Chapters 4 to 6; 2015, year of change, game of two halves www.thezineuk.co.uk DIY reaction provoking
Winter 2014 to Summer 2015 Cover shots (Nova Twins/Cat Bear Tree) taken by Polly Harvey, (Polstar Photography) at the No3Expo of Alternative Arts. 2014 was unreal. From the ArtBeat tinted Roadshow kicking off up Tin Pan Alley in January with the first Uniqulture event to the end of year live sessions. Between Chapters 1 and 3, friends in this tale raise their games and profiles (via a slew of setbacks), and our extended family of creatives grew along with our possibilities. We owe a huge debt of gratitude to anybody that would give us the time of day. At time of putting this collection of images together), we are looking, as ever, to take things to the next level. With enthusiasm. We were lucky to get some business advice and professional guidance to help the next part of the story (cheers Martina) and have many good intentions up our sleeves. This is both the surreal (21st century dystopia - the “new�s) and our real life austerity budget escape to imaginations and adventures.. A fraction of the action is in these pages.
Our contacts, blog, links and more are now at www.thezineuk.co.uk #TheZineUK
A picture book, mainly. The Pages are linked to music, videos and websites. The words are at the blog on our site.
Arts & Culture; Chenaii Madhoo, Music: Dizzy Spell and Jason Warren, Fashion; Ben Dodd, Photography; David Montgomery, Rupert Hitchcox, Polly Harvey, Duncan Stafford, Daniela Fleckenstein, Paul Linus, David Kerr, Sarah Gibson. Lady Grace, Ramona Carroro, Words: Gordon Raphael, Destiny Madhoo, Gavin Black. Notes/Amateur pix; Caffy St Luce.
An ideas and recommendations factory, with love, on Valentine’s Day 2015. Party meet at Number3London before gigging up the road at Amersham Arms.
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YEAH!
We’ve made it to 2015! Celebrate good times, come on.
Pic: Phil Phamous of Rhiannon the Nightmare
Its Summer Time and, as ever, the gang have all got a load of gigs to get to…please do come say hi and get involved.
The Zine/Rocklands Stage, Camden Crawl Fest 2014 - Our mid summer night’s rock n roll dream. The
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The uniqulture roadshow (a dozen live music events in 2014 - some pictured in chapters 1 to 3) ended with documented sessions at Number3London. Pictured, Rhiannon Carr of Rhiannon The Nightmare - owner of stages.. Film maker, Elisabeth Rasmussen, was among the creatives in the audience and spotted their star quality. Elisabeth herself was gearing up for the release of The Heart Of Bruno Wizard movie UK release, but still had time to make some film of the show. These gigs, with star turns from Jean Genie’s Massive Hugs, Lekkido Lord Of The Lobsters, Firm Cult, James Fisher and Kosmic Troubadour, sewed the seeds of what became The Zine Sessions by summer 2015. (continued/‌) The
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Jean Genie admires Venice Allen’s pop up stall at the music sessions in Number3London, before playing live on stage.
Ben Dodd observes as Elisabeth Rasmussen sets up angles for James Fisher during soundcheck. In the gallery next door (where James just did a photo session with Polly Harve), Dizzy Spell is talking with Firm Cult, who impress the team and find themselves on the next bill‌
Multi talented women of uniqulture; Elisabeth, Jean Genie, Kalamity Kate and Polly (Polstar Photography) at The Zine’s Number 3 sessions.
December in Deptford, London. The Uniqulture Roadshow ends with event number 12 and everybody doing the pinchy pinchy kiss kiss with LEKIDDO - Lord Of The Lobsters!… Everybody had made a mark on TheZINE 2015 by summer time…
Guadalupe Plata (this page) and Preacher & The Bear (other page) blast out a
December 2014 -
blues extravaganza for Rocklands (The Zine’s Live Events Department) at The Phoenix Bar in Central London)
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#TheZineUK team grew at gigs through socialising, often at Number3London, the gallery warehouse which we used as a base for a year. During these (often, frankly bonkers) times, music industry shaker and sound tech supremo, Grant Baines, turned the disused shell of space into an engaging music venue and DJ party n rave club which launched to the public on New Year’s Eve 2015. As part of it’s community hub, 3 Creekside made our #StageStyle movement a reality. This is, after all, a story of all that get involved in one way or another. Snap Shot: Chenaii, by Destiny (Spring 2015).
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2015 ANYthing could happen . . .
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New
Fuzzy Snaps. Fuzzy head. New Year’s Eve. #SELondon circuit is GO. This page; Amersham Arms, New Cross. Carl Barat & The Jackals first gig - where Carl auditioned the band - launches This Feeling here (UK’s top live rock’n’roll club). LOVED their special guests, Savage Nomads! (Started sending them poems a few weeks later, to try to book them for a show!) Then five minutes walk away along the road to Number3London, Deptford (that page) the public opening of the musicians/artists/poets hang out… massive party courtesy of MogaDisco!
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The 速Evolution Will Not Be Trivialised. With the general election looming / dooming, unity is key.. Partying works! This page: Punk artist, Bruno Wizard was celebrated with The Heart Of Bruno Wizard film released and in the window of Selfridges Store on Oxford Street for their month long #BrightOldThings exhibition. An all generations, genders, genres and mixes of,generalisation degentrification t gathering. Jean Genie (blue hat) with deux furieuses, Bruno (yellow t-shirt), Ben of The Zine, and friends on a Friday night after The Homosexuals and You The Living totally tore up Deptford. That page:
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Sexy rock n roll night out at the increasingly legendary Playhard night calling into the Phoenix Bar..psst! Heather Minx legend, we LOVE you! x
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@PlayhardGigs, Phoenix Bar Central London, January 2015. Multi media talent pool, performing; (Simon Harris/Bad Wolf) and creating (David Montgomery, Polly Harvey and Rupert Hitchcox). Next page; Shhh & Zack of SHHH backstage before their fire-crackin’ headline set.
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Movers, shakers and future makers at every PLAYHARD event - on stage (SHHH) and backstage and Shhh with Edd of Pink Cigar (this page) plus the sartorial elegance of another multi talent, Seye (other page) TheZINE
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We LOVE creating. We really made the most of having a wide open space to exchange ideas and hugs in.. Special big ones for Gordon Raphael, musician, artist and celebrated record producer, who joined the gang while on a very successful trip to the UK for a series of interactive talks. I believe this pic was taken the day after he had been at Camden Dingwalls. The other page is Sarah, Jason, Dizzy, Dezzy, Chenaii, Ben and Caffy over the road at Number3London on valentine’s day before heading up the road to catch Nova Twins and Mourning Birds at Joe’s night, Johnny Sparkle.
Nova Twins, punkin’ up Amersham Arms, Valentine’s Night 2015 - snapshot by Caffy
Mourning Birds, live and raw. 14 February 2015, New Cross, London
Bill, Sam, Jimmy and friends - called into our Warehouse hangout, after their show, before heading back down the Old Kent Road to Medway. S.E. London’s a good circuit for Kent artists.
TEMPLE OF BOOM rave at Number3London, February 2015 (nice one Grant Baines!) pic Ramona Carraro
Authentic rock LEGENDS, the deliciously debauched Pink Cigar at London 100 Club in Fashion Week for Sir Ted Baker. So #StageStyle This band have crafted some massive anthems. We are very much keeping an eye on what is rocking Broken Britain right now and, in the thick of the action, their album, Generation Next is already a definitive sound of 2015. Catch them live! Thank you Debbie Walker, for the pix.
Urban Exploration Photographer, Sarah Gibson, is very much part of this story from Chapter 1
The subtly theatrical side of decay, captured by Sarah.
Sunday 8th
March 2015
Sweetheart Contract proper power pop video creating. DIY style.
‘Don’t Operate’ video by www.facebook.com/SweetheartContract
23rd March - Leeds
College Of Music
We are a DIY multi media musical magical On the big screen during the talk, played the two mystery tour. minute silent movie clips of friends made at our official Great Escape Festival 2014 stage - an No marketing, advertising, touring budgets. Skinf event that the involved artists helped to forge. from rehearsals and upkeep of instruments, its a FIGHT to be artists in austerity. Leeds, like so many pockets of the country, has a great music vibe happening. It was also cool The necessary resourcefulness to connect to catch at least half a dozen buskers around promising talent to further support and exposuren the city centre on the walk back to the station is a serious 21st century progression method. only to be saddened by the loss of yet another Part of the reason we document, in chapters, is classic UK venue. We need the Music Venues to prove that although failure is a daily Trust more than ever these days possibility,we consistenly tro to make a http://musicvenuetrust.com/ - this is the difference. grassroots circuit that The Zine roadshows on! Organic success is in tiny footsteps but DIY does create new possibilities through ACTION. TheZineUK do that with creativity and staging enjoyment. We must be doing something right. Leeds College of Music invited our Live Events Department up to give a talk on DIY promotion to their amazing students who will be helping to shape the future of music. Much appreciation for http://www.lcm.ac.uk/
the
opportunity.
at South London Art Map (Friday 27/3/15)
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Chapter 4 Create an alternative arts expo pop-up? Yeah. No problem. We declare Uniqulture. Our DIY family grows.
Cat Bear Tree
Arts n Hearts united #No3Expo on stands (Glass Moon Theatre, Axis Arts, Citinite) and on stage (Little Death Machine) photography by
Rupert Hitchcox
#No3Expo
#No3Expo
Jean Genie Graham and Bruno Wizard Friday 27th March 2015
Photographed by Polly
Harvey
Polstar Photography at Number3London, Creekside, Deptford, S.E.London.
Feeling Blessed with all the creative industry understanding where The Zine is coming from and joining the movement. Sometimes, we couldn’t make it up. In Chapter 3, Jean Genie’s Massive Hugs and Bruno/The Homosexuals weaved Panda Power in, and now we are all going forward together at an event where Polly is the model for this event’s publicity!
Citinite
The Homosexuals
Leah, Declan and Paul
Polly, Ann-Marie and Chenaii
Axis Arts
Paul of Joyzine, Vas and Ros of deux furieuses and photographer, Rupert Hitchcox
Minesweeper Collective
deux furieuses by Daniela Fleckenstein
Georgia of Nova Twins by Polstar Photography
L. E. G.
All in all it was an amazing evening in South London. A huge thank you to everybody that came and got involved with The Zine UK team - on and off stage, friends old and new. The live events at Number3London were the blueprint for The Zine Sessions, a radio podcast and The Zine TV. Not long after No3Expo, our website www.thezineuk.co.uk was born.
Daniel of Little Death Machine (‘Pale’ single launch) by Polly Harvey of Polstar photography
#No3Expo
Amy of Nova Twins and Bruno Wizard of The Homosexuals, photographed by Polly Harvey photographed, this page, by Rupert Hitchcox (holding the No3Expo flyer - snap shot of Polly which was taken by Caffy in the same venue at January’s event ‘The ®Evolution Will Not Be Trivialised).
Duncan Stafford is one of the photographers in this tale increasingly making his mark.
This includes now shooting for Rolling Stone and candid access to the full on punk force that is
Sleaford Mods
http://duncanstaffordphotography.com/
Another thread of the tapestry since Chapter 1, CuT have remained a firm favourite with BBC 6 Music’s Steve Lamacq, picked up Xfm sessions, support from Dr Marten’s and Jack Daniels. This year they toured Italy and appeared live at The Isle Of Wight Festival. For This Feeling (along with the aforementioned Savage Nomads, and more) Here they are, emitting #StageStyle in the Rokit shop window around the time of their show at London 100 ~Club in May with Desperate Journalist.
Speaking of #StageStyle we fell for the vintage feel of this summer’s imaginative Realm & Empire T shirts in association with The Imperial War Museums and , the British Museum – an incredible source of inspiration. The authority of IWM (and access to all of their archive) Realm & Empire apparel is fundamentally inspired by real history and British heritage. http://stylecreep.com
Spring 2015, Mourning Birds on the set of their video for ‘The Last Thing (I Need) photographed by David Kerr. L-R Jimmy, Bill and Sam
New Cross & Deptford Free Film Festival launch party at Number3London
#NXDFFF The Cannes Of Community keeps getting bigger and better. Creative hub, #SELondon, is home a people powered (Not For Profit and run by volunteers) fortnight on a cinematic scale. Uniting a spectrum of people at screenings in interesting spaces, public places and even outdoor and bike powered movies! Add parties, workshops and all manner of opportunitiesand this is a massive injection of Feel Good Factor. This year’s event started with Saturday Night Fever and a wild disco, and was rounded off by Don Letts DJ hosting The Clash film, Under The Westway at The Job Centre (which, being in Deptford - keep it degentrified for this kinda fun! - like The Old Police Station, is a place for people to have fun in, rather than sign on or get nicked). Snapshot: Ann-Marie and Tristan of Deptford Army repping Little Nan’s Grandchildren at the NXDFFF Party.
NXDFFF Party Launch pictures by Lady Grace
A warehouse space? With a venue? And a yard? And a bar? With studios on top? Yeah, you BET Team #TheZineUK made the most of that creative space at 3 Creekside since Summer 2014. What Next? On to the more adventures in stage style, which included a trip to the Great British seaside‌
May 2015 -
The Great Escape Festival Weekend, Brighton, UK.
Photography by Paul Linus
The Zine Sessions, in association with Kitmonsters, Rocklands and Playhard at the 10th Great Escape Festival. Funshine starts our website, www.thezineuk.co.uk properly. #TGE15 @AltEscape - Awesome bands, crowd, venue and vibes at both our Latest Music Bar show (busy and buzzy from the first note) on the Saturday night (new UK rock) and a guerilla gig at the jerk chicken shack by Firm Cult earlier that afternoon. The Stage Style pic of Dizzy (our music editor) and Jimmy of CuT’s shoes on the flyer, was taken by Rupert Hitchcox at our 2014 official stage, as reported in Chapter 2‌
Saint Agnes
Images courtesy of Paul Linus
Firm Cult at The Great Escape 2015 this page by Caffy, that page, by Dizzy. Respect to MC OMG who shared the gear so they could get witnessed.
Image: Paul Linus
Mourning Birds at The Great Escape Festival
Š Paul Linus
Savage Nomads at The Great Escape festival
Thank you, love you. At The Zine Sessions #TGE15 @AltEscape Images by Paul Linus
Bad For Lazarus at The Great Escape Festival by Paul Linus
The following month, Bad
For Lazarus went on to also give Glastonbury Festival another rocking riot.
Š Paul Linus
CHEERS! everybody, on and off stage, plus The Great Escape Festival posse and Latest Music Bar in Brighton who dug the bill so much that we are now staging further events there in the future. Music Power/People Power! There are words too, they are at the blog on
www.thezineuk.co.uk
Declan & Leah keeping our accidental “Manics mention per chapter” theme running with a pic in the press from the Cardiff Castle Gig…
Talk about a game of two halves. 2015 was always going to be a year of change.
The small venues that are under threat of closure, is an equally repeated response.
A general election won because a quarter of the population (who voted ) returned five more years of what is a shameful period of history.
Its not just the DIY scene where activism is rife. Recently it was Charlotte Church speaking out against austerity and Jedward against bullying. Not of interest to inverted snobbery maybe, but hey, saying SOMETHING.
A sort of ‘Empire Strikes Back’ - where the frack are the Jedi? Well, they are speaking out, still. As June ended the second half of the year took on new possibilities. As did our under the radar artists and adventures. Festivals, album releases and the drop drip drip of feedback every time somebody gets round to actually listening to them.… Where are the working class rock bands? Where are the females? Where are the political minds seems to be a music article theme on repetition.
Beyond terrorism to horrorism as what is left of humanity is shocked anew on an almost daily basis by the callous insane results of divisions and weapons. The self expressive positivity of the arts is something to be culled by the corrupt and evil. Social media is not only a reminder of the frightening news but also a source of hope. Among the pictures of selfies, cats and food, there have sure been a lot of rainbows this year…
Snapshot: Saturday
13 June 2015,
Britain (this page) support Toy (facing page) for 1965 Records monthly gig; ‘’Unlock Your Mind’ Amersham Arms.
Hey, James Endeacott, love what you’ve done with the place! No Weakness.
Snapshots; punky exciters, Bad
Breeding, supporting Metz at Camden Underworld.
Chapter 6 The Zine Sessions at Amersham Arms A bit of a home coming, as this is the venue where the ArtBeat Live Music Socials started our collective in 2013‌
Snapshot (other page) Artist and Artist,
Gordon Raphael and Joe Whitney, June 2015, by Caffy.
Gotta say there was an instant attraction to the charisma of Gordon Raphael (who joined in with The Zine team in February, courtesy of our Arts Editor, Chenaii). A musician and visual artist, as well as a reknown record producer, he speaks rock n roll feelings and experiences, candidly from the heart. Thursday 18th June Gordon was having adventures seeing The Strokes at their massive Hyde Park gig in Central London. Friday 19th June he was hanging out with a bunch of lo fi punky reprobates (erm, us!). While we staged an evening of musical entertainment, he DJ soundtracked Chapter 6 of our story, on home turf, in fine style. Keeping things as chronological as DR WTF’s tardis, more on The Strokes gig over the page, before continuing. (snapshot; Fur Cough line checking their headline set as Gordon packs up his gear).
Hyde Park, London UK Thursday 18th June 2015
“The Strokes are one of many that make me committed every day to the powerful sacred majesty contained in song and lyrics.” Gordon Raphael Words & image by Gordon from his review @ www.thezineuk.co.uk blog
The article, published July 6th, provoked reactions and debate across a variety of national music sites and social media the next day. Remarking on NME’s news story about it, @guideguardian tweeted: “Wonder if Gordon Raphael would be up for doing our Singles page? His review of The Strokes' Hyde Park gig is… special” .
Friday 19th June. New Cross, South East London In a creative music people’s hub is the across the road from New Cross Station there is an alternative edge as well as the with an increasing number of touring artists calling in. Huge thanks to the star turns:
Fur
Cough, Zara, Firm Cult and Mercy Giants for coming to play and to Gordon for his DJ sets. It was a Zine team outing with all hands on deck, some awesome feedback for the show and a living installation of art, rocking. Jason Warren is in our February pix, meeting with the team, then in March exhibited at our No3Expo in Marcevent with Axis Arts. Now he has joined our collective and tonight was on interviewing duties. The lovely Daniela Fleckenstein #fruitandhugs ArtBeat regular - got some images from the night, too.
Soundcheck; Sam Ayling (guitarist with alt-pop instigators, EditSelect and sound tech at Amersham Arms) at the DJ decks with Gordon Raphael as Mercy Giants set up on stage.
It’s no secret that The Zine are big fans of
Firm Cult. They made the most of their time at The great Escape, making athe video for ‘Bombay’ which we got a sneak advance peek of at their excellingt n exciting set on decks and on mics at Amersham Arms. It’s no surprise that people are travelling for the Firm Cult experience…
…and look out on the blog for a recent interview that FC did with all round mover shaker, Jean Genie’s Massive Hugs (sharing passion at the DJ booth, above with Gordon Raphael)
Zara Being interviewed by Jason Warren For The Zine Friday 19th June Amersham Arms, London
Image by Daniela
Fleckenstein
Definant aural cocktails on a sociable Friday nightmixing word, beats, spaced out songs and (pictured), dark grunge delivered with joy from Zara (this page) and the newer wave dynamics of
Fur Cough (opposite page) who Jason also interviewed. ArtBeat events are also about the early doors get together sharing of cakes, fruits hugs and tips, to accompany the recommended live treats on stage.
Fur Cough
Mercy Giants
Would really like to see more of them. And soon!
#TGE15 AfterShow - We are already setting up our next adventures thezineuk.co.uk