Monday 31 May 2010

Today's idea - 'Beyond Practice' Degree Show



We're always banging on with praise about the latest Brighton Photography/Art/Digital production, but today we recommend Sussex's Media Practice and Theory Degree show which finishes Wednesday. It encompasses all the practical media courses (long list) and having seen some of the work, they're all really fantastic and I can't recommend them enough.



Made up of photography, screen drama, radio, digital media, and video documentary; I've had a peek at the trailer for one of the films, which acts as an indicator better than I can say.



I've had the pleasure this year of watching a couple of the projects come together and grow, and it's been a challenging sort of 'journey' and everyone's done fantastically. I've been in classes with a couple of the guys behind the excellent work, and it's sounded harrowing, rewarding and they've got no end of excitement for their projects. Especially Bob who shoots some of our gig photos and whose project sounds fantastically odd and wonderful. (Short plug over)

You can find the Facebook event here. I urge you to go. Sussex's main focus of academia is rooted mostly in books but when they do go practical, they do it brilliantly.

It's running until Wednesday June the 2nd, so I'm popping up to Falmer today before the week properly starts. It's open between 10am-5pm, and it's right by Stamner park which a gorgeous place for a walk.

Map: here

If you're hungering for more art after this, then perhaps check out Brighton's latest offering that we'll be featuring tomorrow (probably).

Sunday 30 May 2010

Today's idea - Japanese Street Festival



Today Moshi Moshi creates another Japanese Festival, each of which I've really enjoyed so far. Today they're turning Bartholomew Square into "miniature Tokyo" which not only revolves around the eating and drinking of Japanese food and drink (both of which I, like many, am very good at) but also brings a couple of cultured bits along. Throughout the festival will be Japanese performances, free origami, calligraphy classes, and traditional Japanese games and events, with mentions about a theme focusing on 'the plight of the fish'.

"The whole of the square will be transformed into a miniature Tokyo, with street names and stalls selling Japanese goods and food."


It's lasting until bank holiday Monday tomorrow, and if you head there today you can catch some Taiko drumming at 2:30pm, but the entire event should be pretty lively throughout the day as they usually are. I think yesterday's may have shut down early from rain, but today is looking positively sunny (horray!) so everything should go without a hitch.

Running until May 31st.
Facebook event page:

Saturday 29 May 2010

Today's idea - Vintage Pop Up Shop



Today vintage pop up shop! I'm so easily sold on pop up stuff. Focusing on vinatge items Scarlett Rage and Oh So Retro proudly present their first ever Vintage Pop Up Show! There's not a mass of information on this one but: "We have something for the vintage vixens to the vintage virgins all at incredible prices!! Sick of seeing the same old vintage in the shops? Well come on in and get something one off and affordable!"

It sounds worth investigation and is on today until 6:30pm at 114 Church Street.

Map's here. Sorry we don't have much info on this, but Brighton's suddenly having a spate of popup ventures, and we for one are not discouraging it.

Thursday 27 May 2010

Today's idea - Watch the Royal Escape Boat Race launch from Brighton Pier



Right, what with this being somewhat in the sea a lot of it may be out of sight but the starting point should be excellent so today we recommend the Royal Escape 2010. Essentially this means gorgeous views of lots of lovely little boats taking place in the largest offshore race on the South coast (that's not in the Solent). So it's not just Southampton that gets the fun.

It's all in celebration of the escape across the Channel of Charles II and starting from literally just off Brighton Pier on Madeira Drive, a giant mixed fleet will be starting their race of 67 miles here. Start on the Pier for a great view, wave flags - whatever's hip these days.

Illustrate picture of Charles II for you. Catch it at 8:00-8:20 which is terribly early but should be very pretty and won't be over immediately as they have to sail off into the distance.

Wednesday 26 May 2010

Today's idea - A-B Exhibition at Boxbird



Today Boxbird presents A-B Exhibition of contemporary printmaking and illustration "inspired by travel and foreign adventures. Last year's exhibition won the Argus Angel Award for Best Show in Festival.

This year's brings together 30 of "the most most exciting international designers to create a fresh and exciting exhibition jammed full of affordable prints and original art works by the likes of Graham Carter, Jon Burgerman, Lidia De Pedro and The Peepshow Illustration Collective. The exhibition will also showcase 10 new and emerging artists selected from over 120 applications to be part of A to B. This continues Boxbird’s commitment to support new and emerging artists, graduates and students by providing a first step into the commercial art industry with the support of the gallery owners Alice Teague & Illustrator Graham Carter."


It's running until Thursday 27th May as part of the the Brighton Fringe.

Time: 11am-5pmt
Location: Boxbird Gallery, 14 St John;s Road
Map: here

Tuesday 25 May 2010

We're heading to this tonight: Quasi at the Freebutt

Today, thanks to a bout of over-enthusiasm at Bored of Brighton Towers, we present a second suggestion for tonight's activity. Should you decide against tonight’s Eno show, we can also suggest an offering at the Freebutt which is that nicest of coincidences; a pair of local bands whose relative obscurity in no way implies that they are underwhelming, united with an international band of significant and deserved acclaim.

The local heroes are Bored of Brighton faves Foxes! (who play charming, high-spirited indie-pop which blends C86 jangle with ramshackle slacker-rock) and the recently relocated Hornblower Bros (whose equally ramshackle, equally exuberant pop recalls a meeting point betwixt The Coral and Half Man Half Biscuit). Both are worth the entry price either combined or individually – small, enthusiastic acts at least as good as more famous peers.

So make sure you get there early; missing either the onstage dynamism of the Hornblowers or the quirky, affectionate interplay of Foxes! would be a mistake. And if, like us, you’re a fan of wonderful and unlikely contrasts, make sure you appreciate the pleasure of watching Foxes!’s singing drummer, Kayla, whose loose, relaxed (and very effective )style is a perfect counterpoint to the experience of watching Quasi, the indie super-group headlining tonight.

Previously a two piece consisting of Portland legends Sam Coomes and Janet Weiss (who have between them played with the likes of Elliot Smith, Stephen Malkmus and, of course, Weiss’s old band Sleater Kinney), they have recently expanded to a three-piece and with the addition of Joanna Bolme, promise a night of forceful, noisy indie rock. The centrepiece is, of course, Weiss’s drumming. She’s a powerhouse – in my opinion the best, most interesting, drummer in alternative rock; combining an unbuttoned, unforced approach with tight, counter-instinctive precision. She makes any band she plays in at least 30% better – so given Quasi are already very good, you need to go.

The show is tonight at the Freebutt; doors open at 7.30 and it's £9.

Today's idea idea - Berlin Horse by Brian Eno and Malcolm Le Grice



Today we recommend Brian Eno's Berlin Horse. His third exhibition piece for the Brighton Festival, Berlin Horse is based on two sequences - one shot originally in 8mm and re-filmed in 16mm - the other a piece of found early newsreel. Taking place at Lighthouse, Brian Eno creating the music and the film pieces by Malcolm Le Grice.

"The common subject is horses - a horse being exercised and horses being led from a burning stable. Le Grice made Berlin Horse in 1970, with both visual sequences being treated at the London Film Makers Cooperative.




The 8mm sequence was shot in the village of Berlin near Hamburg, northern Germany. It was re-filmed from the screen running the film at different speeds and directions and with the camera at different angles. Later it was re-coloured using theatrical lighting gelatins in the film-printer and subject to multiple superimposition. It was finally combined with early newsreel of horses being led from a burning barn. It is a poetic drama where the sequence of image transformations and the 'narratives' are integrated as the content."


Cost: Free
Time: Tue-Sun (closed Mon) 11am-6pm
Location: Lighthouse, 28 Kensington Street
Map: here

Monday 24 May 2010

Today's idea - Mnich's Mix Festival Showcase



Today's idea if posted late, but runs until May 25th. Mnich's Mix showcases work of twelve professional artists, and this year is its 10th. Made up of 6 Surrey and Sussex Guild artists, Jan Mnich's festival is filled with watercolours of colourful journeys of landscape, plants and architecture through the Mediterranean and Sussex coastlines.

This exhibition is a brilliant mix of disciplines and products with the best of creativity, style and art, so we are told. It all takes place in Rottingdean, just outside of Brighton. It's made up of:

JAN MNICH MA: Watercolours, Prints & Cards
GLENIS BOOTE: Jewellery

PAULINE CROOK: Screen Printed Textiles

PIERRE DIAMANTOPOULO ARBS: Sculpture 

JOHN EVANS: Raku Ceramics

MICHELE FINDLAY: Ceramic Sculpture 

STUART JENKINS: Silversmith

JESSICA JORDAN: Ceramics

SARAH JOYCE: Glassmaker

JOHN PLATER FSDC: Woodturner

ANDREW PODER: Boxmaker

LOUISE TURNER-CREASEY: Textile Accessories

Cost: free
Location: The Grange Museum & Art Gallery
Map: here

Sunday 23 May 2010

Today's idea - Free Circus Show and Django Spears



Two free things today, both brilliant. If you're near the bandstand between 2-4pm we heartily recommend catching Django Spears busking for charity on Brighton Bandstand. They do lovely ska style versions of Mousse T's Horny. It's glorious. Facebook page's - picnic and dancing swimwear compulsory. A bit like Gogol Bordello.



The biggest thing today meanwhile is the circus: "It's circus, but not as you know it..." Yes, it's noisier for a start. No Fit State have been making noise and practicing for three or four days and tonight's their final and free performance to the public. We've heard a loud version of Popcorn and they've currently got FGhost Town on the go. Brilliant little live band with some sort giant double bass. Correct me if I'm wrong.



"NoFit State's mission is to become the circus everyone wants to join. Now with Park Life you can! Taking up a week-long residency on Brighton's Level, NoFit State circus company ditches the big top, rips up the rulebook and invites you to get involved. With a spectacular aerial circus playground and open house programme of taster sessions, rehearsals and workshops, NoFit State will be working with local artists and community groups to develop new acts and routines. From live music jams to bicycle ballets and displays of extreme sports - everything will be on show and up for grabs. Then, as the week draws to a close, all the elements come together in one largescale open-air circus performance in Park Life - The Finale on Sun 23 May at 9pm."


So, tonight - 9pm, at The Level, and it's free.

Saturday 22 May 2010

Today's idea - Red Mutha Children's Rave (and Jesus: The Guantanamo Years)



If you're anywhere in the vicinity you'll have heard peculiar sounds from St Annes Well Gardens. Today, Red Mutha as part of the Brighton Festival are doing an "all afternoon, out in the open kids' rave." They'll have sets from top DJs for adults and kids to "have it large (or small)". Brilliant. It sounds very silly.

"Bring your picnic blanket and pitch up for the day. Get dressed up and you could win a prize or likewise if you bust a move better than anyone else!"


It's on from 12 (more like 11) until 5pm today and is completely free. You can find the event on Facebook. Find a map here




In other news, Jesus: The Guantanamo Years is great and it's the last night it'll be on at Upstairs at Three and Ten. Find more info here.

So that's day and nighttime sorted then.
Soldout now!

Friday 21 May 2010

Today's idea - Anagrams at the Prince Albert



Today Anagrams, a Brighton-based band with lots of lovely reviews play in town at the Prince Albert before they head off to Somerset to play the Beekstock Festival later this year. Surprisingly unsigned, they're toted as much more than a demo band already and, if they continue in this way, could really take off. (-BBC South:Live) The Source, for one, loves them, calling them ""jaw-dropping" and "mind-blowing" and they've supported The Phantom Bnad, Wooden Shjips (brilliant at The FreeButt this month), The Joy Formidable and the Antlers.

"Rather intelligent, rather good alternative English indie rock, touches of Stone Roses in there with their falling Autumn Leaves, touches of lots of things actually, mostly about good songs and refined sounds, a band with a little more depth and a touch of indie rock class to them, lot of body and soul to their guitar rock.

They’re from Brighton and this early shot is well worth your time, sounds like someone should put this out as a single, they’re a little bit more than a demo band already, Saving Up is particularly good in a brooding broken hearted tearing up Elbow kind of way." - Organ Magazine


So, very good we conclude. For a listen find them on myspace or last.fm. You can also find them on Facebook and Twitter @Anagrams_band. Find a nice video of them rehearsing and dancing here.


Tonight you can catch them at the Prince Albert where they're playing with 900 Spaces.

Find tickets here.
Time: 8pm
Location: 48 Trafalgar St
Map: here

Thursday 20 May 2010

Today's idea - Cinderella Project: Lucien



Today we recommend the Cinderella Project: Lucien which sees brilliant Brighton artist Jake Spicer work with Sabotage theatre in "a combination of gripping audio drama, an interactive, site specific experience and the opportunity to witness live painting in an intimate and engaging setting."

"Imprisoned deep inside the industrial corridors of New England House is the Alchemist Painter, Lucien Yemie. A restricted number of spectators will be allowed to enter his chamber, listen to the stories ingrained in the art, and watch the painter at work.

This is the first in a series of Art/Theatre collaborative events entitled 'The Cinderella Project' discussing the nature of art, love and mortality. The Project seeks to bring together unique and challenging combinations of artistes to create original and unconventional work. Zöe Hinks, Artistic Director and Playwright for Sabotage Theatre Company, has followed the work of established painter and printmaker Jake Spicer since last June. They have been working together symbiotically to evolve a new way of exploring art and narrative.

The Project has spawned a love child; the mysterious and revolutionary Lucien Yemie. Lucien will be embodied by Jake Spicer, who will be painting live throughout the performance."


We're been interested in Jake Spicer's life drawing classes in Brighton for a while (more to come on these in future!) and he's been shortlisted for the AOH Best Artist Award in 2008 and won Fringe Report Artist of the Year in 2009. This year, working with Zöe Hinks, Artistic Director and Playwright for Sabotage Theatre Company, the exploration of art and narrative should be great. There's lots of good reviews:

“Sabotage Theatre are a young company worth your attention and Zoe Hinks is clearly a writer worth watching.”

****Fringe Review on last year’s production of Ravens. 

"This captivating play manages to make us question the meaning of longing and the abilities of love to overcome obstacles"
 ****British Theatre Guide on ‘What all the Rabbits are Doing’

“From the haunting, relective. and mesmeric Portrait With Sewing machine to the silent mysterious In a Room With no door to his eloquent sketches: Jake Spicer creates worlds of mystery and delight.”
 John Park Editor of Fringe Report on Jake Spicer’s Exhibition ‘Living in The House With No Door’


Cost: free (but tickets are limited so book early to avoid disappointment)
Time: There are 3 admittances a day between 15th to the 22nd May at 12.30pm, 7.30pm and 8.30pm. Audience meet 5 minutes before outside the main front door at
Location: New England House
Map: here

Wednesday 19 May 2010

Today's idea - You Made me Gay



Today we like the sound (and have been severely recommended) ‘You Make Me Gay’ - an exhibition of new works by Patrick O’Donnell. Bit of a press release today as have to dash to catch a couple of Brighton Festival bits!

'You Make Me Gay’ is an exhibition of personal icons painted by local artist Patrick O’Donnell. These are figures from his life who have influenced his gay identity. His subjects range from school friends who danced to Madonna with him in the playground, characters from 80s television programmes, figures from the music industry and performers from the Working Men’s Club circuit in Yorkshire where he grew up.

Showing at The Oriental in Brighton (formerly the Oriental Hotel) from 1 to 31 May, the show questions the notion of who a gay icon is. Do they have to be gay? Do they have to be real people or fictional characters?

O’Donnell says “Gay icons are usually famous people, whose iconic status is perpetuated by repeated exposure to carefully selected familiar images. My icons all have equal billing, regardless of media coverage and column inches. The act of painting each portrait has confirmed equal iconic status to each of my subjects and their actual level of fame becomes irrelevant. They are all famous to me. And they make me gay”


Running until 31 May
Cost: Free
Location: The Oriental Hotel
Map: here

Tuesday 18 May 2010

Today's idea - Samuel Beckett's Endgame at @nvt_brighton #brightonfringe



Earlier this year Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen went around the country performing the sold out Waiting for Godot. Today another brilliant play by Samuel Beckett, the author behind 'Play' (which if you haven't seen I recommend ewatching the short film version starring starring Alan Rickman, Kristen Scott Thomas and Juliet Stevenson. it's very good.) comes to Brighton with "Endgame' as part of the Brighton Fringe.

"Hamm, blind and chair-bound, is attended to by the stiff and dutiful Clov. Hamm's parents, Nagg & Nell, legless from a bicycle accident, are relegated to living in dustbins, not even able to reach each other to kiss. Someone has fleas and a rogue rat is on the loose. Outside, all seems dead and 'something is taking its course', whilst inside, the four protagonists torment each other with apocalyptic visions of what may be occurring beyond the confines of their self inflicted prison."


Running until 22 May.
Time: 7:45pm
Cost: £9 (£8 members)
More Info: here

If nothing, watch Play. It's very good.

Monday 17 May 2010

Today's idea - Resident's gig of the week; Tim Hecker @freebutt



Today a very rare UK show from the Kranky signed sound artist as we've following Resident's gushing about the arrival of Tim Hecker. He's playing tonight at the Freebutt and it's their gig of the week, horray!

The Canadian based sound artist is making a very special appearance in Brighton & it's going to be a real treat - no doubt! His works have been described as “structured ambient”, “tectonic colour plates” & “cathedral electronic music”. Essentially, he focuses on exploring the intersection of noise, dissonance & melody so if you're a fan of Fennesz, Belong or Loscil, you'll most definitely want to be heading down to the Freebutt on Monday night.




Cost: 7.50 adv
Time: Doors 7.30pm
Last.fm: here

P.S. Today if you're a Sussex student you can catch the Dissertation Dash to Mandella Hall from 12-4pm. You'll notice it from the nervous looking people carrying fluttery bits of paper and there's always that terrifying brave guy who runs it at 3:58. Love Music, Hate Racism music thing will be on campus and Beat and Chips are doing a dancing drinking sort of business later in town as they normally do.

Sunday 16 May 2010

Today's idea - Sculpture Trail



Today, a proper Sunday type thing with garden sculptures that are immensely better than the name suggests. This is just outside of Brighton, so breaks the rules a bit but looks so lovely and one of those 'traditional days out' it's too nice not to mention. At Bode Hill Garden, the strange shape of massive mushroom-like sculptures looks enticing, forming part of a 'sculpture trail'. Promising a stunning myriad of styles, materials and techniques it sounds like a good day out adventure.



"Installed by Surrey Sculpture Society and Head Gardener Andy Stevens in the tranquil setting of these beautiful landscaped gardens, the artworks will both challenge and delight spectators. As visitors follow the trail, they will discover the sculptures set against striking and varied backdrops within the series of garden ‘rooms’, demonstrating different styles of design and presentation. With changing natural light and memorable colour the trail will create a unique visual experience."

(The Green Tree Gallery will also be open for free displaying an enticing exhibition of smaller indoor pieces by Surrey Sculpture Society.)

Running until 31st May.

Time: 10am-6pm
Location: Borde Hill Garden
Cost: £7.50 per adult, £6.50 Group/OAP and £4.50 per child. Gallery entry is free.
Map: here

Saturday 15 May 2010

Today's idea - License, at Brighton Fringe (with 2-for-1 Tickets)



Today we recommend the last night of Licence. It sounds fantastically acted, captivating, and a little bit interactive we suspect. Whilst part of me fears the idea of one-actor plays, the reviews sound a little bit gushing and epic, and I'm looking forward to seeing it.

"It’s rare, during the interval, for all the audience to get to the theatre bar first. But for Brighton audiences, a dream might be about to come true. During performances of “Licence” the in-house barstaff will appear to serve beer, spritzers, comedy and tragedy all in generous non-regulation measures as you witness the end-days of “the establishment.”"


Yes, well - the intro's not all the clear but the blurb suggests it'll be brilliant. Althouh that's a characteristic of 'blurb', small plays in Brighton can be absolutely fantastic and this one sounds quirky in the best way. I'm planning to see it tonight, so excuse the c&p-ing, it's to avoid to making any false assumptions about what you can expect:

“Licence” is the latest one-person theatre piece from local writer and performer, Jonathan Brown. ‘Set in Brighton, “Licence” starts out the gripping tale of the last days of a “hostel”, as told by Bernie whose drive, to shift units, and to be popular with his regulars severely undermines his intimacy with his son and his own inner world,' Brown describes.

'Indeed it’s the perfect distraction, enabling him to submerge ancient, forgotten and forbidden feelings. Through an emerging subplot, that carries subtle undertones of unrealised sexuality, we see how a terror of emotionality, can drive a man away from his feelings, and into whatever "industry" will happily help him bury them. I call it one man’s Odyssey, to save his son and his own sanity from the sinister forces he’s exposed them both to!’

“Licence” is Jonathan’s fourth successful one-person show. His previous trilogy ‘The Father Monologues’ is also set in Brighton and earned him a Best Male Performer Award nomination at the Brighton Fringe in 2007. 
Brighton-born, Jonathan enjoys the autonomy of one-person plays, and is often told by audience members “I remember your show as though there were many more than one performer.” But he’s branching out for his next play, which is written for more than one. Set in Victorian East Brighton, it’s the story of the digging of the world’s deepest hand-dug well (at 1300ft, deeper than the Empire State Building is high.) Meanwhile, during Licence, it’s not water that’s welling up fast. But sweat, blood and tears!"

"Outstanding… a consummate actor… held the audience single-handedly in awe with his amazing multi-characterisations… Impeccably acted, completely convincing, extremely amusing, profoundly sad. Every nuance examined with finesse & intelligence. I cannot praise (it) enough. From the evident skill as an actor to the profundity & humour of his writing. A huge talent." Ian Reuben (Journalist)

"A huge writing and acting talent." (Nick Stockman, Brighton Fringe Manager).


Contains strong language. Suitable for 12+ yr olds.

Cost: £7 concessions, £9 adult - a 2-for-1 deal is running tonight, horray!
Time: 7.30pm-9.30pm
Location: Brighton Town hall

Thursday 13 May 2010

Today's idea - Museums at Night: Late night museums, exhibitions, and open-air screenings



The South East's having a cultural revelation tonight as Brighton's Museums open up after hours for a special night as part of the Brighton Fringe Festival. We're very pleased as it's in the same vein as the White Nights. The Brighton Museum & Art Gallery, Brighton Toy Museum, Dream Home Exhibition, and the Artists' Open Houses are staying open until later and Jubilee Library Square's opening up for an outdoors screening of animated shorts. Horray! Exciting stuff and most of it for free!

The Brighton Museum & Art Gallery are inviting Brighton dwellers into the 'From Sickert to Gelet: Modern British Art from Boxted House'. For this night only you can explore these treasures of 20th Century artwork for free. Find a good review here and catch it from 10am-10pm.

The Brighton Toy and Model Museum's bringing old toys to life with "spectacular '0' and '00' guage train layouts in working actions. Starring a vast assortment of trains from all eras." I for one find that everything becoming at least 10x more exciting at night and have never been more excited about trains.

The Dream Home Exhibition's also taking part. You can find our Dream Home feature here. I'm excited about seeing this because it sounds fantastic and I've heard nothing but good things about it. It'll be open all weekend from 7pm-9pm. Find info at the Phoenix Gallery.

The Artists' Open Houses are brilliant and on late today too, as Brighton artists open up their doors and let people potter around their carefully designed pieces. It's free and occasionally provides cake depending on which house you're at. Find a guide to the routes and more info here, although we can't guarantee this cake business. On from 12-8pm.



Lastly for the second year as as part of the Fringe and Museum night, Kanoti proudly presents Bamboozled 2. Jubilee square from 9pm onwards tonight bring another night of "kick-ass animated shorts". Open air screenings and animated things, yummy.

A brilliant round up of late-night things. "It's really exciting how many Brighton venues are opening their doors into the evening over Museums at Night weekend. We're hoping that both locals and visitors will check out some of the cultural and heritage attractions on the doorstep!" says Rosie Clarke, who masterminds much of the event.

You can find the blog over at http://museumsatnight.wordpress.com

(Image via Peter Castleton)

Today's idea - Hammer & Tongue @BrightonFringe



A special Hammer and Tongue Festival Showcase today! The night sees beat-poetry come to Komedia and for this one month only they are "are deserting our regular formula and relocating from the Studio Bar to the Downstairs space at Komedia. BUT this is no idle show of grandiose pseudo-growth, for THIS month we are bigger and better than ever before!"

Hosted in inappropriately lascivious fashion by ROSY CARRICK and MIKE PARKER, with GIMLEY WHIPPLE conjuring tunes at every turn, tonight brings..


"SALLY JENKINSON - Sally is a poet who lives in Bristol, but she is from Doncaster, where they say poem like this: 'poym'

Eaves-dropping in bus queues, earwigging on bar stools, obsessively reading TV Quick despite being televisionless, and scrimping and saving for all the cider (yes, ALL the cider) are the main ingredients in her poem writing recipe process. The poems emerge like whirly, jumpy, lyricial peeks at the funny things people do, and they try to make space for tiny observations of the unusual and terrifying and magnificent things that go on between people everyday.

"Incisive, insightful and utterly delightful" [Apples and Snakes]


PETE THE TEMP - A stand up poet and a singer songwriter, since 2006 Pete has been performing his singularly high octane slap-stick poetry and musical comedy to consistently high acclaim. He has shared a stage with some of the biggest names in spoken word and comedy including John Hegley, Bill Bailey, Mark Thomas, Kate Tempest and Elvis McGonnagal. Beyond performance, he facilitates slam poetry workshops in schools and youth centres, and promotes and comperes events, as well as having recently launched Cabaret Clandestino in his home town of Oxford. This Spring Pete will be touring with Hammer & Tongue and throughout the Summer will be touring the festivals throughout the UK.

"A rabble-rousing one man riot of a performance poet!" [Poetry Kapow]

"His unbelievable energy seems the key to his success, with a powerful and funny physical stage presence. His material is engaging and ridiculous to the extreme. He makes you giggle, like a school girl who's just found out what a penis looks like." [Fringe Report]


RACHEL PANTECHNICON - A surprisingly alluring 40-year-old ingénue with a veritable cornucopia of verses, stories and observations, Rachel specialises in motivational poems for cats and for people. She is many things: the best-dressed woman on the poetry circuit; the woman who won the 2004 Glastonbury Festival Poetry Slam, although she only entered it for the experience (and was perhaps the only person on site wearing court-shoes); and the author of the well-known story-books about Cheesegrater Leg-Iron Lion. In short, a most peculiar talent.

“Technicolour suburban entertainment”
[John Hegley]

“Rachel Pantechnicon of London was my favorite performer on the whole tour. Pure creative genius.”
[Buddy Wakefield, US Poetry Slam Champion]"

Horray, but hurry to get tickets as they're incredibly popular anyway and the sounds of 'bigger and better' suggest bigger and better queues.

Cost: £5 (tickets in advance from Komedia box office)
Time: 7.30-11pm.
Location: Komedia
Facebook event page: here

Wednesday 12 May 2010

Today's idea - Brian Eno's Speaker Flower Sound Installation



More Brian Eno today as his Speaker Flower Sound Installation transforms the Grade I Listed Marlborough House on Brighton's Old Steine. "The installation includes fifty Eno-designed speaker flowers, each with its own sound created in response to the once-magnificent building." Sound-reactive installations make me happy. Kinetica this year had some lovely ones. Eno's been doing a lot of installation pieces as curator of Brighton Festival and the reaction's been great so far.

We also recommend his '77 Million Paintings' piece as part of the Brighton Festival.

The blurb also mentions the presence of exclusive prints and a specially commissioned CD of Eno's music. Hurrah, art and buying things.

Running until 23 May 2010.

Cost: Free
Info: here
Location: Marlborough House
Map: here

Tuesday 11 May 2010

Today's idea - Brian Eno's '77 Million Paintings' Exhibition (free)



Musician Brian Eno 'began his career as a visual artist and has always been interested in the synthesis of sound and image. 77 Million Paintings is an ever-evolving audio-visual installation that continues this creative exploration.' So today we recommend this Fringe exhibition - Jonathan's review describes it wonderfully:

"The cultural highlight was a trip to Brighton’s lovely Fabrica gallery, which for the duration of the Festival is hosting an exhibition by the season’s curator, Brian Eno. Rather misleadingly titled ‘77 Million Paintings’, the show actually focuses on one piece – a large, evolving graphic up on a large screen at the far end of the dark church.

The same aesthetic which drives much of Eno’s music is apparent in the work; it is neither instantly rewarding nor demanding, but instead a kind of slow, transformative experience for which the term ‘ambient’ (traditionally used to characterise much of Eno’s music) remains the best descriptive term I can conjure up.

It’s essentially a series of locked geometric shapes which move through a range of patterns and colours in a sequence determined by ‘generative software’ which is capable – as the title of the piece suggests – of 77 million possible permutations (which would take, apparently, over a thousand years to unfold). The transformations are slow but remarkably evocative.

Sat concentrating for ten minutes I was only dimly aware of perceptible changes, but when a conversation with Deb and Will distracted me from the screen for no more than sixty seconds and I returned my gaze to the ‘painting’, I found it had changed hugely. Such is the effect of the slow process of gradual change – I thought of the face of someone you love and see every day, which seems unchanging, and the shock of encountering friends with whom you’ve lost touch, and who you find much altered (as altered, presumably, as you are).

It’s hard to describe a work of art without showing it, and pointless to show a still of a work of art without being able to demonstrate the very movement which gives it purpose. So here’s a proposal, instead.

Imagine yourself sat in a church, half-dozing, glancing down at the cobbled floor. As the sun progresses slowly across the sky outside, light catches panes of the stained glass windows high above, and casts a reflection down on the floor in front of you. The light shimmers and shines, ducks behind a cloud, comes up for air. The quality of light changes, and different parts of the window are alternately obscured and revealed. What plays out on the floor in front of you is the combination of chance, nature and design, and it is playing only for you.

If you can imagine that, you might be able to picture Eno’s work. If you like the sound of it, the exhibition is running until the 23rd May.

Co-incidentally, I spent much of the time in the Church sharing a seat with Toby, a mischievous toddler who ultimately ordered me onto the floor so he’d have more space. He told me – and I trust his opinion – that the exhibition was ‘lovely’. He also made me take his socks off and at one point handed his Dad an empty food wrapper and yelled ‘rubbish, rubbish’.

I hope Mr. Eno wasn’t around, mistaking him for a high-voiced critic."


Cost: Free
Dates: 01 - 23 May 2010
Time: 12 noon-8pm throughout the Festival. Late night opening until 11pm on Sat 1 May and Saturday 15 May
Location: Fabrica
Map: here
Information: here

Monday 10 May 2010

Today's idea - Origin of the Species, the Musical



Today, a musical about Charles Darwin. Brilliant. Described as "Gloriously fun" by ThreeWeeks, the Edinburgh sell-out show comes to Brighton tonight. It comes with limited information but with gushing reviews:

"..by Means of Natural Selection or the Survival of (R)Evolutionary Theories in the Face of Scientific and Ecclesiastical Objections: Being a Musical Comedy about Charles Darwin (1809-1882)"

It stars John Hinton, who critics are also gushing about.

"John Hinton is entertaining beyond all belief" Educated Burgher

"19th-century science can rarely have been so fascinating and never so much fun" Stage


From Tangram, it's showing at Komedia tonight and runs until Wednesday 12 May. We are excited by a singing Darwin.

Time: 7pm
Cost: £6 or £10
Information: here
Tickets: here

Sunday 9 May 2010

Today's idea - Four Lions



Tonight we recommend Four Lions directed by Chris Morris of Brass Eye and Nathan Barley fame in his first film. As the latest British political comedy that's as "tasteless as it is timely" it's also written by Peep Show's writing team of Sam Bain and Jesse Armstrong - can it be anything but brilliant?

"Following four Islamic terrorists from the north of England, Morris's film depicts the transition of a group of young Muslim men from boisterous radicals to would-be suicide bombers.

This being Chris Morris, the jokes are razor-sharp and wryly tongue-in-cheek, as two of the men embark on an ultimately calamitous covert mission to Pakistan to train as bombers, while the other two recruit a fifth member and go about plotting their own martyrdom."




Starring: Riz Ahmed, Kayvan Novak, Arsher Ali, Nigel Lindsay
Information and booking: here
Location: Duke of York's

Saturday 8 May 2010

Today's idea - The Relentless Creative Exhibition (free)


Today the Relentless Art Show takes place as part of the Fringe festival and it boats a number of creative and cool things, and I want to go. Inside-out stuffed toys and curious patterns? Yes please.

"As a creative environment, Relentless’ teams are no strangers to coming up with innovative ideas. Staff at the leading UK studio are invited to submit personal work for exhibit each year. Over the past few years we have had a range of work including figurative painting, automated pattern generators, cuddly toys turned inside out and everything in-between. The variety of the show is one of it’s strengths and the same variety remains this year with exhibits including paintings, drawings, sculptures, printmaking and objects.

The show is produced by Stuart Dodman, Operations Manager at Relentless. Stuart, who has a degree in Fine Art, commented: “We wanted to get involved in the Brighton community, and give our teams another creative outlet and from that The Relentless Art Show was born. Not only are our staff great at making video games but many of them have backgrounds and practiced in more traditional art forms. This is our third year and we continue to be amazed at the quality and variety of exhibits we receive.”"

Location: Bellis Gallery
Time: 10.30am - 6.30pm
Map: here
Website: here
Find them on Twitter: @relentless_sw
Runs until: May 23rd.

Friday 7 May 2010

Today's idea - "Littlest Things" Tiernan Douieb @tiernandouieb



"Hello! Do you live in Brighton? Near Brighton? Wear Bright Clothes? Are not particularly Bright? Or just come from Hove which is pretty much the same place? Then come along to my solo show at the Royal Albion Hotel as part of the Brighton Fringe. It'll be a combination of a preview of my upcoming new Edinburgh show 'Littlest Things' and some proper jokes which actually work. Yey!"

Today Tiernan Douieb brings his solo show to the Fringe before he jets off to show it in Edinburgh. It sounds very good, aimed at twentysomethings, and as a side note, cheap. A good combination.

"You look lovely today. No, really. The smallest things we say can really make someone's day. As a professional small thing, Tiernan knows this well. Douieb’s second solo show exploring good nature, unsung heroes, just how dangerous ants are and why, on the whole, he’s a really shit friend. This show contains some thoughtful bits, and the term ‘Liam Kneesons’.

‘Infective enthusiasm - he is instantly likeable and his anecdotes are amusing and uplifting. A prophet for the generation of twentysomethings…’ – Three Weeks
“Clearly a natural comic...an inherently funny person” - AllTheFestivals.net
‘Hugely Charming’ – Time Out

Official Brighton Blurb: Words! Who likes words? Well, here’s some that have been cleverly put into sentences, 83% of which are funny, by ‘natural comic’ Douieb. A short diabetic bearded man shouting his mind at things he’s seen, done, thinks and has nearly been punched by.

‘Small in Stature, not in talent.’ – The Scotsman ‘Hugely charming’ – Time Out"


Time: 7pm
Location: Royal Albion Hotel
Tickets: here
Website: here
Facebook event page: here

He;s also just been named as one of the Top 50 Twitter feeds about Arts and Culture to follow, according to The Observer. Follow him @tiernandouieb

Thursday 6 May 2010

Today's idea - Annual May Funfair



Today we recommend the Annual Funfair, and this blog's realy late, sorry (I've been busying myself with a dissertation hand-in). The fair's right outside my window, and the week's been punctuated by screaming girlish noises flying past outside. There's some sort of giant pole poking out from above the trees which promises to hurl you through the air at uncomfortable speeds, and candyfloss. There's much more but that's pretty much the important parts sorted. It's nice but we are grumpy and stuck in the past, so the prices make us a bit sad.

Running until the 8th, namely Saturday, at The Level. Map: here.

Wednesday 5 May 2010

Today's idea - Fire Tusk Pain Proof Circus



Today the Fire Tusk Proof Circus comes to town with a WARNING: Controversial and adult themed. This avant-garde spectacular mixes aerial circus, neoburlesque and live art to create an utterly unique and captivating show. The youtube video makes me shudder but I am a sissy and they've been drawing crowds around Brighton in a host of street performances. We've had an ace review from @promette.



"Known as the Fire Tusk Pain Proof Circus, I witnessed their free street performance on Saturday on one of the stages on New Street. They were at pains to point out that their street performance was child friendly, but that their 10pm show is strictly adults only. The stunts they performed in the street were enough to give me nightmares, let alone the children watching. Although the children kept screaming for more!

The troupe wear unsettling freaky make-up and all of them seem to delight in inflicting pain on themselves and each other. The first performer started with some whip tricks with a willing volunteer who did not seem to be worried about the fact that the piece of newspaper he was holding was repeatedly slashed in half. The same man then lay on a bed of nails and two volunteers were dragged out of the audience to take it in turns to stand on him. They even let the woman jump on him before getting the man and woman to stand on him at the same time. The indentations in his back afterwards were very deep but he seemed to revel in it.

Then a female clown proceeded to cover a rug in broken glass and broke a few extra bottles to prove that the glass was real before standing, walking and jumping on the glass in her bare feet. Amazingly her feet didn't even have a cut afterwards.

The clowns then ended their show with the freakiest act yet and one that I think gives the best indication of how dark their 10pm show could get. A 1930s looking chap called The Baron took off his robe and stood in leopardskin tight shorts with nothing else on him except a lot of tattoos and two nipple rings. He then hooked a cement block to the rings and lifted it off the ground with his chest. While he stood holding the cement block from his tortured nipples, one of the other clowns cam running at him with a large pickaxe and broke it in two. The audience looked on in shock and awe whilst the kids in the front row screamed for more!"

"A runaway success" Time Out

"One of the most talked about and controversial acts of the fringe" Independent Weekly.

Time: 10pm-11:30pm.
Cost: £15/13 concessions
Buy online: here
Location: St Peter's Church Gardens, Brighton
Runs until: 8 May
Facebook event page: here

Tuesday 4 May 2010

Today's idea - Brighton Festival does 'Icarus'



Tonight the New Venture Theatre presents its contribution to the Brighton Festival with 'Icarus'. Based on Ovid's Poem the myth of Icarus' flight and fall is explored by three performers within a promenade setting (no seating 'immersive' stuff). I like Icarus, and the adaptation sounds good. The plot's this:

"Imprisoned in the labyrinth of the Minotaur with his son, the inventor Daedalus creates wings out of feathers and wax in order to escape. He warns Icarus, his son to follow his route and not get too close to the sea or the sun, as either would destroy the wings. Playing with the winds in excitement, Icarus gets carried away, flies too close to the sun and falls into the sea, where he dies.

Following individual stories relating to Icarus’ parable, an emotional journey unfolds using strong visual and physical imagery. Set within the intimate space of the studio, audience members are invited to create their own pathway and explore different stories and perspectives and ultimately become part of the journey."


Director Saskia Ulrike Schilling draws on personal experience, saying she wanted "to look at the emotional voyage of Icarus and give him a voice," citing an interesting history. "I was born in the communist and socialist East Germany, then lived in the re-united capitalist Germany before moving to England; a journey exploring a freedom my parents did not experience and hence living their hopes and dreams combined with my own.”

They threaten the arrival of some darkness and strobe lighting during the play. In immersion [no seating] plays, I'm a sucker for this stuff.

Time: 7:45pm
Location: New Venture Theatre
Map: here
Reserve tickets: here
Runs until: Saturday 8th May (no performance 8th May)

Monday 3 May 2010

Today's idea - Lyrebirds single launch at The Hope



Today Lyrebirds launch their second single through Chess Club records. It would be too easy to peg them as somewhere between Arcade Fire and Joy Division, so have a listen. You can find them on Myspace, Lastm.fm and Facebook.

They come with support in the shape of slightly mad The Agitator (last.fm/Myspace) and Holy Vessels (Last.fm/Myspace) who pull of country rock in likable, knee jiggling way. If you want to listen to country rock without feeling like a redneck, this is the best way to go about it. There'll also be a Maccabees DJ set.

This all takes place at The Hope, one of the places in Brighton I can rely on to be lovely (most of the time) and one which I don't frequent enough. They describe themselves as "a bustling, music-led, watering hole popular with everyone from skinny, guitar-toting types to the after-work crowd" and The Strokes have even played there in the past. Cor 'eck, what a lovely evening.

Doors at 8pm
Tickets £5

Find the event on Facebook and Last.fm.

Sunday 2 May 2010

Today's idea - Glimpse into the Dream Home labyrinth



Today the Phoenix Gallery is doing something a bit cool. Whilst the description initially makes it sound like either an open homes show, or a Through the Keyhole, it sounds far more interesting.

A "voyeuristic tour of a home which has been inserted into a public gallery space. Moving through a labyrinth of hallways, rooms, wardrobes and hidden spaces, visitors can catch glimpses of the private lives of its inhabitants," they say. Now, here's the bit we like:

"Sculptor Ben Thomson has designed a floor plan into which he and other artists have poured their dreams and fantasies in the form of installations, photographs, paintings, drawings, film, sculpture and animation. Rather than replicating a literal domestic interior, the spaces evoke a range of memories and qualities associated with notions of ‘home’ -- comfort, vulnerability, ambition, nostalgia, secrets and discovery." Secrets! we heard. The way that stories develop through the revealing of facts can be fascinating, intriguing. I'll cite An Inspector Calls and Jonathan Creek as two disputably good examples.

"Glimpsed through windows and heard through the walls, a cast of characters begins to reveal itself. From adolescent dreamers and nuclear families to time travellers and transients, the protagonists appear through the objects they gather and the environments they create. Visitors will encounter the house’s diverse occupants through the work of Gary Barber, Alvaro Collar, Fox & Gammidge, Jonathan Gilhooly, Caitlin Heffernan, Rona Innes, Kim L Pace, Natalie Papamichael, Jim Sanders, and Ben Thomson."

You can find a list of events here, and below is a video of the making which gives a good idea of how big the porject is but with admittedly has some painful narrating.



Times: Tue - Sun, 11am - 5pm.
Map: here.
Continues until June 6.


Today we also adore Steampunk's Gentlemen's Relish which we accidentally wrote on Wednesday. It's taking place today.

ALSO! We love the free sampling of sausages and 'sausage games' which makes me giggle, including a sausage and cider treasure hunt, sausage bobbing, sausage snap, and pin the tail on the piggy. This is happening at Sussex Yeoman Pub. I'm going to spend today recreating my own sausage games in the back garden.

Saturday 1 May 2010

Today's idea - Japanese Street Festival



Today Moshi Moshi brings the city's first ever Asahi Anime Festival, a celebration of all things manga and anime. There'll be a major live Japanese band (although we do not know who), a gothic Lolita fashion show, game show, speed drawing competition, giant chalk manga artwork, manga merchandise from London's Tokyo Toys, group sing-a-long karaoke and of course "Japanese street food and wacky snacks". And drink. You too can acquire a good knowledge of Japanese alcoholic beverages through the store's frequent celebration of Japenese culture.

You can find details of all the above here, and if you'd like to be part of the Japanese Gameshow it's a the place to get information.



The big thing is likely to be Cosplay (costume + play = dressing as characters, most commonly Japenese fictional ones), growing steadily in popularity in the UK.

There's even a fashion parade, and one for kids too:
"Bleach, Naruto, Sailor Moon, Chobits, and Full Metal Alchemist will be just some of the anime personalities to be seen at the Festival. Others will come as their own outlandish creations. Cosplay is where the cult of the avatar meets fashion, and indeed a fashion show will take place during the day on Saturday, including one for children."

Time: Midday - 10.30pm.
Location: Opticon (opp. Moshi Moshi restaurant), Bartholemew Square.
Map: here.