Hot Off The Press

This very moment, I have just received word of the annual series of gigs that take place within the courtyard of that oft underused building, Somerset House.

The home of the Taxman, this building and it's open air square are increasingly being used for more inspiring means. A staple of this is the opportunity every summer for Somerset House to make for a superb music venue. I am often want to recall seeing Orbital there in what ranks right up there in my favourite all time musical experiences.

Having said that, the line-up for Somerset House is often mixed, and toppling towards disappointing. However, this year, they must have employed at least one person with a half-decent taste in music as there are sporadic highlights.

These are...

Friday 9th July Air

Tuesday 13th July The xx

Sunday 18th July Soul II Soul

If any of you imagined throngs out there in webland fancy a jaunt along and a singalong, then I am able to get priority booking if you get off your behind by Friday.

Come along now...

Folksy Antifolk

                                                        Photo by Sarah Cass

I'm not sure I've ever really understood the use of the term 'Antifolk', although I am aware that Kimya Dawson and Jeffrey Lewis are two bastions of this particular institution.

I am also aware that they make funny, touching and acutely self-aware music that I personally feel is almost impossible not to relate to, so frankly their genre could be called 'Antijew' and I would still love it.

In one of those happy happenstances, they are both playing, together with The Bundles, at one of my all time favourite London music venues, The Union Chapel and at the eminently reasonable fiscal subtraction of 15 English pounds.

I'll be there gladly paying Kimya Dawson for being Kimya Dawson. If you're sat next to me, it could hardly make it worse now, could it...?

19th May 7pm
The Union Chapel
£15 + unavoidable bastard tax of £1.50

Bach To Life

Apologies for the pun above but since we are also approaching the season of mystery bunnies and chocolate eggs it did seem somewhat appropriate.

To prepare us for such, there is a free performance of the fairly intense Bach piece, St John Passion at St. Pauls Cathedral. Religious overtones, I know but, sung by the Cathedral Choir, it will be undoubtedly beautiful.

FREE

Summer Follows Spring

Having been ruminating about Spring, it is natural that my thoughts then turn to Summer. Ah, Summer. Tempting us in June with your sunny ways, full of hope and potential...only to shower us with rainy British ineptitude in July and August. Shame on you.

It doesn't stop me thinking that maybe this year it'll be different though. Maybe this year will be the year the sun puts it's hat on over our capital.

Thus to tempt fate, I thought I would mention a small summer festival happening in Victoria Park.

Field Day festival returns to the green plains of Tower Hamlets with just the kind of eclectic and well-monikered line up that I like, featuring the likes of Mouse on Mars, Caribou, the outrageously talented Chilly Gonzales and Hypnotic Brass Ensemble.

Cheap as chips at £33.33 for this amount of good, and not a little interesting, sounds and tunes.

Occuring as it does on the 31st July, it is surely a formality that the weather will be clement. Right?

Etherial Brilliance

I don't know about you but I have definitely been smelling some Spring in the air in the last week or two. Certainly there is light at the end of the bitter winter tunnel we've had so far this year and the first buds of colour and light are in the ether.

On such a note, it seems appropriate to highlight the annual return of the Southbank Centre's Ether Festival which this year features an absolutely stellar line-up plus takes the opportunity to hand out some major musical kudos to Edgard Varese, oft referred to as 'The Father of Electronic Music'.

The Ether festival is no mere list of normal gigs and always injects a level of individualism that is seemingly beyond most other London festivals.

Amongst the cast of musicians such as Gil-Scott Heron, Stereo MCs, Chrome Hoof and Lou Reed there are also re-workings of Varese's small body of surviving music with a whole raft of different interpretations, as well as theremin workshops, short films and a rare opportunity to see and hear a live performance from acclaimed video artist/film director/deliciously warped mind, Chris Cunningham.

Frankly, I want to go to ALL of these but if anyone of you out there has a preference and would enjoy my esteemed company then hit us up and let's get out into the ether...

The Empire Strikes Back

The Hackney Empire is a true London institution, from when my grandmother frequented it when she was young (apparently some branch of my family used to own it!), to the regular visits I and probably many of you have made through it's doors.

Charlie Chaplin, Stan Laurel and WC Fields have all famously appeared on it's stage and since its already long overdue renovation and re-opening in 2004 it has been a source of genuine community spirit and local pride.

The recent decision, therefore, to have a temporary blackout on shows at the Empire is extremely sad and, at the moment, not a little baffling.

However, this Thursday 11th March, sees a free and open forum being held at the venue as an opportunity to hear why this decision was taken, what the future holds for the Empire and to ask questions of a panel made up of senior staff and trustees and officers from the Arts Council and Hackney Council.

If you have been touched in any way in your life by the Hackney Empire or simply just care about the maintenance and continuation of a rich tradition of beautiful, vintage venues, then get your behind down to this.

I will see you there.

Thursday 11th March
18:30 - 20:00
Hackney Empire, Mare Street, Hackney
FREE

Wild, Wild Food

Having last year spent some time in a beautiful Ardeche forest right in amongst the beauty and bounty of Mother Nature, a life spent living off the fruits of one's labour and lands is something that appeals greatly to me.

Well, now it seems as though lessons on such things can be learned among the oases of green spaces that this huge city contains. Our East End neighbours in Tower Hamlets are running a series of events in the Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park, with one particularly catching my eye.

On a Saturday afternoon there will be a Wild Food Walk around the cemetery where one can learn about what is there to just pick and eat and to reach down and do so.

Saturday 20th March
13:30 - 15:30
Tower Hamlets Cemetery
FREE (or optional donation)

The Search For The Musical Higgs Boson Continues...

In my unending lifetime pursuit of more and new and interesting and just downright good music, here are a few of the welcome hitchikers I have picked up over the last few miles...

Buzzin' About - The Apples
Upbeat, unpretentious, good time funk with a dash of hip hop flavour added for spice. The kind of music where your foot becomes detached from the rest of your body and starts tapping around of it's own accord.

The Cuckoo and The Stolen Heart - The Brute Chorus & Tigs
This is a track from The Brute Chorus' eponymous album and is a proper stomping, gypsy-style soundtrack to a riproaring argument. And everyone loves a good argument, right? That might just be me...

One Year Two Year - Catalpa Catalpa
Beautiful and hypnotic melody interspersed with random noise and sounds that at the same time feel organic. There is a certain depth to Catalpa Catalpa that is lacking in much of the so-called 'chillout' or 'downtempo' genres. I'll never understand why people would want to chillout to boring music...

Set Me Free From This Wicked Game - DJ C
This is another single track but it is a total bundle of mashup joy and highlights the intricate knowledge, skill and tongue-in-cheek of DJ C. If this floats your boat then check out some of his full length DJ mixes. Personally Boots and Boots 2 are my favourites but you can rifle your way through them, all for absolutely no pennies whatsoever. Bargain.

How To Make Ambient Sadcake - The Sandwitches
Stripped back and childlike garage rock and following the line of simple beauty in music that's been drawn by the likes of Billy Childish and Pavement and subsequently traced by Kimya Dawson, Adam Green, Jeffrey Lewis and co. This is an album that instantly strikes me as being made by people who have that lifelong desire to create song and would do so even if there were no-one around to listen to it. A new little favourite of mine...

London Gin, Bombay Sapphire and some Cake for afters...

Woah. Now that was what I call a weekend.

The Gin Palace went off like some kind of sophisticated, slick rocket on Saturday night with outstanding music and performances from the likes of The Smokey Taps, The Jumblebox Consortium, Miss Leed'em and Count Fettucini, not to mention the sartorial standards maintained by the crowd and the captivating cocktails from the bar.

On Sunday I was then most fortunate to be able to witness the incredible Manganiyar Seduction at the Barbican in an absolutely mindblowing display of musical talent, intricacy and, well, Celebrity Squares.

From poignant beginning to the raising, explosive crescendo this was an experience that makes you forget where you are and anything else that might be happening around you. In it's conception, immediacy and effect, magnificent.

As we now plough headlong into the week, an immediate chance to relive some of this weekend presents itself at Passing Clouds in Dalston as The Smokey Taps return for their Cakewalk Cafe night. One of the tightest swing bands you will hear this side of 1940 aligned with surely one of the best live voices I have ever had the privilege to witness, The Taps will be raising the bar for Wednesday nights.

£5 on the door, £3.50 with appropriate 20s/30s dress.

The Dawn Chorus Awakes

I am fortunate to know some amazing and talented people. Not just the types who keep it to themselves either but the kind of people who are generous with their time and energies.

One such acquaintance is Mr Theo Bard who, in a monthly residency at Passing Clouds, is displaying not just his own musical gifts but promoting the talents of others as well.

The second instalment of The Dawn Chorus in the cosy environs of the upstairs of Passing Clouds was perfectly situated in time and venue and was delightful nutrition for the soul.

Alongside Theo's own ensemble this month were a beautifully understated solo performance from Fiona Bevan and some rawkus harmonies from Cocos Lovers.

Fiona Bevan's solo guitar spot was bewitching and, although possessing a sublime voice, she felt no need for extraneous embellishment so as to chime elegantly with the atmosphere and her stripped back guitar playing. Although mentioning that she was testing new material, her songs felt instantly familiar, endorsing the intimate surroundings.

Cocos Lovers music is a real return to the roots of folk music and, despite the sheer size of numbers and varying instruments playing, is infused with tight harmonies and some stomping rhythms. Passionate, joyous and zealously warmhearted.

Having personally only been witness to Theo's solo performances it was a treat to be able to see him embedded in a full ensemble. Sadly missing the incredible Ewan Bleach on saxophone, their last minute replacement manned up, well, manfully. Often folk music can come across as a little austere and ascetic, however, their songs were heartfelt, fervid and full of energy.

Notes and sounds that put a smile on my face, superb company and a short walk home.

Frankly, a perfect weekday evening