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WEEKENDER
Lambeth
Example returns Musician prepares to play South West Four
August 2017 www.weekender.co.uk
Pick of the Month Latin beats, Greek myths and family fun By Becky Morton
Behind the Scenes at the Museum
Brunel Museum, Tower Bridge and the National Theatre are opening their doors to children and their parents on July 28 to go behind the scenes to learn about engineering. The Brunel Museum event will include boat trip, river walk and tunnel descent while visitors to Tower Bridge will get a tour of the bridge’s high level walkways before trying 3D printing. At the National Theatre there is a ‘Build a Building Tour’ where children will use the Denys Lasdun building as inspiration for their own designs. Email director@brunel-muesum.org.uk to book a place. www.engineer-a-better-world.org
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Carnival del Pueblo’s annual free festival returns to Elephant & Castle this August with a day of Latin American music, dancing and food. Expect infectious Latin rhythms and live music from performers from across the globe as well as local artists. Sunday, August 6, 11am – 9pm Nursery Row Park and East Street Market, SE17 2DX
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Myths and Monsters Free, open-air theatre is coming to the Scoop in August with an action-packed production of Greek epic, the Odyssey. The performance features sea monsters, sirens, storms, cyclops and Greek gods and is sure to delight all ages. The full show runs in three parts from 6pm until 10pm with the 6pm show particularly geared towards younger audiences, but can be broken up over multiple days. Staged as part of the London Bridge City Summer Festival the performance will be showing on Wednesday – Sunday evenings from August 9 until September 3. www.londonbridgecity.co.uk
Family Fun in Clapham
Clapham Old Town Fair is celebrating its first anniversary with market stalls, live music and family fun. Highlights include a petting zoo, dog show and a demonstration by the London Fire Brigade. Food will be on offer from Michelin-starred Trinity, along with Mommi, The Sun pub and Omnibus Theatre’s new eatery Eat & Drink. Saturday September 2, 12 – 6pm The Polygon, Clapham Old Town
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ABBA return to Waterloo
Swedish pop sensation ABBA are being brought to life in a brand new immersive exhibition Torbjorn at the Southbank Centre. ABBA: Calvero © Super Troupers will transport Premium Rockshot audiences back in time through a journey of original costumes, photographs, memorabilia and music to explore the context behind the band’s pioneering music videos and chart-topping hits. Tickets are now on sale at www. southbankcentre.co.uk. ABBA: Super Troupers runs from December 14 2017 – April 29 2018 Tickets £15/£20/£25
Just announced
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Blondie in Brixton
Blondie is coming to Brixton this November bringing a mix of classic hits like ‘Heart of Glass’ and ‘Atomic’ as well as material from their new album, Pollinator, released earlier this year. The album soared to number 4 in the UK charts, the group’s first top 5 entry in over 18 years, and features appearances from artists including Johnny Marr and The Strokes’ Nick Valensi. Tickets are on sale now so grab them before they’re gone. 17th & 18th November, 7pm www.academymusicgroup.com/ o2academybrixton
August 2017 3
SPOTLIGHT By Nicky Sweetland
The First Lady of the West End F
ew West End performers can claim to have achieved the same level of success as Kerry Ellis.
The singer - who has earned the title ‘The First Lady of the West End’ - has played some of the most coveted leading roles in the history of London Theatre and commands a huge and devoted fan base. Possibly best known for portraying the green witch, Elphaba in the musical phenomenon Wicked - both at the Apollo Victoria Theatre in London and on Broadway – Kerry Ellis knew a life on the stage was on the cards from a young age and her parents, who are from Sydenham, encouraged her to make her first foray on the amateur scene. “I’ve done it from when I was a young child,” Kerry tells me, “I went to a local dance school and did local theatre productions. It all just felt like a natural progression for me.” Her humble beginnings in local theatre probably account for Kerry’s unassuming demeanor and determination to contribute to the success of up and coming talent (Kerry acts as a patron of a number of drama schools). Our shared passion for all things ‘stagey’ does mean we struggle to stick to an interview format and chat endlessly about obscure musicals and classic showtunes. Kerry does tell me however, about how she undertook professional training at Laine Theatre Arts, before doing a stint on a cruise ship and a couple of touring shows. Her big break came when she was cast in the West End production of My Fair Lady at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in 2001. The show hit the headlines after soap star Martine McCutcheon was cast as the leading lady, Eliza Doolittle. The Eastenders’ actress was indisposed for much of the run, which caused a real stir, but gave Kerry her first chance to shine. “It was the first West End I did and I was an understudy to Martine McCutcheon,” Kerry explains, “I had no idea it would cause such a media frenzy. I was in the papers a lot and it was fantastic for me really.” On one fateful night, the legendary Queen guitarist, Brian May happened to be in the audience and was so impressed by Kerry’s performance, that he asked to meet her. “He [Brian May] came to see me
4 July 26 2017
in My Fair Lady and asked me to audition for We Will Rock You.” Kerry not only landed a leading role in the new rock musical, but also struck up a friendship with May that would completely change the trajectory of her career. The pair went on to record a number of albums together and tour throughout the
world. Now fifteen years on, the partnership of May and Ellis have recorded a new album called Golden Days – which mixes some classic rock numbers with self penned songs - and have recently released a single. Kerry has also had enormous success as a solo performer
with a self-titled album released in 2014. She’s additionally gained an enviable reputation on the London cabaret circuit, which earned her a 2016 West End Wilma Award for the Best Cabaret Performance. “I’ve, kind of, got this parallel career going on. So, I’ve got a music career and a musical
theatre career, which is fantastic.” And Kerry’s theatre career continues to be hugely successful. In fact, her CV arguably reads like a list of the best musicals ever written. “I’ve played some incredibly strong women and iconic roles like Nancy in Oliver and Fantine in Les Misérables. Obviously I did My Fair Lady, Miss Saigon and Wicked, which was massive and crazy and I was painting myself green for a couple of years, which felt completely normal at the time. It took me to Broadway; it’s an incredible show and I’m very grateful for it. I had an amazing time.” I remind Kerry that she also took over from Nicole Scherzinger as Grizabella in Cats at the London Palladium in 2015, “I did! I’d forgotten about that. There’s been so many.” More recently, Kerry has been touring the UK in a musical adaptation of the classic Lewis Carroll fairytale, Wonderland. “I’ve loved it. Frank Wildhorn has written the music for it and it’s an adaptation of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.” Her next theatrical adventure will be alongside the celebrated tenor Russell Watson as they take off on an arena tour with a new musical based on the Book of Genesis, called Heaven on Earth. Kerry tells me, “They’ve got us all really excited. The plans they’ve got for the show are unbelievable; the things that they are going to try to make happen on the stage are going to be incredible. I think it’s going to be a real experience.” Before then, Kerry will join another friend, Velma Celli on stage at Underbelly Festival for a very special show to celebrate some of the icons of the drag world, a performance, which will also guest star former EastEnder Jessie Wallace. Velma Celli (AKA Ian Stroughair) - who is the resident drag artist at both the Pelton Arms in Greenwich and The White Swan in Charlton – will perform his show entitled Iconic - A Brief History of Drag at the Festival on the South Bank for one-night-only on the 8 August. Kerry remained tightlipped about the performance other than to say, “I might be having a bit of an interesting makeover!” You can get details of all of Kerry’s upcoming performances and her album on her website kerryellis.com
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August 2017 5
MUSIC By Becky Morton
Madness back for more
M
adness are returning to south London this summer to headline the second year of Clapham’s House of Common Festival, with a line up specially curated by the band. The Weekender spoke to lead
singer Suggs ahead of Madness’ only London live date this year. The 80s ska legends top an eclectic line-up spanning genres and generations. The bill includes reggae veterans David Rodigan and Dawn Penn along with fellow Camden group Soul II Soul, Jamaican ska band The Skatalites, a smattering of hip hop from De La Soul and some younger blood in the form of DJ Toddla T and punk duo Slaves. “We started with the simple premise that it’s the summer and of all the kaleidoscope elements to Madness from pop to psychedelic what we’re really about is dancing,” Suggs said. “We wanted to put that print on the line-up and make it the kind of thing you want to go to on a Bank Holiday in the sun.” The band have played for some impressive crowds since reforming in the 1990s. Their 1992 reunion
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“On the other hand, you’ve got this amazing grime scene going on just coming out of nothing. These kids are still making very potent popular music” concert in Finsbury Park attracted over 30,000 fans who danced so hard they caused a mini earthquake. Since then they’ve been part of the 2012 Olympics closing ceremony and even played “Our House” from the roof of Buckingham Palace for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Concert. But there was still a trace of nerves as Suggs talked about the band’s plans for their headline set at House of Common. “We’ll be playing a bit of new material but last year Toots & The Maytals played before us and came very close to blowing us out the water. We got a bit concerned with the dynamics of the set so this time we’re just gonna go full-blast
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proper old-school Madness. A proper danceathon.” Madness’ infectious energy on stage may not have changed but the festival scene is almost unrecognisable from when the band started out. “When I was a kid there were only something like two festivals. There were no girls, no food, no toilets, people p***ing down each other’s legs. It was a hellish experience,” Suggs laughs. “It wasn’t until the mid-80s that the festival scene really took off. In those days I’d never have gone to a festival with my mum like people do today.” Madness now draws crowds of all ages. “I’ve seen four generations of one family at the front of our shows. For all the flaws of social
media it does mean people can look you up, find your music on YouTube and get to know all your songs.” The decline of the album has been one of the losses of the digital age, Suggs acknowledges with a sigh. “There’s something special about an album. An album is a journey, whether it’s the Beatles or Beyoncé. Instant downloads of the tracks you like just aren’t the same. Maybe albums will have a revival though, who knows.” So what is the secret of the band’s enduring success? “All I can say is that we started out as friends and made music to entertain ourselves. Every record we make is enthused with
that energy. We were always just having a good time and I think that comes through in our music.” Suggs admits it’s probably harder for emerging bands today than when Madness formed. “When I started out in Camden Town there were about 20 or 30 clubs you could get gigs in. Nowadays there’s only a handful. The rise in property prices is the real tragedy of London. Venues can’t afford to stay open and kids can’t afford to live here anymore. It could be the downfall of the city and something needs to be done about it.” Still, he remains “optimistic” about the state of the industry. “On the other hand, you’ve got this amazing grime scene going on just coming out of nothing. These kids are still making very potent popular music,” Suggs continued. With plans for a new album in the pipeline Suggs is upbeat about the future. “I’m enjoying it more now even than when I was young. When you’re young you worry about what people think of you, what your trousers look like. You get caught up in what you’re doing. But now I can take a step back and really appreciate it.”
August 2017 7
Brixton Buzz Thursday 27th July
Gig guide
SW9
Fox's Late Night Hang at Prince Of Wales 469 Brixton Road, SW9 8HH, 11pm-3am, Free For lovers of raw, exuberant, life-affirming jazz, there’s no better place in Brixton than Ruben Fox’s late night show at the Prince of Wales on Coldharbour Lane. And with fresh pizza now on offer, you can snack between boogies.
Friday 28th July
SE15
Friday 28th July
SE27
Sat
19th August
Sunday 6th August, SW9
Mad Professor at JAMM 261 Brixton Road, Brixton, SW9 6LH, 2pmmidnight, £5+ Sundays at Jamm see street food, drink deals
Love Carnival at The Bussey Building 133 Rye Lane, Peckham, SE15 4ST, 10pm5am, £8 Love Carnival presents Electro-Cumbia and Digital Folklor pioneer Chancha Via Circuito in his second-ever UK appearance. Expect to be transported to a place where ancient South American tradition meets cutting edge futuristic electronic sounds, deep grooves and hypnotic bass. In Peckham.
Olubundi at Railway Tavern 7 Station Rise, Tulse Hill, SE27 9BW, 9pm1am, Free An afro-fusion band based in London, Olubundi is led by Tobi Tikare who sings in a combination of “London English and West-African pigeonEnglish,” which sounds a Gor Blimey intriguing mix. Their songs are original compositions with influences ranging from highlife, afrobeat, funk, latin and soul.
Friday 28th July
SW9
Beyonce to Britpop at Upstairs at Market House 443 Coldharbour Lane, Brixton, SW9 8LN, 10pm-3am, £5 Revving up a fun-loaded mix of hoof-stomping tunes from pop to new wave to drum’n’bass, the Offline Club crew have been putting on events around Brixton since 2004. Described as being ‘like someone’s friendly house party, opened up for the general public,’ expect a night of category-catapulting big tunes, with DJs Editor and Jizzy Rascal keeping the floor bouncing like Zebedee on uppers.
Saturday 29th July
SW11
Saturdays at the Clapham Grand 21-25 St John's Hill, Clapham, SW11 1TT, 10pm-3am, £10 Get ready to sweep, strut and sashay in the direction of the dancefloor and bust out your finest hip-thrusts to an uncomplicated amalgam of crowd-pleasing party classics, with house DJs spinning Hip-Hop to House, Disco to R&B
Saturday 29th July
Sunday 30th July
SW9
Grass Roots Live Music at Club 414 414 Coldharbour Lane, Brixton, SW9 8LF, 10pm-3am, Free/donations At the heart of Brixton's music scene for over three decades, Club 414 is mainly known for its thumping all night techno/trance-fests, but on Sundays the venue puts on a wonderful live music night. Hosted by UB40 trumpet-player Patrick Anthony backed by a talented house band, you can expect a night of uplifting dance music in front of an old school mixed Brixton crowd. It’s open till 2/3am, so it’s a perfect way to round off the weekend.
Monday 31st July
SE5
Open Mic at The Junction 171 Coldharbour Lane, SE5 9PA, 8pm-11pm, Free Now offering live music every night of the week, the Junction is a great addition to a pub-
8 August 2017
Summer weird sin at the windmill 22 Blenheim Gardens, Brixton, SW2 5BZ, 3.30pm-late, £10 Get ready to fistbump all flipping day long at the Windmill, with the Summer Weird Sin spectacular dispensing no less than eight hard rocking eight bands and a free BBQ, all thrown in for a tenner. Headlining the show - and making a bold but unverified claim to be the “loudest powerpop band on Earth" - are Los Pepes, who hail from Laaaandahn. Buzz favourites The Sly Persuaders starved neighbourhood. On Mondays there’s a splendidly laid back open mic night hosted by Owen Hopwood, where folks are invited to strut on stage and see if their talent impresses.
Tuesday 1st August, E59
Jazz Jam at The Junction 171 Coldharbour Lane, SE5 9PA, 8pm-11pm, Free The strummin’, tootin’ and percussin’ starts
SW9
Fundraiser at Brixton Pound Café 77 Atlantic Rd, Brixton, SW9 8PU, 8pm-1am, Donations The wonderful pay-what-you-feel café run by the Brixton Pound folks is putting on a party to raise funds to improve their community venue. They’ll be opening up the basement to host DJs spinning tunes till 1am. Since launching, the cafe has hosted over 100 free events, saved over two tonnes of food from going to waste, put on 8 art shows, and lived up to their brief of ‘putting community on the high street.’
389 Coldharbour Lane, Brixton, SW9 8LQ, 10pm-4am, £5 DJs Jizzy Rascal and Mike Urban bring the noise to the Dogstar’s busy ballroom, throwing down a swaggering, fun packed party mix of electro, Britpop, indie, new wave and floor-shaking anthems guaranteed to get arms waving in the air like a platoon of speed-infused semaphore signallers on a sugar rush.
(pictured) will also be in the house, distilling their surfed-up garage-noise with enough oomph to remove your facial hair, while the Ming City Rockers almost make Grimsby sound like a cool place to come from. Also on the bill are booze squirting The Fiascos, sneering rockabilly rebel rousers White Ape, grungy indie Calva Louise, bar room rockers Nicotine Pretty and Dr Feelgood inspired Kid Slug.
10pm-3am, Free This is fast becoming one of the best free nights in Brixton. Live music comes from Dub Natty Sessions, who hail from Brazil and Venezuela, joined by local musicians. The vibes are distinctly old school, with the band laying down engaging dub and reggae in front of a friendly local crowd.
Friday 4th August, SW9
Brixton Rooftop Party at Prince of Wales 469 Brixton Rd, SW9 8HH, 6pm-4am, £15 A Rum & Reggae event in the heart of Brixton mashes up reggae, dub, dancehall, soca, Afro beat, hip hop to Garage & Grime across the two outdoor roof terraces, and two indoor rooms. DJs include Smutlee (Radar Radio) and Born n Bread.
Saturday 5th August, SE19
Wild Mountain Dew at Gipsy Hill Tavern 79 Gipsy Hill, Gipsy Hill, SE19 1QH, 9.30pmmidnight, Free Playing the best of Irish, country and pop music, the Celtic-tastic Wild Mountain Dew provide the entertainment in this friendly, traditional boozer betwixt Crystal Palace and West Norwood.
Saturday 5th August, SW16
Celebrate Jamaican Independence Day at Hideaway 2 Empire Mews, Streatham, SW16 2BF, 9pm, £25 Bassist and bandleader Gary Crosby hauls
Friday 4th August, SW4 at 8pm and keeps on throwing shapes and improvising until close. There’s “no messing about with house bands for the first hour,” says the website, with the jam moving “straight on stage with whoever is first there.” With an accomplished house band featuring Luke Fowler on double bass, Paul Canton on drums and Ross Anderson on guitar, expect some top notch musicianship in a lovely independent boozer. Recommended.
Thursday 3rd August, SW9
Dub Natty Live Sessions at Club 414 414 Coldharbour Lane, Brixton, SW9 8LF,
Feral Friday at Fu Manchu 15 Lendal Terrace, Clapham, SW4 7UX, 10pm3am, Free We can’t make head nor tail of the guff on their website, but “good rhythms and jams” appear to be on the cards in this curious mix of a dim sum restaurant and nightclub named after a fictional Chinese homicidal maniac.
Friday 4th August, SE27
Stick It On at Book & Record Exchange 20 Norwood High St, SE27 9NR, 8pm-1am, Free Point your dancing shoes in the direction of this splendid independent record shop as it transforms into a licenced bar and party venue. Bring three of your finest fave tunes and slap ‘em on the decks to see if they prove a roomshaking hit or a sigh-inducing calamitous miss. “Guilty pleasures, classics, rarities, floor fillers, all genres accepted,” insist the organisers. We’ll see what they say about that when we come down with our copy of Now That’s What I Call Norwegian Death Metal Vol 6.
Jazz Jamaica back to the Hideaway for this celebration of Jamaican Independence. Mixin’n’mashing up jazz and ska classics with some smooth reggae vibes, The Independent praised them as ‘one of the UK’s leading goodtime bands.’
Saturday 6th August, SW9
HAAi at Phonox 418 Brixton Rd, Brixton, SW9 7AY, 9pm-4am, £10 Resident DJ HAAi (pronounced ‘Hi,’ if you’re interested) serves up another eclectic selection of house, disco and rarities in the former Plan B/Wimpey Bar in Brixton. Bring photo ID or the security will be saying ‘BAAi.’
Saturday 5th August, SW9
Funk to Punky, Motown to Madness at the Dogstar Ballroom
and reggae sound systems on the menu from 2pm. Headlining the whole caboodle is Guyana-born dub maestro Mad Professor (aka Neil Joseph Stephen Fraser) who has collaborated with a galaxy of reggae stars such as Lee "Scratch" Perry, Sly and Robbie and Horace Andy, as well as mainstream artists such as Sade, Massive Attack and The Orb. Admission is free before 5pm if you register on the website sharpish, like.
Tuesday 8thth August, SW9
Live Jazz at the Cable Bar & Café 8 Brixton Rd, Oval, SW9 6B, 8pm, Free We’re not exactly sure what band will be filling the stage at this pleasant small bar by the Oval, but we’re sure the jazzy sounds are going to be dispensed in ample qualities. Grab yourself a gottle o’geer and enjoy the good vibes.
Thursday 10thth August, SE22 Watson's General Telegraph Forest Hill Tavern, 108 Forest Hill Rd, SE22 0RS, 8pm, Free Rock up the hill to this well stocked, on-trend bar and flap your moveable parts to the sound of hot swinging live Trad Jazz, daddy-o.
Friday 11th August, SW4
Eclectic Fridays at Gigalum 8 Cavendish Road, Clapham Common, SW4 9DW, 8pm-midnight, Free Apparently “designed for the discerning musical palate”, the Gigalum DJs promise to whisk up the best in global beats and diverse sounds for a Cla’am Friday.
Friday 11th August, SE15
Disco In The House at The Bussey Building 133 Rye Lane, Peckham, SE15 4ST, 10pm5am, £7 This Memory Box night celebrates all things D.I.S.C.O, so get ready to strut like a walrus on heat and slither exuberantly across the dancefloor. The music ranges from modern trippy disco from the likes of Todd Terje, Andrew Weatherall, Bicep and Aeroplane back through 00’s and 90's disco house from Derrick Carter, Daft Punk and Idjut Boys, back further to post disco punk classics from the likes of ESG and Liquid Liquid, right back to original disco cuts from Giorgio Moroder, Donna Summer and Chic.
Saturday 12th August, SW2
Living For The Weekend at Effra Social 89 Effra Road, Brixton, SW2 1DF, 9pm-1am, Free Messrs Gareth Thomas and Tom Bacon are, apparently, Living For The Weekend, and to that end they will be playing a night of uptempo 70s disco grooves, funk, northern soul and 80s soul. Fans of the indestructible CD format, laptops, USB sticks and other forms of digital media will be bitterly disappointed as these fellas are fuelled by nothing but pure vinyl. And Continued on page 11
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June 28 2017 9
Brixton Buzz
everyone loves a 12” on the weekend.
414 Coldharbour Lane, Brixton, SW9 8LF, 10pm-3am, Free/donations It may be best known for its all-night techno/ trance-fests, but on Sundays the venue hosts a wonderful live music night. Hosted by UB40 trumpet-player Patrick Anthony backed by a talented house band, you can expect a night of uplifting dance music in front of an old school mixed Brixton crowd. It’s open till late, so it’s a perfect way to round off the weekend.
Saturday 12th August, SE15
Gazebo at Canavan’s Peckham Pool Club 188 Rye Lane, Peckham, SE15 4NF, 9pm4am, £6 Expect an evening of lively house and electro beats from across the ages to compel your footwear across the floor and up on the freshly scrubbed walls at this great little Peckham venue. Spinning the discs to make your trousers spin faster than protons around the Large Hadron Collider are DJs Chris Scott (Fletcher) & James Behagg.
Sunday 13th August, SE24
Twilight Sunrise at Off The Cuff 301-303 Railton Road, Herne Hill, SE24 0JN, 7pm-11pm. Free
Saturday 12th August, SE1
Jamaican Independence Party at The Coronet Theatre 28 New Kent Road, Elephant & Castle, SE1 6TJ, 11pm-5am, £10 This ‘Bruk Out’ event empathically declares the music policy to be “Strictly Bashment/ Dancehall, Reggae, Soca,” but then adds, “with a hint of other genres” so maybe they’ll have a bit of Black Lace and Bucks Fizz too. Possibly. Platter rotators for the evening include DJ Nate, Invasion Crew, Younger Melody and Super Nytro, but please note that you’ll need a naked noggin to gain entry: hats and hoodies are strictly verboten.
Gig guide
pizza now on offer, you can chow down between busting some awe-inspiring moves on the dancefloor.
Friday 18th August, SW2
House Night at Gremio de Brixton St. Matthew's Church, Effra Road, SW2 1JF, 10pm-3am, Free Get shaking, a-quivering and convulsing to an evening of disco, classic and upbeat house delivered via the medium of “DJs on rotation,” accompanied by an unspecified “live saxophonist.”
Guinness and enjoy the old Brixton vibes.
Sunday 20th August, SW4
South London Solidarity Festival at Bread & Roses 68 Clapham Manor Street, Clapham, SW4 6DZ, noon-10.30pm, £5
Friday 25th August, SE19
Live Music Fridays at Westow House 79 Westow Hill, Crystal Palace, SE19 1TX, 9pm-2am, Free In a world that’s always changing, it’s reassuring to know that some things remain constant, and that’s true of the Westow’s website, which never, ever lists the name of the ‘Live Act’ who’ll be performing on Fridays.
Friday 25th August, SW9
Beyonce to Britpop at Upstairs at Market House 443 Coldharbour Lane, Brixton, SW9 8LN, 10pm-3am, £5
Friday 18th August, SE11
DJ Night at the Brown Derby 336 Kennington Park Road, Oval, SE11 4PP, 10pm-1am, Free Offering a profusion of tempting spirits at the bar – along with some decent real ales – this retro themed bar hosts DJs spinning selections of ska, northern soul, bluegrass, country, and rock and roll.
Saturday 19th August, SW2
Folk Jam at The Old Dispensary 325 Camberwell New Road, SE5 0TF, 8pm1am, Free Small, friendly, affordable and unfussy, this traditional Irish boozer is the perfect setting for the weekly Folk Jam where anyone can join in with the band.
Congo Faith Healers at Blues Kitchen 40 Acre Lane, Brixton, SW2 5SP, 10pm2.30am, £10 Diners and drinkers at this newish chain restaurant/bar in Brixton can look forward to an evening of ‘dirty savage swamp infested gypsy blues’, courtesy of the Congo Faith Healers, who promise, ‘savage guitar playing, voodoo vocals, Latin American drum and trumpet grooves with rockabilly swing double bass and hooks that you will be singing for days.’ Taking to the stage at 1am will be house band The Beekays, who serve up a no-fuss fare of funk, soul and Motown.
Thursday 17th August, SW9
Sunday 20th August, SW2
Death-jazz, prog-funkers The Twilight Sunrise sign off with a farewell gig, supported by hard rockers Black Cheroot at this interesting, but expensive venue.
Sunday 13th August, SW2
Monday 14th August, SE5
Reggae in the Garden at Hootananny 95 Effra Road, Brixton, SW2 1DF, noonmidnight, Free The Hoot hosts a special summer party and hauls a hefty soundsystem out into their spacious garden. Well, they say ‘garden’, but there’s not much in the way of flora and fauna, just a concrete floor and benches for boozing. JahRevelationMuzic will be manhandling the sound system till 9pm, before the action moves inside where unspecified “reggae icons” take to the stage.
Fox's Late Night Hang at Prince Of Wales 469 Brixton Road, SW9 8HH, 11pm-3am, Free For lovers of raw, exuberant, toe-tapping jazz, there’s no better place in Brixton than Ruben Fox’s late night show at the Prince of Wales on Coldharbour Lane. And with fresh
Sunday 13th August, SW9
Grass Roots Live Music at Club 414
Carnival after-party at Corsica Studios
5 Farrell Court, Elephant & Castle, SE17 1LB, 10pm-5am, £20 The Stevie Wonderland crew are putting on a stonking Carnival after party with two rooms of thumpin’ pumpin’ vibes, headlined by Dele Sosimi Afrobeat Orchestra, performing live with his 8 piece band. As a former member of Fela Kuti's Egypt 80 - and one of the originators of the Afrobeat sound - expect an explosive, shirt-ripping performance of highly danceable funk grooves. On the decks is Medlar and Cervo, while in Room Two residents, Jonny X, Mr. Grigio & Jonny Bottomley will be throwing down a party pack of disco, club and carnival classics.
Live Jazz at the Effra Hall Tavern Kellett Road, Brixton, SW2, 8.30pm11.30pm, Free This traditional boozer tucked away from the main drag is one of the best places to wind down after a mad weekend. Grab yourself a
An all-day benefit at this worker’s co-operative pub presents ‘music, entertainment and opportunity’ in support of refugees and south London initiatives. Playing live from 6pm is loop artist Michael Sebastian, improv acoustic saxophonist Caroline Kraabel, local poet and lyricist Beady Man backed by Latin and carnival beats from the Movimientos DJs. In the daytime, attractions include face painting, a second clothes stall, free yoga, talks, campaign stalls and more.
Friday 25th August, SW2
Busspepper at Electric Brixton Town Hall Parade, Brixton, SW2 1RJ, 11pm5am, £15 Billed as the “quintessential Notting Hill Carnival weekend party,” this Caribbean themed night fries up a feast of DJs including DJ Private Ryan from Trinidad and Puffy from Barbados.
Friday 25th August, SE27
Shirley Feelgood at the Railway Tavern 7 Station Rise, Tulse Hill, SE27 9BW, 8pm1am, Free This lively and friendly pub sees another session from DJ Shirley Feelgood. Formerly resident at the much missed Mango Landin’, Shirley will be dispensing a pleasing blend of dance, funk, soul and singalong 45s from her impeccably curated record bag.
The Offline Club crew have been putting on events around Brixton since 2004, and their Market House nights have been packing them in, with DJ Editor and Jizzy Rascal’s categorycatapulting selections keeping the floor bouncing like an extra-springy Zebedee.
Saturday 26th August, SW9
Club Night at Cafe Cairo 88 Landor Road, SW9 9PE, Free/£3 It’s nowhere to be seen on the Brixton hipsters’ radar, and that’s a blooming good thing because this intimate, Eastern themed, multi-room bar/club has long been one of the area’s hidden gems. Quirky, offbeat and always interesting, it’s always worth a look.
Saturday 26th August, SE11
Duckie at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern 372 Kennington Lane, SE11 5HY, 9pm-2am, £6 One of the most provocative and funny cabaret nights in London, the long running Duckie club mixes and mashes burlesque and musical acts in front of a packed gay/mixed crowd. This week’s offbeat live entertainment comes from the “Divine renaissance woman of performance, dance and art” Florence Peake, wit, The Readers’ Wives whisking up a wonderful mix of retro indie, new wave and classics on the ones and twos.
Sunday 27th August, SW4
UK Unchained Live Show at Clapham Grand 21-25 St John's Hill, Clapham, SW11 1TT, 7pm-3am, £15
There’s a night of booty wobbling Afrobeats, Hip Hop, Dancehall in store with live PAs from Brit dancehall star Stylo G, Hip Hopster Nana Dams, plus Lisa Mercedez And Mr. Pattern, Jay Scriptz and Ruth Brown. Betwixt all the bumpin’ and grindin’, Canadian comedian @ ThatDudeMcFly will be keeping the crowd chortling and tittering through the night.
Sun
27th August
Monday 28th August, SE1
Carnival Afterparty at Ministry of Sound 103 Gaunt Street, Elephant & Castle, SE1 6DP, 10pm-5am, £9+ “The Notting Hill Carnival ain't over until Ministry Of Sound says so,” insist the promoters, although we suspect millions may disagree. Rocking till 5am, this south London institution will be shaking up a sodapop cocktail of House, Garage, HipHop, Grime, Afrobeats & Carnival Vibes till 5am.
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August 2017 11
MUSIC By Becky Morton
Example ready for SW4 return E
lliot Gleave, aka Example, is returning to South West Four this summer after headlining the festival’s 10th anniversary back in 2013. He spoke to the Weekender about touring, returning to the recording studio and becoming a dad.
How does it feel to be playing SW4 again? Headlining SW4 in 2013 felt like a homecoming for me after touring all over the world. I’m from west London but spent a lot of my time growing up around Clapham and Battersea. I went to school in Wandsworth and played football in Clapham and had some of my first nights out listening to garage and jungle there. Headlining a festival is what you dream of in your career. It was a special moment. SW4 is always a great crowd and it’s a really strong line up this year. There’s a good mix of bass acts, dubstep and drum & bass. In the past few years it’s been a bit more house and trance but this year it feels like they’re moving back more towards more of an alternative dance line up, with acts like Deadmau5.
What can we expect from your set this year? When I headlined back in 2013 I played a full live show with my band. This time I’m doing my show with DJ Wire which is similar to the show I played in Ibiza and it always goes off. I’ll still be performing all the hits but there’ll be remixes and a couple of surprises as well. It’s a high energy show, in about 50 minutes we play like 20 songs.
This summer you’re playing Secret Garden Party, Y Not Festival, V Festival… How do you find the festival circuit compares to touring? I’ve always been more of a live show person. I don’t really like the studio much. You build amazing bonds with people you tour with and after years of doing gigs non-stop you look forward to seeing these people. You stay up drinking together and wake up the next morning in a new city. It’s not something I could do for the rest of my life but I’m glad I’ve done it. Festivals are the best part of the job. You’re pretty
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"Now feels like the right time to come back with something big" much guaranteed a big crowd. Touring is a bit more like being part of a family.
How has your life changed since becoming a dad? My son’s two and a half now and my wife is expecting another one in September. It’s nice to slow down and have some family time. I realised I couldn’t keep doing what I was doing to my body. Now I do a lot of yoga, swimming, cooking - I’ve been trying to change my lifestyle. Your focus changes when you have a kid. I don’t enjoy being away as much. If I had to go on tour for three or four weeks now and leave my wife and kid at home I’m not sure how I’d deal with it.
What’s up next for you? I took a bit of a break from recording
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to spend more time with my family. But over the last 12 months I’ve recorded about 40 songs and I’m working on a new album to come out later this year. I don’t really want to come back with something unless it feels right. I want to blow people away. I haven’t been in a rush because I haven’t been under any pressure to release anything. But now feels like the right time to come back with something big. Example will play day 2 of South West Four festival on August 27 with DJ Wire, where you can also catch deadmau5, Knife Party, Sub Focus, Paul Oakenfold, Erick Morillo + more. Limited tickets are still available at www.southwestfour.com.
August 2017 13
14 August 2017
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THEATRE By Becky Morton
Helping little stars soar W
hen she bagged the role of understudy for Elphaba in Wicked, Stevie Tate-Bauer felt she’d reached the 'pinnacle' of her career.
“When the show came out it took Broadway by storm. I’d always dreamed of playing the role and then eight years later I found myself as understudy for Elphaba in the West End and got to play the lead a number of times,” she said. But when she finished her contract she felt it was time for a change of direction. “I was playing my dream role and felt I’d achieved what I wanted to so decided to bow out gracefully. Since I was also starting a family it seemed like the perfect time to try something a bit different.” Stevie had already worked on a host of West End shows from her first job with the UK tour of The Full Monty to playing Rusty in Footloose and understudying for Galadriel in Lord of the Rings. “I knew I wasn’t going to have a long career in performing and I’d always had the idea of having my own business. I felt like it was time to pass on my experience and passion to the stars of the future,” she said. And so in 2011 Take Flight Academy of Performing Arts was born in East Dulwich. Stevie has lived in Honor Oak for 12 years and felt there was a lack of high quality musical theatre training for children in the area. “A lot of the full-time training academies tend to be in central London and are very expensive. I felt there wasn’t much on offer in my area. We aim to offer the same standard of training on a part-time basis for children in south-east London.” The academy began with afterschool clubs in Dulwich and Crofton Park but last September expanded to offer a Saturday school based in Forest Hill. “I realised there was so much talent in our area and an hour or so a week wasn’t enough. I wanted to help the children progress further. This past year with the extra training the kids have stepped up to another level,” said Stevie. The four-hour Saturday class offers more intensive training in ballet, jazz, drama and singing. All the teachers are professional actors, dancers and singers and there are regular masterclasses from West End stars. A recent workshop was run by the academy’s Patron, Rachel Tucker, who rose to fame on the BBC’s I’d
16 August 2017
Do Anything, the reality TV search for the role of Nancy in Oliver and has recently starred on Broadway and in the West End as Elphaba in Wicked. In its short history the academy already has a string of success stories with some students going on to land roles in West End shows like Matilda. But for Stevie it’s not all about producing stars. “One of the best parts of the job is seeing children starting out without much confidence and then performing for their parents on stage. Seeing what they achieve by the end of each term is phenomenal – it makes it all worthwhile. I don’t miss performing at all!” Take Flight’s Saturday School is based at Sydenham School in Forest Hill and open to children aged 7-18 years old. For more information visit www.takeflightacademy.co.uk.
Stevie Tate-Bauer (Right) with Business Manager Leanne Panni
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Books
Author of the month
A man can no more outrun his shadow, as he can escape his past
T
homas Waugh has lived in Walworth and Bermondsey all his life and his thrillers, featuring former paratrooper and hitman Michael Devlin, are set in South London.
His latest book is Darkness Visible, a page-turning novella, in the vein of Graham Greene's "entertainments" and Lee Child's Jack Reacher novels. Thomas Waugh, in the character of Michael Devlin, has created an engaging hero, or antihero, for our time. A man can no more outrun his shadow, as he can escape his past.
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Michael Devlin, former soldier and contract killer, thought he had retired. He was wrong. Rameen Jamal - the man who murdered and maimed his comrades in Helmand - is in London. Devlin vows to kill again. He decides to call upon the help of the fixer, Oliver Porter, to plan the hit at The Ritz hotel. But not everything will go to plan.
Thomas, tell us a little about your main character, Michael Devlin. I'm sure I've not been the only reader to sympathise with him for part of the time and then be appalled by his actions
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within the turn of a page.
A friend of mine said the other day that Devlin reminded him of Jack Reacher and John Wick. He's an avenging angel, who's far from angelic. He's a killer, who wants to retire. But he can't quite leave his past, or nature, behind. But, more than guilt or anger, Devlin's life is shaped by grief for his late wife. Nothing can quite fill the hole in his existence. Not work, drinking or a new relationship. For all of the action and plot twists in the book, Darkness Visible is also a character study of an ex-soldier and widower. And you are right in that you are not the only reader conflicted by how they feel about Devlin. But I consider that to be a good thing.
The areas of Walworth and Bermondsey feature heavily in the books. Did you include them just because it's your local area, or were there other reasons?
I've lived in Walworth and Bermondsey all my life. I attended St Michael's School on Jamaica Rd. I still have pie and mash in Manze's once a fortnight (at the very least). And I drink in local pubs. There was little extra research I had to do for the books, especially compared to writing historical fiction. But I hope I wasn't just being lazy when I decided to set the stories in
South East London. As much as parts of Bermondsey have been gentrified over the years it still has its links to the underworld and crime. Like Devlin, it can't wholly escape its past. Or it doesn't want to. I remember how, years ago, "In the Dock," used to be one of the most popular pages in the Southwark News. People are attracted to, as well as repulsed by, crime. Some of the characters have a black and dry sense of humour which readers from South London will appreciate too.
As well as being page-turning thrillers the books are quite literary as well. Do you have any literary heroes?
Lots. Too many to mention them all. But the aim, when I started writing the first book, Nothing to Lose, was to write a contemporary thriller in the mould of Graham Greene. Devlin can't quite escape his Catholicism, as well as his past. I had the fortune to meet Gilda O'Neill and Martina Cole many years ago too. They are to be admired, both as writers and people. It was also quite fun to create a soundtrack for the books. As well as quotes by the likes of Graham Greene and Kierkegaard, you will also find snippets of lyrics by Bob Dylan - and Mariah Carey - in Darkness Visible. Like London, the book is a melting pot of influences.
Endeavour Press is a leading independent digital publisher, specialising in Crime/Thrillers, Romance, Historical Fiction and History.
As well as working with new authors they also publish a number of bestselling authors, including Charles Spencer, Gilda O'Neil, Saul David and Patrick Bishop. With offices on Borough High Street, Endeavour has partnered up with the Weekender to promote their books within the local community. To find out more about Endeavour Press, its books and promotions, sign up to the newsletter: http:// eepurl.com/vsAN1 Endeavour accepts unsolicited submissions so if you’ve written a book, or have a backlist published book that isn’t unavailable on ebook, get in touch. They’ll only reply to successful applicants, due to volume of submissions. @endeavour_press www.endeavourpress.com
August 2017 17
ARTS By Laura Burgoine
Seek the secret cellar H
idden in the heart of London is a lair of mystery and deception. Descend the stairs to Secret Cellar, London's newest venue for close-up magic, and you will discover a world of intrigue and illusion. In this exclusive and evocative setting the audience will come face to face with the finest close-up magicians in the world.
London’s hidden theatre of close-up magic returns to Vaulty Towers with a new line up of award-winning magicians and TV stars. With 5 star reviews and a string of sell-out shows, London's hidden theatre of magic is fast becoming the capital’s underground hotspot for top-class magical talent. One of the world’s leading memory performers - Chris Rawlins - kicks off the season with his show I Remember Things. Kockov unleashes his unique brand of comedy magic, blending mind-reading with humour. Ian Rowland is the only magician hired to train the FBI and in his The Mind Man show he reveals mind-reading methods and how you can be influenced to make choices. Brendan Rodrigues returns with Intoxicated, a show of juggling and sleight of hand, and concluding the season is the acclaimed Paul Zenon, the pioneer of street magic. Performances last one hour. Secret Cellar is on at Vaulty Towers, 34 Lower Marsh, SE1 7RG at 5pm Sunday, 6pm Thur - Sat, 7.30pm Wednesday. Admission £21. Phone 07738 971077 magichourlondon@gmail.com
Chris Rawlins: Kockov: Ian Rowland: Brendan Rodrigues:
Paul Zenon:
I Remember Things – 26th – 30th July 2017 Mind-Messer – 2nd – 6th August 2017 The Mind Man – 6th – 10th September 2017 Intoxicated - 13th - 17th September 2017 The Vienna Experiment - 27th Sept – 1st October 2017 Linking Rings – 18th – 23rd October 2017
Hannah’s Walk of Fame O
n February 6th 1888 Hannah Griggs, aged 26, was admitted to St Olave’s Workhouse in Rotherhithe. Two weeks later she gave birth to a daughter. This baby, born in straitened circumstances, was named Hannah after her unwed mother, and over the coming months mother and child were discharged on several occasions but always readmitted as destitute. These were hard times.
Over one hundred years later Susan Belcher from Essex is standing on Tower Bridge looking down at a plaque commemorating her grandmother, Hannah. The baby born into poverty became the first female worker on the bridge. More plaques, creating a Walk of Fame, honour many of the other people who worked there. In total 40 decorative plaques, designed by local schoolchildren, make up the newest addition to the world’s most famous bridge. Susan’s story is interesting. She
18 August 2017
was visiting Tower Bridge last year and while in the walkway that connects the two towers she was telling her friends the tale of her grandmother becoming the Cook-inService to the Bridge Master, whose grand office was above the archway that straddles the road. This conversation was overheard by someone who knew there was a project in place to find and honour the workers that kept Tower Bridge running in the days when there was a crew of 80 needed to maintain every aspect of the machinery and inner workings of the bridge. Within days Dirk Bennett, the bridge’s Exhibition Manager, was in touch and Susan Belcher was soon researching her family history in the Metropolitan Archive and Southwark Local History Library, discovering much about her ancestors and the many places in Bermondsey where Hannah Griggs and little Hannah lived after spending several years in the workhouse that eventually became St Olave’s Hospital. Now, along with other descendants of those former workers, Susan was
there to see the official opening of a Walk of Fame that commemorates the painters, the stokers, the engineers and all those men and women in a diversity of roles who have remained unrecognised for far too long. Inside the old Engine Rooms there is a video, an audio and visual exhibition that augments the Walk of Fame with personal histories behind those honoured, and shows what a working day was like on the bridge. Some of the more recent former workers were there to discuss their jobs with visitors. Peter Thurkle, who grew up on Silwood Estate, Rotherhithe, told how a lot of ex-servicemen were employed there(Peter is ex-Royal Marines) and how everything was cleaned everyday: ‘The Bridge Masters were all ex-military,’ he remembers, ‘and they were always doing the rounds, always checking that things were up to standard, like in the army.’ The Walk of Fame can be seen on the bridge’s South Eastern pavement. The exhibition can be found in the Engine Rooms as part
of the Tower Bridge Exhibition. Adults £9.80; 5-15 £4.20; under 5 Free. 10am - 5.30pm
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August 2017 19
Family By Becky Morton
Superleague Netball training with Hertfordshire Mavericks
Superleague netball club Hertfordshire Mavericks are running netball camps in Southwark open to children aged 9 – 13. Children will be introduced to the sport through fun games, skills activities and matches by experienced coaches. Three or five day courses are available. Call Geraldine Mary Harmsworth Sports Facility on 03330 050 411. 10am – 3pm, 14th – 18th August. £155 per person or £95 for 3 days Geraldine Mary Harmsworth Sports Facility, St George’s Road, SE1 6ER www.everyoneactive.com/centre/geraldinemary-harmsworth-sports-facility
Pottery and puppetmaking Keep the kids busy with arts and crafts workshops at the Recreation centre in Borough. The classes are open to children aged 5-14 and cover everything from pottery and ceramics to puppet-making and even drone making. Workshops cost £30. For more information and to book a class visit www.jjartsandcrafts.co.uk.
Tasty treats
The Chocolate Museum in Brixton is holding workshops throughout August where kids can make chocolate lollipops and truffles, learning to mould, temper and shape their chocolates by hand. Fillings, decorations and lolly sticks are all provided. £10.75 plus booking fee Chocolate Bar Making: 3rd, 11th, 18th, 24th August. Truffle making: 2nd, 10th, 16th, 23rd August. The Chocolate Museum, 187 Ferndale Road, Brixton, SW9 8BA
Meet an evacuee
Skate Skool
Housed beneath Waterloo station, House of Vans skate park is running free entertainment for kids over the summer holidays. Activities include skate lessons with free equipment hire and film screenings. Every Saturday and Sunday morning kids can enjoy an hour-long Skate Skool session before kicking back in front of a film. Accompanying adults can enjoy lunch in the café or join their children for the film. Free House of Vans, Arches 228 – 232 Station Approach Road, SE1 8SW www.houseofvanslondon.com
Youngsters interested in history can learn about how ordinary Londoners lived during World War Two by meeting a real-life evacuee at the Imperial War Museum. On Thursdays throughout August second world war eyewitnesses will be answering questions and sharing their memories of evacuation and life on the home front. Kids can also enjoy the museum’s permanent exhibitions including ‘Secret War’, exploring the undercover world of espionage and the work of Britain’s special forces. The museum is open daily from 10am – 6pm and the ‘Meet an Evacuee’ event runs every Thursday throughout August from 11am – 1pm. www.iwm.org.uk
Coding and Chatterbooks at Upper Norwood Library Upper Norwood Library is celebrating its reopening with a host of activities for youngsters including a new coding club, children’s Chatterbooks group, a teenage debate group and the return of weekly Saturday storytime. For more information about what’s on visit www.uppernorwoodlibraryhub.org.
20 August 2017
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Summer things to do
By Becky Morton
Have a roarsome time Take a dip Brockwell Park boasts one of London’s best outdoor swimming spots. The lido also offers group exercise classes and an Art Deco Grade II-listed café which serves delicious breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea daily as well as candlelit dinners Tuesday to Sunday. Alternatively head to Tooting Bec Lido. At just over 90m, it’s the country’s largest outdoor freshwater pool and also has a café and a paddling pool for kids. Brockwell Lido, Dulwich Road, SE24 0PA Tooting Bec Lido, Tooting Bec Road, Tooting, SW16 1RU www.fusion-lifestyle.com/centres/brockwell-lido www.placesforpeopleleisure.org/centres/tooting-bec-lido
London Zoo is being taken over by dinosaurs for the summer. Visitors can visit Zoorassic Park where they can step back in time to a prehistoric world, coming face to face with life-size moving dinosaurs – from the giant brachiosaurus to the terrifying T Rex. The exhibition, which is included in the cost of zoo entry, will let you take a trip in a time machine to the Mesozoic era, around 65 million years ago, where tour guides will help you spot dinos like a triceratops standing guard over its nest and an armour-plated edmontonia. Zoorassic Park is on until September 3. www.zsl.org ZSL London Zoo, Regent's Park, NW1 4RY 020 7722 3333
Cinema under the stars Watch classic films under the stars with the stunning gardens of Horniman Museum as a backdrop. On Aug 1 it’s Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire and for kids and the young at heart The Jungle Book is screening on Aug 6. Bring a blanket or picnic chair or buy a premium ticket for reserved seating in prime position with priority access to the bar. Tickets: Adults £15, Children £10 (age 3 – 15), Premium £27 Horniman Museum & Gardens, 100 London Road, Forest Hill, SE23 3PQ www.thelunacinema.com
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August 2017 21
Summer things to do
will you be top of the chops? Urban axe throwing venue Whistle Punks sets up home in Vauxhall
F
ancy sharpening up your act? You may want to get down to Vauxhall. Chop chop, writes Alex Lambe... The urban axe throwing destination, Whistle Punks has opened the doors to its brand new Vauxhall venue, relocating the unusual sport from its Whitechapel home. The new, bigger location is the largest axe throwing venue in the UK, granting customers five lanes of targets and bullseyes to aim and hurl axes at, with up to 60 people getting involved. A brief masterclass in the art of axe flinging is given to guests at Whistle Punks Urban Axe
22 August 2017
Throwing. They are then put head to head in a tournament. The closer to the bullseye the axe lands, the more points are awarded, with the top scorers being crowned the axe king or axe queen at the end of the event. Along with the launch of the new venue comes Whistle Punk Wednesdays. This is an opportunity for budding axe throwers who have previously visited Whistle Punks and saw serious potential in their axe throwing abilities to return and attend a reduced session. Whistle Punks are also introducing the UK’s first ever Urban Axe Throwing League.
A group of steel slingers will battle it out in the cage, throwing three rounds of five axes per match at wooden targets to earn the title of the UK’s first urban axe throwing champion. The sport has travelled overseas from countries such as Canada where it extremely popular, to London, Birmingham and Manchester.
Whistle Punks Axe Throwing, Arch 25, Handel Business Centre, 73 Bondway, SW8 1SQ £22 to £29 per person. www.whistlepunks.com
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August 2017 23
Summer things to do Brixton Beach Brixton beach is back bringing a taste of Havana to South London with music, salsa classes and bottomless brunch sessions. The rooftop venue’s parties feature street food, cocktails and a stellar line-up of entertainment, including music from Late Nit Tuff Guy and Craig Charles. On the menu there’s a rotating choice of street food vendors, including tacos from DEL74 and Japanese from Nanban. Brixton Beach, Pope’s End, Brixton, SW9 8JH www.brixtonrooftop.com
Continues on page 27
24 August 2017
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Summer things to do
Make your own musical The National Theatre is holding a host of family-friendly workshops over summer. Children can make their own musical in a day, learn to create stage costumes and try puppetry inspired by Peter and the Wolf. All children must be accompanied by an adult. To buy tickets visit www.nationaltheatre.org.uk. National Theatre, South Bank, SE1 9PX
Panoramic views in Peckham
For the best views in south London head to Frank’s Café. The famous rooftop bar on top of a Peckham multistorey carpark is back this summer. Watch the sun set over the London skyline whilst sipping a cocktail or sampling the tasty bar snacks. Open Tue-Fri, 5pm – 11pm and Sat & Sun 11am – 11pm. Frank’s Café, 95A Rye Lane, Peckham, SE15 4ST www.frankscafe.org.uk
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August 2017 27
oore © Jeff M
Summer things to do Rum and reggae For more rooftop fun head to the Prince of Wales in Brixton where weekends see club nights playing everything from funk and reggae to disco and house. August sees a Rum and Reggae night complete with Jerk BBQ and rum cocktail bar as well as an 80s themed party with a karaoke room where you can sing all your favourite classics. The Prince of Wales, 467-469 Brixton Rd, Brixton, SW9 8HH www.pow-london.com
Soar over South Bank Thrill-seekers can soar over the London skyline on the fastest city zipwire in the world, new to Archbishop’s Park in South Bank this summer. Taking off at a height of 35 metres or more than 9 double decker buses, riders will catch views of some of London’s most iconic sites, including the London Eye and Big Ben, during the 225 metre journey. The zipwire is open to those aged 8 years and above until October 1. Tickets: Children under 16 £16.50, Adults £22.50. Archbishop’s Park, Lambeth Palace Road, SE1 7JY www.zipworld.co.uk Continues on page 31
28 August 2017
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Summer things to do Jazz and art in Dulwich
Throughout August Dulwich Picture Gallery is running Friday Lates where visitors can enjoy free jazz evenings in the new Pavilion and free entry to the gallery’s permanent collection. The Pavilion, which opened in June to celebrate the Gallery’s 200th birthday, includes a bar serving food and drink provided by The Camberwell Arms. On Sundays there are also life drawing sessions with demonstrations suitable for beginners and more experienced artists wanting to brush up on their skills. Dulwich Picture Gallery, Gallery Road, SE21 7AD www.dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk
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August 2017 31
Summer things to do
Wild adventures
Heroes and villains Kids can catch their favourite superheroes and villains in Lego form at South Bank this summer. The Art of the Brick exhibition features a collection of 120 larger-than-life sculptures including Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman, made from more than 2 million Lego bricks. Find the purpose-built tent behind the National Theatre and BFI. Open Daily until September 3, Tickets: £11 £16.50, under 4s free www.aotbdc.co.uk
32 August 2017
Battersea Park Zoo is sure to be a hit with animal-loving kids. Alongside rabbits, goats, sheep and chickens there are some more exotic species including meerkats, lemurs and emus. Summer events include a Cotton Top Tamarin Day on August 15 where children can help the keeper with monkey feeding time as well as make their own monkey badges and puppets. On August 8 and 10 there will be a Big Bug Bonanza where visitors can meet the zoo’s creepy crawlies and join a bug themed quiz and story time. Tickets: Adults £9.50, Children aged 2 – 15, £7.50, under 2s Free. Battersea Park, SW11 4NJ www.batterseaparkzoo.co.uk
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Summer things to do
Go ape in Battersea Little monkeys can swing from the treetops in Battersea Park at Go Ape’s first central London high ropes course. Kids can tackle walkways, zip wires and rope bridges and there’s also some more challenging routes for adults. Battersea Park, SW11 4NJ www.goape.co.uk/days-out/battersea
34 August 2017
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August 2017 35
r e v o d o o Disc w r o N t s e W
L
ast year West Norwood and Tulse Hill Business Improvement District, ‘Station to Station’, was launched with the aim of boosting the profile of the area, writes Becky Morton...
Funded and run by local businesses, it promises to invest more than £700,000 over the next five years to put on community events and improve the high street. The group hopes to build on the success of initiatives like West Norwood Feast to draw in visitors from across London as well as encourage residents to support local businesses. Here are some of the Weekender’s top picks for the area. For more suggestions head to www.weekender.co.uk West Norwood Feast West Norwood Feast returns to Norwood Road on August 6 with its monthly market. This month it’s holiday themed with prizes for the best dressed stall. There will be a range of traders selling handmade arts and crafts, fresh produce, vintage clothes and furniture and of course street food. There’s also free kids activities including a ping pong competition in the Portico Gallery and an open mic performance stage. The Great North Wood The Great North Wood has been a pub since the 1700s but has recently been rebranded and renovated by new owners. The menu combines classic pub meals with modern recipes, including bar food, sharing platters, lunch, brunch, threecourse dinners and Sunday
roasts. There’s also weekly events including a pub quiz on Mondays, open mic on Wednesdays and live music on Saturdays, featuring regular acoustic performances from Matt Owens, founding member of Noah and the Whale. 3 Knights Hill, SE27 0HS www.thegreatnorthwood.co.uk Fashion Clicks Perched atop Knight’s Hill, Fashion Clicks is a boutique fashion outlet that stocks a wide variety of vintage and retro inspired clothes. Its diverse range is designed to offer pieces that suit all ages, tastes and body shapes. Many of its clothes lines are stocked up to size 22 and are designed to make the most of fuller figures. It also sells a variety of gifts and accessories, including wash kits, make up bags and home decorations such as cushions
Fashion Clicks
The Garden Gastro
Otter
and art. 4 Knight’s Hill, SE27 0HY www.fashionclicks.co.uk Otter A charming little bistro and shop, Otter provides somewhere to relax, enjoy a light lunch, a coffee or a cake and to look at the cute and quirky selection in the little shop. Here you can find cards, baby clothes, beauty products, gifts, homeware and handmade pottery. It features a small bar that serves a selection of wines and cocktails, as well as selling its own blended coffees and tea. The deli counter stocks a range of homemade cakes, pastries and sandwiches. 17 Knight’s Hill, SE27 0HS The Railway The quaint Victorian front of The Railway in no way prepares you for the modern party bar you find inside. The chic interior is full of plush sofas, but its pride and joy is its huge hidden garden, complete with a covered balcony, garden bars, secluded beach style huts and an outdoor
West Norwood festival
pool table. The Railway Tavern is a great host for local events with regular quiz nights, live music performances and open mic nights as well as regular community events held in the bar. It serves a good selection of wines, draught beers and classic cocktails. 7 Station Rise, SE27 9BW www.therailwaytulsehill.co.uk The Garden Gastro Bar Inspired by the Northern Italian style of evening dining and socialising, The Garden Gastro Bar welcomes customers into its simple, cosy bar to enjoy some of their homemade Italian delicacies. Serving a wide variety of fresh pizzas, pastas, focaccias, salads, breads, cheeses and cured meats, the dinner menu is designed to suit any appetite, with Italian cakes to follow. The wine selection is sourced mostly from Italy, served either by glass or the bottle, starting at £17.50. It also offers a selection of draught beers and handmade cocktails. 31 Knight’s Hill, SE27 0HS www.thegardengastrobar.com
Introducing
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Where to go? What to do? The Weekender has you covered from stand-up comedy to sit-down dinners. Whether you’re looking for somewhere to take the kids on a rainy day, theatre for under a tenner, or the best burger south of the river, use our directory to find exactly what you need. We’re also taking care of business: If you’re a company in Southwark or Lambeth, get in touch for a FREE profile in our directory. www.weekender.co.uk
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August 2017 39
Food & DRINK By Michael Holland
The real taste of London
T
Sorr Restauento Sandw rant & ich Ba r
here is something distinctly London about a place where you can have an all day breakfast alongside ladies lunching on home-made lasagna; where the office workers have flat whites with chicken and avocado panini on a table next to pensioners and their scampi, chips and peas. And where the same is happening in the beer garden at the back of this cafe cum deli cum cocktail bar where a mug of builder’s tea is separated from a stirred Martini by just a jacket potato! This is Sorrento, a busy place that is both metropolitan and international, where the pasta dishes are highly rated, the brown sauce does not look wrong on the same shelf as the Jack Daniels, and where just about everyone seems to be happy. I was there for lunch with Miss Julia, Project Manageress extraordinaire, who was looking tired from riding her bike all the way from round the corner. ‘I’m getting the train back though,’ she revealed unsurprisingly. Our waitress came for our orders. ‘I’m going all out Italian,’ I said, ‘seeing as I’m in a place with an Italian name.’ With a smile she recommended the day’s special, Tortelloni, so I went with her suggestion. My companion enquired about the lasagne and was told that it was extremely good. We also called on a starter each. While we waited for our first course I quenched my thirst with an Italian beer and Julia stuck to water. This was a busy time and I could see the kitchen staff working steadily away while keeping any fuss to a minimum. Before long my Calamares arrived along with Julia’s Prawn Cocktail, a choice made to show her yearnings for the nostalgic. The fried squid was plentiful - more than enough for a starter, and the prawn dish looked fresh and vibrant.
376 No West Norw rwood Rd, ood, S 020 8670 E27 9AA 3938
While we ate, Julia asked if her nails looked okay (No), would I join her 1920s Singsong group (No) and told me that she hadn’t raised enough funds for her latest venture (Oh). While enjoying the calamares I thought of that day’s news about the poor negotiating skills of agents being blamed for their female clients’ poor BBC wages. I chose to keep my thoughts to myself on this and instead asked if her prawns were okay. They were. Sorrento was filling up rather quickly and I was glad of our window table. It wasn’t long before our main course arrived. The home-made Tortelloni looked fantastic and tasted really good. I looked over at a less
adventurous soul having egg, bacon and beans and gave him a knowing smile. Julia’s Lasagne had everything going for it: size (house brick), look (creamy), smell (gorgeous), the aroma quickly permeated our little corner of Norwood enough for us to feel we were in the mountains of Tuscany. Both salads were bright, crunchy and fresh and could not be faulted. Sorrento achieves something quite magical here; it serves up authentic, home-made Italian food along with England’s finest breakfast fare and they sit beautifully alongside each other as if Brexit never happened. This is the London I love.
Susanna, who runs this wonderful place, came over to quickly say hello. ‘What part of Italy are you from?’ asked my dining partner? ‘I’m not Italian - I’m from Portugal!’ Mon 6am - 5pm; Tues - Friday 6am – 9pm; Saturday 7am – 9pm
the damage Calamares £5.95 Prawn Cocktail £4.95 Tortelloni £6.95 Lasagne £7.95 Side Salad £2.95 Peroni £2.95 Water £1.40 Total
£33.10
Food (1-5) 0 0 0 0 0 Value (1-5) 0 0 0 0 0 Ambience (1-5) 0 0 0 0 0 Disabled access no Disabled toilet no BOOKING NO
Bite size Café Van Gogh in Brixton is hosting three evenings of food, theatre and live art inspired by the artist himself. From 28th – 30th July a three course vegan menu will be served in the café’s Starry Night inspired upstairs room, around the corner from where Van Gogh lived in London in the 1870s. Dinner will be followed by an interactive show presented by actor and artist Walter DeForest, exploring the life of the troubled artist. Some lucky guests will even receive a free DeForest/Van Gogh selfportrait. Tickets cost £35 for three courses and the performance. Book online at www.eventbrite.co.uk
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August 2017 41
42 August 2017
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J o bs & E d uc at ion
P UB L IC NOTIC E LICENSING ACT 2003 APPLICATION FOR GRANT OF PREMISES LICENCE Daisuke Shimoyama has applied to the London Borough of Lambeth for the grant of a Premises Licence, in respect of the following premises: Kokin Trading Ltd, Riverside Building County Hall, Westminster Bridge Road, London, SE1 7PB which would authorise the following licensable activities: SUPPLY OF ALCOHOL MONDAY TO SUNDAY 10am - 11pm The record of this application may be inspected during normal office hours by an appointment at the Licensing Section, London Borough of Lambeth, 5th Floor, Blue Star House, 234-244 Stockwell Road, London, SW9 9SP, or via the licensing authority’s website, at www.lambeth.gov.uk/licensing A responsible authority or any other person may make representation to the licensing authority in respect of this application. Representations must be made in writing, either by post to the above address, or by email to licensing@lambeth.gov.uk and must be received no later than 21 August 2017 It is an offence to knowingly or recklessly make a false statement in connection with a licensing application, and the maximum fine for which a person is liable on summary conviction for that offence shall not exceed level 5 on the standard scale (£5,000).
M OTORS
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August 2017 43
HEALTH By Laura Burgoine
August health highlights You spin me right round This August, spin-class legends BOOMCycle are teaming up with Clapham bar and nightclub Fu Manchu to bring fitness lovers BOOManchu. The exciting weekend wellness festival includes unique cycle workouts, guest speakers and healthy brunches. BooManchu is on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 August from 8am-5pm. Admission: £28. www.thejamtree.com The UK's first alcoholfree drinks festival in Bermondsey Club Soda, the mindful drinking movement, has announced the UK’s first ever Mindful Drinking Festival. The one-day celebration will see the boutique Bermondsey Square Hotel transformed into a celebration of the best alcohol-free drinks available with craft beers, wines, lowersugar sodas, infusions, and expert mixologists creating concoctions to make you swoon. Relax in the Eisberg Terrace bar or explore the summer roof garden and enjoy tutored tastings, flavour pairings, mixology masterclasses,
44 August 2017
Brockwell Bootcamp
BoomCycle and secrets from beer experts and wine sommeliers. The alcohol-free drinks festival is at the Bermondsey Square Hotel, London, SE1, on Sunday 13 August from 12 noon-6pm. Brockwell bootcamps Get your heartrate up at Brockwell Park with outdoor bootcamps running throughout the summer. Two different outdoor INTENCITY
sessions are on offer: Intencity cardio and abs– combining HIIT cardio activity with core conditioning, and Intencity Max– a full mix of bodyweight exercises and dynamic movement training, using kit including kettlebells, tyres, battle ropes and training hammers. The classes are on Tuesday at 6:30am, Wednesday at 7:15am, and Sunday at 9am at Brockwell Park.
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August 2017 45
PIMLICO
Vauxhall Bridge Road, SW1V
ELEPHANT & CASTLE
£685,000
• Three bedroom flat • Front garden • Communal heating and hot water • EPC Rating C
£POA
• Three period conversion flats • Newly redecorated • All have two bedrooms • EPC Rating C
ELEPHANT & CASTLE
Metro Central Heights, SE1
Walcorde Avenue, SE17
• Two bedroom apartment • Leisure facilities • 24 hour concierge • EPC Rating C
St. George’s Road, SE1
£485,000
Vauxhall Street, SE11
£375,000
Long Lane, SE1
WALWORTH
£359,950
Beckway Street, SE17
ELEPHANT AND CASTLE
Orb Street, SE17
£575 PW
WATERLOO
£700 PW
ONLY AVAILABLE TO FAMILIES. Located in one of the most sought after and desirable streets in Elephant and Castle. This stylish Georgian town house is arranged over three floors. Newly refurbished to a high standard throughout, Four double bedrooms, spacious reception room, stunning kitchen breakfast room with bi folding doors opening onto a pretty patio garden, two bathrooms, wooden floors and charming patio garden. EPC Rating D
Waterloo Branch, 42 Kennington Road, Waterloo, London, SE1 7BL T: 020 7928 2406 E: kennington@reedsrains.co.uk
Albert Embankment, SE1
BOROUGH
Bath Terrace, SE1
£515 PW
• Three Bedrooms • Close to Elephant and Castle • EPC Rating C
• Four Bedrooms • Good Condition Throughout • EPC Rating D
Henshaw Street, SE17
£290,000
• One bedroom flat • Double glazing throughout • In need of some updating • Awaiting EPC
• One bedroom flat • Double glazing throughout • Close to Borough tube station • EPC Rating D
WATERLOO
£450,000
• Two bedroom flat • Front and rear gardens • In need of updating • EPC Rating D
BOROUGH
• One bedroom flat • Close to tube stations • Ideal for first time buyers • EPC Rating F
ELEPHANT AND CASTLE
Iliffe Street, SE17 • One/two bedroom flat • Roof terrace • Period features • EPC Rating D
ELEPHANT & CASTLE
£430,000
KENNINGTON
ELEPHANT & CASTLE
KENNINGTON
£525 PW
A two bedroom courtyard facing apartment is now available in this modern development in Albert Embankment SE1. The property comprises of a reception with access onto balcony, fitted kitchen with integrated appliances, two spacious bedrooms - one with ensuite shower room and stylish bathroom. The development has 24hr concierge and is close To Transport Services Of Vauxhall Including Bus, Rail And Tube Links. EPC Rating C
Murphy Street, SE1
£400 PW
• Two Double Bedrooms • Excellent Condition Throughout • EPC Rating D
Otto Street, SE17
£325 PW
• Two Double Bedrooms • Close to Kennington Tube • EPC Rating D