Music: Brighton Fringe

Jeff Hemmings takes a peek…

God! It’s cold! When will things heat up? Probably in May I reckon as the entertainments and cultural calendar becomes super-hot with The Great Escape, Brighton Festival, Meadowlands Festival and, of course, Brighton Fringe. The Fringe is perhaps better known for its comedy and theatre programmes, but music has always played a prominent role; a chance to check out some weird and wonderful treats that perhaps only Brighton could offer…

For instance there’s the 48 Hour Concert, a concert created in two days, and at the Estrade, an interesting church venue being co-opted for the Fringe; Terry Pack’s Palimpsest Quintet performing the works of Coltrane and others; reggae veterans Abyssinians; the brilliant interpreter of song, Barb Jungr; a double bill of amazing acoustic guitarists Clive Carroll & Geoff Robb; the 15-piece Balkan Big Band The Destroyers; Club Berlin: an evening of live electronic-influenced music from AK/DK and Das Fenster with tunes spun by Fujiya & Miyagi; blues, rock and blues courtesy of David Migden & The Dirty Words; the avante-folk of Nick Pynn and Kate Daisy Grant; and, Eidolon, a musical journey into a kaleidoscopic dreamworld… The list is endless!

Tradition also plays its part at the festival, with the Brighton Beach Boys once again bringing out their 1969 show as well as the much loved Pet Sounds Vs Sgt Pepper concert. And the Fretful Federation Mandolin Orchestra are back once again, playing everything from Baroque to Modern.

Then there’s the Fringe Club, a new addition to the Warren venue, featuring live acts Kalakuta Millionaires, Fat 45, Swing Ninjas, Patti Plinko, The Speakeasy 3, The Impellers, Dende, Oscillator, Meow Meows and Voodoo Love Orchestra.

Brighton Fringe, 4 May–2 June 2013, www.brightonfringe.org