Events and concerts for the Remainder of 2025

 

OCTOBER

Thursday 30   Talk about the life of James Abbot McNeill Whistler and London fog for the Salon for the City. London Horse Hospital. Book HERE

DECEMBER

Sunday 7 Goth Weekend Talk about Mansion of Gloom with another speaker to be announced at Guy's Hospital Chapel.

Thursday 11   A coffee house related talk for the London borough of Islington. See HERE

GIGS

Wednesday 29 October Todd Rundgren at the London Palladium. HERE

Tuesday 4 November Pete Roth trio featuring Bill Bruford Jazz Hastings HERE

Sunday 16 November Gong at The Piper St Leonards. HERE

12 October 2025

On this day 150 years ago Aleister Crowley was born in Royal Leamington Spa.

There are a couple of radio documentaries that may be of interest, available for a few weeks.

Radio 4 Extra Mischief Makers: Aleister Crowley HERE

Features Arthur Calder-Marshall's reminiscences as featured in an earlier post

HERE

Radio 4 (broadcast on 25 October) Aleister Crowley Master of the Dark Arts. ' From wickedest man alive to photo-hippy and rock star muse, Paul Morley unravels occultist Aleister Crowley's scandalous life and influential legacy.'

HERE

The German radio documentary on Crowley is still available HERE

October Events

I'll be busy in October on a variety of events, more to come in November and December. 

For starters:

VIKTOR WYND AND THE LAST TUESDAY SOCIETY

Thursday 9 October Join Antony Clayton for this illustrated Zoom talk on fin de siecle London: a place where occultists, magicians and poets mingled. Talk based on Decadent London.

BOOK HERE

MISKATONIC INSTITUTE OF HORROR STUDIES

For the Miskatonic Institute of Horror Studies, an in-depth study of horror films and folklore on the London Underground that will include Quatermass and the Pit, Bulldog Jack , Death Line and various other chthonic chillers. To be held in person at the Horse Hospital in London on Tuesday 14 October. 

Also appealingly advertised on Ian Visits. See here.

BOOK HERE

SALON FOR THE CITY

Thursday 30 October Talk on Whistler and the London Fog in Salon For the City at the Horse Hospital in London.  

BOOKING THROUGH EVENTBRITE HERE

I shall also be selling copies of my latest book Mansion of Gloom at all events. More than half of the limited edition now sold since December 2024.

Half a Million Views

Yesterday the number of views of posts on this site, since it started in 2010, exceeded 500,000. There has been a particular surge in the last few weeks - I don't know why. Thanks to everyone who has shown interest.

The most popular posts have been the ones on Selfridges and the Lyminster Knucker. The most viewed of more recent posts has been the list of vinyl records I played at The Berth of the Cool evening in Hastings last year. Once again, I have no idea why. 

This week, having spoken to some friends about their experiences with AI, I thought I'd find out what Chat GPT knew about me. I've not consciously engaged much with AI up till now. Here's what came back:

'Antony Clayton is a writer and author, although he is not as widely known as some mainstream authors. His work generally focuses on non-fiction topics, often relating to historical, cultural or social themes. Clayton's writing style tends to be informative and thorough, exploring the intricacies of various subjects with depth and research. He may not have a large presence in popular media but is known in more niche circles.'

London Underground Horror Films and Folklore - talk at the Miskatonic Institute of Horror Studies

Another date for the diary. For the Miskatonic Institute of Horror Studies, an in-depth study of horror films and folklore on the London Underground that will include Quatermass and the Pit, Bulldog Jack , Death Line and various other chthonic chillers. To be held at the Horse Hospital in London on Tuesday 14 October. I shall also be selling copies of my latest book Mansion of Gloom.

Book though the link here.

Hastings Book Fair and Talk at Kensington Central Library

Mansion of Gloom will be on sale at Hastings Book Fair on Saturday 13 September in the refurbished Observer building between 11.00 and 16.00. Details here. The book's brilliant designer Richard De Pesando will be there together with other examples of his design and typesetting skills. More about Richard here. 

Also an illustrated talk coming up in London on Thursday 6 November on Mansion of Gloom: the Unsettling Legacy of Poe's 'The Fall of the House of Usher'.  It will take place at one of my favourite talk venues the Lecture Theatre (recently refurbished with upgraded equipment) of Kensington Central Library. See here.

See here for details. The £3 entry fee includes a glass of wine or non-alcoholic drink.

Copies of Mansion of Gloom will be on sale. 

Netherwood Talk at the Mint House Pevensey

I've been asked to do a talk about Aleister Crowley and his time at Netherwood at the historic and beautiful Mint House in Pevensey on Sunday 31 August. Copies of Mansion of Gloom will be on sale.

Details should appear here in the next few days. I shall probably be starting around 4pm. A real variety of performers including Anthony Moore, Owen Hatherley, Vlad Miller and many more. The full event runs from 2 to 6pm.

More information and tickets here.

An Interview about Aleister Crowley at Netherwood for German Radio

I've forgotten to mention that an interview I did some months ago for a German radio podcast Das Grosse Beast is available online here. It's a 4-part documentary on Aleister Crowley in German.  My contribution, recorded at the site of Netherwood on the edge of Hastings, is in Part 4. Gary Lachman can also be heard.

Further Events for 2025

 

I'm busier with events this year than I have been since the end of COVID. Fortunately I'm not working on a book at the moment.

Mansion of Gloom will be available to buy at all of them.

AUGUST

Sunday 10 An Alien in London William Burroughs walk for the Sohemian Society. With Bill Redwood and Jim Pennington.
Some tickets still available here. Starts outside Westminster Reference Library WC2H 7HP

Sunday 31 Talk (around 4pm) on Netherwood guesthouse and Aleister Crowley at The Mint House Pevensey, East Sussex. Information here.

SEPTEMBER

Decadent London walk for the Sohemian Society. I'VE DECIDED TO POSTPONE THIS UNTIL NEXT SPRING

OCTOBER

Thursday 9   Decadent London online talk for the Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities, Fine Art and Unnatural History. Hosted by Edward Parnell.

Tuesday 14 October Lecture for the Miskatonic Institute of Horror Studies. Subject probably Horror on the London Underground. To be held in London, at the Horse Hospital.  RIP Roger Burton.

Thursday 30   Talk about the life and art of James Abbot McNeill Whistler for the Salon for the City. London Horse Hospital.

DECEMBER

Sunday 7 Goth Weekend Talk about Mansion of Gloom with Dr Emma Liggins at Guy's Hospital Chapel.

Thursday 11   A coffee house related talk for the London borough of Islington.

Many of the above are subject to confirmation so please check beforehand.

July 2025

 

There's a cheaper copy of Mansion of Gloom for sale on eBay at the moment. See here.

At a recent screening of Monty Python and the Holy Grail at the Electric Palace in Hastings the film's producer Mark Forstater took part in a Q&A in which he said that he is currently putting together a film set in Hastings with an Aleister Crowley theme (something to do with AC's supposed 'curse' on the town). Watch this space. 

I'm enjoying the music of London-based musician, composer and producer DoomCannon at the moment - the Renaissance album draws inspiration from early 1970s fusion and spiritual jazz. Also two reissued albums by Joe Henderson Power to the People and Multiple.

Two gigs I was going to have been postponed Throwing Muses at the White Rock and Lost Crowns in Brighton (I suspect this gig will never happen). Next up is The Warlocks at The Piper in St Leonards, see here and here.

The next event I'm involved in is a walk for the Sohemian Society about William Burroughs' time in London in the early 1970s in the company of Bill Redwood and Jim Pennington. Half the tickets have already sold (it was first advertised yesterday) so may be time to get a ticket now to avoid disappointment.

Tickets here. Sunday 12 August starting at 2.30 outside Westminster Reference Library in St Martin's Street WC2. We'll finish outside the block in Bury Street where he lived and entertained friends such as Brion Gysin.  

More events on the way.