Lexi James Jr/ Andy Secrett p22

The Cinnamon Lounge p8

Vortex Jazz Club p20

Of Cabbages & Kings p6

Tina, We Salute You p1 4

Listings and Links p30

Theatretrain p1 2

Stoke Newington - autumn 2011

bringing the artsto your door

Carousel by Phil Miller (see Lemon Monkey, page 4)

www.art­and­about.co.uk

The Comedy Cafe p1 8

What Is An Emerging Artist? - p26

King's Place Festival - p29

What Is Art & About?First, last and always, Art & About is concerned with supporting and promoting emerging talent

This magazine focuses on venues and shops who already have a commitment to showing new

artists or booking new acts whilst bringing new venues to the table

Then there are organisations dedicated to exploring the hidden talents in all of us and those who

shine a light on the extroardinary talents that deserve a wider audience.

Through the magazine we hope to create a winning formula from which everyone benefits. The

venues and shops attract readers like yourself and therefore increase their revenue, this in turn

means more opportunities for new artists and acts (and better paid ones) all of which means more

interesting and exciting new work for you to enjoy on your own doorstep.

Why support emerging talent?

Well, from a purely pragmatic perspective it's generally cheaper than coughing up for a West End

show, a gig at the 02 or tickets to the opera - not that we don't think you should do that as well.

On an equally practical note - it's usually just round the corner (no long, dreary tube journeys -

you can even leave the car at home! )

More cerebrally, there is the undeniable thrill of discovering something new, being in on the

ground floor of a potentially glittering new career. The excitement of knowing that you saw it

first, the satisfaction of knowing that your support has helped bring something bright and new out

of the shadows and into the light. That is how you can support emerging talent.

After all, everyone has to start somewhere, tomorrow's stars don't just appear out of nowhere.

One of the great things about working on this magazine is the journey it takes us on and the

endless variety of new work, new ideas and fresh perspectives we discover along the way. We

want you to join us on this journey and here's how you can do it:

Get InvolvedRead the magazine - go to some of the gigs, grab a coffee or a bite to eat while enjoying a new

exhibition. Take advantage ofwhat's out there.

Mention the magazine - at all times. When you arrive at a gig brandish the magazine boldly in

their faces and tell them you read about it in Art & About. When you buy a ticket over the phone,

when you order a plate of cup cakes, mention our name.

Use the web site. Sign up for the Art & About newsletter. Keep up to date with the who's, the

where's and the what's next and all of the stuff we can't find space for in the magazine. Check the

site for special offers in your area.

Tell us what you think. Tell us about your favourite places, that great new band. Talk to us.

Most of all - enjoy.

www.art­and­about.co.uk:

3Editor: John GarnerSales & Marketing: Ade Akinwale

Lemon Monkey is a rare and precious thing.

A first class deli, a welcoming place to

enjoy a quiet break from a busy routine but

more importantly, an enthusiastic supporter

of the arts and of new talent in particular.

Katharine Tasker has been supporting the

arts through Lemon Monkey from its

inception and that tradition is still going

strong. The small gallery is not immediately

obvious as you enter the cafe, but if you

walk past the counter and up the stairs you

encounter the small but airy mezzanine that

houses a constantly changing exhibition.

Currently on display are the beautifully

intricate black and white cut out images of

Molly Flood.

You'll have to be quick, though, because

Thursday, August 1 8th sees the opening of

an exhibition of photography by Phil Miller

which marries images using projection and

multiple exposure to create new

stories. You can see more details

about his work and career on

Lemon Monkey's Art&About

blog.

On the musical front, there are

three emerging talents on show

in August and early September.

Fruitful Earth are a three-piece

alternative indie band who are

about to launch their debut

album (release date July 13th) and will be

playing at the Monkey on Friday, August

5th. A soulful and melodic meeting of

bluesy pop and West Coast vibe - it

promises to be an exciting occasion.

The following week, Amy Grace makes a

welcome return with her own unique blend

of jazz and folk. Complex and beautiful

vocals perfectly complimenting her strong

songwriting. Those of you who have heard

her before will no doubt welcome the

opportunity to do so again. Those that

haven't should make the effort. It will be

worth it.

Last but by no means least, the powerful

voice and direct songwriting of Lexi James

Jr in her debut performance at Lemon

Monkey on Friday, September 2nd. She is

putting the fnishing touches to a brand new

set as I type and the early

rushes sound great. Supported

by the soulful Andy Secrett

this promises to be a dynamic

combination and a great night

in prospect.

So that's the music and the art,

but let's not forget the

wonderfully eclectic 'Open

Book'(courtesy of The Society

For Curious Thought). This is

Lemon Monkey featuringMolly FloodArtistPhil MillerPhotographsFruitful EarthBlues Pop West CoastAmy GraceJazz FolkLexi James JrAlt Rock Pop

Curious Cafe Book

Amy Grace: photo by Phil Miller

4

exactly what it says it is, a book

in which customers can doodle,

write, sketch or whatever else

they want to do with pen and

paper. It makes for a fascinating

and sometimes inspiring

diversion and has proved so

popular they are onto the fourth

book already and it has been

featured in the Stoke Newington

Literary Festival. I love the

way the book encourages

everyone to express themselves

without the pressure of

judgement.

So, take some time out to check in at Lemon

Monkey and enjoy the creative vibe while

sampling some of the finest foods from

around the globe. How's this for a perfect

summer day - grab breakfast and pick up

everything you need for a fantastic picnic

from Lemon Monkey (after

perusing the gallery and adding

your masterwork to the

'Curious Cafe Book', of course),

spend an idyllic day wandering

around the green parks of your

choice, have that fabulous

picnic and then gently amble

back to the cafe for some

excellent live music.

more about Lemon Monkey @ blogs.art­and­about.co.uk/lemon­monkey

Fruitful Earth (top)

Lexi James Jr (bottom)

Housed in an old 'Tuck Shop', Of Cabbages &

Kings has, since 2008, offered a different kind

of treat to those intrepid shoppers who venture

off the main Church Street artery. With Fine

Art prints by local illustrators and an incredible

array of bags, books, cards, ceramics,

jewellery, kitchenware, prints, tea towels and

hand picked 1950s vintage furniture, the shop

is bright, inviting and full of charm.

With so many talented designer-makers in the

area, it's no surprise that they also set up the

popular Of Cabbages & Kings Market Days at

Abney Hall. On the first weekend of each

month a different selection of designers and

makers fill the hall with a vast variety of

handmade gifts, original artwork and designer

home wares.

The markets have been running monthly since

March 2009 and continue growing in both

scope and popularity. Fred and Fran's cafe with

it’s scrumptious cakes and fennel sausage rolls

adds to the friendly community atmosphere as

people stop for a cup of tea, a brownie and a

good old-fashioned chin-wag.

Twenty to thirty different designers, some

regular faces, some brand new, sell everything

from Dee Hewitt's moustache keyrings (a big

favourite) to Kerry Layton's illustrations via

Hiksy Pixie's jewellery and a whole lot more I

haven't the space to mention. Worthy of

special mention in the August market, though,

is new face Frances Basham who brings her

fabric decorated homeware to the market for

the first time. Also, Jimbob Art, aka James

Ward, a local artist and illustrator who has

recently turned his hand to plates.

Outlets like the shop and the market are vital

platforms for small independent designer-

makers to promote and sell their work, which

is exactly what Art & About is designed to

A veritable cornucopia of hand­crafted delights awaitsin the Tardis­like confines of this remarkable shop

6

“It's the kind ofplace where you

find yourselfstanding, trying

desperately to think who has a

birthday coming up so you can

forward-load your present

buying” Helen Costello,

mydaily. co. uk, 2011

Frances Basham: Art Deco Homeware

Meeting friends at the Market

support, so if you're not a regular visitor get

down there and see what you're missing. As

the Independent Store Guide (2010) puts it,

". .the work is all the more appealing for being

so individual and undiluted in style. . .making

(it) exclusive without being expensive.”

www.blogs.art­and­about.co.uk/cabbages­and­kings

www.blogs.art­and­about.co.uk/stoke­newington/events

Illustrated plate by James Ward

One of the main aims of Art & About is to

open up new platforms for emerging creative

talent, so we're

delighted to be able to

announce that the

elegant and stylish

Cinnamon Lounge

restaurant on

Newington Green will

be hanging art on its

walls starting in

September with an

exhibition of the work

ofGina Southgate.

There will be a special opening event on

Thursday, Sept 22nd to mark the occasion,

where you will be able to view Gina's work,

meet the artist herself and sample the culinary

delights on offer from the Cinnamon Lounge's

fine chefs.

Winning friends for the

past two years with its'

lighter, less chilli-hot

take on traditional Indian

cuisine, the Cinnamon

Lounge is now hoping to

win over Stokies' many

art lovers, too. Speaking

to the manager it was

clear just how

enthusiastic he is about

the project. "We can't wait to see the paintings

go up," Raz, the manager, told us. "We're

looking to have regular viewing sessions

TThhee CCiinnnnaammoonn LLoouunnggeeooppeenniinngg tthheeiirr wwaallllss ttoo nneeww aarrttiissttss

GGIINNAA SSOOUUTTHHGGAATTEEEExxhhiibbiittiioonn OOppeenniinngg@@TThhee CCiinnnnaammoonn LLoouunnggeeNNeewwiinnggttoonn GGrreeeennSSeepptteemmbbeerr 2222nndd88ppmm ­­ llaattee

www.blogs.art­and­about.co.uk/cinnamon­loungewww.blogs.art­and­about.co.uk/gina­southgate

8

Gina Southgate: field 5 (top); blue bayou (bottom); sushi (right)

where the people can drop in, meet the artist,

have a bite to eat and just relax and enjoy the

art on display."

The first exhibitor, Gina Southgate, is a well

known figure in the local art world and will be

showing both abstracts and landscapes in an

exhibition that will be carefully tailored to

make best use of the available space. In

addition to her paintings she plans to make

some site specific pieces, possibly 3D, echoing

her sculptural roots.

Gina is something of a pioneer in opening up

new arts spaces, as can be seen in her

exhibition of 'gig-paintings' at the Vortex Jazz

Club (see p.24), which compliment her other

love of performing live at improvised music

and jazz gigs. She is keen to support new

initiatives like this.

Landscape painting has become a major part of

Gina's work. "I paint (landscapes) in much the

same way I would at a gig, I’m concerned with

the energy in the landscape as much as the

form or light". We can look forward to some

brand new landscapes in this opening

exhibition. By contrast her abstract work is a

juxtaposition and layering of colour in

conjunction with collaged monoprinted papers

and monoprint from painted surfaces to make

texture, and is created largely without

narrative. Both styles will be on show at the

Cinnamon Lounge in September.

a unique fusion ofeast meets westrefreshingly different indian cusine

20 Newington Green,Islington,LondonN16 9PU020 7241 2222

info@cinnamon­lounge.biz

10

She moved

and my heart moved

Like a drowning man

in the heat of summer

She smiled

and I shuddered

Like a naked child

in the snow

Her eyes were laughing

I was swimming against a tide of emotion

My mouth was dry

and my shoulders heaved and rose

I could feel her body with my eyes

I wanted to hold her hands

and to touch her hair

Her warmth caressed me like a hundred pleasant dreams

I stared

and my heart fluttered

Like migratory birds

in search ofwarmer lands

She was walking

Away

My heart sank

Like the chill of autumn

through falling leaves

In The Blink Of An Eye

Sarah Smith

Electrical tape wall art by Benjamin Murphy (see Tina, We Salute You p1 4)

11

In the spirit of encouraging and promoting

emerging talent we could think of few better

organisations than Theatretrain to encapsulate

what that means in practical terms and the

nearest centre is a short journey up Lea Bridge

Road in Leytonstone.

The unique thing about Theatretrain is the fact

that it is open to anyone

aged between 6 and 18.

No auditions, no threat

of rejection. Children of

all abilities are

welcome and they can

all benefit from expressing their own

creativity. What's more, all students take part

in all ofTheatretrain's shows.

Self-confidence, self-determination, personal

fulfilment - all these things can flow from the

experience of working

creatively within an

expertly supervised group

to bring to life a

performance which each

member of the team has

helped to shape, mould and

perfect.

Through drama, dance and

singing, each group moves

towards a performance at

local, national or even

international level, whilst

coming to see the world

through a new lens.

As an Arts Council policy document on the

subject rightly points out ". . .Drama helps us to

make sense of the world."

Approximately 10%-20% of those who attend

Theatretrain courses go on to enjoy a career in

some aspect of the profession, which is

important as it provides a different and,

perhaps, less formal

pathway into the

industry. But it is the

other 80-90% who we

think are the most

important as they will

have felt the thrill of public performance,

experienced at first hand the discipline and

skills required and enjoyed the incredible

satisfaction of achieving those personal goals.

Theatretrain courses are not just about the

“Drama helps us to make

sense of the world”

The Arts Council

12

blogs.art­and­about.co.uk/theatretrainblogs.art­and­about.co.uk/stoke­newington

obvious things, though. The training develops

other important life skills - public speaking,

team work, interview techniques - building the

confidence of even the

shyest children.

Not only that, it

provides each and every

one of them with a

deeper understanding of

the performing arts and,

we hope, an

appreciation of their

cultural importance in

maintaining a balanced

and thoughtful society.

Art & About is principally engaged in helping

provide platforms for new work but that

doesn't mean we are not keen to champion

those who simply want an opportunity to

express themselves - in fact we see the two as

inseperable. Theatretrain ticks all those boxes

by providing the opportunity for anyone to get

involved.

Theatretrain charge

fees for their courses

but these can be

assisted for those on

lower incomes.

For more general

information and a

prospectus, check out

the Theatretrain

website at:

www. theatretrain. co . uk or email

walthamforest@theatretrain. co . uk

for information on the Leytonstone school.

13

14

Andrew McDonaldAbstract ArtistBenjamin MurphyElectrical Tape Artist

One of the most exciting things about the Art

& About project is unearthing gems like Tina,

We Salute You and witnessing the endlessly

creative ways the arts are being offered up for

our enjoyment.

Steve and Danny set up this intimate cafe a

few years back and always wanted to have art

on the walls. At this point, however, you need

to put any preconceived ideas to one side -

this place gives the term 'art on the walls' a

whole new meaning. The artists literally paint

directly onto the walls and their work is then

painted over by the next artist and so on.

Initial experiments with 'live' creations, at

which the customers went about their

afternoon libations while the artist got to

work on the walls, proved impractical so the

artists are now given the keys to the cafe on a

Monday morning and given total freedom to

work their magic. "It's wonderful", beamed

Steve, "it's not just a surprise to for the

customers, it's a surprise for us as well."

A combination of good instincts

and astute choices have ensured

that so far this approach has

never backfired. Steve insists

that it's not about what he and

Danny like, it's about keeping

the work varied, keeping it

interesting and making sure it

feels right for the cafe. It's an

approach that appears to be

working.

The work that is currently on

the walls belongs to Andrew

McDonald. Originally from

Art On The Walls

Benjamin Murphy

Andrew McDonald

New Zealand, he has lived and worked in

London since 1986. His work is partly

concerned with autobiography and his

upbringing in rural New

Zealand.

This comes through not just

in the content of the work

but also in his attraction to

bold colours and a sense of

grand design. It will vanish

off the walls some time

between August 7th and the

15th so go and see it while

you can.

Replacing Andrew's work

will be the extraordinary

electrical tape designs of

Benjamin Murphy. He quite

literally creates artworks by

sticking electrical tape on

the walls with fascinatingly edgy results.

A

lthough Benjamin specialises in live art he

apparently also like "pens and books and cats".

His work has appeared in many diverse places

such as the Font Bar on

Oxford Road (see page11 ),

the Relentless Nass festival

in Somerset and the Lowry

Outlet Mall ("probably my

favourite so far").

It all started with Steve and

Danny selling cup cakes in

an east end market.

Now, Tina, We Salute You is

spearheading something ofa

revival in the reinvention of

the mural - a kind ofBanksy

meets the Rennaissance,

where street art and gallery

art meet in a fuzzy grey area

that throws up a succession of

delightful surprises.

more about Tina, We Salute You @ blogs.art­and­about.co.uk/tina

020 7582 1 478

Benjamin Murphy

47 King Henry’s Walk, London, N1 4HN

Tel: 020 311 9 0047

Email : tina@tinawesaluteyou.com

Monday – closed

Tuesday – Friday 8am – 7pm

Saturday 9am – 7pm

Sunday 1 0am – 7pm

16

Nude In Grass by Phil Miller (see Lemon Monkey feature p4)

Wall hanging by Andrew McDonald @ Tina, We Salute You (see p14)

17

Joe Lovano 2

One ofa series of live gig-paintings by Gina Southgate

TThhee CCoommeeddyy CCaaffee

This has to be the offer of the summer.

Celebrating 21 years in Shoreditch, the

Comedy Cafe is offering an Unlimited

Summer Pass for just

£19. The pass gives you

free access to all shows at

the Comedy Cafe until

September 7th.

Given that the normal

price for a Saturday night

show alone is £16.. .well,

I'll let you do the maths.

Obviously, the sooner

you get your pass, the

more shows you can see and the bigger the

return on your modest investment. It's mad.

And so will you be if you don't take advantage

of such wild generosity.

The Comedy Cafe is the daddy of London

comedy clubs and one of the best. One of the

additional appeals to us here at Art & About is

the way in which the club has consistently

championed new acts under the guidance of

founder and owner Noel Faulkner. Giving new

talent a chance is the cornerstone of the whole

Art & About project so we were delighted to

highlight the Comedy Cafe. Be aware, though,

that the weekly New Act Nights (every

Wednesday) are always incredibly popular so

you'd need to get there early - which in itself is

a refreshing fact in this era of celebrity

saturation.

There's plenty to look forward to between now

and September 7th (and beyond, of course),

including Paul Piri ("the stand-out star of the

night; a Frankie Boyle you

could actually book" -

Steve Bennett) , Mickey

Sharma ("Star of the future

and future is so near, I can

touch it" - Steve Harris)

and Ian Cognito (". .a

compelling anarchy.." - Jay

Richardson), to name but

three of the dozens of acts

on offer.

One particular evening that takes my fancy is

Thursday, August 11 th when Paul Pirie and

Prince Abdi share the bill with Ryan Cull and

Matthew Osbourne. The word from people in

the know is that Prince Abdi is one to look out

for. A new comic, hailing from Somalia, he

was a finalist in the 2007 Chortle student

comedy awards and more recently runner-up

in this year's Hackney Empire New Act of the

Year Award. Looks like a good night, so make

sure you get your Summer Pass in good time.

The Comedy Cafe has a reputation as being

the venue performers most love to play. This is

no mean achievement when you consider it

has been the much loved hang-out for the likes

of Eddie Izzard, Mark Lamarr and Jo Brand. A

hugely laid back and intimate space that has

been uniquely built-for-purpose, it's well

"Abdi's boundless energy and well-crafted punchlines eased the crowdinto the comedy nicely." Corry Shaw - Chortle.co.uk(see Prince Abdi @ the Comedy Cafe - Friday, August 11 th)

Make sure you take advantage of this incredible'season ticket' offer

18

worth sampling this summer.. . .several times,

in fact. You never know, you might be

witnessing a star in the making (and helping

them along the way).

The Comedy Cafe @www.comedycafe.co.ukStoke Newington &Shoreditch events@blogs.art­and­about.co.uk/stoke­newington/events

Thu 11th Aug 2011'Best in Stand Up!'Ryan CullPaul PirieMatthew OsbournePrince AbdiFri 12th Aug 2011

'Thank XXXX for FunnyBusiness!'TBCRyan CullPaul PirieKevin Eldon

Sat 13th Aug 2011'Party Night ­ Comedy & Disco'TBCRyan CullPaul PiriePrince Abdi

Prince Abdi

As we mentioned in the editorial on page 3,

people's perceptions of what constitutes

emerging talent varies dramatically. Some

would argue that in the world of jazz even

becoming an established artist is still a world

away from the fame and wealth offered by

their more mainstream rock and pop

counterparts. We like to keep an open mind.

So does the Vortex.

Although the majority of their programme

consists ofwell established names on the

jazz scene, they do a lot to promote new talent

- their only proviso being that they're good

enough. The Vortex also run regular nights

outside of the jazz genre such as the ever

eclectic Exotic Pylon residency and and the

new Electronic Music Series running monthly.

Upcoming gigs include Max Tundra and

Infinite Livez on 5th August as well as Andy

Stott on 12th August and Neil Landstrumm on

19th August.

The kind of talent that they're especially keen

to promote, though, are those artists who have

the respect of their peers and critics but have

yet to fully break into the 'big time' in jazz

circles. Artists on the cusp. We'll be

highlighting two such artists in this article, the

Elan Mehler Trio and Sarah Gillespie.

The Elan Mehler trio eschew drums, or any

other form of percussion in favour of allowing

the waves of interlocking chords and the

intricate and dream-like melodies to create

their own, less urgent, momentum. Somehow

managing to fuse a classical precision with a

jazz-oriented spontaneity, Elan Mehler exists

in a fascinating world of his own that makes

for a compelling musical journey.

Sarah Gillespie, by contrast, is a young singer

songwriter who is half American, half

English, who has already made an impact with

her first album called ‘Stalking Juliet’ . The

album, which was produced and arranged by

the famous anti-Zionist musician Gilad

Atzmon and consists of titles like ‘Ahmed and

Dangerous’ and ‘Call Me Stupid, Ungrateful,

Vicious and Insatiable,’ received rave reviews.

Gillespie is not a protest singer, but rather she

is singer who is unusually intelligent and

reflects the fast paced global environment

through her poetic lyrics. Her voice can be

soft and sometimes sensitive, but there is also

a raw edge there. The songs and music are an

urban mix of different cultures and rhythms, a

"Building a productive relationship between two genres of music thatfew jazz artists other than Bill Frisell have managed to splice."The Guardian on Elan Mehler

20

RRIISSIINNGG SSTTAARRSSiinn tthheejjaazzzz ffiirrmmaammeennttatThe VortexElan Mehler TrioAugust 14th

Sarah Gillespie & Gilad AtzmonSeptember 29th

Elan Mehler

result of growing up in a melting pot of

multiculturalism.

Acclaimed accordion, clarinet and sax player

Gilad Atzmon, former member of the

Blockheads and described by John Lewis in

the Guardian as the “hardest-gigging man in

British jazz" produced Gillespie's debut album

and is a member of her band.

Both Elan Mehler and Sarah Gillespie enjoy

the critical accolades of their peers and that is a

reflection of their exciting and unique talents,

and yet they are still very much at the beginning

of their journeys.

Some ofthe references to Sarah Gillespie's work

have been taken from this article (with thanks)

http://arabnews. com/lifestyle/art_culture/article

40153. ece

Elan Mehler Triohttp://www.elanmehler.com/Sarah Gillespiehttp://sarahgillespie.com/

Sarah Gillespie

"She's an incandescent new presence who matchesher imposing delivery with superior lyrics"John Fordham - The Guardian

020 7254 4097www.wegottickets.com

11 Gil lett Square, London N1 6 8AZ

www.vortexjazz.co.uk

info@vortexjazz.co.uk

I wanted to write about these two because of

the way in which my experiences of them and

their work and philosophies both contrast with

and compliment one another.

I've known Andy for many years and I've been

following his development ever since I first

saw him perform at one of our first Platform

events in the now (sadly) defunct Plough Inn,

Walthamstow.

His talent shone through

the raw material and the

promise was clear.

Lexi James Jr., on the other

hand is completely new to

me but crept on to my

radar as an indirect result

of meeting Andy all those

years ago. This is how life

works. Matt Secrett,

Andy's brother, plays

guitar in her band. "He's an

incredible musician, I’m crap at playing the

guitar so always feel embarrassed playing him

rubbish and he just totally gets it. Within

minutes he’s playing it totally amazingly -

better than I could imagine and I’m always

like ‘wow that sounds so cool! '"

Both are putting the finishing touches to new

sets ofmaterial. Both will be performing at the

Lemon Monkey on September 2nd.

Andy's songs have always been self-reflective,

an expression of what's going on inside his

head and this latest set continues that theme,

inspired by the things he experiences and his

responses to them. His soulful delivery and

bluesy voice compliment the new songs

perfectly. He has found himself through his

music, which is, I suppose, what he was

always striving for.

"I guess as an artist I'm kind of a walking

contradiction; I could be described as overly

self indulgent by some," he casts a sardonic

smile in my direction but I sidestep it with

some nifty footwork, "but i like the feeling

that people are enjoying what i do and

empathising with it." His new work is tighter

than he has been in the past and in some

respects more direct, particularly in songs like

the excellent 'Money Walks', a song for our

times if ever there was one.

LLeexxii JJaammeess JJrr

22

"bottled and blondewith a slapped on smile,polite to the point of being vile"Lexi James Jr

Lexi James Jr is all about being direct. Owning

one of the most powerful voices ever to shatter

an eardrum, her new songs take no prisoners

and don't let anyone off the hook, especially

herself.

Having quit a 'dream job' that turned out to be

anything but, she took a job she didn't care

about and focussed on her music.

"I had a bit of a life crisis. I was so unhappy

that I was just getting wasted all the time. I

was depressed and had low self esteem and it

was during this transition that a lot of the

lyrics came about. ‘Thought that, there would

be, opportunity waiting for me, believed that I

would reach the top, the world was my oyster,

now its not’ . That's pretty typical."

I haven't seen her on stage but I have been

lucky enough to hear the rushes from her

rehearsals and it is mighty powerful stuff.

"My motto when on stage is that you look

more stupid if you don’t go for it- so I think

I’m quite brave with my performance and I

always give it 1 00%". If the rehearsal tapes

are anything to go by I can vouch for that.

Curiously, there are hints of more eclectic and

ephemeral mood pieces in amongst the

spikiness so this could be a truly fascinating

new set. Lemon Monkey on September 2nd is

the debut gig for Lexi James Jr - a rare

opportunity for you to be able to say, 'I was

there at the beginning'.

As a post script - "Can I put in a quick plug for

the choir?" Alex enthuses. " I joined the

amazing 24 piece alt-indie choir Gaggle when

I was 26- so far we have played at Somerset

House, Reading/Leeds, Bestival, Big Chill,

Lattitude etc. They've done a reinterpretation

of 'The Brilliant And The Dark' - a 1969

feminist opera; we are performing it at the

Royal Albert Hall in September." Check it out.

But check them both out at Lemon Monkey

first.

more artists @ blogs.art­and­about.co.uk/artists

more about Andy Secrett @ blogs.art­and­about.co.uk/andy­secrett

more about Lexi James Jr @ blogs.art­and­about.co.uk/lexi­james­jr

AAnnddyy SSeeccrreetttt

How do we differentiate between who is

deemed to be emerging and who is

established? Originally, we took the view that

as soon as an artist is able to earn a living

wage from their art they are effectively

'established'. It was interesting, then, to hear

the diversity of views on this.

For instance, when we asked the Comedy Cafe

what they thought, they told us that comics

weren't perceived as having established

themselves until they had broken into

television. The fact that some did indeed make

a decent living doing the club circuit was

irrelevant. Their industry has its own

yardstick.

Taking that idea a step further, The Vortex play

host to many performers who have established

themselves in terms of critical acclaim and the

respect of their peers but whose careers they

clearly still regard as emerging within a wider

context.

That context is the music industry. The fame

and fortune afforded the mainstream successes

in the pop and rock arenas is a long way

removed from the more rarified world of jazz..

Ipso facto, you have to do more, put yourself

out there more, make yourself more visible. In

the niche markets the

struggle to survive is

ongoing.

The Vortex do try to

cover all bases,

though, with their

new Electronic Music

series and their

partnerships with collectives such as LOOP

and F-ire, both of which contain many of the

up and coming talents in the London jazz

scene.

At the other end of the spectrum there are

places like Theatretrain who believe that

everyone has a talent that can be nurtured.

That's not to say that everyone will choose to

make a career out of that talent but they would

argue that personal development is the key

factor, here, and that getting involved in

something creative doesn't always have to be

passive, a view that we share (see our 'Let's

Write A Novel' project on p26).

Their starting point is that everyone is good

enough and they prove it by making sure that

everyone ends up playing a part in a public

performance.

Whichever view you subscribe to, the fact is

that there are tens of thousands of creative

people out there, some taking their first

tentative steps, some trying to find their own

unique voice and many who have found that

24

tell us what you think@ blogs.art­and­about.co.uk/emerging­talentWhat is Emerging Talent?

The Lemon Monkees (above)

Gas-station, Spain by Phil Miller

(left)

Art & Design, Fashion, Media, Performing Arts

Turn That Dream

Into A Reality

ENROL NOW

Check our website atwww.waltham.ac.uk

Dedicated Specialist Staff, Superb Facilities, Exciting CoursesForest Road, Walthamstow, London E17 4JB

Call Now on 020 8501 8501 or email info@waltham.ac.ukvoice and now need someone to hear it. What

we believe is irrefutable, is that through their

successes and sometimes because of their

failures, the world is made a richer place and

for that alone we should offer them our

support. Increasingly, the state can't or won't

do this, so more than ever it's down to us to

make sure that these bold experiments

continue to colour our world so that we

continue to enjoy them.

find out more about the Art & About project@ blogs.art­and­about.co.uk

find artists@ blogs.art­and­about.co.uk/artists

25

Although our main aim at Art & About is to

encourage and promote new artists, to use the

word in it's most general sense, we also want

to encourage people to get involved and be

creative themselves.

It is indisputably therapeutic to read, to listen

to music, to

visit art

galleries, and so

on, these things

enrich us, make

us think, offer

us new

perspectives on

life. What they

don't do is offer

us the

opportunity to

express

ourselves.

With this in

mind, Art &

About plans to

initiate a range

of projects

covering the

whole range of

creative

endeavour. The first of these is the

'Let's Write A Novel' project.

Here's the idea. A group of 10 or 12

people join a workshop run by Art &

About. Over a period of 6 months and with the

guidance of guest writers, the group will 'team

write' a novel.

The way they organise themselves, who writes

what and what they write about, will be

decided in the early stages. The end result will

then be published as a short print run and

publicised through the Art & About magazine

and website.

I can imagine the snorts of derision from

certain literary quarters but there is a recent

precedent, the crime thriller 'No Rest For The

Dead' published by Simon &

Schuster, which was penned by no

less than 26 different authors.

Granted, they were all experts in

their field, but hey, this is more

about the process than the product.

We're busy hunting down writers

willing to lead you through the

woods and snickets of literary

enlightenment (betraying my

northern roots, there) and we hope

to offer an exciting and enjoyable

way of exploring the process of

writing and to have fun as part of a social

group with a purpose.

If you're interested in signing up, full details

and costs can be found at blogs.art-and-

about.co.uk/lets-write.

find out more @ blogs.art­and­about.co.uk/lets­write26

Let's Write A Novel

blogs.art­and­about.co.uk/stoke­newington27

RREECCOOMMMMEENNDDEEDD LLIINNKKSS AAuugg­­OOcctt 22001111

LEMON MONKEY www.lemon­monkey.co.uk/PHIL MILLER www.philmillerphotography.com/AMY GRACE http://uk.myspace.com/graceamyFRUITFUL EARTH uk.myspace.com/thefruitfulearthLEXI JAMES JR blogs.art­and­about.co.uk/lex­james­jrANDY SECRETT blogs.art­and­about.co.uk/andy­secrettOF CABBAGES & KINGS www.ofcabbages.co.uk/THE CINNAMON LOUNGE www.cinnamon­lounge.bizGINA SOUTHGATE artistginasouthgate.weebly.comTHEATRETRAIN www.theatretrain.co.ukTINA, WE SALUTE YOU tinawesaluteyou.comANDREW McDONALD andrewmcdonald.co.uk/BENJAMIN MURPHY www.alldestructo.blogspot.comTHE COMEDY CAFE www.comedycafe.co.ukTHE VORTEX www.vortexjazz.co.ukELAN MEHLER www.elanmehler.comSARAH GILLESPIE sarahgillespie.comTHE LOOP COLLECTIVE www.loopcollective.org/THE F­IRE COLLECTIVE www.f­ire.com

28

Fruitful Earth Fri Aug 5th@ Lemon MonkeyOf Cabbages & Kings Market Sat/Sun Aug 6th/7th@ Abney Hall 73A Church StBenjamin Murphy Tue Aug 9th or 16th (tbc)opening @ Tina, We Salute YouBest In Stand­Up (feat. Prince Abdi) Thu Aug 11th@ Comedy CafeAmy Grace Fri Aug 12th@ Lemon MonkeyParty Night (feat. Prince Abdi) Sat Aug 13th@ Comedy CafeElan Mehler Trio Sun Aug 14th@ The VortexPhil Miller ­ Photographer Thu Aug 18thopening @ Lemon MonkeyNeil Landstrumm Fri Aug 19th@ The VortexLexi James Jr/ Andy Secrett Fri Sept 2nd@ Lemon MonkeyOf Cabbages & Kings Market Sat/Sun Sept 3rd/4th

Courses start Sat Sept 10th@ TheatretrainGina Southgate ­ Artist Thu Sept 22ndopening @ The Cinnamon LoungeSarah Gillespie & Gilad Atzmon Thu Sept 29th@ The VortexOf Cabbages & Kings Market Sat/Sun Oct 1st/ 2nd

SSEELLEECCTTEEDD EEVVEENNTTSS LLIISSTTIINNGG AAuugg­­OOcctt 22001111

more events listed@ blogs.art­and­about.co.uk/stoke­newington/events

All events are subject to potential changes. Please check with the venue.

If you have chanced upon Kings Place on York

Way, King’s Cross, you will realise that apart

from being home to the Guardian and

Observer offices it offers a curious mix of 21 st

century architecture, state-of-the-art concert

halls, art galleries, a café as well as a canalside

bar and restaurant. In September Kings Place

celebrates its third anniversary with a rich

cultural smorgasbord of emerging talent across

a range of music and spoken word styles. The

unique formula of 100 concerts in four days

has proved a hit, with audience numbers

steadily growing each year. With all tickets

priced at just £4.50 online, the idea is to give

the audience a series of exciting speed dates

with the annual cultural programme.

The festival provides a showcase for the year

round music programme, which cultivates a

host of nightly strands that includes spoken

word, contemporary music, comedy, jazz, folk

and classical music. Meanwhile the mini-series

offer a run of concerts over four nights

organised around a central theme, cast of

performers or composers. The venue strives to

strike a balance between established artists as

well as exploring obscure musical styles and

musicians, allowing facets of them to be

exposed in a way that they might not be

otherwise.

One of the focuses for the festival comes from

the Berlin-based music curator extraordinaire

Phil Venables, who will transform the concert

foyer into a music-making extravaganza. In

collaboration with dancer-choreographer Lucia

Tong, this brand new festival installation uses

the human body to create music with an

innovative contact dance floor. Visitors will be

able to try out their dance moves on the touch-

sensitive surface that responds to every

movement and create music with sound

samples made from amplified sounds of

movement and voice. This unique fusion of

music and movement will enable dancers to

play the floor with their body.

Flying the classical music flag, there are

talented young instrumentalists from the

Orchestra for the Age of Enlightenment’s

apprenticeship scheme, the Ann and Peter Law

OAE Experience for young players, in

programmes devised by OAE Leader Margaret

Faultless. This promises to be an unparalleled

opportunity not only to hear tomorrow’s stars

today, but to enjoy some of the most inspiredContact Dancefloor

Experience a harmonious revolutionin King’s Cross

The OAE Experienc for young players

pieces from CPE Bach, Haydn and Mozart,

including the latter’s famous Symphony No.

40.

World-class soloists from the classical world

bring masterworks of the Baroque, Classical

Russian Romantic and modern French

repertoires, while the fabulous Sacconi and

Brodsky Quartets respectively explore the

great piano quintets and Britten’s musical

influences in six imaginative events.

Celebrated pianists David Greilsammer, Ivana

Gavrić, William Howard and Martino Tirimo

present a delectable menu of music from Bach

to Debussy, Janáček to Feldman.

For something completely different check out

the Chiptune artists Shirobon, Sabrepulse and

Henry Homesweet who take Game Boy

technology, live visuals, and glitch video

images along with circuit bent hardware to

bring an exciting new energetic sound.

Jazz stars include Robert Mitchell, Burton

Bradstock, John Etheridge and MooV, while

highlights of the folk programme will be Kris

Drever, Jim Moray, The Shee, Mawkin and

the Monster Ceilidh Band to name but a few.

The inimitable John Hegley and Adam Buxton

represent the comedy programme, whilst you

can go behind the scenes at the Guardian for

Meet the Journalist with some of the paper’s

best writers, while for younger readers there

are two high profile Puffin books authors

Jeremy Strong and Charlie Higson.

There are family events, with the enterprising

Aurora Orchestra teaming up with The Little

Angel Theatre to produce Mozart with

Puppets, adventures in poetry with Apples and

Snakes, a vibrant programme of a cappella and

classical Indian dance. The free foyer events

include up-and-coming young a cappella

sensation Apollo 5 who have already garnered

praise for their eye-catching performances of

classical, jazz and pop arrangements.

Alongside its performances, the group is

involved in educational work as well as

collaborating with Red Balloon learner centres

for the recovery of bullied children.

As one reviewer recently put it, Kings Place

has ‘cornered the London market in boutique

music programming.’ Clear your diary and

experience London’s exciting new cultural

landmark in all its glory.

www.kingsplace.co.uk/festival

KINGS PLACE FESTIVAL8 ­ 11 September 2011

100 Performances in 4 DaysAll tickets just £4.50 online +many free events!

Sabrepulse