» Joogleberry Playhouse relaunches at Latest MusicBar
Rachel Pegg reveals why popular city nightspot the Joogleberry Playhouse is being relaunched as the Latest MusicBar
As the Joogleberry is reborn as Latest Musicbar, Brighton’s live music scene is assured of a dynamic future.
It is one of the quirkiest venues in Brighton and for many music fans it reflects everything they love about the city. The Joogleberry Playhouse is intimate, stylish and welcoming, with a vibe that suits all kinds of acts from the funky ten-piece salsa band to the a capella performer.
The bar/music-venue/nightclub has the atmosphere of a New York jazz club while remaining distinctly Brightonian – trendy, full of character and a stone’s throw from the beach.
Over the years it has counted among its audience Paul McCartney, Fatboy Slim, Zöe Ball, Alistair McGowan and thousands of other Brighton and Hove residents.
This week the much-loved Joogleberry is to become Latest MusicBar – its first name change in five years, since the Students’ Union moved out of the original Komedia building.
Owners Bill Smith and Angi Mariani bought the Joogleberry last year and have worked hard to maintain its unique reputation, while expanding its repertoire and booking hundreds of high-quality acts – from folk to soul, blues, gypsy, rock and ska.
Bill and Angi are themselves both musicians and have tried to create a comfortable space for all music lovers, from fans to music students and people working in the industry.
In the past year they have brought Chris Difford from Squeeze, Mark Chadwick of The Levellers, Turin Brakes, Tom McRae, Kathryn Williams and the cream of Brighton’s new bands, such as Floors and Walls, to the downstairs cabaret bar. They enjoy hosting regular nights to showcase upcoming talent from the Brighton Institute of Modern Music (BIMM), which counts The Kooks and Kate Walsh among its former students. Both have played at the Joogleberry.
Bill and Angi have built a series of businesses inspired by their love of music and the arts. They own Latest Records as well as Latest magazines, where every week readers can find out about performers, new releases, clubs and DJs, along with hundreds of gig listings and news about comedy, books, stage, film and visual arts. The Latest Music Chart enables musicians to bring their work to a wide fanbase. Acts can talk about their work on Latest Soup, the radio show hosted by Latest music editor Jeff Hemmings on commmunity station Radio Reverb 97.2FM.
Bill said: “We decided on the name Latest MusicBar because we want to show our support for musicians performing in Brighton, from unsigned acts to international stars. We know people liked the name Joogleberry but it belonged to the previous owners, so we have to change it. Anyone who likes the downstairs venue can be assured that we are keeping everything you love – the only thing that’s changing is the name.
“We’re going to have a musicians’ bar upstairs with a jukebox playing Brighton bands, with Brighton pictures on the walls and we’re looking for bar people who can laptop DJ and serve drinks at the same time.
“We will continue to host other events like our popular comedy nights, Sunday ‘roast and jazz’ and the Boom Boom Saloon nightclub. We’ve now got a licence until 2.30am so if you have a club night and you’re looking for a home, get in touch.
“We will also still be available for free bookings for weddings, civil partnerships, birthdays and parties. Most importantly we want to be a big part of the community in Kemp Town and do as much as we can to keep our neighbours happy.”
Angi said: “Over the last year we have seen most of Brighton’s hottest new acts and many well-established bands and solo artists perform here. Our intention is to promote great music and live entertainment. If you have a hot band and want to play here, call us now and become a part of Latest MusicBar.“
Latest Musicbar will continue to be home to The Space, the monthly media arts event which later this year will host interviews with TV satirist Chris Morris, journalist Miranda Sawyer, comedian Josie Long and children’s laureate Michael Rosen. Wayne Imms, creative director of The Space, said: “It’s so good to have a venue dedicated to showcasing this great city’s diverse music scene, and I look forward to seeing The Space events continue. I wish Bill and all of the staff the very best.”
Latest music editor Jeff Hemmings said: “In a highly creative city like Brighton, it’s important to have a venue like Latest Musicbar, that can put on both brilliant new talent and outstanding established acts.” BIMM director Bruce Dickinson said: “Some of BIMM’s most memorable showcase events and student gigs have happened at The Joogleberry.
We’re looking forward to carrying on that tradition with Latest Musicbar, and wish Bill and Angi every success.” Phil Marten of Turin Brakes, who DJs at Boom Boom Saloon every Friday and Saturday night, said: “It is such a great little venue, it’s always got a good atmosphere for live music. We always get a good crowd – we play various music from soul to rock and roll to country to funk. It is one of Brighton’s great little hidden gems.”
Find out what’s on at Latest Musicbar at www.thelatest.co.uk/musicbar or call 01273
687171. Listen to Latest Soup at Radio Reverb 97.2FM on weekdays from 4-6pm.
Look out for details of the launch party coming soon.
