidstone based studio. These two very talented artists joined SEOS three years ago when they started teaching coloured pencil and pastel in Maidstone. Jan assured me that this year their SEOS event will be “bigger and better”. They will introduce curious visitors to the different mediums and the work of their students will be on display.

She is sharing her studio with her friend, Lesley O’Brien, an expert in glass fusion.

“It is a collaborative event. We can also get people interested in artists in the area so we are self-promoting all of us,” says Jan. Their studio is located in Jan’s back yard on Chamberlain Avenue in Maidstone. “People don’t realise that you are here until the Open Studios,” added Sue. For the first time Hong Kong artist, Paula Jackson, will open her home to the public to present her handcrafted jewellery.

“I started as a hobby about eight years ago, friends and family all liked my work and encouraged me. Everything I do tends to be associated with the sea,” says Lesley, indicating a red glass sea anemone.

Also within easy reach of Maidstone, West Malling’s Frog Lane is hosting illustrative etchings, silver and gold jewellery and fine pottery. Or head to Wrotham for intriguing steel sculpture and mixed media work, discover contemporary glassworks in Crouch or original paintings in Ightham… A perfect summer’s day out!

Trail maps and an indispensable guidebook to the artists are available to download from seos-art.org

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welcome to

recreate WOW MAGAZINE IS DELIGHTED TO BE WORKING WITH RECREATE, A EUROPEAN FUNDED PROJECT WORKING TO REALISE THE POTENTIAL OF THE CREATIVE INDUSTRIES TO TRANSFORM OUR COMMUNITIES IN THE FIRST OF A SERIES OF SPONSORED FEATURES, EMMA DEWHURST TAKES A LOOK AT PROJECT RECREATE’S PLANS FOR MEDWAY

R-E-C-R-E-A-T-E: ‘to give new life or freshness to…’

Contact: recreate@medway.gov.uk Twitter: @ReCreateEU Website: recreateproject.eu (coming soon)

Having come to Medway late in life and taken this curious, fascinating place and its environs so very much to heart, it is heartening to hear of Recreate, a broad-scope, cross-channel project designed to realise the potential for creative industries to deliver economic regeneration and boost town centre employment. With its plethora of arts-related businesses and distinguished creative practitioners, where better for the project to land and make a difference?

Recreate aims to do this by refurbishing vacant premises and turning them into creative workspaces or pop-up shops; indeed in Medway and Swale its work has already begun, and will continue in a year jammed with projects and activity until March 2015. WOW is delighted to have been invited to record the journey, and will be keeping readers up-to-date with what’s going on, and how to be personally involved.

Project Recreate is a cross-channel project involving partners from across the South East of England and Northern France. It is part of the ongoing Interreg IVA France (Channel) England Programme co-financed by the European Regional Development fund. There are five French partners and ten UK partners: based in Medway; Kent; Eastleigh; Bournemouth; Brighton and Ipswich.

With the appointment of the new, marvellously titled ‘Geek in Residence’, a strong ‘virtual’ connection between the new workspaces is being fostered via high-speed broadband links and an internet based multimedia platform, which it is hoped will enable the development of a new crossborder community of creative entrepreneurs and partnerships.

Sun Pier House in Chatham is a fine example of an empty commercial space which has been turned with Recreate’s help into a creative workspace supporting artists, designer-makers and digital businesses. The top floor has also been transformed, into a new art gallery and tearoom, with stunning views over the River Medway.

Over the road from Sun Pier House, on Chatham High Street, POP is another of Recreate’s ventures. This free creative space housed in an empty shop opened its doors with an exhibition by local artists in April.

Artists, students and residents are invited to use the space to showcase, network, collaborate and learn (see opposite). Project Recreate is hoping that local artists and residents will get involved in the project and help to design a programme and spaces suited to local people.

Part of Project Recreate, POP offers artists, makers, designers, curators, creative companies and community groups the opportunity to showcase, perform, exhibit and sell their work for free. Those interested in taking over the space to debut a business, curate an exhibition, organise an event or turn the space into their studio for 1 day up to 3 weeks are asked to get in touch!

Upcoming themes include: JULY: Fashion, Jewellery and Textiles AUGUST: The Art of Living SEPTEMBER: Art and Technology OCTOBER: Literature and Visual Communication NOVEMBER: Designers, Makers and Fixers DECEMBER 2014 – MARCH 2015 ‘Takeovers’ (test a business idea)

June at POP: POP is partnering with TÖNE, the UK’s first sonic and visual arts festival (10-22 June). See page 34.

Programme:

Look out for the following activities and events supported by Recreate between now and March 2015:

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POP, 64-66 High Street, Chatham, ME4 4DS Email: popcreativespace@gmail.com Recreate is selected under the European Cross-border Cooperation Programme INTERREG IV A France (Channel) – England, co-funded by the ERDF.

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‘Bespoke’, Medway’s Designer and Maker fair (Sun Pier House, 14 June) Tőne Festival events hosted by POP and Sun Pier House Tailored Business support programme for creative industries Performing arts events and a film and photography festival Student exchange programme and opportunities for graduates Opportunities for networking, showcasing and peer support and collaboration.

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Tue 10 – Sun 15 June, 11am-4pm: Exhibition: Steve Klee and Harriet Gifford Fri 13 June: Private View: 4– 6pm Sun 15 June 2-3pm: Workshop by Steve Klee Thu 19 – Sun 22 June 11am-6pm: Exhibition: Tomoko Sauvage and Amie Rai Thu 19 June 3-4pm: Artist talk, Tomoko Sauvage and Private View: 4 – 6pm Fri 20 June 9-11pm: Performance, Tomoko Sauvage Sat 21 June 4.30am-c.6am (summer sunrise!): Performance, Tomoko Sauvage Sun 22 June 11.30am-12.30pm: Performance, Tomoko Sauvage

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COME AND ENJOY FANTASTIC LIVE MUSIC IN A RELAXED AND INFORMAL SETTING.

“MEDWAY’S ANSWER TO RONNIE SCOTTS!” “THE PERFECT FRIDAY NIGHT OUT!”

SUN PIER HOUSE MEDWAY STREET CHATHAM ME4 4HF

DOORS: 7:30pm ENTRY £10 - £5 AFTER 10:30pm LIVE MUSIC STARTS 8:30pm LICENSED BAR TILL 1am

f ac e bo o k. co m / th ep ap er mo o n 1

Fantabulous FLEA MARKET! Saturday 21st June 11am-4pm

BRICABRAC VINTAGE BOOKS WOT NOTS CAMERAS JEWELLERY CLOTHES ART&HANDMADE COLLECTABLES BAKES&CAKES BAR MUSIC l

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The Gordon House Hotel & Car Park 91 High Street Rochester ME1 1LX For more info & bookings www.therochesterflea.com email: therochesterflea@gmail.com www.facebook.com/therochesterflea

proms!

SATURDAY NIGHT AT THE

IF YOU HEAR SNATCHES OF ELGAR’S ‘LAND OF HOPE AND GLORY’ DRIFTING OVER ROCHESTER’S ROOFTOPS THIS SUMMER, CHANCES ARE YOU’RE CATCHING A SNIPPET OF THE SATURDAY NIGHT PROMS PERFORMANCE WHICH ROUNDS OFF THE ANNUAL SERIES OF CASTLE CONCERTS IN ROCHESTER CASTLE GARDENS.

This year, Level 42 kicks off the series on Wednesday 16 July, with Irish heartthrob Westlife’s Shane Filan on Thursday 17 July and headliners UB40 on the Friday. But it is the Proms which holds pride of place on Saturday night year after year, perhaps because the audience is comprised less of fans who have bussed in to be close to their favourite star and more of Medway residents themselves, out for a jolly good traditional night out.

CASTLE CONCERTS 2014 Wednesday 16 July: level 42 Thursday 17 July: Westlife's Shane Filan Friday 18 July: UB40 (sold out) Saturday 19 July 7.15pm: Proms and fireworks. Tickets £30

Local resident Emma Baker attends the Proms every year. I asked her to tell me what’s so special to her about the event.

Visit thecastleconcerts.co.uk for the latest on this year’s line-up including ticket prices, booking details and other essential information.

“There’s a really good atmosphere! The fun thing that I enjoy is that there is a gang of us, as I go with lots of my family and friends, and we all trudge over Rochester Bridge armed with booze and bags and chairs, find our place, and get installed,” she says. “Some people are really hardcore and take cooler bags, tables and blankets and get there really early to be at the front. I think the nearer the stage the classier you are, there they are with their salmon, and there’s us at the back with our sausage rolls!”

To buy tickets visit the website, telephone 01634 338338 or call in to the Box Office of The Central or Brook Theatres, or Medway Visitor Information Centre.

This year, the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra will be performing a selection of classical flag-waving favourites, including ‘The Sailor’s Hornpipe’, ‘Rule Britannia’, ‘Jerusalem’ and ‘Land of Hope and Glory’. The orchestra will be joined by soprano soloist Jo Appleby, as well as the Hertfordshire Chorus, one of the country’s finest large choirs. There are also water fountains either side of the stage, co-ordinated with the music, and the whole evening rounds off with a terrific firework display with the castle for backdrop.

With the weather looking up, pack up your picnic and fly the flag for one of Medway’s signature summer nights.

Emma Dewhurst

You can also join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter (#castleconcerts)

"There’s a really good atmosphere!"

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FILM AFTERNOON TREAT Central Theatre, 170 High Street, Chatham ME4 4AS 01634 338338 £4.50 inc drink and teacake

SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS (U) 1954 Tue 17 June 2.30pm Dir: Stanley Donen Cast: Howard Keel, Jane Powell, Jeff Richards, Matt Mattox, and Marc Platt.

Classic musical in Cinemascope.

102 mins medwayticketslive.co.uk MEDWAY FILM SOCIETY The Brook Theatre, Old Town Hall, Chatham ME4 4SE 16mm prints. Members’ season tickets (7 shows) £38 (concs available). Non-members per show: £6.50, concs £5.50.

Final screening in Spring season: BURDEN OF DREAMS (1982) USA Fri 27 June 7.45pm Dir: Les Blank Cast: Werner Herzog, Claudia Cardinale, Mick Jagger, Klaus Kinski, Jason Robards Documentary about the chaotic making of Werner Herzog’s ‘Fitzcarraldo’. You don’t have to have seen Herzog’s opera-house-inthe-jungle epic to enjoy this – but you’ll want to. 95 mins with LOTTE EISNER IN GERMANY (1980) USA Dir: Mark Horrowitz Documentary. 34 mins medwayfilm.org.uk ROCHESTER FILM SOCIETY RFS screens contemporary world cinema and classics at venues around Medway. The films are introduced and followed by a postfilm discussion over a glass of wine. rochesterfilmsociety.co.uk

RFS@ROCHESTER PICTURE PALACE Princes Hall, Corn Exchange, Rochester ME1 1LS £5.00, Students £3 THE PATROL (15) 2013 + Q&A with Director Tom Petch Tue June 3 7.30pm Dir: Tom Petch Cast: Owain Arthur, Nicholas Beveney, Daniel Fraser ‘Thoughtful’ (The Guardian) war movie about a British army patrol in Afghanistan. 83 mins MARIUS (12A) 2013 Tue 10 June 7.30pm Director: Daniel Auteuil Cast: Daniel Auteuil, Raphael Personnaz, Jean-Pierre Darroussin, Victoire Belezy, Marie-Anne Chazel See Nick Walker opposite. 93 mins

FANNY (PG) 2013 Tue 17 June 7.30pm Director: Daniel Auteuil Cast: Daniel Auteuil, Victoire Belezy, Jean-Pierre Darroussin, Raphael Personnaz Companion piece to ‘Marius’: see Nick Walker opposite. 102 mins

12 YEARS A SLAVE (15) 2013 Tue 24 June 7.30pm Dir: Steve McQueen Cast: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael K. Williams, Michael Fassbender See Nick Walker opposite. 134 mins

RFS @ CHATHAM ODEON Maritime ME4 4LL 0871 2244 007 Every Thursday, 7.45pm. £9.80 Conc £7.20, Student £3.60 (+ Student 2 for 1 offer) UNDER THE SKIN (15) 2013 Thu 12 June 7.45pm Dir: Jonathan Glazer Cast: Scarlett Johansson An alien seductress preys upon hitchhikers in Scotland. 108 mins THE ZERO THEOREM (15) 2013 Thu 19 June 7.45pm Dir: Terry Gilliam

Cast: Christoph Waltz, Melanié Thierry, David Thewlis, Tilda Swinton A computer hacker finds his work interrupted by a planted love interest. 107 mins

ONLY LOVERS LEFT ALIVE (15) 2013 Thu 5 June 7.45pm Dir: Jim Jarmusch Cast: Tom Hiddleston, Tilda Swinton, Mia Wasikowska A story centered on two vampires who have been in love for centuries.

123 mins

A LONG WAY DOWN (15) 2014 Thu 26 June 7.45pm Dir: Pascal Chaumeil Cast: Aaron Paul, Rosamund Pike, Toni Collette Based on Nick Hornby’s novel. Four suicidal people meet on New Year's Eve… 96 mins

RFS @ THE CINE LOUNGE Sun Pier House Medway Street, Chatham ME4 4HF 01634 812805

CULT FILM NIGHT Monthly (first Sunday) film screening. Doors open 6pm. Tickets £3, no need to book. Currently no disabled access (lift coming soon).

THEY LIVE (15) 1988 Sun 4 May 7.30pm Dir: John Carpenter Cast: Roddy Piper, Keith David, Meg Foster Carpenter’s anticapitalist/consumerist joyfest.

93 mins

ROCHESTER FILM SOCIETY

12 YEARS A SLAVE

MARIUS + FANNY

Chiwetel Ejiofor missed out on the Best Actor award at the Oscars yet walked off with the BAFTA for his portrayal of Solomon Northup, a free black man from upstate New York in the 1840s, who is abducted and sold into slavery in Louisiana, and from whose memoir the film was adapted. With a strong supporting cast of Benedict Cumberbatch, Michael Fassbender, Paul Dano, Brad Pitt and newcomer Lupita Nyong’o (deservedly winning the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress), the film gives full rein to the acting talent on show.

Daniel Auteuil came to international prominence in Claude Berri’s 1980’s films ‘Manon de Sources’ and ‘Jean de Florette’, both adaptations of Marcel Pagnol’s stories set in rural France. His pre-World War France tale, ‘The Well Digger’s Daughter’, was set in rural Provence and he returns to this landscape again with the first two films in his charming remaking of Marcel Pagnol's thirties Marseillaise trilogy, ‘Marius’ and ‘Fanny’ – with the third film, ‘Cesar’ still to be released.

British artist and Turner Prize winner turned director McQueen has so far not put a foot wrong with previous films ‘Hunger’ (2008) and ‘Shame’ (2011), displaying a real flair for visual expression. He now has the Golden Globe, BAFTA and the Academy Award for Best Picture to add to his mantelpiece.

Though it’s certainly not comfortable viewing, with glimpses into the cruelty of the slave trade and the struggles of Northup and his fellow captives, it is a powerful, emotional, and heart-breaking film.

If the purpose of cinema is to entertain, but also sometimes to inform, to educate, or to enlighten then McQueen has succeeded on every level.

‘12 Years A Slave’ is screened at the Rochester Picture Palace at the Corn Exchange, Rochester ME1 1LX on Tuesday 24 June at 7.30pm.

Auteuil directs and stars in the films, filling the atmosphere with romantic overtones from the get go, helped in no small part by Alexandre Desplat’s mournful scores. There are strong performances throughout, and with light comedic sensibilities abounding also, these nostalgic and gentle films have a genuine glowing warmth to them so one can luxuriate in the films’ cosy and unhurried pleasures.

The films are screened at Rochester Picture Palace at the Corn Exchange, Rochester ME1 1LX on the following dates: ‘Marius’: Tuesday 10 June at 7.30pm ‘Fanny’: Tuesday 17 June at 7.30pm For more information or to book seats in advance visit:rochesterfilmsociety.co.uk Nick Walker 15

patience agbabi, poet THE AWARD-WINNING WRITER VISITS ROCHESTER THIS MONTH TO PERFORM FROM ‘TELLING TALES’, HER DAZZLING REMIX OF CHAUCER’S MIDDLEENGLISH CLASSIC EMMA DEWHURST WENT TO MEET HER

for pub landlord Harry ‘Bells’ Bailey, who opens the piece, echoing Chaucer; ‘Artful doggerel’ for Sir Thopas, engaged in a heavyweight word fight, audience whoops and boos included; the formality of rime royal for Makar of The Franklin’s Tale; rap for ‘The Parson’ (to give the tale ‘a kick up the backside’); iambic pentameter; sestina; corona: Agbabi’s facility for poetic shiftshaping is endless.

Patience Agbabi was born to Nigerian parents, spending her early years in London and finishing her schooling in north Wales, before gaining a place at Oxford. She first came across the poetry scene via the spoken word organisation, Apples and Snakes.

The straight-backed, contemplative figure of Patience Agbabi awaits me outside the coffee shop we have chosen for our interview. Having spent the previous days immersed in the multiple voices of her newly published collection, ‘Telling Tales’, a virtuosic retelling of Geoffrey Chaucer’s ‘The Canterbury Tales’ for 21st Britain, the relative containment of her real self is somewhat of a surprise. However, the impression quickly disperses as she talks: Agbabi’s passion for her subject is palpable, her scholarship sits squarely with her experience as a performer and she reveals herself to be that rare bird, a literary poet and spoken word performer in near perfect equal measure.

Jeanette Winterson has dubbed the collection ‘A poem on wheels’, which gives a sense of its barrelling, tragi-comic, epic energy. All human life is here: the pages literally throb with ego, skilfully managed via the rhythmic structures of whichever poetic form Agbabi has chosen for her tellers of tales: rhyming couplets

“I am unusual,” she says of her career trajectory: “I launched myself on the performance poetry scene… and then my work became more literary and in the early 1990s I realised I loved both.” Since then she has honed her art with a foot in both camps. Her first collection, ‘R.A.W.’, published in 1997, won the Excelle Literary Award; she has performed her work at home and abroad and is currently a Fellow in Creative Writing at Oxford Brookes University. In 2004 she was named one of the 20 Next Generation Poets, a prestigious list produced once every decade.

‘Telling Tales’ has been two and a half years in the making. Although Agbabi did write a standalone version of ‘The Wife of Bath’ in 1998, giving life to her hilarious Nigerian businesswoman with a penchant for husbands, it was not until she was made Canterbury Laureate in 2009 that the idea really took shape. Part of her job was to create poems based on the city, so Chaucer’s epic was an obvious, if crazily ambitious, choice.

But Agbabi was not new to Chaucer’s work. It has long been her favourite in the literary canon and ‘The Canterbury Tales’ was the very first audio cassette tape she ever bought. “I did loads and loads of research,” she tells me. She also found a way to distil what excited her about Chaucer’s language and characters into a considerably shorter work, where every word tells, and

MORE SPECIAL EVENTS FROM THE CATHEDRAL: THE SIXTEEN CHORAL PILGRIMAGE TOUR

‘The Voice of the Turtle Dove’ although Chaucer’s original has become the subject of scholarly study, Agbabi recognises that it was not always so and sees great parallels between the language of his pilgrims and the voices of her own.

“I was consultant on a NEET project with teenagers,” she says, “and we told them just to see Chaucer as the deepest, most hard-core slang. He was the first person to write extensively in the vernacular, English that ordinary people spoke, at a time when English was starting to replace French in public life.”

Indeed, Agbabi’s tales are not for the faint-hearted and ‘hard-core’ they frequently are: from the hugely entertaining sexual escapades of ‘The Kiss’ (The Miller’s Tale), to the urban violence of ‘Sharps and Flats’ (The Prioress’s tale), a heart-breaking mini-masterpiece.

Agbabi’s ‘Telling Tales’ book tour is in itself a bit of a pilgrimage. Rochester is mentioned by both Chaucer and Agbabi and is included in the tour, with a gig at Rochester Cathedral on 25 June. If you attend only one live performance this month, make it this one. Watch her spoken word performance and wonder at the tales’ telling, then buy the book, ask Agbabi to sign it (there’s a signing after the performance) and wonder again at their literary merit. You won’t be disappointed.

THURSDAY 12 JUNE 7.30PM, DOORS 6.30PM, PRE-CONCERT TALK AT 7.00PM Concert starts 7.30pm Featuring the work of three exceptional Tudor composers Box Office: 01634 338141 Tickets: £10 - £26 thesixteen.com

The ‘Telling Tales’ tour comes to Rochester Cathedral on WEDNESDAY 25 JUNE AT 7.30PM. Tickets £6, concs £5, available at Garth House or on the door. Tel: 01634 810064 .

A book signing follows the performance.

The tour also visits THE BRIDEWELL, GRAVESEND OLD TOWN HALL, ON 6 JUNE 8PM. Box office: 01474 550023

JAMES TAYLOR QUARTET

‘Telling Tales’ is published by Canongate, price £14.99.

ISBN: 978 1 78211 155 9

FRIDAY 27 JUNE. DOORS 7PM, concert 7.30pm Tickets: £15 (unreserved seating in Nave) Email: development@rochestercathedral.org

For more on Patience Agbabi and tour updates visit renaissanceone.co.uk Author blog: patienceagbabi.wordpress.com

With the Rochester Cathedral Choir

Tel: 01634 810074/843366 rochestercathedral.org 17

THE ILLUSTRATIONS AND COMIC ART OF BRYAN TALBOT, MARK BARNES, JOE DECIE AND IAN WILLIAMS

Mark Barnes: Indecisive Man

FRIDAY 13 JUNE – SUNDAY 10 AUGUST

In a good, bold move, for its new exhibition ‘A Thousand Words’, Rochester Art Gallery is giving its visitor friendly space entirely over to the fascinating world of comic art, and has pulled off quite a coup in securing the works of one of the British comic greats, master draughtsman and storyteller, Bryan Talbot.

Reflecting the recent surge of interest in comic book illustration, Bryan and his wife Mary received the 2012 Costa Book Award for Biography for ‘Dotter of Her Father’s Eyes’, the first British comic to win a major literary prize. ‘A Thousand Words’ presents original artwork from this and a range of his other significant books, including pages from the currently unpublished fourth volume of his ‘Grandville’ series.

The exhibition also features the work of local comic genius Mark Barnes, along with the contrasting illustrative talents of Joe Decie and doctor turned graphic novelist, Ian Williams. In the Craft Case,

the tiny worlds of Lisa Swerling’s charming ‘Glass Cathedrals’ perfectly complement the main exhibition.

I joined Mark Barnes in his cupboard of a studio in Hulkes Lane to discuss the renewed interest in comic art. Barnes’ dryly satirical work is often laugh out loud funny; he draws on the vernacular of comics to make a point, hoping to disrupt many of the expectations people have of the form, just as the exhibition itself aims to do.

I ask him to explain the shift in perception around comics: “The problem with comics in Great Britain and the UK is that they’ve been perceived to be for children. In the US most are superhero comics, and they absolutely saturate the market. In Britain, it’s children’s humour comics like ‘The Beano’...

Originally, comics were actually for adults: ‘Comic Cuts’

Bryan Talbot Grandville Bete Noire (Vol 3) 2012

On SUNDAY 15 JUNE exhibiting artists Mark Barnes, Joe Decie and Ian Williams will be providing workshops for children and adults at the FREE FUSE FESTIVAL OF COMICS at Princes Hall, High St, Rochester between 10am- 5pm. Drop-in: just turn up.

The day is free and open to all ages and abilities, from avid comic enthusiasts to families.

‘A Thousand Words’ exhibition runs from Friday 13 June to Sunday 10 August 2014. Special preview 12 June, 6.30-8.30pm (all welcome but please tel 01634 338319 or email arts@medway.gov.uk). Books and original artwork by the artists will be available for sale at the gallery.

Rochester Art Gallery and Craft Case, Visitor Information Centre, 95 High St, Rochester ME1 1LX. Opening times are Monday to Saturday 10am to 5pm and Sundays 10.30pm to 5pm. Free admission. facebook: Rochester Art Gallery & Craft Case

Glass Cathedral by Lisa Swerling

developed during the olden days of rail travel – if your train had an accident and you were found to have ‘Comic Cuts’ in your pocket, the comic acted as your insurance policy!

I ask Mark why he loves comics. “I love the way comics make your mind work in a different way to when you’re reading novels. Your mind stitches together a series of still images. There’s just something exciting when you draw a box with something in it, then you draw another box with something in it, and something magical happens in between…”

He is “insanely excited” to be showing his work in the same exhibition as Bryan Talbot, a personal hero of his since the age of thirteen. “This exhibition will broaden your perception of comics,” he says. “The breadth of Bryan Talbot’s work alone enables you to see that this world is much broader than you might at first have thought.”

Bryan Talbot: Page from The Tale of One Bad Rat

“Now, the genre is widening. ‘The Guardian’ helped with their graphic novel review section, which was then made part of ordinary fiction. It’s also been led by the Continent, where no one genre dominates the industry, which has encouraged readers of all ages.”

Sounds like a must-see to me.

19

FUSE est arts2f014

AWARD-WINNING FLAGSHIP ARTS ORGANISATION NUCLEUS ARTS IS HOLDING FOUR FREE ARTSFEST EVENTS DURING 2014

ARTSFEST SATURDAY 14 JUNE 2014 A Special Saturday from Nucleus Arts during FUSE

Nucleus Arts has co-ordinated their second free ArtsFest day to coincide with Fuse Festival’s Street Arts Day in Chatham, so the town centre will be positively awash with free entertainment, workshops and acts. The ArtsFest days are intended to be a celebration of creativity for the whole community, reflecting the organisation’s aim to focus on affordability, accessibility, approachability and excellence in the arts.

The first ArtsFest Saturday was held in May, with an afternoon of free entertainment at Nucleus Arts’ original site in Chatham (pictured). In June there is a bigger, broader programme and once again it is absolutely free.

Here’s a taste of the highlights, with more acts to be announced (see the website for details): FUSE ArtsFest Saturday 14 June: Live music from Lupen Crook

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Magic from Henri White

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Book readings by Philip Kane

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Art workshops

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Artisan/art markets.

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Face painting, henna tattooing and pamper sessions

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Artist Chris Sacre will be running free children’s workshops (1.30-3pm)

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CreataboX will be running workshops during FUSE ArtsFest outside the Creative Riverside

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Hub in Military Road

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Performances by Jemima, and by Ella HalpernMatthews

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Band and solo performances from students on the BTEC Music Perforamcne course at

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Saturday 12 July sees ArtsFest 3, tying in with the lovely River Festival, and then there’s a ‘Welcome Back’ event on 13 September.

Mid Kent College, including two bands entered into the World Skills popular music competition

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Solo artists include Taylor Paisley-French; Samee Goosani; TJ Barrow; Nikita Hart and Callum Franks

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The events will take place at Nucleus Arts Centre, Chatham (272, High Street, Chatham, ME4 4BP), with some acts travelling along the High Street/ Military Road. Some parts of the event may also take place at the Nucleus Arts Creative Riverside Hub. The main stage will be at the Centre These are all free events, running from 11am-5pm and are for the benefit of everyone whether they have an interest in the Arts or not. Refreshments will be available, provided by Café Nucleus.

Band artists include Visitor; The Bleachers; Pure Substance; Rhythmless and King Bee

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DJ set from Inspiration Sound System

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Many Nucleus artists will be opening their studio doors to the public

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Nucleus Arts, 272 High Street, Chatham ME4 4BP (entrance opposite Iceland) nucleusarts.com

FUSE 2014 HIGHLIGHTS 13-15 JUNE FRI 13 JUNE PARADE AND OPENING: HIGH STREET, GILLINGHAM ME7 1AQ & THE GREAT LINES FUSE PARADE, 4.30-7.30pm + Medway Heroes Carnival, ‘Walking in the Footsteps of Giants’ 4.30-5.30pm Also, SPOKE’N’WORD onboard LV21, GILLINGHAM PIER A Pedal-Powered Poetry Slam!

8-9.30pm, plus HUMAN FOGHORN 7.30pm-midnight, featuring the voices of Medway residents (both continue on Sat 14 and Sun 15 June).

SAT 14 JUNE STREET ARTS DAY, CHATHAM HIGH STREET & SUN PIER 12-5pm Incorporating Nucleus Arts’ ARTSFEST DAY, see opposite Don’t miss SOUTHPAW DANCE COMPANY’s intensely physical reimagining of FAUST; CLUNK, a dance-theatre mini-gig for under 5s and the parkour and circus skills of C-12 DANCE THEATRE. Also, BESPOKE, Designer & Maker Fair at Sun Pier House, Chatham, 11am-5pm SATURDAY NIGHT SPECTACULAR: NOT TO BE MISSED! WIRED AERIAL THEATRE ‘s ‘As The World Tipped’, Great Lines, Gillingham ME7 5DE at 9.30pm. A real-life action movie in the sky. This will be well worth making the trip – see last month’s WOW.

(More or less) everything you need to know about this annual outdoor arts festival

SUN 15 JUNE ROCHESTER HIGH STREET, ME1 1AQ and ROCHESTER CASTLE GROUNDS: FUSE BIG PICNIC 11am-6.45pm Circus, theatre, dance, music, street entertainment and visual art. DON’T MISS: LES ENFANTS TERRIBLES’ ‘Imaginary Menagerie’ an enormous, Vaudevillian caravan of tricks.

ACROJOU perform ‘Frantic’, a moving dance duet choreographed on a rolling set. DODO’S DREAM present ‘Circle of Two’, a stunning aerial show.

Plus workshops and family activities all day.

IN THE CASTLE MOAT: HOME FIRES, 11.30am. Central School of Speech and Drama students perform a family friendly show reliving untold stories of Medway during the First World War. SENS DESSUS DESSOUS, 5pm: Collectif Malunés seduce audiences with their crazy upside-down universe. Sounds fun.

FREE FESTIVAL OF COMICS The Princes Hall, High Street Rochester, 11am-4pm Tying in with ‘A Thousand Words’ exhibition at Rochester Art Gallery (see main feature), this is a whole day of comic art activity. Drawing activities, workshops and talks. For ALL abilities and ages.

FUSE COMMISSIONS While FUSE brings to the Medway Towns some of the best international

performers going, it also supports homegrown talent. This year’s FUSE commissions are well worth catching up with: ONE DAY WORKS presented by the Kent Baton and curated by Nicole Mollett. A series of one day experiments allowing ten Medway creative to use the Baton as they wish to work with communities on our urban high streets and in our more rural communities.

COMIC CUTS is the brainchild of Richard Jeferies of mural artists Squarecube Artisans, who are creating giant black and white comic book silhouettes to be placed around Medway’s public spaces.

Canterbury’s KNUCKLE & JOINT THEATRE COMPANY bring their puppet-filled show ‘Save the Lyma Birds!’ to the party.

NEW!!

FUSE ARTS LAB Great new initiative: a social event and networking opportunity for local and touring artists to meet.

Free and open to all, but booking is essential.

Held in the evening of the following days: Friday 13 June : LV21 Saturday 14 June: Sun Pier House Sunday 15 June: Nucleus Arts fusefestival.org.uk 21

MUSIC 1

HOMESPUN Homespun 2014, Medway’s Independent Music Festival is shaping up nicely for July. Running from 23 to 26 July across 12 different venues, confirmed headliners include 6Music and Marc Riley favourites Younghusband, Leeds based math-rock noiseniks That F***ing Tank and stars of the celebrated NME C86 compilation The Wolfhounds.

Homespun has also secured a Medway Premiere of the documentary ‘Basically Johnny Moped’ (see the trailer at www.youtube.com/ watch?v=tELNUGii58M) coupled with a rare Medway appearance from the legendary Masonics.

Details for ticketed events with early bird specials are here: homespunmedway.com/ blurb-2014 ALL SAINTS CHURCH Mill Street, Maidstone ME15 6YE 8 June 7.30pm: SUMMER CONCERT with THE MAIDSTONE SINGERS performing Bach and Handel. £10, under 18s £5, under 12s free. tickets@themaidstonesingers.org.uk 14 June 7.30pm:

THE BARGE 63 Layfield Road, Gillingham ME7 2QY 01634 850485

EARLS 30 Earl Street Maidstone ME14 1PS 01622 751286

Sat 7 June: HOWLIN’ MAT Wed 18 June: FUNKE & THE TWO TONE BABY + BABAR LUCK Wed 25 June: KING SIZE SLIM Music starts 9pm, free entry thebargepub.co.uk

Sun 1 June: MASTERCLASS Thu 5 June: MAKE SOME NOISE Fri 6 June: KIT CURTIS & THE B3'S Sat 7 June: THE MOFO'S Sun 8 June: TOPAZ Fri 13 June: PROJECT 5 Sat 14 June: TIMMY MOORE TRIO Sun 15 June: TOP GUNS Thu 19 June: MAKE SOME NOISE FRI 20 June: ROCKSTOX Sat 21 June: BITTEN BY MONKEYS Sun 22 June: THE QUAYS Fri 27 June: M.O.D Sat 28 June: REYES Sun 29 June: BACK 2 BACK Doors 9pm unless stated. Free entry earlsmaidstone.co.uk

BEACON COURT TAVERN 128 Canterbury Street, Gillingham ME7 4RY 01634 853186 Fri 6 June: SILVER STORY + ONE DAY ELLIOT + ELECTRIC RIVER + SURRENDER THE THOUGHT + UNKNOWN REPORT: £5 adv, £6 door Sat 7 June: CURB PILOTS: £5 Fri 20 June: RIVER BECOMES OCEAN + MEN AMONGST KINGS + CONFESSIONS OF A KING + FREEDOM CAGE + DUMB ANGEL: £5 adv,£6 door Sat 21 June: GUNS VS ROSES: £6 adv,£7 door. Doors 7pm beaconcourttavern.co.uk CENTRAL THEATRE 170 High Street, Chatham ME4 4AS 01634 338338 Fri 20 June 7.30pm SUPERSTARS OF SOUL featuring Geno Washington and The Foundations.

Tickets: £19.50, £17.50 Sat 21 June 7.30pm: CLARE TEAL AND THE BBC BIG BAND. Tickets: £23.50, £21.50 medwayticketslive.co.uk EAGLE TAVERN 124 High Street Rochester ME1 1JT 01634 409040

MAIDSTONE WIND SYMPHONY Season finale concert. Tickets £10, £8 concs. To book tel: 01580 291056, email: tickets@ maidstonewindsymphony.org maidstonewindsymphony.org

Thu 5 June: THE CLINTSTONES Thu 12 June: THE OFFSPIN Thu 19 June: THE ROSCO LEVEE BAND Thu 26 June: THE PRIFF STICKS Doors 7pm. Free entry theeagletavern.org.uk

THE HASTINGS ARMS FUNCTION ROOM Lower Rainham Road (leading to Danes Hill) Gillingham ME7 2YD Free parking Thur 26th June 8.30pm: ROCHESTER SWING PRESERVATION SOCIETY plus special guest, top UK trumpet player Paul Higgs.

Admission £7.00, raffle plus free nibbles. For further details or to reserve a table tel: 01634 712217.

Find them on facebook: ‘Rochester Swing Preservation Society’ LOVE MUSIC HATE RACISM Fort Amherst, Chatham Sat 7 & Sun 8 June: Free entry Featuring on the Unity Stage UNKNOWN REPORT + FRED CLARK + MATT PEARCE + SILF + URBAN STEPS + MANY MORE, including a Spoken Word Stage, A Youth Stage and The Bob Wade Stage featuring THE FLOWING See lovemusichateracism-medway. co.uk/ for full line-up

enjoy your weekend Relax on Friday night

with deep relaxation, meditation and mindfulness Yoga Nidra at Sun Pier House, Medway Street, ME4 4HF July 4th, 7:30-9:30pm

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Price £20, places limited, no yoga experience needed Please contact me for full details Bridget Reader Email: bridget.reader@gmail.com Tel: 07962 077597 www.VitalityTherapies.com

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JUNE 2014

MSc MA Dip RSA UKCP reg Professional Member of Nafsiyat

Psychoanalytic Psychotherapist Suite 9, Cheldgate House 45 High Street Rochester ME1 1LP Tel: 01634 828 528 Mobile: 07788 412 701 Email: dhh@btconnect.com

...puting the pieces together with knowledge, compassion and understanding

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Jam Night Ukulele Jam Night Sally Ironmonger Pass the Cat Jam Night TBA Stuart Turner and Jam Night Quiz TBA Andre Jam Night Fran McGillivray & Mike Burke Phil Woolett in the John Doe Duo Jam Night

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MUSIC 2 MAN OF KENT ALEHOUSE John Street, Rochester ME1 07772 214315 See June gig listings opposite Jam night every Sunday evening Free entry, Kentish ales

THE MICK JAGGER CENTRE Shepherds Lane, Dartford DA1 2JZ 01322 291100 Sat 14 June: THE BLUES BAND: £20,£18 conc. Stage time: 8pm After thousands of gigs their passion for the blues keeps filling venues around the world.

Fri 20 June: ROCK ANTHEM’S present THIN LIZZY’S LIVE AND DANGEROUS: £10 (£12 on the Door). Stage time 8pm. Performed for the first time live in its entirety, with the missing songs from the band’s 1977 tour. Tickets from WeGotTickets or website. themickjaggercentre.com MOTE HALL MAIDSTONE LEISURE CENTRE, ME15 9JR Sat 21 June 7.30pm: MAIDSTONE CHORAL UNION Performing Bizet’s ‘Carmen’. Tickets £7 to £16, available from 01622 726193, on the door or via the website. For further information contact Peter Church on 01622 679939 maidstonechoralunion.org.uk PIZZA EXPRESS MUSIC ROOM 32-34 Earl Street, Maidstone ME14 1PF 01622 683548 Fri 6 June: JASON ALLEN: £13 Sat 7 June: 5 IN THE BAR : £14 Fri 13 June: JOE STILGOE: £18 Fri 20 June: KATIE BRADLEY BLUES BAND + KING SIZE SLIM: £12

Thurs 26 June: Paul Dunton presents FRED CLARK + MCCREI + CHAMELEON: £7 Fri 27 June: CUT THE FUNK + Special Guest: £16 Doors 7pm, show 8pm unless stated. pizzaexpresslive.co.uk POCO LOCO 60 High Street, Chatham ME4 4DS 01634 844198 Sat 7 June: THE BOOGALOO REVUE with Paul Vine and Seymour Evil PLUS MANY MORE – see panel opposite. Doors 9pm ‘til 2am.

Free entry poco-loco.co.uk RAFTERS 62 High Street, Maidstone ME14 1SR 07925773041 Thurs 5 June: JON GOMM. Doors 7.30pm. Tickets £10 adv, £15 door ROCHESTER CATHEDRAL The Precinct, Rochester ME1 1SX 01634 810074 Sat 7 June: ROCHESTER CHORAL SOCIETY: Handel’s ‘Israel in Egypt’ Doors 7pm. Tickets £18, £14 & £7 (unreserved), £5 students rochesterchoral.co.uk/tickets Thu 12 June: THE SIXTEEN – THE VOICE OF THE TURTLE DOVE Doors 6.30pm. Tickets £10-£26 from 01634 338141 or 01904 651485 Fri 27 June: JAMES TAYLOR QUARTET + ROCHESTER CATHEDRAL CHOIR Doors 7pm. Tickets £15 from development@rochestercathedral. org or 01634 843366/8110074 ST MARY’S FRIDAY NIGHT ALTERNATIVE Belmont Road, Gillingham ME7 5JB 01634 573032 Fri 27 June: Headline plus OPEN MIC Doors 7.30pm. £1 entry

ST PETER’S CHURCH Boughton Monchelsea Sat 28 June: MIDSUMMER MUSIC. Refreshments from 6pm, music 7pm.

Tickets £7.50 from Barry or Marie: 01622 749993. In aid of Church Roof Fund. stpeters-church.org.uk STEPPING STONE STUDIOS 2 Museum Avenue, Maidstone ME14 1QX 01622 675923 Sat 7 June: RAGWEED + BEAR VS MANERO + MR LIZARD + PUNCHING SWANS + more.

Doors 7pm. £4 steppingstonestudios.co.uk SUN PIER HOUSE Medway Street, Chatham ME4 4HF 01634 812805 Fri 6 June: THEATRE ROYAL ALBUM LAUNCH + THESE GUILTY MEN + THE FLYING ISAACS + THE DREDGERMEN. Doors 7.30pm. £4 Fri 13 June: THE PAPER MOON JAZZ & SOUL LOUNGE with THE NOTABLE EXCEPTIONS + special guests + local support Fri 20 June 7pm: THE BIG SING CHARITY CONCERT in aid of the Friends of Wisdom Hospice. With participating BIG Sing choirs from Mid Kent, Rochester, Swanley and Maidstone. Tickets: £5. Buy on the door, or email: tjae@big-sing.com.

Tel: 0844 330 4065.

Fri 27 June: THE PAPER MOON JAZZ & SOUL LOUNGE with THE NOTABLE EXCEPTIONS + special guests + local support. Doors 7.30pm. Tickets £10 or £5 after 10.30pm sunpierhouse.co.uk

LIVE!

SAT 7: BOOGALOO REVIEW Vintage Soul and Cosmic Funk With DJs Paul Vine and Seymour Evil FRI 13: WTF PRESENTS SWAMPY BLUES ROCK AND LIVE ELECTRONICA LUNA LACUNA/ SOURCROUCH AND THE XENOPHOBES/ MOSHFERATO/ APACHE HELICOPTER/ RIOT IN LONDON/ FUNKY MOTHERS/ BEAUTY IN DECAY/ MIKE SEWELL SOLO FRI 20: URBAN OPEN MIC acoustic guitar accompanied by spoken word/ Rap/ Vocalists. Performers contact venue for a slot!

ROOMS TO HIRE Rochester Quaker Meeting House

We have daytime and evening vacancies in our pleasant rooms for long or short-term hire WHEELCHAIR ACCESS, HEARING LOOP, KITCHEN Our hirers are sympathetic to Quaker testimonies of Truth, Peace and Simplicity

Contact: Thelma West 01634 408796

SAT 21: PSY TRANCE DJs FRI 27: Welcome return of HARVEY HOOP WALKER CRISPE Quality quartet present acoustic pop rock blues covers 60's-90's

One of Kent’s best underground music venues

June Gigs FRI 6: MEANFEST Blues & Rock with Mean n my Lady Not to missed - local and out of town acts

SAT 28: UNKNOWN REPORT + MORE BAND + JAM SESSION FRI 4th July: THE ANDY WHITE BAND Classic Rock and Psychedelia

VENUE AVAILABLE FOR PRIVATE HIRE BAND REHEARSAL SPACE

CHARITY CONCERT FOR THE FRIENDS OF WISDOM HOSPICE

Friday 20 June, 7pm, Sun Pier House, Chatham Tickets: £5 Email: tjae@big-sing.com Tel: 0844 330 4065 Or buy them on the door!

All parties catered for CONTACT JODY 07796 403781 for all bookings and info 58-60 HIGH ST, CHATHAM, KENT ME4 4DS

01634 844198 www.pocolive.com

KEVIN YOUNGER interviews

JIM RILEY RANSCOMBE STUDIOS PROPRIETOR, SOUND ENGINEER AND MUSICIAN In the recent book on the Medway music scene, ‘The Kids Are All Square’ (Bob Collins and Ian Snowball), there are only a few names that run right through from the early stirrings of pub rock and punk right up to the current multi-layered mashup of 21st century music. But alongside The Prisoners, The Dentists and the prolific and ever-influential Billy Childish, the name of Jim Riley crops up again and again.

Once the frontman of local R&B outfit Wipeout, he’s now the proprietor of Ranscombe Studios, a recording studio in Rochester that has helped a host of local, national and international talent to get their sound down on tape.

Tape, because Ranscombe is a classic analogue studio, similar in some ways to the legendary ToeRag Studios in London in its preference for the natural sound wave and magnet over the brittle pixels of digital recording.

I caught up with Jim at Ranscombe Studios, hidden away in soundproof seclusion somewhere below Rochester’s Royal Function Rooms.

WHEN DID YOU GET STARTED? April 2002 up at Ranscombe Farm near Cuxton. A friend had a rehearsal space and I really fancied getting a studio going. I’d been gigging most of my life and I’d always been interested in the recording side of things. I got the stuff together and decided to go tape, instead of digital which was new then, because I knew tape and liked that old-school stuff. It just really took off. Within a year I was working six days a week. I moved the studio to Rochester in 2004, but I kept the name.

AND YOU WEREN’T TEMPTED TO GO WITH COMPUTERS? I’d done a couple of albums, with my own band the Gurus, on digital stuff and I found it hard work - really hard to get the sound I wanted. And I remember setting

up a tape machine and it all just went down better.

Okay, you’ve got to get a performance, you don’t fix it in the mix, but even the drop-ins and overdubs are easier to be honest.

IT MUST WORK. PEOPLE HAVE TRAVELLED A LONG WAY TO RECORD HERE...

I’ve had bands from France, Northern Ireland, the North West, a lot of London bands. I think the analogue thing helps. It’s a bit of a niche market, there are people who really want that sound. They hear stuff that’s produced here and they want a piece of that.

BILLY CHILDISH HAS FAMOUSLY TRENCHANT VIEWS ON RECORDING STUDIOS. HOW DID HE COME TO RECORD AT RANSCOMBE? I’d known Billy since 1977, but it was around the time he was doing The Buff Medways that he started bringing

in his own two track tape recordings and we would just do a few overdubs. In time he got to know me and trusted me enough to record down here. He knows what he wants and that I can do it without the complaining you might get off some engineers.

SO IS YOUR SET-UP HERE JUST FOR BEAT-ERA PERFECTIONISTS AND ROCK’N’ROLL LUDDITES? No. I’ve got UpC DownC mixing at the moment and they’re working on a very widescreen, John Carpenter sort of soundtracky album, with all vintage synths.

We’ve had everything from old school garage to female singer songwriters. Some of the greatest hi-fi albums were done on tape, pristine recordings like Steely Dan and whatever. Early digital albums were very cold and in fact they now add a lot of analogue outboard stuff to try and give it a bit of warmth.

WHAT PROJECTS HAVE YOU PARTICULARLY ENJOYED WORKING ON? Lots of different things. Dave Goggin’s stuff, Vlks, was very pleasurable, taking time and working it up from simple piano-based ideas with toy instruments and sounds. Then, totally different again, there’s Rosco Levee, southern blues rock, but again we had the time to really get it spot on. The new Theatre Royal album we worked on for about a year, on and off, and personally I think it’s their best (see box).

The songwriting’s still great but there’s a few more instruments, a couple of string parts, more backing vocals. I’ve known some of them since they were in the Long Weekend, since they were 18 or 19. We’ve got a good working relationship.

WE DON’T KNOW WHERE WE ARE Phil Dillon reviews Theatre Royal’s third album, produced at Ranscombe Studios ‘We Don’t Know Where We Are’ is the new album by Medway band Theatre Royal, following two albums, two E.P.s, a flush of singles, a welter of airplay (particularly on BBC6 Music) and widespread critical acclaim. Recorded at Ranscombe Studios, it is released on the exemplary Vacilando ’68 label on 2 June.

The songs deal with change, decisions and doubt, cohesively cross-referencing each other to create a whole, richly interwoven record that melds perfect power pop, classic Medway, Paisley Underground and post-Punk Liverpool into huge choruses, sublime harmonies, and well-crafted songs that really resonate. The band has described the album as their most complete, and they’re not wrong. Where many bands before them have fallen at the ‘difficult third album’ hurdle, Theatre Royal have simply grown wings in order to glide gracefully across boundaries.

‘We Don’t Know Where We Are’ is at once contemporary and timeless. Hugely rewarding on first listen, it’s a grower too. Highly recommended. wearetheatreroyal.com

ranscombestudios.com

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THEATRE FUSE 2014 13-15 June Outdoor theatre a-plenty during this long weekend. Don’t miss the Saturday Night Spectacular WIRED AERIAL THEATRE ‘s ‘As The World Tipped’, Great Lines, Gillingham ME7 5DE Sat 14 June at 9.30pm. A vast aerial show which promises to be breathtaking. FREE. See page 20

BROOK THEATRE Old Town Hall, Chatham ME4 4SE 01634 338338 Image Musical Theatre present THE JUNGLE BOOK Sun 15 June 11.30am and 2.30pm. Adapted from Rudyard Kipling’s story, there is a half hour workshop before the show for some children to be cast and rehearsed into the performance.

Suitable for ages 5+. Adults £6, children £5, Family ticket £20 (any combination) Blunderbus Theatre presents HUGLESS DOUGLAS LIVE ON STAGE Sun 29 June 11.30am and 2.30pm. Based on the book by internationally acclaimed author-illustrator David Melling.

Recommended for children aged 3-7 years. Music and physical theatre. Adults £6, children £5, Family ticket £20 (any combination) CABARET OF CURIOSITIES Fri 27 Jun 8pm Highly popular night of circus, dancing and burlesque. Over 16s only. £11 medwayticketslive.co.uk MARLOWE THEATRE The Friars, Canterbury CT1 2AS 01227 787787 CATS Mon16-Sat 28 Jun 7.30pm, Thu & Sat mat 2.30pm Andrew

Lloyd-Webbers’ record-breaking musical. £16-£42, concs available

Canterbury Tales’. Wed 25 June 7.30pm Performing her newly published book, ‘Telling Tales’. See interview page 16. Tickets £6 per adult, £5 concs. Box Office: 01634 810064 or in person from Garth House. rochestercathedral.org

DERREN BROWN: INFAMOUS Mon 30 Jun-Sat 5 Jul 7.30pm. With Andy Nyman, who also directs, the master of psychological illusion. £36.50-£44 MARLOWE STUDIO: Fine Chisel presents DUMBSTRUCK Tue 3 and Wed 4 June 8pm. Fine Chisel were the winners of a Fringe First award in 2013. Recommended. Tickets £12 marlowetheatre.com (booking charges applies via internet)

THE WOODVILLE Woodville Place, Gravesend DA12 1DD 01474 337774 (10am-2pm) STUDIO THEATRE: THE TRIALS OF OSCAR WILDE Tue 24 June 7.30pm. Maidstone’s European Arts Company’s production based on the original court transcripts. £13, £11 (inc booking fee) Woodville.co.uk

ORCHARD THEATRE Home Gardens, Dartford DA1 1ED 01322 220000 EVITA Mon 2-Sat 7 June with Marti Pellow as Che and Madalena Alberto as Eva Peron. Eve 7.30pm, Wed & Sat Mat 2.30pm. £25-£38, concs available MORECAMBE Mon 16 June 7.30pm New production of Olivier Awardwinning play starring Bob Golding as the comedy king. £15-£21, concs available THE GILBERT & SULLIVAN OPERA COMPANY present THE MIKADO (Wed 18 June), IOLANTHE (Thu 19 June) and THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE (Fri 20 & Sat 21 June) 7.30pm; Wed, Thu & Sat mat 2.30pm.

Tickets £18-£28, concs available for series bookings THE REDUCED SHAKESPEARE COMPANY Thu 26 June 7.30pm An irreverent romp through the Bard’s plays, previously London’s longest running comedy. £16, concs available orchardtheatre.co.uk (booking fee applies)

COMEDY

ROCHESTER CATHEDRAL Garth Precinct, Rochester ME1 1LX PATIENCE AGBABI ‘21st Century

BILLABONG CLUB Victoria Street, Rochester ME1 1XJ Top Uk comedians, last Thursday of every month. Doors 7.30pm, show 8pm. Next gig: Thu 26 June £12 on door, £9 in advance from wegottickets.com/billabong; in person at Cafe@172 (formerly Dot Café) or call 01634 242731 or 07717 713667. Students £5 with ID. billabongcomedyclub.co.uk BROOK THEATRE Old Town Hall, Chatham ME4 4SE 01634 338338 LAUGHING BOY COMEDY CLUB Thu 12 June 7.45pm. KEVIN McCARTHY MC, PHIL NICHOL, MIKE GUNN, PAUL F TAYLOR. Over 18s only. £11 medwayticketslive.co.uk JOKING WITH INTENT The Good Intent, 3 John Street, Rochester ME1 1YL OPEN MIC COMEDY CLUB First and third Thursday of the month.

Next gigs: Thu 5 and 19 June, 8-10pm. Line-up tbc. £2 admission.

Find Joking with Intent on Facebook

distribution

OH VALLEY PARK SCHOOL PRESENTS

9-10 Orchard Business Centre Sanderson Way Tonbridge Kent TN9 1QG

www.cpg-net.co.uk

DESIGN

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WAR WHAT A LOVELY

e: enquiries@cpg-net.co.uk t: 01732 366666

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DISTRIBUTION

Performing at the HAZLITT THEATRE

Earl Street, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 1PL TONBRIDGE KENT e: enquiries@cpg-net.co.uk t: 01732 366666 www.cpg-net.co.uk

from Wednesday 9th July to Saturday 12th July at 7:30pm Preview Performance on Tuesday 8th July at 7:30pm Matinees on Thursday 10th July & Saturday 12th July at 2:00pm Tickets - Adults: £10.00, Children: £7.50 Family Ticket 2 Adults & 2 Children: £30.00 Preview Tickets Adults: £7.50, Children: £4.00 Group Rate 1 FREE ticket for every 10 purchased!

Available from the Valley Park Box Office: 01622 656161 or the Hazlitt Theatre Box Office: 01622 758611

JOAN LITTLEWOOD’S Musical entertainment OH WHAT A LOVELY WAR

By Theatre Workshop, Charles Chilton, Gerry Raffles and members of the original cast Title suggested by Ted Allan

An amateur production by arrangement with SAMUEL FRENCH LTD 29

VISUAL ART THE BEANEY HOUSE OF ART AND KNOWLEDGE 18 High Street, Canterbury CT1 2RA 01227 862162 Mon to Wed 9am to 5pm, Thu 9am to 7pm, Fri and Sat 9am to 5pm, Sun 10am to 5pm TEDDY BEAR STORY Sat 10 May to Sun 27 Jun. Free entry. thebeaney.co.uk BELOW 65 GALLERY Gilbert & Clark Frame and Print 65 High Street, Maidstone ME14 1SR 01622 685146 Free entry Open 9.30am-4.30pm Mon-Sat PASTED: ADVENTURES IN COLLAGE & MIXED MEDIA Mon 2 June - Sat 28 June A showcase of collage & mixed media work by Ash White, Angela Wooi, Chris F Clark and Marc Lawrence. Using both digital and traditional methods, the artists’ work highlights the many ways in which these adventurous disciplines can be used to create works with an arresting impact. (ashwhite.net; chrisfclark.com; makingart-work. co.uk; marclawrence.co.uk). gilbertandclark.com FRANCIS ILES GALLERIES 103 High Street, Rochester ME1 1LX 01634 843081 Opens Mon-Sat 9.30am-5.30pm SUMMER EXHIBITION: JEWELS OF THE BALTIC featuring the Russian Artists Opens Friday 20 June with a Special Sunday Opening 22 June 11am-4pm Free entry. francis-iles.com MASCALLS GALLERY Maidstone Road, Paddock Wood TN12 6LT 01892 839039 Open Tue-Thu 10am-5pm, Fri-Sat 11am-4pm. Closed Sun, Mon. Free admission DISCOVERING PALMER’S KENT 14 June-23 Aug. Samuel Palmer, Graham Sutherland and Paul Drury. mascallsgallery.org

MAIDSTONE MUSEUM & BENTLIF ART GALLERY St Faith's St, Maidstone ME14 1LH 01622 602838 Opens Mon-Sat 10am-5pm, closed Sun & Bank Holidays THE AGE OF GLAMOUR: R.S. Sherriffs’ Stars of Stage & Screen. To Sun 3 August. A unique collection of glamorous 1920s and 1930s portraits. Free entry Also, TALONS AND TIARAS Sat 17 May to Sun 3 Aug. Couture evening gowns inspired by British birds and vintage glamour by Kate Plumtree. museum.maidstone.gov.uk MEDWAY ARCHIVES & LOCAL STUDIES CENTRE Clock Tower, Civic Centre, Rochester ME2 4AU 01634 332714. Free VERSES & EXTRACTS – 80 YEARS ON To 17 June.

PILLS, POTIONS AND PROMISES Thu 19 June-Tue 19 Aug. Early advertising in the Medway Towns.

NUCLEUS ARTS 272 High Street, Chatham ME4 4BP 01634 812108 Gallery: Mon- 10am-5pm (café to 5.30pm) Closed Sun. Free entry IN THE MIND’S EYE: Marion Smith.

To 1pm 5 June.

DELICATELY PLACED MARBLES: David Faltrego. 7 June to 1pm on 19 June. The artist’s surreal observations on everyday life. Preview 6 June 6-8pm. All welcome.

MID KENT COLLEGE END OF YEAR SHOW 21 June-1pm on 26 June.

Preview 20 June 6-8pm, all welcome.

NUCLEUS ARTS RETAIL Various artists in all sorts of mediums. 28 June1pm on 10 July. Preview 27 June 6-8pm, all welcome.

OPEN STUDIOS: 7 June and during ArtsFest on 14 June. See article page 21 nucleusarts.com NUCLEUS ARTS, ROCHESTER 75 High Street, Rochester ME1 1LX Open 10am-5pm Mon-Sat; Sun 11-5pm

01634 812108 Gallery shop, café and internet with lovely garden.

NUCLEUS ARTS, MAIDSTONE Gabriel’s Hill, Maidstone ME15 6JR Open 10am-5pm Mon-Fri; closed Sundays 01634 812108 New arts hub & café for Maidstone.

ROCHESTER ART GALLERY Visitor Information Centre, 95 High Street, Rochester ME1 1LX 01634 338319 Mon-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 10.30am-5pm Free entry A THOUSAND WORDS The Illustrations and Comic Art of Bryan Talbot, Mark Barnes, Joe Decie and Ian Williams. With Lisa Swerling’s ‘Glass Cathedrals’ in the Craft Case.

Fri 13 June – Sun 10 August. Special preview 12 June, 6.30-8.30pm (all welcome but please tel 01634 338319 or email arts@medway.gov. uk). See main feature page 18.

SUN PIER HOUSE Medway Street, Chatham ME4 4HF 01634 401549 Open Tue-Sun 10am - 4pm (closed Mon) New ART GALLERY and café with stunning views.

(Disabled access coming soon) sunpierhouse.co.uk ST ANDREW’S ART CENTRE Royal Pier Road, Gravesend DA12 2BD Gravesend Art Consortium presents FOOTFALL Sat 7 and Sun 8 June, 11am-5pm. Art created during the ‘Footfall’ Project’s residency in Gravesham Borough Market. facebook.com/ GravesendArtConsortium UCA ROCHESTER Fort Pitt, Rochester, ME1 1DZ ROCHESTER GRADUATION SHOW Fri 30 May - Fri 13 June, 10am-6pm (Closed Sundays). Private view: Thursday 29 May, 5-8pm. Great chance to view the work of up and coming graduates. graduationshows.ucreative.ac.uk

ULY 2014 J 0 2 N U S SAT 12 THIS YEAR THERE’S A BRILLIANT SELECTION OF NEW AND RETURNING ARTISTS TO MEET. ALL FREE AND ALL WORTH A VISIT. www.medwayopenstudios.co.uk

Saturday 10 May to Sunday 27 July 2014 Special Exhibitions Room Exhibition organised by V&A Museum of Childhood, London

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High Street, Canterbury thebeaney.co.uk

Image: Teddy bear, Chad Valley Company Limited, England, c1955 © Victoria and Albert Museum

Teddy Bear Story

Midsummer weekend, Friday 20 June – Sunday 22 June (With pre-festival events from 9 June) THE UK’S FIRST SONIC AND VISUAL ARTS FESTIVAL IS COMING TO CHATHAM! The first edition of a most unusual new festival, TŐNE, launches this month over five unique sites along the River Medway: Sun Pier House; Gun Wharf; Fort Amherst; POP Creative Space and Chatham’s Historic Dockyard. The festival’s ambitious programme explores the relationship between the overlapping fields of sound and visual art in a series of nine new national and international commissions, inviting audiences to explore the aesthetic and political resonances of the military and maritime location of Chatham and its environs; the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of the First World War and Midsummer itself.

The TÖNE Festival builds on the legacy of Brighton’s Soundwaves Festival, whose co-founder and director, Claudia Molitor, a Lecturer at the School of Music and Fine Art at the University of Kent, has collaborated with fellow Lecturer Julie Louise Bacon to bring TŐNE to Chatham. The pair have drawn on their combined experience as curators and practitioners on national and international stages to make this unique event.

This year’s theme, ‘A Meeting of Sound and Light’, refers to the timing of the festival over the weekend of the Summer Solstice, an ancient annual celebration of light. At sunrise (4.30am) on 21 June, you can watch artist Tomoko Sauvage’s sonic performance in her installation at POP Creative Space combining light, ice and sound.

TÖNE FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS • Australian artist James Geurts will build a solar light sculpture, marking Midsummer on Sun Pier • Dan Ayling directs a cello tour around the Historic Dockyard, Chatham, with Rohan de Saram, Lucy Railton, Olly Coates and the Musarc choir • Fort Amherst hosts two new installations: ‘Twittering Machines’ by leading British sound artist Kathy Hinde, and ‘Gunsgooffbythemselves’

by Ben Fitton and Dylan Shipton • Choreographer Anna Koch and composer Mats Lindström will undertake an art residency on lightship LV21 at Gillingham Pier • New radio art commission from SaraMohr Pietsch

All installations in the five festival venues are FREE to view; all other activities, including evening performances at The Historic Dockyard are for ticket holders only.

• DJ set by Max Reinhardt

Tickets are purchased for each individual day and give you all-inclusive access.

For more information, to buy tickets and download the Festival programme go to tonefestival.com

• Morgan O’Hara, Jon Tilbury and Sarah Nicolls re-imagine the grand piano

Castle CONCERTS

CASTLE GARDENS

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LD OU T

16 - 19 JULY

ROCHESTER

LEVEL 42

16 JULY

SHANE FILAN

17 JULY

UB40

Featuring Ali Campbell, Astro and Mickey Virtue

18 JULY

PROMS

19 JULY

www.thecastleconcerts.co.uk Box Office: 01634 338338 #castleconcerts

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PhotoŠMark McNulty