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Month: August 2018

Calling all young musicians and singers

Posted on by Besi

Fast and furious Music Marathon gives young musicians opportunity to perform at Brighton Dome.

Encore: PE Buckets
Encore: PE Buckets

BRIGHTON Dome is hosting a special fundraising event for encore and Brighton Dome & Brighton Festival, supporting the next generation of musicians and singer aged 10-25 in Brighton & Hove.

Musicians and singers aged 10-25 will need to register before Monday, September 17 to take part in the Music Marathon, Saturday, November 17: performers will be free to play or sing whatever they like… as long as it’s suitable for a family audience!

​Over 4,000 young people of all abilities are taught by Brighton & Hove Music & Arts (BHMA) each week in every Brighton & Hove schools, and encore is the fundraising network for all the young musicians supported by BHMA.

Brighton Dome & Brighton Festival teamed up with BHMA in July 2017, and together they provide music and arts education, performance and touring opportunities for children and young people city-wide.

Bec Britain, Project Manager for Music Marathon, describes the event as “fast, furious and entertaining!”:

“There’s a powerful message in young musicians and singers who’ve received support publicly fundraising to ensure the next generation can have the same opportunities.

“Anyone aged between 10-25 who is confident to perform in front of an audience for 5 or 10 minutes can register. We want this event to be accessible to musicians, singers and music producers and will welcome any genre, so performers can be solo or part of a group and acoustic or amplified (as long as they can plug into a basic backline and play with no sound check!). For performers, this is a great opportunity to play or sing at Brighton Dome (after all, you never know who’s watching) and to be involved in what we hope will be a really dynamic event.

“Our 8-hour marathon is made up of lots of performers each playing short slots back to back. The idea is that they are literally queuing up to perform and handing straight from one to the next. It should create a fast-paced, exciting and surprising musical mix.”

BIMM Brighton are sponsoring and supporting the event: “For 17 years BIMM Brighton have been dedicated to helping talented young musicians from the local area prepare for a long and sustainable career in music. We are proud to support the Brighton Dome Music Marathon and the next generation of musical talent in Brighton & Hove.”

Spectrum QM Hush
Spectrum QM Hush

The Music Marathon funds will provide support for:

♦      The Hardship Fund for young musicians who could not otherwise afford to be involved in music making and lessons. This includes attending orchestras, ensembles and going on tour.

♦      Orchestra 360, an inclusive ensemble with specialist teaching, adapted instruments and performance opportunities

♦       Master-Classes offering talented young musicians individual tuition that could make all the difference to their future career.

♦      Specialist instruments purchase and maintained for all BHMA ensembles

♦      SPECTRUM music events, nurturing local music talent and providing affordable concerts in a professional setting

♦      Bespoke creative learning projects working with young musicians

SPECTRUM, Brighton Dome’s music project dedicated to nurturing and cultivating Brighton’s vibrant music scene (supported by The Pebble Trust and GM Building) will also be represented on the day, as musicians who have performed at previous SPECTRUM concerts will be returning to Brighton Dome to take part in the Music Marathon themselves.

Event: Music Marathon

Where: Brighton Dome Foyer

When: Saturday, November 17

Time: 10am – 6pm

If you want to register to perform, find out more or get involved, click here:

Performer registration closes Monday, September 17

 

COMPETITION: Win a pair of VIP tickets to see Spice and Sally Vate camp it up at 450 feet

Posted on by Contributor

Gscene have a pair of VIP tickets to give away for Spice and Sally Vate’s Sky High Cabaret on the British Airways i360.

JOIN the BA i360 team for a raucous evening of cabaret with top Brighton drag queens, Spice and Sally Vate performing together for the first time as Shade and Shimmer. These sultry sisters will be raising the roof four hundred and fifty feet in the air, during two back-to-back pod flights where anything goes!

Send an email to info@gscene.com with the answer to the following question.

Name the architects who designed the British Airways i360

Event: Sky High Cabaret with Spice and Sally Vate

Where: British Airways i360, Brighton Seafront

When: Friday, August 31

Time: 7pm – 8.30pm

Cost: £10 per person standing – £15 per person at a seated table

To book a place for £10 ticket, click here:

To book a place for £15 at seated table, click here:

Sharing food platters available: £13 per plate (meat or vegan)

New chair at Working to Connect

Posted on by Besi

Things are changing at Working to Connect (WTC), the organisation that supports and represents smaller LGBT+ and HIV groups in Brighton & Hove.

It’s time to build on all the work achieved during the last five years and to move forwards creating an even stronger voice for the many volunteer-led groups in the city who do great work in many different ways to enrich our varied LGBT+ communities.
The WTC network connects a wide range of groups and organisations who can share resources, support each others initiatives and events, offer peer support and information, represent the needs of smaller LBGT+/HIV groups to funders and decision makers and promote and advocate on equality and diversity issues. Working together they collectively have a stronger voice.
Following the AGM last month a new Committee was elected with Finola Brophy (Rainbow Chorus/Older and Out) as Chair, SJ Ramage (MCC Brighton) as Treasurer, Tyler Austen (LGBT GEEKS) as Social Media and Website Officer, Viv Woodcock-Downey (BLAGSS) as Secretary and Stephanie Scott (Brighton Bothways) assisting the Chair.
Previous Chair, Gary Pargeter (Lunch Positive), stood down and was thanked for his brilliant work establishing and leading WTC and Billie Lewis (LGBT Community Safety Forum) stood down from his sterling work as Treasurer.
Finola Brophy
Finola Brophy

Finola Brophy said: “The WTC network will grow stronger and louder with new thoughts and ideas being explored at this year’s first Network Assembly Meeting on September 8 2018, at the Somerset Centre, St James Street.”

For more information contact Working To Connect, c/o Community Base, 113 Queens Road, Brighton NN1 3XG or view: www.lgbt-groups.org/small-groups/
 

DJ Profile: Jumeau

Posted on by Queen Josephine

Still tingling from her fabulous sets at Brighton Pride, Queenie catches up with the marvellous Jumeau…

Hello – how are you? I’m great, still riding the high from a fantastic Pride weekend with some really fun sets and already thinking about how to make it even bigger and better next year.

What does your name mean?! It’s French for twin and pronounced joo-moe. I’m a non-identical twin, and not French, but I love French house and electro, so I always try to incorporate or reference it in my sets.

Where can we hear you playing? At Gal Pals (galpals.club) alternating between Brighton and London almost every month, and on mixcloud (mixcloud.com/jumeaudj) for live sets and teaser mixes.

What are you playing these days? I oscillate between summery sets with a lot of Brockhampton, Chloe x Halle and Doja Cat, and heavier electronic sets with some TEPR and Brenmar thrown in the mix.

Any other projects going on? I recently started a radio show with my girlfriend called 1-800GALPALS on Platform B (platformb.org), we chat about queer pop culture and play our favourite songs by women and non-binary musicians on the 3rd Friday of every month. I also run pop-up video game events (healthbarbrighton.com), we curate our nights around different themes and create spaces for people who don’t traditionally consider themselves as ‘gamers’.

Fave song ever? Way too hard to choose! Fave at the moment is Americans by Janelle Monae. My mornings for the last month have begun by listening to Dirty Computer in its entirety – by the time I get to Americans, I’m feeling euphoric and ready to take on the day.

Best ever gig and dream gig? I’ve been supporting Mykki Blanco on his UK shows recently and every gig has been AMAZING. It’s really great warming up the crowd for such a high energy show. I love to play anywhere the audience has no requests and are just happy to come along for the ride.

Tune you wish you’d never played! Mind is blanking here, probably because I’ve erased the memory out of sheer embarrassment and tried to move on with my life after probably clearing the dancefloor(!).

Guilty pleasure?  I don’t believe in them! If I love a song, I’ll love it (and play it) loud. 

Describe yourself in three words! I asked the internet because I got way too introspective with this, they came up with: Nerdy, extroverted, cutie; Queer, here, needabeer; The biggest babe; Squirrel, Ipswich, kettle; You contain multitudes.   

Jumeau’s current top five 
♦ Disclosure feat Fatoumata Diawara Ultimatum Universal-Island
♦ Boston Bun feat DVNO Spread Love (Paddington) Atlantic UK
♦ First Choice The Player (Mousse T & Boris Dlugosch) Defected
♦ Janet Jackson Alright (Kaytranada Remix) Daytripper
♦ Sade Nothing Can Come Between Us (original) RCA

Early start at Hastings Pride on Bank Holiday Sunday (August 26)

Posted on by Besi

Hastings Pride gets off to an early start tomorrow, August 26 with the parade starting at 10am from Cornwallis Street car park.

Celebrations for Hastings Pride began on August 20, and will culminate with a parade and festival event tomorrow, Sunday, August 26, starting at 10am, sporting the theme Space and Aliens.

So why Space and Aliens? Organisers say in the last twelve months, there has been a rise in hate crime in Hastings along with a movement to exclude trans people from social spaces.

The Government’s LGBT survey shows how LGBT communities are treated by society and in summing up the survey, Stonewall the equality charity say: “Laws have improved, and attitudes have changed but our society still treats LGBT people like second-class citizens.”

A spokesperson for Hastings Pride says: “Breaking down social barriers lays at the heart of why we felt a Hastings Pride was needed because so many things could be better for so many of us who live here and in the surrounding areas.

“The one thing that all the issues we are highlighting have in common is ‘xenophobia’. Often xenophobia is talked about in terms of the hatred of other races or aliens, but its literal meaning is the fear of strangers. It is the fear of people who others do not know or understand which has led to the rise in hate crime.”

The Pride parade will start from Cornwallis Street car park next to the Priory Meadow Shopping Centre at 10am, progressing along the seafront to the festival site at the south end of the Oval where there will be a wellbeing area offering help, support and information on issues affecting LGBT+ people in the Hastings area and stalls offering respite and care.

In addition there will be an array of food stalls and community stalls and the relaxing Pride Owl & Pussycat Bar. There will be much more for younger people to enjoy this year with rides and carnival activities.

For details of performers appearing on the Star Base Beta stage, click here.

Hasting Pride remains free, but relies on donations to pay the bills, to donate, click here:

Optivo, On the Rocks and Substance have been confirmed as sponsors again this year.

For a complete programme of events for Hastings Pride, click here:

MUSIC REVIEW: Social media is taking over

Posted on by Ray A-J

We’re becoming self-obsessed, so say electronica band 10 o’clock chemical in their latest E.P.

 

“WE ARE DIGITAL,” cry dystopian electronica band 10 O’clock chemical as the chorus of the second track from their debut E.P Favours for the Wicked draws to a close. The sci-fi inspired band lavishly decorate driving tectonic beats with a hazy mirage of bizarre aliens figures, dressed to the nines, in a space age club, as the track known as We Are Digital continues. Layers upon layers of pent up lyricism, and manufactured instrumentation, debate society’s enchantment with all things electronic, asking us if we really are too busy with technology.

With a penchant for racing electronic squeals, and calculated drum machine taps, the Stoke On Trent four piece conjure a melodical thought cloud on the digital or social media obsessed, drenched in irony, through their E.P. Favours for the Wicked. Despite their opposition to the mechanical mindset of modern times, much of their own instrumental toolbox comes straight from the digital. Singer, songwriter, and keyboardist Rhys‘ gritty Muse like vocals settle in nicely with the sultry automated baselines of the dark tracks, particularly with their first single Babylon Is Fallen. And the weaving of electronic components with live instrumentation is on full show as the avid singer’s voice melts into a vocoder filter, veering into the realms of the robotic.

Steering straight into the skid of computerised timbre is retro track It’s War, which started life as a humble Dubstep style song. Built around bright neon synths, and falsetto style vocals, the band, deemed Cheshire Music Awards’ Best New Artist of 2017, point the finger at overtly consumer based culture. Each melismatic call from Rhys’ Matt Healy-esque voice decorates the harsh reality of the violence experienced in Black Friday riots, with its own pretty bow. The 80s style soundtrack fuses together jumpy beats and euphoric melodies with such depictions of parasitic materialism, all the while drawing the listener in to cheerfully dance along.

10 o’clock chemical have created a gorgeous concoction of infections dance tracks with a twist: beneath the lighthearted rhythms lies a tale of overtly self-absorbed materialism that is taking over modern culture. And yet, the band seem to maintain an ironically digital sound that just transcends dance music’s simplicity. Overall i look forward greatly to their next poignant and catchy tunes.

 

OBITUARY: Norman Wallace-Metcalfe: April 19, 1946 – June 22, 2018

Posted on by Contributor

In the early 1990s, Norman Wallace-Metcalfe was in the forefront with those establishing The Sussex Beacon as a household name around Brighton and beyond.

AFTER a successful career as an Advertising Arts Buyer, Norman volunteered and then worked full-time for The Sussex Beacon alongside Michael Topping, his other half for over 50 years, who was a Trustee of The Sussex Beacon. It was no surprise to their many friends when Norman rose to the challenge of promoting Brighton’s soon-to-be internationally acclaimed AIDS Hospice.

As the Appeals Co-ordinator, Norman gave a smiling, compassionate and hopeful face to the otherwise tragic business of AIDS management. This was something of a miracle at a time when there was no cure or certain diagnosis and when so many folk were dying every week.

Of course, Norman didn’t achieve this all on his own. Indeed, he was very much a team player, but while The Sussex Beacon Trustees organised institutional funding and the management and nursing team and doctors saw to the bodily needs of the clients, Norman and his able squadron of volunteers and office staff raised money, local awareness and the profile of the Sussex Beacon. To many in Brighton The Sussex Beacon is still their favourite local charity. Norman’s outstanding organisational skills enabled us to contribute time, money and fellowship to making the precious last weeks and days of people with AIDS more bearable.

The variety of events that Norman instigated was legendary. Grand dinners and parties in the smartest hotels, pubs and clubs; all kinds of concerts with celebrity appearances from artists including Jimmy Somerville, the international violinist Nigel Kennedy who both gave concerts at the Dome completely free and Cameron Mackintosh who sponsored the fabulous Broadway to Brighton show at the Theatre Royal; sales, tombolas, auctions and pledged-giving, all helped to swell the coffers and keep spirits up when hope was scarce.

Norman was one of a kind, described at his funeral as wickedly funny, dapper, thoughtful, brave, cheeky, a great raconteur and the ultimate host. He lived in the moment and could make people shake with laughter.

His stories were naughty and delicious, and he told them like a master. Genius timing was coupled with a repertoire of superb facial mannerisms. Indignation was a specialty. If you tried to tell a story yourself and it wasn’t passing muster, it would be greeted with “Is this a long story?”

Norman’s own story concluded with over 15 years of serious ill-health that frequently took him from public view but did not dent his support for good causes. His bravery and stoicism was ever an inspiration to others. His enthusiasm, imagination and generosity will be an enduring memory.

Obituary prepared by Andrew Connal.

HIV charity launches new initiative to help people buy PrEP

Posted on by Besi

Terrence Higgins Trust launches new ‘Access Fund’ to support people who can’t afford to buy the HIV prevention drug PrEP.

TERRENCE Higgins Trust (THT), Britain’s leading HIV and sexual health charity, will launch a PrEP Access Fund (PAF) this Autumn to support people in England and Northern Ireland who cannot access or afford the HIV preventative drug PrEP.

In England, the NHS is currently running a three-year PrEP Impact Trial, from which many gay and bisexual men are being turned away by clinics that have no more spaces for them.

PrEP is only available in Northern Ireland for those who can afford to buy it privately.

The fund from Terrence Higgins Trust intends to support up to 1,000 people on low or no income who can demonstrate their need for support to cover day-to-day expenses, subject to funding.

The announcement was made this morning at the 22nd annual International AIDS Conference taking place in Amsterdam.

Ian Green
Ian Green

THT CEO, Ian Green, said: “The fact that a charity is having to step in to fund PrEP access to those in most financial need is an embarrassment, and demonstrates the crucial need for NHS England, local authorities in England and Health and Social Care Northern Ireland to act now.

“People who are being denied access to PrEP and who are unable to afford it are being put at risk of contracting HIV, which is completely unacceptable.

“We need to see additional spaces for gay and bisexual men added to the NHS PrEP Impact Trial as a matter of urgency, and routine commissioning of PrEP in both England and Northern Ireland.

“Last week, we were one of 32 organisations who came together to call for routine commissioning of PrEP in England by April 2019.

“There’s still so much work to do to enable us to end HIV transmission in the UK; and enabling all people to access PrEP is one of a number of tools that will allow us to do that.

“Terrence Higgins Trust will continue to work toward this, while also continuing to advocate for other tools including testing, condoms and treatment as prevention.”

Applicants for the Access Fund need to be aged 16 or over, HIV negative and residing in England or Northern Ireland. They must be clinically eligible for PrEP by BHIVA/BASHH standards and will have to evidence they are on low or no income.

There will be a key focus on identifying those receiving benefits, those who have no recourse to public funds and groups who are know are at particular risk of HIV.

The fund will cover a three-month supply of generic PrEP at a time, in the form of vouchers for PrEP provider Dynamix, the preferred seller of iwantprepnow (part of THT).

The scheme will be open until the end of the Impact Trial or when PrEP is routinely commissioned in England and Northern Ireland.

Peter Kyle MP
Peter Kyle MP

Peter Kyle MP for Hove & Portslade, said: “I’m disgusted that after all the evidence and defeats in court the government are still refusing to supply PrEP to everyone who needs it. Thank god for THT who are doing the right thing. If we’re not careful people with money will escape HIV but those without won’t. That’s an affront to the values of our NHS and I proudly stand shoulder-to-shoulder with campaigners trying to deliver the change we all need to see” 

PrEP is currently commissioned by the NHS in Scotland, and is available in Wales as part of a trial study.

To find out where you can access PrEP, click here:

Wessex Wyverns and Wessex Heartbeat join in charity partnership

Posted on by Besi

LGBT Rugby team supports Wessex Heartbeat’s fundraising plans for the year ahead.

WESSEX Wyverns RFC, an inclusive LGBT rugby team based in Southampton, have teamed up with Wessex Heartbeat to help them achieve their ambition to achieve the very best care for people with heart conditions on the South Coast.

Supporting their fundraising efforts, Wessex Wyeverns will endeavour to provide backing for the next year working as partner with the cardiac care charity. Wessex Heartbeat has already raised more than £13million since the charity was set up in 1992. Tremendous achievements include ‘Heartbeat House’, a home away from home for relatives of patients being treated at the Wessex Cardiac Unit at Southampton General Hospital.

Mike, a Wyverns team player said: “We are a diverse, supportive, and caring team, it isn’t just about playing rugby. Teaming up with Wessex Heartbeat and supporting a cause that affects so many people can be summed up simply; ‘Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much’”.

Wessex Heartbeat added on Facebook: “We are delighted to welcome Wessex Wyverns RFC as a charity partner this year and we are very excited to be working with them”.

Taking part in regular sport helps strengthen and lowers the risk of cardiovascular problems long-term which is why this partnership is so important to the Southampton based rugby team. Rugby training sessions aren’t always about big tackles and line-outs. Strength, speed, and agility are included to help increase the players’ health and fitness levels throughout the rugby season as Tina Hawke from Sussex Heartbeat found out when she visited one of the team’s training nights.

The team meet every Monday and Wednesday for training sessions in Southampton and welcome new players at any time throughout the year with a ‘Give it a Try’ night planned for August 29 for those looking for a new fun way to improve their health and fitness.

To find out more about inclusive rugby, click here:

Sweet Chilli Singers – Queer women’s choir

Posted on by Besi

The Sweet Chilli Singers are a small, queer women’s choir who rehearse near Hove lagoon every Wednesday evening.

THEY have been meeting up for nearly two years and sing a wide variety of music covering every palette from Tallis to Taize, natural voice to pop and even some of their own compositions.

The choir formed in a very organic way, starting with just a few friends singing in each other’s homes to now having 12-15 women singers and a regular venue to rehearse at. Women come to sing with the choir from all over Brighton, Hove and Shoreham and enjoy a relaxed, social and fun evening.

There are no auditions and you don’t need to read music; you don’t have to be a strong singer either but they hope that women wishing to join them have tuneful voices that will blend in with their existing choir.

Everything is learnt by ear and sung acapella, however, music is usually available if you prefer.  If you’re a nervous singer who would just like to try out a choir in a queer, safe place then this might be for you. Best of all, the choir is free to attend!  Members donate only when they can afford, towards the running costs only.

The name of the choir evolved from their fondness for Sweet Chilli Tea!  They discovered it was lovely and soothing for their voices and as each new member joined they would end up as part of the sweet chilli tea club too!  Other beverages are allowed…

The Sweet Chilli Singers have performed at both The Hand in Hand LGTB+ festival in Manchester and at the World Aids Day combined choirs concert in Brighton last year and members have felt their confidence grow and the choir has become more cohesive. They are led informally by Katie Hoad-Hitchings, who is able to get them to produce some wonderful sounds; she also writes and arranges much of their music. Members are also encouraged to bring their own ideas and songs too!

They start back together in September and will be getting ready to perform at the World Aids Day Concert in December again which was a wonderful experience for all the choir last year.  They hope to follow that up with their own concert at the end of May and intend to go to Hand in Hand in Cardiff in August 2019. This LGBT+ choir festival runs every two years in different cities around the country and is a wonderful life affirming and exciting experience with the chance to see and listen to choirs from all over the country.

Their website: sweetchillisingers.co.uk has a members section with a resource area of music parts and music files for singers to rehearse from.

For more information email: info@sweetchillisingers.co.uk.

Facebook: Sweet Chilli Singers

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