Comedian set for Brighton return

By Sam Evans

A talented up and coming comedian is set to return back to the Brighton comedy circuit after two years of acclaim and sell out shows.

Stephen Foster, winner of 2011 Search For A Star and finalist of Sky 1’s ‘Don’t Stop Me Now.’, will be performing at the Duke Box Theatre alongside fellow comedian Phil Reid.

The venue, officially named the Iron Duke pub, is based in the Waterloo Road area of Brighton and has a name for showcasing local talent in past Fringe Festivals.

Horsham based Stephen explained how much of a success the show has been during their tour of the country, and gave an indication of what the audience have in store by saying:

“If you have a mucky and dark sense of humour, this show is definitely for you!”

Please see details on how to buy tickets for the show below.

STEPHEN FOSTER & PHIL REID: One Up, One Down

Live at the Dukebox Theatre (The Iron Duke), Waterloo Road, Brighton.

Friday 14th June at 8pm

Tickets £6 each available at http://www.wegottickets.com

Bianco: Brighton Fringe review 2013

Bianco at Brighton Fringe Festival

By Rosie Murphy

Bianco by NoFit State is a health and safety-defying display of human acrobatics set in the Big Top on Hove Lawns.

The award-winning show demonstrates an abundance of elegant yet athletic gymnastics, with an often awe-inspiring affect.

Set to the tunes of a impressively versatile four-piece live band, the performance combines dignified displays of endurance with energetic and humorous pieces set in swim suits.

Brighton rocked after three members of the backroom staff are suspended

BREAKING NEWS:

By Sam Evans

Brighton and Hove Albion have sensationally suspended manager Gus Poyet along with two other members of the backroom staff for an alleged breach of contract.

The Albion, currently reeling from being beaten 2-0 by arch rivals Crystal Palace on Monday; have also suspended Assistant Manager Maurico Tarrico and First Team Coach Charlie Oatway.

The news comes after Poyet revealed in his post-match comments that he was “considering his options” after his side missed out on a chance to go to Wembley in the Championship Play Off Finals.

All three members of the coaching staff have been instructed not to contact first team players or go near the south coast club.

The suspension, handed out by Chairman Tony Bloom, looks like it is the end of a successful three years for former Chelsea star, Poyet, who ends his reign at Brighton as the tenth longest current serving manager.

Interview: The Little Shocks

By Tom Groom

The Little Shocks are a teenage band incarnated in the heart of Chichester, the outcome of shifting line-ups in an already-existent band. A bombastic, guitar-driven, post-alternative indie sound gives this band it’s edge, and reminds you in part of a young Arctic Monkeys, with a little bit of Fratelli’s thrown in. The band consists of frontman Tom Herrington, Lead Guitarist Rob Brown, Bassist and backup vocalist Harry Caiger and manic drummer Elliot Jones, who I caught up with to interview about his band’s promising rise of success.

TG: What made you initially decide you wanted to be a musician?

EJ: I used to go to gigs all the time from the age of 11 after playing football from an early age. I picked up a bass first, but I was no good, so I got a cheap drum kit instead. It was all a bit random really.

TG: Who are your idols as drum players?

EJ: Chad Smith, Dave Weckl, Mike Portnoy, Dave Grohl and a bit of Travis Barker, people compare my style to him sometimes.

TG: How long have you known your fellow band members? And how did you meet them?

EJ: I’ve known Rob since I was about 5 years old and I was in a band with him a few years ago, we gig’d around Bognor. I met Tom and Harry in November last year on a music course at college.

TG: How did you guys decide you wanted to be in a band?

EJ: They (Rob and Tom) were already in a band for around a year, but the line-up always changed, and they never wrote much music. They asked me in November last year and Harry joined us in February after a couple more changes.

TG: So how long have Rob and Tom been doing it?

EJ: Since about February last year together

TG: Where do you see yourself and the band in 6 months/ a year?

EJ: Hopefully if everything pulls through we are looking to play some reputable Brighton venues over the next six months or so. We are looking to book a tour for the summer next year, but we’ve got lots planned in between the two, but that’s secret!

TG: That sounds awesome. Your Facebook page, facebook.com/TheLittleShocks, tells me you’re unsigned, have you had any offers yet?

EJ: We haven’t as of yet, but playing at Coalition turned some heads in the right direction. We have things to work on and get better at, it’s something to look forward to as and when it happens. We need to show everyone what we’ve got over the next year.

TG: I, regrettably, couldn’t make it to your Coalition performance, but I saw it on YouTube, you were ace. When’s the next gig?

EJ: It was nuts man, we are doing a minibus every time we go for a fiver each. We are at the Exchange in Hove on the 17^th of November and we are waiting for dates from the Prince Albert and the Hope in Brighton.

TG: Who, in your opinion, are the main influences on the band?

EJ: It’s hard to say really, but others say Arctic Monkeys, The Libertines, The Strokes; these are the main ones people compare our sound to. People say a lot of different artists, we all like different stuff so the music and songs are influenced by lots of music.

TG: It’s good that way because you can get the best of everything. What would be your dream gig?

EJ: Yeah man we’ve got some hard-hitting tunes, some have grooves and funky melodies, it’s a nice mixture. Our dream gig would be without a doubt supporting the Arctic Monkeys! Realistically, if we work hard we want to try and get on one of the big festivals next year.

TG: Either of those would be awesome. What’s the best gig you’ve played to date?

EJ: Coalition without a doubt, we blew the roof off and got a good reaction from the judges and other Brighton venues afterwards. Looking back on it, that’s one gig we will remember forever, no matter what happens.

TG: It looked pretty manic from what I saw! You hear a lot of crazy stories about rock and roll guys doing stupid stuff, what’s the craziest time you’ve had personally or with the band in the time you’ve been playing?

EJ: (chuckles) The most rock and roll moment of my life was playing in a mankini with a former band for our last gig. I think as a band, the funniest one was Rob’s birthday, we had a gig that night and he was trollied. We need to have a big night out together when my passport arrives.

TG: I saw pictures of that gig. How difficult has it been to get gigs and attention in a music scene dominated by pop groups?

EJ: Round here we have done well because there’s not much music that’s like ours. At Coalition we were the only band of our kind, so we just have to keep writing massive tunes like we have been, still lots to come over the next few months.

TG: In my opinion, you should keep doing what you’re doing. You have nearly 500 fans on Facebook now, that’s quite a landmark! How useful has the internet been in promoting what you’re doing?

EJ: The main thing is going to bigger places and writing bigger and better songs, it’s all in the name of fun. Facebook especially helps massively – we are looking into other methods including a website in the new year.

TG: I guess half of it is not losing sight of who you are as a band. Do you have any pre-gig rituals?

EJ: The boys are fat fuckers, they get as many kebabs as possible, I just chain smoke! Other than that we just get as pumped as possible.

TG: One more thing, if you could meet any one of your musical heroes, who would it be?

EJ: I want to meet Chad Smith, then my life would be complete. From the band’s perspective, it would be the Arctic Monkeys or Alex Turner for sure.

A Quest to Make Rampion the Champion

By Samuel Peace

Ever since the proposal to build a wind farm off the coast of Brighton & Hove was made public, controversy was sure to follow. Protests against turbines is nothing new as farms can take up lots of land, destroy habitats and are considered eyesores by many people. Off-shore sites can often solve these issues. However, for a project the size of the proposed wind farm (named Rampion), there are still hurdles to overcome. The E.ON owned venture which will stretch between the Newhaven and Worthing coasts, has to please many people before it has the chance to make Sussex one of the UK’s greenest areas.

What is Rampion? – Rampion (named after the county flower of Sussex) is a proposed wind farm which will be located 13-23km off the coast of Sussex. The area of the site will take up 167 square kilometres with water depths of between 19 and 50 metres. The installed electrical capacity of the farm is going to be around 700 megawatts; however, the number of turbines is as of yet unknown (though it will be no more than 195). The generating capacity for each turbine will be between 3MW (maximum height being 180 metres) and 7MW (210 metres). Based on wind speed data from existing off-shore wind farms around the UK*, E.ON is hoping to be able to generate over 2,100 gigawatt hours (GWh) of electricity each year. According to the Office of National Statistics census data, this would be enough to power 450,000 average homes, which is over two thirds of the homes in Sussex (including Brighton & Hove).

Sussex was chosen as an ideal place for such a venture via the Government’s Off-shore Energy Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA). The Crown Estate who owns the seabed around the UK awarded E.ON the development rights for Sussex in January 2010. With many old fossil fuelled power stations being closed because they can no longer viably meet the emissions regulations, the Government’s now looking for ways in which to get renewable (and cleaner) energy. Off-shore wind farms are one source they are focusing on. In the last three years E.ON has been working hard to build up the prospective plans, and to consult all relevant and interested parties. This also included the local community under section 47 of the Planning Act 2008.

The Sussex Wildlife Trust was one of the organisations who was consulted. They helped assess the possible effects the farm could have on the natural heritage of the county. Although the trust is all for cleaner energy, they found a number of issues which could seriously affect the local marine life. The main concern is over the seahorse population which has been spotted around the location of the proposed site. The seahorses are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, so it is an offence to intentionally or recklessly harm or disturb them or to damage their place of shelter. Shell fish, herrings and other sea creatures were also thought to be at risk.

Timothy Loughton MP for East Worthing and Shoreham commented on concerns raised about the safety of sea creatures by saying that the turbines would be “Beneficial for creating new marine feeding grounds”. His constituents were ‘mostly in favour’ however he said: “Those on Shoreham Beach were split 50-50 in a survey I carried out there”.

E.ON went on to create an Environmental Statement – made available online for the public to see in mid-2012. It details the project and the steps taken to ensure every potentiality is covered. This includes reports on all surveys undertaken and every consultation held. Because the farm will generate more than 100MW it is classed as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) under the Planning Act 2008. This means unlike most planning applications which are submitted to local authorities under the Town and Country Planning Act, the Rampion proposal will instead be seen and considered by the Planning Inspectorate (formerly the Infrastructure Planning Commission).

The statement was submitted to the Planning Inspectorate alongside the planning application for the development on the 1st March 2013. After 28 days E.ON’s application was accepted for examination. This means that the Planning Inspectorate will fully examine the details of the proposal and will make the final decision of whether or not to grant or deny planning permission by mid-2014.

Peter Hunter a Specialist Off-Shore Wind Energy Consultant believes that the visibility shouldn’t be too much of an issue. He said: “The ‘cons’ are only visual and only applicable for those to whom it means something. What people did not realise then, but do today, is that it is very rare that the view at just above sea level is absolutely clear.  There is nearly always a sea mist or, during the summer, a sea haze.  Consequently the white/grey structures fade considerably to the land based eye.  At that time I said in a BBC interview that; “the wind turbines would appear as sea gulls dancing on the horizon”.

Simon Kirby MP for Kemptown and Peacehaven also doesn’t think the visual aspect will be a problem. He said: “I think tourism may be enhanced because there will be people who will want to see the turbines.”

If permission is granted, E.ON expects to complete the farm by 2017/18. They estimate it will take two years to finalize plans and two years to construct, with a total cost of £2 billon.

Norman Baker MP for Lewes and Newhaven said in the Leader newspaper “I’m pleased that matters are moving forward. This development, if given permission, will create an initial 85 jobs in Newhaven, as well as helping the UK both to become more energy self-sufficient and cut carbon emissions.”

For more information on the project visit the links below:

Rampion Proposal & Map

Environmental Statement

Rampion FAQ

Current Status

To see the final proposal currently under examination from the Planning Inspectorate and to register your interest visit: http://infrastructure.planningportal.gov.uk/projects/south-east/rampion-offshore-wind-farm/?ipcsection=overview

*As stated on E.ON’s project information page.

Brighton Festival

By Sam Evans

The highly acclaimed Brighton Festival will be held next month on the 4th – 26th May with Poet Laureate Michael Rosen as Guest Director.

Rosen, one of the best known figures in poetry and children’s writing, will follow in the footsteps of previous directors Aung San Suu Kyi and Vanessa Redgrave to headline and oversee the event.

The festival is the third largest in the UK and marks the 47th Annual arts event held in the city, featuring names from the world of politics, journalism, comedy and literature.

Judith Kerr, Guardian Editor Alan Rusbridger, ,comedian Daniel Kitson and veteran singer Sinead O’Conner are just some of the high profile names visiting the area.

It will prove to be a busy time for the city, with 80,000 tickets available and shows being put on in thirty Brighton based venues.

Ticket prices vary with some events listed as free and others which are reasonably priced. Visit http://brightonfestival.org/whats_on/ for more details.

Easter Egg Hunts around Brighton

The Easter forecast might be a bit nippy, but that’s no eggscuse for not wrapping the kids up and getting them outside.  There are plenty of outdoor family activities in and around Brighton over this bank holiday weekend, including Easter Egg Hunts for budding treasure hunters.  We have details of one in town and one out of town.  So get the family kitted out in their woolly thinking hats and working up an appetite for that feast of chocolate.

Cupcakes and Hotdogs at Vegfest UK Brighton

Ms Cupcake at Vegfest UK Brighton 2013. Photo: author’s own.

By Sarah Jackson

One of Europe’s biggest veggie events, Vegfest UK, came to Hove Town Hall last weekend. Over 250 stalls showcased a huge variety of vegan products, including clothing, accessories, beauty products and most importantly, food.

I’ve been a pescatarian (which means that the only meat I eat is seafood) for 13 years now and I can honestly say that I don’t miss poultry or red meat at all. The only thing that sometimes bothers me about my decision is the occasional lack of choice. If I go to a “normal” restaurant with friends, most of the menu is off-limits to me. On the one hand, this does mean that choosing my meal is quicker but it sometimes gets tiring to be left with the same old choices. I do love a nut roast, but it can get dull and that’s assuming that it’s a well-made one in the first place.

Yes, some vegan food isn’t great. But that isn’t a trait exclusive to vegan food only, as I’m sure we all, meat-eaters, vegans and pescatarians alike have had some less-than inspiring meals. But having restrictions in your diet for whatever reason doesn’t mean you have to give up on trying to make delicious food.

The stalls at Vegfest proved this time and again. There was a stall selling gummy sweets using a gelling agent made from lilypads instead of meat gelatine, raw chocolate made without any dairy, ice cream made from no cream and, perhaps most amazingly of all, a vegan doner kebab.

Vegfest UK Brighton 2013. Photo: author’s own

I didn’t try that one – the queue was too long – but I sampled plenty of chocolate (Moo-Free was my favourite) and ate one of the best cupcakes I’ve ever had from Ms Cupcake. Those cupcakes proved that although some vegan food is tasteless and healthy, some vegan offerings are the exact opposite.

The most exciting moment for me came when the friend I went to Vegfest with pointed out the stall selling vegan hotdogs. We both realised with some excitement that neither of us could remember the last time we had eaten a hotdog, bought from a stand. And now we were in a place where there were at least three separate stalls selling them! I’ve never particularly cared about hotdogs but dammit, now I wanted one badly.

As we stood in the queue to get one from V Bites (a vegan restaurant on Hove Lagoon owned by Heather Mills ), I remarked to the woman standing next to me that I wasn’t used to such choice.

‘Me neither!’ she said, her eyes shining. ‘I’ve had four lunches so far!”

Dietary restrictions can be a complete pain, whether it is because of an ethical decision or because your body is allergic or can’t digest a certain food group. It may be a restriction on your ingredients but it doesn’t have to be a restriction on creativity. Vegfest reminded me that it’s best not to focus on what I can’t eat and instead focus on the delicious things that I can.

There are other Vegfest’s occurring in London and Bristol later in the year, but I will definitely be going back next year, if only for that hotdog (which was, by the way, glorious).

More details about Vegfest UK can be found here.

Brighton marches against the Bedroom Tax

By Rosie Murphy

Brighton residents opposing the proposed Bedroom Tax marched in the town centre today in solidarity with 57 protests across the country.

They gathered at North Street’s Clock Tower at 12pm to hear speeches and then slowed traffic by walking in Western Road.

Nation-wide people are protesting the new tax affecting the poor by cutting housing benefit by up to £14 a week for those deemed to have a spare room.

Brighton’s music stores in the digital age

By Matt Berryman

Ever since the sixties, Brighton has been the alternative music hub of England. With the counter culture movement, many more people felt fully able to express themselves artistically, and Brighton provided the freedom necessary for many creative types to spread their wings in a city free of prejudice and intolerance.

But with the emergence of the digital age, clubs and electronic music seem to be the new rock and roll. Does this mean the death of the guitar era? And, if so, what will become of the instrument outlets of central Brighton?

Sussex University Occupation

By Rosie Murphy

Occupying students at the University of Sussex started their 35^th day to the sight of a snow-covered campus, but wouldn’t let this freeze their plans for today’s demonstration. Despite the campus being closed due to the sub-zero temperatures, the group vowed to go ahead with their march entitled ‘Bite The Hand That Feeds Off You’.

Brightonians in the snow

By Nathalie Jacquemard

The snow in Brighton last night took many people by surprise. It had been snowing all day, but it didn’t settle until mid-evening. When it laid, it did so at alarming speed: sending the transport network into meltdown.

Many were left stranded: Four Brighton workers tell their stories.

Snow? Let’s stay in bed

By Lydia Clayton

Blizzard conditions have created chaos by beginning the week leaving commuters stranded in their cars or on trains as most routes became treacherous. Heavy snow began falling across South East England yesterday, with some areas being hit harder than others.

A Beautiful Annoyance

By Lucy Songi

From a sunny spring to a snow ridden forecast, Britain’s schizophrenic weather has done it again.

Shakespeare’s Head acoustic night review: Stark, Kendall Sant, & Kate Williams

By Matt Berryman

Kate Williams

Every first Monday of the month, the Shakespeare’s Head Pub on Chatham Place holds a showcase of acoustic acts. One might expect an evening of repetitive singer-songwriters blearily throwing out half-arsed renditions of ‘Hallelujah’.

So I found myself holding my breath when the opening act last Monday uttered the words ‘This next song is a Leonard Cohen cover.’ Oh, how wrong I was.

‘Save the Harlan Beagles’ March, Brighton

By Rosie Murphy

Hundreds of people took to Brighton streets on Saturday to raise awareness of animal testing at two English sites. An estimated 300 strong march travelled to Brighton from as far afield as France, Belgium, and Italy to hear speeches from organisers and supporters. Styled as a funeral procession, the group honoured the animals by dressing in black and remaining silent.