Friday 30 July 2010

Last Random Fridays before summer break

TONIGHT - Don't miss the last Random Fridays before a summer break...and it's going to be a cracker!

Tonight's free event mixes up film, dance and live music in the Pavilion's upstairs galleries, from 7pm.

The night kicks off with Secrets of the Content, a short film by Tom Pickard. Based on the 1935 short story 'A Day Saved' by Graham Greene, the film carefully adapts the story to present itself in a contemporary time but staying true to the vintage narrative language that Greene wrote back in his early days as a writer.

The story is told through the eyes of intense protagonist Robinson, a lonely wanderer who obsessively stalks an everyday businessman through the streets of a modern London. When his routine takes a sudden diversion, his world is thrown into turmoil and uncertainty. He feels a connection to this man; he holds something that Robinson deeply, despairingly wants but he does not understand what it is or why he wants it so.

Secrets of the Content was shot over four days on location in West and East London.

Visit www.secretsofthecontentfilm.co.uk/ to find out more.








The evening continues with Die and Die Again, a solo dance piece by Cat Casbon with music provided by Random favourites AK/DK. The piece draws inspiration from ideas behind Ivan Navarro’s sculpture Die Again. By physically responding to light and darkness, Casbon addresses Navarro's approach to the visual qualities of his artwork but also picks up on metaphors relating to the social and political climate in Santiago, Chile at the time of Pinochet's military dictatorship when Navarro was growing up. Exploring themes of 'social illumination', the solo suggests that beneath an attractive facade, social injustice and inequality still remain. The dynamic tension of attraction and replusion is an important part of this astounding piece of choreography.

Live music follows from turntables duo Fidgital, who using turntables, loving bring together the opposing worlds of classical and hip hop in an almighty reckoning! Imagine chilli and chocolate...Finished imagining? Meet Fidgital.

From 7pm, FREE admission. Indulge in a unique night out with late night random revelry at Random Fridays.
For more information call the Box Office on 01424 229 111 or visit our Random Fridays page on our website.

Monday 26 July 2010

More Billy Bragg please

I was lucky enought to see Billy Bragg play live yesterday. As always his sharp wit and quality songmanship made him a huge hit with the audience. I always find him so engaging - his longevity in music proving I'm not alone in feeling this.

It's his passion and drive that impresses me the most. Although on record this is obvious through his lyrics, live his interaction with the crowd and delivery inbetween songs steps things up a notch.

So, I'm very much looking forward to seeing him again in December, for a nice pre-christmas treat at the DLWP.

Monday 19 July 2010

UNKLE and Heritage Orchestra at the Pavilion - a match made in heaven

Anyone who came to the Pavilion for the UNKLE and Heritage Orchestra collaboration on Saturday 10th July will identify with the enthusiasm with which I describe this awesome combination. On a particularly hot, sun-drenched Saturday people flooded the Pavilion and its grounds, flowing in from the station and ambling up from the beach. As the heat of the day subsided the intensity it brought didn't, and this was only compounded once the gig got underway.

As UNKLE and Heritage Orchestra took to the historic auditorium stage, beautiful and soulful revisions of UNKLE's career-defining anthems and new material from their acclaimed album 'Where Did the Night Fall' ensued. The crowd remained enraptured throughout and what a refreshing experience it was to hear the audience clapping and whooping and being encouraged to clap and whoop between songs, despite a carefully-hung orchestral arrangement and a myriad of instruments to synchronise. Renditions of 'Lonely Soul' and 'Reign' were obvious highlights, employing the vocal talents of Elle J, Gavin Clark and father of UNKLE, James Lavelle. Newer songs such as 'The Healing' were a disarming a reminder of that special something UNKLE continues to provide its live audiences. The light show was spell-binding in itself. Designed by Lavelle's brother, a web of green lasers were projected into the crowd.

The Pavilion lends itself perfectly to this off-beat mixture of musical genres with its interlinking spaces utilsed interesting ways; the outside terrace bar, the afterparty that continued with a DJ playing into the night at the foot of the iconic spiral staircase and the auditorium, packed with memories of shows-past but still fresh in it's role as a host to popular and experimental music's greatest performers.

All in all the show was a little slice of 'Heaven' - please excuse the pun (and see tracklistings for the night!) - and simply not to be forgotten.

Pictures of the gig will follow shortly - if you have any of your own please share them!

To find out what music is on at DLWP this summer visit www.dlwp.com or call the Box Office on 01424 229 111

Monday 5 July 2010

Tomoko Takhashi exhibition opening with DJ NIKKI BEATNIK a huge success!

...and what a fantastic day it was! Approaching the De La Warr Pavilion in all its splendour on a sunny Saturday, it was a truely spine-tingling sight to see the sun terrace teeming with people enjoying DJ NIKKI BEATNIK's chilled-out tunes and heartily discussing Tomoko Takahashi's exhibition with broad smiles. People meandered round the Antony Gormley sculptures on the roof terrace and waved to friends and family dancing and chatting below. Others chilled out on deck chairs bathed in sunshine, a cold drink in hand. An inspiring exhibition celebrated in beautiful informal surroundings - a perfect summer day all in all.

"What a fantastic vibe this afternoon.....excellent to dance to the amazing tunes in the wonderful sunshine"

"What an amazing afternoon. Thank you to Tomoko, Nikki and the event organisers. Please do it again sometime!"

Pics of the event will be uploaded shortly. Please put up your pics too!

Visit the website for more information on Tomoko Takahashi
http://tiny.cc/tomokodlwp

Thursday 1 July 2010

DJ NIKKI BEATNIK @dlwp this Saturday fresh from Glasto

This Saturday 3rd July the De La Warr Pavilion is throwing a preview party to celebrate the opening of Tomoko Takahashi's new exhibition, Introspective Retrospective. This is an informal day party for all to enjoy and an open invite so bring your friends! You'll be treated to some great music provided by DJ NIKKI BEATNIK from 3pm until 6pm, “easily the best female DJ in the UK” (Time Out).

Fresh from her appearance at this year's Glastonbury Festival, DJ NIKKI will be appearing for one night only to spin an ecelectic mix of tunes, hand-picked to get the party started. Earlier this year DJ NIKKI appeared on the Jools Holland show with Kelis and has spun for some of the biggest artists including Jay- Z, Beyonce, Kelis, Ronnie Woods, Alicia Keys, Brands: Tiger Beer, Puma, Veuve Clicquot, B&B Italia, Events: Fashion Rocks, Elle Magazine, GQ & Cosmo Awards and Clubs: Ministry of Sound, Movida, Ammika, China Whites, Shoreditch House. She has travelled the globe bringing her unique style of mixing, scratching and mashing- up tunes, from electro to rock, reggae to house, punk, hip hop and everything else in between, to top venues from Hong Kong to New York, LA to Auckland. NIKKI is also an accomplished Producer, Presenter and Artist in her band with co-producer and brother STATIS. Together they make up the coolest duo of electro - punk- hip hop band 'Beatnik'.

“DJ Nikki truly rocked the party” (Elle Magazine)

“The female Mark Ronson” (The Telegraph)

The bar is open until 8pm for you to enjoy a cold beer or cup of coffee over-looking the sea as the sun begins to set. A special Dining Club event is taking place at 7pm in the restaurant if you fancy a beautiful meal to finish off the day. The menu includes 'Dark chocolate Brûlèe with white chocolate biscuits & blood orange sorbet' among other culinary delights. So come along for a day of culture, entertainment and quality food and drink. Soak up the atmosphere and browse this exceptional exhibition at your own pace.