The SkaVengers: Brunswick Festival August 2017 – Image © Wanphrang K Diengdoh at Red Dur

 

Saturday 17th August

12pm -Cascade choir
1 pm – TBC
2 pm – Cracklin’ Griffins – folk 5 piece
3 pm – One Flight Up – Jazz / Funk
4 pm – Dolly Doom – ska
5 pm – Tragic Roundabout – Klezmer / ska
6 pm – Fish Brothers – Punky/Folk
7 pm – Blocs – Ian Dury Tribute

8 pm END

Sunday 18th August

12pm -Brighton school of singing – youth showcase
1 pm – 13 Pearls – youth showcase
2 pm – New Soul Union – Soul
3 pm – John Lewis – Country blues
4 pm – children’s parade – Maracatu Samba
5 pm – Polito Boogaloo – Latin/ Afro Columbian
6 pm – Carlos and the Bandidos – Rock n Roll with Mexican Twist
7 pm – DJ Bmore Mc Vowty – world Music

8 pm END

LATEST MUSIC INFO HERE

Whilst we love dogs, we have been asked by the Friends of Brunswick Square & Terrace to support them in their endeavour to keep Brunswick Square a DOG FREE ZONE. There is a Local Council bye-law which prohibits dogs in the Square, and local residents are keen to ensure the Square remains a safe and dog poo free place for people to enjoy and particularly for young children to play freely. Please help us to support this initiative and keep the residents and council happy by not bringing your dogs to the Festival.

If you do have a dog, and want to join us for some canine capers, then come along to Rural Day and Scruffs Dog Show on 13th August in St Ann’s Well Gardens. All hounds are welcome at this event!

Photo : Toni Tye

Photo : Toni Tye

Photo : Toni Tye

Photo : Toni Tye

Many more fantastic images of the weekend can be found HERE in the facebook gallery.

Veronica Stephens, of the Brunswick Community Festival Group, said: “It went really well and was the busiest festival for a long time. Next year we will be celebrating our 35th anniversary. We want to start collecting people’s festival stories or photos of years gone by.”

Festival images and report from the Argus HERE

Saturday 15th August 2015

Pecho – 4 piece Alternative/Indie band, based in Brighton, UK- FACEBOOK

Dakota – Energetic five piece Indie Pop band Dakota. Based in Brighton – FACEBOOK

Silver Dime – R&B Soul Pop Gospel group from London/Brighton –FACEBOOK

Frankie Furlow – From modern social commentary to alternative insight into emotional situations, Frankie Furlow deliver beautiful songs via heart felt vocals and stellar performances you can not take your eyes off. Frankie Furlow are gaining more and more traction and support via deserved radio play and constant gigging to packed out audiences in London, Brighton and across the South Coast. Merging genres to create an innovative yet accessible sound, Frankie Furlow move you from thought provoking to heart wrenching lyrics with ease, with unforgettable hooks and a mind blowing ability to make you feel – FACEBOOK

Brighton Urban Arts Academy – Brighton Urban Arts Academy offer amazing workshops in all street dance styles, tricks and flips, vocals, break dance, martial arts and many more! – FACEBOOK

Oscar Arnell – Oscar is a Brighton based song writer who last year released his second EP ‘Comulonimbus’, a collection of carefull crafted songs with strong melodic choruses blended with insightful and poetic lyrics. Each song carries you on a satisfying journey leaving you ready for more – WEBSITE

The Real Si-B – Combining arresting melodies, curiously beautiful arrangements & wordsmithery, and an improbable performance skillset – WEBSITE

One Flight Up – One Flight Up are a contemporary take on the meeting point where jazz, soul and blues come together. Taking their name from an Alban by jazz legend Dexter Gordon, and formed 5 years ago, and  fronted by the evocative voice of Emma Marshal,  they  can switch between fun and good times one moment, to heartfelt emotion the next – WEBSITE

Little Victor Trio -Little Victor has been called the King of Grit and the antithesis of meaningless virtuosity. His rich, quirky and inspired downhome blues became well-known to blues audiences through his work with the legendary Louisiana Red on the highly celebrated Back To The Black Bayou – FACEBOOK

Dollar Bill – This guy is a fantastic ‘One Man Band’ who kicks out a sound of at least a three piece! Rockin Blues at it’s stompin’ best! – FACEBOOK

Bikini Beach Band – Technicolor instrumental surf-noir, lounge and rock and roll delivered deadpan style in flamboyant clothing and Elvis shades plus the ever-present fezzes!- WEBSITE

Inbetween bands – Skavoovie!
SkavooVie! .. Miss Skavoovie plays infectious SKA Beats and Killer Diller Rocksteady rhythms. WHERE? Currently enjoying a monthly residency at Upstairs at the Mez, 4th Saturday of the month. Serious SKA choons on original 45’s from the vinyl vaults of Blue Beat, Studio One, Dr. Bird, Top Deck, Treasure Isle and many more…Scorchers!!! – FACEBOOK

Sunday 16th August 2015

Vocademy – Vocademy runs 10 week part time 1 hour singing courses for ages 7-18 year olds. Courses are age specific. Vocademy schools and singing lessons are run throughout Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire, and Kent.
Vocademy students have performed at loads of live events inc. festivals, Xmas parties, radio & tv shows, schools and even with pop stars themselves – WEBSITE

Brighton School of Singing – Brighton School of Singing is a community not-for-profit company providing affordable singing lessons for adults and children in and around Brighton and Hove. We also provide performance opportunities to young people, aged between 8 and 18 years in Brighton and Hove – WEBSITE

Hove Park Ukulele Band

Masmoudi Belly Dancers – Hilde has been passionately involved in dance since 1996. Originally from Belgium, Hilde moved to Brighton (UK) in 2004 to pursue her dream of becoming a professional dancer. She trained extensively in numerous dance styles such as street dance, tribal fusion, contemporary dance, flamenco, ATS, classical Indian dance, jazz, ballet and Oriental dance. She studied Dance Studies at the Laban school of dance in London and has a degree in dance and visual arts from Brighton University – WEBSITE

Cascade Choir – Cascade Creative Recovery will deliver a welcoming, supportive and vibrant environment; providing wholesome food and beverages. Making recovery from substance misuse visible in the wider community, bringing it out of services and offering a focal point for whole city recovery. We will signpost services conducive to maintaining a healthy recovery e.g. money/housing advice,counselling,family support etc. Creative activities and projects will be facilitated through the cafe/hub as we believe in the cathartic, esteem building and unifying power of the creative process. This will enable us to collaberate with individuals ,groups and organisations that share our values and ethos within the city and wider creative community. The space will connect individuals,build links into the wider community,fostering understanding and co-operation,while celebrating and promoting the fact that people,families and communities can and do recover from the chaos and misery of active addiction and alcoholism. The steering committee is,primarily, made up by people in or directly connected to recovery from substance misuse,many of us having accessed services in the Brighton & Hove area – FACEBOOK

Pearl’s Lion – Blues Jazz Duo from Brighton. Stripped back and honest interpretations of songs both famous and forgotten, delivered with purity, tone and atmosphere – FACEBOOK

Calling Curtis – Having just sold out Patterns (Audio), Brighton garage band Calling Curtis are kicking up a storm on the alt/rock indie scene. Their full-on electric, Hammond sound, psychedelic guitar and blues rhythm section set them apart from the current wave of soft and soapy indie. They are boys on a mission – rampaging through tour dates in London and Brighton this summer and looking forward to getting the crowd on their feet at Brunswick Festival.
Catch Calling Curtis on 19th August at The Haunt, Brighton and on 21st August at the uber hot Smiths, Shoreditch E1.
FACEBOOK
SOUNDCLOUD
INSTAGRAM
WEBSITE

Bent Cousin – Bentcousin make cutecore and acid punk. Bentcousin embrace charm, glamour, lies and magic. Bentcousin are here to make music mischievous again – WEBSITE

Willowisp Children’s Parade with Maracatu – WEBSITE

Red Raucous – Red Raucous are a UK band based in Brighton playing Rock an Roll/Americana/Pop.
The debut album “THE RUB OF RED RAUCOUS” was released on the 3rd of October 2013 and is available as a digital download on bandcamp.You can find Red Raucous tearing up the house in venues such as The 12 Bar Club, The Concorde II, The Hope, The Green Door Store,The Prince Albert, The Con Club, Horse an’ Groom, The Brunswick, The Walmer Castle, The Brightona and the Brunswick Festivals. We’ve been fortunate to play along side: J D McPherson, Stiff Little Fingers, The Inca Babies, The Popguns, Black Market III, The KAT MEN, The Long Tall Texans, Mudlow, The Koan Brothers, The Hillmans, Thee Sherbet Peardrop Explosion, Los Fantasticos, Sin City and The Devil Wrays – WEBSITE

Long Tall Texans – The first offerings from Brighton’s rockinest trio can be traced back to 1985 where three alarmingly fresh faced rockabillies recorded a few tracks with Boz Boorer of Polecats and later Morrissey fame at Northwood studios – WEBSITE

Bmore McVowty’s World Music Express – FACEBOOK

Inbetween bands – Skavoovie!
SkavooVie! .. Miss Skavoovie plays infectious SKA Beats and Killer Diller Rocksteady rhythms. WHERE? Currently enjoying a monthly residency at Upstairs at the Mez, 4th Saturday of the month. Serious SKA choons on original 45’s from the vinyl vaults of Blue Beat, Studio One, Dr. Bird, Top Deck, Treasure Isle and many more…Scorchers!!! – FACEBOOK

Base Fest! Homeless NOT Hopeless.

A one day FESTIVAL showcasing the many of talents of Brighton & Hove’s homeless community in partnership with First Base and Brunswick Festival Group.

Friday 27th March 12-5pm at The Friends Meeting House


Brunswick Festival Group has joined forces with First Base to present a one day festival at The Friends Meeting House in Ship Street on Friday 27th March.

This free event will seek to raise awareness of the issues facing rough sleepers and vulnerably housed people in Brighton & Hove. It will also provide an opportunity to showcase to the wider public the wealth of skills, brilliant creativity and diverse talents that lie within the City’s homeless community. A community who might be homeless, but who are certainly not without hopes and aspirations for brighter futures.

Over the past two months, Brunswick Festival Group has been delivering a range of vocational training activities, social events and creative arts workshops, which will all feed in to the festival event:

*First Aid *Event Management * Volunteering * Arts & Crafts * Theatre workshops * Music * Social Media & IT *Graphic Design *Photography * Creative Writing * World Food Recipe Sharing * Djing *Gardening…and more.

This project was made possible thanks to a community grant of £15,000 from the European Social Fund.

Any local charities or not for profit groups wishing to have an information or fundraising stall at the event, please contact brunswickfestival@hotmail.com

or check out the Base Fest FACEBOOK page for information about what’s on.

In August 2014 BCFG was successful in securing £10,000 from the Big Lottery, Awards For All scheme towards expanding it’s ‘Willowisp’ children’s area and to provide free arts and crafts activities at other local community events in the area.
The numbers of children taking part in the Festival is increasing year on year due to the growing population of young families in Brighton and Hove.

‘Willowisp’ provides a space for parents, carers and toddlers to play, be creative, have fun together, meet other families and socialise in a safe, well supervised and stimulating environment.
Funding will go towards buying a beautiful Indian festival marquee as well as new books, toys and arts materials.

Brunswick First Impressions Project

Brunswick Community Festival Group is delighted to announce that it has received a community grant of £15,000 from the European Social Fund to deliver a series of creative learning activities and vocational skills development training as part of it’s ongoing community outreach and education programme.

BCFG will work in partnership with the First Impressions Project at Brighton Housing Trusts’ First Base, which supports people who are homeless in Brighton & Hove to move away from street homelessness and become ready for work. The project builds on the work BCFG developed with St.Patrick’s Homeless Shelter 12 years ago, and will reinforce its commitment to involving the more disadvantaged sectors of the local community in Festival activities.

Over the next 2 months, BCFG will be running FREE weekly Wednesday sessions at First Base, offering a wide range of training activities, opportunities for volunteering, employment guidance & advice sessions, community social events and creative taster workshops including:

*First Aid Training * 10 Steps to managing an event * Introduction to volunteering * Arts & Crafts * Theatre workshops * Music * Social Media & IT skills * Photography * Creative Writing * Catering *

The creative learning programme will culminate in a mini-festival or open day at First Base. The BCFG team will support and guide participants through each stage of putting on their own celebratory event (scheduled to take place in March 2015 – date TBC) giving them the opportunity to open their doors outwards and showcase their work and talents to the wider community.

Festival Coordinator, Veronica Stephens says:
“Brunswick Town is a very diverse place – behind the gentrified Regency facades there are also many people who live in extreme poverty and isolation, or find themselves without a secure home. The Festival is committed to ensuring equal access to it’s activities by all members of the community and we are really excited about the opportunity of working with First Base and supporting local people through creative, social, fun and celebratory participatory activities’

Contact:
If you are homeless or unemployed and would like to take part in the activities or help put on a festival at First Base please contact:

Veronica Stephens
Project Coordinator

Tel: 01273 204 404
Email: brunswickfestival@hotmail.com

European Social Fund
The South East programme is administrated by ESF community grants are grants of up to £15,000 which enable small voluntary and community organisations to reach out to some of the most disadvantaged and excluded people.

EUROPEAN FUNDING NETWORK

Brighton Housing Trust – First Base
The First Base First Impressions Project works with homeless and insecurely housed men and women in Brighton and Hove to address the barriers preventing them from working and moving forward with their lives. The project works with people who have successfully engaged in informal non-vocational activities such as arts groups, life skills courses and group activities at First Base Day Centre and supports them to move on to formal activities such as CV preparation and vocational training.

BRIGHTON HOUSING TRUST

Despite atrocious weather caused by the ex-hurricane Bertha, Scruffs the dog show was a huge success, so we would like to say a big thank you to everybody for making such a dogged effort on a very wet day. The sun eventually shone, and we all had some fun.

Special thanks to : John for his mastery of the ceremony, Snaffles gourmet dog food for the find the sausage prize, Seven Dials florist Kate Langdale for the beautiful best in show bouquet and Brices estate agents for the best in show trophy.

Most honorable doggy mentions to : Betsy for her spinning trick and Norman for his distinguished good looks. Thanks again everybody, and every dog too.
Bravo !

Best in show : PomPom

Photo’s : Toni Tye