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The Hamilton Yarns opened with their expected experimental piece of aural eccentricity. Black and white visuals narrated the surreal story of a bird which – true, sent some of the audience into giggles but gorgeous acoustic sound sweeps made up for any sense of bemusement.
The charming Laish Quartet followed – a five folk-piece who are definitely ones to watch. Hey, only this quirky lot can pull off lyrics about blocked drains and tangled bits of hair with true melodic flow.
Droll banter between Danny Green and Ben Gregory added to a spot-on sound of fiddles, Fleet Fox-esque vocals and electro-acoustic guitar-play.
Pavilion Theatre, 23 May
5/5
Monica Perdoni

Author and Broadcaster Melvyn Bragg had a difficult task. He was here to talk about his latest book ‘Remember Me’. It is a work of autobiographical fiction and deals with the difficult issue of his first wife’s suicide. Bragg confessed that he had found it emotionally exhausting to talk about the book at previous events, yet here he was open, frank and honest.
The evening, however, was not macabre as Bragg delivered his talk with wit and humour and remained engaging throughout, even when being drowned out by the orchestra tuning-up next door.
Corn Exchange, 22 May
4/5
Ralph Miller

Alaa Al Aswany is adorable to listen to and look at. Warm and unassuming, this dentist and international best-selling author had a lot to share, succinctly, on Egyptian culture, politics and values.
Paying honorable homage to his craft by extolling the need for a writer to read all they can and absorb the stories of the people around them, Aswany also firmly made the distinction between his role as author and the characters he brings to life.
Pertinent questions from the appreciative audience made for a top Q&A followed by a signing in which the great man took time to greet and chat with each and every one of his readers. Note to City Books: bring Aswany back to Brighton – soon.
Pavilion Theatre, 24 May
5/5 Monica Perdoni

This selection of short films mixed professional actors, bigger budgets with those done on a shoestring. So we had Dexter Fletcher and Denise van Outen starring in the cute, One Careful Owner, where the classic car wins out over the classic wife. In Woofing, directed by Rob Whenary, we were taken to an organic farm and a day in the life of a solitary volunteer living in a caravan leeside of the fields he ploughs. One sequence of rain-soaked ploughing with his heavy horse was memorable in its simplicity and grace. Others on the bill struggled, by trying to shoehorn inchoate plot-lines into too short timeframes.
Komedia, 25 May
3/5
Jan Goodey