The E List - April 2016

E list

ISSN 2058-2196

the

Your cultural life in and around Walthamstow No.37 • April 2016

Your FREE Magazin featuring 20e 0 things to do + E17. E11. E10

Fellowship is Life

S

OME PEOPLE REMEMBER WHEN THE SEX PISTOLS PLAYED WALTHAMSTOW ASSEMBLY HALL. Some remember seeing Joy Division when they performed at a local youth club.

And then some remember the Beatles at the Granada on Hoe Street. Me? I remember being mobbed by hundreds of screaming fans when I tried to leave my studio in Hiltongrove. They weren’t waiting for me obviously, but noughties boyband Blazin’ Squad, recording next door. I’ve checked and that’s the only mention of the Squad in this is a music packed issue of the E List. There was a time when for the national press and Time Out the only notable thing about Walthamstow was another boyband, East17.

Leytonstone had David Beckham AND Alfred Hitchcock, we had Brian Harvey.

The press is fickle so have moved on from East17, but the music profile of the area has also changed significantly. Several people featured in this issue have highlighted the role the guys at the Stow Festival have played in this. Each September the Festival celebrates the area’s unbelievable musical heritage, showcases residents with great musical pedigrees and provides a platform and encouragement for upcoming bands and performers starting out.

Hopefully we do much the same with this issue. For the past we look back at the birth of the area’s biggest live music venue (p26); past into present with the area’s relationship with vinyl and record making (p24), the incredible musical life of Maggi Ronson (p20), the world class classical performers at Music in the Village (p36); and to the future with up-and-coming new bands Blank Bibles (p17) and Ultra (p22) and already hitting the big time, singer/ songwriter Harry Pane (p21).

Finally another person worth a mention is music promoter Stephen Vitkovitch who regularly brings great performers to the area, and this month has an amazing night on the 2nd April in aid of Doctors Without Borders, featuring the Orb, Freestylers etc for one night in Leyton. See you there.

Paul Lindt, Editor editor@theelist.co.uk

@TheEList_e17

The E List

The William Morris Gallery’s needs your help with their next show 13 Promises, a poem by Mo Gallaccio 13 Skin Deep, artist Sally Hewett at the Stone Space, Leytonstone 14 Tom Gaul’s A Spotter’s Guide to Local Streetlife 15 Dance for Doctors with The Orb, Freestylers and more! Leyton 16 Blank Bibles 17 Maggi Ronson 20 Harry Pane 21 Ultra 22 Walthamstow and record making 24 A history of the Granada Cinema (home to Mirth, Marvel and Maud) Part I 26 The Paekakariki Press 28 Vestry House Museum Archives - Industry 30 Wilcumstowe Times: John Coe’s map of Walthamstow 35 Local Hero - Peter McCarthy, Music in the Village 36 Walthamstow Diary 38 Magpie 39

For the latest listings including a link to download the app, a digital version of the E List and back issues

www.theelist.co.uk The E List is available for FREE at over a 100 venues across E17, E11, E10 and E4.

See www.theelist.co.uk for your nearest venue. As copies disappear quickly venues will be regularly restocked throughout the month so please keep trying.

If you would like your venue to be a distribution point email listings@theelist.co.uk

COVER STAR Rose Richardson At first glance the cover of this month’s E List looks like a seemingly random collection of lines and shaded blocks but look again and the readily identifiable path of London’s Thames is revealed followed by main roads like arteries spreading across the city. It is in fact a map by Woodford born Walthamstow resident, artist Rose Richardson. Rose says “Although a lot of my maps are abstract, they still are a true representation of an area.”

You may have encountered Rose’s work through the E17 Designers fairs or on their stand at the Walthamstow Garden Party where she’ll be showing again this summer. Here she talks to Paul Lindt.

Following a degree in interior design from Middlesex University, Rose started work as a designer for the renowned lighting specialists Speirs and Major Associates. Her work there may have inspired her future fascination with maps. She recalls “a large part of the job was creating nighttime views of cities most notably the Concept Lighting Proposal for the Olympic Park

in 2012. I had to visualise the effects of lighting from above. I liked the idea of an overhead perspective”.

However after 6 years in the lighting design industry she decided her heart lay elsewhere – music, she plays the violin.

Since then she has built a successful teaching practice as well as working for several music services including Waltham Forest and Camden. Even though she now loves her work; there still remained something missing creatively from her life.

“I hadn’t touched a pencil or brush for over 3 years, and I was beginning to realise just how much I missed it. One afternoon I came across an 18th century map of London. I became interested in trying to sketch it, at first just tracing over it and then using a more freehand style to represent it.

And so my map art venture began!”

I ask her about her approach. “I create using both ancient and modern maps.

I’m initially drawn to them from a purely aesthetic point of view. The negative spaces formed around the building

massing and open spaces have a lovely organic quality to them. The way these shift and change over time tell the age of the original map. I like to think my work not only has an aesthetic of its own but represents a snapshot of history.”

To see more of Rose’s work she currently has an exhibition of some of her favourite pieces in the children’s section of Walthamstow Library. She is always looking for new places to show her artwork which always attracts attention and make good talking points in commercial spaces like restaurants and offices as well as in people’s homes.

Rose also accepts commissions from people who would like a map perhaps for sentimental reasons as it reminds them of home or a favourite place. “They make good house warming gifts,” she adds For further information or to buy prints rose.richardson@rocketmail.com

www.rosemapartist.com

Cover: Present day London Opposite: Top: Central Bilbao 2015 Middle: Walthamstow present day Bottom: Ancient London in 1660 inspired by Norman Brett James This page: Left Highams Park 2015 Above: One of Rose’s prints framed.

Prints available from her website www.rosemapartist.com 1

ART

BOOKS

CRAFTS

This month in town

April

Exhibitions & weekly events Arts & Crafts 6-30 April NEW Jeff Cox Paintings: New Dilemmas Pictorem Gallery, 383 Hoe Street E17 9AP Hovering between the figurative and the abstract; based on memories and reflections on life. Preview evening on April 8. Tues-Sat 9am-5.30pm. FREE. 0208 520 0340 www.pictoremgallery.com.

Until 2 April STEP UP The Mill, 7-11 Coppermill Lane E17 7HA Five artists took part in the STEP UP project. Working with over 60 local residents to produce a striking array of art work from 3D sculptures to new creative writing. Gloriously creative!

Tues-Thurs 10am-7pm, Fri-Sat 10am6pm, Sun 11am-2pm. FREE. www.themill­coppermill.org 7 April-21 May NEW Sketched & Drawn The Mill, 7-11 Coppermill Lane E17 7HA An exhibition of drawings from the old to the new, the impulsive to the refined. Tues-Thurs 10am-7pm, Fri-Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 11am-2pm. FREE. www.themill­coppermill.org

Until Sunday 15 May Local Life Through a Lens: Victorian & Edwardian Photographs by Alfred Wire Vestry House Museum, Vestry Road E17 9NH Wire started taking photographs in the early 1860s, long before it became an accessible hobby. He captured local life in Leytonstone, Wanstead flats, Epping Forest, Southend-on-Sea and much more. Weds-Sun 10am-5pm. FREE. 020 8496 4391 vhm.enquiries@walthamforest.gov.uk www.walthamforest.gov.uk/vestry-house Until Sunday 29 May Social Fabric: African Textiles Today William Morris Gallery, Forest Road E17 4PP Social Fabric explores how the printed and factory-woven textiles of eastern and southern Africa mirror the changing times, fashions and tastes of the region. Includes work by leading contemporary artists. Weds-Sun 10am5pm. FREE. 020 8496 4390 wmg.enquiries@walthamforest.gov.uk www.wmgallery.org.uk

DANCE/FITNESS Until Sunday 24 April NEW Skin Deep by Sally Hewett The Stone Space, 6 Church Lane, Leytonstone E11 1HG An exhibition of embroidered and stitched pieces inspired by bodies: not conventionally beautiful but showing their history, decorated with scars, spots, stretch-marks, veins. See feature on page 14. Thurs-Fri 2-6pm, Sat 125pm, Sun 12-4pm. FREE. stonespace.enquiries@gmail.com www.thestonespace.wordpress.com Until Sunday 29 May Frank Brangwyn: Songs of a Wayfarer William Morris Gallery, Forest Road E17 4PP As a young man, Frank Brangwyn travelled throughout Southern Europe and South Africa, injecting his oil paintings with colour. A small display in the Brangwyn gallery looks at work inspired by these journeys. Weds-Sun 10am-5pm. FREE. 020 8496 4390 wmg.enquiries@walthamforest.gov.uk www.wmgallery.org.uk Thursdays Dare to Design; An Art and Craft Workshop for Parents!

The Paradox Community Centre, 3 Ching Way, Chingford E4 8YD Make friends, and get creative!

All classes are experimental and fun, allowing you to explore your creativity and share your creations and experiences with other parents.

Learn new techniques each week with different materials through painting, recycling, embroidery, decopatch etc.

Kids welcome! 9.30-11.30am. FREE. Elizabeth Salazar Guerra elizasal83@gmail.com

Theatre Performances from 12-30 April NEW Out Of This World Ye Olde Rose & Crown Theatre Pub, 53 Hoe Street E17 4SA In this rampant musical comedy, the Roman Gods Mercury and Jupiter are in search of some entertainment of the human kind. Fresh from the success of their last production that has been nominated for four OFFIES All Star Productions present the London Stage premiere; with music and lyrics by Cole Porter. 7.30-9.30pm. £12.50. ticketsource.co.uk/allstarproductions www.allstarproductions.co.uk Sundays DRAG Out The Weekend The Northcote, 110 Grove Green Road E11 4EL Varied line-up of the very best and most debauched of London’s drag cabaret artists play this intimate venue on Sunday evenings. 6.30-10pm, bar until midnight. FREE. www.thenorthcotee11.com Events marked

FAMILY

FILM

Quizzes & Games Sundays General Knowledge Quiz Night The Victoria, 188 Hoe Street E17 4QH Weekly quiz night, general knowledge and specialist rounds including an interval round. Cash Jackpot £50+.

8.30-11pm, £1.50 per person.

Karen at neilsbigquiz@gmail.com Mondays & Thursdays Waltham Forest Bridge Club Quaker Meeting House, 1a Jewel Road E17 4QU Duplicate Bridge for those looking for a club or a social player wanting to try club bridge? Host available on Mondays. 7.30-10pm. £5, members £4 (annual subscription £10) 07919 401409 cathy.macnaughton@yahoo.co.uk www.bridgewebs.com/walthamforest Thursdays Neil’s Music Quiz The Flowerpot, 128 Wood Street E17 3HX Hosted by Neil’s Big Quiz this weekly music quiz includes picture and table rounds. How many bonus points will you get for the Connection? Cash jackpot! 9-11pm. £1 per person.

Karen at neilsbigquiz@gmail.com www.flowerpotlivemusic.com Mondays Mirth, Marvel & Maud 186 Hoe Street E17 4QH 123 minute creative challenge, general knowledge quiz with film, mystery and bonus drinks rounds. £50 cash prize! £2 per person, max 6 per team.

7.30pm. twitter @mirthmarvele17 Mondays Red Lion Quiz Night The Red Lion, 640 High Road, Leytonstone E11 3AA Creative challenges, general knowledge, mystery and bonus rounds. £50 cash prize and super rolling jackpot! 7.30-11.30pm. www.theredlionleytonstone.com Tuesdays Rowan’s Weekly Quiz The Bell, 617 Forest Road/Chingford Road E17 4NE Hosted by local celebrity Rowan McIntyre, test your brain against the best. Cash jackpot and a rollover, wine to be won as well as a pack of crisps and a Lotto scratch card. 8-10.30pm. £1.50 per person www.belle17.com Tuesdays Quiz On Your Face The Northcote, 110 Grove Green Road E11 4EL Original, fun and quirky quiz with cash jackpot and free round of shots for the best team name. 8-10.30pm. £1 per person www.thenorthcotee11.com

kid friendly

2 The E List makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information it publishes, but cannot be held responsible for any consequences arising from errors or omissions. Please confirm with the venue before setting out.

FOOD & DRINK

GARDENING

Tuesdays Quiz Night The Village Pub, 31 Orford Road E17 9NL Another of Neil’s Big Quiz nights. Can you beat the cards? Will you be lucky 7 or will you be taking home the spoon?

Cash and wine to be won! 8.30-11pm. £1.50 per person www.village-walthamstow.com Wednesdays Leyton Technical Quiz Night 265B High Road, Leyton E10 5QN Weekly general knowledge pub quiz with music and picture rounds. £50 cash 1st prize, bottle of wine for 2nd and other spot prizes. 8-10.30pm. £2. www.leytontechnical.com

Gardening & Environment Wednesdays Priory Court Gardening Club Priory Court Community Centre, 11 Priory Court E17 5NB We have a sustainable food growing garden and want to encourage people of all ages to enjoy the benefits of growing their own food. Get involved and join our volunteers! Beginners welcome. 2.30-4.30pm 020 8531 9990 Mondays Young Person’s Environment & Park Skills Workshops Lloyd Park, Forest Road E17 4PP A programme of activities designed for young people aged 18-24 to give them outdoor and environmental experience.

For those with an interest in working in the environment sector. 12-3pm. FREE. Gareth 0208 533 8022 gg-waltham-forest@tcv.org.uk www.tcv.org.uk Thursdays Lloyd Park Volunteer Gardening Meet at Forest Road gate, William Morris Garden, Lloyd Park, Forest Road E17 4PP Help keep the William Morris Garden looking lovely with Lloyd Park’s Head Gardener. 10am-1pm 020 8496 3000 or email ellie.mortimer@walthamforest.gov.uk Tues, Weds & Thurs Conservation Volunteers: Biodiversity Action Team Meet at 1a Connaught Close, Leyton, E10 7QS (opposite Lee Valley Riding Centre) Help us manage some of East London’s most vibrant sites for nature conservation.

We have projects running weekly all year so plenty of opportunities to join in, meet people, learn skills and discover hidden places. 9am-5pm. FREE. Tom Nandi 07917 267573 t.nandi@tcv.org.uk

Events marked

kid friendly

HISTORY

MUSIC

SHOPPING

COMEDY/THEATRE

Fridays Lloyd Park Green Gym Lloyd Park, Forest Road E17 4PP Join in, feel good. The Green Gym enables volunteers to get physically active whilst improving the environment and their local community. 11am-2pm.

FREE. Gareth 020 8533 8022 gg-waltham-forest@tcv.org.uk

Family Tuesdays & Thursdays Magic Box: Interactive Storytelling Sessions for 2-ish to 5-year olds Mothers’ Hub, 133 Wood Street E17 3LX What’s inside the Magic Box today?

Join a host of different characters, from Dahlia the Dinosaur to Captain Wonkynose, as they lead you on exciting and interactive storytelling adventures! Coffee and cake included.

10-11am. £5 each or £8 for 2 kids. magicboxe17@gmail.com www.magicboxstories.com Thursdays Tiny Tempo The Hornbeam Café, 458 Hoe Street E17 9AH A fun introduction to musical concepts-using singing, instrument playing, listening and dancing! With guitars, ukuleles, and a lot of energy, fun is had by all. 10-11am. £5 for one child, £8 for two children.

Saturdays 30 April-10 July NEW Tales from the Marsh: Creative Workshops for Girls (7-11 years) & Mothers The Mill, 7-11 Coppermill Lane E17 7HA Explore Walthamstow marshes using drama, storytelling, movement and art.

Mix your stories with the memories of local elders. Create and be part of a performance on the marshes on 9th & 10th July. The project is for girls aged 7-11 years (KS2) and women (mothers & carers). Call to book a place, all welcome to try first session. 10.15am12.15pm. 10 weekly workshops for total of £20.

07989 519522 siobhan.oneill.2014@live.rhul.ac.uk www.themill-coppermill.org Sundays Kathak Kids: A Modern Approach to Classical Indian Dance for All Vestry House Museum, Vestry Rd E17 9NH Magical class combining storytelling with classical Indian dance movement, combining structure and fun. Traditional ankle bells enhance rhythmic play and expressiveness. 4-7 year olds 10-10.40 and 8-11 year olds 10.50-11.30am. £8, or £9.50 one-off session.

Vanessa 07958 523431 info@khyalarts.org.uk www.khyalarts.org.uk

Beanstalk is committed to safeguarding the welfare of children and young people and requires all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Registered Charity Number 296454. Registered Office: 6 Middle Street, London EC1A 7JA

Saturdays (term time only) Dads R Us Walthamstow West Children’s Centre, 215 Queens Road E17 8PJ Give Mum a break and enjoy quality fun time with your child/ren. Choice of structured and unstructured play, indoors and outdoors, including music, arts and crafts, woodwork and more.

10.30am-12.30pm. £1 per family. No need to book, just drop in. sabine.elkhoury@sybourncc.org 020 8496 2442 Monday-Friday, except Tuesdays (term-time only) Bongalong for under 5s St Gabriel’s Family Centre, Side Hall, Havant Road E17 3JF Fun, creative music, movement and make believe - a lively mix of singing, dancing, let’s pretend and fab percussion instruments. Mondays, Thursdays & Fridays 10am and 11am sessions plus 1.30pm on Mondays and 11am only on Wednesdays. £5.25 booked termly.

07811 460282 fiona.bongalong@gmail.com www.bongalong.co.uk Tuesdays Bongalong for under 5s Greenleaf Road Baptist Church, 4 Greenleaf Road E17 6QQ As above except different venue. 1.30pm.

Mon, Weds & Thurs Bongalong for under 1s St Gabriel’s Family Centre, Side Hall, Havant Road E17 3JF As above. Mondays 2.30pm, Wednesdays 10am and Thursdays 1.30 and 2.30pm.

5-week class 21 April-19 May Kids’ Art Club The Mill, 7-11 Coppermill Lane E17 7HA 5 weekly sessions of themed creative activity for accompanied children 3 years and upwards. Can be messy!

3.30-5pm. £1 per child, per session .

Mo Gallaccio 020 8521 3211 info@themill-coppermill.org www.themill-coppermill.org

Social & LGBT Mondays Lloyd Park Walk for Women Meet outside the park cafe, Lloyd Park, Forest Road E17 4PP A free and friendly women-only walk in Lloyd Park. All abilities welcome. Wear sensible clothing and flat shoes. Email or call for more info. 10-10.45am. FREE. ellie.mortimer@walthamforest.gov.uk 0208 496 2822

To advertise your business contact ads@theelist.co.uk 3

ART

BOOKS

CRAFTS

DANCE/FITNESS

Social & LGBT continued

Sport & Fitness

Last Friday of the month Walthamstow Gay Meetup Check meet up site for venue Friendly, convivial evening of like-minded people having a great time around a drink or two with good conversations, fun and lots of laughter. 8-10pm. FREE, membership £5 per year.

Jean-Francois at jf@gpn.one meetup.com/Walthamstow-Gay-Meetup

Saturdays Walthamstow Parkrun Peter May Sports Ground, Wadham Road E17 4HR A free, timed weekly 5km run around the park, for your own enjoyment.

Whatever your pace! Register online for your free race time barcode to print before your first race. 9-10.30am.

FREE. Richard Parr 07866 616454 walthamstowoffice@parkrun.com www.parkrun.org.uk/walthamstow

Wednesdays Club Mellow: 13-15s Group ELOP Centre, 56-60 Grove Road, E17 9BN A weekly space for lesbian, gay, bisexual or trans* young people aged 13-15yrs who want to meet up with others in a friendly, supportive environment. 4.306.30pm. £1.

Richard 0208 509 3898 info@elop.org www.elop.org Wednesdays Club Mellow: 15-18s Group As above except 7-9pm. £1.

Food Markets Saturdays Walthamstow Village Market Community Hub (former Asian Centre) Orford Road E17 9LN A family-friendly fine food market showcasing local produce and hot food traders. Dogs Welcome. 10.30am3pm. www.walthamstowvillagemarket.com Saturdays OrganicLea Market Stall The Hornbeam Café, 458 Hoe Street E17 9AH Organic and local sustainably grown fruit, vegetables, homemade bread, jams and preserves. Healthy Start vouchers can be used. 10am-3pm. www.organiclea.org.uk/we-sell-food/ our-market-stall Saturdays Community Local Produce Market Stall with OrganicLea & Transition Leytonstone St John’s Church, Church Lane, Leytonstone E11 1HG As above. 10am-3pm.

RoseMary 020 8556 3090 www.transitionleytonstone.org.uk Sundays Farmers’ Market Town Square, Walthamstow E17 4HU Stalls offering a changing, seasonal selection of meat, game and poultry, cheese, eggs, fruit, vegetables, cider, baked goods, honey, plants and herbs, seafood, pies, quiches and cakes.

Please note, some stalls may take a week off without notice. 10am-2pm. www.lfm.org.uk/markets/walthamstow

Events marked

Music & Karaoke Mondays until July 4 (except bank holidays) Waltham Forest Community Choir St Mary’s Church, Church Hill E17 9RJ A friendly choir with a wide-ranging repertoire. No audition required. This term we will be particpating in a performance work at the opening of the new Tate Modern in June. 7.309.30pm. £5 plus termly subscription.

07954 740745 members@singwithus.net www.singwithus.net Wednesdays until June 29 Fuse It – Beatbox-Fusion Project The Soul Project, 245 Wood Street, Walthamstow E17 3NT Are you 11-18 years old and enjoy beatboxing, drumming or singing?

We’ve an exciting and free youth music project for you with famous beatboxer Killa Kela. Opportunities to do an Arts Award, and perform at an exciting venue as part of this Youth Music Foundation funded project!

5.15-6.30pm. FREE. Vanessa 07958 523431 info@khyalarts.org.uk www.khyalarts.org.uk Thursdays Daytime Choir for Parents & Childminders St Michael & All Angels Church Hall, Northcote Road E17 6PQ A great way to start the day, come and sing with this friendly group, and bring your little ones, we have toys to entertain them! All abilities welcome.

10-11am. £5. east17singers@gmail.com Mondays Warrant Officer Community Choir The Warrant Officer, 318 Higham Hill Road E17 5RG Join our community choir. Raise your voice and lift your spirits as part of an adult choir where you call the tunes.

Absolutely no auditions, all abilities welcome. 7.30-9pm. £7, £6 in advance and taster session FREE. Laura 07813 686980 singattheWO@gmail.com

FAMILY

FILM

Fridays CNN Karaoke The Victoria, 188 Hoe Street E17 4QH Old songs, new songs, rock n’ roll and blues songs. Something for everyone.

Join us, take the mic and become the star. 8.30pm-12. FREE. cnnkaraoke@gmail.com Tuesdays East Side Jazz Club Leytonstone Ex-servicemens Club, 2 Harvey Rd, Leytonstone E11 3DB Weekly modern jazz club featuring the UK’s best jazz musicians in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere with plenty of seating. Check website for latest line-up. The Music Room has its own bar with real ale. First floor venue.

8.30-11pm. £6 on the door only, no membership required. www.eastsidejazzclub.blogspot.co.uk Wednesdays Open Mic Luna Lounge, 7 Church Lane, Leytonstone E11 1HG Talent wanted for Luna Lounge’s weekly open mic night. Take the stage or meet new people with the same love for live music, poetry or storytelling.

8-11.30pm. FREE. www.lunalounge.info Thursdays Acoustic Showcase at The Village The Village Pub, 31 Orford Road E17 9NL Talented London-based musicians play acoustic sets of original music and covers in the warm and friendly atmosphere of the Village Pub. Interested in performing? Please email Gabriel. 8-11pm. FREE. gabriel4music@gmail.com www.village-walthamstow.com Sundays Open Mic Sinbin at The Plough & Harrow, 419 High Road, Leytonstone E11 4JU The Open Mic/jam session formerly known as the Princess Of Wails in Stratford for the last 6 years is now at Sinbin. 7-11.30pm. FREE, but performers please sign up in advance.

Ed 07533 851205 spoon@soundeventsolutions.co.uk www.ploughe11.co.uk Saturdays CNN Karaoke The Dog and Duck, 222 Chingford Road E17 5AL Throw caution to the wind at the Dog & Duck’s karaoke night. Thousands of songs to choose from, something to suit all voices! 8.30pm-12. FREE. cnnkaraoke@gmail.com

FOOD

GARDENING

Calendar of events Friday 1 Book Giveaway: Cityread London Leyton/Leytonstone/North Chingford/Walthamstow Libraries To celebrate Cityread 2016, these four libraries will be giving away 5 copies of Ten Days by Gillian Slovo on a first come first served basis. 9-11am. FREE. 020 8496 3000 culture@walthamforest.gov.uk www.walthamforest.gov.uk Preview Evening: Film Plakát Walthamstow Village Window Gallery, 47 Orford Road E17 9NJ Mingle and enjoy som stunningly designed international film posters with a drink and a soundtrack of well, film soundtracks of course, at this opening night of the gallery’s latest show. 7-9pm. www.wvwg.co.uk Waltham Forest Green Drinks The Hornbeam Cafe, 458 Hoe Street E17 9AH A monthly friendly get-together for the green and eco-minded on 1st of each month. Newcomers always welcome.

8-11pm. FREE. www.wflets.org Rage of Samedi / Desolate Pathway / The Grudge Sinbin at The Plough & Harrow, 419 High Road, Leytonstone E11 4JU Doom/sludge/metal band Rage of Samedi will perform their most head banging tunes with more metal in support. 9.30pm-12. £5 or £3 for Retribution and Sonic Rebellion members. spoon@soundeventsolutions.co.uk www.ploughe11.co.uk Reggae Soul DJ Nick Luna Lounge, 7 Church Lane, Leytonstone E11 1HG Old school reggae , SKA, Soul, Trojan, Roots Rockers. 8pm-12.30am. FREE. www.lunalounge.info

Saturday 2 Blackhorse Market Blackhorse Workshop, 1-2 Sutherland Road Path E17 6BX We’ve opened up our yard to host a monthly street food and makers market. With crafts, coffee and food it promises a good start to any weekend.

11am-4pm. FREE. info@blackhorseworkshop.co.uk www.blackhorseworkshop.co.uk DJ Captain Red Beard Luna Lounge, 7 Church Lane, Leytonstone E11 1HG Pure Vinyl DJ will spin his best records of reggae, garage, classic R&B and dance tunes. 9pm-1am. FREE. www.lunalounge.info

kid friendly

4 The E List makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information it publishes, but cannot be held responsible for any consequences arising from errors or omissions. Please confirm with the venue before setting out.

HISTORY

MUSIC

SHOPPING

Annual Village Spring Clean Meet on the Village Square in Orford Road E17 9NJ Spruce up the Village by litter-picking, painting street furniture and gardening.

Free picnic lunch for all volunteers. Wear old clothes and sturdy shoes.

10.30am-3pm Helen Lerner 07814 042499 helen@walthamstowvillage.net www.walthamstowvillage.net Craftivism: Make a Mini Protest Banner The Mill, 7-11 Coppermill Lane E17 7HA Hear about the history of women activists in East London, and use their stories to create a mini protest banner.

All ages and abilities welcome.

For more information and to register for a free place search Craftivism on www.eventbrite.co.uk. 10am-4pm.

FREE. Esther Freeman 07981 591150 esther@share-uk.org www:herfootsteps.org.uk Neighbourly Stitch & Knit Significant Seams, 131 Wood Street E17 3LX A befriending group like a book club, for people who make, want to make, or want to learn to make in the most informal of environments. Drop-ins welcome. 1-3pm. £3 suggested donation. Also every Thursday. outreach@significantseams.org.uk www.significantseams.org.uk Waltham Forest Bilingual Group The Limes Community and Children’s Centre, 6 Somers Road E17 6RX A workshop with tips for parents raising their children with more than one language. Share experiences with other parents over coffee while the children have fun using the fantastic facilities of The Limes. 3.30-5.30pm. FREE. Claire Thomas 07770 860038 info@wfbilingual.org.uk www.wfbilingual.org.uk The Art of Conflict: Masked Ball Gnome House, 7 Blackhorse Lane E17 6DS To celebrate our international exhibition and the space in which it is exhibited (Gnome House was a factory that assembled bi-plane engines during WWI) we will be holding an Art Deco themed masked ball. Music from Auntie Maureen. 6.30-11pm. £10.

Anna Alcock 07753 686331 www.inkycuttlefish.com www.gnomehouse.org.uk Cross the Tracks The Red Lion, 640 High Road, Leytonstone E11 3AA DJ Andy Smith’s monthly adventure through his vault of 45’s. Funk, soul, hip-hop, reggae, rock & roll and much more. 8pm-12am. FREE. www.theredlionleytonstone.com Events marked

THEATRE/COMEDY

Mixtape at The Chequers The Chequers, 145 High Street/Storey Road E17 7BX DJs play the soundtrack of the suburbs for John Hughes junkies, riot grrrls, b-boys, grunge kids and metalheads.

Free entry! 8pm-12am. FREE. facebook.com/group/mixtapee17

FILM PLAKÁT Unusual and unexpected film posters from around the world

2-24 April 2016 Preview evening with a bar and soundtrack of film music Friday 1 April 7-9pm. Everyone welcome

Closet Vinyl Northcote Arms, 110 Grove Green Road E11 4EL Grab your vinyl, your dancing shoes and your friends for our monthly residency.

Decks, equipment and DJ lessons all provided. See you on the dancefloor.

Pizzas available. 8pm-12.30am. FREE. Dan Magill 07717 851972 closetvinyl@gmail.com www.closetvinyl.com Fundraiser for Doctors Without Borders (MSF) with DJs Alex Paterson [The Orb], Freestylers & Scratch Perverts Leyton Great Hall, 1 Adelaide Road E10 5NN Wild Card Brewery team up with Byrd Out to raise cash for international medical aid organisation Médecins Sans Frontières. 8pm-12.30am. £10. byrdout@gmail.com www.byrdout.com

Sunday 3 The Sunday Cycle Meet at The Mill, 7-11 Coppermill Lane E17 7HA Meet at 11am, be back by 1pm. FREE. katjarosenberg@hotmail.com

WALTHAMSTOW VILLAGE WINDOW GALLERY

Village Square 47 Orford Road Walthamstow E17 9NJ www.wvwg.co.uk

BARA Bike Ride Meet outside Carlton House, behind Natwest, Aylmer Road off High Road Leytonstone E11 3AD Meet at 10.30am. FREE. Lea Bridge Conservation Volunteers Meet opposite Lee Valley Riding Centre at 1a Connaught Close, Leyton, E10 7QS No experience required. Tools, training, coffee, tea & biscuits provided, home made cakes always welcome. Bring your own lunch. Wear suitable clothing & stout footwear. 9.45am-4.30pm. FREE. www.lbcv.org.uk Tom McConville with Leonard Brown at Walthamstow Folk Ye Olde Rose & Crown Theatre Pub, 53 Hoe Street E17 4SA One of the great cornerstones of the folk scene, Newcastle based Tom is as good a fiddle player as you’ll ever see. Tonight he’s joined by Scottish accordion champion Leonard Brown.

7.30-10.30pm. £7, £5 conc www.walthamstowfolk.co.uk

kid friendly

FREE listings are available for events under £16, visit www.theelist.co.uk and select “List your event”.

To advertise your business contact ads@theelist.co.uk 5

ART

BOOKS

Sunday 3 continued Family Activity: Spring Blooms Vestry House Museum, Vestry Road E17 9NH Celebrate springtime by decorating a tile or flowerpot inspired by Vestry House Museum’s beautiful garden; then plant a seedling in the pot, take it home and watch it grow. Family event with artist Lucy Rainbow and a pop up café too. 1.30-4pm. FREE. Suggested £3 donation 020 8496 4391 vhm.enquiries@walthamforest.gov.uk www.walthamforest.gov.uk/vestry-house The Art of Conflict Exhibition Gnome House, 7 Blackhorse Lane E17 6DS Spring Showcase exhibition of artwork from international artists responding to the idea of conflict in its widest possible sense, including Royal Academician Anne Desmet’s new St Paul’s suite of five wood engravings creates an intentionally ambiguous timeline.

2-5pm. FREE. www.gnomehouse.org.uk

Monday 4 Free Arts, Crafts & Activity Workshops St Gabriel’s Family Centre, Side Hall, Havant Road E17 3JF Children’s arts, crafts and activity workshops supported by Wood Street First in conjunction with Mehraj.

1-4pm. FREE. woodstreetfirst@hotmail.com www.woodstreetfirst.org Save Lea Marshes: Regular Campaign Group Meeting Princess of Wales, 146 Lea Bridge Road, E5 9RB The group campaigns to ensure that all the Lower Lea Valley marshes – Tottenham Marsh, Walthamstow Marsh, Leyton Marsh and Hackney Marshes – remain open and green. Like to get involved? 7.30-9.30pm. FREE. saveleytonmarsh@hotmail.co.uk www.saveleamarshes.org.uk

Tuesday 5 Tales from the Marsh: Creative Heritage Workshops for Older Adults The Mill, 7-11 Coppermill Lane E17 7HA Share your memories of Walthamstow marshes. Using drama games, storytelling, creative writing and art to explore your oral history stories of the local neighbourhood and create material for a performance and exhibition. Workshops aimed at older adults 55+. 10.30am-1pm.

Siobhan 07989 519522 siobhan.oneill.2014@live.rhul.ac.uk www.themill-coppermill.org

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CRAFTS

Real Coffee Morning at The Mill The Mill, 7-11 Coppermill Lane E17 7HA A regular coffee morning on the first Tuesday of every month. Enjoy a freshly brewed coffee and FREE homemade Biscotti biscuit. 10am12pm. £1.

0208 521 3211 www.themill-coppermill.org Waltham Forest Reiki Project Waltham Forest Community Hub, 18a Orford Road E17 9LN Reiki is a form of healing that works the life force energy that flows through all living things. Come along to this first Tuesday of the month session and see how we can help ‘you’, just drop-in. 7-8.45pm. FREE, but donations appreciated.

Yoko 07903 243296 walthamforestreikiproject@gmail.com

Wednesday 6 Stories from the World: Folk Tales from Africa William Morris Gallery, Forest Road E17 4PP The gallery welcomes back awardwinning storyteller Giles Abbott for some lively, interactive family storytelling. Inspired by our exhibition Social Fabric. For families with children aged 6-12 years old. 11-11.45am.

FREE but tickets allocated on a first come first served basis from 10am.

020 8496 4390 wmg.enquiries@walthamforest.gov.uk www.wmgallery.org.uk Under 5s Nature Explorers Meet in Community Room, Aveling Centre, Lloyd Park, Forest Road E17 4PP Adventures and activities for the under 5s and their parents/carers. A fun ramble around the park searching for items around our monthly theme.

Plus activities and story time until 12pm. Hot drinks and healthy snacks available. 10am-1pm. FREE but donations welcome.

Rachel 07787 193981 r.hoyes@tcv.org.uk Pixie presents The Vixens The William Morris Bar, 807-811 Forest Rd E17 4JD Tonight we have Boyz Scene’s Best New Drag Act 2016 the fab drag sensation trio The Vixens live on stage at 9:30pm. 7pm-12am. £5.

Pixie 07415 295176 pixiepresents@yahoo.co.uk

Thursday 7 Tree Trail Aveling Centre, Lloyd Park, Forest Road E17 4PP We’ll follow a trail of trees around Lloyd Park, learn how to identify them and create some works of art with their bark.

Two sessions 11am-12pm and 12.301.30pm. FREE but donations welcome.

Vicky Peet 07870 678571 v.peet@tcv.org.uk

DANCE/FITNESS Circle Dancing to World Music Welcome Centre, St Mary’s Church, 8 Church End , E17 9RJ All welcome, beginners or experienced.

Refreshments included. No need for a partner, just turn up. Parking available.

1.30-3.30pm. £4.

Pat 0208 556 3508 jean.duggleby@virgin.net Mindfulness Meditation Leyton Yoga, First Floor (above USSR), 691 High Road, Leyton E10 6RA Everyone’s welcome to explore this simple yet transformative practice in friendly and casual monthly guided meditation sessions. 5-6.30pm. £15. leytonyoga@gmail.com www.leytonyoga.com Meet the Artists: Sketched & Drawn The Mill, 7-11 Coppermill Lane E17 7HA Meet the artists and help celebrate the opening of this exhibition of drawings from the old to the new, the impulsive to the refined. 6-8.30pm. FREE. www.themill­coppermill.org Crochet Catch-Up Significant Seams, 131 Wood St E17 3LX Monthly social for local crocheters to natter and problem solve any pattern issues with fellow crocheters!

7-8.30pm. £5 Fran Reeves 0208 521 4244 outreach@significantseams.org.uk www.significantseams.org.uk Verbatim Monthly Comedy Club Luna Lounge, 7 Church Lane, Leytonstone E11 1HG First Thursdays comedy club with well known guest comedians and lots of laughs, guaranteed. 8-11pm. £5. www.lunalounge.info Red Imp Comedy Club Ye Olde Rose & Crown Theatre Pub, 53 Hoe Street E17 4SA Tonight’s side-splitting line-up features Eastenders star Charlie Baker, Suzy Bennett and Matt Welcome. 8.3011pm. £10. www.wegottickets.com/event/350810 Music in the Village: Xuefei Yang St Mary’s Church, Church End E17 9RJ Classical guitarist Yang plays music by Albeniz, Granados, Villa-Lobos, Piazzolla and Bach as well as traditional Chinese pieces and a new work by Vasiliki Legaki. 7.30pm. £13, £6.50 conc.

020 8223 0772 VillageMusic@WalthamSoft.com

Friday 8 Preview of Jeff Cox’s Exhibition: New Dilemmas Pictorem Gallery, 383 Hoe Street E17 9AP Special evening to meet the artist and introduce this show of paintings that ask the viewer to make up their own mind as to their meaning. 6.30-8.30pm. FREE www.pictoremgallery.com

FAMILY

FILM

Woodford & Warner Caribbean Pop Up! Mother’s Ruin Gin Palace, Unit 18 Ravenswood Industrial Estate, Shernhall St E17 9HQ Woodford & Warner pop up at the Gin Palace to bring delicious traditional food from Trinidad and Tobago.

Mother may deviate from her ginsoaked ways and make a rum punch to match! While stocks last. 6-10pm. www.mothersruin.net Already Legends Ye Olde Rose & Crown, 53 Hoe Street E17 4SA Live music in the bar. 9pm-12. FREE. John Krolles Blues Band Waltham Forest Sports & Social Club, Just behind the Town Hall, 703 Forest Road E17 4JF The band play blues standards from years gone by. FREE. www.wfsocialclub.org.uk Horsemeat Sandwich presents Rites of Hadda / Clint / Bogaty Smak / Sexy Levels Sinbin at The Plough & Harrow, 419 High Road, Leytonstone E11 4JU A monthly night of live music. Tonight gothic pagan, anarcho-stoner, punk. post-punk and stoner-sludge-punk.

8-11.30pm. FREE with a collection. www.ploughE11.co.uk

Saturday 9 The Art of Conflict Exhibition Gnome House, 7 Blackhorse Lane E17 6DS As Sunday 3 except 12-4pm Vintage Fashion & Brocante Fair Wanstead United Reformed Church, Nightingale Lane E11 2HD Vintage collectables, jewellery, fashion and accessories, furniture, kitchenalia and ephemera. “Everything you need for your home and wardrobe” The Great British Tea room. 11am-5pm. £2.50, £1.50 OAP/NUS. Free parking.

Cary 07860 214009 www.lovevintage.co.uk The Saturday Session Wild Card Brewery, Unit 7 Ravenswood Industrial Estate, Shernhall Street E17 9HQ Eastern Front Soundsystem and guest DJs Pete Fowler & the Musica Noche Crew bring eclectic, balearic and disco vibes. All vinyl, all night long, all good.

4pm-midnight. FREE. twitter.com/easternfrontdjs Pamdemonium The Northcote, 110 Grove Green Road E11 4EL Five hand-picked pro stand-up comedians for your laughing pleasure.

With the fabulous Pam Ford as your host. Cocktail happy hour 7.309.30pm, bar until 1am. FREE. www.thenorthcotee11.com

kid friendly

6 The E List makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information it publishes, but cannot be held responsible for any consequences arising from errors or omissions. Please confirm with the venue before setting out.

FOOD & DRINK

GARDENING

Sonic Rebellion: Rock‘n’Metal Party Sinbin at The Plough & Harrow, 419 High Road, Leytonstone E11 4JU A collaboration by some of London’s finest and renowned DJs keep the rock and metal scene alive and well. 8pmmidnight. FREE. spoon@soundeventsolutions.co.uk www.ploughe11.co.uk All Beats Ye Olde Rose & Crown, 53 Hoe Street E17 4SA Live music in the bar. 9pm-12. FREE.

Sunday 10 Leyton & Stone Designers Craft Market The Northcote, 110 Grove Green Road E11 4EL Complementing the Northcote Krufts fun dog show today, this lively Sunday market boasts local designer/makers selling home decorations, yummy handmade chocolates, clothing for adults and kids, scarves, jewellery and accessories for people and pets! Child and dog friendly venue. 12-5pm. FREE admin@leytonandstonedesigners.co.uk www.leytonandstonedesigners.co.uk

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HISTORY

Walthamstow Family Bike Club Meet outside Ancient House, Orford Road/Church Lane junction, Walthamstow E17 A relaxed and sociable ride around open spaces and cafes in and around Waltham Forest. 1-5pm. FREE. 0208 520 0648 paul.gasson@gmail.com The Art of Conflict Exhibition Gnome House, 7 Blackhorse Lane E17 6DS As Sunday 3 St Barnabas Sunday Concerts: Poetry in E-Motion St Barnabas Church, St Barnabas Road E17 8JZ Join Walthamstow opera singers, Gillian Keith and Tom Randle, with guests Diana Moore, and John Reid in songs and duets from history’s most famous poet/composer alliances. Beautiful settings by Schubert, Mozart, Strauss and more. Refreshments available.

4-5pm. FREE but donations accepted to support local charity The Mill. gilliankeithsoprano@yahoo.co.uk www.facebook.com/ StBarnabasSundayConcerts

MUSIC

SHOPPING

Jim Causley at Walthamstow Folk Ye Olde Rose & Crown, 53 Hoe Street E17 4SA Jim has become one of the key figures of the twenty first century folk scene.

His deep, rich voice belies his years and his relaxed and playful stage presence.

7.30-10.30pm. £8, £6 conc. www.walthamstowfolk.co.uk

Monday 11 Club Mellow: 18-25s Youth Group ELOP Centre, 56-60 Grove Road, E17 9BN A space for lesbian, gay, bisexual or trans* young people aged 18-25yrs who want to meet up with others in a friendly, supportive environment away from the scene. Every 2nd and 4th Monday. 7-9.30pm. £2.

Richard 0208 509 3898 info@elop.org www.elop.org Stowtellers: The Walthamstow Storytelling Club Welcome Centre, St Mary’s Church, 8 Church End, Walthamstow Village E17 9RJ This month we will have a Storyround; bring a story, song, ballad or poem or just come to listen! 7.30-9.30pm. £3, £2 conc.

Jumana or Mike treacle_moon@yahoo.co.uk

COMEDY/THEATRE

Tuesday 12 Tales from the Marsh: Creative Heritage Workshops for Older Adults The Mill, 7-11 Coppermill Lane E17 7HA Details as April 5 What Are You Thinking? The Hornbeam Cafe, 458 Hoe Street E17 9AH Are you constantly being hassled by your inner dialogue and in need of a moment’s peace? Natalie will guide you in a meditation focussing on a specific theme each month. 10.1511.15am. £11.50.

Natalie 07585 309109 info@natalie-france.com www.natalie-france.com/events Leyton Tea Dance Leyton Great Hall, Adelaide Road E10 5NN Fancy a cup of tea and a twirl round the dance floor? Social dancing with music from DJ Malcolm ‘Mr Wonderful’ Fernandes. Doors open 1pm, dancing 1.30-4pm. £5 info@mrwonderfuldancing.com 01322 290 751

kid friendly

M ARSH

STREET

Mortgage advice that’s right up your street Marsh Street provides comprehensive mortgage advice for everyone. We source from a wide range of lenders and access to the whole of the mortgage market.

We pride ourselves on offering a friendly and high quality bespoke service that ensures that you are treated fairly at all times. We have the experience and ability to see the whole market, to cut through the fine print and explain the pros and cons of each product to make life easier for our customers.

Marsh Street was the original name of Walthamstow High Street where a number of large manor houses were used as weekend or summer retreats. Samuel Pepys’ bosses had houses here, and after visiting one of them Pepys described how they had drunk wine from a local vineyard and “the whole company said they never drank better foreign wine [than this one] in their lives”.

Not only will we help you find the right mortgage, but we will use our knowledge and expertise to ensure your mortgage transaction is completed swiftly and effectively, so you can concentrate on the other parts of buying your dream home.

Traditional values and good advice

M ARSH enquiries@marshstreetmortgages.co.uk 0208 520 9300 40 Orford Road, Walthamstow, London E17 9NJ

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

There will be a fee for the advice given, the exact amount will depend upon your circumstances but we estimate it will be £495 or 1%.

To advertise your business contact ads@theelist.co.uk 7

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ART

BOOKS

Tuesday 12 continued Talk on Family History Spruce Hill Baptist Church Hall, Brookscroft Road E17 4JP How can you overcome the ‘brick walls’ in your family history research?

Mark Bradley will provide some tips in his online talk. Wheelchair accessible venue. 8-10pm. FREE. Mark 020 8530 4755 mcarroll@waitrose.com www.wffhs.org.uk Uncaged presents Movie Drome Sinbin at The Plough & Harrow, 419 High Road, Leytonstone E11 4JU We present the ULNAs (Uncaged London ‘Not The Oscars’ Awards) for fun, frivolity and of course glittery sexiness. You’ll never look at movies the same way after this! 8pm-12am. £10. www.ploughE11.co.uk

Wednesday 13 Leyton & Leytonstone Home Brew The Northcote Arms Pub, 110 Grove Green Road E11 4EL A monthly excuse for local homebrewers to discuss beer and brewing and exchange home grown samples.

Or just come to chat about beer and brewing! 6.30-9.30pm. FREE. www.thenorthcotee11.com Waltham Forest Greenpeace Ye Olde Rose & Crown, 53 Hoe Street E17 4SA Our local Greenpeace group meets on the second Wednesday of every month.

Come along to find out how you can make a local difference to global campaigns. 7.30-8.30pm. FREE. 07967 380548 daveocarroll@hotmail.com The Green Rock River Band / Johnny Campbell What’s Cookin’, Leytonstone Ex-servicemens Club, 2 Harvey Road, Leytonstone E11 3DB Eight-piece band merging Old Time, Americana, British Music Hall and Folk into an explosive and memorable live set that is loud, brash and energetic.

8.30-11pm. FREE with collection. www.whatscookin.co.uk

Thursday 14 Creative Kids: Boats and Trains William Morris Gallery, Forest Road E17 4PP Play, make and get hands-on with Creative Kids, a regular session for children under 5s. Look at different types of transport in paintings by Frank Brangwyn and make your own moving machine. Two sessions: 10-11.30am & 1-2.30pm. FREE but booking essential. wmg.bookings@walthamforest.gov.uk www.wmgallery.org.uk

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kid friendly

CRAFTS

DANCE/FITNESS

Hypnobirthing Taster Session Health Works, 111a Hoe Street (entrance on Cairo Road) E17 4RX Free taster with Walthamstow’s fairy godmother of Hypnobirthing! Learn how to relax and have a calm, gentle birth. Get rid of your fears so you can enjoy your pregnancy and meet other local couples. 4.45-6.15pm. FREE. Jo 07587 638154 joredmonde17@gmail.com www.hypnobirthingwithjo.com E17 Stories: Anthology Launch Walthamstow Library, High Street E17 7JN Novelist Amy Mason has been leading creative writing workshops across E17 to produce an anthology of local writing. Now the work is in, and it’s brilliant! Come and celebrate the anthology launch! 7-8.30pm. FREE but please book tickets in advance.

020 8496 3000 culture@walthamforest.gov.uk www.wfculture.eventbrite.com or through any Waltham Forest Library

Friday 15 E17 Baby Social The Trades Hall, 61-63 Tower Hamlets Road E17 4RQ Grown up music, grown up chat. A monthly social for Walthamstow parents/carers of babies/toddlers.

2-4pm. £3. e17babysocial@gmail.com Shuffle Brothers / Ben Hemming Luna Lounge, 7 Church Lane, Leytonstone E11 1HG The Shuffle Brothers are an established East End, 60s/70s, pop/rock covers band. Ben Hemming’s a London based singer/songwriter and one man band.

7pm-12.30am. FREE. www.lunalounge.info Gingo! Mother’s Ruin Gin Palace, Unit 18 Ravenswood Industrial Estate, Shernhall Street E17 9HQ Yes, we’ll carry on until we’re arrested.

Expect profanity and hilarity in a surreal Martini fuelled mix from Original Army Cabaret savants.

Eyes down! Come early to avoid the crushing disappointment of not getting in. 7-11pm. FREE. www.mothersruin.net Eastern Front Soundsystem The Chequers, 145 High Street/Storey Road E17 7BX Eclectic, leftfield and balearic disco vibes all night long from the eastern front DJs and friends. 8pm-midnight. FREE. twitter.com/easternfrontdjs Alwaid / Orpheum / Suddenlash Sinbin at The Plough & Harrow, 419 High Road, Leytonstone E11 4JU An eclectic night of symphonic, progressive metal bands from Barcelona, France and London.

8-11.30pm. FREE. www.ploughE11.co.uk

FAMILY

FILM

Leytonstone Green Drinks The Walnut Tree, 857-861 High Road Leytonstone E11 1HH A monthly friendly get-together for the green and eco-minded on 15th of each month. Newcomers always welcome.

8-11pm. FREE. www.transitionleytonstone.org.uk

Saturday 16 Cityread 2016: In Conversation with Gillian Slovo Vestry House Museum, Vestry Road E17 9NH Join in the conversation with author Gillian Slovo as we discuss her latest novel, Ten Days. The Cityread London 2016 title. 2-3.30pm. FREE but please book tickets in advance.

020 8496 3000 culture@walthamforest.gov.uk www.wfculture.eventbrite.com or through any Waltham Forest Library Stow Kids’ Film Lounge: The Good Dinosaur (cert PG) Gnome House, 7 Blackhorse Lane E17 6DS In a world where dinosaurs and humans live side-by-side, an Apatosaurus named Arlo makes an unlikely human friend. While travelling through a harsh and mysterious landscape, Arlo learns the power of confronting his fears and discovers what he is truly capable of. Doors open 4pm for pre-film activity, film 4.30pm, close 6.30pm. £5.50 child (inc activity), £4 acc adult, £12 child (party package). Book online or on the door if not sold out. www.stowfilmlounge.com Stow Film Lounge: Rams (cert 12A) Gnome House, 7 Blackhorse Lane E17 6DS This multi-award winning tragiccomedy is set in a remote Icelandic farming valley where two estranged brothers Gummi and Kiddi, who haven’t spoken in 40 years, have to come together in order to save what’s dearest to them - their sheep. Doors open 7.45pm, film 8.30pm, close 11pm. £8/£6 conc (senior citizens, unwaged, students). Book online or on the door if not sold out. www.stowfilmlounge.com Heavy Soul! Records Showcase Plough & Harrow, 419 High Road, Leytonstone E11 4JU To celebrate 10 years of the Heavy Soul! label, we are having a little get together.

Will feature three bands kind enough to grace the label and more. 6-11pm. £7. www.ploughE11.co.uk The Sweat / The Franceens What’s Cookin’, Leytonstone Exservicemens Club, 2 Harvey Road, Leytonstone E11 3DB Garage soul and raucous rhythm’n’ blues. 8.30-11.30pm. FREE with collection. www.whatscookin.co.uk

FOOD

GARDENING

Classics for Charity with East London Strings St Mary’s Church Walthamstow, 8 Church End/Church Hill E17 9RJ A group of local string playing friends are putting on an informal, easy on the ear concert of light classics with a retiring collection for Marie Curie and Guide Dog Association. 7.30-9.45pm.

No tickets, just turn up!

07930 325753 chris.gundry@ntlworld.com Valkania Luna Lounge, 7 Church Lane, Leytonstone E11 1HG A five-piece rock band with Balkan fire who celebrate the Balkans’ infectious uneven rhythms, mixing them up with jazz and blues and ‘balkanized’ cover versions. 8-11.30pm. FREE. www.lunalounge.info The East Lonesome Drifters The Warrant Officer, 318 Higham Hill Road E17 5RG Country AND Western are the order of the day as The ELD bring their authentic country sound to The WO in what is C&W education! 9-11pm. FREE with collection. www.the-wo.co.uk

Sunday 17 Auntie Maureen’s Vintage-aFair Orford House Social Club, 73 Orford Road E17 9QR The Vintage-a-Fair offers Ercol furniture, small antiques, lighting, vintage clobber, collectibles and jewellery all under one roof in the charming ballroom of Orford House.

NB there are steps to get into the building. 11am-5pm. £2, £1 discount with flyer or conc. Under 15s FREE. Auntie Maureen 07432 430386 ask@auntiemaureen.info The Great Village Plant & Seed Swap Vestry House Museum, Vestry Road E17 9NH Bring your excess seeds, plants, pots and swap them! Lots of stalls including BEE17 honey and refreshments.

12-4pm. FREE. Helen Lerner 07814 042499 helen@walthamstowvillage.net www.walthamstowvillage.net Lloyd Park History Walk and Talk Aveling Park Bowls Club, Lloyd Park, Forest Road E17 5EH Local historian Sue Nesbit will lead a walk and talk around Lloyd Park focussing on local history. No children please. 1-3pm. FREE but donations welcome.

Vicky Peet 07870 678571 v.peet@tcv.org.uk

Tuesday 19 Tales from the Marsh: Creative Heritage Workshops for Older Adults The Mill, 7-11 Coppermill Lane E17 7HA Details as April 5

8 The E List makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information it publishes, but cannot be held responsible for any consequences arising from errors or omissions. Please confirm with the venue before setting out.

HISTORY

MUSIC

SHOPPING

Waltham Forest Friends of the Earth Ye Olde Rose & Crown, 53 Hoe Street E17 4SA We’re a local volunteer group that meets on third Tuesday of each month to help highlight environmental issues.

We’re always looking for like-minded people to get involved. 8-9pm. FREE. Helen 07712 654632 foe.walthamforest@gmail.com

Wednesday 20 General Echo The Victoria, 188 Hoe Street E17 4QH A monthly night of dub, dancehall, roots, rockers and other bass vibrations played on 2 turntables and a space echo. 8pm-12. FREE. www.generalechoes.tumblr.com Paul McClure And The Local Heroes What’s Cookin’, Leytonstone Ex-servicemens Club, 2 Harvey Road, Leytonstone E11 3DB Paul McClure is a country/folk singer from Rutland. The passing world is the fodder for his characters and story lines; in particular the loves, laughs and losses that have come his way. 8.3011pm. FREE with collection. www.whatscookin.co.uk

Thursday 21 Pixie presents Cabaret at Madam La Zongas The Nag’s Head, 9 Orford Road E17 9LP An evening of cabaret upstairs at the Nag’s #LGBT #gaynight. 7-10pm. £5.

Pixie 07415 295176 pixiepresents@yahoo.co.uk Los Otros The Victoria, 188 Hoe Street E17 4QH Enjoy the mellow sounds of jazz standards with Los Otros at The Victoria. Who will be our mystery guests this time? 9-11pm. FREE. 07801 756863 juliajubilada@gmail.com

Friday 22 Music in the Dark Blackhorse Lane Studios, 114 Blackhorse Lane E17 6AA Acoustic guitar duo JP & Sheetal bring you their unique and haunting sounds: a fusion of Arabic, Spanish and Gypsy music. The sequences in the dark will wow your senses. An ultimate sound experience! 8-9.30pm. £9, £7 conc. £10 on the door.

Jean-Pierre Mas 07968 504888 info@musicinthedark.net www.musicinthedark.net Mezz and The Fezzes Ye Olde Rose & Crown, 53 Hoe Street E17 4SA Back by popular demand. Live music and dancing in the bar. 10pm-12. FREE.

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THEATRE/COMEDY

Julian Lebender Acoustic & Alois Eber Luna Lounge, 7 Church Lane, Leytonstone E11 1HG On a UK tour, Julian Lebender is a 19 year old London-based singersongwriter from Vienna. With a cellist, pianist and composer Anna Lang they present an exciting project based on improvised music and jazz. Plus guests Mighty High. 8pm-midnight. FREE. www.lunalounge.info

Call for Artists Show your artwork in businesses, homes, studios and unusual spaces across Leytonstone

Saturday 23 Rise Up Singing for Peace & Plenty The Victoria, 188 Hoe Street E17 4QH If you can shout, sing, pluck a string or bang a drum, come and learn songs to sing and shout in protest against the politics of greed, violence and division.

After the workshop we’ll be joining East London Against the Arms Fair in their musical protest. 9.30-11am. FREE. Julia Clarke 07801 756863 juliajubilada@gmail.com www.losotros.co.uk Massive Book, DVD and CD Sale Waltham Forest Resource Hub (North), 58 Hall Lane, Chingford E4 8EU Raising funds for Age UK Waltham Forest. 100s of books, DVDs and CDs on sale with great deals such as 3 books for £1. 11am-3pm. FREE. Emma Tozer 020 8558 5512 e.tozer@ageukwalthamforest.org.uk www.ageukwalthamforest.org.uk St Georges Day Special The Northcote, 110 Grove Green Road E11 4EL Garden party complete with deck chairs, face painting and the best of English music through the ages. Brit Pop meets The Faces meets Hot Chip!

12noon-midnight. FREE. www.thenorthcotee11.com The Chicken Shack with The Runaways Sinbin at The Plough & Harrow, 419 High Road, Leytonstone E11 4JU A Chicken Shack night of rock‘n’roll fun and dancing; joined by The Runaways.

7.30pm-midnight. £10. spoon@soundeventsolutions.co.uk www.ploughE11.co.uk Music in the Dark Blackhorse Lane Studios, 114 Blackhorse Lane E17 6AA Details as Friday 22 Acid Drops Luna Lounge, 7 Church Lane, Leytonstone E11 1HG Taking their inspiration from the souljazz of the 1960s, typified by the Blue Note and Atlantic record labels, the Acid Drops give it a new spin, adding references to cinema and TV themes.

8pm-midnight. FREE. www.lunalounge.info

Deadline: 10th April 2016 For further information and to register your exhibitions and events visit: www.leytonstoneartstrail.org mail@leytonstoneartstrail.org

2nd - 10th July 2016

Pixie Presents: Abba Again The Victoria, 188 Hoe Street E17 4QH A class tribute to the Swedish sensation Abba, that have carved themselves a great reputation. 8-9pm. £8.

Pixie 07415 295176 www.abbaagain.co.uk

Sunday 24 Waltham Forest Cycling Campaign Monthly Ride Meet at Walthamstow Library, High Street E17 7JN Distance and destination decided by riders on the day, but usually maximum of 30 miles. Will include a snack stop. 10am-3pm. FREE. robert@wfcycling.org.uk Organiclea Open Day Hawkwood Plant Nursery, 115 Hawkwood Crescent, Chingford, E4 7UH Hawkwood Plant Nursery hosts family friendly Open Days on the last Sunday of every month. Just show up to have a look around, talk to the growers, or help out with horticultural tasks. 12-4pm.

FREE. 0208 524 4994 www.organiclea.org.uk/whats-on/ open-days-at-hawkwood Music in the Dark Blackhorse Lane Studios, 114 Blackhorse Lane E17 6AA Details as Friday 22, except 5-6.30pm.

RE:HAB Presents: Open Mic Wild Card Brewery, Unit 7 Ravenswood Industrial Estate, Shernhall St E17 9HQ Walthamstow’s premier open mic night. Free entry and free drink per performer. For more info find us on Twitter @rehabpresents or Facebook.

5.30-10pm. FREE. rehabpresents@gmail.com facebook.com/rehabpresents BeBop Baby The Trades Hall, 61-63 Tower Hamlets Road E17 4RQ A daytime dance party for all the family. Great music, cocktails, dancing, what’s not to love? Live music, face painting and more. Buggy parking, baby changing, friendly people. 1-4pm. £4, £3 booked in advance online.

07813 156140 bebopbabydance@gmail.com www.bebop-baby.co.uk Forest Philharmonic Walthamstow Assembly Hall, Forest Road E17 4JD Classical concert with overture and arias from Mozart’s Don Giovanni and Strauss’ tone poem Don Juan - both tell the story of the famous Don’s many encounters with women.

Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6 the Pastoral, that featured in Disney’s Fantasia, is full of the sounds of the countryside. 6.30-8.30pm. Tickets £15, £12, £10, £8; under 26s £3; family tickets (1 adult & 1 child under 18) £10. Booking fees apply. www.forestphilharmonic.org.uk/concerts

kid friendly

FREE listings are available for events under £16, visit www.theelist.co.uk and select “List your event”.

To advertise your business contact ads@theelist.co.uk 9

ART

BOOKS

Sunday 24 continued Cool Sunday Afternoon Jazz The William Morris Bar, 807-811 Forest Rd E17 4JD Cool Blue Note era jazz from the Paul Kaufman quartet + guests. Enjoy great food, wines, ales and company while chilling out in this fabulous warm and stylish bar. 1.30-4.30pm. FREE. Stick in the Wheel at Walthamstow Folk Ye Olde Rose & Crown, 53 Hoe Street E17 4SA One of the most exciting and confrontational bands around. A unique synthesis of traditional material with a genuine urban rhythm. 7.30-10.30pm. £8, £6 conc.

07740 612607 info@walthamstowfolk.co.uk www.walthamstowfolk.co.uk

Monday 25 Club Mellow: 18-25s Youth Group ELOP Centre, 56-60 Grove Road, E17 9BN Details as April 11 Walthamstow Gay Meetup The Castle Pub, 15 Grosvenor Rise East E17 9LB Monthly, friendly, convivial evening of like-minded people having a great time around a drink or two with good conversations, fun and lots of laughter.

A no attitude, friendly meeting please bring your good humour, smile and laugh. 8-10pm. FREE but membership £5 per year.

Jean-Francois at jf@gpn.one meetup.com/Walthamstow-GayMeetup Cabaret Night presented by All Star Productions Ye Olde Rose & Crown Theatre Pub, 53 Hoe Street E17 4SA An evening of musical entertainment.

7-11pm. £12.50 & £10.

All Star Productions 020 8520 8674

Tuesday 26 Waltham Forest Dyslexia Association Adults with Dyslexia Meet-up The Quaker House, 1a Jewel Road E17 4QU Monthly meet-up for those with dyslexia or interested to find out more about it. Come along to our friendly meetings. 6.30-8.30pm. FREE. www.wfda.org.uk Solstice at E17 Jazz Gnome House, 7 Blackhorse Lane E17 6DS The award-winning E17 jazz collective’s concerts on the last Tuesday of each month featuring local musicians of national renown plus exciting guest stars in a relaxed jazz club setting. 8-11pm. £8, £5 conc, under 15s FREE. www.e17jazz.com/whatson www.wegottickets.com/event/345956 Events marked

CRAFTS

DANCE/FITNESS

Infinitease Sinbin at The Plough & Harrow, 419 High Road, Leytonstone E11 4JU Bringing the UKs best new burlesque performers together in the quest for new stars! 8pm-midnight. £10. spoon@soundeventsolutions.co.uk www.ploughE11.co.uk Waltham Forest Cycling Campaign Meeting The Hornbeam Centre, 458 Hoe Street, E17 9AH Monthly meeting for cyclists to discuss our local campaigns such as residential cycle parking, the council’s plans to make our roads safer for cyclists, and London-wide initiatives. Everyone welcome. 8-9.30pm. FREE. www.wfcycling.wordpress.com

Wednesday 27 Evening Relaxation Guided Meditation The Mill, 7-11 Coppermill Lane E17 7HA Join Natalie France on the last Wednesday of the month for this non-religious meditation session which focuses on breathing, calming the mind and releasing any stress and tension from the body. 7-8pm. £11.50, online booking available 07585 309 109 info@natalie-france.com www.natalie-france.com/events Paul-Ronney Angel & Friends/ Gary O’Dea What’s Cookin’, Leytonstone Ex-servicemens Club, 2 Harvey Road, Leytonstone E11 3DB Frontman and songwriter for the London 11 piece Bourbon Soaked Gypsy Blues Bop’n’Stroll outfit The Urban Voodoo Machine as well as host of the legendary Gypsy Hotel Club.

8.30-11pm. FREE with collection. www.whatscookin.co.uk E17 Cook Book Club The Bell, 617 Forest Road/Chingford Road E17 4NE A foodie social evening, everyone brings a dish to share and their cook book inspiration. Theme this month: ‘Spring Time Vegetarian’. All welcome.

Please join the the Facebook group E17 Cook Book Club for the latest information. 8.30-10.30pm. www.walthamstowfoodies.com

Thursday 28 Highams Park Live The County Arms, 420 Hale End Road, Highams Park E4 9PB An acoustic evening of live music, poetry and live literature with an eclectic programme of songwriters, poets and storytellers at this small and inclusive venue. Contact us if you’d like to perform. 7-11pm. FREE. Nigel Mear 07730 985615 info@highamsparklive.co.uk www.highamsparklive.co.uk

FAMILY

FILM

Totally Tapped with Perrier Award Winning Headliner The Wanstead Tap, Arch 352, Winchelsea Road E7 0AQ Last Thursday of the month. Forest Gate’s only alternative comedy night brings you Perrier Award winner Phil Nichol (C4’s Catastrophe, Never Mind the Buzzcocks) with support from TV’s Joey Page and Ali Brice. MC is Nigel Lovell. Over 18s only. 8-10.30pm. £10. info@ohsofunny.co.uk www.thewansteadtap.com/buy-tickets

Friday 29 Sham’s Kitchen Pops Up at the Palace Mother’s Ruin Gin Palace, Unit 18 Ravenswood Industrial Estate, Shernhall St E17 9HQ Now monthly, the divine and delicious Sham dishes up her truly scrumptious Pakistani street food. Takeaway also available, while stocks last! 6-10pm.

Becky 07905 484711 beckywynngriffiths@yahoo.co.uk www.mothersruin.net Dial M for Music Alfred Hitchcock Hotel, 147 Whipps Cross Road E11 1NP A brand new club night hosted by local band The Persecuted, featuring quality musical talent. Vintage items, music books and vinyl for sale. 7.3011.30pm. FREE, donations welcome.

Brad Wray 07946 591224 www.thepersecuted.wix.com Sonic Far of Sounds Luna Lounge, 7 Church Lane, Leytonstone E11 1HG Featuring Terra 3’s Sabbath inspired sludge rock; Sister Harry’s Chongedup indie; Memento’s urban folk; Strange Lights’ psychedelic drones and Melanchondria’s post-punk shoegazing.

8pm-midnight. FREE. www.lunalounge.info You Should Be Dancing!

Walthamstow Trades Hall, 61-63 Tower Hamlets Road E17 4RQ Dolores Rocket presents a new club night for people who cut their dancing teeth in the 70s and 80s but younger friends welcome. Expect soul, reggae, ska, pop and disco from the era. There’s bingo too! 8pm-midnight. £5 adv, £7 on the door. www.facebook.com/ events/577069585783367 Catherine Lima Jazz Band The Plough & Harrow, 419 High Road, Leytonstone E11 4JU Playing in the public bar with a piano, bass and drums trio, Catherine, a jazz and big band singer, performs jazz classics, blues, latin and swing. 9-11pm.

FREE. spoon@soundeventsolutions.co.uk www.ploughe11.co.uk

FOOD

GARDENING

Saturday 30 Family Day: Experience Africa! William Morris Gallery, Forest Road E17 4PP Discover the rich cultural heritage of Africa. Create a Tanzanian Tinga-tinga, make a giant map of South Africa and handle real objects from Kenya. In partnership with African Diaspora Kids.

1-4pm. FREE drop-in event for families with children of all ages.

020 8496 4390 wmg.enquiries@walthamforest.gov.uk www.wmgallery.org.uk St Barnabas Arms Pop-up Pub! The Stafford Hall, St Barnabas Road E17 8JZ By popular demand, the Pop-up Pub is back for two evenings. Join us for great east London beers, live music, food and fun in our historic tin hut The Stafford Hall. Repeated tomorrow. 5-11pm. christinesaxby@btinternet.com Oh So Funny! Comedy Club with Ed Gamble O’Neills, 762 High Road, Leytonstone E11 3AW TV’s Ed Gamble (Almost Royal, Dave’s One Night Stand, Russell Howard’s Good News) headlines this night of superb comedy with a secret guest opening, and support from Andrea Hubert (BAFTA Award winner for New Writing). Over 18s only. 8-10.30pm. £7.50 in advance, £12.50 on the door. info@ohsofunny.co.uk www.ohsofunny.co.uk Motorheadache: A Tribute to Lemmy Sinbin at The Plough & Harrow, 419 High Road, Leytonstone E11 4JU Motorheadache’s take on a number of Lemmy’s more eclectic collaborations or covers - AC/DC, Metallica, Rolling Stones, Ozzy, Probot, Twisted Sister, Queen and the Sex Pistols to name a few. 8pm-midnight. £10. spoon@soundeventsolutions.co.uk www.ploughE11.co.uk The Bikini Beach Band What’s Cookin’, Leytonstone Ex-servicemens Club, 2 Harvey Road, Leytonstone E11 3DB Flamboyant surf guitar instrumentalists, the UK’s Kings of Surf-Noir instrumentals are purely and simply the best band you can get for a party! 8.30-11.30pm. FREE with collection. www.whatscookin.co.uk Monthly Honky Tonk Saturday Night Luna Lounge, 7 Church Lane, Leytonstone E11 1HG All your country favourites with over two hours of live music. Hosted by East Lonesome Drifters our monthly country night residents. 9pm-midnight. FREE. www.lunalounge.info

kid friendly

10 The E List makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information it publishes, but cannot be held responsible for any consequences arising from errors or omissions. Please confirm with the venue before setting out.

SHOPPING

Record Roulette Mirth, Marvel and Maud, 186 Hoe St E17 4QH DJ’s Tom Gold & Harry Palmer spin their vinyl for a night of exceptional music, dancing and cocktails! Funk, soul, psychedelic jazz, unexpected covers, electronica, old school, new wave, punk, cosmic disco and more! FREE. www.mirthmarvelandmaud.com Band Camp: To the Cosmos The Northcote Arms Pub, 110 Grove Green Road E11 4EL Floor-filling harmonies, beats and bass from East London’s finest post-punky electro-pop power-trio. Bar open till 1am. 9pm-midnight. FREE. 020 8518 7516 tuesday.northcotee11@yahoo.com www.thenorthcotee11.com King Toad Fish Ye Olde Rose & Crown, 53 Hoe Street E17 4SA Live music in the bar. 10pm-12. FREE.

Sunday 1 May St Barnabas Arms Pop-up Pub! The Stafford Hall, St Barnabas Road E17 8JZ As Saturday 30

Classes/Courses Arts & Crafts Alternate Sundays, 10 & 24 April Life Drawing Hornbeam Centre, 458 Hoe Street E17 9AH Create original art in front of a life model. All materials provided. Advance booking essential. 3-5pm. jonathan.ellis@mac.com or text 07980 713819 Mondays Untutored Life Drawing Plough and Harrow, 419 High Road, Leytonstone E11 4JU Unconventionally untutored drawing class; poses from 5 to 45 mins long; professional models from all backgrounds each week. Drop-in session, fun and sociable. Art materials provided. 7.30-9.30pm. £7. j_wolfmail@yahoo.com www.meetup.com/Life-Drawing-inLeytonstone/ Wednesdays Mending Club Significant Seams, 131 Wood St E17 3LX Need help with mending your socks, a seam or hem that’s come undone or a pair of jeans that need shortening?

Fancy some company while you stitch or just fancy an excuse to socialise?

Drop-ins welcome. 1-3pm. £3 suggested donation outreach@significantseams.org.uk www.significantseams.org.uk

Events marked

THEATRE/COMEDY

Thursdays Neighbourly Stitch & Knit Significant Seams (as above) A befriending group like a book club, for people who make, want to make, or want to learn to make in the most informal of environments. Partner organisations refer people struggling with anxiety or depression and survivors of domestic and/or sexual violence but people’s backgrounds and personal challenges are their own business, for sharing only if they choose. Drop-ins welcome. 1-3pm. £3 suggested donation.

Family Wednesdays NEW Baby Signing Classes with TinyTalk The Salvation Army, 434 Forest Road/Ruby Road E17 4PY Learn to use sign language with your baby before they can talk and have fun whilst doing it! Classes at 1pm and 2.15pm, please get in touch to book a space. £7.

Rose Virden 07770 531075 rosev@tinytalk.co.uk www.tinytalk.co.uk/rosev/index.php

Music & Singing Mondays & Saturdays (term-time only) On-going Ukulele Classes for Adults Quaker Meeting House, 1a Jewel Road E17 4QU Fancy learning a new instrument?

Try the ukulele at these on-going classes with an experienced professional musician in a fun and relaxed environment. Instruments not provided. Mondays: Improvers/ Intermediates 8.30-9.30pm; Saturdays: Improvers/Intermediates 11am-12pm; Intermediates/ Advanced 12-1pm and Early Stages 1-2pm. £10.

Dick Smith 07745 052525 info.banjosmith@gmail.com www.banjosmith.co.uk Mondays & Wednesdays (term-time only) On-going 5-String Banjo Classes for Adults Quaker Meeting House, 1a Jewel Road E17 4QU Fancy learning a new instrument?

Professional musician, Dick Smith, teaches five-string banjo classes in three finger bluegrass style picking.

Start from scratch or develop your banjo skills in a relaxed and fun environment. Instruments not provided. Mondays: Absolute beginners 6.30-7.30pm, Improving Beginners 7.30-8.30pm; Wednesdays: Intermediates/Advanced 6.307.30pm and Intermediates 7.308.30pm. £12.

Dick Smith 07745 052525 info.banjosmith@gmail.com www.banjosmith.co.uk

Classes for adults in E17

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07745 052 525 www.banjosmith.co.uk info.banjosmith@gmail.com

kid friendly 11

ART

BOOKS

CRAFTS

DANCE/FITNESS

FAMILY

FILM

GARDENING

HISTORY

MUSIC

FOOD

SHOPPING

COMEDY/THEATRE

Saturdays E17 Adult Guitar Club Hornbeam Cafe 458 Hoe Street E17 9AH This is a class for all levels of experience, and we play a variety of styles of music.

It is a friendly environment and we work on improving technique as we go along but the emphasis is on making music.

12-12.40pm. £10 drop in or £53 for half term. chris@e17guitar.com 07958 471083 www.e17Guitar.com Tuesdays & Thursdays until July 21 Strung Out Violin Group for Adults Studio Office, Quaker Meeting House, 1a Jewel Road E17 4QU Classes with a professional musician whose work spans the West End to Womad. All styles of music encouraged; for all levels. Fun is the key ingredient! 6.30-9pm. £12, early bird rate £11.

Alison Jones 020 7018 2927 strungout@shapeshifter-productions.com www.shapeshifter-productions.com

Fitness, Dance & Yoga Fridays & Saturdays Drop-in Donation Yoga Orford Road United Reformed Church, 58 Orford Road E17 9QL Evening or morning class to flow smoothly then relax and restore to mellow out for the weekend. Fridays 7-8.15pm & Saturdays 10.3011.45am. Suggested donation £7.50 or what you can afford.

Sarah Rush 07815 120792 enquiries@yoyoga.co.uk www.yoyoga.co.uk Saturdays Dynamic Hatha Yoga: Wake Up Class Quaker Meeting House, 1a Jewel Road E17 4QU Breathe life into your weekend with Yoga. Creative and varied class each week with highly qualified teacher, Ros. Drop-in. Intermediate level yogis only.

8-9am. £10.

Ros Griffiths yogaros@hotmail.com www.yogaros.co.uk Mondays Baby Yoga & Mummy Core Restore The Toy Library, Comely Bank Community Clinic, 46 Ravenswood Road E17 9LY Combining traditional Hatha yoga techniques with movements, singing, sensory activities, calm breathing, relaxation and interactive fun for parent and child perfect for developing your baby, whilst strengthening mum’s core. 1-2pm. £10.

07793 394531 melissagaul.walker@gmail.com www.melissagaulfitness.com

Mon, Tues, Thurs & Fridays NEW Women Only Boot Camp Forest YMCA, 642 Forest Road E17 3EF Each class consists of either resistance training, boxing or high intensity training. Contact Jackie to book your free session. 6.30-7.15am. FREE. Jackie Grant 0771 7330993 vibe.wellnesshealth@gmail.com

Mobile Personal Training and Nutrition Coaching in Walthamstow Sustainable Weight Loss Coaching • Pre and Post Natal Training • Kettlebell and Functional Training • Movement and Posture Specialist

Sundays Yoga Me Happy in Lloyd Park Aveling Park Bowls Club, Lloyd Park, Forest Road E17 5EH Hatha yoga for all abilities. Wake up and stretch Hatha-style, with a morning yoga session to re-energise your body and mind ready for the week ahead. I have mats, so no need to bring anything with you. Booking essential. 9.30-10.45am. £8.

Eliza Moore 07710 621268 www.yogamehappy.co.uk Sundays Pregnancy Yoga Leyton Yoga, First Floor (above USSR), 691 High Road, Leyton E10 6RA A gentle pre-natal yoga class to prepare expectant mothers for birth and motherhood within a supportive community. All classes are drop-in with no need to pre-book. 9-10am. £10. leytonyoga@gmail.com www.leytonyoga.com Sundays Rocket Yoga East of Eden, Studio 1, 14 Hatherley Mews E17 4QP A strong yoga practice, this vinyasa based class has its roots in Ashtanga yoga and fuses sequences from the Primary and Intermediate Series of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga with a few more complex postures. All mats and equipment provided. 12.45-2pm. £13. info@edeneast.co.uk www.edeneast.co.uk Mondays Monday Night Feel Good Yoga Class The Lloyd Park Centre, Winns Avenue Entrance, Lloyd Park E17 5JW Friendly all-levels Yoga with Ros. Newcomers welcome. Interesting, varied class every week. DROP IN. Ros is highly qualified and experienced, so you can practice safely. 8-9.30pm. £7. yogaros@hotmail.com www.yogaros.co.uk Tuesdays Women Only Zumba classes St Andrew’s Church Hall, Church Road E17 6AR Fun packed fitness and dance class with international sounds. Friendly group of women who love to dance and get fit. 7.30-8.30pm. £8.

Jackie Grant 07717 330993 vibe.wellnesshealth@gmail.com www.vibe-wellness.co.uk

Sam is a level 4 Personal Trainer, Precision Nutrition Coach and Crossfit Level 1 Coach who specialises in weight loss and functional training

sam@samgeorgefitness.com

www.samgeorgefitness.com THURSDAY EVENING PILATES MAT CLASSES in Leyton 7pm - 8pm General level – all welcome Absolute beginners, contact me for further info

Authentic Pilates taught by a highly qualified tutor with 14 years’ experience £10 drop-in. Limited spaces Leyton Parish Church Hall (St Mary’s) Lindley Road E10 5PY alison.bray@gmail.com abpilateslondon

www.abpilates.co.uk ABPilatesleyton

Tuesdays WalthamFitness Walthamstow School for Girls, Church Hill E17 9RZ Combining bodyweight exercises, Plyometrics, HITT, Circuits & Core Stability training to aid weight loss, muscle tone & flexibility; in a fun and friendly atmosphere. 8.15-9.15pm. £6.

Chloe Redmond 07903 629636 www.dancechloe.com

For lots more dance and fitness classes please visit www.theelist.co.uk

12 The E List makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information it publishes, but cannot be held responsible for any consequences arising from errors or omissions. Please confirm with the venue before setting out.

Promises by Mo Gallaccio Mo likes to introduce her poem with a few lines from Wordsworth’s famous “Daffodils”: I wandered lonely as a Cloud That floats on high o’er vales and Hills, When all at once I saw a crowd, A host, of golden Daffodils; Beside the Lake, beneath the trees, Fluttering and dancing in the breeze…

She finishes “We urban dwellers are more used to the Tesco’s variety” Clare Twomey

Picked at dawn for meagre pay

Help fund the William Morris Gallery’s next show and receive exclusive rewards

by frozen fingered migrant workers bedded in makeshift villages of caravans.

The Gallery has teamed up with leading ceramicist Clare Twomey to develop plans for an ambitious installation – and they need your help to bring them to life.

Packed in boxes - airlifted ten stems in bud scant spear-like leaves secured

Walthamstow’s William Morris Gallery is taking a new approach to funding its next exhibition. Using the Art Fund’s Art Happens crowdfunding platform, the Gallery hopes to raise £10,000 to realise Twomey’s vision of creating a live craft studio.

by two elastic bands a crate of graduated stripes

If the Gallery is successful in raising the amount, Twomey will create a vast tile panel embellished with Chrysanthemum, one of Morris’s most beautiful and intricate designs.

white through green to lemon.

No hosts fluttering or prancing

Photo © Paul Tucker www.paultucker.co.uk

Over 67 days, 67 members of the public will undertake the role of “apprentice”, working alongside Twomey’s master painter to transform the original Morris-designed surface from the original state of beauty to another. Fittingly for a museum dedicated to Morris, enlisting as an apprentice will be a democratic process – open to everyone, regardless of previous experience.

but at a pound a bunch a vaseful for my kitchen, each jaunty trumpet

“To create this living work will be to observe, recount and to pass on skills as an act of ritual that will deepen our understanding of how Morris achieved and lived out his philosophical dreams,” explains Twomey.

a fanfare - Ta Da de Da Yes. There will be Spring.

The appeal, which closes on Thursday 21 April, offers exclusive rewards to donors for as little as £5, including postcard packs, tote bags and exclusive artworks designed by Twomey.

A pamphlet of my poems and illustrations, “Promises” is to be published in April by Walthamstow’s Paekakariki Press, featured on page 28.

Find out more and donate: artfund.org/arthappens-williammorris

Find Forest Poets on Facebook and Twitter @ForestPoets

To advertise your business contact ads@theelist.co.uk 13

Skin Deep Leytonstone’s Stone Space Gallery this month sees a striking and thought provoking new exhibition by artist Sally Hewitt which challenges the way art represents the human body and how we really see ourselves.

Skin deep is an exhibition of embroidered and stitched pieces by Sally Hewett. Sally’s work is inspired by bodies: not conventionally beautiful bodies, but bodies which show their history, that have been altered by their experiences, that are decorated with scars, spots, stretch-marks, veins - bodies that have the marks of life on them. The exhibition includes a new series of fabric reliefs depicting bodies altered by surgical procedures and medical conditions.

Sally says: ‘I am interested in how we see things and how we interpret what we see. Why are some bodies considered beautiful, and others ugly? How does my use of materials and techniques traditionally associated with prettiness and gentility affect how the content is seen?’

Skin Deep by Sally Hewett 31 March - 24 April 2016 Private View Friday 1 April 6.30-8.30pm The Stone Space, 6 Church Lane, Leytonstone E11 1HG Thurs & Fri 2-6pm, Sat 12-5pm, Sun 12-4pm www.thestonespace.wordpress.com stonespace.enquiries@gmail.com

www.sallyhewett.co.uk Top right: Rising moons Bottom right: Silver tongued

ARONA StJAMES SOLICITORS

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Your local solicitors with international experience LGBT • Divorce & Family Law • Employment Law • Commercial Drafting Wills & Probate • Business Law • Litigation • Immigration & Nationality Law

We are a boutique law firm with over 45 years worth of experience.

Come to our new free drop in advice sessions for immigration & family law.

Meet an experienced member of staff over a cup of tea to discuss either a personal/business immigration or family issue.

Every 2nd and 4th Saturday of each month 11.00 to 13.00.

Walthamstow & East London

www.ayamacoaching.co.uk 020 8257 8475 14

info@AronaStJames.co.uk T: 020 3757 8670 www.AronaStJames.co.uk 63 St James St, London E17 7PJ Defending Human Rights We are regulated by the Solicitors Regulatory Authority number 619031

8 of 12 seasonal recipes

fish cakes A permanent fixture on our menu our ever popular fishcakes are fantastic finger food for parties. Quick and easy to make, they are equally delicious hot, warm or at room temperature, as part of a buffet or a starter, allow 3-4 cakes per person.

FOR APPROXIMATELY 20-24 CAKES

• • • • •

250gm skinless cod fillet or mixed white fish 80gm king prawns shelled but uncooked.

2 medium eggs 2 teaspoons of red curry paste A generous pinch of salt

• • • • • •

30gm cornflour 30gm long beans or french beans finely sliced (optional) 4 kaffir lime leaves thinly sliced 2 teaspoons of red curry paste 1 litre corn or vegetable oil for frying Plain flour for dusting tray

GARNISH • Lime wedges, coriander leaves.

March saw an incredible two nights of fantastic food, music and dance as Walthamstow’s Yum Yum Thai restaurant had its official gala opening.

A SPOTTER’s Guide to LOCAL streetLIFE for Waltham Forest’s people watchers.

TO SERVE • Plum and sweet chilli dipping sauces carrot and cucumber relish.

1. In a food processor mince the fish for 10 seconds, then add the prawns and whizz for another ten seconds.

2 Break the eggs into the processor, add the curry paste and blend with the fish for 20 seconds. Tip in the cornflour and blend for another 20 seconds or so until the mixture is quite thick and gooey.

3. Spoon the mixture into a large bowl and stir in the beans and lime leaves.

4. Take a teaspoonful of the mixture per cake. Using both hands shape into small patties of about 3cm diameter and 1 cm deep.

Have a bowl at the ready and moisten your hands periodically.

5. Put the shaped cakes on a lightly floured tray and chill in the fridge for an hour or so.

6. Heat the oil in the wok. When the oil begins to smoke, lift the cakes Individually using a fish slice and drop them in the oil.

7. Fry in batches of 6-8 at a time for about 2 minutes on each side until golden brown.

8. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on kitchen paper. The cakes should be quite springy when pressed. If they are not, drop them back in the hot oil for a minute longer.

9. Arrange on a plate , decorate with lime wedges and coriander leaves.

PREPARE THIS RECIPE, TAKE A PIC AND POST IT ON YOUR FACEBOOK PAGE - SEND US THE LINK & WIN A MEAL FOR 2 AT YUM YUMS E17! Check T&C’s on our FB page

yumyume17

202 Hoe Street • Walthamstow • E17 4BS • Tel: 0203 3279 790

From a series by Walthamstow resident, illustrator Tom Gaul. instagram account tomgaul_doodles

www.tomgaul.com To advertise your business contact ads@theelist.co.uk 15

Dance for Doctors with The Orb, Freestylers and more!

On Saturday 2 April, Wild Card Brewery teams up with local promoter Byrd Out for an evening of amazing music raising money for the charity Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières)!

Local craft beer and top notch music come together for an amazing night for charity, just one minute’s walk from Leyton tube station. The Orb’s founder, Dr Alex Paterson, The Freestylers, and Scratch Perverts headline, so come prepared to dance! The date is Saturday 2 April, with doors opening at 8pm with live music to kick off, closing at 1am!

Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)) help people worldwide where the need is greatest, delivering emergency medical aid to people affected by conflict, epidemics, disasters or exclusion from healthcare. MSF’s actions are guided by medical ethics and the principles of neutrality and impartiality. It is active in Yemen, Syria, Greece, France (Calais) and all over Africa. Andrew Birkby, Director at Wild Card Brewery, hatched a plan to help, roping in local promoter Stephen Vitkovitch of Byrd Out. Andrew says: “The refugee crisis is leading to

Freestylers 16

an overwhelming amount of human suffering. Here at Wild Card Brewery, everyone is determined to find a way to help. We teamed up with Byrd Out to put on an unforgettable fundraiser. The support from the artists, local companies and residents, and people across London has been remarkable. We’ve chosen to support MSF who take medical support to the places where it is needed most. Their achievements are truly impressive and we’re really excited to be able to bring people together for an incredible night which will raise funds to help MSF achieve even more.”

requirements. Byrd Out is covering the cost of the acts (all of whom are playing at reduced fees or for free) and recouping this from ticket sales, with all profits thereafter donated to charity. Both Wild Card Brewery and Byrd Out have donated their time in organising the event. LVE Foundation Trust has very kindly provided the venue at a discount, with Garden State providing free PR, and support from local independent estate agents Stow Brothers.

The venue is Leyton’s beautiful Grade II listed old Town Hall – ‘The Great Hall’ (on Adelaide Road E10 5NN).

Elizabeth Alexander

The important question – how will money be raised? Wild Card Brewery is donating beer stock and associated sales to the event, running the bar for free on the evening, and covering licensing

The Purple Lights

Local artist Pete Fowler has done the artwork for the night, and will take a turn behind the decks, having acted as Hot Chip’s tour DJ.

Book at www.byrdout.com for a night of great music and great beer, all for a great cause!

The venue is wheelchair accessible.

Blank Bibles, from left Sam, James, Elliot, Cary and Harry.

Blank Bibles

Photo © Liam Doocey

Blank Bibles are a literate, passionate 5-piece hailing from Highams Park. Front man James Evans tells Farah Ishaq about the joys of headlining gigs, getting national radio airplay and being part of a growing local music ‘scene’.

Taking cues from Neil Young, Bob Dylan, the Byrds, the Band - this bunch of eloquent, arty and educated lads living in Walthamstow are starting to make waves with their indie folk band Blank Bibles with influences which bely their young, early 20s ages.

On the day I meet with James, it so happens that three local bands have albums being released (The November Five, The Oscillation and The Hanging Stars), so we discuss the obvious sea change in quality and knowledge of music coming out of our local area.

For James Evans (songwriter, vocals, guitar, keys), being good friends with Elliot (guitar/keys), Harry (drums), Sam (guitar and vocals) and Cary (vocals and bass) since they were in sixth form together is one of the key reasons the band works so well, able to produce tracks at an impressively prolific rate - racking up 2 EPs and 4 singles, (with more tracks ready to record) in just over a year. It’s a polished, professional act, with the fortitude to be big news.

Evans credits the Stow Festival for helping music visibility locally, having played the annual event the past two years, as part of the band and solo, acoustically. “I think we are part of a local scene of sorts, there are so many bands here. Even bands that we don’t realise live here like [the] Hanging Stars, [the] Oscillation. I don’t remember this many acts happening at any time in recent years, and a big part if that is down to Stow Fest, even though it’s put together by such a small team.”

“We would never have been able to play the [Walthamstow] Garden Party without them. Playing on the second stage (curated by Stow Festival) was an amazing experience, with such a large crowd. It was so much fun and amazing, with so many good bands around us. Being involved in something like that, it gives you that boost, just like headlining the Camden Barfly - the feeling in the band that ‘We can do this!’”

Stow Festival organiser, and member of The November 5, Julian Marszalek responded to Evans’ comments after this interview saying: “It’s great to see that Stow Festival has inspired so many people to either take up music in all its myriad forms or just simply perform. That’s always been the intention so it’s wonderful to see so many people wanting to be a part of it.”

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Blank Bibles will inevitably be compared to Mumford & Sons, with Blank Bibles harbouring three vocalists and all members being multi-instrumentalists - producing harmonious country-folk-indie-rock but their harmonies and patchwork of influences shine really bright. As lead vocalist, Evans channels a lot of My Morning Jacket’s Jim James in ‘Z’ period to Elvis Costello via Bob Dylan. “We used to be a lot more folky but we’ve tried to move away from that and want people to form their own opinions instead of saying this is who we are, this is what we do,” Evans explains. “We’re trying to do something in the traditions of the best bands from the 60s through to the present day. Absorbing as much as we can from the music we love.”

The band, through graft and fatefully putting their music into the right hands, have garnered several national radio airplays and were the first featured BBC Introducing act last year. They’ve also bagged headline slots at several big London venues including the Barfly, the Borderline and Hoxton Bar and Grill.

The band currently rehearse locally, but they first started in bassist Cary’s Highams Park shed. “We’d play with the door open, and as we were getting better and better - the drummer’s playing got louder so it got to the point that first one neighbour would complain, and then the next one. Then two doors down would start complaining. Carey’s 18

dad said ‘I think you need to start going to the practise rooms now,’ so we’ve been at Pulse Studios [in Blackhorse Mews], pretty much ever since.”

Expanding on starting the band in their teens, Evans says: “We all met at Highams Park School, but since university, now all live in Walthamstow, have families and ties to the ‘Stow. Before, when I was really young, Walthamstow wasn’t that cool, though I always said I was from Walthamstow as it was on the Victoria line so people would know what I was talking about. People always blankly asked where that was. Not anymore though!”

Marszalek adds: “I think a lot of what attracts people here [E17] is a sense of community that’s pretty unique to this pocket of London. Lots of people know each other and look out for each here and that’s pretty rare and something to be savoured.”

The trajectory from the bands self-titled debut EP, through the Carousel EP - a concept of four tracks spanning a year, to the singles Bayou with a cheesy countryesque video filmed in Hollow Ponds, Abigail West “not based on anyone in particular, but is an amalgamation of all of us,” to the new single Days in the Sun. All of the band’s tracks show a growth in sound and direction but could equally all work if compiled into an album. Losing some of the really folksy sound along the way, partially down to losing original member and pianist

Malcom last year, but also just maturing leaving University and coming home to Walthamstow to start anew.

At the time of writing their new video was due to be filmed at the single’s launch, at a headline show at the Wild Card Brewery.

James points out: “Walthamstow has such lots of visually great places, We’re spoilt for choice! God’s Own Junkyard, Hatherley Mews, the old cinema (now Mirth).

When we first started we used to play the Standard all the time. It was such a great venue, if someone took that over that would be the best.”

The band have a lot of love for the Stow, and it won’t be long until the Stow and beyond know and love them back.

www.soundcloud.com/blankbibles Track to try: Slow Love - a wonderful jangly guitar lament to the joy of love and reconciliation, from the 2015 ‘Carousel’ EP. See the charming video here: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=8k2v9tBKT50 Blank Bibles have just released new single Days in the Sun, available on iTunes. They are also lined up to play at Waltham Forest’s ‘Get Together’ events this year. See their Twitter and Instagram for details of more live shows as they are announced. Search ‘Blank Bibles.’

Satellite of Love Two hours is not long enough to talk to Maggi Ronson, she already has more than a lifetime’s worth of stories to tell and she certainly hasn’t finished yet.

Words by Kirsty McNeilO’Connor.

At the centre of everything that Maggi Ronson does is her family, her love for them and her passion for music seem intrinsically linked. Maggi’s brother is Mick Ronson, famous especially for his time as lead guitarist with David Bowie – Ziggy Stardust and the Spider’s from Mars but also a talented solo artist, producer, arranger and collaborator on endless albums and tours including Bob Dylan, Mott the Hoople and Lou Reed.

Born and brought up in Hull, Maggi was the middle child of three. Their mother spotted Michael’s talent early and purchased a piano. Both Mick and Maggi were classically trained, Mick on piano and violin and Maggi, piano and trumpet - this early training was invaluable to them both.

As a young teen Maggi regularly came London to visit her brother and go to his shows then, when she was just 16, she moved down to live with him. “The day I moved down I was taken straight off the train and into Trident studios to record backing vocals on Slaughter on 10th Avenue – it was fantastic, incredible times,” she says. It was quite the baptism of fire, as she was plunged (not unwillingly) into the

The cover of Maggi Ronson’s album Sweet Dreamer an homage to David Bowie’s cover for The Man Who Sold The World.

smoky world of sex, drugs and rock and roll. Mick was on the crest of the biggest musical wave of the era, so Maggi met and worked with some incredible people - many of whom are still friends.

Family also influenced her next move; Maggi’s younger brother was unwell so she went home. Her mother, a nurse, suggested Maggi get some training herself so she took a job in a hospital and became a nurse.

In 1986, after her marriage to a classical musician she moved to Kitchener Road, Walthamstow. “My (now ex) husband knew the area, we needed an easy commute to London, but affordable, so it was either Walthamstow or Lewisham.” The couple had 2 daughters Hannah and Amelia.

“Mick used to come and stay with us in Walthamstow, he loved going down the market and to the East London Sausage Company when it was on Hoe Street. He was an ordinary man, kind, friendly, down to earth and funny,” she smiles.

When her children were young, and Maggi couldn’t tour, she joined local community choirs and a drama group – she still continues with these today. “My parents never played instruments but they were hugely supportive and, it turns out, there’s a lot of talent in our family.” Both her daughters are musicians too and one of Maggi’s relatives was the first Billy Elliott and is currently a principle dancer with Matthew Bourne - also from Walthamstow!

After the devastating premature death of Mick Ronson on April 29th 1993, Maggi set to work on a huge memorial concert

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Maggi sings backing vocals with bands whenever she gets the chance, “I didn’t used to have the confidence to be up at the front but I love harmonies, you can play with backing vocals without all the responsibility. I’m so glad that I have music in my life, I like to challenge myself, using different aspects of my voice, do things I’ve never done before.” She has worked with an astonishing array of artists – too long to list here. In recent years she toured the U.S with Glenn Matlock and took part in “Blow the Bloody Doors Off” – led by musical director Terry Edwards - a celebration of Michael Caine film music, singing backing vocals with Matt Munro Junior at the Barbican and in Australia as part of the 2015 Adelaide Festival of Arts.

Locally, Maggi appeared at the Stow Fest in 2012 and gave a short opening speech at Sound & Vision: A tribute To David Bowie at Mirth, Marvel & Maud in March. And she sings backing vocals with local bands including Murder Barn.

To mark the 20th anniversary of Mick’s death Maggi recorded lead vocals, coproduced and arranged an album, Sweet Dreamer. “It’s amazing what you can do for love. I’ve never had a solo career, I

didn’t really know where to start,” she says with honest humility. “I suppose I just don’t care so much anymore, I wish this attitude had come to me when I was younger.”

The Sweet Dreamer CD cover is an homage to Bowie’s The Man Who Sold The World.

The album was launched at the ICA on 29th April 2013 with a full band including Maggi, her daughters Hannah and Amelia and Mick’s daughter Lisa.

Photo © Paul Gasson. Hornbeam, 2012 Stow Festival.

for him, held at the Hammersmith Apollo, exactly a year after his death. A starstudded cast of musicians, came together to celebrate his life and work in song, the event was recorded and subsequently released.

Maggi Ronson with friend and long time collaborator Colin Lloyd Tucker.

Other contributors include; Colin Lloyd Tucker with whom Maggi has worked for years, he has worked with Matt Johnson of The The and Kate Bush to name a few.

Woody Woodmansey, the drummer from Mick’s first band The Rats and later, Spiders from Mars; Rod Melvin, a Walthamstow resident and former pianist with Kilburn & The High Roads – now resident pianist at the infamous Groucho Club; Nick Marsh – of Flesh for Lulu and The Urban Voodoo Machine and former Bowie pianist, Mike Garson (famous for the amazing piano on Aladdin Sane) worked on the track This is for you. “There were around 25 people who helped with this project and all of them did it with passion and commitment,” says Maggi. She also managed to include Mick himself. If you listen carefully, he plays the title track, Sweet Dreamer.

A collage of memories of Maggi’s brother Mick Ronson fills the gatefold of Maggi’s CD album Sweet Dreamer.

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“It was easy to choose the tracks. Every single one of them has meaning to me because it is for Michael, celebrating his work.” Lou Reed’s Transformer album is full of Mick’s guitar and piano playing, vocals, string arrangements and production. They chose Perfect Day for the CD and Maggi’s daughter Hannah arranged the cello part.

“Mick coloured everything he played on, he lifted it up, gave it life.” Maggi is rightly proud of her brother’s work and never appears to be in his shadow, preferring to bask in his light.

For further information or to purchase Maggi’s CD Sweet Dreamer www.maggironson.com

So far he is making more money busking than he did at an office job. “I haven’t yet played a day when someone hasn’t pushed a five, ten or twenty pound note into my hand,” he says, sounding genuinely shocked.

“I always try and thank them but I’m also trying to sing so it can be a bit awkward.”

He wears his Muddy Waters influences on his sleeve and talks of growing up on a farm where everyone who came to visit played an instrument and where John Martyn and Bob Dylan were never off the stereo. “My dad’s music taste influenced me a lot. We are a pair of country bumpkins living in an old farmhouse with people playing guitar and harmonica.”

But he’s not just into golden oldies: “I love discovering new artists. Some of my favourite influences recently are people like The Tallest Man on Earth, Jamie N Commons, Bones of JR Jones and the awesome Rocco Deluca.”

Living in east London must be quite a contrast to Payne’s rural upbringing but he’s taken to the capital like a duck to water and one of his biggest claims to fame is supporting Fleetwood Mac at the 02 Arena – well, sort of. In reality he was one of a few artists hand-picked by the band to play at the smaller Brooklyn Bowl venue at the big Greenwich landmark after their gig. Nevertheless Payne’s cover of Fleetwood Mac’s Big Love is rather lovely.

Knockin’ on fame’s door

Photo © instagram- millygrangebennett markandmilly.co.uk

After performing at last month’s South by South West Festival in Austin, Texas, the world’s biggest new music festival, singer/ songwriter Harry Pane is momentarily back in Walthamstow.

Matilda Battersby (and her excited toddler) caught up with him.

Walthamstow has become home to one of London’s most hotly-tipped emerging singers. Harry Payne, moved here from Brackley, Northamptonshire 12 months ago and is set to perform at Glastonbury this summer by way of a few more intimate Stow-based venues.

Next month he is heading to Valencia with Dani Castelar, who produced Paulo Nutini’s album Caustic Love, to record his second EP. He has just won a national competition called #Roadtothe100club where the prize was a development deal with Island Records and PRS Music.

He might not have been in E17 long but you might recognise him from the main stages at Grillstock and The Stow Festival

last summer. And just last week, hot on the heels of a performance at the Texasbased South by South West – one of the biggest music festivals in the world – Payne played at E17’s very own Chequers pub ahead of Easter weekend.

His quirky and modern take on rhythm and blues has earned him a bit of an underground following. But he quite literally makes his living on the Underground as a full-time busker.

A few months ago he gave up a sensible office job to pursue his music career full-time which means busking for two hours a day when he’s in London and travelling around on the gig trail the rest of the time.

At 27 Payne still has a boyish quality that might win him a strong teeny bopper fanbase. When we meet for this interview at Eat 17 in Walthamstow Village he has to put up with my excitable toddler after childcare fell through. Payne might look the part on stage and have been writing songs for a decade, but he’s not averse to entertaining a two-year-old and he rather charmingly batted away my son’s repeated requests that he draw him a picture of a fire engine.

Payne hasn’t finalised the plans for his upcoming EP yet, but he’s got plenty of songs he’d like to record. “It’ll be nice to have a polished finish to the EP because all my other recordings were done in my mate’s bedroom in 2011,” he says, laughing. “I’ve got plenty of unfinished songs and new ideas that need recording.”

“I am currently writing and piecing together some songs that I feel will be powerful and punchy. My stomp board has always been a strong part of my live performance,” he says.

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There’s a strong sense both from Payne, and because of the attention he’s generating, that 2016 will be his year.

After Glastonbury he’s booked to play Car Fest – Chris Evans’ festival thing for Children in Need – and Jimmy’s Harvest Festival this summer.

He’s keen to tap into the community vibe that makes Walthamstow so different from other areas in London and has been actively seeking local venues he can take

advantage of with his most exciting next gig taking place in the crazily neon setting of God’s Own Junkyard next month.

He’s happiest when he’s performing: “[The past few months] have been great fun and a great experience for me. To be honest I have gained a hidden energy and drive I didn’t realise I had. It has been slightly testing at times having to hold down a full time day job as well as all gigs but I enjoy the challenge and as long I am having fun with it, I am happy.”

Photo © Edward Findlay edwardfindlay.com

That pulsating sound is the central hallmark to all his songs and “Ghost” stands out as a potential hit. “I write about things that mean something to me. Sometimes you can get something in your head and you need to write it down. When that happens, the song writing process is natural and easy.

At other times I can find it difficult to be creative. It depends on my mindset.”

Harry Payne is performing at God’s Own Junkyard on 13 May https://tigmus.com/harry-pane/ gods-own-junkyard/293

Ultra Two 90s rock band escapees have founded a brand new synth rock project, with energy and inspiration drawn from our beloved neighbourhood. They tell Farah Ishaq why Ultra’s music is worth a listen.

Landscape designer Joel Alexander, 36 and 22

local secondary school teacher Paul Dogra, 43 have been searching for each other for much longer. Both have been fronting and songwriting in a variety of other bands for the last 15 years, until a meeting as a result of a musician’s advert on Gumtree last year finally bought them together.

“It was a very old fashioned, very old school way to meet” laughs Joel as we chat over a pint in the back room of The

Chequers. “Yeah, he came round my house, listened to some music, we had a drink, and then just started coming up with ideas, and that was that,” adds Paul.

In one year, Ultra have released an EP and have a new single Awakening ready for release in May. As Joel explains, “We started off recording on a 24-track, and made what we call our blueprints. It’s great that we can work in Paul’s home

Photos © Tim Rendle

They might be utterly impossible to Google – type in ‘Ultra’ and you are hit with reams of pages on the 90s boyband (“Say ya, say ya, say you do”), an 80s psych garage band, the Miami Music Week festival and ‘ultra’ gym products galore - but once you hit on their website or Soundcloud - the 2016 duo Ultra, from E17, are worth the search.

studio in Lloyd Park. In a commercial studio it is so pressured, say 3 or 4 days, couple of hundred pounds a day, and you have to get tracks done. Working at Paul’s we can work when we want and that makes us feel much more relaxed.”

With an average length of five minutes their tracks are layered moody synths and brooding guitar and drum affairs, obviously belying their devotion to Depeche Mode (they’re named after the ’97 DM album, as were the 90s boyband!) with debut EP lead track Universe in 2 perfectly matched for the fading opening titles for any Scandi-crime-noir TV series.

The video for Universe in 2 is filmed against the jagged concrete design beneath the Billet roundabout where the A406 roars overhead, befitting the atmospheric, shadowy nature of the six minute piece. It’s also the most infectious of their tracks to date.

Joel and Paul have both been songwriters for 15 years, citing Bowie, Radiohead, U2 as well as Depeche Mode as key influences. There is also a lot of early Peter Gabriel and some hooks which are similar to bands like Frankie Goes to Hollywood.

As Joel says: Being in a rock band before, it was all very one way, verse-bridge-chorusguitar solo, I was getting quite bored. With this project I love the experimenting side.”

Paul agrees, saying “We think we have an experimental synth/guitar vibe, if you want to hear music that is edgy, atmospheric, emotive and dark, then we are that.”

Ultra release new single Awakening in May through iTunes and Spotify. A live launch, their first live gig, will take place in Walthamstow. Keep an eye on facebook and www.theultra. co.uk for the venue.

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Seminal record shop and label owned by Pete & Mari Stennett was located here 1976-1983.

The label released debut records by The Cure, Bauhaus and Crass.

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Turning the tables in E17 Vinyl records are back with a bang, trouncing CD sales. Mike Gerber charts Walthamstow’s long association with this most seductive of audio media.

How fascinating then that Walthamstow has profound historical connections with the industry. “If you bought a record between 1950 and 1980 the chances are it was pressed either in Walthamstow, or EMI over near Heathrow Airport,” Mark Hart – who conducts Walthamstow music history tours – informs me.

The Walthamstow plant was PolyGram in Walthamsow Avenue. Built by Philips in the 1950s to support UK pressings in the then emerging market in vinyl LPs, singles and EPs, technical processes that became widely adopted in the sector were developed there. The plant pressed records for many labels covering numerous artists – Dusty Springfield, The Who, The Jam, Blondie, Roxy Music among them. The Saturday Night Fever and Grease soundtrack albums were pressed there. Classical releases too, many recorded at Walthamstow Assembly Hall with its fabulous acoustics. As Philips mutated into PolyGram following a merger with Deutsche Grammophon, it also acquired the UK pressing rights for several 24

major US labels. With the rise of the CD, the plant closed in 1988.

A decade earlier ex-PolyGram staffer Pete Stennett opened the Small Wonder record shop at 162 Hoe Street that became a magnet for the punk generation. Then in 1977 he founded the Small Wonder label, issuing records by the likes of Patrick Fitzgerald, The Fatal Microbes, GBH, Cockney Rejects and Crass, and later the debut discs of Goth icons Bauhaus and The Cure.

After fascist harassment, Stennett shut his operation down, and another record shop, Ugly Child, took over the premises.

It was Merseysider Mark Hart’s fascination with Small Wonder that spurred him, on settling in Walthamstow some 10 years ago, to delve deeper into the town’s music legacy: “Small Wonder resonated because I used to listen to John Peel. In 1979/1980 he would often play records that appeared on the Small Wonder label. And if you bought NME or Sounds, as I did, there would be an advert. And if you were a kid living away from the big capital, or cities like Liverpool or Manchester, listening to John Peel and you wanted those records, the only way you could get them was by sending a postal order to a distant shop and one of those was Small Wonder.

“Not far from Small Wonder,” Mark continues, “we had one of Britain’s main mastering

studios, Hiltongrove Mastering, in Hatherley Mews. They moved a few years ago. A lot of independent record labels, such as Fierce Panda or Cooking Vinyl would beat a path to Hiltongrove because they know the guy there could make your record sound better than other people’s. So bands like Echo and the Bunnymen, Killing Joke, Coldplay’s first single, were mastered at Hiltongrove. There are even tales that bands in Japan, who loved and wanted to recreate the sounds that the records made, flew all the way with their tapes to Walthamstow.”

Fierce Panda is a further Walthamstow connection. Simon Williams, a music journo from Walthamstow, much taken with the “new wave of new wave” punky bands emerging in the mid-nineties, established the label to release the double-vinyl EP ‘Shagging In The Streets’ featuring S*M*A*S*H, These Animal Men, Blessed Ethel, Done Lying Down and Action Painting. The office was in Orford Road, where a wine bar is now, and in setting up, Williams enjoyed considerable assistance from Damaged Goods, an indie label next door that was formed by the punky-monikered Ian Damaged in 1988. Damaged Goods now has a Leytonstone postbox address.

And Fierce Panda, which went on to issue the first singles by the likes of Placebo, 3 Colours Red, and Coldplay, and records by The

Photo © Tpatrick Morgan

That old black magic has got me, and the other vinyl record lovers of Walthamstow, in a spin. Well, vinyl’s not always black these days – limited editions are often released in other hues, or as picture discs. But yes, in Walthamstow, as elsewhere, there’s a resurgence of demand for vinyl.

Photos © Aziz Rahman azizimaging@yahoo.co.uk

“Vinyl’s more interesting, isn’t it? It sounds better and you get a cover.”

Maccabees, Keane, Ash and Billy Mahonie, shifted to Islington in the early noughties.

But Simon Williams told me: “Walthamstow had a massive effect on me, from selling fanzines at the WAH 17 shows at the Assembly Hall when I lived near Lloyd Park in the mid-80s to interviewing Tony Mortimer for the NME in the Nag’s Head.”

One thing Mark Hart didn’t anticipate when genning up on Walthamstow’s musical past was any reggae connection: “Brixton, Harlesden, Willesden, places like that, have maybe a bigger Afro-Caribbean community.

So I was surprised that in the 90s, on the Alpha Business Park, was the studio of Adrian Sherwood and On U Sound. Sherwood is the giant of the UK reggae scene, a white guy that’s recorded many Jamaican artists. For 9/10 years, he had a mastering studio in this unassuming business park and would invite big reggae artists, Lee Scratch Perry and Dennis Bovell and others, over. And it was where Primal Scream worked with him recording Echo Dek, a big selling album which was basically dub mixes of their songs.

Next door to his studio used to be the Trojan Records tape store. Universal, the big record label, bought the Trojan catalogue and housed the tapes in this warehouse.”

Today, holding aloft the banner for Walthamstow’s tradition of independent labels is Fortuna Pop, celebrating its 20th

birthday this year. Launched by Sean Price and situated on West Avenue Road, it turns out loads of vinyl, in whizzy sleeves, by bands that haven’t quite made the charts, including local artist Darren Hayman who was in Peel favourites Hefner.

just have more personality. The equipment is sexier too – be it a hi-fi turntable, a vintage jukebox, Dansette or radiogram, or the directdrive decks that Walthamstow DJs press into service at the increasing number of vinyl-only events in the area.

Meanwhile, Walthamstow’s tradition of independent record shops is being upheld at Wood Street Indoor Market, where there are three such outlets – including mine. The other two record traders, Ray Loudon and Mike Lane, have been selling there much longer than me. “Vinyl’s more interesting, isn’t it? It sounds better and you get a cover,” says Mike.

Sam, a visitor to my shop, puts it this way: “Generally vinyl has a quality for listening to that is hard to capture with words even on my modest system, and a warmth that is not often felt when listening to CD or digital.” His partner’s teenage sister, he adds, has caught the vinyl bug – an affirmation of its widening appeal.

Spot on: vinyl is more interesting, it does sound better, and the often graphically stunning sleeves are part of its allure.

Sonically, top-range digital audio kit will certainly measure well on things like low distortion, dynamic range and frequency response, but hi-fi experts have long recognised that such data doesn’t necessarily correlate to the listening experience. Digital audio must be converted to analogue, corresponding to sound waves, for us hear it; that would seem to give the analogue audio medium that is vinyl a distinct advantage. To my ears, CDs have a tendency to sound somewhat samey, whereas vinyl records sound more natural, airier, with greater spatial perspective, and

Mike Gerber is a freelance journalist and record trader

vinyl vanguard Got the records I’m seeking? Let me make you an offer you can’t refuse!

Mike 07495 030078 info@vinylvanguard.com

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Flicks, Riots, Bombs & Stars Enjoy a pint in Mirth, Marvel and Maud, and you are standing in the lobby of a spectacular building with a long and fascinating history. In the first of a two part history Richard Ashman takes us from its humble origins as a simple Victorian concert hall to its reincarnation as an opulent venue for some of the world’s finest entertainers.

The Victoria Hall originally stood here, a concert venue built in 1887 by John Read, founder of Walthamstow Musical society.

Films were shown as far back as 1896 – the first year in the UK – and screenings were regular by 1907. These could be chaotic affairs with the images dancing up and down as audiences ‘rioted’. Soon after the hall was reconstructed in 1921 as a proper cinema, it attracted the attention of two young brothers from Ilford - Sidney and Cecil Bernstein, possibly thanks to Sidney’s friend Alfred Hitchcock, who when living in Leytonstone probably knew the Victoria well.

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After buying it and the land behind in 1928, they installed experimental equipment for ‘talkies’ and got to work on the spectacular and larger replacement we see today.

The Granada Theatre opened in 1930, incredibly just 6 months after the Victoria showed its last film. They never called themselves cinemas. Architect Cecil Massey and interior designer and theatre director Fyodor ‘Theodore’ Komisarjevsky took the Andalusian province Sidney Bernstein named his new cinemas with and brought Spain to Walthamstow. Cherry-picked elements of Moorish and baroque architecture were thrown into a building with the scale to handle it. Every detail was designed to perfection, creating a sense of occasion and arrival cinema architects today can only dream of. Indulge me for a paragraph or two as we visit it in the early days.

There’s a curved parapet (that will be removed in 1960) extending the height of the frontage and guarding the entrance is the resplendent peak-capped commissionaire, Henry Hall (ex-army probably, like many other Granada doormen). He also provides tokens for parking at Clapps garage (a future Skoda dealership). Buying tickets from one of the opposite facing offices in the low lobby we go through another set of doors that hold

back the volume and glory of the foyer from initial view. The iconic fluted pilasters frame intricately shaped mirrors surrounded by dazzling detailing (removed and simplified after bomb damage) and music flows from a grand piano played on the landing.

Street and foyer entrances lead to the restaurant (still being built on opening night), which opens daily, three hours before the rest of the cinema. Incremental travertine steps go up to the balcony and down to the cloakroom, telephone, lower lobby and stalls. Anticipation grows step by step and door by door until we finally reach the auditorium, a quasi-Islamic fantasy.

Chandeliers light the coffered ceiling in the back stalls and the starburst ceiling above.

The 25-piece Granada orchestra starts up, conducted by Charles Manning, waving his magic baton frenziedly. Some concerts are broadcast on the radio. The plush curtains part and it’s cine-variety time! Music hall artistes from the west end perform on stage, there’s a musical interval as the organ rises from the orchestra pit and finally the silver screen glows with news, cartoons and two films. A three hour show and you can come in at any time and stay for the next!

Cinemas are now designed to encourage the consumption of food and drink in clinical surroundings where gilded décor and

Photos this page © Vestry House Museum, London Borough of Waltham Forest

Enter 186 Hoe Street and you follow in the ghostly footsteps of first daters, rowdy school children, talent show contestants, hysterical teenagers and the young, old and somewhere in-between who have been enthralled and entertained at this hallowed spot for generations. Those modest entrance doors have been a gateway to more extraordinary memories than probably any other address in Walthamstow. After a 12 year staring competition between an impassioned community and a church who wanted to use the place for worship (the church blinked first), new owners took over last year, flinging the doors open again, for music, drink and conversation in the foyer, much how it was for over 70 years.

curtains covering the screen are considered costly and unnecessary fripperies. Sidney Bernstein took the opposite approach, coaxing patrons to spend money by impressing them with neo-classical spectacle.

Audiences were as entertained by the romantic and escapist atmosphere evoked by their surroundings as they were by the activity on stage. Managers had a portrait of the American showman PT Barnum in their offices for inspiration.

The other six cinemas in Walthamstow – three of which were on Hoe Street alone – were no threat. The Granada outlived them all and remains the largest cinema ever built in the borough, originally boasting 2,697 seats (advertised as 3,000 luxury armchairs) – over 1,600 more than the Empire multiplex. A real threat came from a V1 flying bomb which exploded by the junction with Hoe Street and High Street on 16th August 1944, killing 22 people. The foyer became a temporary morgue and the blast ripped off much of the roof and damaged the ceilings. It closed for 3 months while staff worked flat out on repairs, salvaging materials from other theatres. Press ads said ‘closed for reconditioning’.

In 1947 a prospective employee arrived for an interview and stayed for 50 years and 37 days. Ernie Mills’ first responsibility was looking after the cheapest seats.

Remembered for counting in children with a tap on their heads and thwarting the attempts of some to sneak into the cinema by the side exits, he formed an endearing relationship with generations of patrons as ‘Uncle Ernie’ and campaigned to re-open the Granada after it closed.

Harry Chapman, the chief projectionist was another stalwart. Plagued by a bomb scare hoaxer in the 1960s, his 42-year career included maintaining the heating and lowering the ornate chandeliers for their twice annual clean.

It was always much more than a cinema.

There were pantos with ‘Carry On’ regular Peter Butterworth, beauty pageants to find the next Miss Walthamstow and wrestling. The foyer displayed photography and handicrafts from local societies until made illegal by new fire regulations. From 1954 DJs including Radio Luxemburg’s Pete Murray played tracks before Sunday

screenings, much to the delight of local teddy boys, and it became the first cinema in the area with ‘the magnetic wonder of stereophonic sound’. 28 speakers and a large CnemaScope screen were installed in time for a run of The King and I featuring a spectacular fanfare from the orchestra.

The integrity of the building took a knock in 1957 when the orchestra pit and organ console that rose majestically from within were made defunct, entombed in a stage extension for a Count Basie show. Jayne Mansfield set pulses racing that year, appearing on stage to promote her new film with Kenneth More, The Sheriff of Fractured Jaw. Rock and pop were coming and the versatile Granada was ready. Des O’Connor introduced Buddy Holly and The Crickets in March 1958, less than a year before Holly’s untimely death. The cinema was entering a new golden age but first it had to survive more threats to destroy it..

Opposite page, left to right: The Victoria Hall (1) The stage. (2) Seen from Hoe Street. 1893 (3) Seen from Hoe Street 1910.

This page, clockwise from top left: The Granada (1) The front showing the curved parapet (removed in 1960). (2) The original lobby with the highly ornate mirrors and piers. Much of the decoration has since been removed. (3) The stage of the auditorium with the Christie Theatre Organ (the only one still in situ in the UK). (4) The circle. (5) Original adverts introducing the new Granada cinema from 1930, including advice on how to say the Spanish name Granada to those less travelled in their East London audience.

Photos this page © McGuffins, © dusashenka, © Cinema Theatre Association.

Radio personality and impresario Bryan Michie, credited with bringing Morecambe and Wise together, held hugely popular talent shows in the 1930s and 40s.

Remembered ruefully over 60 years later, the direction of one young life was set to change when Michie asked permission to send the gifted Walthamstow child to stage school. Her mother refused and a young dream ended in the foyer.

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The Paekakariki Press Like the discussions about vinyl versus mp3, some argue that a truly beautiful book can only be produced using metal type, the process itself gives each impression a unique quality totally absent from its modern digital replacement. Jonathan Elliott gets into print with Matt McKenzie. Photos by Paula Smith.

The Paekakariki Press (it’s a coastal village in New Zealand) is the brainchild of Matt McKenzie and Matt has ink in his blood. His father was the Professor of Bibliography (the study of books) at Oxford University and in earlier years founded the Wai te Ata Press at Victoria University in Wellington, New Zealand. “I had a composing stick in my hand from the age of six, so there was no hope for me”.

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He followed his father’s passion for the printed page as well as his love of theatre, and made a career of the latter, but it was letterpress that he returned to when his father died. It started with a modest acquisition, but not for long “once you start with something like this ....it ...sort of snowballs” Matt sounds like the owner of pets who have started breeding and is no longer sure what to do about it.

At first sight, the place could be a printing museum. There are five presses of varying size and complexity, separated by banks of compositors’ cases of metal type in cabinets. Books and posters line the walls. There is an atmosphere of order and calm – the machines have good solid names : The Albion, the Autovic and the Heidelberg KS. The Thompson-British Automatic Platen (the name alone sounds like a declaration of war) looks dead – surely nothing so big, complex and ancient could possibly still do the job it was designed to do in 1948. That was the last year they made Spitfires. Matt pulls a lever and it springs to life with extraordinary vigour, I nearly leap back in alarm. Battens, pulleys and gangs of metal arms whirl and zip back and forth, suction pads delicately sweep up sheets of paper with the care of a nurse

Photos © Paula Smith paula@paulasmith.co.uk

Look at this page and the letters you’re scanning. Before you is a cultural artefact and a legacy of printing history. The spacing of the words, the size and design of the typeface, the justification, the size of the margins, the spacing are the product of generations of printers, publishers, bibliographers, graphic designers and typographers. Today, we merrily bash away on our keyboards and CTRL+P makes printers of us all. But imagine somone gave you a handwritten note and asked you to make a professional-looking printed page without the use of any electronic equipment – reader let me tell you, even to attempt such a task would completely do your head in. In a Walthamstow backstreet is a highly unusual workshop, and a highly unusual man dedicated to curating the long history of this exact endeavour. That endeavour is letterpress and behind that word is a world.

cradling a newborn. A vast platen moves up, the page is carefully pressed and laid aside.

It’s a virtuoso mechanical performance of extraordinary elegance. You don’t get that with an Epson Stylus. Next to it, and going just as strong, is The Albion – a monolithic cast iron machine made in 1891, the year William Morris started the Kelmscott Press.

“William Morris had three, not long ago one of his sold in New York for over $200,000”.

But these are not for show: Matt has wasted no time putting his machines to work. He lays out a range of poetry publications. Each is a work of art – technically perfect as well as very beautiful to look at. One has pages with woodcut illustrations which are separately made with, of course, a block of wood. No Google images or clipart here.

I begin to see why letterpress is such an addictive craft. The act of making an image by pressing a painted object against a surface is as old as handprints on a cave wall.

There is something very primal going on here, and then there is the culture – an ancient world of near-lost knowledge with terminology to stir the soul – quite apart from Paekakariki’s typefaces (Fashion Script, Fry’s Ornamented, Mecurius, Madonna Ronde) there is the mysterious language – verso, tympan, quoin, palimpsest. And then there are the beautiful objects that the inked metal makes.

Another project is the Wipers Times – a satirical magazine printed in the trenches of World War I. Matt has made a facsimile edition using almost exactly the same kind of equipment the soldiers would have used.

Arranged in almost perfectly even lines with ragged type, the resigned humour and laughter in the face of death is poignant: a spoof ad reads “Are you an Optimist? Do you suffer from Cheerfulness? If you are in the clutches of that dread disease? We can cure you!”.

“The problem with letterpress is that you have a finite amount of type – you can set out to print ‘War and Peace’ but by the time you get to page three you’ve run out of ‘e’s”. The solution: Matt has built a type foundry with original machines.

Silvery splashes of molten lead testify to the production of type that will keep his machines fed with any amount of text. His wife has started making paper and a bookbinder friend is moving in next week.

The Paekakariki Press continues to snowball.

www.paekakarikipress.com

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The British Xylonite Company Factory in Highams Park. The factory was opened in 1895 by American entrepreneur Levi Merriam. Xylonite was an early form of plastic made from celluloid. The factory made brushes, combs, knife handles jewellery and even false teeth. By the 1930s it was renamed Halex, and became most famous for supplying the world with ping pong balls. The factory was a big local employer during the first part of the 20th century and more than 1,000 people worked there at its height. It closed in 1970.

Ensign Garden Club’s Vegetable Show, 1917. The Ensign Camera Factory was on Fulborne Road, Walthamstow which the advertising boasted was the largest camera factory in the Empire. Its workforce were well looked after even with activities such as vegetable showing to keep them busy during the time off.

Industry These photos are from the collection of Vestry House Museum. Browse more photographs from the Museum’s archive and order prints online: http://boroughphotos.org/walthamforest.

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Photos © Vestry House Museum, London Borough of Waltham Forest

East London Water Works pumping station, Forest Road, Walthamstow, 1890

During World War II the Wrighton Factory on Billet Road, Walthamstow switched production from furniture to building de Havilland Mosquito aeroplane fuselages. It has been argued that though the Spitfire is more famous, it was in fact the extremely versatile de Havilland Mosquito (which was largely made of wood and glue) which was the plane that won the war.

Charcoal burners at Cuckoo Pits, Epping Forest 1878

Interior of Gilson and Co Ltd, screw manufacturers, Billet Road, Walthamstow, August 5 1916

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Do piles of drying laundry spoil the perfect style of your home? This is one of the most taxing areas of domestic economy. Here’s part two on managing the laundry blues.

The tumble dryer is a great invention, but it’s noisy and uses lots of energy. In NewYork everyone sends their stuff out to a professional. The cost of this may be the same as running a dryer - and don’t forget the good old launderette which often has an ironing service.

Dry your laundry outside as much as possible. Sunshine naturally bleaches your whites. The rotary dryer has the virtue of taking up very little space, it holds a lot and nowadays you can even get a smart portable one.

Lovely woollies should be hand washed. (Woolite is the best!)

Here’s a tip on how to dry them and keep them in shape.

Rinse well and squeeze, lay out a towel (use one from the laundry bin), put the woolly on it flat, roll up the towel and then jump up and down on it. The towel takes out all the excess water leaving the woolly just damp. Dry it flat on a well designed rack like the IKEA Mulig which is really adaptable and folds flat when not in use.

The pulley maid has come back into style and can be hoisted right out of the way. I have a friend who has his on the ceiling of the top landing (which makes use of all the warm air rising).

A family will produce a lot of laundry, so do small amounts but often. There are some really good space saving and efficient drying racks on the market. Take the time to investigate what’s the right product for your needs and splash out on a well-designed one.

Do you have a particular niggle about your home? If so email editor@theelist with the problem and it may be answered in a future issue.

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Architectural historian, Karen Averby uncovers curiosities and stories from Walthamstow’s rich and varied past

THE PAST IS ANOTHER COUNTRY There is a fascinating map on display in Vestry House Museum which depicts Walthamstow as it was in 1822, just a few decades before urban expansion took hold. Produced by Vestry Clerk John Coe, it plots the houses and extent of land plots in the parish, and is annotated with the names of some of the main landowners of the time. At first glance it looks alien to the Walthamstow of today, but a closer look reveals familiar elements: modernday streets can be seen in field patterns and the shopping hubs of Wood Street, High Street (Marsh Street) and Hoe Street are visible as clusters of buildings. Some of the landowner names have survived as modern day street names, and some of the mansions still stand today. As tempting as it is to list these in a long, wordy paragraph, it’s far more satisfying to map-gaze and ponder “where is…?” So, can you identify the location of your home, street, favourite pub or café?

An archive copy of this fabulous map (the one photographed here) can also be seen by appointment at Waltham Forest Archives. www.archangelheritage.co.uk

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LOCAL HERO

Peter McCarthy

Tell us about Music in the Village (MITV).

We aim to bring to Walthamstow the quality of performance and calibre of player you would normally expect to see in the world’s leading concert halls. The great thing about our evenings in St Mary’s Church, unlike more famous venues, is the informality and the chance to mingle and chat with these incredible artists with a free glass of wine too. Right here in E17: no dressing up, no trip into town required.

MITV been going 13 years now. Who have you had playing? Scattered through our 89 performances to date we’ve had world class groups like the Fitzwilliam Quartet, Fretwork, the Avison Ensemble and soloists like the legendary harpsichordist Trevor Pinnock and the incredible young pianist Joseph Moog.

In fact Joseph was named young artist of the year in last year’s Gramophone Classical Music Awards, and this year has been nominated for a Grammy.

St Mary’s has its own piano, chosen by pianist Sarah Nichols who gave up a whole day to sift through instruments at Reeds Piano shop in Seven Sisters. The budget was £2,000, a lot of money, but sadly not much for a grand piano. Sarah managed to find an instrument with a really lovely tone and it has been beautifully maintained by Eric Doig. Joseph has played on some very expensive pianos indeed but he liked it (or at least said he did) because it reminded him of the piano he practised on when he was growing up.

Several groups like to come back every now and then. The Avison Ensemble and 36

Collegium Musicum 90 have been the biggest groups to do so, consisting of up to 16 or 17 people, quite a squeeze at St Marys. The Fitzwilliam Quartet are probably our most well-known regular visitors. Formed in the late 60s, they quickly became a favourite of Shostakovich who entrusted them with the Western premières of his last three quartets. In 2005 their recording of his music was included in Gramophone’s 100 Greatest Recordings of All Time. I used to go and see them play when I was 16, at the Cartwight Hall in Bradford. One of the members who played then is still in the quartet, and playing in Walthamstow.

What sort of music can people hear? I try to cater for all tastes. Over 13 years we’ve had all sorts of music from medieval to modern, from well-known, well-loved pieces to occasional rarely performed gems. In terms of scale we aim for small chamber groups and occasional soloists. St Mary’s is a perfect chamber music venue, as I discovered when I was asked to listen to some colleagues rehearse. That gave me the idea to start Music in the Village.

Tell us about your special commissions.

I’m really proud to say that each year we raise funds to commission an original piece from a leading composer. In fact we

have our 13th original piece premièring on April 7th. It’s been composed by a gifted young Greek composer, Vasiliki Legaki, who herself plays guitar. The guitar is a difficult instrument to write for and it’s essential to have a deep insight into its capabilities.

It will be performed by Xeufei Yang, one of the finest musicians I have ever met.

Her technique is absolutely extraordinary and she does astounding things on this popular instrument. The story goes that the legendary guitarist, John Williams, on a visit to China to teach on a guitar course, heard Xeufei play. Seeing she had no guitar of her own, gave her his own guitar at the end of the course and came home without one.

I’m thrilled that she’s coming back to play in Walthamstow. (See April 7 listing page 6).

As well as these special commissions MITV has seen the world premieres of 3 other pieces. How has this come about? Many artists are thankful to have an opportunity to give a new piece a final run through in front of a small audience before taking it to a major concert hall. That’s also true of new concert programmes: Fretwork have run through new programmes twice before jetting off to perform them elsewhere; once to Madrid and another time to New York’s Carnegie Hall.

Photo © Paul Tucker www.paultucker.co.uk

Where can you hear and sometimes chat to some of the world’s finest classical musicians? Where can you experience an occasional world première? Where can you enjoy performances normally reserved for audiences in London’s Wigmore Hall or New York’s Carnegie Hall? And where can you do all this without even leaving the borough.

Peter McCarthy shares the answer with Paul Lindt.

Are your ticket prices subsidised? No our concerts are entirely self funding; everything – church hire, PRS, heating, refreshments, advertising, programme printing etc. – is all covered from the ticket sales and some generous audience donations. I never take any money for organising the concerts (or playing in them, when I do so) and I won’t tell you how much I’ve put into making the series work over the years! It’s my gift to the community I live in.

After the costs are deducted, the performers are given what is left. It never adds up to much of a fee but we have been lucky with the great good will that musicians have towards Music in the Village.

In the past we have had sponsorship from Waitrose (South Woodford), the Chairman’s budget at John Lewis and from Apex Arts. It takes a lot of time to organise any funding application. If there are any readers or local businesses who would be interested, then do please get in touch.

What about you, are you local? I was born in Nottingham. During a brief spell when I was five my dad worked in Barkingside and I started school in Ilford, but lived almost all of my early life in Yorkshire. As an adult I lived all over London before discovering Walthamstow 26 years ago when I met my partner Gail (an oboe player) who had already made it her home.

How did you first discover music? I had a go on a lot of instruments at school but was absolutely useless on everything I tried until I started playing the bass guitar as a teenager, and became interested in writing music. I wrote the incidental music for a production at Bradford University, then got a place to study music at Leeds University. Before I went, my school music teacher craftily lured me into playing the double bass. Good advice!

Within four years I was playing professionally including a 9 month stint as an extra player in the Hallé Orchestra. Since then I’ve branched

out on quite a few other instruments, mainly stringed, and I still compose a little – mainly for friends.

And what about early music and instruments? While at Leeds University, Professor Alexander Goehr ordered a large baroque bass viol and sent me to collect it. Well I was hooked. Still a student at Leeds, I played that viol for the Wexford Opera Festival (on the only occasion in the Festival’s history that baroque instruments were used).

I now have quite a few instruments and I’m lucky enough to be able to lend some to younger colleagues. My oldest instrument is a 1720 three string double bass from Nuremburg; the largest a 2.43m tall Henk Klop chamber organ which came straight from working in Salzburg Cathedral (during the Salzburg Festival) to my garage in Walthamstow. Most of the instruments I use now are modern reproductions.

Why? The molecular structure of wood changes as it ages, starting as amorphous but becoming crystalline over time. I believe it affects the tone. My historical colleagues in the 17th and 18th centuries would have been playing on new instruments. Also, certain instruments have have not survived into modern times. A Dutch maker has constructed a large medieval fiddle for me: only illuminated manuscripts and cathedral statuary can tell us what those fiddles were like. Some folk think I’m nuts, I know I am!

I understand you have 24 bows! Don’t tell everyone! During the 17th and 18th century there were many stringed instruments of different sizes, all evolving at a great rate. And that’s true of the bows too.

And what’s your professional background?

Last year I gave up the post of double bass player for the English Concert after 24 years.

Long enough to play in a group. I’m the Artistic Manager, double bass player and fixer of St James’ Baroque.

Fixer? Not a hitman, but someone who books the players for concerts. St James’ Baroque has regular partnerships with the Westminster Abbey Choir and also the BBC Singers.

Finally I’m currently playing the kantele and four other instruments for performances of Pericles at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, part of Shakespeare’s Globe. It’s great fun if a little frantic. Four musicians are crammed in the musicians gallery with a whole pile of odd and unusual instruments.

Are you worried about the future of classical music. I worry that people might feel intimidated by the traditional concert hall experience. That’s why what we try and do at St Mary’s is so important. I’m sad that children don’t have the same opportunities I did at my (quite ordinary) school.

In Hungary they teach reading and reading music at the same time. Reading music is easy; no mystery at all, you just have to be shown how to do it.

Folk are often surprised to discover that classical music has been around them all the time: film soundtracks, ads and tv programmes, in the lift, even at some tube stations. Let’s not label it classical music, let’s just call it music.

How do you feel about Walthamstow?

I‘ve loved it here since the day I moved to E17. It’s a great community. There have always been a large number of professional musicians living locally, partly because we could afford it. I once read there are 30,000 musicians in the UK and 50% of them earn less than £16,000 a year. There might not be so many able to move here now!

Now I’m here, why would I ever leave?

020 8223 0772 VillageMusic@WalthamSoft.com

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Walthamstow Diary Between forest and marsh lies the glorious Stow.

These are the tales and meanderings of a proud resident of E17 I’m really looking forward to summer. Spending hazy lazy days stretched out in the garden, or sinking a pint in the beer garden of the Chequers. Sunny afternoons chasing the dog through the long grass on the marsh, like something out of the opening sequence to Little House on the Prairie. The warmth of the sun on my skin and the hope of a little less rain than in the darker months. I’m looking forward to summer, but I will kind of miss the magic of winter and spring.

Walthamstow takes on a different character in colder months, particularly first thing in the morning. Over the years I’ve developed a bit of an obsession with winter mornings on the marsh. This obsession has got distinctly worse since I’ve been getting the Chingford line to work. Trundling across the marsh on the train, I find it almost impossible not to take photos of the morning sky and frost drenched march. I’m just as bad when I’m out running. I will often come to a stuttering halt as the waking marsh stretches out before me. I’ll stand and watch as it emerges from the rolling mist.

On cold winter and spring mornings the marsh is simply magical, I can think of no other word for it. The sky fills with the orange and red of the winter sun as it appears above the horizon. Light gently creeps across the marsh, frost covered grass glints as it’s touched by the suns rays.

Rushes stand like a halted army, silhouetted against the winter light. Even the criss cross of railway lines that bisect the marsh can look spectacular.

Stretching off towards Stratford, flanked by pylons and licked by the steam curling from the industrial units next to the track, even this slice of industrial London looks beautiful.

I love the coming of summer and I’m not wishing it away already, but once it’s here a small part of me soon can’t wait for the magic of winter to return. Waiting for frost to blanket the edge lands once more. Waiting to see the beauty of the marsh as it wakes to greet the sun. www.walthamstowdiary.com

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The Magpie’s beady eyes are back on the look-out for the shiniest, funniest remarks, witty retorts and bizarre sightings to steal from the borough’s social media channels.

Thanks this month to Walthamstow (unofficial) Tourist Board, Leytonstone Life, Greater Leyton Tourism Board and Walthamstow Life Facebook groups & Twitter

Angry about the ban on fox-hunting on Wanstead flats? Not to fear! Join us this Sunday in Leytonstone Tesco carpark where we will engage in trolley hunting. The elusive beasts scatter as soon as the first customers turn up and they often end up hidden in hedges, so turn up early! (You can park in the disabled spaces, nobody gives a shit).

Greater Leyton Tourism Board

Photos courtesy of Gem Aronson (mattress), Charmaine and Clare (sign) @GreenGymWF (batbox) @Greenwellys (Leon)

Hallelujah! Jesus’ face found on Walthamstow mattress.

JF: Makes a change from toast.

MM: Someone’s been moving in mysterious ways by the looks of it....

TB: Looks like he’s wrinkling up his nose too!

(Maybe a bit smelly) AB: Bollocks. It’s St. Paul.

PH: Walthamstow - twinned with Turin.

RL: Is that the urine shroud?

AA: I see Boba Fett...

MO: Looking & looking, but I still can’t make out Jesus’s face?

W(u)TB: Bottom left; I think it might actually be Noel Edmonds.

CH: Bottom left hand quadrant. Our saviour’s right eye is next to the bottom right corner of the label. He looks happier than he usually does and better fed. LS: Looks more like James Corden to me CH: My eyesight isn’t what it was but let the label say ‘MIRACOIL’ please.....

CH: ‘tis a Miracoil MM: Surely it’s our own dear Queen?

CN: The Holy Mattress of Walthamstow. Lord be praised!

Walthamstow (unofficial) Tourist Board

#E17facts: Walthamstow is heliocentric - it shifts through the day to ensure all pub gardens get maximum sunlight. @CuriosE17 It is with a tear in my eye that I can share wondrous news with you – a downward escalator! With a person on it! It was switched on just as my 3 year old and I were halfway down the fixed steps. I think she thought I was making her walk just to be mean.…

MG: Sing hosanna EJ: It’s AMAZING!! I was grinning like an idiot on my way out of the station watching people coming down on the newly opened escalator.

AB: It does mean that the lovely guy at the bottom chivvying us all has gone!

EJ: Maybe we’ll still see him around the station... He is great!!

PA: Why is it that I get pissed off walking down stairs at a tube station, but don’t mind walking up them? Am I just weird?

FM: Walthamstow Central... so beautiful.

Should have sent a poet Walthamstow Life Overheard this. “Good to see E17 is shedding its cocoon of poverty”. Jog on mate, give us a call when you return from the planet arse hole. @StowDiary Bat Box made by the Lloyd Park Sharing Heritage group @TCVtweets @folpe17 @GreenGymWF Bijou timber property available; brand new roof, basement access only. Would suit membrane-winged nocturnal insectivore! @Estates_17

A little trouble getting to grips with the whole leap year thing in the Coppermill area...30th Feb? Falling trees? Is this Waltham Forest Council launching the apocalypse?

Walthamstow (unofficial) Tourist Board While I commend the dedicated person who often power walks round Upper Leytonstone before 6am, please can you put a couple of corks on the bottom of your bloody ski pole thingies so I’m not woken by the SCRAPE SCRAPE SCRAPE SCRAPE coming up the street? AAAARGH GD: walking poles in Leytonstone. I weep.

LJ: It’s gentrification gone wild MS: Whhhyyy ?

DM: Leytonstone Life has jumped the shark.

NT: Oh the rolling hills of Leytonstone!

SW: You cannot be serious!!!

CC: She comes my way, Francis Road area, around 7.30 so she’s my perfect last alarm before I wake up too late.

LJ: She’s out there mincing around in the piddling rain for hours?!

CC: I don’t know but I assume so, if you power walk with sticks you might as well go quite far?

She likes her exercise!

LJ: Not as much as I like my sleep!

Leytonstone Life Sad day for Walthamstow as we say goodbye to “insanely happy Tube Guy” @tfl Leon @leonmktsui #e17 @greenwellys 39

Elsham Road E11 Offers in excess of ÂŁ500,000

A Stunning Victorian Home With A Modern Twist.

Behind the Victorian exterior lies a tremendous range of modern features and expansive living accommodation, all beautifully presented and expertly designed. Elsham Road is a quiet road in a much sought-after location just a short walk from the delightful Wanstead Flats or transport from Leyton Underground Station.

This wonderful property provides space for the whole family to enjoy. On entering you find an expansive large bright lounge with bay window and wood flooring. A door leads through to the stunning modern kitchen/diner, full of light from velux windows and double doors that open onto the private garden. Whenever entertaining your family or friends, this is undoubtedly the perfect space at any time of the year. Two stylish double bedrooms and a family bathroom are found on the first floor. This superb family home could be the perfect property for you and your family

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5. Lansdowne Road E17 2 bed terraced house for sale Guide Price £595,000

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6. Cleveland Park Avenue E17 2 bed flat for sale Offers in excess of £525,000 7. Wingfield Road E17 3 bed terraced house for sale Guide Price £795,000 8. Hazelwood Road E17 1 bed flat for sale Offers in excess of £385,000

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April’s gallery

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3. Beulah Road E9 4 bed terraced house for sale Offers in excess of £950,000 4. St. Mary Road E17 2 bed Flat to rent £323 pw : £1,400 pcm

1 4 1. Vestry Road E17 2 bed cottage to rent £369 pw : £1,600 pcm 2. Hassett Road E9 1 bed flat for sale Offers in excess of £400,000

Walthamstow’s Estate Agent

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020 8520 9300 estates17.co.uk 40 Orford Road E17

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“it’s a

Walthamstow thing”...

0208 520 9300 • www.estates17.co.uk • 40 Orford Road E17 9NJ

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