General Chat – and so she thinks

What makes a festival?

admin — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 10:42:31 +0000

Conference for Festivals: ‘Capacity to Endure’
7, 8, 9 November 2012
The Southbank Centre and The Barbican

Festivals have been having a tough time of it. Thousands are held every year, spanning all types of music, arts and culture, and from a high point a couple of years ago, economic and environmental pressures have caused some crashes. A forthcoming conference from the British Arts Festival Association aims to address the question of what festivals and their futures, and how they can not only endure hard times, but contribute towards the communities and societies in which they operate.
The Conference for Festivals: ‘Capacity to Endure’ running over 7th, 8th and 9th of November 2012 at The Southbank Centre and The Barbican features a host of talks, workshops and panels, covering the spectrums of social, economic and environmental sustainability.
It’s not only due to our amateur business skills and lack of interest in accounting that It’s All Happening really do believe in the capacity for festivals to ‘do good’ for the places and faces they touch.
The ethos and emotion of a celebration of creativity is one that inspires most people to start and visit festivals, and such intangible reasons for being are also credible signs of success. One of the key speakers on Social Sustainability is Matt Burman, Head of Programme and Audiences, Warwick Arts Centre and he puts it thus ‘We need to move on from measuring impact in economic terms – the language of miserly bean counters – and talk about the emotional impact, the effect on quality of life, about values of creativity and inspiration beyond those extrinsic factors dictated to us.’
Festivals are valued by audiences and participants for their cultural relevance, the opportunity to engage more deeply in something that matters, to entertain and stimulate, reconnect and discover, and for this reason should be supported.
Contributions to cultural diversity, community cohesion are difficult to measure, but a study by BOP on the effect that Edinburgh Festival had on the city during the 2010 event found that local people were on the whole very positive. . 93% of parents agreed that the Festival event had increased children’s imagination, 89% of locals agreeing that the Festivals increase their pride in their home city, 69% saying that they were now more aware of other cultures, and 55% of reporting feeling that the event had made a difference to their well-being. For giving people kicks, as things go, festivals are surely one of the best routes for communities to go down.
For the pen pushers, political executive and bureaucratic officials, the value of festivals will always be considered in pounds and pence. Unfortunately humans have not yet advanced enough to view the world by any other scale. This event aims to ask what does social sustainability really mean, and is there a more rounded way of judging the impact of an event upon inclusivity, collaboration, community engagement, cultural stimulation – and the contribution to the coffers.

Summer Camp craft Welcome To Condale 'zine

admin — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 14:17:15 +0000

Because making an utterly gorgeous simmering album isn’t enough, Summer Camp, the London duo made up of Elizabeth Sankey and Jeremy Warmsley have crafted an accompanying zine. As cinematically tinged as their music, it is full of handwritten notes, typewriter lists, photos taken unaware, and musings of the soul. Heart.
Welcome To Condale will be released on Monday 31st October – check back for a review!

Musical Bingo meets Halloween

admin — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 15:34:36 +0000

It’s All Happening are thrilled to have been invited to Musical Bingo’s Big Halloween fash-off. All the best dressed big names will be there, Ted Baker, Asos, River Island, TopShop, Kurt Gieger and JN Productions….and It’s All Happening?
The original, and some say best, musical bingo, as seen at the National Theatre, Great Escape, Glastonbury, Isle Of Wight, Camden Crawl and countless other festivals, will be heading south to The Loft on Clapham High Street this Wednesday, before making its way to the uber-cool Concrete on Shoreditch High Street Thursday night.

If you don’t know what musical bingo is firstly, get an imagination, it’s not a difficult concept. DJs, in this case, Rapture and Jonny Unknown play the tunes and when you hear them you simply mark them off your bingo card to win some snazzy prizes. Rounds in store, hosted by compere Eleanor Conway include, ‘Happy Halloween’, ‘Fash-Off’, ‘Horrific, ‘Body Parts’ and ‘Magic Happens’. And as well as the usual riotous fun, there are some halloween themed tricky treats being thrown in, with multi choice Mystery Boxes and the opportunity to gamble on the Killer Question.

Prizes will be on offer for the best dressed, so even if we suck at musical bingo, I’m pretty sure that by digging in the wardrobe we should have a good chance of winning an award for ‘ Most Innovative’, ‘Most Outrageous’ or ‘Most Horrific’ of outfits. If you fancy heading down (was there a possible joke in beheading down there?) email info@musicalbingo.com And make it quick.

Musical Bingo – 2 Night Halloween Special
Wednesday 26th October @ The Loft
56 Clapham High Street, SW4
7.30 Pm to Late
£4 Per person for 5 games
Thursday 27th October @ Concrete
(Below Pizza East), 56 Shoreditch High Street
7.30 to Late
£4 per person for 5 games

Music. Bingo!

admin — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 19:33:01 +0000

I don’t like numbers. I’m a words girl. And try as they might over the years, bingo callers have , managed to make the numbers that exciting. Legs eleven, two little birds, however you dress it up, digits are still digits. A bit of competition injects some pizzazz into proceedings, but I still find it difficult to let loose over a grid full of figures. Musical bingo on the other hand has long intrigued me. Guess the song, win some prizes, have a drink – genius.
August 25th saw me pop my bingo cherry, and I’m thrilled that it was at Musical Bingo with Jess Indeedy, at the acheingly cool Drink Shop Do in King’s Cross. The queen of musical bingo, American Jess has been bringing her show to both sides of the Atlantic, with residencies at Drink Shop Do, the National Theatre, Shoreditch House , The Hospital Club as well as Berry Park Brooklyn, Soho House in New York and the 606 Club. The format is the same as normal bingo – but with a far heftier dose of glamour and cool. The plan of action is as follows a)listen to DJ Helix spin the tunes. b) recognise them and c) mark them on your card d) on completion of a line or house wave arms in the air e) run up and win prizes, of the quirky and kitsch variety. Rounds cover everything from 90s to Motown, Musicals to Colours, Commercials to Love, providing plenty of opportunities for a singalong as well as furrowed brow of frustration as you realise you really should know the song.
Miss Jess Indeedy is a true hostess, and every quarter hosts a members only event at the lovely Shoreditch House. The setting is their gorgeous roof garden, the haunt of Madonna et al, and prizes step up to the mark, Musical Bingo and Shoreditch House clubbing together to come up with luxury prizes, such as a bottle of champagne, free bowling and beer for 6 in their private lanes, or a round of our bespoke cocktails, the Musical Bingotini and the Jesspresso Martini. Of course, such a sumptuous setting is by invitation only, so if you fancy getting on the list, I suggest you start making friends at one of the upcoming events….

Thursday, September 8th at 8pm – The Baby Bathhouse, Stoke Newington, £5
Tuesday, September 13th 7:30 pm – Shoreditch House, London, Members Only
Thursday, September 22nd at 8pm – Drink Shop & Do, King’s Cross £5
Saturday, October 15th 9pm – Wah Wah Live! The Scala, £15
http://www.musical-bingo.com/

July 2009 – Welcome

admin — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 19:46:50 +0000

Ciao,
Three is the magic number apparently, and hopefully some of that enchantment has rubbed off on our third issue of It’s All Happening.
In no particular order we cover Fight Like Apes, Dinosaur Pile Up, Kid Harpoon, Regina Spektor, Enter Shikari, Soft Toy Emergency, Slow Club, Little Comets, Small White Light, The Momeraths, Kasabian and Florence Machine, as well as flipping to the other side of the industry to chat to Brew Records, Tip Top Records, and travelling south to Brighton to The Great Escape.
Same old, but feedback and help is greatly appreciated. Any demos, gigs and the like that you think are worth checking out, we want to know! Contact us at itsallhappening_music@hotmail.com. Also, join our facebook group – it’s currently mainly friends Dan has bribed, and we’ve never been blessed with the kind of popularity that makes you prom king or queen…
Thankyou to…
Leo Swadling for the front cover artwork, and Antonia Baker for the back cover artwork.
Cheers to Soft Toy Emergency, Dinosaur Pile Up, and Fight Like Apes for answering all our questions, and thanks to their press people for sorting that out!
Also, Brew records and Tip Toe records, David Wells and MailboxesEtc.
We’ll see you again at the end of the summer, once we’ve got our rocks off at all the festival fun.
Enjoy reading, listening, and dancing,
Cesca and Dan xx

Record Store Day

admin — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 19:40:15 +0000

Not everything that makes its way over the big pond is a glorification of all things supersized and corporate with its eyes focused on dizzying dollar signs. Record Store Day, founded in 2007 in the States is a celebration of everything that you don‟t get from walking into an HMV, MVC (do they still exist?) and the like. It‟s a day focused on the unique culture that exists in independent record shops, and more than fifty plus record shops across the UK will be taking part by holding gigs, signings, events, parties…basically doing what they do best, and giving their shoppers brilliant music.
Each trip into a record store staffed with people who love music, filled with genres from across the years, around the world, and permeating tastes is started by a deep breadth that literally floods your lungs with love for music. It can be a solitary escape, or an exploratory trip to untold wonders. Therapy and comfort, a going home or a challenge. The new discoveries may ignite a little party in your heart, or a big party in your home. Whether you are immersed in yourself or opened to new music, discover hidden gems of yesteryear or the next big thing, are made to laugh, cry, or everything in between, going to the independent store is a rewarding experience, leaving an emotional imprint on your soul, not just a monetary dent in your wallet.
So come April 17th, and every day before and after that to be honest, get off your PC, out of the house, and wander down to your indie.

September 2010 – Welcome!

admin — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 20:52:16 +0000

Hello one and all!
Yet again, you are reading our lovingly pieced together zines, taking in the words so carefully crafted, practically inhaling the musical mojo that proliferates the bands in these pages. Ah, music. Doesn’t it ruddy rock?
Although sometimes subject to slurs, tarnished with those dirty words decadence and hedonism. Everyone knows that the devil on the left shoulder whispering to you to go to a gig, have a few drinks, and dance the night away is the kind of friend you really want. A hell of a lot more fun than the one your mum would rather you hang around with, the pure angel on the right, pulling at your conscience to do good deeds, raise some money for charity, support good causes, and generally score karma points.
Wouldn’t it be great if you could be naughty and nice? Have a sore head but a warm heart.
The long term relationship between Glastonbury and Greenpeace, the charity singles that we buy as long as we never have to listen to them, even Live Aid, demonstrate that good music and good deeds can be bedfellows. The fact that we love a good tune AND we’re good people means that this year we are putting on some gigs in support of Oxjam, the music festival from Oxfam.
Since the first festival in 2006, more than 36,000 musicians have played to over 750,000 people at around 3,000 Oxjam events nationwide. This has raised more than £1.2 million for Oxfam: enough to buy 10,619 emergency shelters, 48,000 goats and 705 classrooms. Not bad for a good night out.
Come and show your support on Sat 18th Sept and Fri 24th Sept at the King’s Head in Acton. £3 for really decent live music in West London – can’t argue with that. And I mean really good bands. The kind that have been chosen by legendary Italian design house Valentino’s to front their campaign (Rubicks), been played on the BBC by Huw Stephens, Tom Robinson and Steve Lamacq (Alphabet Backwards) and praised by the NME (End Of Level Baddie). Bands that have rocked out at the birth of pop music The Cavern Club (Projekt) or even broken records by being the youngest band ever to play Glastonbury (The Theory of 6 Degrees). Bands described as ‘too good to be true’ by UK Music Review (The Volitains), all alongside a debut performance from local talent (Bible John and the Reptiles).
Flick to the back page for all the details, or contact us at itsallhappening_music@hotmail.com
Enjoy!
Dan and Cesca

The Great Escape 2010

admin — Wed, 12 May 2010 20:14:11 +0000

At last, the event we’ve been waiting for since 16th May 2009, when we arrived back exhausted and exhilarated, sand still in our shoes. The Great Escape is back! TGE 2010 looks set to be the biggest and best yet, with a line up that includes established acts such as Chase & Status, Broken Social Scene and Groove Armada as well as upcoming artists like Chew Lips, Chapel Club and General Fiasco. Add to this industry darlings that include Ellie Goulding, Darwin Deez and Marina & The Diamonds, and you realise that these three days are going to be action packed, fun filled, venue dashing, musical madness in a city crackling with excitement.
This special edition of It’s All Happening will guide you through the bands to catch, as well as interviews with artists that are performing over the next three days. At Great Escape 2009, It’s All Happening accidentally discovered The Joy Formidable (amongst many other bands..!). Having seen them a further seven times, we know that it is this ease of unearthing a new favourite band at The Great Escape is what makes it so brilliant. If you are reading this whilst queuing for a venue then stop. Leave the queue. Find the next venue and watch a band that you’ve never heard of before. Expand your mind and discover. You may just fall in love.
This year’s Great Escape is in partnership with Sounds Australia.. fingers crossed that they’ve brought the weather from a summer down under to leave Brighton balmy.
If you discover any bands that get you in a fever be sure to let us know, and we’ll get them in the magazine and on the website, as well as on our radar.
All that’s left to say is enjoy – it’s guaranteed to be three days jam rammed full of uninhibited soundscapes across the whole sonic spectrum that will leave you invigorated and excited about music.
The Great Escape 2010 – you won’t want to leave.
Dan and Francesca xx

Chew Lips

admin — Sun, 09 May 2010 20:20:17 +0000

Euphoric and uninhibited eighties pop, if ChewLips were a packet of sweets, they’d be Refreshers. Tigs is a buoyant frontwoman, embodying the pulsating rhythms and smooth vibrations of tracks like ‘Solo’ and ‘Salt Air.’ Seductive and stimulating, ChewLips are an effulgent part of what is quickly becoming a saturated genre..Whether shadow boxing, doing the rope or simply singing sweetly front woman Tigs alone is a sight to behold onstage, but with her boys backing up with a variety of samples, guitars, keys or bass, Chew Lips are definitely worth checking out. The debut album is packed full of electronic wonders, but live there’s also the chance to hear the older fans favourites such as ‘Solo’ and ‘Salt Air’ which rival anything on the debut. If you want to get your groove on this is definitely the place to be. Amazing voice, sweet beats and much fun to be had.

Where next?

admin — Sun, 09 May 2010 20:18:47 +0000

Blood Red Shoes @ Revenge
Thursday 21.45
Not that they need a bigging up in any way, shape or form with this being a home tie n’all for the Brighton duo, but this Thursday night slot should go off big time as they clatter there way through tracks from both killer albums. I’m physically jealous I can’t get down for this (Pavement in Brixton is a good excuse though yeah?) as newbies such as ‘Don’t Ask’, ‘Light it Up’ and ‘Count Me Out’, for me, stand right up there with fans favourites from Box of Secrets and it’s just going to be intense. I’m done talking and choking up, just check it out.
Stand out tracks – all of them…
Yuck @ Corn Exchange
Thursday 21.30
Having had the Gary Numan synths, the Spandau Ballet cheese, female glamour pop and seemingly every other 80s sound revived in the past couple of years it was only a matter of time before the American Indie of Dinosaur Jr, Sonic Youth and Pavement got a chance. Take two mem-bers from the remains of Cajun Dance Party (music veterans still in their teens), sprinkle in a Japanese bassist and a New Jersey Drummer and voila, it’s Yuck. Hav-ing only played a handful of dates as yet, but quickly building a good live reputation, they play a blend of scuzzy, melodic gui-tars and youthful, harmonious vocals with little of the urgency or feistiness of CDP which allows for a more mature, laid back sound that shouldn’t be missed.
Stand out Tracks – Georgia, The Automatic
Unicorn Kid @ Dome
Saturday 20.30
Chip Tunes? Happy Hardcore? Tartan trance? Hyper-pop? Whatever you want to call it Scottish teenager Oli Sabin, aka Unicorn Kid, creates some huge tunes which has led him to providing remixes for the likes of Pet Shop Boys and Gorillaz. Sounding a bit like a euphoric Crystal Castles without the screaming banshee vocals, and with Huw Stephens and Zane Lowe firmly on board, tracks such as Lion Hat and new single Dream Catcher are going to sound massive live. ‘Listening to Unicorn Kid ‘is how I imagine Pacman feels when he eats one of those flashing pills and turns medieval on those ghosts. Awesome.
Stand out tracks – Wee Monster, Lion Hat
King Charles @ Queens Hotel
Thursday 22.15
Probably vying with Darwin Deez for the ‘get your hair cut you hippy’ award at TGE, but his unique styles go further than his hirsuteness . Twisting folk, synths, touches of hip-hop and even a couple of guitar solos (woop), King Charles dishes out genre defining liaisons that have been earning him rave reviews of late. Having previously supported the likes of Noah and the Whale and Laura Marling, but seemingly having broken free from the current folk scene, he creates big songs that lose none of their subtleness live. Definitely worth checking out.
Stand Out Tracks – Love Lust, Time of Eternity

Villagers @ Prince Albert (Friday 14.00) Unitarian Church (Friday 21.00) Revenge (Saturday 21.45)
Currently getting a lot of night time Radio 1 airplay with current single ‘Becoming a Jackal’, and being compared to every singer / songwriter from Neil Young to Bright eyes, Irishman Conor J O’Brien and his band play his beautiful, poetic tracks with 3 shows over the weekend. The comparisons are certainly easy to hear with O’Brien’s voice very similar to Connor Oberst’s, and some-times he toes the line of earnestness and pretention, but he’s certainly one to watch especially for fans of Eliot Smith, Bon Iver or the aforementioned Bright Eyes.
Stand out Tracks – Becoming A Jackal

Blackchords
Thursday 19.30 @ Aussie BBQ, Coalition
If you’re heading down to the Aussie BBQ at Coalition solely for Fosters and shrimps, your expectations of Australian music having ignited and extinguished with Kylie and Jason lend an ear to Blackchords. Soaking up everything from Nick Drake and Ryan Adams to The Smiths and The Cure, Blackchords ring out from their musical sponge of influences deep and reflective music that is arrestingly relevant as well as an antidote to everyday life.
Recent debut is twilight record, the songs are the type that are difficult to pinpoint and define, yet feel as natural as the sleepy haze this time of day evokes. Despite being architecturally assured the overarching image is of an open wound that needs healing, especially in ‘Broken Bones’ and ‘Pretty Little Thing.’
This is not to say that ‘Blackchords’ are a despondent band, far from it. Bones’ a rollicking rocker. With every swoop of the guitar and bang of the drums you’ll become one step closer to forgetting the words to ‘Especially For You.’