MUSIC ROB FLOOD PREVIEWS THE FIRST MUST-SEE MEDWAY GIG OF 2012 DARREN HAYMAN is probably best known as the frontman of indie band and John Peel favourite Hefner. His latest solo release ‘The Ship’s Piano’ is a collection of delicate ballads performed on a ship’s piano, the colloquial term for a type of small fold-up piano that was traditionally found onboard boats. Hayman’s choice of instrument is a direct result of an assault he suffered in November 2009. A fractured skull and constant dizziness caused him to avoid loud noises but with songwriting as a recovery aid, Hayman bought a 1933 French ship’s piano from eBay and has crafted one of the best works of his career. Described by the Guardian as “the match for Ray Davies, or any of the quintessentially English masters”, few songwriters depict love and relationships with the same degree of subtlety and honesty.
ROCHESTER CATHEDRAL
EDITH MAY THAMES BARGE
ME1 1SX
Lower Halstow Dock 01634 365343
LUNCHTIME CAROLS with the Girl Choristers Sat 17 Dec 12.30pm
TRADITIONAL CAROLS on board this lovely barge. Wed 14 Dec, hatches open 7pm. Tickets £7.50, includes glass of mulled wine and mince pies. Booking essential via telephone, in person or email info@edithmaybargecharter.co.uk www.edithmay.com
ORGAN CONCERT Sun 18 Dec 4.30pm La Nativité de Seigneur: Olivier Messiaen Free www.rochestercathedral.org THE BARGE 63 Layfield Road, Gillingham, ME7 2QY 01634 850485
MEDWAY EYES DOES RUBBER SOUL Sat 3 Dec 9pm Great selection of Medway artists including Didi Bergman, Phil Dillon and Bob Collins perform every track on The Beatles’ Rubber Soul album plus other Beatle classics.
BARDS @THE OPEN MIC Wed 7 Dec 9pm. Acoustic open-mic – just turn up and put your name down. Selection of instruments available. GLENN BARNES Sat 10 Dec 9pm Medway-born singer-songwriter You’d be hard pushed to find a more appropriate venue for Hayman to perform ‘The Ship’s Piano’ than LV21, the former Trinity House lightship moored at Gillingham Pier where it’s being converted into a unique floating cultural facility. LV21’s intimate performance space ensures this is a gig not to be missed.
ROBERT BROWN Wed 14 Dec 9pm Guitarist/ songwriter
TEA presents Darren Hayman performing ‘The Ship’s Piano’ onboard LV21, Pier Approach Road, Gillingham ME7 1RX on Sat 28 January 2012 7.30pm. Support from Pity Party plus one other (tbc) Tickets £12 www.lv21.co.uk www.teaconcerts.co.uk
LIVE MUSIC Thursdays From rock ‘n’ roll to indie, soul and more CLUB NIGHT Fri and Saturdays to 12am LIVE JAZZ Sunday lunchtime from 12 noon SKA, REGGAE & NORTHERN SOUL DJS last Sunday of every month 7-10pm No entry fee www.theeagletavern.org.uk
CLEA ROSE TRIO Sat 17 Dec 9pm Soulful blues and reggae influenced tunes THE EAGLE 124 High Street Rochester, ME1 1JT 01634 409040
MOTE HALL Mote Park, Willow Way, Maidstone ME15 7RN
MAIDSTONE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Sat 3 Dec 7.30pm Brahms, Mozart (Clarinet Concerto: soloist David Campbell) and Dvorak’s Symphony No 5. Tickets on door from £10, students £5, children under 18 free with paying adult. www.mso.org.uk MAIDSTONE CHORAL UNION CHRISTMAS CONCERT Sat Dec 10 7.30.p.m Rutter’s “Magnificat” , carols for choir and audience, Brunswick House School Choir and the Mandy Ellen School of Dance. £7-£16, children and students half price. To purchase call The Ticket Secretary on 01622 726193 or visit the shop at Maidstone Museum, Faith Street, Maidstone ME14 1LH THE TWO BREWERS 113 High Street, Rochester ME1 1JS 01634 812448
BLUES NIGHT WITH THE BIG BLUE Thu 1 Dec 9pm BRAVADO Sun 11 4pm RUN V.T. Sun 18 4pm www.twobrewersrochester.com