A Co-educational Day and Boarding School
Year 7 to Sixth Form
your complete journey to academic success
Star Hill, Rochester, ME1 1XF 01634 828115 rochester-college.org
• Non-selective & high performing • Average class size 8 • No school uniform • Very wide range of subjects • Preparation for competitive university courses eg Medicine, Dentistry & Oxbridge •Art, Film & Media specialists
*Plus INTENSIVE EASTER REVISION COURSES • GCSE, AS & A2 • 7 - 18 APRIL 2014
CONTENTS 4 WELCOME 5 BEG BORROW OR STEAL 6 NEWS 10 LOOKOUT 21 13 CLASSES & WORKSHOPS 14 WOW READER SURVEY RESULTS 16 PINUP PAYBACK 18 FILM 19 NICK WALKER 20 MUSIC 1
21 PRESENCE IN MIND: REVIEW 22 MUSIC 2 23 BEN CAMERON 24 RATS BAY SHINDIG 26 THEATRE/COMEDY 27 GRAVESEND ARTS CONSORTIUM 28 VISUAL ART 30 STUART TURNER: REVIEW 31 THE ARTIST’S SPACE
Whaatdthere ssaid re
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
WELCOME TO WOW!
DESIGN: A Stones Throw astonesthrowdesign.co.uk
Your guide to the best of What’s On Where Medway, Maidstone and the accessible beyond
PRINTING: The Colour Factory Ltd, Sittingbourne, 01795 470 825, www.colour-factory.com PUBLISHER: Emma Dewhurst WEBSITE: wowkent.co.uk Current print circulation: 7000 copies Distribution: Medway Towns, Maidstone & Gravesend Copy/listings deadline for March issue: Thursday 20 April 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. wowkent.co.uk
This month WOW magazine is truly proud to be supporting ‘fun, feminist NGO’ PinUp PayBack in the launch of their smartphone app. It makes perfect sense that, hand in hand with encouraging readers to go out and enjoy the great wealth of activities on offer, we should also strive to make our streets safer for our daughters, mothers, grandmothers and friends to do just that. Positively crammed with creative offerings, you can also read the results of the WOW Reader Survey in this issue, find yourself a class or five and fill your diary every night of the week with your pick of the regular listings. Enjoy! Emma Dewhurst editor@wowkent.co.uk
CONTRIBUTORS Wendy Cottam is a multimedia artist, singer and founder of Gravesend Arts Consortium. After graduating from UCA Canterbury last year Wendy has continued her own practice whilst engaging with local artists to establish a creative hub in her local community. Find her on indigoeyes. me or on Facebook. Phil Dillon is a former Medway musician turned photographer best known for his work with bands such as Groovy Uncle, Theatre Royal, The Lovedays and Stuart Turner and the Flat Earth Society. He was principal protagonist in the creative collective, Medway Eyes, for many years and in 2013 co-founded independent Medway music festival, Homespun.
PHOTOGRAPH OF THE EDITOR BY RIKARD ÖSTERLUND
AMBASSADORS PLEASE! If you love the magazine please become a WOW ambassador and mention it, especially if you use any of its advertised services, or attend an event because you saw it in the magazine. Thank you.
Find us on Facebook facebook.com/WOWMedway @EmmaDewhurst7 WOW magazine is printed on 100% recycled paper
Philip Dodd is an author who lives in Rochester. As a publisher, editor and writer he has worked on books with the Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd’s Nick Mason and The Choir’s Gareth Malone. His own contemporary jazz group, the Philip Dodd Quartet, has most recently performed at the 606 Club in Chelsea. Twitter: @thephilipdodd. Web: philipdodd.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 currently a freelance writer, teacher and film cinema/festival programmer. For more information on the Rochester Film Society visit rochesterfilmsociety.co.uk Holly-Mae Worf is a Rochester based film maker and aspiring novelist. She co-founded PinUp Payback in 2013 to improve the representation of women in media and now works as Press Officer and Treasurer for the organisation. Assistant Editor for the upcoming Medway based women’s magazine Big Sister and Co-Creator of the Medway Big Sister smart phone application. holly@pinuppayback.com . pinuppayback.com
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BEG, BORROW OR STEAL!
THE EDITOR’S WISH LIST
MY TOP FIVE PROBABLY WON’T BE YOURS, BUT HERE’S WHAT I’D BE ELBOWING PEOPLE OUT OF THE WAY FOR THIS MONTH, IF I HAD BUT WORLD ENOUGH AND TIME...
DANCE: BALLETBOYZ: THE TALENT 2014
Monday 10 March at 7.30pm Orchard Theatre, Dartford Simply unmissable. Uplifting, thought-provoking and beautiful. This show ticks every box going, with fearless contemporary choreography which silenced a deafeningly excited young audience within seconds when I was in the audience last year. Get on the train and go (only 30 minutes from Medway and the Orchard is two minutes from the station). See Theatre listings for details.
FILM: THE STORY OF VERNON AND IRENE CASTLE
Thursday 6 March, 7pm for 7.30pm Baptist Hall, Crow Lane, Rochester Saturday afternoon movie classics, watched hugging a paper bagful of sherbet lemons, were a highlight of my childhood. (And for me it’s always Astaire over Kelly, every time). See Film listings for details.
THEATRE: CHOOSE YOUR OWN DOCUMENTARY
Friday 28 March at 8pm Hazlitt Arts Centre’s Exchange Studio, Maidstone This show is touring the UK after a successful run at London’s Soho Theatre, which rarely produces anything less than interesting. Inspired by the Choose Your Own Adventure books of the 80s, the show blends stand-up storytelling and filmed documentary, and, true to the title, you get to choose the way it goes. See Theatre listings for details.
MUSIC: ARCELIA
Saturday 8 March, hatches open 6.45pm Aboard Thames Barge Edith May, Lower Halstow Dock Below decks on the Edith May is the perfect setting to hear healing trio Arcelia (an old Spanish word which means ‘treasure chest’). Beautiful songwriting, gentle acoustics and heart. Their debut album, ‘Wrap Your Bones’, is due for release next month. See Music listings for details. And finally... I would if I could, take Maggie Thatcher to
BRASSED OFF
Orchard Theatre, Dartford Tuesday 1 April to Saturday 5 April: 7.30pm (Wed 7pm) + Wed mat 1.30pm & Sat mat 2.30pm. You may remember that Brassed Off was originally a film starring Pete Postlethwaite and Ewan McGregor. The production is rumoured to feature Medway’s very own Brass Band in a bit of a starring role. Expect strong storytelling in this bittersweet drama staged this year to coincide with the 30th anniversary of the Miners’ Strike. See Theatre listings for details. 5
WHEELIE GOOD TIMES A fun family event on Saturday 29 March, 1pm-4pm
Pimp your bicycle or scooter! The event gets off to a flying start with a performance from Dizzy O’Dare, followed by the chance to transform your bicycles (spoke décor, helmet horns/wings, number plates etc) with FREE arts and craft workshops! There will also be a Bikeability team at the event with a circuit for kids to cycle around. The day is supported by a Small Experiments grant from Ideas Test.
LestWe Forget A TEXTILES TASTER WORKSHOP Saturday 22 March, drop-in between 10am-4pm Hoo Library, Church Street, Hoo ME3 9AL
Where: The car park, Sun Pier House, Chatham DON’T FORGET TO BRING YOUR BICYCLE (OR SCOOTER!) More information at facebook.com/wheeliegoodtimes
Textiles artist Jenni Burrows is running this taster day as part of an intergenerational project supported by Ideas Test called ‘Lest We Forget’ which aims to integrate older and younger generations through creative making to celebrate the community of rural Medway in outlying villages. The project will embrace a skills share between a group of ten young people (11-18) and a group of ten elders over the age of 65. The main workshop sessions, which run between March and October 2014, will see the elders teaching embroidery to the young people, who in turn will teach felt making to the elders. The group will make ten large sculptural, hand-made felt poppies with embroidered quotes from visiting soldiers to mark the centenary of World War One, representing each decade and a campaign since the War. Once completed, the poppies will be installed around the Medway area. Everyone is welcome to the taster day – just drop in.
a g o y m e G
jenniburrowscontemporarytextiles.co.uk
www.gemyoga.co.uk
PUBLIC AND PRIVATE CLASSES FOR ALL ABILITIES
Tue 7-8pm: Gillingham Sunlight Centre Thu 10-11am: White Road Community Centre All classes are £5. Mats are provided. Please wear baggy clothing.
YOGA PARTIES – GROUP BOOKINGS – WORKSHOPS also offered Email: gemyogalife@gmail.com Tel: 07746721603
St. Peter’s Prayer Walk A FANTASTIC PUBLIC ART COMMISSION OPEN TO YOUNG ARTISTS The St. Peter’s Prayer Walk is a public art project developed in partnership by Bredhurst Church and Medway Open Studios to create a series of installations as part of a permanent Prayer Walk at St. Peter’s Church in Bredhurst. One commission of £2,000 will be offered to a young artist (under 21 years old) or recent graduate (graduated in the past 5 years) for the opportunity to develop, design and deliver outdoor art for a woodland site alongside St. Peter’s Church. In addition to the £2,000 commission, the awarded artist will also be offered a free studio space at Sun Pier House in Chatham for the duration of the project. For applicant criteria, project timeline (between April and July 2014) and application form contact Heather Burgess, Medway Open Studios & Arts Festival, Sun Pier House, Sun Wharf, Medway Street, Chatham, Kent, ME4 4HF. Email info@medwayopenstudios.co.uk. Deadline for submissions is 5pm on Friday 21 March 2014.
SAVE THE DATE
HATCH As readers may know, WOW’s editor Emma Dewhurst was awarded one of a hundred places funded by KCC on the year-long School for Creative Startups 2013-14 business course. She has been attending the course modules (and trying to keep up with homework) since October of last year. In May the course culminates in Hatch, a very special startup showcase event in London, where all 100 Kent businesses and all 100 London businesses taking the course come together to showcase their wares, pitch to investors and take part in TED-style professional development talks. Every reader is invited! Ticket information to follow but for now please save the date – come along and support! Hatch takes place over the weekend of Sat 31 May and Sunday 1 June, on the site of the old Selfridges hotel, central London. schoolforcreativestartups.com
FREELANCER, HOME WORKER OR ENTREPRENEURIAL WIZARD? Then mark down
Friday 28 March in your diary as the good folk at coFWD want to meet you. The last Friday of each month is ‘Jelly’ - an open day where you’re welcome to visit the space and try coworking for free. If you’re tired of talking to the cat or fancy a day away from your usual desk, visit the coFWD website for more information: cofwd.org/jelly
TELLING tales
STORYTELLING FOR ADULTS
KATE CORKERY
‘SWEET SHOP ON THE SHORE’ Tue 11 Mar 7.30pm for 8pm start Hastings Arms, 18 Lower Road, Gillingham ME7 2YD Stories from the landscape of childhood inspired by village life by the River Lee. Awarded ‘Outstanding Storytelling Experience of 2012’ by the British Awards for Storytelling Excellence.
L
O SAVE THE DATE! SHEPPVE LOVE SHEPPEY X 2014 E 201 Y X will be held on Saturday 23 August at Barton’s Point Coastal Park. An art and craft, natural and cultural heritage event celebrating Sheppey and the surrounding area.
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This year’s LOVE SHEPPEY X event will be even bigger and better than its first outing in the summer of 2013, thanks to an Ideas Test Community Catalyst grant awarded to Love Sheppey’s founder, artist Laurie Harpum. WOW had a little part to play in this! Read on... “Last year we had 30 artists exhibiting and a number of nature and cultural heritage organisations,” says Harpum. “The event was started with the goodwill of the people of Sheppey and a Small Experiment grant from Ideas Test. The initial idea was germinating in my mind when a friend gave me WOW early in 2013 and your editorial mentioned CPP grants. That made me look into them and subsequently have one awarded to me. I had never seen WOW before that but once you pick it up you always go back for the next issue. “This year with the help of a CPP Community Catalyst grant I will be able to hire a marquee large enough to cover many more exhibitors and aim to see the event day grow. The venue of LSX2014 is Barton’s Point Coastal Park, Sheerness. Mandy Shade who runs the Park has also been awarded a Community Catalyst grant. It is to install a chainsaw sculpture trail so this year there will be the added interest of that. I can be contacted on info@lovesheppeyx.com or there is a Love Sheppey X Facebook Page or you can visit www.lovesheppeyx.com to keep up to date.”
PI & LEGO Sunday 23 March @coFWD 161 High Street, Rochester ME1 A day of playing with lego and/or Raspberry Pi’s. All ages welcome. Booking required at pi-and-lego.eventbrite.co.uk 7
If you love your mum... Sweetpea and Olive has the answer to your perfect gift on March 30th 118 Maidstone Road, Rochester ME1 3DT Tel: 01634 843024 sweetpeaandolive.co.uk
FAIRS Phoenix Fairs are hosting a VINTAGE AND COLLECTABLES FAIR at Chatham Historic Dockyard on the first Sunday of every month. First date for 2014 is 2nd March. Find them on Facebook. RECOLLECT MUSIC FAIR: Sunday 16 March, 9.30am3.30pm at Rainham Mark Social Club, opposite Tesco Superstore ME8 6YX. Admission £1, refreshments and free parking. Information and bookings: 07715 635152
Apologies for the gremlin which crept into Godinton House’s contact details last month, erroneously pointing you in the direction of a driving school... The House is once again open to visitors from 1 March. There are two garden workshops running this month: Spring Propagation on 1 March and Spring Pruning and Garden Tasks on 15 March. Workshops run 9.30am-2.30pm and include coffee and refreshments on arrival and a light lunch. Cost: £55. (Correct) contact details are as follows: Email: info@godintonhouse.co.uk Tel: 01233 643854 godintonhouse.co.uk
FOR THE FALLEN
Scan here to book
Explore the River Medway on this Wet & Wild Boat Tour!
GODINTON HOUSE IS OPEN!
n& eew xciting
This is Medway’s newest and loudest tourist experience. Explore the history and heritage of the River Medway on this incredible sightseeing journey. Our commentated tours leave every 2 hours during weekends, from the new Sun pier at Chatham, where your discovery will include the Historic Dockyard, Upnor Castle, Cookham Fort and the estuary islands.
Join us on this unforgettable Jet boat adventure!
Adults £31.50 • Children £21.50 • Family (2+2) £100
Private hire and other trips available, see jetstreamtours.com for more details and bookings
FREE Film making and Heritage Workshops Violafilms (‘Magwitch’) in partnership with Royal Engineers’ Museum and Blue Town Heritage, Sheppey are running a series of free film making workshops with top industry professionals to enable participants to make their own film inspired by WW1 and learn valuable skills along the way. The organisers are looking to inspire the next generation of storytellers of all ages and will be running masterclasses in directing, acting, scriptwriting and more to tell real stories about real lives, past and present. WHEN Sat 29 March: Blue Town Heritage Centre, Sheppey Sat 5 April: Royal Engineers Museum Sat 12 April: Royal Engineers Museum TIME: 11am-5pm. Free transport to venues is available Open to all ages, no experience needed. For full details and to apply contact Rebecca Gazey, Community Engagement and Learning Officer at the Royal Engineers Museum, on 01634 822312 or communityofficer@re-museum.co.uk
Get your garden into shape this Spring with
Challenge Fencing Over 60? Tues 10% off
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217-223 Sutton Road Maidstone. Kent. ME15 9BJ (opp Police HQ)
Mon-Fri 7.30-5pm Sat 8-1pm
www.challengefencing.com “Rochester’s Best Kept Secret”
Serving the highest quality coffees, teas, hot chocolate and French pastries made on the premises by award winning pastry chef, Bruno Breillet 12a High Street Rochester ME1 1PT Hours: Tue - Sat 9am-6pm; closed Mondays Late opening til 9pm on Thursdays T: 01634 780 506 www.brunosfrenchbakes.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/brunosfrenchbakes Twitter: @brunofrenchbake
LOOKOUT 21 PAIVI SEPPALA DESCRIBES A MOST ‘OUT OF THE ORDINARY’ PROJECT Lookout [ˈlʊkˌaʊt] A vantage point with a view of the surrounding area; an observation post from which to keep watch or view landscape; a structure commanding a wide view of its surroundings. It’s sometimes difficult to find time in our busy everyday lives to observe and explore our immediate surroundings; to take in the neighbourhood, enjoy the delights, act on dislikes and reflect on the constant changes taking place around us. Lookout 21 is an arts programme that invites local people of all backgrounds, ages, abilities and interests to occupy and take command of the unique bridge space aboard historic Lightship LV21 and do just that – look around, get inspired and develop ideas together with professional artists. The Lookout aboard LV21 is much more than just a ship’s wheelhouse: it’s an observatory, a retreat for reflection, a laboratory for testing new ideas, a meeting place for swapping stories, sharing skills and building lasting
partnerships. But most of all, it is an outlet for local people to celebrate what’s on our doorsteps, share dreams and work on their most remarkable creative ideas for improving access to great arts for all. The simple instruction to the people checking into the Lookout is to use the opportunity to imagine and test out ideas to produce something new that will have an impact locally and can be shared with others at the end of the residency – a piece of artwork, a performance or an idea to take forward… To date the project has gathered a bumper catch of unique proposals from the local community, both individuals and organisations. During the first phase in September 2013-April 2014 a number of community representatives and artists have checked into the Lookout to nurture some of these ideas, each with a very different focus and outcomes.
RESIDENCY I RADIO ARTS & COLIN TURNER (G3VTT) The first residency saw DJ musician/producer Jim Backhouse and radio lecturer/producer/artist Magz Hall from Radio Arts join forces with Rainham resident Colin Turner.
Colin regularly operates morse code and marine VHF from the radio room aboard LV21 and hosts soldering and radio building workshops for all ages. He has a passion for all things radio and enjoys passing on his engineering skills and knowledge. He wanted to test how his practical radio skills could be of use to introduce radio arts to new audiences. Radio Arts, a company promoting radio as a site for creative experimentation and intervention, proved to be a perfect match for Colin’s experiment. The collaboration led to the production of a site-specific audio tapestry of Medway Sounds, including a Human Foghorn and a series of practical radio building as well as radio and sound art focused workshops. If you would like to listen or contribute new sounds please visit the project website.
RESIDENCY II WENDY DAWS, UNDERGROUND PEARL & KENT AUTISTIC TRUST At the start of 2014, Medway based visual artist Wendy Daws and visual arts organisation Underground Pearl, run by artists Katryn Saqui, Loren Beven and fisherman Nigel Clements, checked into the Lookout to work on a range of arts activities and creative experiences with the staff and service users from the Kent Autistic Trust. KAT is an organisation which offers individual, personcentred solutions of support for adults with Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC) and their families. The emphasis of this collaboration is on allowing the participants to choose their own creative paths and building on their individual interests, while at the same time challenging them to try something new and different. The participants have embraced the opportunity to observe and be inspired by their local surroundings whilst experiencing the unique and somewhat challenging environment of LV21 during their twice-weekly work shops. The collaboration has allowed participating artists-in-residence to reflect on their professional practice, too: Wendy Daws: ““The time onboard…has given me an insight to autism and a lead to new ways of engaging and, I hope, making art more accessible.” Christine Edwards-Daem, KAT Operational Manager for Medway: “It was a bit scary in the beginning because we did not know what to expect. How was this going to work? …but it did! It has surpassed every expectation!
RESIDENCY III DIZZY O’DARE & THE NEALE FAMILY The third residency launching in mid March is led by three generations of a local family – Robin, daughter Melissa and grandson Aston. They will embark on an imaginary journey of exploration and discovery with Dizzy O’Dare, local theatre company producing street theatre and circus shows, run by tightwire walker/producer Alana Jones and actor/entertainer Michael Imerson, to share some of the remarkable stories surrounding River Medway. It’s early days but glimpses of a truly ‘out of the ordinary’ interactive theatre piece and an exhibition showcasing Robin’s vast private collection of photographs, drawings and memorabilia of the Gillingham Pier area are emerging. “Some partnerships just work, allowing ideas to flourish,” says Michael Imerson. “You find yourself pushing your artistic boundaries - this partnership most definitely does that!”
To share learning and inspire people to develop their own project ideas beyond LV21, a small network of temporary onshore pop-up Lookout Posts led by local residents and artists are popping-up across Medway. If you would like to submit your own Lookout 21 proposal or run a pop-up workshop please email thecaptain@lv21.co.uk. The next Lookout event is ShipShapeUp, held on Saturday 8 March 11am-4pm aboard LV21. Join the artists and KAT participants to find out more about the programme whilst tucking in on some suitably nautical nibbles and refreshments. For more information: lookout21.co.uk lv21.co.uk The renovation of LV21 is an ongoing process and as such some areas are not accessible. Please wear flat, non-slip shoes. Under 16s must be accompanied at all times. Lookout is one of four ‘Out of the Ordinary’ projects supported by Ideas Test, an Arts Council England funded Creative People and Places programme creativepeopleplace.info.
“Everyone has been experiencing the Ship experience in a very different way... Some people have just been amazed, others have found it very funny and again some people have just found it magical and can’t stop mentioning the SHIP and the Captain!” 11
YOGA CLASSES, REFLEXOLOGY Classes Mon 8-9:30pm, Wed 7:30-9pm, Thur 10-11:30am Yoga therapy, 1-2-1s, courses Yoga, aromatherapy and reflexology adapted for adults with learning disabilities Bridget Reader bridget.reader@gmail.com 07962 077597 www.VitalityTherapies.com
renew and restore
DERI HUGHES
stained glass design and restoration
Psychoanalytic Psychotherapist
MSc MA Dip RSA UKCP reg Professional Member of Nafsiyat
Suite 9, Cheldgate House 45 High Street Rochester ME1 1LP
based in rochester: design - creation - repair restoration - installation steve harries - 0779 608 0338 steve.harries@blueyonder.co.uk
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
...puting the pieces together with knowledge, compassion and understanding
Registrant
Tel: 01634 828 528 Mobile: 07788 412 701 Email: dhh@btconnect.com www.kentpsychotherapist.com
Thurs: Friends Meeting House (opp. Corn Exchange, Rochester) 6.30-7.45pm Sat: YOGA FLOW at Dance Junction 9.30-10.30am ALL LEVELS WELCOME Mats & Blocks provided ÂŁ6 per class Contact Veena: Tel: 01634 724222 or 07939 573169
Venus yoga
BODY, BREATH & MOVEMENT
Classes & WORKSHOPS for all BEAD
With the MEDWAY BEADERS Sunday 30 March, 1.30pm - 4pm Sun Pier House, Chatham Bead weaving group, new members welcome! For more information email medwaybeaders@yahoo.co.uk
drama, puppetry, painting and more. Led by professional artists. Only £1 per session, no experience necessary. To book email: katie@icontheatre.org.uk Tel: 01634 813179 or 07960 781554 icontheatre.org.uk
CREATE
PERFORM
SILVER CLAY WORKSHOP for Beginners Sat 12 April, 10am-1.00pm Hope & Chances Creativity, 78 High Street, Gravesend, DA11 0BH Learn the techniques needed to make beautiful 99.9% fine silver jewellery pieces with Sara Wordley. Contact Sara at: www.facebook.com/ theskivingscholar to book ahead.
MEDITATE
BODHICHARYA KENT is a Buddhist Meditation group based in Rochester. The group meets every Tuesday evening, 8pm to 9.30pm (except last Tuesday of the month) Quaker Meeting House, Northgate, Rochester, Kent, ME1 1LS. For those with an interest in Buddhism who want to find out more to those who would like to learn some meditation methods to apply in their daily life. ‘An open, curious and sceptical mind will be useful’. Everyone is welcome. bodhicharya-kent.org.uk
MOVE AND MAKE
CREATIVE WORKSHOPS at the Brook Theatre Mondays 10am-12 noon Brook Theatre, Old Town Hall, The Brook, Chatham ME4 4SE Explore a different activity each week: try your hand at photography, craft,
A day of PERFORMANCE WORKSHOPS from The Cabaret Club Oast House Community Centre, Granary Close, Rainham ME8 7SG Saturday 8 March PUPPETRY: 10am-1pm with Helen Ainsworth. £8.50 BURLESQUE: 2pm-4pm with Miss Maybe. £8.50 A combo ticket of £15 available for both the above workshops DR SKETCHY’S BURLESQUE LIFE DRAWING: 7pm-10.30pm. Life drawing with cocktails to purchase and free cake! £8 + 0.85p booking fee. Book via The Cabaret Club/Dr Sketchy’s Medway on eventbrite.co.uk
SING
For more information on either of the above email tjae@forgreatvocals.com ROCK CHOIR With local musician Katie Hockley Thursday morning s 10am-11.30am The Baptist Church, Knightrider Street, Maidstone ME15 6LU Classes also available in various Medway locations, too. Free taster! rockchoir.com
WRITE
HAC WRITERS GROUP: Poetry Next sessions: Mon 10 March and Mon 14 April 7.30pm. Hazlitt Arts Centre, Earl Street, Maidstone ME14 Cost: £6 Join other writers with an interest in poetry for monthly sessions geared towards improving your writing technique and confidence. Places are limited for each session so book early! For further information please contact Georgie Grassom: georgiegrassom@maidstone.gov.uk
OR... POW WOW!
YOUTH CHOIR Every Saturday in March, 10am - 11:30am Sun Pier House, Chatham The wonderful T Jae Cole (ex Choir Director with the London Community Gospel Choir) is launching a new choir aimed at 11 to 18 year olds, whose aim is to develop a unique performance as part of the Rats Bay Shindig in April.
Wednesday 5 and Wednesday 19 March, 6.30pm - 9pm Sun Pier House, Chatham FREE to attend, and newcomers wanted! The Project Pow Wow is a social evening on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday evening of every month. You’ve heard of Knit and Natter or Stitch & B*tch – well, here all craft and creative projects are welcome. Bring your current project with you to work on or talk about, share ideas and talk through common craft problems....
Also, GOSPEL CHOIR MASTERCLASS Saturday 1 March, 11.30am-4pm, £15 per person
For more information email heather@sunpierhouse.co.uk 13
e h t t a h W aderssaid re Editor EMMA DEWHURST takes a look at readers’ responses to the very first WOW magazine Reader Survey As someone who can be ambivalent about taking surveys herself, I was a little heavy hearted when Chris, the business advisor assigned to me by the School for Creative Startups course I am attending, suggested that I survey my readers to find out what they think. I had no idea that making a survey of WOW’s readers would be such a tonic! I was surprised and uplifted by the results, which reveal a happy community of readers who are overwhelmingly positive about the magazine. The survey opened in December of last year. Its aim was to find out what readers think about WOW, how you read it and why, how you would like to see it grow and also to gather some information about who the readers of WOW actually are. It is the first survey WOW has conducted since starting up three years ago. Here’s an insight into the some of the results, based on respondents’ answers. I was struck by how strong a desire there is among readers for more information about opportunities available to them to participate in artsrelated learning and activities. There is also a desire for creative professional development opportunites and for interaction with each other: respondents really want to know who is who and who does what in the community
in which they live. It is not all inward-looking, however: 79% of respondents were either ‘interested’ or ‘very interested’ in knowing more about the arts in wider Kent. In terms of the online development of WOW, I received some terrific suggestions for the new website, which it is hoped will launch in April. I would like to say a huge thank you to all those readers who gave of their time to take part in the survey and thank you too for the great encouragement to keep going and the overall great buzz of love for WOW!
“WOW is unique and long may it be so.”
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“I love the person al writing style, the quality of paper, the smell of the paper. Find in g out hidden excitements goin g on.”
WHAT WORDS COME TO MIND WHEN YOU THINK OF WOW? OF THE VERY MANY LOVELY WORDS USED TO DESCRIBE WOW, THE ONES WHICH CAME UP MOST OFTEN WERE:
Vibrant, informative, colourful, handy, intellig
WHAT YOU’D BE INTERESTED IN SEEING IN WOW (TOP 5)
List of Top 5 Things to do that month: 55% More information about arts-related classes: 51% Professional creative development information/classes: 50% Classified section for local arts-related businesses/people to say a few words about themselves: 48% Arts jobs: 46%
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THE COVERS:
“It make s me fee l co even if I don’t actu nnected to the lo cal comm all events th unity, at month y manage to ma ke it to a I know w ny hat is go ing on!” “Most in for related a mative and acce ssible sou ctivity in rce of ar area.” ts “Because I love th e quality best loca of the co l publica ntent an tion I’ve d it’s the ever read !” “Like L’O real, its worth it.. .”
ON O SEE T E K I L YOU’D G NEW WHAT ORTHCOMIN F WOW’S (top 5) E T tc to WEBSI /makers e ts is rt a l a loc Pages for ir work: 74% the itions, ws, exhib showcase o h s to ts book ticke Ability to red in WOW: 60% atu 0% gigs etc fe inesses: 6 s u b e v ti 1% of crea lendar: 7 a c t n e Directory m ntertain arts and e y a d y b r your Day er’ page fo n rt a P e v ati ‘Find a Cre cts: 57% roje creative p
ntelligent, local, supportive, creative, happy 15
PUTTING WOMEN’S SAFETY ON THE MAP WITH THE BIG SISTER APP! WOW magazine is delighted to be supporting PinUp PayBack, a new organisation which is making great strides in its mission to make Medway a safer place for women and girls
Founder member HOLLY-MAE WORF tells their story We love Medway! Towns so full of culture, history, community values and potential... though... hang on a moment... lacking something crucial. The safety and wellbeing of women in our towns has been overlooked. Despite its modest size, Medway houses 18% of sexual violence across the whole of Kent and despite high statistics of rape and domestic violence there is no women’s shelter in Medway, no rape crisis centre, no support system for sexual violence survivors and harassment in our night clubs and on our streets is part of everyday life for many women. Cue PinUp PayBack, a women’s safety organisation founded on the belief that women should be standing up for women. Culturally raised by Buffy Summers and Angela Lansbury, co-founders Candy and Holly-Mae Worf are more than prepared to instigate this. Where others might have accepted a bad situation, the offspring of fictional 90s leading ladies saw opportunity to make a stand (maybe even an inspiring speech), take action and make a difference. Teamed with a Scooby Gang of socially conscious Rochester residents, Emily Parish, Ollie Crook and Louise Micklewright, the women’s safety, feminist NGO has already taken on and achieved so much! On International Women’s Day (8 March) PinUp PayBack is bringing out the beta version of its long awaited, Medway Big Sister Telephone Application. It is the beginning of a new way of living in Medway for women and girls looking to have a good time and will put women’s safety on the map... Literally! The application enables women to find out where they are, map where they want to go and identify danger zones and the safest way around them. It will link to the police statistics and will give up to date information about misogynistic crime and harassment in the area while linking you to PinUp PayBack safe spaces.
The Medway Big Sister aims to promote Sisterhood Watch! If you feel uncomfortable or encounter harassment or abuse, put it on the map to let other women know where the problem is. Businesses and local councils will have to act on your views and tackle sexist and abusive behaviour if they want you to come back. In 2014 PinUp PayBack will be working on a number of initiatives to complement the app and strengthen the effects of their campaign. The organisation is launching a grassroots rape crisis centre; working with Medway Domestic Violence Forum on a huge billboard campaign to confront misogynistic attitudes in Medway; launching a feminist magazine for Medway women; working with students across MidKent College to teach critical thinking in Western culture; campaigning with Gillingham Football Club to ‘tackle’ rape culture; tearing up and recreating all of the sexual violence publications for Medway nightclubs and making Medway a much safer, more culturally enlightened place for women and girls. To take on these projects we need Medway people to stand up for this cause and be involved. Tell your friends, download the app, buy a T-shirt, meet us and tell us what you think we should be working on, volunteer and directly influence change: take a piece of PinUp PayBack and make Medway your own. All are welcome at the launch of the Medway Big Sister app from 10am on Saturday 8 March at the Nucleus Arts Creative Hub, Military Road, Chatham ME4 4JG. The app will be available to download from this date. Telephone: 07722 022941 Email: info@pinuppayback.com Twitter: twitter.com/pinuppayback Facebook: facebook.com/pinuppayback Website: pinuppayback.com
FILM SPECIAL SCREENING by the Friends of Eastgate House Baptist Hall, Crow Lane, Rochester
Tickets: FOEH Members £6; nonmembers £8 Bookings: 01634 811172. THE STORY OF VERNON AND IRENE CASTLE (1939) Thu 6 Mar 7pm for 7.30pm Cast: Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. Gorgeous biographical musical comedy. 93 mins SPECIAL TALK from the Friends of Medway Archives. All Saints Parish Hall, Church Green, Frindsbury ME2 4UR. Members: £3; non-members
£5. CINEMAS IN THE MEDWAY TOWNS Speaker Brian Joyce Tue 11 Mar 7pm for 7.30pm LIVE FEEDS AT CINEWORLD
Medway Valley Leisure Park, Chariot Way, Strood ME2 2SS. 0871 200 2000
Regular screenings of opera, ballet and theatre performances from around the world screened via a live feed, including interviews with the principals, behind the scenes shots and more. For prices please contact Cineworld (10% off with My Cineworld online). NT LIVE ENCORE: WAR HORSE (12A) Thu 13 Mar 7pm; Tue 18 Mar 7pm; Sat 22 Mar 2.30pm Re-broadcast of this acclaimed production. 180 mins MET OPERA: WERTHER (Cert tbc) Sat 15 Mar 5.55pm Richard Eyre directs Massenet’s heartbreaking masterpiece. ROYAL BALLET: THE SLEEPING BEAUTY (U) Wed 19 Mar 7.15pm Signature production with Tchaikovsky’s soaring score. 190 mins BOLSHOI BALLET: MARCO SPADA (12A) Sun 30 Mar 4pm Swashbuckling pantomime ballet. 170 mins cineworld.co.uk
MAIDSTONE FILM SOCIETY
Hazlitt Theatre, Earl Street, Maidstone ME14 1PL 01622 753922
Diverse range of world cinema. Fixed rate parking in Fremlin Walk after 7pm. Yearly subscription rates: Adult £24; Couples £42; Senior/Student £19; Guest per film £3.50. NO (15) 2012 Mon 24 Mar 8pm Dir: Pablo Larraín Cast: Gael Garcia Bernal, Alfredo Castro, Antonia Zegers Oscar nominated Best Foreign Film set in 1980s Chile. 118 mins maidstone-film-society.org.uk ROCHESTER FILM SOCIETY Rochester Film Society screens contemporary world cinema and classics at a number of venues in Medway. The films are introduced and are followed by a post-film discussion over a glass of wine. CHATHAM ODEON CINEMA Maritime ME4 4LL 0871 2244 007
£9.80 Conc £7.20, student £3.60. SAVING MR BANKS (PG) 2013 Thu 6 Mar 7.45pm Dir: John Lee Hancock Cast: Emma Thompson, Tom Hanks, Paul Giamatti How ‘Mary Poppins’ came to be made. 125 mins THE BUTLER (PG) 2013 Thu 13 Mar 7.45pm Dir: Lee Daniels Cast: Forest Whitaker, Oprah Winfrey, John Cusack. Cecil Gaines served eight US presidents over three decades. 132 mins ALL IS LOST (PG) 2013 Thu 20 Mar 7.45pm Dir: J C Chandor Cast: Robert Redford Redford as the sailor fighting for his life at sea. 106 mins MANDELA: The Long Walk to Freedom (PG) 2013 Thu 27 Mar 7.45pm (114 mins)
Dir: Justin Chadwick Cast: Idris Elba, Naomie Harris ROCHESTER PICTURE PALACE Princes Hall, Corn Exchange, Rochester
£5.00, Students £3 THE SELFISH GIANT (15) 2013 Tue 4 Mar 7.30pm Dir: Clio Barnard . Cast: Conner Chapman, Shaun Thomas, Sean Gilder. British social realism: set in West Yorkshire. 91 mins LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON (Cert tbc) 2013 Tue 11 Mar, 7.30pm See opposite. 121 mins NEBRASKA (15) 2013 Tue 18 Mar 7.30pm See opposite. 115 mins GLORIA (15) 2013 Tue Mar 25 7.30pm Dir: Sebastion Lelio Cast: Paulina García Chilean comedy drama. 110 mins SCREEN CLASSICS
Central Theatre, 170 High Street, Chatham ME4 4AS 01634 338338
Monthly celebration of classic cinema on the big screen in association with Rochester Film Society. Introduction to the film and post-film discussion over a free glass of wine hosted by programmer Nick Walker. £7, concs £5, includes free drink. WATERLOO ROAD (PG) 1944 Mon, 17 Mar 7.30pm Dir: Sidney Gilliant Cast: John Mills, Stewart Granger and Alistair Sims. AWOL soldier Mills’ bid to save his wife from a philandering draft-dodger. 76 mins CENTRAL THEATRE ‘AFTERNOON TREAT’ WATERLOO ROAD (as above) Tue 18 Mar 2.30pm Price £4, includes a hot drink and tea-cake. medwayticketslive.co.uk
THE THEME OF FAMILY THREADS THROUGH TWO VERY DIFFERENT MOVIES BEING SCREENED AT THE ROCHESTER PICTURE PALACE THIS MONTH
NEBRASKA The comedic yet dramatic tale of an aging man making a road trip to Nebraska with his family is directed by Alexander Payne (‘Descendants’, ‘Sideways’) who knows how to make films with a wonderful ‘home is where the heart is’ mentality, especially Nebraska – Payne’s hometown where ‘Election’, and ‘About Schmidt’ were also set.
LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON Directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda, a storyteller who like Yasujiro Ozu before him gently explores and quietly reveals the tenderness, the raw heartbreak, the love, anger and confusion at the heart of family. In his previous films – ‘Nobody Knows’, ‘Still Walking’, and ‘I Wish’ – he questions family and its operations. Successful architect Ryota and his loving but frustrated wife, Midori, learn that their young son Keita was switched with another child at birth, now living with a working class family. A life-changing decision must be made… Although the film displays very traditional Japanese family values, the themes are universal, especially where it touches on class issues and child separation, similar to ‘I Wish’, in which brothers are split between their divorced parents. The film builds with small notes and nuances so we are immersed in the lives of the family and each of their ways of seeing the world. The director is asking us to examine how strong parental bonds can be and how the right thing to do is often the most difficult thing to do. The issue of nature versus nurture is explored with a subtle, humanistic touch while the characters evolve with a gentle, gradual approach. A lovingly mesmerising movie…
Beautifully shot in widescreen black and white, this heralds the mythical landscape and gives a somewhat melancholic and nostalgic tone; yet the script, so clever and taut, gives the characters full vent to express their quirks and warmth – wrapped up in a comedic blanket of family love and hate set pieces. Bruce Dern and June Squibb are just brilliant as the aging couple, with terrific supporting performances from Will Forte, Bob Odenkirk and Stacy Keach. The majority of the characters are people we rarely see onscreen: real people who are utterly ordinary and yet utterly wonderful. The film is of course a road movie; a commentary on human nature and the Midwest as a bold frontier of dreams and emotions, which at turns provides discomfort and comedic relief. Full of hope, promise and disappointment with family dynamics and done at a leisurely pace ‘Nebraska’ unfolds naturally and with ease, so the audience can relax and savour every delightful scene. This engaging, bittersweet drama is an absolute gem of a film. Nick Walker NEBRASKA is screened on Tuesday 18 March at 7.30pm at the Rochester Picture Palace (Princes Hall, Corn Exchange) ME1 1LX. Tickets £5, £3 students. For more information or to book seats in advance please visit rochesterfilmsociety.co.uk
LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON is screened on Tuesday 11 March at 7.30pm at the Rochester Picture Palace (Princes Hall, Corn Exchange) ME1 1LX. Tickets £5, £3 students.
rochesterfilmsociety.co.uk 19
MUSIC LEN PRICE 3 IN LONDON On Sat 1 March Len Price 3 have a ‘Nobody Knows’ LP launch at The Pipeline, London E1 7DA with Allan Crockford’s excellent Galileo 7 and the Sonic Jewels. STUART TURNER AND THE FLAT EARTH SOCIETY also make a trip to the city this month with the London launch of their new album. See Phil Dillon’s review on page 30.
BEACON COURT TAVERN
CALLING ALL
MEDWAY MAIDSTONE &
GRAVESEND MUSICIANS MUSIC PROMOTERS AND BANDS!
ALL SAINTS CHURCH Mill Street, Maidstone ME
Sat 29 March 7.30pm: MAIDSTONE CHORAL UNION Faure Requiem and Easter Music from Handel’s Messiah. All seats £10 unreserved from the MCU Secretary 01622 726193, email freda@me169lb.fsnet. co.uk or on the door THE BARGE 63 Layfield Road, Gillingham ME7 2QY 01634 850485
Music starts 9pm, free entry Wed 5 Mar: BARDS @ THE OPEN MIC Fri 7 Mar: PORCH SWING BLUES Sat 8 Mar: FUNKE & THE TWO TONE BABY Fri 14 Mar: FATE THE JUGGLER Sat 15 Mar: THEATRE ROYAL + THE DREDGERMEN Sat 22 Mar: TOM HINGLEY (Inspiral Carpets) Fri 28 Mar: JAMES POWLETT Sat 29 Mar: SPADE & ARCHER thebargepub.co.uk
We’d love to make WOW Magazine’s music pages the most comprehensive music listings around, so if you’re a singer or in a band and you’re playing locally... Send us your gig listing (by email, please, not the Facebook page) with full details: venue address and any contact number/web address, date and time, support acts, entry fee and door times plus details of how to get tickets. The copy date for listings is 19th of the month preceding the issue. listings@wowkent.co.uk
128 Canterbury Street, Gillingham ME7 4RY 01634 853186
Sat 15 Mar: TOTAL JAM TRIBUTE NIGHT Doors 8pm. £6 advance £7 on the door. beaconcourttavern.co.uk BROOK THEATRE
Old Town Hall, The Brook, Chatham ME4 4SE 01634 338338
JAZZ AT THE BROOK: JOSH KEMP’S JAZZ POETS Tue 4 Mar, doors 8pm Acclaimed saxophonist with stellar line-up. Tickets £11 medwayticketslive.co.uk THE BOWER HOUSE
20 Warwick Place, Maidstone ME16 8SE 01622 763448
Sat 1 Mar, doors 7pm: CARTHY, HARDY, FARRELL & YOUNG £15. thebowerhouse.info CENTRAL THEATRE 170 High Street, Chatham ME4 4AS 01634 338338
Sat 8 Mar 7.30pm: CITY OF ROCHESTER SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA A concert marking the centenary year of the First World War. The Orchestra performs music by Butterworth, Shostakovich, Brahms and Ravel - Piano Concerto in G Major, with Piano soloist Aleksandar Ðermanovic. See crso.org.uk. Adults: £16, £12, £10 Concs: £14, £10, £9 Students & Children (up to 18yrs )just £1 medwayticketslive.co.uk THE COCK HORSE INN
The Street, Detling, nr Maidstone, ME14 3JT
Sat 8 Mar: JUMBO GUMBO (Zydeco and Cajun) 9 pm EAGLE TAVERN
124 High Street Rochester ME1 1JT 01634 409040
Doors 7pm. Free entry. Thu 6 Mar: THE USUAL SUSPECTS Thu 13 Mar: THE MODWAYS Thu 20 Mar: MAKER Thu 27 Mar: THE PRIFF STICKS theeagletavern.org.uk
ROAN KEARSEYLAWSON
KENT
PRESENCE IN MIND Roan Kearsey-Lawson deserves every Medway jazz lover’s support and appreciation. He has been a standard-bearer for jazz locally over many years, running the 144Club at the Roffen every month and setting up the Maritime Jazz Festival (which we hope to see return sometime soon). As well as promoting and enthusing about jazz, he performs not only as a topflight drummer but on vibraphone, which allows him to blend the rhythmic precision of his drumming with melodic inventiveness. So his debut album Presence In Mind – all original numbers– is a welcome opportunity to appreciate his talents. Alongside his long-time sideman, pianist Dorian Ford – whose keyboards always complement rather than compete with Roan’s vibes playing – the band includes a rhythm section of drummer Dave Trigwell and double bassist Larry Bartley, with Duncan Lamont Jr on sax and flute. Just as it’s a joy to hear vibes on any jazz album, so too is the flute riding and riffing over tracks like the elegant ‘Bach East’ and the heartfelt ‘My Love For You’. Guest appearances on trombone from Geoff Mason and flugelhorn from Ray Butcher add to the simpatico range of timbres and emotions throughout the album. On tracks like ‘Saved’ and ‘Concerto D’Afro’ – a mini-epic – there were moments of upbeat lift that reminded me of the happy soundtrack of Sideways: on a drear February evening that hint of spring that might see off the dire winter was truly welcome. Philip Dodd
Ale
MARCH 2014 Sun 2 Tues 4 Wed 5 Thur 6 Sun 9 Wed 12 Thur 13 Sun 16 Tues 18 Wed 19 Thur 20 Sun 23 Wed 26 Thur 27
‘Presence of Mind’ can be purchased at jazzcds. co.uk (£10); cdbaby. com ($16 USA); or from roankearseylawson.co.uk or amazon.com (both at £10). To download the album/ tunes go to itunes (album £7.99 or £0.79 per track) or Amazon MP3 (album £7.49 or £0.89 per track). Or go to a gig at the 144 Club! 144Club.co.uk
Sun 30
Jam Night: Musicians and singers welcome Ukulele Jam Night: Singers welcome Ironmongery: Sally and Marion with their Brians Danny Kyle:Some fantastic Blues Jam Night Nigel Hobbins and the Dreamlanders: funk, jazz, cajun and reggae Hobo Jones & The Junkyard Dogs: punk/skiffle Jam Night Quiz Night: Bring 3 friends Keith James: one man, many guitars Fiddlefit: Sweeps come early Jam Night The Strangers:lyrics and music, both worth a listen Pass The Cat: try sitting still Jam Night
Scan the code to download FREE Kent Live Music app ANDROID
APPLE
John St, Rochester
tel: 07772 214315
21
MUSIC 2 KING’S HEAD
58 High Street, Rochester ME1 1LD 01634 880568
Every Thursday. Doors 8pm. Free entry. Le Fort Promotions present the best in local alternative music with an acoustic twist. facebook.com/LeFortpromo EDITH MAY THAMES BARGE Lower Halstow Dock 01634 365343
Sat 8 Mar: ARCELIA (see p5) Doors 6.45pm. £8 edithmay.com THE FREEMASON’S ARMS
Malling Road, Snodland, ME6 5JR.
Sat 1 Mar: JUMBO GUMBO (Zydeco and Cajun) 9 pm GOOD INTENT
John Street, Rochester, ME1 1YL 01634 843118
Music starts 8pm, free entry Thu 13 Mar: ANDY WHITE OPEN MIC Sat 15 Mar: THE ANDY WHITE BAND Thu 27 Mar: ANDY WHITE OPEN MIC
MAN OF KENT ALEHOUSE John Street, Rochester ME1 07772 214315
See listings on page 21 Jam night every Sunday evening. Free entry. PIZZA EXPRESS MUSIC ROOM
32-34 Earl Street, Maidstone ME14 1PF 01622 683548
Doors 7pm, show 8pm unless stated. Sat 1 Mar: BEVERLEY CRAVEN £22.50 Sat 8 Mar: DEBORAH BONHAM BAND £16 Sat 15 Mar: RAY GELATO £24 Fri 21 Mar: THE LEO GREEN EXPERIENCE £22 Sun 30 Mar: WAYNE HERNANDEZ £12.50, doors 12 noon, show 1pm. pizzaexpresslive.co.uk POCO LOCO
60 High Street, Chatham ME4 4DS 01634 844198
HASTINGS ARMS FUNCTION ROOM
Lower Rainham Road (leading to Danes Hill) Gillingham ME7 2YD
Free parking Thu 27 Mar 8.30pm ROCHESTER SWING PRESERVATION SOCIETY with Special guest Trumpet Player Alan Berlyn from the Glenn Miller UK Orchestra. Admission £7, raffle plus free nibbles. For further details or to reserve a table tel: 01634 712217. Find us on facebook ‘Rochester Swing Preservation Society’
Doors 7.30pm, free entry Sat 8 Mar: CRYBABY SPECIAL + SPINNER + KOFALLI RAGDOLL + THE CHAUNDELIERS Sat 22 Mar: MOURNING BIRDS (see this month’s The Artist’s Space) poco-loco.co.uk THE RAFTERS 62-63 High Street, Maidstone (above Turning Tables) ME14 1SR 07925 773041
Sat 1 Mar: THEATRE ROYAL + SKIES + NEW ART RIOT £4, doors 9pm. Wed 5 Mar: BATTLE OF THE BANDS 2014 Heat 4 with THROUGH THE CEILING + LUCIDIOUS + BLACK SUN Doors 9.30pm Sat 8 Mar: BANDICOOT + DEAD CEREMONY + STATEN ISLAND PRESS £4. Doors 9pm.
Sat 15 Mar: YOUTH BLOOD + ROKOKO + OUT OF FASHION £4. Doors 9pm. Sat 22 Mar: COCO AND THE BUTTERFIELDS + BLACK LION COURTIERS + ROCINIA £4. Doors 9pm. theraftersmaidstone.co.uk ROCHESTER CATHEDRAL
Garth Precinct, Rochester ME1 1LX
Sat 29 Mar 7pm: ROCHESTER CHORAL SOCIETY with Rochester Sinfonietta, conducted by Roger Sayer. Music : Vaughan Williams Sea Symphony and Elgar’s Sea Pictures. Tickets: £18; £14 and £7 (concessions £5). Tel: 01634 401049 or visit rochesterchoral.co.uk ST MARY’S SOCIAL CLUB Belmont Road Gillingham ME7 5JB 01634 573032
Fri 14 Mar: ST PATRICK’S ALTERNATIVE OPEN MIC hosted by Bob Collins, last Friday of the month. Fri 21 Mar: STUART TURNER Acoustic plus open mic Doors 7.30pm, non-members entry £1. stmaryssocialclub.com 44TWO SPORTS & SOCIAL CLUB Featherby Road, Gillingham ME8 6AN 01634 405037
Thu 13 Mar 8.30pm: DONN BARCOTT BAND + Elaine Diane on vocals. Songs from the Great American Songbook and a magician at your table! Raffle & bar. All welcome, £6 STEPPING STONE STUDIOS 2 Museum Avenue, Maidstone ME14 1QX 01622 675923
Wed-Sat 12pm til late (licensed til 3am) Fri 8 Mar: LAPPIS LAZULLI £5 Sat 29 Mar: OPEN MIC HIP HOP NIGHT £5 Sat 1 Apr : PANTOMIME VILLAINS, BOO FOREVER, LACED + more tbc £5 steppingstonestudios.co.uk
THEATRE BROOK THEATRE
Old Town Hall, Chatham ME4 4SE 01634 338338
Sell a Door Theatre Company presents KIDNAPPED Thu 27 Mar 7pm Adapted from Robert Louis Stevenson’s novel by Ivan Wilkinson. Physical storytelling for all. Adult £12, Child £8. medwayticketslive.co.uk
7.30pm; SLEEPING BEAUTY Fri 14 & Sat 15 Mar 7.30pm + Sat Mat 2.30pm. Tickets £18-£40.50 concs available.
The Reduced Shakespeare Company in THE BIBLE: THE COMPLETE WORD OF GOD (abridged) Wed 12 Mar 7.30pm. £16, concs £14 OLD MacDONALD HAD A FARM E-I-E-I-O Sun 23 Mar 2.30pm Family fun. £10.50, concs £9.50, family of four £36. EXCHANGE STUDIO: CHOOSE YOUR OWN DOCUMENTARY Fri 28 Mar 8pm Inspired by the Choose Your Own Adventure books of the 80s, this is part stand-up storytelling and part documentary, with an interactive element. Dubbed a ‘truly lovely show’ by the Evening Standard. £13, concs £11. parkwood theatres. co.uk/hazlittartscentre (£2 online booking fee) MARLOWE THEATRE
The Friars, Canterbury CT1 2AS 01227 787787
Propeller presents THE COMEDY OF ERRORS Tue 4, Fri 7 and Sat 8 Mar 7.30pm + Sat mat 2pm and A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM Wed 5 Mar, Thu 6 and Sat 8 Mar 7.30pm + Thu mat 1pm. Ed Hall’s all-male company is always a treat. Ticket range: £9-£25.50, concs available.
The Russian State Ballet of Siberia presents DON QUIXOTE Mon 10 Mar 7.30pm; GISELLE Tue 11 & Wed 12 7.30pm; SWAN LAKE Thu 13 Mar
BILLABONG CLUB Victoria Street, Rochester ME1 1XJ
Top Uk comedians, last Thursday of every month. Next gig: Thu 27 Mar, doors 7.30pm, show 8pm.
HAZLITT THEATRE
Earl Street, Maidstone ME14 1PL 01622 758611
COMEDY
MARLOWE 450: Wed 12 Mar – Fri 28 Mar. Mini-festival devoted to exploring the work of playwright and theatre namesake, Christopher Marlowe, with talks and new versions of FAUSTUS and THE JEW OF MALTA. See website or telephone for details. STUDIO: HOPELESSLY DEVOTED Fri 7 Mar 8pm. Acclaimed spokenword artist Kate Tempest wrote this co-production from Paines Plough and Birmingham Repertory Theatre. For aged 14+. A great way to introduce your teenager to theatre. £12, concs available. marlowetheatre.com (booking charges applies via internet) ORCHARD THEATRE
Home Gardens, Dartford DA1 1ED 01322 220000
MOSCOW STATE CIRCUS: Park Gorkogo Sun 9 Mar 5pm. Set in the centre of Moscow’s cultural and artistic quarter. Whole family show. £16-£25 (booking fee applies) BALLETBOYZ The Talent Mon 10 Mar 7.30pm The boyz are back! Featuring choreography by Russell Maliphant and Liam Scarlett. £12-£24.50 (booking fee applies) FIDDLER ON THE ROOF Tue 25-Sat 29 Mar 7.30pm + Wed & Sat mat 2.30pm. Classic musical starring Paul Michael Glaser (the original Starsky!) as Tevye. £15-£37, concs available (booking fee applies). orchardtheatre.co.uk
PAUL T EYRES, MATT GREEN + KWAME ASANTE. £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. billabongcomedyclub.co.uk HAZLITT EXCHANGE STUDIO Earl Street, Maidstone ME14 1PL 01622 758611
COMEDY NIGHT: JAMES ACASTER, MARLON DAVIS, PAUL McCAFFREY Wed 5 Mar 8pm. £10 THE ONLY WAY IS DOWNTON Sat 8 Mar 8pm. Impressionist Luke Kempner plays 32 characters in this Downton Abbey/TOWIE mash-up. £13, concs £11 KERRY GODLIMAN Sat 15 Mar 7.30pm. Funny woman. For 16+. £13 parkwood theatres.co.uk/hazlittartscentre (£2 online booking fee) JOKING WITH INTENT
The Good Intent, 3 John Street, Rochester ME1 1YL
OPEN MIC COMEDY CLUB First Thursday of the month. Thu 6 Mar, 8-10pm. Line-up tbc. £2 admission. Find Joking with Intent on Facebook MARLOWE THEATRE
The Friars, Canterbury CT1 2AS 01227 787787
STUDIO: MARLOWE COMEDY CLUB Sat 1 & Sat 29 Mar 8pm. The possible stars of tomorrow! £13, concs available marlowetheatre.com (booking charges applies via internet)
Artist Wendy Cottam is the initiator of a project to breathe new life into the town’s empty spaces
I am a local artist of Gravesend; I am currently bringing together artists from the local towns to form Gravesend Arts Consortium to fulfil the ‘Footfall’ project in Gravesend Borough Market. I constantly question systems of communication through art, using a variety of mediums such as film, paint and sound. I am interested in how a space can change the way art is read. I paint purely to relax in a busy world. Retail spaces and high streets are struggling in current economical climates: the sense of identity previously associated with them has faded in a world where social and consumer habits have changed. What better place to explore identity than within a building whose identity is shifting and evolving? Gravesend Borough Market, chartered 1268, is one such building. It has a history of trading, of being a community hub, and like many high streets and markets across the country has lost its purpose. Placing art and crafts into this space is an exploration of art outside of its usual parameters. I am looking to do this as I have a passion for my local market and for art and feel the two should and could merge brilliantly together. Gravesend Market needs to diversify its function in a modern world. What better way to explore diversity in social spaces that to have innovative artists exploring, creating and exhibiting! Artist and crafters will each have studio slots for at least one week to paint, sew, and print (whatever their practice/discipline is) over a twelve-week duration. The aim is for the artists to use this as an opportunity to showcase what they do and engage the communities and visitors involved in weekly workshops. This may be that each person organises an event or workshop, or all five artists could collaborate once a week to coordinate, organise and publicise an event involving their joint practice to keep the space creatively fresh and brimming with energy.
This is a great platform for artists to come together and become known within the community and to enhance the market space. A public exhibition will take place at St Andrews Arts Centre, Gravesend on the weekend of 7 and 8 June showcasing all works resulting from the project. Ideally I would like the Gravesend Arts Consortium to evolve to become a permanent feature in the market/empty shop spaces and to weave its way into all of the available spaces where art can be seen. Artists already on board with the project include Alexandria Welch (who runs online art magazine Collage); Louisa Love; Rachel Harris with ‘Betty Love’; ‘Big Bird, Little Bird’; Sara Wordley (whose beautiful jellyfish image graced a former cover of WOW); and mixed media artist Fiona Williams.
from where I stand by Wendy Bonita Cottam
GOOD THINGS ARE HAPPENING IN GRAVESEND!
The project moves into Gravesend Borough Market on 17 March and lift off launch day is Saturday 22 March. If you are an artist or crafter and love passing on your skills to new people, want your work to be more widely seen and are looking for new friends and an arts community then please get in touch with Wendy at: gravesendconsortium@outlook.com. Tel: 07703 801201. Don’t wait for something to happen ... make it happen!
VISUAL ART BELOW 65 GALLERY Gilbert & Clark Frame and Print
65 High Street, Maidstone ME14 1SR 01622 685146 Free entry
JOHN WOODBERRY: Reaction & Rearrangement A unique collection of mixed media pieces that combine art and the scientific process. Prepare to be amazed and to question! Open 9.30am-4.30pm Mon-Sat gilbertandclark.com DEAF CAT COFFEE BAR & GALLERY
83 High Street, Rochester ME1 1LX
Open all week 9.30am-5pm ROLLING EXHIBITION Contemporary works by local artists. See website for submission guidelines. thedeafcat.com FRANCIS ILES GALLERIES
Sun 11 May. Exhibition drawing on the vintage archive collection of illustrations and celebrating the iconic, mini hardbacks. Free admission museum.maidstone.gov.uk ALSO AT THE MUESUM: LADYBIRD BOOKS: PAPER, TEXT & IMAGE A WORKSHOP WITH TEXTILE ARTIST CAS HOLMES Sat 22 March 10.30am-4pm £35, concs £30, materials included Booking essential on 01622 602838 or email museuminfo@maidstone.gov.uk Explore the nostalgia of Ladybird books, recreating memories using paper, collage, texture and stitch. museum.maidstone.gov.uk MEDWAY ARCHIVES & LOCAL STUDIES CENTRE
103 High Street, Rochester ME1 1LX 01634 843081
Clock Tower Building, Strood ME2 2AD 01634 332714
Opens Mon-Sat 9.30am-5.30pm
Opens: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm (closed Wed & Sun) Sat: 9am-4pm
SPRING EXHIBITION featuring Jill Barthorpe and Alison Griffin RMS Opens Fri 28 Mar with a special Sunday opening on 30 March 11am4pm, plus new works from Gallery Artists. Free entry. Visit website for full details. francis-iles.com
CHATHAM DOCKYARD IN THE NEWS: 1859-2014 To Tue 15 Apr. Exhibition marking the 30th anniversary of the closure of the Dockyard.
HISTORIC DOCKYARD CHATHAM
272 High Street, Chatham ME4 4BP 01634 812108
The Historic Dockyard, Chatham ME4 4TY 01634 823800
Open 10am-6pm. Entrance to gallery included in normal admission. Adults: £18.50, children £11.50, concs available: gives unlimited returns for one year. A SQUASH AND A SQUEEZE Sharing stories with Gruffalo creator, Julia Donaldson. To 1 June. thedockyard.co.uk/juliadonaldson MAIDSTONE MUSEUM & BENTLIF ART GALLERY St Faith’s St, Maidstone ME14 1LH 01622 602838
Opens Mon-Sat 10am-5pm, closed Sun and Bank Holidays A LADYBIRD CHILDHOOD To
NUCLEUS ARTS
Gallery winter opening: Mon-Sat 10am-4.30pm, closed Sun. Free entry CHATHAM & THE BRITISH EMPIRE Sat 1 Mar to 1pm on Thu 13 Mar Various artists with work inspired by the 1946 book of the same title by historian Sir Charles Grant Robertson. SPRING 2014 ART EXHIBITION Rochester & West Kent Art Society Sat 15 Mar to 1pm on Thu 20 Mar. Paintings by members of this thriving Society, including still lifes, landscapes, marine works and local scenes. All work is for sale. Preview:
Fri 14 Mar, 6-8pm: all welcome. RED: Various Artists Sat 22 Mar to 1pm on Thu 3 April. In aid of Comic Relief, featuring a broad range of work by local artists responding to the theme of ‘Red’. 20% of sale prices go to Comic Relief. Preview: Fri 21 Mar 6-8pm, all welcome. nucleusarts.com NUCLEUS ARTS, ROCHESTER 75 High Street, Rochester ME1 1LX
Open 10am-5pm Mon-Sat; Sun 115pm 01634 812108 Lovely gallery shop. NUCLEUS ARTS, MAIDSTONE Gabriel’s Hill, Maidstone ME15 6JR
Open 10am-5pm Mon-Sat; closed Sundays01634 812108 A new arts hub 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 WOLF HOWARD & MICK HAMPSHIRE: The Skull Grins Relentless To 15 Mar. CRAFT CASE: Xtina Lamb and Sarah Crouch. ROYAL ENGINEERS MUSEUM, LIBRARY & ARCHIVE Prince Arthur Road, Gillingham ME4 4UG Tel: 01634 822839
Open Tue-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat & Sun & Bank Holidays: 11.30am-5pm. Closed Mondays. Pay once for unlimited access for 12 months: Adult £8, Conc £5.50, Family £21.50. Students, children and serving Royal Engineers: free. ENCOUNTERS: Photograph Albums & Their Stories To 30 May. Explores the narratives behind photographs from some 600 albums and scrapbooks. RECONSTRUCTING ROCHESTER BRIDGE To Fri 28 Mar. Exhibition marking the Centenary of the reconstruction of the Old Bridge. re-museum.co.uk
PROUD PRINTERS OF WOW MAGAZINE
Posters // Leaflets // Brochures // Folders Business Cards // Magazines // Books 01795 470825 colour-factory.com
Sittingbourne Kent
Fantabulous FLEA MARKET! Saturday March 29th 11am-4pm
BRICABRAC VINTAGE BOOKS WOT NOTS CAMERAS JEWELLERY CLOTHES ART&HANDMADE COLLECTABLESFIKABRĂ–D HOMEMADE BAKES 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
THE ART AND SCIENCE OF PHRENOLOGY: A PRESENTATION BY STUART TURNER AND THE FLAT EARTH SOCIETY
‘The Art and Science of Phrenology’ is the third album by “raggle-taggle alternative blues-folk-rockabilly-artrock collective” Stuart Turner and The Flat Earth Society. Since the release of their first album ‘Gin and Bitters’ in 2010, the band has evolved into what could be called a fluid line up. There are two lead guitarists (Theatre Royal’s Robbie Wilkinson and ex-Dentist Bob Collins); the multi-faceted Rob Shepherd (ex-Singing Loins) plays anything with strings on it; Nick Rice (Groovy Uncle) provides the bass and drummer Steve Moore sits in the driving seat. Interestingly, the band has had almost as many drummers as Spinal Tap, Sammy “Stumpy” Bateman being common to both (allegedly). Anyway, add to that nucleus any number of guests and there you have the Flat Earth Society. Like its predecessors, ‘Phrenology’ goes for a strong start. The opening track Mindspikes provides a big, thumping rhythm with a huge, hooky, instantly memorable riff, from which more and more guitars seem to emanate, like little ripples of magic. Turner’s instantly recognisable voice chimes in with “It’s just the mindspikes of someone who ain’t sleeping at night” and everything is locked into place. There seem to be two bedrocks to the sound. Firstly, the blues as evidenced in the opener, in The Gospel According To Us with its smoky twelve bar banjo and resonator and then later in Dichotomy which positively stomps along and has the feel of a live recording in a very hot and lively bar on the wrong side of town. There’s folk here, too, but more of that later. There’s much in between. For instance, there’s Call Me Dave, a ukulele driven curio that imagines an exchange between Nick Clegg and David Cameron. Or take Animalistic, with its fat guitar, spoken word verses of animal simile and metaphor and a brief yet gloriously shouty chorus. There are tiny hints of the Smiths
Photo of STFES by Phil Dillon
HOMESPUN CO-FOUNDER PHIL DILLON REVIEWS
and Suede on The Making of Landscape and Gunville Girl respectively, and a dash of disco synth on Incompatible With Life, a song that may or may not have set out to paraphrase the poet and hymnodist William Cowper. There’s the aching, footstep by heavy icy footstep journey of Walking Through Snow (To Get To You). Add to that two insightful songs about relationships (Song For Long Term Relations and The Get Out and Diminished Responsibility (a sort of bad-ass There Is A Light That Never Goes Out). If blues set the ship afloat, then it’s folk that guides it home. The darkest hour regrets of Sorry seem less dark at Sunrise, and the album concludes with the haunting Mingulay Boat Song, a traditional piece in the style of a Hebridean work song, to the Gaelic tune Creag Guanach. It swells like the sea itself, each cymbal crash a wave. Not the first Turner to evoke the smell of the sea, but evoke it he does. MATURE SONGWRITING AND CRACK MUSICIANS. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. KEEP AN EYE ON STFES.COM. On Saturday 1 March, Stuart Turner & the Flat Earth Society are celebrating the London launch of the album at the Stag’s Head, London N1 5RA. Support is from Robert James Selby, Tangled Limbs, and Rastko (Arf and Rob from Singing Loins).
THE ARTIST’S SPACE
MOURNING BIRDS This month we’re devoting The Artist’s Space to Mourning Birds, an up and coming Medway band that has been receiving a lot of airplay and good press. If you do a quick internet search for Mourning Birds you’ll find their last single ‘Oh Yeh!’ on the Huw Stevens BBC Introducing blog, along with a load of great live reviews. My favourite quote comes from a site called thevpme. com who describe them like this:
Photo of STFES by Phil Dillon
“...here to provide the musical equivalent of being smacked in the face with a jackhammer, Mourning Birds condense more attitude, noise melody and dare we say it fun, than many of their earnestly po-faced contemporaries.” Couldn’t have said it better myself. Rob Flood You can catch Mourning Birds on Saturday 22 March at Poco Loco, 58-60 High Street, Chatham ME4 4DS
LIVE MUSIC
FOLK, BLUES AND SIXTIES
EASTER SUNDAY & MONDAY, 20 & 21 APRIL 2014 SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE! • Spectacular sights, sounds and smell of steam locomotives and traction engines
• Hundreds of vintage and classic vehicles • NEW American Hot Rods, Drag Cars and Trucks
• The curious world of Steampunk • Animal Encounters and Modelling Zone
VEHICLES FROM THE USA
THE GIANTS OF STEAM
HOBO JONES & THE JUNKYARD DOGS
‘CALL THE MIDWIFE’ TOURS
For further details, ticket prices and terms & conditions visit
thedockyard.co.uk
EVEN MORE LIVE MUSIC
Supported by
01634 823807
This is a fundraising event in aid of Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust. Registered Charity No. 292101. Fully Accredited Museum.