The Transmitter Issue 36

A SOUTH EAST LONDON MAGAZINE www.thetransmitter.co.uk

ISSUE 36

SUMMER 2015

Palace People We meet the workers

CRYS PALA TAL FEST CE IVAL PI CKS

BOOKS • SPANNERS • BEAUTY • FOOD • GARDENING • MUSIC • NEWS

t’s summertime, and the living is … well it’s not that easy but we all have to make a buck.

Festival season is back and the weather will be perfect *crosses everything*. Soon Penge, Palace and all the environs will be pumping with the sounds of live music and the laughter of slightly inebriated locals. Who needs Glasto?

In this issue we point the lens at some locals who are lovely and great and make the place what it is. And a cat.

Because Louise is soft for cats. Some of these people are up and about dead early, turning the cogs and wheels of our machine in the hours known only to teenagers as ‘late bedtime’. We also feature some people who – once they are done serving you coffee or heating up your toastie – go off and be fabulous on a stage somewhere doing their ‘thing’. We are very happy to support them and hope maybe you will too.

I

Have a great

Transmitter

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Disclaimer The views expressed by contributors are theirs alone and do not necessarily reflect this magazine’s editorial policy or the views of any employee of Transmission Publications. So there.

Editor Andy Pontin Sub-Editor Annette Prosser Designer Simon Sharville Photographers Emir Hasham, Marta Polanska Hawrylow, Louise Haywood-Schiefer, Corali Houlton, Connie May, Ronnie Pontin Contributors Justine Crow, Mike Fairbrass, Louise Heywood, Jonathan Main, Howard Male, Melanie Reeve, Michelle Thomas, Michael Wagg, Sue Williams Printed by Cantate Communications Published by Transmission Publications, PO Box 53556, London SE19 2TL, thetransmitter.co.uk editor@thetransmitter.co.uk @thetransmitter Cover Portrait of Alan Hills by Emir Hasham

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24 9

15 19

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News & Events Things that are occurring

A

S ou t h e r n

Shindig

CARRY ON UP THE JUMBLE 2 Following on from the bustling success of SE19’s Jumble Trail in April, SE20 is following suit on Sunday 21 June, as part of this year’s Penge Festival. There’s still time to sign up to have a stall outside your house if you fancy a bit of a clear out (you’ll need to check you’re in the zone), and for those who fancy a day-long rummage you can follow the trail using an online map. All manner of things will be up for grabs. Go see. jumbletrail.com/event/SE20JUNE2015

SAVE THE SHIP South Norwood is in danger of losing one of its high street pubs. The Ship, built in the early 19th century, closed last summer. Bought by a developer, extensive work has already been carried out on the interior, converting it to private flats. Planning permission had not been sought, however, and at the end of April Croydon Council announced that a retrospective application had been refused. This opens the door for locals to buy the building themselves and run it as a community co-op pub. The developer, meanwhile, continues with renovations. South Londoners love a good battle (we do, don’t we?) so show your support by signing up on the facebook page where you’ll also be able to complete their online survey with your thoughts about the future of the premises. Anyone wishing to be actively involved in the campaign to get The Ship re-opened should volunteer their services pretty pronto too. savetheshipSE25@gmail.com facebook.com/groups/SavetheShipSouthNorwood

FANCY A

Festival?

The Palace is, of course, the epicentre of all things festival this summer … but there are other eclectic happenings around and about SE19. Check these websites for more info

A FESTIVAL GARDEN PARTY Imagine, if you will, that it’s Sunday 28 June and you are watching the final fantastic stage act at Vintage Up the Palace coming to the end of their set. If only, you think to yourself, there was a glamorous Garden Party I could now attend to bring the last day of this fabulous festival to its suitable climax … Reader, we’ve organised one.

From 6pm, A Southern Shindig will feature live music (including blues and funky brass), booze & a barbie amid the lush and lovely landscapes of a Georgian house a few minutes walk from the Triangle. All proceeds from ticket sales, food & drinks are in support of our beloved Crystal Palace Overground Festival, so come along and party with us as we celebrate what will be the last few hours of another great Palace event.

PS: no tickets will be available on the door!

Book early to avoid disappointment!

A Southern Shindig Church Road Crystal Palace Doors at 5.30pm Entry by advance ticket only (£5) available from Smash Bang Wallop, Westow Street, Crystal Palace

The London Folk Fest Balham 2-5 July thelondonfolkfest.com Streatham Kite Day (Streatham Common) 21 June 10am-5pm streathamkiteday.org.uk Streatham Festival 4-11 July streathamfestival.com

East Dulwich Literary Festival 29 June-5 July harrisdulwichgirls.org.uk

Crystal Palace Festival Penge Festival 7-28 June pengepartners.co.uk

South Norwood Community Festival 5 July 11am-7pm southnorwood.net/festival Croydon Heritage Festival 20-28 June croydonheritagefestival.co.uk

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Found Festival (Brockwell Park) 3 June 11am-9pm foundfestival.com Lambeth Country Show (Brockwell Park) 18 & 19 July lambeth.gov.uk/events/lambeth-country-show-2015

St George’s Arts Festival (Beckenham) 20-28 June stgeorgesbeckenham.co.uk

Trading Places Feeling crafty? We know just the place

DO & PLAY Walking past Crystal Palace Vintage on Westow Street on a Saturday you may have noticed an A-frame pointing towards a discreet side door. Through that doorway is the magical world of Do & Play, an arts and crafts centre that opened up late last year. Aliya Rashid set up Crystal Palace Pottery in her Gipsy Hill Workshops studio in March 2014, giving lessons to adults on potter’s wheels. When demand grew Do & Play was born and moved to its new basement home.

With a first class honours degree in Ceramics from Camberwell College of Art and a career in graphic design, Aliya fell into teaching after a recommendation from a friend. ‘I was asked to spend a summer teaching pottery to adults with special needs’. Initially nervous at the prospect, once there Aliya relaxed and the experience was a salutary one. ‘I’m still truly humbled by the work my students produced over that summer. I came away knowing I wanted to teach more’. Sewing and printmaking classes followed, along with general arts and crafts for kids. Do & Play has since gone from strength to strength.

Aliya currently offers adult pottery-throwing lessons on the wheel every Saturday morning (from £15 per hour), as well as throwing lessons for parents and their children to get creative together. Press mould platemaking classes are also popular and, with a fourth wheel on its way, group lessons are on the cards.

Hand-builders are also catered for, with one-off classes and regular Saturday morning sessions.

Techniques you can learn include coiling to make vases, making tiles and pinch pots and – Aliya’s favourite – 6

making a slab teapot! These 2-hour sessions (£20) are open to both beginners and those with more experience who’d like to improve their skills.

The demand for sewing classes is increasing, and Aliya’s recent ‘Saintly’ knickers class was a big hit (kits to make your own at home will soon be available).

Check the facebook page for June and July’s men’s boxer shorts classes!

With the addition of a sewing circle where needle workers can get together for advice over a glass of wine, sewing has become a popular fixture in the Do & Play stable.

Classes in etching, lino printing and fabric painting are also on offer for both adults and children (from £10 per hour). Keen for as many as possible to benefit from this creative environment, Aliya also runs regular free workshops for children too. Pop-up events will pop up throughout the summer and you’ll be able to visit Do & Play at this year’s festival. In the meantime, Aliya wants her crafty hub to grow and grow. If there’s a skill not listed that you’ve always yearned to learn, pop in to see her : ‘We’re thrilled with how the local community is getting behind us so far, and if there’s enough interest for a new Do & Play craft, we’ll try to make it happen!’

Do & Play 35 Westow Street 07976 290735 Do and Play @DoAndPlay; doandplay@hotmail.com

Words by Michelle Thomas

Photos by Louise Haywood-Schiefer

Early Birds @onepoundstories

lhschiefer.com

Palace People Here’s to the early birds: those busy at work making the world nice before most of us have hit the snooze button for the first time. Here’s to the fabulous first-thing folk of our own Gipsy Hill Station: we salute you.

Theepan and Ranjan

FreshGo on Gipsy Hill.

They open at 5am every morning

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Claire

Kensington Dry Cleaners, Gipsy Hill Station ‘I’ve been here for 25 years. A lot has changed. It’s a nice little village. A nice community. Everybody knows everybody.

Or at least I know everybody, and everybody knows me.’

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Charles

Gipsy Hill Station ‘I’ve worked here for 4 years. I know all of the 55,000 people who use the station.

I make them all happy. I leave home at 4am to open the station. I prefer the late shift, but on the early shift I meet more people, it makes the time go faster.’

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Frankie

Gipsy Hill Station ‘I quite like early starts. It’s invigorating. Gipsy Hill’s nice.

The best part is the local characters, that goes without saying.’

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the Gipsy Hill cat,

And, of course, who couldn’t resist getting involved in our shoot. This enigmatic beauty has cheered the heart of many an early commuter. Follow him (or is it her?) on twitter @thegipsyhillcat

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Double Lives

Palace People

You probably know them all: they greet us with a grin, remember our usual, provide us with a frothy latte or a bacon buttie. But beyond the smiles and the starched pinnies, these locals have bigger strings to their bows Natalija Gormalova Film-maker Chef at Brown and Green, Mayow Park

I didn’t know Crystal Palace existed before I started working at Brown and Green – I thought Brixton was as far south as London went. I just thought it was so green, so wild. There’s so much nature. There are parts that haven’t been gentrified yet, so you can see London as it used to be. The landscape, the park, the Brutalist architecture, it’s extraordinary. I love photographing the sports centre at night.

I work around my day job, editing at night and on my day off. This job complements my work. When I’m here and cooking, my mind is resting. It gives me time to think.

I love the family I work with. It’s not like working for a big company – we’re family and friends, we support each other, we talk about everything.

I’m going to Ghana in a few months, to make a documentary about the fishermen and their relationship with the sea. I’ll also be working in a charityrun school, teaching social studies, geography, history, art, film … I’ll be sure to show African films. I want to be a participant in that life, not just a spectator.

I love London, but there’s more to life. There’s not much opportunity to be immersed in your own perspective – it’s too busy. I want to sit by the sea and read and write and observe and think. natalijagormalova.co.uk trinityyardschool.org 15

I start work at 6.30am and gig most nights. The days are long but the worlds are so far apart that they complement each other well. I work with a few musicians, so it’s a nice creative environment to work in. There are regular customers who are always friendly and interested – we run a comedy night at The Sparrowhawk and we often see familiar faces who’ve come to support us. I’ve never written anything based on a customer, though. I started working at Blackbird in East Dulwich – I lived in Clapham at the time. I did a few shifts at the Crystal Palace branch and fell in love with the place – there’s a really nice sense of community.

When my lease was up I managed to find a new place above the cafe, which reduced my commute from 50 minutes to about 50 seconds.

See James at the festival Comedy Roar! at The Sparrowhawk on Friday 26 June. crystalpalacefestival.org

James Huntington

Comedian Barista at Blackbird Bakery

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facebook.com/HuntingtonandHutt

Photo by Jade Hopcroft

Sarah Williams-White

Singer & Songwriter Barista at Blackbird Bakery

I grew up in Lewisham and Deptford but we used to come to Crystal Palace for the swimming pool and the park a lot when I was a kid. The dinosaurs brought me back. And of course there’s plenty of like-minded creative folk and indie businesses about which gives the Triangle its lovely community feel, pretty rare to London to be honest.

I wanted to do something that I didn’t have to take home with me at the end of the day, so every other moment I could make music and work on being the artist and producer I want to be. And that works great at Blackbird, everyone’s very supportive and understanding of that priority in my life … I can book time off for tours and stuff. We all try to help each other out and swap shifts. Not sure how much influence it has on my writing though, I am yet to write a song about latte art and gluten free cakes.

I’m releasing my LP later this year with Peckham-based label First Word Records which I’m massively looking forward to! We’ll be leaking tracks in the next couple of months. I have a small show coming up on 22 May at Power Lunches in Dalston so please do come and say hi.

See Sarah at the festival Southern Shindig on Sunday 28 June. crystalpalacefestival.org facebook.com/sarahwilliamswhite sarahwilliamswhite.com

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The Mechanic Palace People

Words by Justine Crow Photos by Emir Hasham emirhasham.com

he Great North Wood, our area’s namesake; according to records that date back to the thirteenth century, this wild oak forest covered around four miles of territory stretching from the parish of Camberwell to the Croydon boundaries. There is precious little left of the woodland left now, save in name and in the odd pocket of conserved acreage at Dulwich Woods and Sydenham Hill. But there is another small thicket remaining that has survived Oliver Cromwell, pillaging for boatyards and the cruel acts of Inclosure, as well as the Victorian zeal for housing in the shadow of Paxton’s palace.

Believe it or not, a tiny plot of ancient forest lies just behind the Triangle, just off Church Road, attached to – of all things – an old fashioned mechanic’s garage that

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has served the community for the best part of a century.

Originally the stable yard to the Alma pub, Specialised Mouldings Ltd – the distinctly unromantically-named specialist in motor-racing kit for the likes of Lotus and Brabham – occupied the cobbled premises that abuts the chocolate box cottages of Alma Place and the handsome white chimneys of Spring Grove. The vehicle parts company played a major part in what looks to us like a glamorous episode in the area’s history when top F1 drivers and other formula teams visited the Crystal Palace circuit to show off their talent. When the sport folded in the area – the money ran out, as did the residents’ patience as they couldn’t bear the noise – the yard became a common (or garden) garage.

Originally concentrating on VWs (and there are still one or two of the iconic buses parked up) Alan Hills has been under a chassis on this spot for nearly 45 years. Born on the Isle of Dogs and brought up in Rotherhithe, he learned his trade at South London institution Pursers on the Old Kent Road where the boss was Mickey Purser of Millwall FC fame. Alan’s dappled domain is both picturesque and typical, as faultless as a film set. Uncommonly tidy, there are rows of tools on the wall and oil jugs arranged by size in the windows. Horse-shoes retrieved from the outbuildings’ previous purpose are nailed up here and there, a robust glazed shed has an improbable sign that reads ALL ENQUIRIES and dandelions have sprung up between the ground-stones. All this beneath and beside the bright green canopy of wonderful sloping woodland.

Alan lived locally for years (latterly near South Norwood Lake) and once upon time the garage even boasted a cat called Spanner. Apparently he’d fix up somebody’s motor, only to have them return later. He’d ask them what the problem was and they’d reply, there’s no problem, but you might want your cat back. ‘Old Spanner liked to kip in the cars, you see.’

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Great for a story, Alan can recall the days when Church Road had a barber shop with a revolving pole and he reckons he has been servicing cars for three generations of families. At one point, up on the noticeboard, he used to keep photographs of babies born to his regulars along with the caption: ‘Future Customers’.

One of his favourite anecdotes is the tale of the punter whose vehicle made a clonking sound whenever he stopped and started. The seasoned mechanic drove the car around the block and sure enough the engine clonked mysteriously on cue. He stuck his head inside for a shufty and a golf ball rolled out.

Nearly seventy years young and now living out in Surrey, he and his wife still run 25 miles a week with the Oxted runners and Alan expects to be servicing and mending many more cars in the years to come.

But the estate agent’s board on the gate heralds an uncertain future. There are bat boxes in the trees, Alan points out hopefully. Indeed the extraordinary glade of leafy giants is full of wildflowers and wildlife activity. But it is not difficult to imagine the sound of corporate palms being rubbed together wolfishly over the birdsong at the prospect of some prime building terrain becoming available in ‘up and coming’ Upper Norwood. The irony being that if they get their way, when hard-working Alan finally hangs up his jack, all that will be left in the area of the ancient historical woodland will be the name.

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A PINT WITH ... A POET Michael Wagg meets writer Joe Duggan, who will be performing again at this year’s Crystal Palace Festival Photos by Marta Polanska Hawrylow myphotopie.com

So Joe, what are you drinking?

I’m drinking tea.

Well it is three o’clock in the afternoon I suppose I don’t drink that much anymore, to be honest. I’ve had my time of that.

What brought you to Crystal Palace?

I found myself attracted to the Triangle, and to the old Alma pub as it was. The live music and the vibe up here was pretty special and I think it still is; and getting a publishing deal for my first book and some big gigs kept me in London. Then I got heavily involved in the Transition Town movement in Crystal Palace as well which has turned out to be an important part of my life, and that’s how I met Karen.

In what way are you involved in this year’s festival?

We’re putting together a spoken word night for the festival in the gallery space at Antenna. It’s been a really big buzz the last two years and we’ve got an exciting line-up of local poets again this year.

I was there last year; it was packed to the rafters, a great atmosphere Yeah, it’s been a sell-out the last two years so get there early!

Where do you hail from?

I’m originally from Belfast, and then my family moved out to County Down, where the Mourne mountains are. Then I had a kind of second life in Derry City, before I moved to London.

What first got you into poetry?

I think I was writing things from when I was really young. I was writing rock music lyrics when I was 9 or 10!

Writing lyrics because you were you in a band?

I wasn’t but I probably wanted to be – a frustrated rock star, like a lot of poets! And then when I was a student, studying biology, I found myself getting into poetry. My grandfather was a farmer poet from County Tyrone, so it was kind of in the blood.

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Which other writers inspired you?

James Joyce and Jack Kerouac. I got a lot of solace from reading them. Later, in Derry, Irvine Welsh was an influence.

Trainspotting came out around that time and that kind of gave us permission to write like working class people.

What about poets, in your youth?

I’d say W.B. Yeats, and Sylvia Plath as well. When you’re a frustrated teenager Sylvia Plath speaks to you.

Which one would you want to play in a game of ping pong?

If I wanted to win I’d play Yeats.

The epigraph in your first collection [Fizzbombs published by Tall Lighthouse] is from Hart Crane: ‘I can remember much forgetfulness’ There’s definitely a journey in that book towards sobriety..

Hence the tea?

Maybe, yeah. Sobering up. Coming out of the party scene and looking at the world around you; personally and politically as well. I like that quote – it sort of summed up some of that desire for clarity. And also, you know, Northern Ireland was sobering up, coming out of its drunken bloodlust in some ways and trying to have a clearer vision of itself.

There’s a sense of watchfulness in the book, looking over your shoulder yet still trying to get on with the stuff of living your life. In Cormac’s Eyes as he sips his pint ‘his eyes would dart from side to side’ ...

Yes, it was that idea of ordinary life and then this madness. One of the things about the Troubles in Northern Ireland, irrespective of political analysis, is that it was crazy. I’ll never forget how different your mind was, how you lived your life, up to the point of the ceasefires.

Afterwards things changed and you stopped living that way. At that time one of the jokes was that paranoia was the correct state of mind – if you weren’t paranoid you were crazy.

What are you writing about now?

Well I’m bringing together the next set of poems. There are more set in London, and some stuff about getting a bit older. I’ve also been working on an ambitious long poem – violent and mad and based on the Greek myth Kronos. It’s a bit like a horror movie.

You also work with musicians?

Yes, I’ve been working for a while with local band Fireflies, mixing music and spoken word. We’ve done some recordings in collaboration with producer Andrew Weatherall which are coming out on his new vinyl label, Moine Dubh.

How do you write a poem – in quiet contemplation or with Black Sabbath blaring?

I think I write in spite of myself. I’m not a very organised writer – probably why my two unfinished novels are still unfinished! I tend to write late at night. Some of the pub stuff in Fizzbombs was literally written down in the toilets on the back of an envelope, or in a cafe on the way home.

So I do like writing in the field if you like, like a war reporter.

How was it at the Cheltenham Poetry Festival?

Cheltenham went really well. I get a real kick out of performing live. I’m not one of those people who shuffles to the corner, I want to get out there. I’ve done lots of live performances and some of my best poems are live products in a way.

What are your favourite venues?

Back in Derry, Sandinos Bar was a good buzz. We performed there with a group called the Bunch of Chancers. I’ve performed at Latitude Festival and at the Southbank Centre, and I’ve really enjoyed performing at the Antenna cafe here in Crystal Palace.

Who are the local poets we should look out for?

David Crystal ... El Crisis ... Tamsin Kendrick ... Matthew Caley ... David J The Vocal Pugilist. They’re all great and they’ve all read in the past at the festival nights at Antenna.

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Is Crystal Palace an inspiration?

When I moved here first I thought Palace had a really interesting mix – the working class, the graphic designer and the banker all rubbing shoulders. I think it’s shifted in the years I’ve been here, which is unfortunate. I think Palace at its best, during things like the festival, can still be an exciting, receptive place. And I think that’s something to be celebrated.

And you’re a big part of Transition Town too?

Yeah, that’s been a very positive experience, a real journey. It’s about trying to put your money where your mouth is and getting involved in things that make a difference. It has probably reduced the amount of writing I’ve done to be honest!

If you were the Poet Laureate of southeast London, what would you do?

I’d work to get lots of new voices out there. I think that’s one of the most powerful things poetry can do – to allow people from different backgrounds to speak. Though I probably would be uncomfortable with the title ...

What’s your favourite word beginning with P? Pernicious. I like Positive as well.

Thanks Joe, what about ‘one for the road?’

Yeah. I’ll stick to the tea though.

Joe and Michael were drinking at The Grape & Grain.

Michael had a Beatnik from Gipsy Hill Brewing Company.

Fizzbombs is published by Tall Lighthouse and available at The Bookseller Crow and via Joe’s blog at joedugganwrites.com The Crystal Palace Festival spoken word night is on 25 June in The Gallery at Antenna Studios

The Transmitter loves the

24-28 June 2015

It just gets bigger and bigger every year. No surprise then to hear there’s MASSES OF STUFF going on during 2015’s festival (see following pages for our at-a-glance view of who’s doing what when during the Big Weekend). But it’s not just about Saturday & Sunday: there’s a SHEDLOAD of stupendous events happening right here on your SE19 doorstep in the days leading up to the main park events ...

On Wednesday 24 June look out for the Christ Church Hall TEA DANCE (3pm) and SERGEI PODOBEDOV’S PIANO RECITAL at the Salvation Army Hall (7.30pm) while OPEN BRASS BAND NIGHT is bound to be a right old hoot at the Crystal Palace Museum (6.30pm).

On Thursday 25 June Westow Park is the venue for the CHILDREN’S SPORTS FESTIVAL (5-7pm); the Greek Orthodox Church has a SOPRANO & LUTE CONCERT featuring mezzo Emily Gray and David Braid (7.30pm); organist Thomas Trotter entertains at St John the Evangelist (7.30pm); Antenna Gallery hosts OVERGROUND EXPRESS 3! featuring poet Joe Duggan (8pm); and for film fans THE FISHER KING is on at the Electric Palace Open Air Cinema (8.30pm).

On Friday 26 June a Venezuelan cocktail or three will go down nicely at Mi Cocina Es Tuya’s HAPPY HOUR (5-10pm), setting the mood for either the COMEDY ROAR! at The Sparrowhawk or METAMONO’S ANALOGUE OCCURENCES at Anerley Town Hall (both 8pm).

But these are a mere soupcon to tempt your tastebuds: details of these events and MUCH, MUCH MORE can all be found at crystalpalacefestival.org See you there!

Timings and running orders may change. For details of all events and latest updates visit

Festival

crystalpalacefestival.org

CRYSTAL PALACE

SATURDAY 27 JUNE

WESTOW PARK MAIN STAGE

DJ Mamasutra Mary Leay 11.45am 12.30pm The Higher Planes

11.30am-6pm

2pm

1.15pm

Freddie Calls Angel Silvera & Band John Blood and the Highlys String Fever

2.45pm

3.30pm

4.15pm

Ma’ Grass Gavin Holligan

5.15pm

PERFORMANCE TENT 11am Downsview

Primary School choir Team Dance School 12pm Crystal Palace Youth Orchestra 3.30pm 12.45pm Betty Wivell Academy The Pirate Adventure by Simply Smiley 2pm Gems Performing Arts 4.30pm 5pm Bop and Boogie Perfect Circle Dance School 5.30pm

KIDS ZONE 11.30am-5pm Punch

and Judy Crystal Palace Gymnastics Research on Yoga in Education KickStars Balham Blazers 12-3.20pm Secret Adventures Hupsilly Hill Pirate/Princess workshop Silly Chefs Carrot Growing Hupsilly Heroes Superhero Workshop 12.30-5pm Kids’ Bandstand featuring Teach Tutti MWAH Franck Alba students Panash Steel Orchestra

SATURDAY 27 JUNE

TRIANGLE

Grooveschool at Crystal Palace Food Market in Haynes Lane 11am & 1pm

The Magic Toy Shop at Papagaio

Table Tennis Tournament at Upper Norwood Methodist Church 11.15am-5pm 12-5pm

Fabulous Festival Hairstyling at Backstage

Zumba Demo at Antenna Studios Eclectic live music & ale festival at Westow House 2pm 3pm Bingo upstairs at The Sparrowhawk Rock ‘n’ Roll All-Dayer at The Grape & Grain 3pm-late 2pm

7pm

Downsview Singing Men’s Choir at Upper Norwood Methodist Church Latin Music at Mi Cocina Es Tuya 7pm 7pm RPM Vinyl Nite at Antenna Studios Massive Dynamic at the White Hart 8.30pm 9pm

The Lovebirds

at The Sparrowhawk

Crystal Palace Soul at Westow House The Fallen Heroes at Gipsy Hill Tavern 9.30pm 9pm

Timings and running orders may change. For details of all events and latest updates visit

11am-3pm

crystalpalacefestival.org

Open Day at the Greek Orthodox Church of Saints Constantine and Helen 10am–2pm

SUNDAY 28 JUNE

VINTAGE Up tHE PALACE Crystal Palace Park Gardens

Marc Oliver Harriet Eaves Swing Patrol The Skamonics

12.45pm 2.15pm

4.15pm

1.30pm 3pm

Ronnie Ripple & the RipChords

CRYSTAL PALACE STATION Crystal Palace Quartet Count Me In 12pm 12.45pm Crystal Palace Community Choir 11.15am

Mezzo-soprano Eve Lambah

1.30pm

Note-Orious Choir Oboist Kate Andrews 3pm 3.45pm Jo Watts, Chris Fish & friends String Ensemble Mixtape Manifesto 4.30pm 2.15pm

SUNDAY 28 JUNE

TRIANGLE 2pm

Brother G and The Trouble

at Bambino Dino Doctors! at Dinosaur Court, Crystal Palace Park 12pm & 3pm

Live Music at

Antenna Studios

3pm

12-6pm

Hot Jazz Sunday with the Sax Pastilles

at The Grape & Grain 4.15pm Norwood Society Anerley and Penge Local History Walk Long Live Youth Concert at Open Door 6pm 6pm

Southern Shindig a festival garden party

Soundbath at Bamboo Fitness 7.30pm Moine Dubh Launch at Antenna Studios Acoustic Palace at the White Hart 8.30pm 7pm

crystalpalacefestival.org

Spectrumathon at St John the Evangelist Church The Arty Party! at Priory School 1.30pm

Timings and running orders may change. For details of all events and latest updates visit

9am-9pm

Penge FESTIVAL

For 40 years SE20 has welcomed summer by enjoying a festival of everything the town, rich in history, has to offer. This year the theme is Celebrating Heritage and will pay homage to this history: from 7-28 June events will take place across Penge. And yes, there’s something for everyone.

Corali Houlton and Chris O’Shaughnessy report

Photos by Corali Houlton 32

rior to 1854 and the building of the Crystal Palace, Penge was largely a rural area, the derivation of its name meaning ‘edge of the wood’. Remnants of the common survive in Penge parks and most houses are Victorian dwellings. With the coming of the railways the affluent moved into the area making for a variety of buildings styles. A cultural hub was created, first at Anerley Town Hall, then later at the Empire theatre. From illustrious Shakespearean actor Ira Aldridge and poet Walter de la Mare (both one-time residents) to the beautiful architecture of the Royal Watermens Almshouses, King William IV Cottages and the lovely Alexandra Estate, all will be celebrated in this year’s festival.

Local spaces will be utilised to the max, from a Teddy Bears’ Picnic for children in the grounds of St John’s Church (weather permitting!) to a vintage fair in Royston Hall. A Jumble Trail will lead the thrifty on a treasure hunt for bargains and unique finds and an Art Trail will showcase Penge’s talented inhabitants. There will be exhibitions from local painters, photographers and illustrators: art in Penge did not start and end with Pissarro! Original and unique pieces will be for sale at various venues, and visitors will be able to peruse artworks while having a coffee at Caffé Casbah, Hardedge, Blue Belle, Blue Mountain, Friends of Flavours or Alexandra Nurseries or a beer at local pubs The Goldsmiths or Bridge House Tavern.

To celebrate the rich local heritage of the area, multiple events will span the three weeks of the festival.

Chris O’Shaughnessy will be giving a talk at the Bridge House Theatre (19 June) about Walter de la Mare, poet extraordinaire, followed by a tour of de la Mare’s Penge

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(20 June), which includes a visit to two of his old houses, both now awarded blue plaques. At Penge Library a guide will be available throughout the festival for the library’s Walter de la Mare Art Project in which local artists respond to some of the poet’s works. Also at the library will be Penge Revisited, a show of archival films illustrating the history of the area (15 June), and a talk by Martin Spence about the making of Penge (22 June) which will inform residents and visitors about their culturally affluent surroundings. Urban ramblers should look out for the Penge Heritage Walk (27 June).

The Bridge House Theatre will be welcoming audiences of all types and ages for a varied programme which includes Penge’s Got Talent (21 June) an opportunity for our talented townspeople to battle it out for a £100 1st prize. Winners of the poetry competition will also be announced, excellent jazz group 5 to the Bar perform (13 June) as well as jazz vocalist Harriet Eaves (26 June).

Sylvia Cohen’s So Long, Marianne – a solo show about Marianne Faithfull (10 June) – is sure to steal the stage so get your tickets fast! Other highlights include comedian Carly Smallman (27 June) and West End musical star Rachel Tucker who will be leading a gala performance of songs from the shows with a fascinating twist in West End Reversed (14 June). pengepartners.co.uk has all details and for latest information and updates go to facebook.com/festivalpenge For details and to book Bridge House Theatre events go to bhtheatre.com 33

Fake it

til you make it

Bronzer can look great but, as we all know, bronzer can look dodgy as hell. Louise Heywood explains how to avoid the pitfalls

Make-up should define features, enliven skin and enhance the natural contours of the face and done well bronzer can do all of these. Done badly all it does is flatten and muddy the face – the absolute opposite of what make-up is about!

Powder bronzer is most people’s go-to bronzing product as it’s quick and easy, but, if you haven’t already done so, give cream bronzers a go. I think they look the most authentic – always a good idea when faking it.

10 golden rules for an authentic sunkissed glow 1 Avoid bronzing powders with too much shimmer 2 Never bronze alone – always add blusher. Blush

stops the bronzer looking fake as it mimics the slight burning that comes from a real day in the sun. Fresh pink and pinky/coral tones look great on pale skins and punchy, clear corals are lovely on darker skins

3 Stick to a shade only one or two shades darker than your natural skin tone

4 Try to find a bronzer with the same undertones as your skin as the wrong tone can make you look muddy or orange. This can be a tricky process, so consider consulting a professional

5 Apply cream bronzers to clean or moisturised skin, never over powder

6 Don’t use powder bronzer all over the face to

match up a pale face to a fake tanned body as it will look too powdery and therefore too heavy.

Instead, apply a thin layer of fake tan (I like James Read Sleep Mask Tan Face £20.00) just to warm up the skin a bit, and then you can use a bronzer to enhance the tone

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7 If you don’t want to use a fake tan, use a

bronzing cream/liquid/gel or even a tinted moisturiser (not foundation) that is a shade or two darker than your skin

8 Before adding powder bronzer always apply a light

dusting of face powder. This will stop any bronzing powder sticking to some areas of the skin and not others and looking patchy

9 Use a medium-sized soft, domed brush for powder

and for cream bronzers a flat synthetic brush

10 Go lightly and blend. Cover the brush all over with

bronzing powder and take the excess off on the back of your hand or a tissue. With small outward strokes (not a back and forth movement) lightly shade the cheek area and on to the temples in a C shape. Then blend into the centre of the forehead and hairline. Add a little on and under your chin and jawline, a touch over your nose and in the eye socket. Keep everything unified by dusting a little bronzer on the neck and chest

Here’s my list of great bronzing products LIQUID BRONZER

Benefit Hoola Bronzing Powder £23.50 The UK’s bestselling bronzer is a true matte brown for medium skin tones Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer £25.00 It really is the colour of chocolate with no yellow or orange undertones. They do a Milk Chocolate which is perfect for fair skin Bobbi Brown Bronzing Powder £28.00 A good 6-shade range for medium to dark skin AERIN Bronze Illuminating Powder (1) £34.00 The only ‘bronzer’ for very pale skins that don’t tan, as it just warms up the skin

BLUSH/HIGHLIGHTER

Charlotte Tilbury Beach Stick (5 shades) £30.00 All blush shades work beautifully with the Ibiza Beach Stick. Moon Beach and Las Salinas are lovely for pale skins and Es Vedra and Formentera for medium and dark Rimmel Good to Glow (Piccadilly Glow 002 and Soho Glow 003) £4.99 Lightweight sheer highlighter for all over the cheeks, temples and brow bone Stila Baked Cheek Duo Pink Glow £15.00 This powder blush mimics a sunkissed flush perfectly

And here’s my step-bystep guide to getting that glowing sunkissed look 1 With a foundation brush apply a thin layer of liquid

bronzer, all over the face, starting on the cheekbones and working out. Keep it very, very light on the top of the lip and around the eye area

2 Conceal under-eye area and then – so that your

concealer isn’t too light for your face – mix a little with the bronzing cream to cover any blemishes

3 S wipe a bronzing stick on cheek bones, temples, chin and a touch to the eyelids and blend with a foundation brush

4 On the apple of the cheeks apply a cream blush – pat with fingers.

5 D ot a soft kajal eye-liner pencil into upper and

lower lashes and smudge with a finger. Curl and apply mascara to lashes

6 Use a face powder around the nose, forehead and

chin to eliminate shine

7 Apply powder bronzer to the neck, under the chin

and décolletage

8 Add a tinted balm to lips

BRUSHES

For powder: Benefit Blush Brush £23.50 Bobbi Brown Blush Brush £35.00 For cream: No7 Foundation Brush £14.00

Louise Heywood provides one-to-one and group make-up lessons and makeovers in Crystal Palace louiseheywood.com 35

Sue Williams finds much to love in the glorious bee-magnet Echium

ay is just about to leave us as I write and optimism beats a heady tune in the gardener’s breast. Spring has seemed even more fecund and blossomy this year and the borders are crying out for drama and pizazz. Plants which rise above the cushions of spring foliage really make an impact in the early part of the growing season. Tulips and Narcissus start things off followed by the structural stems of purple and white allium. Agapanthus follows later in the summer but for sheer unbridled melodrama Echium does it for me. Even though the good old downbeat moniker of Viper’s Bugloss doesn’t really do this plant justice it is an absolute belter and as the climate warms up it seems to be appearing more frequently in our native borders.

Bugloss comes from the latin buglossa meaning literally the tongue of the ox and this very well describes the leaves of the echium. The Echium pininana – variously called the Tower of Jewels or Tree Echium – has long curling spear-like leaves which emerge from the main stem of the plant. The flowers are usually blue but can be found in pink and white, and form huge steeples of colour which can reach 13ft in height. It is native to the Canary Islands where it is fast becoming a threatened species. Its statuesque towers of colour are a magnet for bees and it is one of the most fantastical plants I have ever encountered.

It is biennial so it’s worth planting two years in a row.

Although it can be grown from seed it’s not the easiest plant to propagate so I’ve purchased established pots of echium. In a warm year there is a chance the seeds will germinate the next spring though this is a bit hit and miss in our unreliable climate. It is such a

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36

magnificent spectacle that it is almost worth treating as an annual and appreciating any repeat flowering as a bit of a bonus. It requires a sunny spot with well drained soil.

Echium’s more down to earth European cousin is Echium vulgare. This also goes by the names of Adderwort and Viper’s Tail and is a hardy plant ideal for a wildflower scheme. The habit is the same as the pininana with upright leafy stems bearing violet or blue bell-shaped flowers. These grow to 30 inches in height … apologies to all you modern metric folk ... and again are biennial. These however are much easier to grow from seed and in fact it can become a bit too prolific if the conditions are right. This again is an absolute magnet for loads of pollinating insects but not for human consumption as the leaves are poisonous which is, no doubt, where its snaky nicknames hail from.

There is a more shrub-like version of the echium in the Pride of Madeira or Echium candicans. This handsome plant can reach 6-7ft in width and height and bears numerous foot-long spikes of dark blue flowers. It is really a feature plant which requires plenty of space but again for sheer drama it is hard to beat. In the warm sub climate of the Scilly Isles these shrubs can grow into small trees but here in the South East they need to be planted in a sheltered position where their roots will be unlikely to freeze in winter. If in doubt they should be overwintered in a conservatory but this variety is not biennial and will come back every year.

Happy gardening

Bella Bella

Bob!

Transmitter wine columnist Melanie Reeve

finds that Frenchman Monsieur Kenrick is, in fact, Photos by Ronnie Pontin mostly talking Italian ronniepontin.com Keen to learn more about about this local independent wine shop, charming customers since its opening last autumn and just a stone’s throw from Crystal Palace station, I headed to BOB Wines on Anerley Road. ‘BOB stands for Bring Our Bottles!’ explained Kenrick the owner, and designer too of the BOB Wines splendid logo of the shop’s recently-installed signage. With a background in wine sales for a luxury retailer, he certainly knows his stuff, and has wines to suit every palate.

One of the first things I noticed was an installation of selected Italian wines on tap, with an incentive to return empties for a discounted refill. And that I did, so good was the lightly-sparkling white Cortese (£7.50). Light, fresh and 38

reminiscent of Golden Delicious apples, it would be great with cheese, crackers and celery.

My eye was then drawn to an attractive rose champagne by father-and-son team Goutorbe-Bouillot (£31), made by blending white base wine with a small proportion of red wine. Established in 1755, this family business spanning nine generations produces a ‘grower champagne’ meaning that they grow the grapes, produce the wine, bottle and sell it. An unusual blending process, modelled on the solera system for ageing sherry, was introduced in 1980.

A delicate pale salmon colour, this is a soft and rounded champagne, full of peach and redcurrant aromas. Delicious on its own, or perfect for an upcoming summer picnic.

The shop specialises in Italian wines, sourced directly from the producers, with a focus on Piemonte. When I asked Kenrick which wines particularly excite him, he pointed me to the brand-new Tenuta Villa Tavernago range. So new, in fact, that I was the first to taste La Barabina Bonarda Frizzante 2014 (£12) from Emilia-Romagna in northern Italy – a sparkling red wine made from organic Bonarda grapes. If the concept of a sparkling red wine seems strange, trust me when I say you have to try this – a delicious, fruity red wine, bright purple in colour and bursting with fresh blueberry, elderberry and black cherry aromas. Lightly chilled, it would make a great accompaniment to a plate of charcuterie or a Sunday roast.

Get your name down for the BOB Wines regular tasting events: you can sign-up to the email newsletter in store.

BOB Wines 29 Anerley Rd London SE19 2AS Melanie Reeve is a local wine educator, writer and consultant.

Wine Alive and @winealive

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Photos by Connie May

161 FOOD + DRINK

Justine Crow chances upon a Kirkdale eaterie

that ticks all her culinary boxes

42

he food review this time round was supposed to be somewhere completely different but due to circumstances blah blah blah, we were suddenly in need of a Plan B. If the brief was that simple – local, decent grub and booze, easy on the eye, ethically sound, new-ish – why were we having so much trouble conjuring up a candidate that would fit?

Then, by some miracle celestial alignment – a chance traffic jam combined with a reckless promise of lunch to an exam weary daughter – ducking into a modest space via a handsome pedimented doorway that once upon a time must have really impressed the neighbours, we found exactly the place we’d been looking for all along.

And what a coincidence because that was the very

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reason that Belinda and Alex established their neat little wine bar on this paved hummock of Sydenham back in the summer of 2014. Mirjam, who joined them a month later, explained: ‘They set it up because there simply weren’t any other places locally that suited them.’ It is small but cleverly fitted out with sleepers and sawn up doors for tables that, in keeping with the local theme, came from the bloke across the road who has famously been trading from behind his catwalk of door panels for years. And I have to say, and I can’t resist pointing this out to the daughter, that I do like coat hooks at knee level.

Such a sensible conceit; elsewhere you are expected to dump your bag on the floor and chuck your coat over the back of the chair, or worse, sit on it if you find yourself on

a stool. Daughter shoots me her please-don’t-make-a-fuss face. I adjust my belongings with satisfaction.

Blackboards announce the daily menus, which cakes are available and, crucially, what is being poured that day.

Belinda, who is in Italy when I contact her, says that she and Alex are both incredibly passionate about food and drink: ‘Alex has been in the industry for years,’ (he also runs an unconnected cafe on Lordship Lane) ‘and he’s the reason we have the wine we do. It’s all real/natural wine, mostly from small producers, often organic/biodynamic with low or no sulphur. The list is small and changes regularly.’ And just in case you need help to make up your mind, the wet stuff is lined up everywhere, priced with old-fashioned Post Office luggage labels in nice big 43

writing. The cost by the glass begins at a very reasonable £2.80 with red, white and ‘pink’ on offer as well as fizz.

Belinda describes herself as Australian-British: ‘Rachel is Australian, Mirjam is Swedish-Finnish, Alex is British.

We also have two other superstars working with us – Jocasta is British and Abel is Franco-Spanish. A good mix!

We make the food ourselves and all the cakes are baked on site.’ Indeed, while we are there Mirjam is cribbing from cookbook and laptop, and I spot the brilliant Honey & Co, imperative Ottolenghi, and sublime Sesame & Spice among the many tomes on the bar. ‘We design our short, interesting menus by starting with what’s in season and then pulling together our combined resources and food histories, from travels and our Australian, British, Swedish-Finnish cultures. Ingredients are sourced mostly locally, places like The Butchery in Forest Hill and Fresh & Fruity and Billings in Sydenham. Our cheese comes from Mons – the owners live in Forest Hill – and our charcuterie from Cobble Lane Cured in Islington. We like to have relationship with the people we buy from.’

The Antipodean influence is also evident. ‘Very relaxed but professional but also family friendly. You should feel welcome to come in by yourself or with a group,’ Belinda notes. Well, it certainly feels like a little slice of international Arcadia as I sit here with Don McLean singing Bye Bye Miss American Pie on the stereo, a half of Canopy – all the ales are also South London based too – and a fat but firm wedge of potato and spring onion tortilla crowned with a citrussy salad for me to savour. Even the daughter has cheered up and is humouring me while I blather on about what levies are. Then I realise why she is so 44

acquiescent – her mushroom, radiccio and ricotta lasagne is ruddy delicious. ‘No bad news on this doorstep,’ I quip, and get my wrist slapped for taking liberties with my fork.

Meanwhile, trade is surprisingly energetic with today’s pork pie, as well as speck and asparagus, being landed and cleared; as our lunch progresses, so the dishes are crossed off above our heads. Take a glance at their Twitter feed for an appetising parade of morsels.

Pies are a regular motif too with Thursday evening being designated Pie & Pint night. I ask Mirjam what kind of pie is usually on offer and I suddenly hear the voice of Crockett Johnson from Harold & the Purple Crayon in my head – ‘all seventeen kinds of pie’ – and instantly regret obliging her to answer such a ridiculous question. She patiently reels off a diverse inventory. Suffice it to say the pleasing pastry and bevvie combo is available for just eight quid and I’ll bet that’s a pretty popular thirsty Thursday post-work stop-off. I wouldn’t be surprised if the queue goes down to the roundabout.

The daughter is looking at her phone again so in the interests of familial diplomacy disguised as scientific research, I suggest pudding. That does the trick. She immediately chooses lemon & blueberry polenta and I have the orange cake. Each comes with a fine splodge of fromage frais as welcome as her smile and we both have a very, very good coffee, which, Belinda asserts, is ‘as important as the rest of our range.’

Along with localism, coffee and pies, passion is clearly another theme. It seems my Plan B was always their Plan A. Belinda: ‘I used to be a civil servant, then was a director of a think tank. All along I’ve had a passion for the

role that food and drink play in bringing people together – building communities. Bringing life back to spaces and streets. I still consult on this. In addition, we wanted to contribute more in a very specific way. Alex very much shares this passion, and we wanted to do it in practice.

We also believe in this industry as a career – so we don’t just hire to fill shifts, we’re building a team of equally passionate people.’ Fittingly, for someone who venerates travel, culture, presentation and European cuisine, our conversation ends with Belinda saying she has to go because, ‘the sun’s setting in Alba and I don’t want to miss that …’

Later when we are back in touch again, she adds that she forgot to mention that they will be celebrating their first birthday in July. ‘We are so grateful for how locals have supported us. Also, how nice is it that we now have a lovely local for coffee and food and drink?!’ Absolutely!

And though the sunset from the slopes of SE26 might not be quite as beautiful as the one over the hills of the gastronomic haven of Piedmont, through a glass of Verdicchio at 161, the view for the residents of Kirkdale looks very tasty indeed.

161 Food+Drink Kirkdale London SE26 4QJ Open Weds 5-11pm, Thurs-Sunday 10am-11pm 0203 602 7980 @161kirk 45

Looking for a pile of books to savour through the summer? Jonathan Main can help

THE BOOKSELLER iriam Toews’ (pronounced Taves as in, Jesus saves) All My Puny Sorrows (Faber paperback £8.99) is the story of two sisters in their 40s, Elf and Yoli.

Not for the first time Elfrida is in hospital because she wants to die. She is a concert pianist of international reputation. One who, as Yoli observes, has every major city in the world ready to throw thousands of dollars at her to play in their town. And also one who, whilst she has a handsome and kind husband already, still has every single man who meets her, fall in love with her.

Perhaps, Yoli thinks, Elf has won at this life so much so, that it now bores her to the point of blankness. Elf imagines a glass piano inside her, lodged next to her stomach, and suffers day terrors, terrified that one day it might break inside her, or push through her skin so that she will bleed to death.

Yoli, on the other hand, is a cheerful serial screw-up with two teenage children and two ex husbands, a tattoo that cost a hundred dollars (and a bag of weed) to be inked, and which is now costing a thousand dollars to remove in time for her second divorce. She is struggling with her sister, but is vigilant at her bedside.

Elfrida wants Yoli to take her to Switzerland where she can legally kill herself, thereby making Yoli complicit. Yoli considers this. Considers what would be the right thing to do for her sister.

If you think a book about a wilful suicide doesn’t sound like fun, and to be sure it’s a hard book to recommend – or ‘handsell’ as we booksellers like to

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@BooksellerCrow

say – you would be very wrong. It is certainly very sad (particularly with the knowledge that it is pretty much based on fact) but it is also very funny and gloriously, whole-heartedly, life affirming.

Toews is a rare writer who has never written a bad book; should you want to start in slightly shallower waters I’d recommend her previous novel, Irma Voth (Faber £8.99).

The last time we met Frank Derrick in J. B. Morrison’s The Extraordinary Life of Frank Derrick, Age 81 (Pan £7.99) he had just been run over by a milk float and his convalescence was being helped by the angel-like presence of his health visitor, Kelly Christmas. Now, a year later, he is a man dressed in Desert Storm camouflage cargo-pants and a very loud shirt, travelling to America to visit his daughter and granddaughter in Los Angeles. This second outing for Frank, Frank 2 if you will (otherwise titled Frank Derrick’s Holiday of a Lifetime), is if anything even funnier than the first, with plenty of jokes at California’s expense, but more than that, it is also very touching.

In Melissa Harrison’s At Hawthorn Time (Bloomsbury Circus £16.99) Howard and Kitty have retired from North London to the Midlands countryside, but they have not settled well. Kitty complains about flies and insects entering the bedroom that she no longer shares with her husband; she has ambitions as an artist and wants to paint her new surroundings, but finds her

subject unyielding. Howard misses his old life in London and his haulage business, now being run by his son.

Jamie is a local boy whose grandad worked the fields before the war. Jamie would like to do the same, but instead works in an anonymous big box fulfilment centre outside the village.

Jack is a vagrant, a protestor and itinerant farm worker at one with the seasons and the land who has come to the village to find work picking asparagus.

As in Melissa Harrison’s previous book Clay (Bloomsbury £8.99) the texture of the landscape and its history begins to converge with the characters walking through it; until dawn on a May morning when the sky lightens, a new day begins and everything is changed.

Saint Mazie (Serpent’s Tail £12.99) is the new novel

by Jami Attenberg, the brilliantly talented author of The Middlesteins. It is an intriguing and bold departure into historical fiction that imagines the world of Mazie Phillips – a real character as reported in New Yorker journalist Joseph Mitchell’s Up In the Old Hotel (Vintage £11.99) – through an assemblage of reportage, diary notes and interviews. Mazie is the Queen of the Bowery, running The Venice movie theatre by day and acting the goodtime girl by night, even through Prohibition. But when the Great Depression hits and homelessness soars she takes on a different role opening up the theatre to those in need, offering them shelter and food. Attenberg shuffles her pack inventively and produces not only a funny and large-

hearted portrait of her heroine, but also a vivid social portrait of New York between the wars.

What if? is the haunting question hanging over the characters in Laura Barnett’s artfully constructed The Versions of Us (Weidenfeld and Nicolson £12.99).

Beginning at the end of the 1930s and coming to a close in 2014 the book tells three different versions of the story of Eva and Jim. They meet at Cambridge when Eva falls off her bike. They connect. Or possibly they don’t. Eva has a dashing actor boyfriend. She leaves him for Jim. Or perhaps she doesn’t. And so on.

Decades pass, fate constantly rearranges itself across the three versions of the story in ways that are never predictable but are always entertaining. Sure to be one of the most popular books of the summer.

Dry Bones in the Valley by Tom Bouman (Faber £7.99) is a hard-scrabble backwoods noir, featuring a plain, well-intentioned detective, Henry Farrell, operating out of a rural Pennsylvania populated by meth manufacture, drug dealing and dodgy fracking companies. It’s not an entirely unfamiliar landscape – think Winter’s Bone, both film and book (by Daniel Woodrell), or the more recent Fourth of July Creek – but it is well done and is in striking contrast to our sheltered metropolitan lives. It is, for instance, one of two books on this page that describes cooking and eating squirrel.

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THERE’S A WORLD OUT THERE! Taking a break from sonic journeys to far-flung corners of the world, Howard Male discusses three new releases with South London connections

The world on your doorstep is my tenuous theme for this summer issue. In other words each of the three new releases discussed have some connection to South London. In fact Raymond Gorman – the guitarist and vocalist of my first selection, The Everlasting Yeah – actually lives locally. These earnest rockers recently rose from the debris of 1980s-90s Northern Irish band That Petrol Emotion. Arguably, TPE’s greatest claim to fame was that they turned down Bowie and U2 support slots (the latter twice) which is surely to be admired for its youthful idealism. But they were also precursors of Brit Pop and produced a string of critically and commercially successful singles and albums.

So how do the Yeah compare to TPE? Very favourable in my view. Their debut album Anima Rising (Infinite Thrill) gets off to a no-messing start with obvious single A Little Bit of Uh-Huh & A Whole Lotta Oh Yeah. It motors along on the back of a riff reminiscent of (but sufficiently different to) the Stones’ Let’s Spend the Night Together.

Thereafter, the focus is more on an intelligent interplay of guitars and an organic cohesiveness rarely heard in contemporary rock. And there’s a pleasing valve-amp warmth to the production. But the icing on the cake is some emotive sax work from renowned session man Terry Edwards (Waits, Cave, Spiritualized, the Blockheads) which takes things up to a whole new level on the pulsing, prowling Taking That Damn Train Again.

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Walworth’s charismatic Natty Bo will be familiar to many lovers of live music as he’s fronted a number of bands over the years, including the incomparable ska outfit Top Cats, BBC World Music Award winners Ska Cubano, and Natty Congeroo & The Flames of Rhythm (who play what Natty describes as ‘1930s and 40s hot jazz Harlem swing & jump blues’). The latter have performed regularly over the past couple years at the Grape & Grain and never fail to delight even the most jaded of punters.

Natty’s latest job has been fronting the exuberant Yiddish Twist Orchestra – a seven-piece (although they sound larger) who play what might be best described as a dizzying concoction of West Indian Calypso, klezmer, ska, mambo, surf guitar and classic Yiddish songs.

They situate their own compositions alongside forgotten gems and bonafide classics from the 1920s through to 48

the 1950s. They lend Slim Gaillard’s Mishugana Mambo a 1970s Blaxploitation funk vibe and produce a freshly baked version of Max Bacon’s snappy little 1935 ditty Beigels that charms as much as the original. Although their debut Let’s! (Bergmanton Twist Series) could liven up any party it doesn’t quite capture the variety and energy of their live shows. However, if you do invest you’ll land yourself an alternative good-time party record with added edge.

It’s rare that an album comes along during the first third of the year that I am confident will be in my Top 5 at the end of the year. But such is the case with Peckham lass Eska and her haunting debut. When one usually applies the word ‘quirky’ to a record it tends to negate many other positive adjectives, suggesting music that focuses on style over emotional content, or music that is in some musical purist’s sense ‘inauthentic’. But that’s not the case here. If anything the emotional nakedness is a little unnerving at first. It’s not often that an artist of this calibre communicates their very nature with such lucidity and directness. Think of Kate Bush at her most autumnal, Prince at his most garbling-words ecstatic, or Joni Mitchell at her everyday breeziest, and you’ll get some sense of the kaleidoscopic nature of this deeply touching and adventurous work.

On tracks such as the majestic Gatekeeper there’s a pleasing tension between what you might expect to hear and what you actually get; military-tattoo drums, postmanlike whistling and choral backing vocals discombobulate and enchant in equal measure. For early fans it’s been a long 15-year wait for ESKA (Naim Edge Records), but I suspect that this is partly what makes it such a mature (or matured) work. Finally, to flashback for a moment to the spring Transmitter’s vinyl theme: Eska’s masterpiece comes in a rather lush gatefold sleeve, and The Everlasting Yeah nail their primary colour to the mast with a red vinyl limited edition. The latter is now available from The Book and Record Bar, 20 Norwood High Street.

Howard Male is the author of the murder mystery Etc Etc Amen (available from The Bookseller Crow).

His new novel Serious Fun can be purchased from etcetcamen.com

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MYSTIC MIKE’S

o y u t i r s o e DASTROLOGY lf GENERATOR:

Gemini

CANCER The Crab Jun 21 - Jul 20

Those born under the sign of Gemini possess psychic gifts so powerful that this month we must cosmically conjoin to unlock your latent deep consciousness, our shared destiny generating your very own bespoke forecast. Simply empty your mind, listen to your inner voice, then tick the ‘boxes of fortune’ below!

Family.

Success.

Other.

VIRGO The Virgin Aug 21 - Sep 20

On Tuesday, you suddenly realise you are a woman trapped in a man’s body which is held hostage by a dog’s body imprisoned in a cat when you cough up a furball, a chew and a shopping voucher.

Pla c e fi nge

Work.

Leading you to -

for e xtr a c

ic p o w er * *

You like to think of yourself as sophisticated and urbane but your idea of a cocktail is an 11am black coffee with a double vodka in it at work.

here

**

Relationships.

*

Money.

The Lion Jul 21 - Aug 20

osm

LEO

r

This month, as almost anyone always does, you will face a series of frequently trivial obstacles and setbacks in your life regarding ...

*

Spookily, the Orion constellation appears on your bumcheek. An interstellar message from aliens on an Earth-like planet orbiting Betelgeuse? Possibly, but more likely by a factor of 1: 1023 it’s just spots.

become frustrated with everyone else who is to blame. feel that nothing ever goes to plan for you like it should. consider your situation uniquely difficult and unfair. wonder why you bother when fate has it in for you.

But, with the …

LIBRA The Scales Sep 21 - Oct 20

Next time you fail in life, you actually hear a sad trombone in your head go wa - wa - wa - waaa.

It’s me, I couldn’t resist.

effect of Uranus’ transit through Pisces caressing your sign’s emotional zone, influence of Saturn betwixt Gemini touching your sign’s romantic portions, full Moon in Scorpio’s house connecting with your sign’s success segment, tricuspal union of Pluto and Capricorn investing in your sign’s money sector,

Mystic Mike is omnipresent but you can interact with him here: 50

mysticmike.co.uk

@mrmysticmike

SCORPIO The Hunter Oct 21 - Nov 20

… you will … be miraculously able to forget past failures and try again, feel inexplicably capable of tackling all your problems at once,

reconnect with family members you previously found insufferable,

drive out procrastination to institute behavioural change,

… and begin … to focus on new thrilling ventures and exciting opportunities. to set clear tangible objectives towards your unrealistic dreams.

an amazing cycle of your life triggered by your incredible ideas. to grasp a fresh perspective on previously irksome emotional issues.

But remember this motivational quote: Your mood will always be darkest before dawn.

The road may not be smooth but life is a journey.

Within is where true learning takes place.

Be stubborn with your goals but flexible in your methods.

Although in life there is so much to do and so little time to do it you continue to resist most activities other than those you can easily do sat down.

SAGITTARIUS The Archer Nov 21 - Dec 20

Your weight has always been an issue, but body confidence will make you feel better than any diet, as will secretly using more clinically obese friends as a yardstick.

CAPRICORN The Goat(ee) Dec 21 - Jan 20

Variety may be the spice of life but for you it is a bland flavourless repetitious sludgey porridge of regretful tears with a pinch of salty bitterness. However, a small scratchcard win next Wednesday!

AQUARIUS The Water Carrier Jan 21 - Feb 20

You reach a point in your life when more than 50 % of it has been lived as a lie so technically you become fictitious.

ARE

You

psychic

PISCES

TOO?

TRY MYSTIC MIKE’S DO IT YOURSELF ASTROLOGY GENERATOR PREMIUM RATE PHONE LINE:

CALL NOW!!* 09876 9999 666

* Calls cost £5 per nano-second from anywhere and mobile rates considerably more ** Call duration 97 minutes of me taking as long as possible to tell you all the above all over again. *** Do not call – it’s a joke

The Haddock Feb 21 - Mar 20

Tomorrow you will sense a strange feeling in your gut and interpret it as cosmic intuition or a spiritual connection to the next world. It’s trapped wind.

ARIES The Ram Mar 21 - Apr 20

You find a wallet on the pavement and dutifully hand it to the police.

They will take the cash out of it for a round of drinks so you should nick that first (It’s what the owner would do too).

TAURUS The Bull Apr 21 - May 20

You continually undress people with your eyes but on 23rd September 2017 you will use your hands and get arrested.

51

What’s on Loads of stuff to do

THE PORTICO GALLERY

Knights Hall, 23a Knights Hill, West Norwood SE27 0HS. Tel: 0208 761 7612 porticogallery.org.uk

MAMBISTA

£6 in advance or £8 on the door (inc salsa class) Doors 7pm. Salsa class 7-8pm. Mambista from 8pm til midnight.

Friday 26 June Salsa class followed by DJ Gerry and a set featuring The Mervyn Africa Band with Clare Hirst and Claude Deppa Friday 24 July Salsa class followed by DJ Gerry Lyseight and live music from Alice in Grooveland

FEAST FILM NIGHT

Doors open 7.30pm, screening at 8pm £5 on the door Sat 13 June : I am Cuba (Soy Cuba) (PG) Evocative, vibrant tales of people’s struggle aound Castro’s revolution (1964) Plus Cuban music from DJ Gerry Lyseight & cocktails Sat 27 June : The Wicker Man (15) Eerie horror classic, set on a Scottish island (1973).

Plus live music and DJs.

TEA DANCE

FREE Wednesdays 10 June, 8 July, 12 August 2.30-4.30pm Live music, homemade cakes, sing-a-long, summer-themed activities, toddlers play area, community scarf knitting!

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FOGEY FILM AFTERNOON

Wednesdays 17 June, 15 July, 19 August Doors 2pm : Film screening 2.30-4.30pm Continuing the Gallery’s commitment to reaching the more isolated in our community, we have aligned with South London Cares to hold a monthly film club for the over 60s

ART IN THE PARK & EXHIBITION

Sat 20 June 12-4pm To preserve our lovely trees for posterity, we’re inviting local artists and wannabe painters to come along and put paint to paper. Bring your art equipment and paints to Norwood Park and sketch one of our historic trees.

Sun 21 June 11am-5pm All art will be exhibited at The Portico Gallery. Tea and presentation for best paintings to take place at 4pm.

CARIBBEAN EVENING

Sun 21 June 7pm-midnight Caribbean-themed food night. Music, delicious local Caribbean food, a licensed bar and dancing

CLASSES

Yoga Sunrise yoga : Mon-Fri 6.30-7.30am Daytime yoga : Wed only 10.30-11.30am Evening yoga : Mon & Tues 7.00-8.30pm Pottery : Weds 6.30-9pm Group singing : Weds 12-1.30pm Qi Gong : Weds 6.30-7.30pm Sewing : Thur 6.30-9.30pm Life Drawing : Thur 6.30-9.30pm

53

What’s on SOUTH LONDON THEATRE

HORNIMAN MUSEUM AND GARDENS

THE NEW ELECTRIC BALLROOM

COMMUNITY MUSIC DAY

southlondontheatre.co.uk

by Enda Walsh Tuesday 16 June – Saturday 20 June 8pm The New Electric Ballroom is set in an isolated Irish fishing village where three adult sisters live together.

Each day two of the sisters, both now reclusive, re-enact a life-changing event of heartbreak from their youth for the younger sister as a cautionary tale.

A Grimm’s fairytale for timid adults.

THE ACCRINGTON PALS

by Peter Whelan Tuesday 7 – Saturday 11 July 8pm On the first day of the Battle of the Somme in July 1916, ‘the Pals’ were in the front line that walked towards the German trenches. Contemporary accounts recalled that there was not a family in Accrington that had not lost a father, son or brother. The story focuses on the men who went to war and the women they left behind.

DULWICH PICTURE GALLERY dulwichpicturegallery.co.uk

GALLERY MUSIC

Midsummer Mozart Friday 19 June 6.30pm Reception in the garden followed by 7.15pm performance in the gallery with a long picnic interval, Glyndebourne-style. Award-winning pianist William Vann returns once more with four brilliant young opera singers to perform a selection of the finest moments from Mozart’s operas. Bring your own picnic or order one from Mimosa, the Herne Hill delicatessen. Contact Patricia Peacock at 020 7733 8838 or patricia@mimosafoods.com

EXHIBITION

23 June - 15 September Pierre-Paul Prud’hon: Napoleon’s Draughtsman Timed to coincide with London’s commemorations surrounding the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo

54

horniman.ac.uk

FREE Sunday 28 June 12-5pm A day of music performed by community groups including concerts by local classical ensembles, music workshops, a capella singing and a big singalong for all the family.

A WORLD OF STORIES

FREE Every Sunday (except 5 July and 30 August) at 2pm & 3.15pm Storytellers bring the Horniman’s collections and gardens alive with enchanting stories from around the world.

For families with children aged 5+

JAZZ PICNICS

FREE Every Thursday 6.30pm to 8pm Chill out to special concerts on the bandstand set against a backdrop of incredible views over London.

Exploring the mesmerising sounds of African jazz, from Afro blues to Afro beat.

Thursday 9 July: Abdoulaye Samb & Minnjiaraby Thursday 16 July: Seeds of Creation Thursday 23 July: Namvula Thursday 30 July: Dele Sosimi Quartet

IMAGES FROM 42 WOMEN OF SIERRA LEONE

FREE Until Sunday 27 September Taken by British photographer Lee Karen Stow, this photo-documentary plays tribute to the strength and resilience of the women of Sierra Leone

TAXIDERMY IS DEAD (LONG LIVE TAXIDERMY)

FREE Until Sunday 21 June Artist Polly Morgan’s work shows how taxidermy is not a ‘dying art’ but an evolving art form

Present

A

S ou t h e r n

Shindig

E V I L SIC MU 5.30-8pm

garden party

WESTOW LODGE Church Road SE19

Sunday 28 June

FOOD BEER FUN etc

Admission by advanced ticket ONLY

Available from Smash Bang Wallop or www.thetransmitter.biz

TOMORROW’S ITINERARY

£5

BEARD Beard premiered.

Pioneers adhered.

Beards were sneered.

Beards were jeered.

Beards persevered.

More beards appeared.

Chins commandeered.

Beards domineered.

Beards revered.

Nobody’s sheared.

No beard? Weird.

Pip Irkin-Hall @ ECONOMYCUSTARD | ECONOMYCUSTARD.CO.UK

© SIMON SHARVILLE 2015 55

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