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A celebration of LGBT+ culture headlines three days of literature, music and performance at Eden

A celebration of LGBT+ culture headlines three days of literature, music and performance at Eden

The Eden Project’s first ever showcase of LGBT+ creativity opens the attraction’s forthcoming Arts Festival, between September 8 and 10.

The Arts Festival starts on Friday September 8 with Proud Eden, which will feature two stages of artists celebrating LGBT+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans) culture. Top book publisher Penguin Random House and Gay Times will be curating the action on the stage in the Mediterranean Biome.

Matthew Todd
Matthew Todd

This will feature Matthew Todd, former editor of Attitude magazine, talking about his book Straight Jacket: How to be Gay and Happy, and Dean Atta, award-winning poet and voted one of the most influential LGBT+ people in the UK.

Also on the Mediterranean Biome stage will be Paul Diello, award-winning singer-songwriter who has released two solo albums, toured across the UK, Europe and America supporting artists such as Texas, Jarvis Cocker and Nick Harper.

Elani Evangelou, a singer-songwriter from Plymouth, Toby Campion, an award-winning writer and spoken word artist and musician Zee Gachette, otherwise known as Z Star, will also be playing.

On the dome tent stage, situated in Eden’s arena, will be the acclaimed West End show Outings, Lucy Le Brocq’s photos of drag kings, and a performance called Beacons, Icons and Dykons, inspired by the spectacularly bad sci-fi musical The Apple.

Kate Francis, Eden’s programme producer, said: “We’re really pleased to be bringing the best of LGBTQ arts to Eden as part of our Arts Festival. We don’t often see this kind of event in Cornwall so we’re excited to introduce our audience to some of the most exciting and vibrant artists and performers in the country.”

The Arts Festival continues on Saturday and Sunday September 9 and 10, featuring a celebration of the new edition of Roald Dahl’s final story for children, Billy and the Minpins, which is published by Penguin Random House and is being released with new illustrations from iconic Dahl collaborator Quentin Blake.

Billy and the Minpins, which has been renamed to reflect the author’s original title, is the story of heroic Billy who saves the Minpins, tiny tree-dwelling people whose children are the size of matchsticks, from the fearsome Gruncher. Eden’s storytellers will be reading from Billy and the Minpins throughout the weekend.

Squashbox Theatre (Saturday)
Squashbox Theatre (Saturday)

Also on the Saturday and Sunday will be puppet performances from Squashbox Theatre (Saturday) and Aunty Emily and the Missing Melody (Sunday)and showings of Miracle Theatre’s feature film Tin.

Music will be provided by Jamie Crowe and Kezia playing songs from their magical appearance at Eden’s Festival of Light and Sound last Christmas, Vicky Abbott and her choir and folk singers Kate Kirt and Rich Williams.

Kakatsitsi Master Drummers
Kakatsitsi Master Drummers

The acclaimed Kakatsitsi Master Drummers from Ghana, one of Africa’s leading drumming groups, will be performing and running workshops throughout the weekend.

On Sunday only, juggler and comedian Jon Udry will be bringing his ABC Tour to Eden. The ABC Tour sees the Bristol-based entertainer play a show in venues whose names begin with every letter of the alphabet.

All activities are included in the Eden Project admission price.

For a full schedule and more information, click here:

FEATURE: Silver Ladies – 25 years of Kate and Jo

Gscene caught up with Wildblood and Queenie, Brighton’s most buxom DJing duo, who are celebrating 25 years B2B behind the decks with their Silver Service fundraising party for MindOut and Blueprint 22 on September 16 at Patterns.

What was your first DJ gig together? 
Kate Wildblood: Queenie started her DJ life as one of Stroppy & Butch with Meesh Mash at The Zanzibar in 1990, whilst mine was at Guildford School of Acting & Dance Student Union playing The Smiths in 1987. We first DJed together at The Candy Bar, wobbly decks and all.

How do you maintain a working and romantic relationship?
Queen Josephine: Occasionally I let Kate twiddle my knobs when we’re playing. It’s the little things that make the difference.

What club would you go back to and relive? 
QJ: Those very first Wild Fruits at The Paradox when we were courting. So many naughty but fabulous memories.
KW: My first closing terrace set for Pride Sunday Sundae at Audio in 2010. Love was in the air, it didn’t fade, we danced all night long and there were tears in my eyes. 

Do you assume the same position behind the decks like Ant & Dec do on the telly?
QJ: No we’ve always been a flexible partnership.
KW: Must be all that cod liver oil!

Have you ever had a power cut during a set? 
QJ: Yes. Once at Rebel at The Honey Bar. Everything stopped: music, lights, Paul’s smoke machine, everything. Although strangely enough the tills kept working. Funny that.
KW: And at Wild Fruit’s and Candy Bar’s Pride Party at The Dome in 2002. Too much heat from hot gay bodies and an overactive smoke machine apparently. I was nervously warming up for Princess Julia (a DJ heroine) and the moment she put her first record on after me, everything came to shuddering stop.
QJ: Of course Princess Julia being the Princess that she is took it all in her glorious stride, pausing only to comment “Kim Lucas needed to top up the meter”. 

Are your DJ ears over sensitive to dirty noise?
KW: My ears can cope with anything. Apart from Trance. Then they combust.
QJ: Whereas thanks to my tinnitus and hearing aid I can cope with any genre by turning my ear-trumpet down. Which comes in very handy if we happen to stumble across a soft rock panpipes gabba night.

Which songs are you most requested to play? 
QJ: Anything by Faithless. We’d have paid for an Ibizan villa if we’d a pound for every request.

Ever been propositioned in the DJ box?
QJ: Only by very merry gay men who’ve had too many sherries and seem to be come obsessed with our, erm, how do I put it, double Ds.

How has the scene changed over the past quarter of a century?
QJ: Blimey! Now I do feel old. 
KW: Old but blessed. The scene was very DIY when we started: loads of small independent wonders creating amazing nights based on their love of music, of their community. Then Wild Fruit brilliantly built on that passion (and the legendary Club Shame at The Zap) and changed everything with its big production values and fundraising principles. Sadly when licensing laws changed, bars become mini-clubs and it became harder to financially sustain big production events or find venues happy to take a risk on smaller parties. 
QJ: When we started, clubbing was very much divided on gender lines but then the mix began. Today, although there’s still a strong men’s scene and we wonder when a women’s house night will ever return (anyone?), LGBTQIA+ clubbers are welcome at almost any club night in Brighton not because of their sexuality but because of their love of a genre of music.  
KW: And it’s great to see that early DIY ethos returning with clubs like Traumfrau and that female DJs are now being taken seriously behind the decks thanks to pioneers like Dulcie Danger, DJ Hollie, Michelle Manetti and King K.  

Is music the food of love?
KW: No but it comes a close second to Queenie’s bangers (and mash).

What’s the perfect end-of-night track?
QJ: For me it’s the hands in the air perfection DSD anthem that is Frankie Knuckles remix of Whitney Houston’s Million Dollar Bill.
KW: And for me it’s always Lionel Richie’s All Night Long. Tambo liteh sette mo-jah! Yo! Jambo jambo! And all that.

Silver Service

♦ Buy a £5 raffle ticket to win the framed original of Queenie’s 25 Years artwork (above) at perfect distractions.com/25-years. All proceeds go to Mindout & Blueprint 22.

♦ Wildblood & Queenie’s Silver Service at Horse Meat Disco celebrates 25 years of DJing, loving and clubbing on Saturday September 16, 11pm-4am at Patterns, Brighton. Pre-club drinks at The Tempest Inn from 6pm. Fundraising for MindOut and Blueprint 22.

♦ For more info, to donate or buy a raffle ticket, click here:

 

OPINION: Craig’s Thoughts – Be Brave, or I was born to be Queer

By Craig Hanlon-Smith (and Alan Spink) @craigscontinuum

As a  youngster, I assumed the day would come when I would know all there was to know about life, love and happiness. The reflecting, the neglecting, the mistaking, the breaking, the betting, the fretting, the yearning, the learning would all eventually subside, and after the maelstrom of tortured youth, I would be ready to set out upon the road of life with all that I had gathered packed neatly away, ready to assist me in my adult years.

Perhaps for some this is the case, but as my youth felt like a psychological disaster it took me until my late-30s to sit comfortably with the idea that the learning will never end. That I’ll continue to misjudge, although perhaps not as often, that I’ll make mistakes, although hopefully no longer critical, and that life is made up of all of those experiences, even the ones you do not wish to have. That with discomfort comes exhilaration and this will run and run until I no longer can. Know that, make peace with it, and then get on with all of it.

On July 29 this year, one week before Pride, I had the privilege of being an invitee to the Civil Partnership of Wayne and Alan. With a combined age of 132, and having only found one another within the year, my heart was already in romantic meltdown at the hope and wondrous possibility of it all, but this was not to be like other weddings.

As the dress code invited the prospective congregation to “drag yourself up or dress yourself down” this was one Mary who needed little encouragement and upon arrival at Brighton Town Hall, I don’t believe I’ve ever been part of a wedding party or congregation united in such diversity. Of course there was your standard wedding guest fare, suits and fascinators, but also elaborate head-gear, flamboyant shirts, skirts and multi-coloured flower garlands. T-shirts, jeans, trainers, boots and killer heels. In other words, wear what you want. Be yourself.

Wayne, who in all my previous dealings of 17 years had been so unassuming, stood central to it all in an elegant jacket and waistcoat that screamed ‘notice me and every one of my 72 years’. And then Alan arrived.

To say we were stunned would be to generalise a conservative response which would be inaccurate and unfair, but some were, some initially bemused, most and then all applauded as Alan emerged into the entrance hall dressed in white. And over the top of his white trousers and diamanté decorated shirt, a beaded ivory wedding dress. And in that moment, (and I mean this entirely positively and respectfully) I felt a complete infinity and togetherness with one so Queer. To be at will subversive, to be whatever you want, whenever you want and however you want. For him to claim in that moment, this is for me, for us, however we choose to do it and to hell with your historic convention. To colloquialise: “I’m ‘avin this”.

Following the ceremony, the entire party walked through the streets from the Town Hall to the reception on the outskirts of Kemptown. Cars tooted, shoppers stood and applauded, and diners in restaurants pressed their faces to the windows of Brighton’s array of eateries. What united our audience was the sheer look of joy and celebration on the faces of our onlookers. As this diverse band of the queer to the conservative through the colourful and creative, we inspired joy in others.

How simple I thought, to allow people to ‘come as you are’ and yet to dare to be different, to challenge convention seems such a challenge to us every day. People just don’t, and why not? Be brave. Be brave.

There’s so much more to say, but instead I’ll leave you with Alan’s speech from his and Wayne’s Civil Partnership ceremony.
“Some of you may have been shocked and some of you may have laughed or just wondered why I turned up the way I did today. The simplest answer is because I can. I’m allowed to. Our society says I can. Fifty years ago the law changed and what Wayne and I are doing changed from being impossible and a pathway to prison, to just impossible. 

For the first ten years of my life it was illegal to be gay. To admit it meant ridicule, shame and loss of family, friends and career. For the next 37 years it was not possible to have a legally recognised partnership. For another nine years marriage was not allowed. For the last three it has, but not in a mainstream church in England and Wales. So I can be the bride here, but not in church. So not fully equal yet then. 

I also did it because I owe it to so many people who are not here, that should be here, but were wiped out by a killer virus. I watched a lot of my friends die, and I mean dozens, and I was amazed at their bravery and all the time I felt like a coward. Some live in my head forever, helping me and telling me… be brave, be brave. So for them, I came here, in public as a bride on the way to my wedding, unashamed and proud. Proud to be who I am, to become as one with the man I chose, Wayne. To love him and look after him. 

For once, it’s a wedding of sorts, not a funeral where I get to talk about my friends and it’s a celebration not a commiseration. I could not be happier than I am right now, and I thank all of you for coming here to witness it.”

BAR PERSON PROFILE: Prudence Snellgrove @Revenge

The first person many LGBT+people meet when they arrive in the city is the bar person at their local LGBT+ venue. These gatekeepers to the community provide an important role both befriending and signposting new arrivals. Gscene finds out a bit more about them and what makes them special.

Prudence Snellgrove works at Revenge nightclub, and was the winner of Favourite Bar Girl at this year’s Golden Handbag Awards.

Where do you come from? Mainly Essex but I’ve been around.

What brought you to Brighton? I moved here to go to BIMM in 2011 and never returned to my home planet.

Oddest thing you’ve been asked for? “Do you have any pickled eggs?”

What’s the worst kind of punter? One that doesn’t say “please” and “thank you”. I literally cannot express enough how irritating it is when people don’t know how to talk to other humans politely. Okay maybe that’s not the worst. The worst is one who gets mouthy or violent, of course. Or does a poo on the floor or something…

What do you do when it’s quiet in the bar? Oh goodness, um, clean, collect glasses, rinse the jukebox for all it’s worth, organise stock, chat to customers, possibly sneak in a ciggy, or check my (likely smudged) lipstick.

Do you know the difference between Ale and Beer? I mean, my genre is spirits, but my understanding is that it’s something to do with the type of yeast. “Bottom or top floater”? Sounds hot.

Can you pull a pint? No, but I can pull your girlfriend. “wahey”. Just kidding, of course I can. Do you prefer to be shaken or stirred? Well it entirely depends on what you are referring to. I am always shaken, but I like Martinis to be stirred.

Whats your favourite tipple? I have many. I love gin, whiskey, tequila… My favourite drink is probably an Espresso Martini because coffee + alcohol = more hilarious me.

What makes you roll your eyes? People treating LGBTQ+ bars like zoos.

Are those really your photos on Grindr? The answer is yes!

What makes a perfect barman/girl? Passion, personality, and fabulousness.

Where do you like to go out when you’re not working? I like to venture out into the world of cabaret clubs on occasion, but to be honest I’m mainly in Revenge.

Tell us a secret about yourself? I’m not wearing any knickers.

What’s your nickname behind the bar? I’ve been given many names over the years: “Pru Pru”, “Prudy”and “Oi love”

Government commits £11 million to greener buses

The Big Lemon Bus Company, receives £500,000 for three electric buses to be used in the Brighton & Hove area.

Bus users in Brighton and Hove will benefit from cleaner and greener journeys as government commits £11m to roll out low emission buses in towns and cities across England.

Local authorities and bus companies in Bristol, York, Brighton, Surrey, Denbighshire and Wiltshire have been awarded the funding under the Government’s Low Emission Bus Scheme to help them buy 153 cleaner buses.

The successful bidders will use the funding to buy new electric and gas buses, and to install stations to fuel or charge them.

The government is determined to clean up air in towns and cities across the country, and the investment in green buses comes after they published their air quality plan last month.

Transport Minister Paul Maynard, said: “I am pleased that our funding will deliver 3 new electric buses for Brighton.”

“The Big Lemon’s plans will make a real difference in cleaning up emissions from buses in the local area.

“New greener buses will be more comfortable for passengers, they are cost efficient and are good for the environment.

The successful bidders are:

♦ The Big Lemon, £500,000 for 3 electric buses to be used in the Brighton area

♦ Denbighshire County Council, Wales – £500,000 for 4 electric buses to be used on services in mid-Denbighshire

♦ City of York Council – £3.3 million for 24 electric buses to be used on park & ride services in York

♦ South Gloucestershire Council – £4.8m for 110 gas buses for services around Bristol;

♦ Surrey County Council, Guildford – £1.5 million for 9 electric buses to be used on park & ride services in Guildford

♦ Go South Coast/Wiltshire County Council – £500,000 for 3 electric buses to be used on park & ride services around Salisbury

The Government’s support for Low Emission Buses is one part of a £600 million package of measures from the Office for Low Emission Vehicles by 2020, plus £270m announced in the 2016 Autumn Statement to support the roll out of low emission cars, taxis and buses and supporting infrastructure.

This follows an initial £30 million awarded to bus companies and local councils in July 2016 under the Low Emission Bus Scheme to help put over 300 more low emission buses on the country’s roads.

Later this year, the Government will also publish plans for a second round of the Low Emission Bus Fund with a view to putting more clean buses on the streets.

The real cost of going to university

The Prime Minister faces backlash from her own party as student loan interest rates reach 6.1%.

The hike has prompted fears that young people will leave university with £70,000 worth of debt. We’ve teamed up with teen magazine, future mag to investigate the REAL cost of going to university.

Nobody goes to university without knowing they’ll take on debt. Fees are now £9,250 a year, and that’s before you’ve even paid accommodation, food and bar bills – even subsidised beer will still set you back about £2.50 a pint. Booze aside, there are so many ways to spend money as a student, so it’s not surprising more than a quarter of students say their first loan instalment lasts less than a month (Endsleigh) and just two per cent of students manage without an overdraft.

Students starting this September will rack up between £43,000 to £57,000 of debt, depending on how much parents help them, says the Institute of Fiscal Studies (IFS) – the average debt will be just over £50,000. Some 71 per cent of students rely on money from their parents to make ends meet, research from Save the Student shows.

But most graduates won’t pay their loans back completely. More than three quarters will have some or even all their loans paid off by the government after 30 years, the IFS estimates – you only begin to repay it once your salary is above an earnings threshold.

Students take on two separate loans: one for fees, which is paid straight to the university – and a maintenance loan, which is paid into students’ bank accounts, normally in three instalments at the start of each term (maintenance grants were scrapped in 2015). These range from £8,430 outside London to up to £11,002 for students in the capital – but this just isn’t enough to get by, say students.

So where does the money go? Many students blow more than £120 on drink in freshers’ week. But rent takes the greatest chunk of money. At one of the cheapest student cities Manchester, student accommodation costs £5000 for the 40 week year, and at Portsmouth, it’s even cheaper – typically between £3,900 to £4,300, whereas at Bath it can be up to £6,300 for top of the range rooms, and of course London rents can be much higher. Plushest student accommodation, complete with en suite bathrooms, can cost at least £80 more a week than the cheapest rooms.

Typically students spend £821 a month – with nearly half of that – £394 – going on accommodation. They spend £126 a month on food, £69 on going out, £54 on bills (although university hall rents are usually inclusive) and £54 on travel, according to Save the Student’s latest figures. Add to that about £32 a month on books, £20 on mobile bills, £32 on clothes and £40 on other expenses. Even costs such as printing can take students by surprise.

Then there are one-off costs of setting up as a student– accommodation deposits are usually a month’s rent up front, and there’s the cost of bedding, furniture, cooking equipment and insurance. This year the law has changed on TV licences, so if you’re starting in September, you’ll need to buy a licence for all live viewing and recording – regardless of what channel you’re watching or device you’re using – mobile, laptop, games console. The £147 cost can be spread over the year, and you’ll get a refund for unused months when you’re not in student accommodation.

Student railcards cost £30 a year and National Express coach cards £25 for three years, and offer a third of standard fares. An NUS Extra card (www.nus.org.uk), at £12 a year or £32 for three years, opens up a whole range of student discounts on travel, eating out, fitness, even 10 per cent off at the Co-op and 25 per cent of some cinema tickets – an app helps you keep track of every current offer.

Setting a budget – and reviewing it regularly – is one of the most important steps you can take to keep control of your money, and there are plenty of mobile apps to help, using Save the Student, Brightside’s student calculator and tips from Money Saving Expert.

Banks will also advise, and they’re keen to snap up students. When choosing an account, it’s best to go for one which offers the best overdraft terms rather than short-term freebies. All universities will offer financial advice and many websites have budgeting tools.

Ask parents, other students – anyone in the know. Three in four students go to university wishing they’d had a better financial education.

When asked if university offers value for money, students are torn, with 49 per cent agreeing, and 51 per cent saying it isn’t.

University, of course is about much more than the money, but it’s worth trying to stay on top of your cash.

To view Student Addiction Treatment Guide by Oliver Clark, click here:

 

PREVIEW: Christmas Queens come to Brighton Centre in December

Tickets go on sale for Christmas Queens this morning at 9am.

Following a sold out UK tour in 2016, Christmas Queens return to the Brighton Centre on Tuesday, December 12 for a festive extravaganza!

To celebrate the release of the stars RuPaul’s Drag Race’s new album Christmas Queens #3 they will be celebrating with a night of festive drag realness hosted by everyone’s favourite judge, Michelle Visage.

Line-up includes Series 9 finalist Peppermint, Ivy Winters, Jinkx Monsoon, Ginger Minj, Thorgy Thor and Sharon Needles*!

*Line-up may be subject to change.


Event: Christmas Queens

Where: Brighton Centre, King’s Rd, Brighton BN1 2GR

When: Tuesday, December 12

Time: Door 6.30pm show starts at 7.30pm

Cost: Tickets from £39.05 go on sale on September 1 at 9am

To book tickets online, click here:

 

 

 

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