Solidarity in the snow

This week's two main themes come together. Brighton students against the cuts, solid in the snow. Follow their latest news.

Brighton students dance against the cuts

"If I can't dance, I don't want to be part of your revolution".

Emma Goldmann (the quote's apocryphal, but who cares?).

Brighton beach starlings

Brighton beach

Sat 13 March

Thousands of starlings flock - I think that's the word - to Brighton Pier as the sun sets on early spring evenings, and put on a display of swooping and swirling, backing and forthing, joining up and separating.

They even momentarily disappear from sight, low over the waves - see #17, taken only 5 seconds after #16; 14 seconds later they're rising again and can be seen against the sky. Now you see them, now you don't. Just like that.

18:06 - 18:15 - 9 minutes.

West Pier Sunset

Brighton beach

Sat 13 March

Watch the sun go down, through the remains of the Old Pier, and sink into the sea.

17:46-18:03 - 17 minutes.

Skolvan Scottische

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Skolvan Scottische.m4a (3401 KB)

Jeudi Matin at practise - on a Wednesday morning, of course.

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Who's that big one at the back?

Mon 2 Feb
Brighton
The folks in Jan's street get to know each other, and some of the children get to build a snowman for the first time in their lives. I wonder how long it will stay up? See also the view from Crouch End.
[Jan's pic]

Joogleberry Jazz

Sun 23 Mar
Joogleberry, Brighton

Sunday roast and jazz - an enticing combination, good food and good music, which we only came across because Julian had won vouchers in a raffle. A 3-piece house band with guest Geoff Simkins on alto provided 2 hours of cool diversion. This slot is a Joogleberry regular, as is the Wednesday flamenco session.

Chambao at the Dome

Fri 29 Feb
Brighton Dome

Good-time flamenco-based pop, with catchy tunes, plenty of rumba and latin rhythms, and lyrics that can be thought-provoking and witty - I love the one about the staircase! There's a video of it - Roé por la escalera - that catches the atmosphere of the live performance, and more pictures from the concert that prove just how dodgy a mobile can be from distance.

You can listen to several tracks from their current CD Con Otro Aire on their web-site.

Chattri Memorial

Downs near Patcham
Sun 21 Oct

A memorial service for the Indian soldiers who were wounded fighting for the Empire in the First World War, and were brought to Brighton for treatment. Those that died were cremated at a spot up on the Downs, a couple of miles out from Patcham. A Memorial was later placed on the hillside, visible from many parts of Brighton, and affording a broad view across the Downs. See the Chattri web-site for details.

This was a very simple, informal and touching occasion, on a fine, sunny Autumn afternoon. I even got to sing along with Hare Krishna for the first time in my life.

Dansez Français

Sat 26 May
Patcham Memorial Hall

Our monthly French & Breton Dance night - info. Chien Bizarre played, and everybody danced - plenty of new people, which was just as well because lots of regulars, including most of our musicians, had sidled off to Chippenham. Where I'm told it rained. And rained.

For starters as usual a set from Jeudi Matin (who meet on Wednesday mornings, of course).

Next session Sat 30 June - then break until September. Here's my Google Map.

Mandy at The Pond

Mon 21 May
The Pond, Brighton

The last hour of Mandy Murray's Irish session at The Pond. Live music again, only half a mile up the road from the Dome, but a world away in every possible sense - musical genre, instrumentation, playing conventions, audience, locale, atmosphere. And Harveys. Wonderful!

Transformations in smoke

Sat 19 May
Open Houses, Brighton

Julian's exhibition - some of his Transformation series of smoke on paper - in one of the Open Houses at the Brighton Festival. A lot of interest, most sold already. One weekend left!

Round and round in Circles

Tue 15 May
St Nicholas Church, Brighton

Jan's monthly Circle Dance session (usually 3rd Tuesday). This is the only group functioning in Brighton at the moment; there are also two regular sessions in Lewes, both at St Thomas a Becket Hall:

- 2nd Sunday, 7.00-9.00, with live music from Labyrinth
- every Monday, 8.00-10.00

Kocani Orkestar

Sat 12 May
Dome, Brighton

Macedonian magic from King Naat Veliov and the Kocani Orkestar. A raucous, rough-edged sound, 5 brass and 2 percussion, all portable. They all came down onto the stage skirting for the last half-hour 'encore', which included a lengthy pasodoble and the Hava Nagila - nice to have a tune I could sing along to! The pictures (SE K800i) are from October, when they played at the Komedia - hot, sweaty and right close up. Papa wears his tuba with pride. See them on home territory in Emil Kusturica's 'Time of the Gypsies'.

Charivari Agréable

Mon 7 May
Brighton Festival

Esperar, sentir, morir
A concert of 17th century Spanish music by early music group Charivari Agréable. Some gorgeous stuff although I don't think I'd heard of any of it before. Lovely singing by Clara Sanabras & Rodrigo del Pozo, especially in their duets. Instruments included harp, which was nice, and theorbo, which is always good for a blank stare. St George's Church in Kemptown has good acoustics compared to some churches, but lousy sight-lines, like most churches - I suppose that's why the preacher gets a raised pulpit!