Brighton After Dark: 23th April 2013
When you got no cash/Got no cheque book/ Got no credit card/Life is pretty hard
So goes a quartet of lines in the first verse of Ghostpoet’s kitchen sink-epic ‘Survive It’. Mr Poet was a headliner last year at LeeFest, which you may or may not have seen in the news recently as starting a campaign on Kickstarter (the crowd-sourcing website) to raise £50,000 to enable it to double its relatively diminutive capacity of 2,500.
LeeFest is the very definition of the organically grown musical force: what started off as a party in the garden of organiser Lee Denny’s parents’ house in Beckenham has now expanded to a two day and night extravaganza on Highams Hill Farm in Bromley, with the likes of the aforementioned Ghostpoet, Mystery Jets, Bastille, Young Knives and The Futureheads all lining up over the years. It is completely independent, and not-for-profit.
In the age of the premature death of the music festival, it is heartening to see a small-town hero taking on the might of the big-time Charlie’s. At the time of writing, they’ve made £12,000 and have 20 days left to make up the rest. Hopefully by the time of publication they will be a little/a lot closer.
What the case of LeeFest brings into view, though, is just how important people power is in festivals. There are loads of amazing small (ish) events going on around Brighton, and they won’t endure without the curious masses with their eye on something new. Events like Meadowlands and Playgroup Festival rely on people like you and us, so before you book Latitude/Bestival/ Benicassim tickets in the next month or so, take a look around you and you might just find what you need on your doorstep.
Words: David Hillier
More club etiquette from Sade Ali
Don’t stand on the stairs!
Didn’t your mother tell you not to play on the stairs? Stupidly, someone always does, usually so they can talk to someone going in the other direction, or just to look like the cool guy who doesn’t drink. Because of this dude, no one can go from one level to the other without falling over or staggering in their heels. So dude, please stop standing on the stairs, it’s not cool! The same goes for people who hang out at the top or bottom of the stairs. Use the stairs for travel only and then find a nice out-of-the-way spot to hang out. This rule also applies to single-level clubs. Don’t park your ass next to the entrance, the bathroom door, or in the middle of a narrow hallway. Even if the place isn’t too crowded, you getting in the way isn’t helping anyone. You all know who I’m talking about…
Don’t wear headphones to the club!
Why would you wear headphones to a place that plays extremely loud music? It’s just pointless and slightly offensive to the DJ! Plus, it’s not going to help you with the ladies, and you look like an idiot!
Don’t forget about UV lights!
If you’re going to a club with UV lights it’s not the best idea to spray deodorant all over you. Another good idea is to not cuddle your pet before you go out, ‘cos when you get to the club, you know that is going to be showing up all over you!
Don’t ignore the bathroom attendant!
Although I think they are a bit annoying, the bathroom attendant has the worst job in the whole club. They have to sit and watch a bunch of drunk people go toilet, apply lipstick and flush the toilet to mask the sound of their private toilet convo. They quite frequently have to break up the cat fights and arguments and probably spend half the week in the pound shop buying stuff to try and sell to you! That sucks. So on your way out, take a mint or a spritz of perfume and leave them a pound. It’s the least you can do. Go see the toilet guy in Oxygen, his lines are classic: ‘NO SPRAY, NO LAY!’
BRIGHTON’S MOST EXCITING NIGHT THIS YEAR!
So a few months ago I met a guy called Nick in The Honey Club. We had the usual: “Who are you here with?”, “Are you having a good night?” and the “What do you work as?” conversation. Little did I know that he is actually going to be hosting one of the biggest events of the year in Brighton! The launch of ‘LinkingUK’! I won’t give away too many secrets for now but look out for them and do not miss the grand launch this August!
Don’t miss
ASBO Disco
The ASBO disco brings its decks to the Blind Tiger for a bass heavy night of mash-ups and mixes. Don’t miss out on your chance to party with these Bristol-based DJs.
Blind Tiger, Fri 26 April, 10pm, £5
Friday, I’m In Love
Kick off your weekend with one of the week’s most unique club nights. If you are looking for the best of the diverse, from indie and funk to ‘80s and reggae, take your tail feather down to Coalition and shake it ‘til you can’t shake it no more.
Coalition, Fri 26 April, 11pm–6am, £5/£3
Noisia
Fresh from their most recent release, ‘Devil May Cry’, in January, Dutch trio Noisia are hoping to fill the party happy seafront venue with an unstoppable variety of sounds from dubstep to hip-hop and more.
Concorde 2, Sat 27 April, 11pm–4am, £15
Skatadays
The very best of vintage Jamaican sound from ska, Rocksteady and the happy beats of original Reggae. Skatadays is Riki Tik’s Saturday night regular with free entry and 2-4-1 cocktails available from 5pm–9pm.
Riki Tik, Sat 27 April, 9pm–3am, free
Brighton noise
Alastair Reid on this week’s best gigs
It’s all systems go in the various spare bedrooms/offices and disparate laptops and work computers that make up the great network of musicology that is Brighton Noise.
By the time you read this our lovely new site will be up and running.
It’s still centred around our comprehensive gig listings but a) Looks nicer b) Has at last got a menu system that will take you straight to previews, reviews, galleries etc. c) It’s got information on it about local bands, music reviews, interviews, venues and more.
It’s ready just in time for The Great Escape which is only a few weeks away. Check out the site and our Facebook page for featured bands, recommendations and guides to who we reckon you should try to see each day. Plan it right and it’s the best three days of the year in Brighton; just remember to wear sensible shoes!
Some gigs on the horizon that in my humble opinion are essential and are selling fast. The beyond brilliant Canadians Suuns are at The Haunt on Monday 13 May. Retro synth-poppers Still Corners are at The Albert on Monday 6 May.
The impressive Public Service Broadcasting and Nordic Giants are at The Haunt on Tuesday 21st May and will sell out (as will Suuns).
This week seems to be suffering somewhat from the pre-Great Escape lull. The Growlers, maybe the most interesting gig of the week, has already sold out. Wednesday you have the NME favourites and vastly overrated Peace at Concorde 2 (which is gonna sell out anyway so I don’t feel at all guilty for what I just said; it’s all about hype these days, baby!).
Edwyn Collins, that’s more like it! The former singer of legendary ’80s Glaswegian’s Orange Juice is at St George’s Church on Thursday. If you like dark, loud and rather good post-punk then check out Brighton’s Clowns at The Albert on Friday, it’s only £4 and there’s three supports bands!
Monday and King Creosote is sold out so why not the bizarrely named Nately’s Whore’s Kid Sister at The Hope? Their music isn’t quite as weird as their name. Expect a moody Radiohead-like sonic assault. Check out their Bandcamp site; the Ribs EP is mighty fine.
Naturally for more info, go to our new site at www.brightonnoise.co.uk
