Future Events

Unless I get an offer I can't refuse I won't be doing any more events myself in 2016, but I'm hoping to plan a series of talks and walks for next spring and summer.

However, this is what's coming up:

Thursday 1st September Eleanor Friedberger at the De La Warr Pavilion Bexhill.

Saturday 17th September  The Happy Mondays & The Orb Hastings Pier.  Not very interested in seeing the 'Mondays' (I saw an early London show of theirs at the long-gone Clarendon in Hammersmith supporting The Weather Prophets), but more keen on The Orb.  I was a big fan of Adventures from the Ultraworld in the dim and distant ambient past.  Caught them once on an incredible bill at the RFH with Gong and Acid Mothers Temple.

Sunday 16th October I shall try to get to this event at the British Museum put on by this group
Otherworldly: a Special Event for Halloween

Wednesday 2nd November GoGo Penguin (terrible name) ACCA Brighton (dependent on Southern trains ongoing problems, see below)

Friday 11th November Three Trapped Tigers & The Physics House Band Heaven, London.  Owing to the extremely poor Southern train service for much of this year I've had to miss some concerts I'd planned to see in Brighton and elsewhere,  TTT's gig there a few months ago being one of them.  Hopefully I'll get to this one.  I've already seen Physics House Band (see earlier post) and look forward to seeing them again.

Friday 9th December  Visit to Down Street 'ghost' underground station.

Friday 9th December  I've organised a talk by Gary Lachman on his forthcoming biography of Colin Wilson.  Details to follow shortly.

Of the art exhibitions I've been to this year one of the most impressive (certainly in terms of display) is the Jeff Koons show at the Newport Gallery near Vauxhall station ) on until 16th October.  Just caught the Raymond Pettibon show at Sadie Coles recently (there's a work by him - limited print from the Whitechapel show - in my collection).

Christmas Concerts

To Islington Assembly Hall last Thursday to see The Fall.  On the train I was wondering to myself: why do I keep going to see this group?  Maybe this should be the last time; it's a habit I should break.  One terrific show later I remembered why I've been following this group since 1980.  Mark E Smith proved once again that he doesn't intend his group to be a heritage act regurgitating the 'hits'.  I thought they were more punky and garagey tonight, the band as tight as the proverbial sexual metaphor and MES on good form despite repairing to a comfy chair behind the amps now and again - at least he didn't walk off stage as he frequently tends to do.  I couldn't help laughing at the end when he tried to untangle a microphone from the mass of wires and mike stands that had accumulated at the front of the stage.  Great venue with friendly staff and very nice toilets for a rock gig - these are the things that concern the middle-aged fan these days.  A couple of equally positive reviews here and here.

Monday to Brighton Kommedia to see The Roller Trio.  Compact studio space and exhilarating support from Physics House Band who I'd read about in a Brighton music mag, but wasn't expecting to see: they looked barely out of their teens and played the kind of unselfconscious instrumental prog rock that would have been anathema a few years back.  Three hugely proficient musicians (the guitarist and bassist both double on keyboards) taking everything at lightning speed - great fun.  The Roller Trio never really fully took off for me, but they certainly create an interesting sound and I'd go and see them again if they played locally.  I was annoyed by the number of people around me talking as the set neared its conclusion and I had to rush for the train.