Art & About - Stoke Newington - Autumn 2011
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Transcript of Art & About - Stoke Newington - Autumn 2011
Lexi James Jr/ Andy Secrett p22
The Cinnamon Lounge p8
Vortex Jazz Club p20
Of Cabbages & Kings p6
Tina, We Salute You p1 4
Listings and Links p30
Theatretrain p1 2
Stoke Newington - autumn 2011
bringing the artsto your door
Carousel by Phil Miller (see Lemon Monkey, page 4)
www.artandabout.co.uk
The Comedy Cafe p1 8
What Is An Emerging Artist? - p26
King's Place Festival - p29
What Is Art & About?First, last and always, Art & About is concerned with supporting and promoting emerging talent
This magazine focuses on venues and shops who already have a commitment to showing new
artists or booking new acts whilst bringing new venues to the table
Then there are organisations dedicated to exploring the hidden talents in all of us and those who
shine a light on the extroardinary talents that deserve a wider audience.
Through the magazine we hope to create a winning formula from which everyone benefits. The
venues and shops attract readers like yourself and therefore increase their revenue, this in turn
means more opportunities for new artists and acts (and better paid ones) all of which means more
interesting and exciting new work for you to enjoy on your own doorstep.
Why support emerging talent?
Well, from a purely pragmatic perspective it's generally cheaper than coughing up for a West End
show, a gig at the 02 or tickets to the opera - not that we don't think you should do that as well.
On an equally practical note - it's usually just round the corner (no long, dreary tube journeys -
you can even leave the car at home! )
More cerebrally, there is the undeniable thrill of discovering something new, being in on the
ground floor of a potentially glittering new career. The excitement of knowing that you saw it
first, the satisfaction of knowing that your support has helped bring something bright and new out
of the shadows and into the light. That is how you can support emerging talent.
After all, everyone has to start somewhere, tomorrow's stars don't just appear out of nowhere.
One of the great things about working on this magazine is the journey it takes us on and the
endless variety of new work, new ideas and fresh perspectives we discover along the way. We
want you to join us on this journey and here's how you can do it:
Get InvolvedRead the magazine - go to some of the gigs, grab a coffee or a bite to eat while enjoying a new
exhibition. Take advantage ofwhat's out there.
Mention the magazine - at all times. When you arrive at a gig brandish the magazine boldly in
their faces and tell them you read about it in Art & About. When you buy a ticket over the phone,
when you order a plate of cup cakes, mention our name.
Use the web site. Sign up for the Art & About newsletter. Keep up to date with the who's, the
where's and the what's next and all of the stuff we can't find space for in the magazine. Check the
site for special offers in your area.
Tell us what you think. Tell us about your favourite places, that great new band. Talk to us.
Most of all - enjoy.
www.artandabout.co.uk:
3Editor: John GarnerSales & Marketing: Ade Akinwale
Lemon Monkey is a rare and precious thing.
A first class deli, a welcoming place to
enjoy a quiet break from a busy routine but
more importantly, an enthusiastic supporter
of the arts and of new talent in particular.
Katharine Tasker has been supporting the
arts through Lemon Monkey from its
inception and that tradition is still going
strong. The small gallery is not immediately
obvious as you enter the cafe, but if you
walk past the counter and up the stairs you
encounter the small but airy mezzanine that
houses a constantly changing exhibition.
Currently on display are the beautifully
intricate black and white cut out images of
Molly Flood.
You'll have to be quick, though, because
Thursday, August 1 8th sees the opening of
an exhibition of photography by Phil Miller
which marries images using projection and
multiple exposure to create new
stories. You can see more details
about his work and career on
Lemon Monkey's Art&About
blog.
On the musical front, there are
three emerging talents on show
in August and early September.
Fruitful Earth are a three-piece
alternative indie band who are
about to launch their debut
album (release date July 13th) and will be
playing at the Monkey on Friday, August
5th. A soulful and melodic meeting of
bluesy pop and West Coast vibe - it
promises to be an exciting occasion.
The following week, Amy Grace makes a
welcome return with her own unique blend
of jazz and folk. Complex and beautiful
vocals perfectly complimenting her strong
songwriting. Those of you who have heard
her before will no doubt welcome the
opportunity to do so again. Those that
haven't should make the effort. It will be
worth it.
Last but by no means least, the powerful
voice and direct songwriting of Lexi James
Jr in her debut performance at Lemon
Monkey on Friday, September 2nd. She is
putting the fnishing touches to a brand new
set as I type and the early
rushes sound great. Supported
by the soulful Andy Secrett
this promises to be a dynamic
combination and a great night
in prospect.
So that's the music and the art,
but let's not forget the
wonderfully eclectic 'Open
Book'(courtesy of The Society
For Curious Thought). This is
Lemon Monkey featuringMolly FloodArtistPhil MillerPhotographsFruitful EarthBlues Pop West CoastAmy GraceJazz FolkLexi James JrAlt Rock Pop
Curious Cafe Book
Amy Grace: photo by Phil Miller
4
exactly what it says it is, a book
in which customers can doodle,
write, sketch or whatever else
they want to do with pen and
paper. It makes for a fascinating
and sometimes inspiring
diversion and has proved so
popular they are onto the fourth
book already and it has been
featured in the Stoke Newington
Literary Festival. I love the
way the book encourages
everyone to express themselves
without the pressure of
judgement.
So, take some time out to check in at Lemon
Monkey and enjoy the creative vibe while
sampling some of the finest foods from
around the globe. How's this for a perfect
summer day - grab breakfast and pick up
everything you need for a fantastic picnic
from Lemon Monkey (after
perusing the gallery and adding
your masterwork to the
'Curious Cafe Book', of course),
spend an idyllic day wandering
around the green parks of your
choice, have that fabulous
picnic and then gently amble
back to the cafe for some
excellent live music.
more about Lemon Monkey @ blogs.artandabout.co.uk/lemonmonkey
Fruitful Earth (top)
Lexi James Jr (bottom)
Housed in an old 'Tuck Shop', Of Cabbages &
Kings has, since 2008, offered a different kind
of treat to those intrepid shoppers who venture
off the main Church Street artery. With Fine
Art prints by local illustrators and an incredible
array of bags, books, cards, ceramics,
jewellery, kitchenware, prints, tea towels and
hand picked 1950s vintage furniture, the shop
is bright, inviting and full of charm.
With so many talented designer-makers in the
area, it's no surprise that they also set up the
popular Of Cabbages & Kings Market Days at
Abney Hall. On the first weekend of each
month a different selection of designers and
makers fill the hall with a vast variety of
handmade gifts, original artwork and designer
home wares.
The markets have been running monthly since
March 2009 and continue growing in both
scope and popularity. Fred and Fran's cafe with
it’s scrumptious cakes and fennel sausage rolls
adds to the friendly community atmosphere as
people stop for a cup of tea, a brownie and a
good old-fashioned chin-wag.
Twenty to thirty different designers, some
regular faces, some brand new, sell everything
from Dee Hewitt's moustache keyrings (a big
favourite) to Kerry Layton's illustrations via
Hiksy Pixie's jewellery and a whole lot more I
haven't the space to mention. Worthy of
special mention in the August market, though,
is new face Frances Basham who brings her
fabric decorated homeware to the market for
the first time. Also, Jimbob Art, aka James
Ward, a local artist and illustrator who has
recently turned his hand to plates.
Outlets like the shop and the market are vital
platforms for small independent designer-
makers to promote and sell their work, which
is exactly what Art & About is designed to
A veritable cornucopia of handcrafted delights awaitsin the Tardislike confines of this remarkable shop
6
“It's the kind ofplace where you
find yourselfstanding, trying
desperately to think who has a
birthday coming up so you can
forward-load your present
buying” Helen Costello,
mydaily. co. uk, 2011
Frances Basham: Art Deco Homeware
Meeting friends at the Market
support, so if you're not a regular visitor get
down there and see what you're missing. As
the Independent Store Guide (2010) puts it,
". .the work is all the more appealing for being
so individual and undiluted in style. . .making
(it) exclusive without being expensive.”
www.blogs.artandabout.co.uk/cabbagesandkings
www.blogs.artandabout.co.uk/stokenewington/events
Illustrated plate by James Ward
One of the main aims of Art & About is to
open up new platforms for emerging creative
talent, so we're
delighted to be able to
announce that the
elegant and stylish
Cinnamon Lounge
restaurant on
Newington Green will
be hanging art on its
walls starting in
September with an
exhibition of the work
ofGina Southgate.
There will be a special opening event on
Thursday, Sept 22nd to mark the occasion,
where you will be able to view Gina's work,
meet the artist herself and sample the culinary
delights on offer from the Cinnamon Lounge's
fine chefs.
Winning friends for the
past two years with its'
lighter, less chilli-hot
take on traditional Indian
cuisine, the Cinnamon
Lounge is now hoping to
win over Stokies' many
art lovers, too. Speaking
to the manager it was
clear just how
enthusiastic he is about
the project. "We can't wait to see the paintings
go up," Raz, the manager, told us. "We're
looking to have regular viewing sessions
TThhee CCiinnnnaammoonn LLoouunnggeeooppeenniinngg tthheeiirr wwaallllss ttoo nneeww aarrttiissttss
GGIINNAA SSOOUUTTHHGGAATTEEEExxhhiibbiittiioonn OOppeenniinngg@@TThhee CCiinnnnaammoonn LLoouunnggeeNNeewwiinnggttoonn GGrreeeennSSeepptteemmbbeerr 2222nndd88ppmm llaattee
www.blogs.artandabout.co.uk/cinnamonloungewww.blogs.artandabout.co.uk/ginasouthgate
8
Gina Southgate: field 5 (top); blue bayou (bottom); sushi (right)
where the people can drop in, meet the artist,
have a bite to eat and just relax and enjoy the
art on display."
The first exhibitor, Gina Southgate, is a well
known figure in the local art world and will be
showing both abstracts and landscapes in an
exhibition that will be carefully tailored to
make best use of the available space. In
addition to her paintings she plans to make
some site specific pieces, possibly 3D, echoing
her sculptural roots.
Gina is something of a pioneer in opening up
new arts spaces, as can be seen in her
exhibition of 'gig-paintings' at the Vortex Jazz
Club (see p.24), which compliment her other
love of performing live at improvised music
and jazz gigs. She is keen to support new
initiatives like this.
Landscape painting has become a major part of
Gina's work. "I paint (landscapes) in much the
same way I would at a gig, I’m concerned with
the energy in the landscape as much as the
form or light". We can look forward to some
brand new landscapes in this opening
exhibition. By contrast her abstract work is a
juxtaposition and layering of colour in
conjunction with collaged monoprinted papers
and monoprint from painted surfaces to make
texture, and is created largely without
narrative. Both styles will be on show at the
Cinnamon Lounge in September.
a unique fusion ofeast meets westrefreshingly different indian cusine
20 Newington Green,Islington,LondonN16 9PU020 7241 2222
info@cinnamonlounge.biz
10
She moved
and my heart moved
Like a drowning man
in the heat of summer
She smiled
and I shuddered
Like a naked child
in the snow
Her eyes were laughing
I was swimming against a tide of emotion
My mouth was dry
and my shoulders heaved and rose
I could feel her body with my eyes
I wanted to hold her hands
and to touch her hair
Her warmth caressed me like a hundred pleasant dreams
I stared
and my heart fluttered
Like migratory birds
in search ofwarmer lands
She was walking
Away
My heart sank
Like the chill of autumn
through falling leaves
In The Blink Of An Eye
Sarah Smith
Electrical tape wall art by Benjamin Murphy (see Tina, We Salute You p1 4)
11
In the spirit of encouraging and promoting
emerging talent we could think of few better
organisations than Theatretrain to encapsulate
what that means in practical terms and the
nearest centre is a short journey up Lea Bridge
Road in Leytonstone.
The unique thing about Theatretrain is the fact
that it is open to anyone
aged between 6 and 18.
No auditions, no threat
of rejection. Children of
all abilities are
welcome and they can
all benefit from expressing their own
creativity. What's more, all students take part
in all ofTheatretrain's shows.
Self-confidence, self-determination, personal
fulfilment - all these things can flow from the
experience of working
creatively within an
expertly supervised group
to bring to life a
performance which each
member of the team has
helped to shape, mould and
perfect.
Through drama, dance and
singing, each group moves
towards a performance at
local, national or even
international level, whilst
coming to see the world
through a new lens.
As an Arts Council policy document on the
subject rightly points out ". . .Drama helps us to
make sense of the world."
Approximately 10%-20% of those who attend
Theatretrain courses go on to enjoy a career in
some aspect of the profession, which is
important as it provides a different and,
perhaps, less formal
pathway into the
industry. But it is the
other 80-90% who we
think are the most
important as they will
have felt the thrill of public performance,
experienced at first hand the discipline and
skills required and enjoyed the incredible
satisfaction of achieving those personal goals.
Theatretrain courses are not just about the
“Drama helps us to make
sense of the world”
The Arts Council
12
blogs.artandabout.co.uk/theatretrainblogs.artandabout.co.uk/stokenewington
obvious things, though. The training develops
other important life skills - public speaking,
team work, interview techniques - building the
confidence of even the
shyest children.
Not only that, it
provides each and every
one of them with a
deeper understanding of
the performing arts and,
we hope, an
appreciation of their
cultural importance in
maintaining a balanced
and thoughtful society.
Art & About is principally engaged in helping
provide platforms for new work but that
doesn't mean we are not keen to champion
those who simply want an opportunity to
express themselves - in fact we see the two as
inseperable. Theatretrain ticks all those boxes
by providing the opportunity for anyone to get
involved.
Theatretrain charge
fees for their courses
but these can be
assisted for those on
lower incomes.
For more general
information and a
prospectus, check out
the Theatretrain
website at:
www. theatretrain. co . uk or email
walthamforest@theatretrain. co . uk
for information on the Leytonstone school.
13
14
Andrew McDonaldAbstract ArtistBenjamin MurphyElectrical Tape Artist
One of the most exciting things about the Art
& About project is unearthing gems like Tina,
We Salute You and witnessing the endlessly
creative ways the arts are being offered up for
our enjoyment.
Steve and Danny set up this intimate cafe a
few years back and always wanted to have art
on the walls. At this point, however, you need
to put any preconceived ideas to one side -
this place gives the term 'art on the walls' a
whole new meaning. The artists literally paint
directly onto the walls and their work is then
painted over by the next artist and so on.
Initial experiments with 'live' creations, at
which the customers went about their
afternoon libations while the artist got to
work on the walls, proved impractical so the
artists are now given the keys to the cafe on a
Monday morning and given total freedom to
work their magic. "It's wonderful", beamed
Steve, "it's not just a surprise to for the
customers, it's a surprise for us as well."
A combination of good instincts
and astute choices have ensured
that so far this approach has
never backfired. Steve insists
that it's not about what he and
Danny like, it's about keeping
the work varied, keeping it
interesting and making sure it
feels right for the cafe. It's an
approach that appears to be
working.
The work that is currently on
the walls belongs to Andrew
McDonald. Originally from
Art On The Walls
Benjamin Murphy
Andrew McDonald
New Zealand, he has lived and worked in
London since 1986. His work is partly
concerned with autobiography and his
upbringing in rural New
Zealand.
This comes through not just
in the content of the work
but also in his attraction to
bold colours and a sense of
grand design. It will vanish
off the walls some time
between August 7th and the
15th so go and see it while
you can.
Replacing Andrew's work
will be the extraordinary
electrical tape designs of
Benjamin Murphy. He quite
literally creates artworks by
sticking electrical tape on
the walls with fascinatingly edgy results.
A
lthough Benjamin specialises in live art he
apparently also like "pens and books and cats".
His work has appeared in many diverse places
such as the Font Bar on
Oxford Road (see page11 ),
the Relentless Nass festival
in Somerset and the Lowry
Outlet Mall ("probably my
favourite so far").
It all started with Steve and
Danny selling cup cakes in
an east end market.
Now, Tina, We Salute You is
spearheading something ofa
revival in the reinvention of
the mural - a kind ofBanksy
meets the Rennaissance,
where street art and gallery
art meet in a fuzzy grey area
that throws up a succession of
delightful surprises.
more about Tina, We Salute You @ blogs.artandabout.co.uk/tina
020 7582 1 478
Benjamin Murphy
47 King Henry’s Walk, London, N1 4HN
Tel: 020 311 9 0047
Email : [email protected]
Monday – closed
Tuesday – Friday 8am – 7pm
Saturday 9am – 7pm
Sunday 1 0am – 7pm
16
Nude In Grass by Phil Miller (see Lemon Monkey feature p4)
Wall hanging by Andrew McDonald @ Tina, We Salute You (see p14)
17
Joe Lovano 2
One ofa series of live gig-paintings by Gina Southgate
TThhee CCoommeeddyy CCaaffee
This has to be the offer of the summer.
Celebrating 21 years in Shoreditch, the
Comedy Cafe is offering an Unlimited
Summer Pass for just
£19. The pass gives you
free access to all shows at
the Comedy Cafe until
September 7th.
Given that the normal
price for a Saturday night
show alone is £16.. .well,
I'll let you do the maths.
Obviously, the sooner
you get your pass, the
more shows you can see and the bigger the
return on your modest investment. It's mad.
And so will you be if you don't take advantage
of such wild generosity.
The Comedy Cafe is the daddy of London
comedy clubs and one of the best. One of the
additional appeals to us here at Art & About is
the way in which the club has consistently
championed new acts under the guidance of
founder and owner Noel Faulkner. Giving new
talent a chance is the cornerstone of the whole
Art & About project so we were delighted to
highlight the Comedy Cafe. Be aware, though,
that the weekly New Act Nights (every
Wednesday) are always incredibly popular so
you'd need to get there early - which in itself is
a refreshing fact in this era of celebrity
saturation.
There's plenty to look forward to between now
and September 7th (and beyond, of course),
including Paul Piri ("the stand-out star of the
night; a Frankie Boyle you
could actually book" -
Steve Bennett) , Mickey
Sharma ("Star of the future
and future is so near, I can
touch it" - Steve Harris)
and Ian Cognito (". .a
compelling anarchy.." - Jay
Richardson), to name but
three of the dozens of acts
on offer.
One particular evening that takes my fancy is
Thursday, August 11 th when Paul Pirie and
Prince Abdi share the bill with Ryan Cull and
Matthew Osbourne. The word from people in
the know is that Prince Abdi is one to look out
for. A new comic, hailing from Somalia, he
was a finalist in the 2007 Chortle student
comedy awards and more recently runner-up
in this year's Hackney Empire New Act of the
Year Award. Looks like a good night, so make
sure you get your Summer Pass in good time.
The Comedy Cafe has a reputation as being
the venue performers most love to play. This is
no mean achievement when you consider it
has been the much loved hang-out for the likes
of Eddie Izzard, Mark Lamarr and Jo Brand. A
hugely laid back and intimate space that has
been uniquely built-for-purpose, it's well
"Abdi's boundless energy and well-crafted punchlines eased the crowdinto the comedy nicely." Corry Shaw - Chortle.co.uk(see Prince Abdi @ the Comedy Cafe - Friday, August 11 th)
Make sure you take advantage of this incredible'season ticket' offer
18
worth sampling this summer.. . .several times,
in fact. You never know, you might be
witnessing a star in the making (and helping
them along the way).
The Comedy Cafe @www.comedycafe.co.ukStoke Newington &Shoreditch [email protected]andabout.co.uk/stokenewington/events
Thu 11th Aug 2011'Best in Stand Up!'Ryan CullPaul PirieMatthew OsbournePrince AbdiFri 12th Aug 2011
'Thank XXXX for FunnyBusiness!'TBCRyan CullPaul PirieKevin Eldon
Sat 13th Aug 2011'Party Night Comedy & Disco'TBCRyan CullPaul PiriePrince Abdi
Prince Abdi
As we mentioned in the editorial on page 3,
people's perceptions of what constitutes
emerging talent varies dramatically. Some
would argue that in the world of jazz even
becoming an established artist is still a world
away from the fame and wealth offered by
their more mainstream rock and pop
counterparts. We like to keep an open mind.
So does the Vortex.
Although the majority of their programme
consists ofwell established names on the
jazz scene, they do a lot to promote new talent
- their only proviso being that they're good
enough. The Vortex also run regular nights
outside of the jazz genre such as the ever
eclectic Exotic Pylon residency and and the
new Electronic Music Series running monthly.
Upcoming gigs include Max Tundra and
Infinite Livez on 5th August as well as Andy
Stott on 12th August and Neil Landstrumm on
19th August.
The kind of talent that they're especially keen
to promote, though, are those artists who have
the respect of their peers and critics but have
yet to fully break into the 'big time' in jazz
circles. Artists on the cusp. We'll be
highlighting two such artists in this article, the
Elan Mehler Trio and Sarah Gillespie.
The Elan Mehler trio eschew drums, or any
other form of percussion in favour of allowing
the waves of interlocking chords and the
intricate and dream-like melodies to create
their own, less urgent, momentum. Somehow
managing to fuse a classical precision with a
jazz-oriented spontaneity, Elan Mehler exists
in a fascinating world of his own that makes
for a compelling musical journey.
Sarah Gillespie, by contrast, is a young singer
songwriter who is half American, half
English, who has already made an impact with
her first album called ‘Stalking Juliet’ . The
album, which was produced and arranged by
the famous anti-Zionist musician Gilad
Atzmon and consists of titles like ‘Ahmed and
Dangerous’ and ‘Call Me Stupid, Ungrateful,
Vicious and Insatiable,’ received rave reviews.
Gillespie is not a protest singer, but rather she
is singer who is unusually intelligent and
reflects the fast paced global environment
through her poetic lyrics. Her voice can be
soft and sometimes sensitive, but there is also
a raw edge there. The songs and music are an
urban mix of different cultures and rhythms, a
"Building a productive relationship between two genres of music thatfew jazz artists other than Bill Frisell have managed to splice."The Guardian on Elan Mehler
20
RRIISSIINNGG SSTTAARRSSiinn tthheejjaazzzz ffiirrmmaammeennttatThe VortexElan Mehler TrioAugust 14th
Sarah Gillespie & Gilad AtzmonSeptember 29th
Elan Mehler
result of growing up in a melting pot of
multiculturalism.
Acclaimed accordion, clarinet and sax player
Gilad Atzmon, former member of the
Blockheads and described by John Lewis in
the Guardian as the “hardest-gigging man in
British jazz" produced Gillespie's debut album
and is a member of her band.
Both Elan Mehler and Sarah Gillespie enjoy
the critical accolades of their peers and that is a
reflection of their exciting and unique talents,
and yet they are still very much at the beginning
of their journeys.
Some ofthe references to Sarah Gillespie's work
have been taken from this article (with thanks)
http://arabnews. com/lifestyle/art_culture/article
40153. ece
Elan Mehler Triohttp://www.elanmehler.com/Sarah Gillespiehttp://sarahgillespie.com/
Sarah Gillespie
"She's an incandescent new presence who matchesher imposing delivery with superior lyrics"John Fordham - The Guardian
020 7254 4097www.wegottickets.com
11 Gil lett Square, London N1 6 8AZ
www.vortexjazz.co.uk
I wanted to write about these two because of
the way in which my experiences of them and
their work and philosophies both contrast with
and compliment one another.
I've known Andy for many years and I've been
following his development ever since I first
saw him perform at one of our first Platform
events in the now (sadly) defunct Plough Inn,
Walthamstow.
His talent shone through
the raw material and the
promise was clear.
Lexi James Jr., on the other
hand is completely new to
me but crept on to my
radar as an indirect result
of meeting Andy all those
years ago. This is how life
works. Matt Secrett,
Andy's brother, plays
guitar in her band. "He's an
incredible musician, I’m crap at playing the
guitar so always feel embarrassed playing him
rubbish and he just totally gets it. Within
minutes he’s playing it totally amazingly -
better than I could imagine and I’m always
like ‘wow that sounds so cool! '"
Both are putting the finishing touches to new
sets ofmaterial. Both will be performing at the
Lemon Monkey on September 2nd.
Andy's songs have always been self-reflective,
an expression of what's going on inside his
head and this latest set continues that theme,
inspired by the things he experiences and his
responses to them. His soulful delivery and
bluesy voice compliment the new songs
perfectly. He has found himself through his
music, which is, I suppose, what he was
always striving for.
"I guess as an artist I'm kind of a walking
contradiction; I could be described as overly
self indulgent by some," he casts a sardonic
smile in my direction but I sidestep it with
some nifty footwork, "but i like the feeling
that people are enjoying what i do and
empathising with it." His new work is tighter
than he has been in the past and in some
respects more direct, particularly in songs like
the excellent 'Money Walks', a song for our
times if ever there was one.
LLeexxii JJaammeess JJrr
22
"bottled and blondewith a slapped on smile,polite to the point of being vile"Lexi James Jr
Lexi James Jr is all about being direct. Owning
one of the most powerful voices ever to shatter
an eardrum, her new songs take no prisoners
and don't let anyone off the hook, especially
herself.
Having quit a 'dream job' that turned out to be
anything but, she took a job she didn't care
about and focussed on her music.
"I had a bit of a life crisis. I was so unhappy
that I was just getting wasted all the time. I
was depressed and had low self esteem and it
was during this transition that a lot of the
lyrics came about. ‘Thought that, there would
be, opportunity waiting for me, believed that I
would reach the top, the world was my oyster,
now its not’ . That's pretty typical."
I haven't seen her on stage but I have been
lucky enough to hear the rushes from her
rehearsals and it is mighty powerful stuff.
"My motto when on stage is that you look
more stupid if you don’t go for it- so I think
I’m quite brave with my performance and I
always give it 1 00%". If the rehearsal tapes
are anything to go by I can vouch for that.
Curiously, there are hints of more eclectic and
ephemeral mood pieces in amongst the
spikiness so this could be a truly fascinating
new set. Lemon Monkey on September 2nd is
the debut gig for Lexi James Jr - a rare
opportunity for you to be able to say, 'I was
there at the beginning'.
As a post script - "Can I put in a quick plug for
the choir?" Alex enthuses. " I joined the
amazing 24 piece alt-indie choir Gaggle when
I was 26- so far we have played at Somerset
House, Reading/Leeds, Bestival, Big Chill,
Lattitude etc. They've done a reinterpretation
of 'The Brilliant And The Dark' - a 1969
feminist opera; we are performing it at the
Royal Albert Hall in September." Check it out.
But check them both out at Lemon Monkey
first.
more artists @ blogs.artandabout.co.uk/artists
more about Andy Secrett @ blogs.artandabout.co.uk/andysecrett
more about Lexi James Jr @ blogs.artandabout.co.uk/lexijamesjr
AAnnddyy SSeeccrreetttt
How do we differentiate between who is
deemed to be emerging and who is
established? Originally, we took the view that
as soon as an artist is able to earn a living
wage from their art they are effectively
'established'. It was interesting, then, to hear
the diversity of views on this.
For instance, when we asked the Comedy Cafe
what they thought, they told us that comics
weren't perceived as having established
themselves until they had broken into
television. The fact that some did indeed make
a decent living doing the club circuit was
irrelevant. Their industry has its own
yardstick.
Taking that idea a step further, The Vortex play
host to many performers who have established
themselves in terms of critical acclaim and the
respect of their peers but whose careers they
clearly still regard as emerging within a wider
context.
That context is the music industry. The fame
and fortune afforded the mainstream successes
in the pop and rock arenas is a long way
removed from the more rarified world of jazz..
Ipso facto, you have to do more, put yourself
out there more, make yourself more visible. In
the niche markets the
struggle to survive is
ongoing.
The Vortex do try to
cover all bases,
though, with their
new Electronic Music
series and their
partnerships with collectives such as LOOP
and F-ire, both of which contain many of the
up and coming talents in the London jazz
scene.
At the other end of the spectrum there are
places like Theatretrain who believe that
everyone has a talent that can be nurtured.
That's not to say that everyone will choose to
make a career out of that talent but they would
argue that personal development is the key
factor, here, and that getting involved in
something creative doesn't always have to be
passive, a view that we share (see our 'Let's
Write A Novel' project on p26).
Their starting point is that everyone is good
enough and they prove it by making sure that
everyone ends up playing a part in a public
performance.
Whichever view you subscribe to, the fact is
that there are tens of thousands of creative
people out there, some taking their first
tentative steps, some trying to find their own
unique voice and many who have found that
24
tell us what you think@ blogs.artandabout.co.uk/emergingtalentWhat is Emerging Talent?
The Lemon Monkees (above)
Gas-station, Spain by Phil Miller
(left)
Art & Design, Fashion, Media, Performing Arts
Turn That Dream
Into A Reality
ENROL NOW
Check our website atwww.waltham.ac.uk
Dedicated Specialist Staff, Superb Facilities, Exciting CoursesForest Road, Walthamstow, London E17 4JB
Call Now on 020 8501 8501 or email [email protected] and now need someone to hear it. What
we believe is irrefutable, is that through their
successes and sometimes because of their
failures, the world is made a richer place and
for that alone we should offer them our
support. Increasingly, the state can't or won't
do this, so more than ever it's down to us to
make sure that these bold experiments
continue to colour our world so that we
continue to enjoy them.
find out more about the Art & About project@ blogs.artandabout.co.uk
find artists@ blogs.artandabout.co.uk/artists
25
Although our main aim at Art & About is to
encourage and promote new artists, to use the
word in it's most general sense, we also want
to encourage people to get involved and be
creative themselves.
It is indisputably therapeutic to read, to listen
to music, to
visit art
galleries, and so
on, these things
enrich us, make
us think, offer
us new
perspectives on
life. What they
don't do is offer
us the
opportunity to
express
ourselves.
With this in
mind, Art &
About plans to
initiate a range
of projects
covering the
whole range of
creative
endeavour. The first of these is the
'Let's Write A Novel' project.
Here's the idea. A group of 10 or 12
people join a workshop run by Art &
About. Over a period of 6 months and with the
guidance of guest writers, the group will 'team
write' a novel.
The way they organise themselves, who writes
what and what they write about, will be
decided in the early stages. The end result will
then be published as a short print run and
publicised through the Art & About magazine
and website.
I can imagine the snorts of derision from
certain literary quarters but there is a recent
precedent, the crime thriller 'No Rest For The
Dead' published by Simon &
Schuster, which was penned by no
less than 26 different authors.
Granted, they were all experts in
their field, but hey, this is more
about the process than the product.
We're busy hunting down writers
willing to lead you through the
woods and snickets of literary
enlightenment (betraying my
northern roots, there) and we hope
to offer an exciting and enjoyable
way of exploring the process of
writing and to have fun as part of a social
group with a purpose.
If you're interested in signing up, full details
and costs can be found at blogs.art-and-
about.co.uk/lets-write.
find out more @ blogs.artandabout.co.uk/letswrite26
Let's Write A Novel
blogs.artandabout.co.uk/stokenewington27
RREECCOOMMMMEENNDDEEDD LLIINNKKSS AAuuggOOcctt 22001111
LEMON MONKEY www.lemonmonkey.co.uk/PHIL MILLER www.philmillerphotography.com/AMY GRACE http://uk.myspace.com/graceamyFRUITFUL EARTH uk.myspace.com/thefruitfulearthLEXI JAMES JR blogs.artandabout.co.uk/lexjamesjrANDY SECRETT blogs.artandabout.co.uk/andysecrettOF CABBAGES & KINGS www.ofcabbages.co.uk/THE CINNAMON LOUNGE www.cinnamonlounge.bizGINA SOUTHGATE artistginasouthgate.weebly.comTHEATRETRAIN www.theatretrain.co.ukTINA, WE SALUTE YOU tinawesaluteyou.comANDREW McDONALD andrewmcdonald.co.uk/BENJAMIN MURPHY www.alldestructo.blogspot.comTHE COMEDY CAFE www.comedycafe.co.ukTHE VORTEX www.vortexjazz.co.ukELAN MEHLER www.elanmehler.comSARAH GILLESPIE sarahgillespie.comTHE LOOP COLLECTIVE www.loopcollective.org/THE FIRE COLLECTIVE www.fire.com
28
Fruitful Earth Fri Aug 5th@ Lemon MonkeyOf Cabbages & Kings Market Sat/Sun Aug 6th/7th@ Abney Hall 73A Church StBenjamin Murphy Tue Aug 9th or 16th (tbc)opening @ Tina, We Salute YouBest In StandUp (feat. Prince Abdi) Thu Aug 11th@ Comedy CafeAmy Grace Fri Aug 12th@ Lemon MonkeyParty Night (feat. Prince Abdi) Sat Aug 13th@ Comedy CafeElan Mehler Trio Sun Aug 14th@ The VortexPhil Miller Photographer Thu Aug 18thopening @ Lemon MonkeyNeil Landstrumm Fri Aug 19th@ The VortexLexi James Jr/ Andy Secrett Fri Sept 2nd@ Lemon MonkeyOf Cabbages & Kings Market Sat/Sun Sept 3rd/4th
Courses start Sat Sept 10th@ TheatretrainGina Southgate Artist Thu Sept 22ndopening @ The Cinnamon LoungeSarah Gillespie & Gilad Atzmon Thu Sept 29th@ The VortexOf Cabbages & Kings Market Sat/Sun Oct 1st/ 2nd
SSEELLEECCTTEEDD EEVVEENNTTSS LLIISSTTIINNGG AAuuggOOcctt 22001111
more events listed@ blogs.artandabout.co.uk/stokenewington/events
All events are subject to potential changes. Please check with the venue.
If you have chanced upon Kings Place on York
Way, King’s Cross, you will realise that apart
from being home to the Guardian and
Observer offices it offers a curious mix of 21 st
century architecture, state-of-the-art concert
halls, art galleries, a café as well as a canalside
bar and restaurant. In September Kings Place
celebrates its third anniversary with a rich
cultural smorgasbord of emerging talent across
a range of music and spoken word styles. The
unique formula of 100 concerts in four days
has proved a hit, with audience numbers
steadily growing each year. With all tickets
priced at just £4.50 online, the idea is to give
the audience a series of exciting speed dates
with the annual cultural programme.
The festival provides a showcase for the year
round music programme, which cultivates a
host of nightly strands that includes spoken
word, contemporary music, comedy, jazz, folk
and classical music. Meanwhile the mini-series
offer a run of concerts over four nights
organised around a central theme, cast of
performers or composers. The venue strives to
strike a balance between established artists as
well as exploring obscure musical styles and
musicians, allowing facets of them to be
exposed in a way that they might not be
otherwise.
One of the focuses for the festival comes from
the Berlin-based music curator extraordinaire
Phil Venables, who will transform the concert
foyer into a music-making extravaganza. In
collaboration with dancer-choreographer Lucia
Tong, this brand new festival installation uses
the human body to create music with an
innovative contact dance floor. Visitors will be
able to try out their dance moves on the touch-
sensitive surface that responds to every
movement and create music with sound
samples made from amplified sounds of
movement and voice. This unique fusion of
music and movement will enable dancers to
play the floor with their body.
Flying the classical music flag, there are
talented young instrumentalists from the
Orchestra for the Age of Enlightenment’s
apprenticeship scheme, the Ann and Peter Law
OAE Experience for young players, in
programmes devised by OAE Leader Margaret
Faultless. This promises to be an unparalleled
opportunity not only to hear tomorrow’s stars
today, but to enjoy some of the most inspiredContact Dancefloor
Experience a harmonious revolutionin King’s Cross
The OAE Experienc for young players
pieces from CPE Bach, Haydn and Mozart,
including the latter’s famous Symphony No.
40.
World-class soloists from the classical world
bring masterworks of the Baroque, Classical
Russian Romantic and modern French
repertoires, while the fabulous Sacconi and
Brodsky Quartets respectively explore the
great piano quintets and Britten’s musical
influences in six imaginative events.
Celebrated pianists David Greilsammer, Ivana
Gavrić, William Howard and Martino Tirimo
present a delectable menu of music from Bach
to Debussy, Janáček to Feldman.
For something completely different check out
the Chiptune artists Shirobon, Sabrepulse and
Henry Homesweet who take Game Boy
technology, live visuals, and glitch video
images along with circuit bent hardware to
bring an exciting new energetic sound.
Jazz stars include Robert Mitchell, Burton
Bradstock, John Etheridge and MooV, while
highlights of the folk programme will be Kris
Drever, Jim Moray, The Shee, Mawkin and
the Monster Ceilidh Band to name but a few.
The inimitable John Hegley and Adam Buxton
represent the comedy programme, whilst you
can go behind the scenes at the Guardian for
Meet the Journalist with some of the paper’s
best writers, while for younger readers there
are two high profile Puffin books authors
Jeremy Strong and Charlie Higson.
There are family events, with the enterprising
Aurora Orchestra teaming up with The Little
Angel Theatre to produce Mozart with
Puppets, adventures in poetry with Apples and
Snakes, a vibrant programme of a cappella and
classical Indian dance. The free foyer events
include up-and-coming young a cappella
sensation Apollo 5 who have already garnered
praise for their eye-catching performances of
classical, jazz and pop arrangements.
Alongside its performances, the group is
involved in educational work as well as
collaborating with Red Balloon learner centres
for the recovery of bullied children.
As one reviewer recently put it, Kings Place
has ‘cornered the London market in boutique
music programming.’ Clear your diary and
experience London’s exciting new cultural
landmark in all its glory.
www.kingsplace.co.uk/festival
KINGS PLACE FESTIVAL8 11 September 2011
100 Performances in 4 DaysAll tickets just £4.50 online +many free events!
Sabrepulse