nigeyb's world of joy

Trafalgar Street, Brighton - 20 March 2013 on Flickr.

Deadly Magic Pill…

…can I watch you shoot ‘em up?

Via Flickr:
Trafalgar Street, Brighton

Taken with iPhone / Instagram - 20 March 2013

Rick Redbeard (supported by Fake Major), Komedia, Brighton, 18 March 2013

A very enjoyable evening in the company of Rick Redbeard aka Rick Anthony aka the singer from The Phantom Band.  I love the Phantom Band, and whilst Rick’s solo work is a world away from the diverse sonic sounds of the Phantoms it is still great - a really pleasing form of pared down, melancholy, spartan Scottish folk.  The Komedia studio bar was full and the audience all seemed very appreciative.

Support came from Fake Major who are a fabulous folky duo from Glasgow, both with fine voices, and quietly impressive soul filled tunes.  

Ian Hunter, Ropetackle Centre, Shoreham, Sussex, England - Wednesday 13 March 2013

I meticulously prepared for this gig.  Partly inspired by the show, and partly inspired by BBC4, I watched my DVD of “The Ballad Of Mott The Hoople” (forty minutes longer than the version shown on BBC4 last week) which was a Xmas gift, and I gave last year’s “When I’m President” album a few listens.  I’m not sure why I’d not got the album earlier as I’ve bought the last three solo releases around the time they were released.  Anyway, the album is another corker that maintains Ian’s current rich vein of form, and the documentary is excellent (as are all the DVD extras).  I was too young to be following Mott round the country (as Mick Jones of The Clash, and Kris Needs, did) but I did buy all their classic 70s singles as an awe struck 12-13 year old and have enjoyed Ian Hunter’s post-Mott solo career.  He’s a remarkably consistent songwriter and a true star. 

For this visit he was without the Rant Band, and instead was playing as part of an acoustic trio along with bassist Dave Rowe and guitarist Andy York.  He was excellent.  The acoustic arrangements suited the songs really well and Ian was as committed and passionate as ever.  Personal highlights included “Just The Way You Look Tonight”, “All Of The Good Ones”, “Once Bitten Twice Shy”, “When I’m President”, “Sweet Jane”, “Roll Away The Stone”, and - of course - “All The Young Dudes”.  How a 73 year old stays so full of vitality is a mystery?  Perhaps it’s the sips of white wine and great rock n roll music?  A great night.  Come back soon.

"Craven House" by Patrick Hamilton

This book is a joy.  Yes, Hangover Square and The Slaves Of Solitude are Patrick Hamilton’s masterpieces however this book is every bit as enjoyable.  Playful, jaunty, and very sentimental, it is interesting to read Hamilton in a more positive mood - before the cynicism and darkness really took hold.  

Kingsway, Hove - 2 February 2013 on Flickr.

Every day I use my iPhone to take photos. #instagram #hove

End Of The Road Festival 2012

End Of the Road Festival 2012 - 31st August - 2 September 2012

Another year, another End Of The Road Festival.

Every year EOTR seem to find small ways to make their festival even better whilst retaining those things that work so well.

There’s so much to love about this festival: four stages of great music, the Forest disco, the art scattered about, the games area, the comedy, the food, the ale, Videopia, the impromptu stuff, the cider bus, the Tipi tent, the new family camping section, the generally lovely weather, Larmer Tree Gardens. It’s a delight.

This year my highlights included Patti Smith, Alabama Shakes, How Does It Feel To Be Loved? DJ, Roy Harper, Alt-J, Jeffrey Lewis, Tindersticks, Graham Coxon, Frank Fairfield, Woods, Zun, Zun Egui amongst many others.

Here’s another review that does the event justice.

Brighton Central and Hove District Woodcraft Folk Summer Camp, July 2012 @ Hindleap Warren

Another Summer, another Woodcraft camp.  

We had a fantastic time at Hindleap Warren.

Ten-ten til we do it again.

George Orwell "Coming Up For Air"

My preoccupation with British literature set in the immediate pre-WW2 era and in, or around, London continues. I recently read Hangover Square by Patrick Hamilton and that kick started a whole fascination with English literature set in or around London c1939. In addition to Hangover Square, particular recent highlights include…

London Belongs to Me

The Slaves of Solitude

Of Love And Hunger

…it’s a rich vein that I continue to mine. 

“Coming Up For Air” was my first George Orwell since “Homage to Catalonia” a few years back (whilst preoccupied with books about the Spanish Civil War). I’d also read “1984” and “Animal Farm” when I was a teenager. 

This book is another great slice of pre-WW2 English literature. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It evokes the era perfectly. The book is split into four parts. The second part is full of childhood reminiscences from the early twentieth century. The protagonist recalls his childhood from the perspective of the late 1930s. This section reminded me very much of “Cider with Rosie” (one of my favourite books), with the key difference that this is fiction. It made me wonder how Orwell managed to so credibly know, and be able to relate, a childhood in a small rural community. Either way it’s a stunning section, and also very cleverly manages to highlight some of the seismic changes that took place for the average person in the UK throughout the twentieth century. 

George Bowling, the middle-aged, middle-income protagonist is a great vehicle for Orwell’s musings on pre-WW2 England. Bowling is an insightful, straight talking Everyman character who conveys his thoughts with great honesty and self-deprecating humour. 

The book also contains some hints at what was to come with “1984” which Orwell would write a few years later - specifically musings on an ”after-war” dystopian future characterised by hate, slogans, secret cells etc. Remarkably prescient and demonstrating he was already thinking about some of the themes that were later developed so memorably in “1984”. 

The end of the book is pretty downbeat and this tone characterises the whole book and therefore might not be to everyone’s taste. I loved it. I’ve already bought Orwell’s “Keep the Aspidistra Flying” which I will read soon. If you like any of the books I list at the start of this review then I’m confident you’d enjoy this book too.

Nova Festival Of Arts & Music, 5th-8th July 2012, Bignor Park, Pulborough, West Sussex

Nova Festival Of Arts & Music, 5th-8th July 2012, Bignor Park, Pulborough, West Sussex - a review…

According to the organisers before the festival…. “On arriving, a short stroll through a leafy copse will take you from the car park to the camping area - a peaceful undulating meadow nestling at the foot of the South Downs. Once you’ve pitched your tent on the Thursday, a brief walk up the farm path takes you to the stables. Here you can enjoy a tipple at our very own pub, The Nova Arms. You can spend the afternoon watching our mad medley of pub entertainment, and the evening at our campsite campfire sessions, or watching a film with the family at our outdoor cinema.”

Alas the rain put paid to such an idyllic arrival.

Our experience started badly. We arrived at about 6:15 pm on Friday evening to find a row of cars waiting to get onto the site. The site was so muddy that cars had to be towed on and off the site. We were assured that this would only take a few minutes. After waiting for almost an hour we decided to park down the road and walk in. This was probably the right decision however with all our kit, it was arduous and took about 30 minutes to struggle in and then find a place to camp. 

The organisers had clearly not prepared for the possibility of a wet weekend.  There were insufficient covered areas, places to sit, metal tracks on main thoroughfares etc. - other festivals manage this and it makes a big difference when it’s wet and muddy.  At a wet festie it’s good to have plenty of places to sit and tents in which to shelter. There were nowhere near enough of these places. We spent a lot of time wandering aimlessly from place to place. 

Things we enjoyed: The Greenpeace arctic display; the Adventure Land Crazy Golf; and I enjoyed the DJs at the Nova Arms on Friday night. There was also some good art around and the site was picturesque.

We bought early bird tickets when they went on sale in 2011 without any idea who would be playing and for three reasons: it was local; the Big Chill pedigree of the organisers; and we enjoy festivals and wanted to support a new one.

My first impression was that this was a festival with no focal point. This first impression was borne out over the rest of our stay. The acts that I recognised on the line up were few and far between. One or two I was keen to see - Norman Jay (who cancelled just before the event); The Phenomenal Handclap Band (who also cancelled); Speech Debelle (on before we finally got set up); and Psychemagik, and Ghostpoet (who we missed as we’d already gone home). The programme gave no additional information. Just a list of names which I thought was unhelpful. This is the first festival I’ve been to without a proper programme - either included in the ticket price or available for around a fiver.  Here’s the Nova programme…

By Saturday afternoon we’d had enough. 

Here are my photos. The weather played a big part in a less than great experience but - even if the sun had shone - for me there was just not enough quality stuff in the line up. The feedback on Facebook and Twitter is very mixed. People seem to have either loved it or hated it. I’m in the middle. It was OK but the weather and the uninspiring line up mean I’m unlikely to go back if it’s on next year. A shame as I had high hopes for Nova. 2/5

Patrick Hamilton @ The Brighton Festival 2012

Wonderful discussion about the late, great Patrick Hamilton on Friday 11th May 2012 at the Sallis Benney Theatre, University of Brighton, Sussex, England. 

There’s also a wonderful exhibition based on his brilliant novel ‘Hangover Square’…

‘Earls Court in the rain… The summer had crashed: it had crashed at Brighton: it would never rise again. Only rain now – the grey wet end of hope and love.’

Set in the seamy watering holes of Earls Court and a rain-swept Brighton on the cusp of World War II, Hangover Square is widely regarded as Patrick Hamilton’s masterpiece. To mark the 50th anniversary of the author’s death this unique art installation revisits his bleak hymn to obsessive desire.

Two inextricably linked interiors form the heart of the exhibition - a smart Brighton hotel room and a seedy London flat where the climactic crime scene is reimagined. Offering connections and clues to the rest of this darkly comic novel, the exhibition also allows the viewer to weave their own narratives upon the empty rooms.

Devised and created by Cinecity and designer/artist Anna Deamer with students from the University of Brighton and City College.

Created for Cinecity’s 10th anniversary. Presented by Cinecity. Commissioned by HOUSE 2012. Supported by Arts Council England. Co-produced with the University of Brighton.