A 'Bonding' Experience At Club Pedestal

Andy Warhol tried to create a whole coterie of superstars, glamorous creations of stick-on eyelashes and sequins whispering like ghosts in the perfumed squalor of some downtown lower east side warehouse, grooving to choppy tunes like seasick sailors. Now I don't know for a fact what that whole scene was like, but I've glided on the third rail of deranged weekends enough in my life to be able to make an educated guess. Kind of reminds me of Club Pedestal, albeit in a more controlled way, like sexual deviancy for the beginner.

In the hipster hotbed of Old Street stands that staunch nineteen eighties reject the Aquarium. This venue has seen the demolition ball standing idly by for some time, always finding a reprieve and new hope so in those terms holding a marginal bdsm event within its Thatcherite hold feels quite right, it gives it that whole magisterial last ever night on earth feel. Club Pedestal is held once every three months, and is a gathering point for patrons of this lifestyle but in a safe consensual way. Only be warned, it's not to everybody's tastes. I have to admit I spent the first hour and a half openly bad mouthing hordes of leather clad men, writhing around on the floor and kissing the statuesque high heels of their mistresses, their faces simply frozen in ecstasy at the degradation - different strokes (pun intended) for different folks.

Now I'm all for equality between the sexes, hell if I was a chick I would have burned my bra long ago, grew my armpit-hair and displayed my Amelia Earhart tattoo with pride as I slipped a chubby arm over my slim girlfriend (because I would be a lesbian off course). And I am an ardent admirer of the female form, particularly ones poured into tight pvc like a second skin (which there were obviously lots off at the club), but seeing them parade guys on leashes like pets and then using their mouths as ashtrays was a tad unusual for a working class kid from south London. It resembled a scene from Dante's seventh circle of hell but in reverse, as scores of people were writhing around on the floor flapping like dying fish but moaning in pleasure, literally a carpet of flesh. I would heartily recommend this place for our female readers though, how empowering it must be to have guys flocking at your feet begging you to allow them the honour of licking the dirt from the soles of your shoes - the ultimate girls night out I would say. And for the fellas, well all I can say was the women were as intoxicating as sin, floating on worshipful gazes and on the butterfly flap of sexual energy.

The parade thickened around 11pm and the club started groaning from the almost lopsided frenzy of its patrons, as the heat fell from the DJ like hot butter (nice mixture of tunes, everything from industial dance to goth) and the jerky epileptic lights started seeping beyond optics to the very cortexes of everybody grazing in pastures of lust around the club, I found myself digging the entertainment. I mean you may go into this thinking of it as an exclusive scene, closed off and mistrustful of strangers, like a redneck with a shotgun on his porch, but the openly friendly manner of everybody took me unawares. Sure I did get accused of showing one particular "mistress" disrespect, but I'm not involved in this scene, and as such obviously find it hard to know their rules. But as an (almost) passive observer I enjoyed myself (drinks are a little expensive though).

I'm not here to knock anybody's lifestyle, perhaps my own eyes were opened by the manner of more marginal lifestyles juxtaposed within the reams of reality, a point glaringly illustrated to me when, deep in conversation with a serving Afghan squaddie, while being told about the claustrophobic realities of war, he suddenly stopped, looked at his watch then proceeded to turn white as a ghost. "Oh no" he said "I'm late for my mistress, and she needs her foot stool!" With that this war hero ran off to crouch at the feet of his mistress for the next hour.

By Charles Malakos

For more info on Club Pedestal, visit www.clubpedestal.com

Mannix Street Preachers

The Albany, Deptford, London, 25th January 2008

I find myself in an uncaring corner of South London musing over poetry. I'm pretty conflicted with this as a form, I mean how art thou art blah blah blah, dead art form right? Sure, sceptics all around internet land are screaming into their herbal teas "yeah but what about Byron, the first rock star, or Wilfred Owen and his harrowing war stories?" Yeah, yeah, i heard it all before, and flouncing around with baggy shirt sleeves shagging your sister (deranged rock 'n roller I'll admit) or getting your head blown off by the "hun", tragic as it is doesn't make it an artform. I've read Byron, and let's face it he was no Thom Yorke, he didn't twiddle frequencies of overnourished angst within me, or find a pressure valve of release causing me to float backstroke on swampy warm seas of treacle (must have been stoned or drunk when I first heard kid a).

Anyway, Deptford, cold Wednesday night. I'm stood in a spit and sawdust boozer, minus the spit and sawdust. At least the chalky smoky atmosphere is still intact, particularly as I see most of the patrons are eschewing the smoking ban and exhaling happily to the yellowed ceiling. I'm here with an artist friend of mine who is literally coming in his pants as he recounts all the names on the bill - I forget them as soon as I hear them. A pofaced wizard Gandalph wannabe is flouncing around spreading good luck spells and cough germs far into the sweaty pub, he sees me spill my drink and rattles around me offering good karma incantations. I kindly explain to him that I'm making a collection of bad karma and am looking for one final big score. Fortunately before he can speak again we are motioned to our seats by a huge blast of atonal jazz.

The first spoken word act on is my old friend Gandalf, whispering away in a sexless Welsh accent some poem about the drudgery of the workplace. My god this guy is killing me, it reminds me of the time as an overeager 19 year old I found myself joining the socialist workers party. This reject from Arthur Scargill's ball busters conscripted me, painting a picture of fighting and looting, continually smashing his knuckles into his hand for extra emphasis. Yes, thought I, a chance to shine a light into this monochrone world, disrupt the status quo. I didn't know what they were fighting for, but it sure would piss people off. So I went to this first meeting full of bile and piss and redenned forehead, only to be greeted by the sight of this army of fabled change, which consisted of a middle aged woman with the most rotten teeth I have ever beheld (which she insisted on constantly flashing to me), a short-sighted university dropout who believed in female dominance and enjoyed a fine line of cardigans which were apparently knitted with no anatomical knowledge whatsoever by Mrs rotten teeth, Mr smash fist in hand and myself, a 19 year old kid who really only ever wanted to get laid and steal your car.

This Gandalf guy was making me have the same feelings. Nevertheless, dear reader, for you I stayed, rummaging through seaside postcard sauciness, poems about cats and vet bills, the goalkeeper Pat Jennings (cool guy, cool poem) and perhaps the coup de grace, some guy wearing an alien face mask while intoning haikus.

Intermission came and went, as I found myself pissing out the scotch and pear cider chasers I'd found myself dabbling in. Now even I had heard of John Clarke, probably London's central mover and groover within this scene, hell I'm surprised they haven't printed up 'I'm with John Clarke' t-shirts yet, that's how central the guy is. Anyway he took the stage, shaking his long hair, wizened and frozen white with age, but his words spat out like mini dervishes, cascading through the talentless and barren room like a machine gun in the hands of a fire and brimstone piss artist his poems cut in shards. But like a fine bottle of whiskey, it ended too soon, and the man took a bow, walked off the stage, and seemed frail and spent. Later, drinking together, I asked him if this was a dead art form? "Nah" he answered, "words outlive us all. I mean after all, they outlived Byron."

By Charles Malakos

Blue Mondays

Let’s face it: Mondays tend to get the better of us all. After a shambolic weekend simple tasks like getting up from the bed and facing the new week of fresh, exciting opportunities can seem an ordeal even to the most optimistic minds. Monday has not traditionally offered any great excuses to leave important matters from your ‘to do’ list until tomorrow in the same way as, for instance, Fridays. London’s nightlife is not packed with thrilling events on Mondays; you really need to research intensively to find something reasonable to do. Not to worry; there is a safety haven in the heart of East London for people who would much rather escape the unbearable reality of the start of the week. This safety haven, brothers and sisters, is known as the Rhythm Factory’s eccentric open mic venue Spoonful of Poison.

The concept is simple: those with any talent can perform whether it is stand up comedy, poetry, music or things beyond human imagination –as long as they arrive before eight o’clock and put their names down on the sheet of paper located at the bar. Spoonful of Poison is not destructive towards anybody’s finances either; entry fees will not be charged and beverages are cheap. If you are not an aspirant artist of any kind you should show up any time between half eight and half eleven as that is the designated time slot for top quality performances. The variety of performers is extraordinary; you could end up witnessing anything from trombone poetry to the resurrected Sex Pistols; from a guy playing his game console to rising stand up comedy stars. It is not only the performers on stage that will take your breath away; the audience occasionally consists of intriguing regular characters and amusing hecklers. The cherry on the top of this delicious serving is the pleasant master of ceremonies, Mr. Spoon whose cockney niceness is beyond compare. It is indeed worth seeing and wondering how he manages to keep the circus together week after week without ever growing bitter. The next Monday you plan to take your own life; why bother? Just head down to Whitechapel High Street, kick back and enjoy the show.

For more info visit www.rhythmfactory.co.uk

By Laura Rosten

UK Asian Music Awards

For the first time B4U Music, the number one Asian Channel in the UK has teamed up with the premier event for the UK Asian Music scene, the UK Asian Music Awards. With only a few weeks to go, the organisers have been busy putting together a fantastic show to celebrate and honour the best in the industry with exciting performances and great celebrity guests and hosts.

Taking place at Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall on Thursday 6^th March, the awards ceremony which promises to be even bigger and better than previous years will be hosted by West End star Priya Kalidas (pictured) alongside B4U Music VJ Salil, who will be flying in from Mumbai for the show.

Attendees to the event will be treated to performances by some of the UK’s finest Asian musical talent and also a few international artists. Performances on the night will include; North American hip hop artists Blitzkrieg, Roachkilla and Kidd Skilly with Surinder Rattan, D-Boy featuring Swiss and V Dubl E, Dutch singer Imran Khan, RnB sensation Jay Sean, Singer-songwriter Karen David, Punjabi singer Lehmber Hussainpuri, Punjabi Hit Squad featuring Alyssia, girl group Serese, the Shaanti Collective with The Kalyan, Sona Family, Bollywood producers Trickbaby and Rishi Rich will be closing the show with a special performance with Veronica, Mumzy and H Dhami.

After months of public voting via the official website www.theukama.com, the winners will finally be announced and presented with their awards by a whole host of celebrity guest presenters. Awards will be awarded for Best Album, Best Act, Best Female Act, Best Underground Act, Best Video, Best International Act, Best Newcomer, Best Producer, Best Club DJ, Best Urban Act, Best Radio Show and Best Website. Special awards on the night include Commitment to the Scene and Outstanding Achievement.

B4U Music is the official presenting partner for the event. The channel will be exclusively capturing all the excitement at the event; the big performances, the acceptance speeches and interviews with the winners and performers on the night for a special programme to be aired on B4U Music later in the month. On the partnership, Bala Iyer, Head of Business B4U Network Europe says, “We believe that B4U Music plays a pivotal role in the Asian music industry worldwide, therefore we are pleased to be involved in an event that promotes and celebrates the talent in UK and abroad.”

Promising to be an exciting event, with top performances, great music and celebrities, the UK Asian Music Awards is an event not to be missed. For tickets please visit www.theukama.com

Gig Review: Beth Rowley At Cherry Jam

First things first - I'd never heard of Beth Rowley. So going along to Cherry Jam (Porchester Road, London) last Tuesday evening was a bit of a shot in the dark. The night started well with genial warm-up act Jon Allen, whose biggest claim to fame is having a song (called Going Home) which featured in a recent Land Rover ad. Allen's sound is reminiscent of a young James Taylor, and he managed to easily hold the attention of a sparse crowd. Unfortunately for Allen, the London gig scene is awash with twentysomething, guitar-strumming singer-songwriters, and as such he may struggle to stand out from the crowd.

After Allen's exit, the room suddenly filled to capacity with the entrance of Beth Rowley and her 8 piece band. She entered to a cacophony of whoops and cheers, and from the off it was clear to see her fans are onto something. Her whole persona is that of a rather shy, innocent girl who, behind the mop of blonde curls and coquettish hand gestures, knows exactly what she's doing. Her band were great, particularly Ben Castle (son of Roy) on the Sax. It's so refreshing to see a band of this number and this talent in a venue of this size - and the addition of a couple of backing singers worked wonders. For me, the highlight of the set was a cover of Bob Dylan's I Shall Be Released, a toe-tapper in the truest sense. Other highs included the first single, Oh My Life, and the stupendously soulful Led Zeppelin cover Nobody's Fault But Mine.

Beth Rowley is due to support David Gray on his new tour, a slot that is sure to swell her army of fans. She's a singer on the verge of big things, and as Duffy and Adele have recently proved, the public's appetite for soulful songstresses has never been stronger.

Beth Rowley's Myspace
Jon Allen's Myspace

Public Art Through The Lens

ArtOutside, which takes place on Thursday, 28th November, is an initiative aimed at celebrating all aspects of public art in Wales and coincides with the launch of the name and identity for the new public art organisation in Wales.

The naming of the new organisation marks the completion of merger formalities between two of Wales' leading public arts organisations, CBAT, the Arts & Regeneration Agency and Cywaith Cymru - Artworks Wales, which have up to now been operating under the temporary name of Public Art Wales. This merger was funded with a Lottery grant by the Arts Council of Wales which also facilitated the project.

As part of the ArtOutside celebrations, an online photographic forum has been launched in association with the award-winning Big Art Mob initiative - part of Channel 4's Big Art Project. Budding amateur photographers from across Wales and beyond are asked to add their own photographic images of their favourite public artworks in Wales to the ArtOutside forum on the Big Art Mob website - www.bigartmob.com/blog/artoutside.

The best images, selected by a panel of distinguished public art and photographic experts, will be announced on Thursday, 28th November, and featured on the new organisation's website when it is launched in December.

Wiard Sterk, chief executive of the new organisation, said, "In launching this photographic forum, in association with Big Art Mob and Channel 4, we hope it will inspire people from all over Wales to think about the public art around them and to creatively capture their favourite piece for all to see.

"ArtOutside aims to encourage people from across Wales to think about public art and to debate and engage with us and help formulate public art strategies to meet the needs of communities across Wales.

We are currently working with Channel 4 on the Big Art Project in Cardigan to deliver an exciting public art work for the town and the interest in the project to date has been highly encouraging.

I cannot yet reveal the name of the new organisation to replace Public Art Wales but one of its core aims will be to engage with people from across Wales to make public art mainstream in our society. Public art is much more than a physical statement and has a pivotal role to play in delivering successful economic regeneration in Wales. Without it developments and open spaces are devoid of character and inspiration and we would be a much poorer nation culturally and economically as a result."

The naming of the new organisation marks the completion of merger formalities between two of Wales' leading public arts organisations, CBAT, the Arts & Regeneration Agency and Cywaith Cymru - Artworks Wales, which have up to now been operating under the temporary name of Public Art Wales. This merger was funded with a Lottery grant by the Arts Council of Wales which also facilitated the project.

Nick Pearson, Project manager, Big Art Project website, added, "ArtOutside is an exciting initiative and we hope people across Wales will join the ArtOutside group on the Channel 4 Big Art Mob, making it whatever they want it to be - with not just images, but also information on the artwork and a link to a Google map. Registered Big Art Mobloggers can add their own comments to the photographs - this all helps promote interest in, and involvement with, public art. Some interesting conversations and networks between members have grown quite organically in this way across the Big Art Mob website."

www.channel4.com/bigart

London Fashion Week's "Biggest" And Best Kept Secret

Jacob Kimmie, the self-proclaimed saviour of British fashion, has been cited as the ‘hot ticket’ at London Fashion Week by Creative Head magazine, after successfully launching his Spring/Summer 2008 collection off schedule in September 2007.

The catwalk show for ‘La Nuit Érotique’ welcomed an audience of an eclectic mix of Jacob’s fans including jazz singer Victoria Hart, classical group All Angels, BBC News presenter Simon McCoy and his news presenter wife Victoria Graham plus shoe designer extraordinaire Oliver Sweeney. WGSN comment that the ‘La Nuit Érotique’ collection is “exquisitely crafted and highly covetable - Kimmie is certainly one to keep an eye on”.

Jacob also made his presence known for the first time in Paris at the Vendôme luxury trade show at the beginning of October 2007. For the past two seasons Jacob has been bubbling under the surface having registered on the radar of the fashion industry after his Autumn/Winter catwalk debut during London Fashion Week in February 2007.

South African born and British and French influenced, Jacob has used his experiences and frustrations as inspiration for the signature look that has become known as the fashion label Jacob Kimmie. Jacob is a designer that sketches and sews. As a self-taught designer he can be found in his Birmingham studio hand stitching delicate chiffons and silks. Jacob prides himself on intricate craftsmanship, his latest collection features a dress which is hand stitched with 1.4 kilometres of ribbon and retails at £11,000 aimed at his growing private client list. His passion for forward fashion thinking and his ability to envisage aesthetically pleasing garments only makes Jacob’s pieces more appealing.

From the fluorescent yellow plastic meat packer’s suit which was used to make his first garment at the age of eleven, to the bubble wrap and shower curtain clothing he made for the underground rave scene, Jacob has always been aware of his talent. At the age of 34, Jacob may appear to be a newcomer in the eyes of the industry, but he certainly does not lack industry experience. Now, on the verge of 2008 Jacob Kimmie is the label that is setting the standard and raising the bar. Setting himself aside from his peers that are currently the ‘face’ of Britain’s newest designers, Jacob’s own self-assurance only adds to his ability to offer a fresh alternative to the world of fashion.

As the fashion industry currently suffers from “The Emperor’s New Clothes Syndrome” it is refreshing to see Jacob Kimmie bucking the trend with his designs and attitude. At 6’2” and weighing twenty two stone, Jacob’s physical stature matches his talent and his collections. As an individual Jacob is controversial, a person who is driven by anger and injustice. As a designer he is breaking the mould and rattling the cage, a British couturier building a British brand whilst wearing combat shorts and trainers.

The Definitive Gigging Experience - Featuring The Young Knives, Rosie Oddie And The Odd Squad, And The Bishops

Imagine sitting comfortably in stylish surroundings, watching your favourite bands on stage, being served free flowing top notch food and drink, and socialising with fellow musos - with not a sweaty day-glo, skinny-jeaned teen hoodie in sight!

This is the new ground-breaking concept in gig going, aimed at an older music loving audience, who feel alienated by the current teen-dominated sweat pit indie music nights. Brought to you by pioneering promoters All the Rage, ‘The Rage’ is back with a vengeance after the successes of their Spring and Summer events.

Once again uber cool Kings Cross venue, Canvas, serves as the backdrop for the latest event ‘The Rage Out in Winter’. Often regarded as the perennial clubbing space, hosting a cornucopia of up front parties like secretsundaze and Bugged Out, it is only fitting that North London’s finest plays host once again to event’s winter warmer.

Mercury nominated band du jour, The Young Knives, take centre stage, with support by quirky up and coming personalities Rosie Oddie and The Odd Squad and London indie trio The Bishops. Rage resident DJ, The Varjack Sound System, lay down the cross genre beats to keep heads in check all night long.

Award winning caterers The Last Supper, keep the hunger pangs at bay with a range of high quality mouth watering dishes, accompanied by a selection of drinks available throughout the night, ensuring that your glass never runs dry.

Filling a gap in the music market, All the Rage has created a unique all-encompassing entertainment experience. The music ethos is distinctive, often showcasing new bands before they hit the big time. Previous Rage events have featured Tunng, Dirty Pretty Things, Datarock and Newton Faulkner.

This is gigging for grown ups...

www.rageevents.co.uk

20th Year For London Art Fair

London Art Fair is preparing to launch its third decade as the largest Modern British and Contemporary art showcase in the UK. Unmatched in reputation both for quality and accessibility, the Fair celebrates its 20th year in 2008, bringing together one hundred leading British galleries, twenty unique projects and a curated photography exhibition at Islington’s Business Design Centre. Galleries have been chosen following a rigorous selection process, and represent a broad span of artists from early 20th century British Art to the most recent contemporary practice.

Exhibiting galleries at the Fair play host to early influential figures such as Elizabeth Frink, Mary Feddon, Terry Frost and LS Lowry juxtaposed with the work of living artists – emerging and established – including Marilène Oliver, Tim Noble and Sue Webster, Gavin Turk and Banksy. The galleries represented demonstrate this variety, and include Alan Cristea, Flowers, Ben Brown/Louisa Guinness, Michael Hoppen and Richard Green.

London Art Fair is delighted to again be working with Terrence Higgins Trust as Charity Partner following their successful collaboration in 2006. The Fair’s Preview Evening (15 January 2008) will host a fundraising auction of work marking the 25th anniversary of the Trust’s foundation by prominent contemporary artists including Tracey Emin, Stella Vine, Mario Testino and Wolfgang Tillmans who have all donated work in support of the charity.

Art Projects returns for its fourth year with 20 galleries from the UK, France, Switzerland and the Netherlands, presenting curated displays that encompass contemporary painting and drawing, large scale sculpture and installation, photography and video. Art Projects gives dealers a chance to experiment, show less commercial work and demonstrate the personality of their gallery with profiles of emerging artists in both solo shows and group presentations.

Photography has grown in profile at the Fair in recent years and Photo50, successfully launched in 2007, draws together recent developments in the medium within a permanent curated section of the Fair. This exhibition of 50 works – all of which are for sale – will again be organised and selected by the Curating Programme at Goldsmiths, University of London.

London Art Fair aims to uphold a unique and supportive approach to collecting, and takes pride in accommodating every level of collector and presenting opportunities to buy across the spectrum of the art market. Visitors can expect museum quality pieces in excess of £500,000, while novice collectors should find works for investment from as little as £50.

Visit www.londonartfair.co.uk for further details.

John Foxx Cinemascope Exhibition

ArtHertz presents Cinemascope – A solo exhibition of new print and photographic works by John Foxx

The Coningsby Gallery
30 Tottenham Street W1T 4RJ
3rd December – 8th December 2007

PRIVATE VIEW

3RD DECEMBER 2007
6PM – 9PM (by invitation only)

John Foxx has made an idiosyncratic journey through popular music since the mid 1970s having earlier experimented with tape recorders and synthesizers as a student at the Royal College of Art.

In 1979, he used synthesizers and drum machines to record Metamatic, the first electronic album by a British solo artist.

The album is now credited as providing a blueprint for the evolution of popular music to the present day.

Foxx’s work has been acknowledged by fellow musicians from Klaxons, Ladytron, Gary Numan and Duran Duran to Harold Budd, film makers such as Michelangelo Antonioni, Vincent Gallo and architect Antonino Cardillo.

His work was recently showcased to a sell out audience at London’s Institute of Contemporary Art. There are also current plans for another major Foxx event in London, involving large-scale projections onto the exterior of Battersea Power Station in September 2008.

In parallel to his work as a musician, Foxx has also pursued a career as a film maker and graphic artist.

As well as his work appearing in gallery exhibitions, film festivals and installations in major international cities, over the past 10 years many of his photographic images have been chosen to accompany the published works of authors such as Anthony Burgess, Salman Rushdie, Doris Lessing, Jeanette Winterson and Marina Warner.

The Coningsby Show is a unique opportunity to view his new and recent work – Grey Suit Music and Tiny Colour Movies stills, together with images from the critically acclaimed Cathedral Oceans III.

Poet Portraits -Celebrating Welsh Bards In Europe

Wales has one of Europe's oldest surviving bardic traditions and, in the autumn of 2007, a series of literary events will celebrate the continued vitality of this tradition as part of the Celtic Connections Cultural Festival in Brussels.

Supported by the Welsh Assembly Government, in partnership with Wales Arts International and others, the programme will focus on Wales' rich cultural and linguistic heritage, and aims to further raise the profile of Wales among representatives from the EU Institutions and to strengthen relationships with Belgian based cultural organisations.

An evening of poetry readings at Passa-Porta, the international house of literature in Brussels, will take place on 15th November 2007. Patrick McGuinness and Gwyneth Lewis, Wales' first national poet, will read their work with Cardiff based Richard Gwyn, who is staying as a writer-in-residence in Villa Hellebosch, Flanders. The three Welsh poets will collaborate with Benno Barnard Eva Cox and Erik Spinoy, renowned writers from the Dutch and French speaking communities of Belgium in a translation workshop co-organised with Welsh Literature Abroad and the Dutch language literary organisation Het Beschrijf. The audience will experience the work in Welsh, English, Dutch and French as poems will be performed in both their original and translated versions.

Alongside the live literary events will be the 'Poet Portraits' exhibition by artist Lorraine Bewsey. The series of painted portraits of Wales' leading figures in contemporary Welsh literature in both languages will be shown at Wales House Brussels for the duration of the festival. A book - 'Poet Portraits' 'Portreadau Beirdd '- has recently been published by Wales based Seren Books to accompany the exhibition.

Welsh film Dal: Yma/Nawr will also be shown during the festival. Produced for S4C by TV company Fiction Factory, the film takes viewers on an exciting 2,000-year odyssey through Europe's oldest surviving bardic tradition. It takes in everything from Aneirin's sixth century war reportage to today's modern poetry slams, along with subtle clues to the secrets of its survival. The film features some of Wales' greatest performing talents such as Sian Phillips, Ioan Gruffudd, Matthew Rhys, Rhys Ifans, Cerys Matthews and John Cale.

This Brussels based initiative, Celtic Connections - Cultural Festival, is co-ordinated by the Scottish Executive.

Language and identity are undoubtedly one of the common themes that unite these poets from Wales and Belgium and the hope is for a long-term literary collaboration between Wales and Belgium with further residency projects, exchange of writers, and participation in festivals.

Conversations In The Front Room: Celebration, Screening And Website Launch

www.thefrontroom.org
Rivington Place
25 October 6:30–8:00pm

'I grew up learning that "cleanliness is next to godliness" and that no matter how poor we were, if the front room looked good, then we were decent people.' - Michael McMillan

Did you see Michael McMillan’s exhibition, The West Indian Front Room at the Geffrye Museum in 2006? You can now experience the project on a new interactive website www.thefronthefrontroom.org - created in collaboration with Iniva. The website provides access to photographs, audio interviews and learning resources as well as material from new exhibitions on living rooms of Moroccan, Turkish, Indonesian, Surinamese and Antillean migrants in Holland.

Join curator Michael McMillan on 25 October for Conversations in The Front Room a celebration of the project, website launch and screening of BBC 4 documentary Tales from the Front Room, which explores the memories of three generations of Caribbean Britons. A recreation of The West Indian Front Room exhibition, originally at the Geffrye Museum, is on display from 25–31 October at Iniva, Rivington Place.

At the event you can have your portrait postcard taken with an object dear to your heart in front of a digital front room backdrop of your choice with artist Leticia Valverdes. You can also submit photos of your own front room and send comments to Michael McMillan on a curator’s blog.

Admission: Free
Rivington Place, London, EC2A 3BA
Nearest tubes: Old Street & Liverpool Street
Rivington Place is fully accessible in all public areas

For parking & wheelchair facilities or further information about Rivington Place
+44 (0) 20 7749 1240, info@rivingtonplace.org, www.rivingtonplace.org

Opening Hours: Tuesday–Friday: 11am–6pm
Late night Thursday until 9pm, last admission 8.30pm
Saturday: 12noon–6pm

Marc Bolan Author At Book Tasting Evening

Tony Stringfellow will be reading from his acclaimed book on Marc Bolan, The Wizard's Gown, at a special book tasting evening being held at the Gateway Arts and Education Centre in Shrewsbury, Shropshire on Friday 26th October at 7pm.

Other authors performing and signing copies of their books are Brenda Whincup, Selena Trotman, Mary de Saulles, Graham Dean, Simon Newell, Oliver Willmott,Caroline Ackroyd, John Waddington, Pauline Jones, Mike Willmott, Mike Sargent, Kevin Bramford and representatives from the Anglo Welsh Poetry Society. The evening is free to all and includes refreshments and music from local artists Nathan and Quinn.

The BBC Concert Orchestra Team Up With Will Gregory (Of Goldfrapp) For A Silent Film Special

Colston Hall, Bristol on Saturday 1 December, 7.30pm

Queen Elizabeth Hall, London on Monday 3 December, 7.30pm

For two special performances only, Will Gregory of Goldfrapp teams up with some of the UK's most inspired contemporary musicians – including Portishead's Adrian Utley, jazz saxophonist Andy Sheppard, drummer Tony Orrell and the BBC Concert Orchestra conducted by Charles Hazelwood – to premiere his newly composed score to the little known silent film classic He Who Gets Slapped (Director: Victor Sjöström, 1924) starring Lon Chaney and Norma Shearer.

Gregory's exhilarating new composition, performed live by some of the finest musical talent, will provide a unique new way to experience Chaney's powerful performance on the big screen – a full orchestration with guest appearances from live electronics and direct-to-screen improvisation, a must-see for both film-goers and lovers of live music.

Before he became widely known as one half of Goldfrapp, Will Gregory teamed up with Tony Orrell (aka Birdman of Alkijazz) to form the experimental duo Gas Giants. Together, they were frequently commissioned to create and perform live soundtracks to silent films.

"One of these", Will says, "was He Who Gets Slapped – a 90-minute vehicle for Lon Chaney. It soon became clear that this was something we had always hoped to find, namely an overlooked masterpiece."

He Who Gets Slapped was the first feature made by MGM; a Hollywood take on a Russian play made by the legendary Swedish actor/director Victor Sjöström and starring one of silent cinema's greatest stars, Lon Chaney (The Hunchback Of Notre Dame, The Phantom Of The Opera) who regarded this role of "He", the clown who receives 200 slaps a day, as his best.

Will Gregory says: "I think this ranks as one of the great cinematic performances in the history of film. Chaney himself regarded it as his greatest role and whenever he is on screen he exudes such presence and charisma that it is easy to understand why he was the most celebrated screen actor of his day."

Andrew Connolly, General Manager, BBC Concert Orchestra says: "When our Principal Guest Conductor Charles Hazlewood suggested bringing together Will Gregory, the BBC Concert Orchestra, jazz musicians and a 1924 silent movie, I instantly agreed.

"Hearing Will's freshly minted score performed by the full orchestra and soloists in synch with the 83-year-old film will be an extraordinary audio-visual event – and not to be missed."

He Who Gets Slapped will be screened to the live accompaniment of an original score by Will Gregory on 1 December at the Colston Hall in Bristol and on 3 December at the Queen Elizabeth Hall on London's South Bank.

Colston Hall, Colston Street, Bristol
Box Office: 0117 922 3686
www.colstonhall.org

Queen Elizabeth Hall, London
Box Office: 08703 800 400
www.southbankcentre.co.uk

The Dylan Thomas Fringe Festival: 26th October-9th November

The 2007 Swansea Fringe has been rebranded and repositioned as the Dylan Thomas Fringe, expanding the range of the main Dylan Thomas Festival to include a more eclectic range of acts. The Fringe runs from the 26th October to 9th November with this year's line up kicking off loudly and in no little style with Led Bib, playing on the 26th October at the Swansea Institute Townhill Campus.

Stuart Nicolson of the Observer said: "We need bands like Led Bib to make the world safe for dangerous music". They have consistently appeared in just about everyone's top ten of bands to see this year, eclipsing more established performers like the White Stripes and the Artic Monkeys.

Full listings are available on the website www.dylanthomasfringe.com or you can collect a brochure from participating venues throughout Swansea.
Combined with the awarding in 2006 of the first Dylan Thomas Prize for literature, the Dylan Thomas Fringe is the latest initiative in Swansea to nurture and encourage young creative talent.

The Dylan Thomas Fringe exists to provide a showcase for the best in up and coming talent in the performing arts from Swansea and South West Wales, combined with a range of acts from further afield. Established in 2005, following a successful pilot event the previous year, the Fringe has grown steadily incorporating a wide array of performers and events. Past Fringes have featured Rob Brydon, Harry Hill, Ardal O'Hanlon, and Jimmy Carr; alongside a host of eclectic local and national performers.

Any budding writers out there would also be wise to pop along to the Dylan Thomas Centre on Tuesday 30th October where Rachel Trezise, the first winner of the Dylan Thomas Prize will be in conversation about her year since receiving the £60,000 award. With the next £60,000 about to get underway it maybe a good opportunity to take some tips on winning literary prizes!

Tim Prosser, Chief Executive, said "As well as the £60,000 Award for published writers, this time around there will also be a £1000 award for unpublished writers, which will run alongside the main competition. I hope it proves a good incentive to bring along promising local talent and get them involved in the competition".

The Fringe runs from the 26th October to 9th November at the Dylan Thomas Centre, the National Waterfront Museum, the Swansea Institute, the Grand Theatre, the Taliesin Arts Centre, the Monkey, the Chattery, the Uplands Tavern, the Brunswick, the Elysium Gallery and Sin City.

Huw Rees, Artistic Director said. "In order to work more effectively with our partners the Dylan Thomas Centre, the Dylan Thomas Festival and the Dylan Thomas Prize, the Swansea Fringe is now the Dylan Thomas Fringe. Apart from the name change all other aspects of the Fringe remain, annually providing Swansea with a range of outstanding alternative artistic events".

There is a wide range of Dylan Thomas Fringe events to choose from this year with singer songwriters and local poets appearing regularly at the Waterfront Museum most lunchtimes along with the Paul Merton sponsored Rob Conybear exhibition opening on the 27th October at 2pm. Full listings are available on the website www.dylanthomasfringe.com or you can collect a brochure from any participating venues throughout Swansea.

My Real War 1914 - ?

From 3-7 December 2007 Two’s Company presents yet another play in their remarkable series of undiscovered works from World War I at the Tristan Bates Theatre at the Actors’ Centre in London’s West End. Over the past three years, under the collective title FORGOTTEN VOICES FROM THE GREAT WAR, this enterprising company has unearthed and staged a trilogy of short plays written by and about the men at the front followed by What The Women Did, a trilogy written by and/or about women and the effect of the war on them. A full length work Red Night followed and now this unique look at contemporary letters written by a young officer who was killed in 1916. The press night of MY REAL WAR 1914 - ? is on Monday, 3 December at 8.00. The play lasts 80 minutes.

The real young officer was 2nd Lieutenant Havilland le Mesurier, who, had he lived, would have been the uncle of John le Mesurier, now best remembered for his role in Dad’s Army. The role on stage is played by the extraordinary young actor Philip Desmeules.

Tricia Thorns, who adapted and directed most of the Forgotten Voices series, has woven these privately published letters into a moving 80 minute play and directs. The designer is Alex Marker, lighting designer Duncan Coombe and sound designer Adrienne Quartly.

The letters are riveting because they contrast the stark and horrible conditions in the trenches with rare moments of comfort, as when “Lem” was billeted in a mansion in France with an amazing wine cellar. He wrote almost daily to his parents but in very different modes; he was frank with his father while letters to his mother frequently asked for recipes and creature comforts like fleece lined slippers to be sent.

MY REAL WAR 1914 - ? toured for two months earlier this year and was so enthusiastically received that it is touring again prior to its London run. The play will be performed in Scarborough, Musselburgh, St. Andrews, Horsham, Petersfield, Shrivenham, Uppingham, Southampton, Street, Taunton and Rugby School, where le Mesurier was a pupil.

Celebrities Turn Out In Force For Young Filmmakers Awards Ceremony

Lyric Theatre, The Lowry, Salford Quays
Tuesday 2nd October 7.00 p.m

This star studded Awards Ceremony hosted by Michael Starke (aka Jerry Morton of Coronation Street) is the climax of the Clapperboard Youth Project. Now in its third successful year, the project has engaged with over 600 young people.

The project is in partnership and funded by, Greater Manchester Fire Service and Salford City Council and supported by organisations such as Granada/ITV, BBC, Tightrope Pictures, Lowry Arts and Entertainment, Urban Splash, University of Salford, Lowry Hotel, Eventsinc and Greenlight Communications.

With the creative support of KBS Productions and industry professional writers, a group of students from six schools in Salford, St Ambrose Barlow High School, Buile Hill High School, New Park High School, Moorside High School and Harrop Fold School and Arts College, developed and produced 5 minute films based on issues that affect them and their communities such as, “safety and anti social behaviour”. The young film makers are aged 11-17.

The films were judged by top talent from the industry of film and television, Chair of BAFTA, Hilary Bevan Jones, Award Winning Writer and Co-Founder of Tightrope Pictures, Paul Abbott and Award Winning Actor, Christopher Eccleston.

The Awards are held in recognition of the achievements of the young film-makers. Awards will be presented by high profile celebrities such as Christine Tremarco, Tom Payne, Chelsee Healey, Lauren Drummond (Waterloo Road), Lee Ottway (Hollyoaks/Celebrity Love Island), Ceiron Griffiths, Tina Malone, Alice Barry (Shameless), John Henshaw, Ciaran Griffiths, Amer Nazier, Parvez Quadir and members of the cast from Coronation Street, Jonathan Dixon and Emma Edmondson, Hollyoaks, Nicola Shindler and Paul Abbott.

The school winning the “Best Overall Film” will enjoy a day at the world famous Pinewood Studios.

The audience includes The Lord Mayor of Salford, Hazel Blears MP, celebrities, industry professionals, agents, sponsors, families and friends of the students.

If you would like to attend please email info@greenlightcommunications.co.uk.