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LOCAL NEWS AND EVENTS
SOME TINGS WHAT is happenin' around these parts INNIT.
GOING OVERGROUND The brilliant Crystal Palace Overground Festival, which took place from 10-13 August, gave Londoners a reason to smile again after a week of devastating riots. The four-day festival got under way on the Wednesday, with the main events taking place on Saturday in Westow Park and around the Triangle. Community support was at an alltime high with an amazing 4,000+ revellers out to support the huge variety of free events across the various festival hubs which included arts, crafts and sports activities, live music and DJs and fabulous food, antique, craft and vintage shopping. Festival highlights? Local comedian Mark Steel who officially opened the festival at Westow Park on the Saturday; the bands on the Antenna music stage – including the ninepiece ukulele outfit, country, punk and ska bands; and the wonderful sight of a skiffle band and their audience spilling out onto the road outside the White Hart. Westow Park
Photo: James Balston
MUSIC FOR YOUR SOUL was the perfect venue, and looked fantastic filled with the cheerful smiles of so many people relaxing on the grass in the sunshine or enjoying the stalls, the food, the music and the fab new play area. The Triangle events included skiffle and rockabilly bands playing ‘busker like’ on the streets, an open air film screening and shorts from local film-makers, and The Courtyard Sessions at Haynes Lane Market which featured acoustic sets and the DJ World of Surprises. Lead festival organiser Noreen Meehan said she was really thrilled at how the festival went: ‘I couldn’t be happier about how the festival unfolded – it was a roaring success,’ she enthused. ‘From a week of Londoners feeling devastated about what had happened in our great city, especially to our neighbours in Croydon, to a festival of sheer delight and fun. We are looking forward to 2012 and to making the festival even bigger and better next year.’ The turnout had doubled from previous years. ‘My volunteers and I were absolutely bowled over,’ said Noreen. ‘There was a huge range of people at the festival, from young and old, and from all communities. The range of entertainment and activities were chosen to ensure that there was something for everyone and I think we achieved that.’ For more information about the Crystal Palace Overground Festival and to get involved in next year’s event, visit www.crystalpalacefestival.org
Photo: Guy Milnes
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Following its last very successful event at The Alma, Crystal Palace Soul will be hosting their next night at Westow House. If you want to hear quality northern and 70s soul, disco and funk, then get down there on Saturday 12 November. Entry is free, and don’t forget to bring the talcum powder (that’s for the dancefloor, not the sweat).
GRAPE & GRAIN BEER FESTIVAL Following the success of previous events, The Grape & Grain will once again be hosting a beer festival, from 7-10 October. There will be at least 60 ales and ciders on offer, and once again the focus will remain on UK micro-breweries. With some interesting offerings, such as Country Life Golden Pig, Dark Star Espresso, and Moorhouse Blond Witch, it will be an event to delight even the most discerning hop-head.