Local artist Lez Ingham presents Marc Walmsley, owner of Man Zone Barbers, with the certificate of ownership for her painting of Freddie Mercury at his seafront flat last month.
AT the auction for this unique piece of art on Sunday, October 21, during the Hibernation Community Lunch at the Old Ship Hotel, Marc bid £2,700 for the painting. The money raised was donated to the Rainbow Fund making the grand total raised at Hibernation 2018 to £15,568.
Last year, Lez donated a painting of George Michael for auction at the same event, which raised £3,300, bringing the total value Lez’s paintings have raised for local LGBT+ causes in the last two years to £6,000.
Lez is presently accepting commissions to paint original new work and will donate 20% of each commission received to the Rainbow Fund to continue their work supporting LGBT/HIV organisations in Brighton and Hove.
The Rainbow Fund give grants to local LGBT/HIV organisations who deliver effective front line services to LGBT people in the city.
London Otters – one of the world’s largest LGBT+ rowing clubs, held second Annual Rainbow Races Regatta on Saturday, November 24.
Photo: Simon Bell
THE regatta was held at the Royal Albert Docks in London in support of the Stonewall Rainbow Laces campaign to stand up against homophobia in Sport.
This is the second year the London Otters, the only LGBT+ rowing club in the UK, has organised the races. Competitors wore different coloured t-shirts, so each boat of 8 rowers represented a full rainbow.
This time, four other British Rowing affiliated clubs – Lea Rowing Club, Broxbourne Rowing Club, Furnivall Sculling Club and Cygnet Rowing Club – took part alongside the London Otters.
Craig Batton, chairman of the London Otters Rowing Club said: “It was fantastic to have the support of other rowing clubs, racing the rainbow colours, showing their support not only of us as an LGBT+ club but also making a stand against homophobia in sport.
“This event is going from strength to strength and there are already plans to make next year’s event even bigger and to invite even more clubs to take part.”
Photo: Simon Bell
The races were 1000 meters, and competitors took part in three heats and a final with the London Otters emerging triumphant; wining the final in 3 min 43 seconds – the same boat also had the fastest overall race time of the competition, winning their heat in 3 minutes and 29 seconds.
The London Otters, were established in 2014 by Warwick Lobban and Grant Ralph to help break down some of the barriers that prevent LGBT+ peopele getting involved in sport.
Photo: Simon Bell
For more information about London Otters, click here:
Scott Burey, winner of this year’s Golden Handbag for favourite drag entertainer talks to Brian Butler about stage fright, his drag heroes and living life to the full.
SHYNESS is part of who Drag With No Name is – an enigma wrapped in a mystery and I’m guessing an incredibly private person amid the ballyhoo of Brighton drag monarchy.
He wasn’t an actor/singer at school. “Just the class clown,” he says. “I was always trying to make my fellow classmates laugh and always annoying the teachers in turn – from the time old age of 5 to 16!”
He did enjoy drama at school and was in a couple of plays, “but I suffered from stage fright so didn’t take that route. I still do suffer when there are large events, but as time has gone on. I’ve learned to just enjoy myself more than be fearful.” he says.
After school he says he wasted 2 years at college . “Then at 18 I ran away to Brighton to be with all the other homosexuals, managed bars for 7 years, left those to become a drag queen and the rest is history ! And 18 years later, I’m still chucking my silly self around stages and getting paid for the privilege.”
Asked about the highlights of his career he says the list of celebrations, birthdays and weddings would be endless,“but if I had to pick one as such, then the Pride events I have the privilege to be part of up and down the country are always a highlight for me. There’s just this unspoken connection between you and that crowd for those precious moments on stage. It’s a thank you from me to them, and from them to me and we all get to celebrate together in unity and love. Beautiful!”
Managing both Dr Brightons and Legends back in 1990’s Brighton gave him the opportunity to watch dozens of brilliant artistes and inspired him to do the same. “I mean, I said to myself how hard can it be to slip a pair of heels on, sing some tunes, and make an audience laugh ? Bloody hard – I found out.”
His biggest influences have been the D E Experience, for being a master of his trade, the late and extremely great Cher Travesty for his ingenuity and voice, and Dave Lynn for his time, presence, longevity, kindness, talent and wonderful gift to be just able to make you smile without even saying a word. “There are also loads of new acts on the scene, like the brilliant Mary Mac, as one example. New, exciting and extremely talented people – who are bringing new life to the scene. People like that give me the boost to not rest on my laurels, and so I work harder.”
Drag With No Name is quite a striking drag persona – how did he arrive at it ? “Complete accident,” he admits. “I had been hosting karaoke for 3 months after leaving the pub trade, and I decided to drag up one night in my own right. I’d previously done Cilla and Dame Edna impersonations for single night. Seconds before I was about to take to the stage, I realised through all the fear and excitement of it all, that I had not even come up with a name ! I remember it vividly in slow motion as I came through the door and stepped onto the stage , and turned to the crowd and said : Hi I’m… the drag… with ,,, no name ! And the rest is history.”
What about gay politics?“This is a tough one. I do have a very strong opinion – I’ve been on the scene too many years not to – especially the action that should and needs to be taken to educate others and enable us to live safer and happier lives. Unfortunately – or fortunately – social media is the main instrument and tool enabling us to do all of this these days, and it can become very tiresome and irksome when people don’t listen or get abusive because they disagree with other people’s views and opinions. Often that becomes regressive in form, and sometimes that prevents me from being as vocal I would like.”
How did he feel about winning the Golden Handbag this year ?“Yayyy I was soooo happy to have won again! It is my 4th or 5th time of winning now, and with about 7 runner-up awards too over the years, I am chuffed and very proud to know that people still, enjoy what I do. There’s life in the old girl yet.”
What advice would he give to a young Scott?“Live your life with gay abandon and don’t worry about everything all the time. Be yourself, be kind to others, and be the best person you can be.”
What about the future? He readily admits that he used to just live his life for the work he does – “a bit like a drug” but when his boyfriend became ill last year, the experience changed them both forever. “My future and present is completely and utterly all about him, and the many happy times and experiences we can possibly cram into this short time we all have on this beautiful little planet.”
Brighton-based choir for homeless and marginalised singers will be joined by Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus in The Big Christmas Singalong!
A Brighton-based choir for people who’ve experienced homelessness and marginalisation will perform at Brighton Dome Concert Hall for the first time, as part of The Big Christmas Singalong!.
The Choir with No Name opened their Brighton branch in August this year, and the new singers will be joining the charity’s London choir for their annual Big Christmas Singalong!, at Brighton Dome Concert Hall on Thursday, December 13.
Performing their inimitable take on the Christmas classics, The Choir with No Name will be joined by very special guests, the Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus.
The Choir with No Name Brighton is already 40 members strong and growing. They rehearse every Monday at One Church in the city centre, and each rehearsal is followed by a hot meal together cooked by a team of volunteers.
Members, who are largely from the homeless and recovery community, are offered an opportunity to make friends, learn new skills and grow in confidence, all through the power of singing together in a safe, non-judgmental space.
The choir is run in partnership with Brighton Housing Trust (BHT) who employ the choir manager, as well as provide members with direct access to their support services.
Andy Winter
Andy Winter, CEO of BHT said:“We are thrilled to be running our own CWNN Brighton, having admired the work of CWNN for many years. The membership numbers of the choir are growing every week and the feedback from choir members and volunteers has been so positive and uplifting.”
The Choir with No Name’s Big Christmas Singalong! has become an annual highlight in the Brighton Christmas calendar, with audience members returning year after year to join in with a host of festive favourites, from White Christmas to I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday and everything in between.
This year is the charity’s 10th anniversary, and they are celebrating by bringing their London choir, as well as sackfuls of Christmas cheer, to the seaside and delivering more yuletide fun than you can fit in Santa’s sleigh!
This year is particularly special as it will also see their brand new Brighton choir take to the legendary Brighton Dome stage for the first time.
Paul, London choir member said:“The love from the choir and the support they have given me – making sure I’m not alone at Christmas anymore – has really touched my heart. I’ve always had bad memories of Christmas, but now I look forward to it and have great memories that will live with me for ever.”
The Choir with No Name HQ added:“Our choirs provide a platform for members to sing their hearts out among good friends – a hugely effective way of building confidence and general wellbeing, enabling members to re-establish their place in the world and move away from homelessness long-term. Our Big Christmas Singalong! is the highlight of the year for our members, giving them a positive Christmas experience at a time of year that can be extremely tough for people who are homeless and isolated. We are thrilled to be back here again for the third year running, and look forward to giving the Brighton crowd a festive night to remember!”
Vaughan Leyshon
Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus chairman, Vaughan Leyshon said: “We are amazed by the enthusiasm of The Choir with No Name’s members and have huge respect for the invaluable work their organisation does to help people who have experienced homelessness and marginalisation. We are looking forward to sing together to what promises to be a fantastic evening for everyone attending.”
Proceeds and donations from the night will support The Choir with No Name and Brighton Housing Trust.
Event: The Choir with no name – The Big Christmas Singalong!
Where: Brighton Dome Concert Hall, Church Street, Brighton
Local actor David Rumelle plays his twenty-fourth consecutive Dame in pantomime since 1995 as Dame Dolly Trott in Jack and the Beanstalk this Christmas.
PRODUCED by local company E3 productions at the Hilton Brighton Metropole from December 20-29, Jack and the Beanstalk is Brighton’s only professional pantomime this Christmas heralding E3’s commitment to ensuring a traditional family pantomime plays in Brighton for the second year running.
It follows the company’s succesful production of Cinderella last year and features Christopher Biggins as the ‘on screen’ King.
David says:– “Ï’m so proud to appear in pantomime in my home town at long last and add to my catalogue of dames.”
As usual – David has designed his full wardrobe for the production which features a costume originally worn by the Trollettes in the 1970’s !!
This spectacular new production, which features a huge LED video wall, a 7ft animatronic giant and the biggest sing and dance-along version of Baby Shark in Brighton, is just part of this unique Christmas experience.
Ticket holders to the 820-seated auditorium will also enjoy free entrance to a magical Christmas Fayre which features festive food options, Christmas stalls and lots of games for the children.
Each performance will also be raising money for a number of local charities including Chailey Heritage Foundation, Chestnut Tree House, The Starr Trust, The Sussex Beacon, Sussex Wildlife Trust and the Rockinghorse charity.
Fringe venue The Warren relocates to a new site in central Brighton for May 2019.
THE ‘festival-within-a-festival’ complex is to be sited at Victoria Gardens for the duration of Brighton Fringe 2019, which runs from May 2 – June 2, 2019.
The Warren was formerly located on St Peter’s Church Green, which is currently under development as Brighton and Hove City Council carries out phase II of its Valley Gardens regeneration project.
Otherplace, the Brighton production company that runs the award-winning venue, said the move to a larger site would allow them to present an even better offering for next year’s Brighton Fringe.
Nicola Haydn
Artistic director Nicola Haydn said:“We’re really pleased to have inched closer to the heart of the city. Victoria Gardens offers more space for us to play with and we have some exciting plans in the pipeline that will make The Warren 2019 even bigger, better and more exciting for our audiences. Otherplace has built up a strong following over our 13 years in the city and we’re looking forward to welcoming old friends and new faces as we embark on a new chapter.”
She added that Otherplace was grateful to Brighton and Hove City Council for its assistance in helping the company secure a new site.
The Warren, which marks its eighth year in 2019, is Brighton Fringe’s biggest venue complex. The free-to-enter festival site includes four venues, a festival bar, rooftop bar, coffee shop, food stands and kids’ area. Its variety of high-quality performance and buzzing festival atmosphere has made it one of the most popular destinations on Brighton Fringe.
Tickets for selected shows in its Brighton Fringe 2019 programme will be on sale from December 14.
Comedian Dom Joly stars as The Narrator in the Brighton run of The Rocky Horror Show.
THE award winning musical opens at Theatre Royal Brighton on December 13 and then plays across the country until November 2019.
Trigger Happy TV star Dom Joly said:“I’m soooo excited to play the part of the narrator in The Rocky Horror Show. I’ve been entranced by the show since I stumbled upon it, one late night, in a cinema in Notting Hill Gate in 1990. More importantly, I haven’t had the opportunity to wear fishnets since I was a Goth back in the late Eighties…any excuse…”
The legendary musical extravaganza will also feature West End star Stephen Webb as Frank, Strictly Come Dancing Champion Joanne Clifton as Janet, a1’s Ben Adams as Brad and Kristian Lavercombe will be reprising his role as Riff Raff, following more than 1300 performances around the world.
Directed by Christopher Luscombe, the smash hit show features all of the famous musical numbers which have made The Rocky Horror Show such a huge hit for over four decades, including Sweet Transvestite, Science Fiction/Double Feature, Dammit Janet and, of course, the timeless floor-filler, The Time-Warp.
Event: Rocky Horror Show
Where:Theatre Royal, New Road, Brighton
When:December 13, 2018 – January 5, 2019
To book tickets online, click here: *Booking fees apply. Calls cost up to 7p per minute, plus your phone company’s access charge
Legends raise £1,430.84 for Rainbow Fund at their 25th anniversary birthday party.
ON Sunday, November 25, Legends celebrated 25 years at the top of their game, with an afternoon packed with entertainment from drag legends Maisie Trollette, Miss Jason and Lola Lasagne appearing together as J-Lo, Sally Vate and new drag queen on the block, Pat Clutcher.
The venue was packed all afternoon with many old friends and former employees in the audience.
Lola Lasagne summed it up nicely when she said that:“Without Tony Chapman and his two venues Legends and previously Revenge we would not have the gay scene we have today or the amazing voluntary sector organisations that he helped fund over the years through his commitment to community fundraising.”
In the late 1990s, Tony’s venues were pivotal in earning Brighton & Hove the accolade of Gay Capitol of the UK and today when tourists visit the city they continue to flock to this award winning, two floor entertainment complex on the seafront.
£715.42 collected in the buckets was match funded by Tony Chapman bringing the total raised for the Rainbow Fund to £1,430.84.
Special thanks to Danny Dwyer who shook buckets all day on the door and Luke Holloran from the Brighton & Hove LGBT Community Safety Forum who took electronic donations.
The Rainbow Fund give grants to LGBT/HIV organisations who deliver effective front line services to LGBT people in the city.
Get ready to catch some rays of beauty from Sam Dickinson’s latest track Wild Sun. Be sure to wear some sun screen though – you don’t want to burn.
Image edited by Ray A-J
FOGGY. Everywhere is foggy. A thick smog suphocates the innocent land, steeling an essence of life from the air. Desperate rain drops plummet to the dreary ground below, with every splash offering small pockets of hope to the tired grass. But it’s not enough. Each humble tear of rain erupts into a fierce fire, as a burning heat starts to overtake the sky. Instantly the land is engulfed in amber, killing everything in its path. But nature fights back. Across the way, beams a delicate little house of glass. And From The Glass House shine rays of glittery synths and mechanical automated beats, taking the heat and reversing its power to breath pure life into the dying plane.
With his latest track Wild Sun, synth guru Sam Dickinson paints a glorious picture of bright modern disco, in amongst the often suphocating landscape of inauthentic pop. Throughout the follow up to 2014’s When you left me, ring gleefully light sounds of string choruses and bright synth chords, adding a comfortable familiarity to the bouncy club track.
Steering the somewhat distant melodies are the Pride radio DJ’s delicately sweet vocals, that are oddly reminiscent of our Brighton favourite Liam Doherty’s. Like sunlight suddenly bursting through a dull morning sky, Sam breaks into falsetto, opening the landscape to its dancing chorus with the words “Set me free.” The Gateshead native keeps to the pitter pattering beats of the electronic drums, fusing the rhythmic tap-dance with his own breezy vocals. Each line of bright vocal is lightly decorated in a spacious amount of reverb and delay, adding a slight sense of depth to the otherwise thinning sounds.
The story of self empowerment continues through a charging chorus into a calm, perhaps less enthused, verse until it meets its orchestral cadence.
Sam has created a wonderfully sweet club banger, with this light and playful start to his latest From the Glass House E.P. But, at times, the otherwise delightful blend of wistful vocals and tip tapping beats becomes rather stagnant of energy; the verses desperately need some occasional dynamic shade to contrast the wonderful beaming light that is the chorus, just to stop us from being burnt to a crisp by the repetitivity of it all.
Sex Heals the Heartbreak – Australian pop singer songwriter, TIN, turns a failed Grindr date into his latest deliciously catchy single.
MANY songwriters express their broken relationships in many different ways whether it be a vengeful Taylor Swift-like ode or a sombre Adele-like ballad.
Australian pop singer songwriter, TIN, has chose a different path to express his feelings, and it is certainly NSFW (Not safe for work).
Fresh off a Pride Festival Tour across the UK (and a sneaky show in Denmark too), his latest single titled Don’t Say His Name was penned in response to a failed date that he had with a boy on Grindr, with lyrics talking about sleeping with other men while still thinking of the said Grindr boy which is translated into a brand new video.
In the three minutes of what could be an amateur soft-core porno, we follow TIN as he has a one night stand, during which time, the boy in question changes back and forth between two contrasting characters.
TIN says:“I wanted to translate not just the sexuality of the song but the struggle in it too. On the surface it seemed like I was having fun but deep down I was upset that I’d messed up so bad. It’s meant to be tongue in cheek. The song is about heartbreak but I am also intending to talk about a subject that is usually taboo, yet we all do it!”
Don’t Say His Name is out now on Spotify and Apple Music and the music video is now on YouTube.
Asked about the highlights of his career he says the list of celebrations, birthdays and weddings would be endless,“but if I had to pick one as such, then the Pride events I have the privilege to be part of up and down the country are always a highlight for me. There’s just this unspoken connection between you and that crowd for those precious moments on stage. It’s a thank you from me to them, and from them to me and we all get to celebrate together in unity and love. Beautiful!”
What about gay politics?
This spectacular new production, which features a huge LED video wall, a 7ft animatronic giant and the biggest sing and dance-along version of Baby Shark in Brighton, is just part of this unique Christmas experience.
THE ‘festival-within-a-festival’ complex is to be sited at Victoria Gardens for the duration of Brighton Fringe 2019, which runs from May 2 – June 2, 2019.
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