Brighton after dark: 29 April 2014
Ben Bailey
Club pays tribute to Frankie Knuckles
Frankie Knuckles’ death last month sent shockwaves through clubland. Although almost sixty, the godfather of house was still very much active on the dance music scene. Only the week before he had been DJing at London’s Ministry of Sound. He was also set to appear in Brighton at Digital this week. Instead of cancelling the night, promoters Inspired decided to go ahead with the date, turning it into a memorial for the much-missed DJ. To head up the night, fellow Brooklyn native, David Morales, is taking to the decks for an extended set influenced and inspired by Knuckles’ music. The master remixer made his name in the 90s with unexpected twists on pop classics; chances are he might even smuggle some mischief in amongst the homage. To pay your respects, head down to Digital on Sunday 4 May.
If you make it to Bank Holiday Monday without crashing, you may well appreciate the chilled dub vibes over at the Volks’ Reggae All Dayer. From 1pm the club is opening its doors, putting on a Jamaican BBQ and providing lashings of rum. Just add some sun and it’s a winner. The line-up includes Lady Jane, Arkital Sound, Platinum Sound, Pillars Of Dub, the ever reliable Dialect & Kosine and the mighty Jungle Rollerz. The Strictly Reggae Crew take over at 11pm, keeping the skanking going until 5am. It’s free entry all day (and night).
This weekend also sees a special ‘All-Grrrl’ edition of the alternative club night, Stay Beautiful, with Simon Price and Richey Watson joined by erstwhile glam rocker and DJ partner, David Ryder-Prangley. The self-imposed policy of ‘no male singers’ won’t be too hard to accommodate with the night’s usual mix of indie and punk, glam and goth. It’s unlikely fans of Courtney Love, Patti Smith or PJ Harvey will come away disappointed. You can also expect to hear some Huggy Bear, The Slits and maybe Blondie. That’s all down at Sticky Mike’s Frog Bar on Saturday 3 May.
Brighton Noise
Grace Clarke on the week’s best gigs
It is safe to say that festival season is on the horizon. I’m still reeling from the incredible display of denim shorts and impossibly tanned bum cheeks at Coachella. I am not a natural camper. I’d love to be one of those girls with scruffy hair and what seem like permanently hair free legs, but until I’m getting paid enough to rent a Winnebago I’m going to stay at home where there’s absolutely no chance of me losing my contact lenses. Whether you’ll be spending summer in fields or in the safety of your own four walls, there’s plenty to get you in the summer mood this week.
Joanna Newsom has monopolised the female-singer-with-a-harp scene for the past ten years. Acts like Georgia Ruth are finally beginning to give it a go, a Welsh amalgamation of my two favourite Mitchell’s. Joni and Anais not Phil and Grant. Catch her at the Komedia on Wednesday for £8.50.
If a punkier Gaslight Anthem is more up your street then Colorado boys Elway are at The Prince Albert too. On Thursday, Essex rhythm-and-blues band Dr Feelgood are at the Concorde, sure to fill a dance floor with hits like ‘Milk and Alcohol’.
I heard this rumour (albeit six years ago) that Thursdays are the new Friday, so get your ticket for £14.50 and see if it’s true.
If you prefer your Thursdays a little more low key but no less heartfelt then Brighton band Morning Smoke are at The Prince Albert with echoey drum-driven tracks from their new EP In Euphoria. Like a much better Bastille.
60s folk act Fairport Convention, in one of their ever-changing guises, are at Concorde on Friday playing two sets for £20. Inspired by the likes of The Byrds and The Mamas and The Papas they were a staple of the 70s. A quote on their website sums them up: “Fairport Convention did for real ale what The Grateful Dead did for LSD.”
The incomparable, helmet-clad Bob Log III is at The Green Door Store on Saturday. Sounding like an insensitive, inaudible Mark Everett, backed by the industrial sounds of his violently played guitar. Well worth the £12 if you ask me.
On Monday night Nick Lowe plays Komedia. Son in law of Johnny Cash, writer of Cruel To Be Kind and the aforementioned ‘Milk and Alcohol’, covered by Elvis Costello, and possibly the greatest musician that you should really know better.
