Day and boarding | Year 7 to 6th formrochester-college.org | 01634 828115

GCSE, AS & A2 Intensive Easter Revision CoursesWe have over 30 years’ experience teaching intensive revision courses in very small classes during the Easter holidays. Our fresh approach helps to boost confidence and grade prospects in a wide range of subjects.

4-8 April & 11-15 April

CONTENTS

4 WELCOME5 5 REALLY GOOD THINGS6 NEWS8 WORKSHOPS & CLASSES10 HUGUeNOT SILK: CANTERBURY AND

CATWALK13 MAIDSTONE FRINGE FESTIVAL14 BEN JUDD: STORIES IN THE DARK16 RICHARD NAVARRO: FIREWATCHING18 FILM

19 NICK WALKER: INDEPENDENT FILM X320 ROCHESTER SWEEPS FESTIVAL 201622 MUSIC 124 MUSIC 225 STUART TURNER & THE FLAT EARTH

SOCIETY26 THEATRE/COMEDY28 VISUAL ART 30 THE ARTIST'S SPACE: DAMEON PRIESTLY

leap

Ben Cameron is an artist living and working on Rochester High Street. Often cited as creating the 'world's saddest doodle' (Google it!). strangepaul.com.

Phil Dillon is a former Medway musician turned photographer who is best known for his work with bands such as Groovy Uncle, Theatre Royal, The Galileo 7, and Stuart Turner and the Flat Earth Society. He is also one of the team behind Homespun, Medway's independent music festival.

Emily Fuggle is the Director of the Huguenot Museum. She is a curator who spent over seven years at the Imperial War Museum, before leading the development of new galleries at the Garden Museum. Her role at the Huguenot Museum has meant rediscovering her passion for French history and culture (as well as testing how well she can remember the French she studied at university!).

Ben Judd is an artist based in London who uses performance and video. Recent commissions include a curated exhibition at the Beaney House of Art and Knowledge, Canterbury, 2016; fig-2 at the ICA, London, 2015; Whitstable Biennale, 2014. benjudd.com

Richard Navarro is a composer and performer who brings huge creativity and passion to both his stage shows and his education work, inspiring young people towards their own exploration of music and words. See Main Feature p16. richardnavarro.co.uk

Nick Walker is the director of Rochester Kino, screening contemporary world cinema and classic films at various venues around Medway and in London. Nick previously wrote for The Guardian, was director of National Schools Film Week and is a freelance writer, teacher and film cinema/festival programmer. He currently works for London’s famous Phoenix Cinema. rochesterkino.co.uk

WELCOME TO WOW! Your guide to the best of What’s On WhereMedway, Maidstone and the accessible beyond

Our long list of top contributors this month (to whom great thanks) gives me just enough room to welcome you to the pages of WOW magazine. The year is gathering pace, and there are creative ventures of every nature bursting to happen across the county.

We feature a unique live performance; a magic lantern exhibition; two stunning silk dresses from different centuries; a review of the latest album to join Medway’s thriving music scene - AND we’re throwing in a Mystery Treat each month for one lucky WOW Subscriber!

It must be Spring.

Emma Dewhurst editor@wowkent.co.uk

CONTRIBUTORS

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@EmmaDewhurst7

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DESIGN: A Stones Throw

PRINTING: Complete Print Group (CPG)9-10 Orchard Business CentreSanderson WayTonbridgeKent TN9 1QG01732 366666cpg-net.co.uk

PUBLISHER: Emma DewhurstWEBSITE: wowkent.co.ukPrint circulation: 10,000 copiesDistribution: Medway Towns, Maidstone, Gravesend & Canterbury

COPY DEADLINE for May issue:Wednesday 20 April 2016

©WOW Kent magazine

All rights reserved. While every effort has been made to ensure that details in this publication are correct, we cannot accept responsibility for such. Readers are advised to check information listed, to avoid disappointment.

Views expressed by contributors and advertisers do not necessarily reflect those of the editor and publisher.

PHOTOGRAPH OF THE EDITOR BY RIKARD ÖSTERLUND

Cover image by Nicholas Thurston – see Main Feature

BE A WOW AMBASSADOR!If you use any of our advertisers’ services, or attend an event because you saw it in WOW, please mention it – it really helps. Thank you.

REALLY GOOD THINGS TO DO THIS MONTH

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CHRIS BLUNKELLWhitstable artist Chris Blunkell believes that “extraordinary things can happen when we allow our conscious selves to take a walk.” He paints people and places and his artworks are quick and colourful, with an emphasis on line and movement. “Painting is for the eye and for the heart,” he says. Blunkell has exhibited in the UK and Los Angeles, and we are lucky enough to have his paintings at Nucleus Arts Gallery, Chatham, at the end of April. See Visual Art.

BOOKBINDING, ANYONE?We are blessed with choice for creative workshops in our corner of the world but once in a while a workshop leaps out and demands you take it. The idea of taking home two beautiful books of

my own making, using patterned paper and bound with coloured threads thrills my heart. ‘Coptic and Japanese Bookbinding’ is a one day course taking place at Intra on Sunday 17 April. See p8.

SEASONALLY EFFECTED Yay! Monthly open mic night ‘Seasonally Effected’ returns with a vengeance as a curated open

mic night which aims to prioritise new work inspired by the season, month, week, day or time of the event. Typically, ‘Seasonally’ mixes a range of performances, from music and poetry to film, theatre and comedy, and to consolidate its variety, organiser Roy Smith aims for a limit of two of any type of performance per event. New for 2016 is a longer headline spot, with artists paid from audience contributions. The first event will be on 27 April at 7.30pm, at Cafe@172 (Dot Cafe), High Street, Rochester ME1 1EX featuring a headline spot by Broken Banjo (acoustic).

TRACK DOGSA highlight of summer 2015 was a night in a Spanish taverna listening to these guys. Now they’ve pulled together their first UK tour, having

gathered quite a following in the Republic of Ireland, and Kent is where it all starts. Track them down at Sweeps, enjoy the folk rock rhythms and lead singer’s Garrett Wall’s vocals. trackdogsmusic.com

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SHAKESPEAREThe RSC and the Canterbury Players present a new production of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ at the Marlowe Theatre to coincide with the Bard’s birthday. Timeless and joyous, this is a play that always lends itself to re-invention, and with the unusual addition of local Canterbury Players staging the play within a play (with special dispensation from Equity) there should be much to enjoy. Deputy RSC Artistic Director Erica Whyman directs. 19 – 23 April. marlowetheatre.com.

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THE DIRECTORY IS COMING!Medway Adult and Community Learning Service (MACLS) will be launching their 2016/17 directory in June, which promises to be packed with new creative & inspiring courses. Full details of the launch events to follow in our May edition.

PUBLIC LE

CTURE :

NEW

Rochester and North Kent Music and Drama Festival

23 April 2016The Pilkington Building, University of Kent, Chatham

Maritime, Chatham, ME4 4TB. £ 7.50 for all-day admission as festival audience.

Tickets can be purchased via the Festival Secretary: 01634 316677.

All are invited to go along and support the performers. rnkmdf.org.uk

The ENGLISH FestivalSaturday 23 April 11am – 5pm

Celebrate St George’s Day and Shakespeare’s birthday at this most English of one day festivals at Riverside Country Park, Gillingham ME7 2XH.

• ‘Countryside Experience’ - animal cuddle corner, blacksmithing and wood carving

• ‘The Village Square’ – food stalls and live music• ‘The Seaside’ – fish and chips, donkey rides and

crazy golf!• Tour the grounds in The Little Red Bus • Watch scenes by The Canterbury Shakespeare

Festival from ‘Romeo & Juliet’ and ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’

• Enter one of the English Festival competitions:

Town Crier Competition: sign up on the day and take the title!

Best Decorated Cake competition: Bake a cake and enter it into the best decorated cake competition. The theme is St George’s Day and the cake must be no larger than 30 x 30cm. There will be two categories, under 14s and over 14s. If you have any further questions about the cake competition email, eventsteam@medway.gov.uk.

NB: Limited parking on site: take the Park and Ride service from Dockside Outlet multi-storey car park. Or enjoy a riverside stroll: Park and Walk from Bloors Wharf (at the bottom of Bloors Lane).

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TC!Margate’s Turner Contemporary is five! Join their celebrations on Saturday 16 April (11am – 8pm) with a day of live performances, music, stalls, workshops and conversations. (There’s also an opportunity to take part in their ‘Tarantism’ flash mob, inspired by the current exhibition: Joachim Koester: The Other Side of the Sky!).

strangepaul.com

How To Sell Your Arts And Crafts ONLINE FROM LESS THAN £1 A DAY!When: Saturday 16 April 10am – 4pm

Where: Innovation Centre Medway, Maidstone Road, Chatham ME5 9FD

What: A packed day designed especially for artists and crafters who want to start selling online, without hiring web designers, spending loads of money or getting fed up tackling supposedly easy to build websites!

The focus is on what you need to do to actually get the money into your bank account.

Contact and tutor: Sian Murphy of Stormchasers. Tel: 01634 823343. Find out more at kentcreativelive.org.

WALDERSLADEJEWISH-CHRISTIAN

RELATIONS: Challenges and Opportunities

Speaker: Dr Maria Diemling of Canterbury Christ Church

UniversityPart of Rev Nathan Ward’s

excellent public lecture series happening on the

second Sunday of the month at St William’s

Church, Walderslade Village Centre, ME5 9LR.

Free to all, doors open 6 for 6.30pm.

southchatham.org

PUBLIC LE

CTURE :

Do you like

singing?

PRESENTSFUN DEMENTAL

Night of the Burning Pessary

Sat 2 April 8pmRochester based theatre group Alternate Shadows and friends have collaborated to form Fun Demental, a comedy Charity Event which will raise funds for local charity Demelza Hospice Care for Children and MIND. Fun Demental presents an original comedy revue show ‘Night of The Burning Pessary’ on Saturday 2 April 8pm at King’s Rochester School Hall, The Precinct, Rochester ME1.

To raise funds before the show Fun Demental are looking for people to pay for a phrase or word which will then be written into the show and performed live on the night. So if you’re a frustrated stand-up who wants to see your best lines performed live, here’s your chance!

Phrases and word donations for the Fun Demental event can be made via the Justgiving page (gofundme.com/fundemental): suggested donations are £20 for a phrase of up to 10 words and £5 a word.

Tickets for the show are available on 01634 311387 or email info@alternate-shadows.com (£10 full price, £9 Students/O.A.P.’s concession).

SELL

RAINHAM LADIES CHOIR are always pleased to welcome new members. Rehearsals take place on Monday nights (7.30-9.45pm) at St Thomas of Canterbury School, Romany Road, Gillingham ME8 6JH.

To find out more visit their website rainhamladieschoir.org.uk or contact 01634 370797 or 613715.

SPRING CRAFT FAIRSt. Margaret's Church, Lower Halstow ME9 7ED

Saturday 9 April, 2pm to 4pm

This lovely church is holding their first sale of the year and looks forward to welcoming old friends and new. Join regulars for a wide selection of local crafts at possibly the prettiest location around. Refreshments available.

HUNGRY FOR HISTORYAn entertaining series of history talks at The Quills, Rochester High Street, including a two-course meal. See hungryforhistory.co.uk for more details.

Next talk: Tue 19 April 6.45pm: Charlotte Bronte’s 200th birthday

COULD YOU BE A HUGUENOT?Join genealogical historian and author Dr Kathy Chater for a talk on how to trace your Huguenot ancestry. At the Huguenot Museum, 95 Rochester High Street. Sat 16 April 2.30 – 4pm, £10. Book on 01634 789347.

WOWFILM MUSIC TALKSTHEATRE GIGS ARTSWeekly

A fun round-up of What's On WhereGo to wowkent.co.uk & click on the envelope

icon on our Home page to subscribe

Join our mailing list to receive

leapspring!

into

With our round-up of WORKSHOPS & CLASSES

FOR ADULTS

From MEDWAY FINE PRINTMAKERS:

LINOCUTSat 16 April, 10.30am – 4pm£60Nick Morley aka ‘Linocut Boy’ of Hello Studios in Margate and author of new book 'Linocut for Artists and Designers' (out in April) leads this beginners course, offering tips to get great results based on his own extensive experience working with lino.

PHOTOPOLYMER ETCHING & RELIEF PLATESSat 16 & Sun 17 April, 11am – 5pm£120Artist Josie Molloy teaches this magical, light-sensitive process over

two days and shows how it can be used to print incredibly varied marks. Delicate tones are held in photographic images made with the intaglio method, and bold shapes can be achieved with hand-drawn relief plates.

COPTIC & JAPANESE BOOKBINDINGSun 17 April, 11am – 5pm£60In this beginner's class with artist Alex Czinczel, you will learn two decorative ways of sewing a book, Coptic and Japanese. Use decorative patterned paper to make covers and experiment with different colour threads. You will go home with at least two beautiful finished books.

INTRA, 337 - 341 High Street, Rochester ME1 1DA. Book at medwayfineprintmakers.co.uk

From NUCLEUS ARTS:

DRAWING AND PAINTING TECHNIQUES with Brian Thompson Six weeks from Friday 15 April to 13 May, 10am – 12pmAll ability levels, beginners welcome. Ages 18+

Develop your artistic skills: improve your drawing, sketching, painting or use of oils and acrylics.

£60 for 5 week course. All materials provided. You will be working in a small group of up to 10 others. Tickets: universe.com/

drawingandpainting brianthompsonIn addition to the above, Nucleus Arts are offering a wide range of new courses this Spring. Courses on offer include:

• Life Drawing• Skyline Painting with Credit Cards• Glass Fusing• Collage• Screen Printing• Creative Writing• 'Make it and Build it Club'

age 7 plus• 'Coffee and Colouring Club'

for grownups!

Visit nucleusarts.com for more details. Nucleus Arts, 272 High Street, Chatham ME4 4BP. Tel: 01634 812108.

FOR KIDS

SPRINGBOARD classes for April:

BUSKING AND STREET ENTERTAINER DAY Mon 4 April, 10am-4pm (8-14yrs)

The Brook Theatre, Old Town Hall, Chatham ME4 With tutor Mighty Mike of Dizzy O’Dare.

Outdoor entertainer extraordinaire, Mighty Mike (of ‘Giant Balloon Show’ fame), leads this introduction to clowning, circus

tricks, magic, jokes and developing your own characters to try out on your audience at the end of the day. £15.

GRAFFITI DESIGN AND SPRAY PAINTING Mon 11 April, 10am-4pm (10-16yrs) The Brook Theatre, Old Town Hall, Chatham ME4With tutor Greg Stobbs aka Squirl-art

Squirl is back by popular demand! Improve your drawing and colour techniques and learn about different graffiti styles. Create designs and stencils, print them onto fabric and spray paint onto boards. £15.

For more information about Springboard classes tel: 01634 338319 or email the Arts Team at arts@medway.gov.uk. To download a booking form go to enjoymedway.co.uk.

23 SUBMARINES:

FREE CHILDREN’S VISUAL ARTS AND POETRY WORKSHOPS Become part of the incredible true story that is 23 submarines: VISUAL ARTS (ages 7 - 11): Sat 9 April, 10 – 12 noon at Gillingham Library ME7 1BGSat 9 April, 1.30 – 3.30pm at Rainham Library ME8 7LR

Bring along personal treasures rescued from the river or its banks,

and use a selection of materials and techniques to create your own artwork, which could become part of a major installation touring Medway libraries from May to September. One of a series of workshops with Päivi Seppälä and established local artists Alison Swan, Wendy Daws, Alison Boyce, and Malcolm Attryde.

POETRY (ages 7 - 12):Tue 5 April, 10 – 12noon at Rainham Library ME8 7LRTue 5 April , 2 – 4pm Gillingham Library ME7 1BG

Taking inspiration from lost stories and submerged objects which have been rediscovered in the River Medway, explore the art of writing poetry in a series of workshops with Dan Simpson and acclaimed local writers James McKay, Sarah Hehir, Sam Hall, Barry Fentiman and Patience Agbabi.

Workshops are FREE but booking is essential. Call 01634 337799 or visit the library. For more information contact Sarah May on 01634 813179. medway.gov.uk/23submarines

From MEDWAY FINE PRINTMAKERS

PRINTMAKING CLASSES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE Three-hour classes designed to help young people aged 10 - 15 years develop their artistic skills and portfolio, with detailed technical instruction in a printmaking technique. All materials are included. See website for details.

GELLI MONOPRINTING Fri 8 April, 2.30pm – 5.30pm£15Gelli printing is a versatile method of monoprinting using a flexible rubber-like plate that holds textures really well. You can make prints very quickly, and layer them up

with bright colours that pop dramatically, or subtle harmonious ones to give a wonderful depth to the images. It’s

great for nature prints, building up designs with stencils, and overlaying colour to create beautiful patterns.

THERMOFAX SCREEN PRINTINGTue 12 April, 11am – 2pm£20Make a lightweight thermofax screen from your own artwork with this super easy screen printing method. Print onto fabric or paper, then take the screen home to use again later. In this workshop you’ll expose the heat sensitive screen mesh with your own A5 sized artwork, stretch it on a plastic frame, then print in a single colour.

INTRA, 337 - 341 High Street, Rochester ME1 1DABook at medwayfineprintmakers.co.uk

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Museum director, EMILY FUGGLE, tells the story

Our special objects in focus display, ‘Huguenot silk: Canterbury and Catwalk’, explores the story of Canterbury silk through three Huguenot families in the silk trade. Its highlights include a dress of silk damask woven in Canterbury in 1724 displayed alongside a contemporary dress from the latest collection by top fashion design house, Alexander McQueen.

Silk has a long tradition of manufacture in Kent: French-speaking Protestant refugees were weaving in Canterbury as early as the 1570s, and by the early seventeenth century were dominating silk production, rivalling London in the trade.

Canterbury production was more diverse than that of London – records show wools as well as silks of numerous kinds were being made in the town. And Canterbury was also unique in nurturing its designers’ talents in-house where they learnt to work the loom in order to make better and more workable designs. They came intimately to know the weaving practice and flowered silks, in particular, really flourished in Huguenot hands.

A new display at Rochester’s Huguenot Museum juxtaposes Huguenot silk from Kent with a Huguenot-inspired dress from Alexander McQueen’s latest Spring/Summer2016 collection

Huguenot silk: Canterbury and the Catwalk

ARTEFACTSof thehand

From the early eighteenth century London overtook the Canterbury trade and rose to prominence in the manufacture of finer worsteds, half silks and brocaded silks: weaving became a mainstay of Spitalfields (and of Huguenot weavers there) right into the twentieth century.

The Museum owns a piece of Spitalfields silk woven by one French Hospital resident by the name of Sarah Burton. Our Sarah was a resident in the French Hospital, a home for ailing people of Huguenot descent, from 1884 until her death in 1901. A lifelong weaver, Sarah found a home here because of ‘badness of trade, ill-health and old age’.

Fast forward to the March issue of ‘Vogue’, or ‘Harper’s Bazaar’, and in a strange echo of the past in the present, we find another Sarah Burton’s work has risen to prominence. Taking for inspiration the story of the Huguenots and the accomplished workmanship for which they are so well known, the Head Designer for Alexander McQueen sent Huguenot crosses and delicate silks down the catwalk and into the fashion pages. The line of beauty, floral designs and frockcoats, special ‘artefacts of the hand’ as Sarah Burton describes them, graced her collection This was a coincidence that encapsulates the heights of fashion and the reality of working the trade one hundred years ago.

The McQueen collection first came to the catwalk last October, bringing renewed attention to the Huguenots’ skill and creativity in silk weaving. The event signposts to the exciting future of the Museum, drawing attention to the Huguenots’ continued relevance today. This silk story finds parallels in other crafts too – silver, jewellery clock-making – all key Huguenot trades. It is exciting that we can start telling these stories in the country’s first museum dedicated to the country’s first refugees.

‘Huguenot silk: Canterbury and Catwalk’ will be on display from Wednesday 20 April to Saturday 18 June at the Huguenot Museum, 95 High Street (above Medway Visitors Information Centre), Rochester ME1 1LX. Tel: 01634 789347.

huguenotmuseum.org11

Professional tuition in maths & English

172b High StreetRochester ME1 1EX01634 400240rochester@kip-mcgrath.com

Qualified teachersIndividual tutoring programmesMedway 11+ preparation

DARTFORD CREATIVE PRESENTS

Both sessions 6pm, The Mick Jagger Centre, Shepherds Lane, Dartford, DA1 2JZ Email: michelle@icontheatre.org.uk

‘KNOW YOUR CREATIVE BUSINESS’

A series of free sessions designed to provide creatives with the knowledge and power they need to succeed within the creative industries

WED 25 MAYIMPACT & ATTRACTING ATTENTION Networking strategies, creative marketing & publicity stunts!

WED 8 JUNECREATIVE CRIMES Essential IP, legal matters & tax demystified.

 

Teaching  languages  to  adults  

One  to  one  or  class  tuition  available  in  French,  Spanish,  Russian,    

Italian  and  English  as  a  Foreign  Language.      

www.medwaylanguages.org.uk  

 

Teaching  languages  to  adults  

One  to  one  or  class  tuition  available  in  French,  Spanish,  Russian,    

Italian  and  English  as  a  Foreign  Language.      

www.medwaylanguages.org.uk  

Free Same Day Delivery Order online or tel: 01634 843 024

www.rochesterflorists.co.uk

Stephen Harries Stained Glass design and restorationE: stephenharries.glass@gmail.comT: 0779 608 0338Facebook: Stephen Harries Stained GlassRochester & Goldfinch Galleries Whitstable

Classes Now Available

PET PORTRAITSwww.emmabaker.me.uk

TEACHING LANGUAGES TO ADULTSOne to one or class tuition available in French, Spanish, Russian, Italian and English as a Foreign Language.medwaylanguages.org.uk

Workshops

and short

courses

available

1 Ridley Rd RochesterT: 07702 269972

E:Heatherhtt@mac.comhazelnut-press.com

1st Sunday of the month

ARTS CAFE3 APRIL JO ENRIGHT

LEADING COMEDIENNE1 MAY PHILIPPA HANNA

GOSPEL SINGER/SONGWRITERFree to all – Pay What You Want!

Doors 6pm for 6.30pm startFree to all – Pay What You Want!

St William’s Church, Walderslade Village Centre ME5 9LRsouthchatham.org

FREE FAMILY FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES FOR ALL

FANCY A STALL AT THE ARTS MARKET?

GET IN TOUCH!

SPH wants to hear from all independent traders –

email: info@sunpierhouse.co.uk

13

MAIDSTONE FRINGE FESTIVAL27 APRIL – 2 MAY 2016

CLIVE AUSTEN previews

The sixth Maidstone Fringe Festival runs from Wednesday 27 April to Monday 2 May, with over 100 live bands, DJs and performing artists across 14 venues in the town centre, with a wide variety of musical styles represented - the main focus being on original and independent artists from the South East. This year sees a musical development in terms of key genres and subcultures that have been present and popular in Kent over many years, coming to the fore. Home-grown psychedelia and progressive rock has strong roots in the South East, and one of the originators of the ‘Canterbury scene’ – Caravan, play their first local show in several years at the Music Room, Pizza Express on Saturday 30 April, featuring singer-guitarist Pye Hastings and long-standing members viola player and multi-instrumentalist Geoffrey Richardson (Caravan, Penguin Café Orchestra) and Jan Schelhass on keyboards (Camel, Caravan). Contemporary Canterbury psychedelic groove outfit Lapis Lazuli also make an appearance at The Flowerpot as part of the festival, as do

Maidstone’s We Are Bandicoot with their pop and funk influences, playing one of Earl’s two all-day events. Dub, reggae and ska have always had a strong following in Kent, and are well represented, with PIL bassist and British music legend Jah Wobble bringing his dub-rock fusion band Invaders Of The Heart to the town (Music Room, 27 April), along with reggae artists Dennis Bovell and Winston Francis, who headline the Skafest all-dayer at the Source Bar on Saturday 30 April. Elsewhere at The Social Chill bar and Drakes, Ben Russell & The Charmers and Sensi Soundsystem also appear. Folk and acoustic music is well represented this year, particularly at the Style & Winch, with Friday 29 April showcasing four acoustic singer-songwriters: Thomas D Palmar, Emilia, Vaughan Batchelor and Rosie Ord, while real ale pub The Flowerpot features appearances from Medway’s raw-folk exponents The Dredgermen, and a solo show from Ben Mills, alongside one man ‘mechanical blues/alt-folk’ phenomenon Funke & The 2 Tone Baby.

Blues also seems to be making a resurgence in Kent, with many artists providing a new and alternative twist on the genre: Malaya Blue and the Chris Corcoran Trio both play at The White Horse, while Earls has a strong alternative blues line-up on Sunday 1 May which includes the award-winning King Size Slim, Medway’s raw blues-rockers Broken Banjo and the incredibly heavy Salvation Jayne – a nearly all female band who meet the genre at a similar point to early Black Sabbath and Blue Cheer. Lastly, Kent’s underground rock/post-punk, alternative subculture surfaces at Earls on Thursday 28 April headlined by the critically acclaimed and fiercely independent instrumental rockers Upcdownc, with support from Greg Websters Exoskeleton’s noise-rock project and Oskar Vilcrow, at a ‘Make Some Noise’ curated event. For more information and to download a free festival CD compilation go to maidstonefringe.com

FOLK | JAZZ | SKA | PROG ROCK | PSYCHEDELIA | REGGAE | POST-PUNK |

STORIES IN THED A R K

Contemporary responses to the magic lantern

WOW INTERVIEWS ARTIST BEN JUDD ABOUT HIS PRACTICE AND THE NEW EXHIBITION HE HAS CURATED FOR THE BEANEY HOUSE OF ART AND KNOWLEDGE IN CANTERBURY

Your work seems to cross over between film, photography and performance: could you describe how these intertwine in your practice?

I have previously used stereoscopic (3D) photography as it is a largely obsolete medium, like the magic lantern, and a prism through which some of the themes that are central to my practice, such as magic, belief and immersion, are explored. These early optical devices have the potential to be magical – partly through their historical association, and the awe that they inspired pre-cinema. With these media there is a paradox: the revealing of the process somehow increases a sense

of wonder. Conversely, I have no idea how a computer works, and it therefore has no sense of magic.

Recently the work has focussed on video and performance as a way of examining my relationship to specific individuals and groups. My work also explores how communities can evolve rhythmically or choreographically. In my performances with actors, a pattern might start emerging from a group of people, and that pattern is increasingly about a physical centering, a coming together.

The magic lantern has been prevalent in your practice. Could you give us a brief historical overview of this and how working with it has developed?

I have used magic lantern projections in several recent performances as a way of connecting the audience to gatherings that instill a sense of belonging and wonder, such as campfire storytelling, séances, or Quaker meetings; the projected imagery often acting as metaphors for otherworldly experiences. I am interested in the way the medium can invite participation: historically, magic lantern shows were the first time people saw projected moving images, and were used for storytelling, education, and entertainment.

In profound contrast to our digital age in which the technology is largely incomprehensible, the magic

lantern’s relatively simple analogue mechanisms and projected images paradoxically allow a sense of wonder, in which the viewer suspends disbelief and engages their imagination. Unlike the pre-recorded nature of cinema, the creative act takes place live with the audience, encouraging a sense of participation.

You have curated the ‘Stories in the Dark’ exhibition at the Beaney. Which other artists are involved?

The exhibition includes gallery work by eight internationally recognised artists: Dryden Goodwin, Lindsay Seers, Benedict Drew, Louisa Fairclough, Haroon Mirza, Jordan Baseman, Adam Chodzko and Guy Sherwin. All of their work has a way of engaging the viewer in an exploratory process - there is space, or gap in the work that allows the viewer to use their imagination and participate. Several of the artists also use contemporary versions or descendants of the magic lantern, such as Guy Sherwin and Louisa Fairclough’s use of projected 16mm film, and Benedict Drew’s digital projections.

What was the artists’ starting point?

The only theme was the magic lantern - to respond to the medium. They were also invited to explore and interact with the Beaney’s extensive collection - I am interested in how the Victorian museum’s obsession with collecting and categorising objects from around the world can be seen reflected in the lantern’s use as a tool for

bringing the distant, often ‘exotic’ and unseen world into close contact with the public.

Are there any specific interven-tions with the collections by these artists that you would like to highlight?

The three artists who have interacted with the collection are Seers, Goodwin and Chodzko. Seers’s ‘We Could Never Have Seen it Coming’ (2016) has involved using several items from the museum’s extensive offsite store and bringing them into the gallery, which are arranged in order to create a specific environment for her work.

Dryden Goodwin is presenting ‘13 X Christine’ (2016), a series of drawings produced on traditional 3¼ inch magic lantern slides, that will be both embedded alongside original slides in the Beaney’s collection and also projected through a 19th century magic lantern. Chodzko has produced 'Ask the Dust’ (2016), a projection of dust from the cannon in the Beaney’s offsite store, and ‘Mask Filter Arc’ (2016), incorporating original lantern slides into a new sculptural work.

And what’s next? What other projects are you working on at the moment?

I have various projects in the pipeline… I’m really interested in designing and building a temporary structure that can be used to house various offsite performances. You can subscribe to my mailing list for regular updates! http://benjudd.com/contact/

‘Stories in the Dark: Contemporary Responses to the Magic Lantern’ is at The Beaney House of Art and Knowledge, 18 High Street, Canterbury until 19 June. Pay What You Can.

thebeaney.co.uk.benjudd.com

LIVE MAGIC LANTERN PERFORMANCES, 16 April

Various galleries at The Beaney: free admission, drop in

Four unique live performances take place throughout the day, all of them using the magic lantern in different ways. Ben Judd will be restaging the performance that he showed at the ICA last year, ‘Apart, We are Together’, which references the ‘pose slide’ genre of magic lantern projections, popular in variety theatre, pantomime, and vaudeville in Europe and USA, 1890s-1950s. Also showing will be Barnyard Productions, Jeremy Brooker and Lamplighters, Louisa Fairclough, David Francis and Joss Marsh, Nicole Mollett and Frog Morris.

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HERE NAVARRO DESCRIBES FOR WOW HOW HE AND THURSTON WROTE THE EPIC SONGS THAT WILL FEATURE IN THEIR BRAND NEW SHOW:

The JourneyWith our van on cruise control, and Paul Simon’s ‘Graceland’ on the stereo, Nicholas and myself were on an exhausted high as we turned onto the A1 near Newcastle last summer, returning from our tour of Scotland.

Unfortunately, we soon hit traffic, and the CD player failed, leaving us wondering how long it would take to get home – and if we would ever be able to write a set of songs that had the power and energy of Simon’s classic album from 1986. With nowhere to go, and not much to do, we started writing, and by the time we arrived home to Kent, we had a notebook full of ideas and lyrics for a set of new songs.

Eight months later, and the journey begins again. On Saturday 23 April, we are set to launch a new collection of tracks at the Gulbenkian Theatre in Canterbury alongside a group of 40 wonderful singers, before taking the songs to festivals and venues across the UK. We might need a bigger van this time...

The MusicThe songs we will be performing range from driving, beat-fuelled dance songs with uplifting gospel backings through to tender, atmospheric love songs. Sticking to my belief that a song should define its own style, different tracks bring in sounds from reggae, folk, swing, flamenco and dance and blend my piano, synths, violins and vocals with the unique talents of my band and singers.

‘Lightfall’ is a big, piano-driven number remembering the Firewatchers of the 1942 blitz – the

brave men and women who ran the length of the Cathedral roof, sweeping the firebombs to the burn out on the ground below. ‘Halfway’ is unmistakeably a love song, but takes its inspiration from Princess Bertha and Prince Ethelbert - Canterbury’s first celebrity couple - falling in love despite their religious differences in the 6th Century AD.

21st Century songsAs we were beginning to write the lyrics for the songs, it became clear to us that these characters from the past were not only providing golden material for writing songs, but were also leading us into thinking about our own world in the 21st Century. ‘Halfway’ then became Bertha’s love song to her pagan King, at the same time as asking “Do we really need so much stuff?” As I wrote ‘Lightfall’, and thought more about the courage of Cathedral’s wartime firewatchers, it made me ask myself the question – would I have the courage to do the same?

RICHARD NAVARRO: Bringing the songs back home

On 23 April 2016 singer-songwriter Richard Navarro launches a new collection of songs at the Gulbenkian Theatre in Canterbury before embarking on his second national tour

Pioneering musician Navarro has developed a unique performance style, supercharging the folk traditions of melody and storytelling with live looping and improvisation and enhancing his lives with extraordinary visuals, featuring illustrations and animations by bassist Nicholas Thurston.

Once the ideas were there, and some of the lyrics, the hard work began. In line with other albums that we had produced, we thought it was important not to set one particular style for the album, but to make the music just right for each individual song. And we decided that this would be dance music, which – for us – takes in Paul Simon, Air, Daft Punk, Prince and Bowie.

After countless hours of rehearsals, reversals, hair-pulling, home recordings, and more rehearsals, the first few songs were ready for performance.

In the first months of 2016, we have had the chance to play some of the new songs to audiences on our shows for venues on various rural touring networks across the country, to positive response.

The LaunchOur show at the Gulbenkian marks the official launch for the songs, for which we decided to do something very special, and put a ‘call out’ for experienced singers in the Canterbury area to lend us their voices. ‘Uplifting’ and ‘epic’ is how I have heard the singers describe the experience during rehearsals. If this is the reaction of the audience too - as we hope it might be - then that traffic jam on the A1 last August might have not been a bad thing after all.

richardnavarro.co.ukthegulbenkian.co.uksoundcloud.com/richard-navarro

RICHARD NAVARRO: Bringing the songs back home

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The Launch ShowRichard Navarro launches his new collection of songs at The Gulbenkian, University of Kent, Canterbury CT2 7NB on Saturday 23 April at 7.30pm. It is a full band show with live visuals + special guests. Tickets £10 available from the Box Office on 01227 769075.

Further Kent tour datesThursday 16 June: Chambers, Folkestone

Saturday 3 September: In the Woods Festival

For a full list of tour dates, visit the website.

Listen Live

Richard is performing on the Dominic King Show, BBC Radio Kent on Friday 22 April at 6.45pm

Band Members

Richard Navarro (voices, instruments, loops)Nicholas Thurston (bass)James Hatton (percussion)

FILM

LIVE!

ODEON CHATHAMLeviathon Way, Chatham ME4 4LL 0871 224 4007

BOLSHOI LIVE: DON QUIXOTESun 10 Apr 4pmExuberant ballet based on Miguel de Cervantes’ beloved novel. 190 minsROYAL OPERA HOUSE LIVE: LUCIA DI LAMMERMOORMon 25 Apr 7.15pm, 180 minsodeon.co.uk/cinemas/chatham/151

AFTERNOON FILM TREATCentral Theatre, 170 High Street, Chatham ME4 4AS01634 338338

THE MOUSE THAT ROARED (U) 1959Tue 19 Apr 2.30pmDir: Jack ArnoldCast: Peter Sellers, Jean Seberg, William HartnellComedy satire. An impoverished backward nation declares a war on the United States of America, hoping to lose, but things don't go according to plan. 83 minsmedwayticketslive.co.uk

MAIDSTONE FILM SOCIETYHazlitt Theatre, Earl StreetMaidstone ME14 1PL01622 753922Membership £24; Couples £42; Senior/Student £19; Guest £4Enquiries: info@maidstone-film-society.org.uk Membership enquiries: 01622 746 078

SHAUN THE SHEEP MOVIE (U) 2015Mon 18 Apr 8pmDir: Mark Burton, Richard StarzakCast: Justin Fletcher, John Sparkes, Omid DjaliliAnimated comedy adventure suitable for all. See opposite. This is the final film this season. 115 minsmaidstone-film-society.org.uk

NUCLEUS ARTS CREATIVE RIVERSIDE HUB13 Military Road Chatham ME4 4JG

FAMILY FRIENDLY SCREENING:9 (12A) 2009Sat 23 Apr 10.30amDir: Shane AckerCast: Elijah Wood, Jennifer Connelly, Crispin GloverAnimated adventure about a rag doll that awakens in a postapocalyptic future holds the key to humanity's salvation.

THE DIVIDEThu 28 Apr 7pmDocumentary that tells the story of 7 individuals striving for a better life in modern day US and UK. Tickets £6.50.nucleusarts.com

ROCHESTER KINO @ BROOK THEATRE170 High St, Chatham ME4 4ASFortnightly on Wednesday Evenings at 7.30pm. Screening the best of cinema classics and Contemporary World Cinema. £7, £3 students. Twitter: @RochesterKino

FARGO (18) 1996Wed 13 Apr 7.30pmDir: Coen BrothersCast: Frances McDorman, Steve Buscemi, William H MacyIt’s worth seeing this for Frances McDormand’s award-winning performance as the dogged, pregnant police woman Marge Gunderson alone. See opposite. 118 mins

CAROL (15) 2015Wed 27 Apr 7.30pmDir: Todd HaynesCast: Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara‘Todd Haynes’s flawless adaptation of Patricia Highsmith’s novel is a ravishing

tour de force’. Mark Kermode, The Guardian. 138 minsrochesterkino.co.uk

ROCHESTER PICTURE PALACE @ THE HUGUENOT MUSEUMEvery other Tuesday at 7.30pmThe Huguenot Museum (above Medway Visitors Centre)95 High Street, Rochester ME1 1LX £6, £3.50 students.

SICARIO (15) 2015 (USA)Tue 5 Apr 7.30pmDir: Denis VilleneuveCast: Emily Blunt, Benicio Del Toro, Josh BrolinGripping, critically-acclaimed, intelligent thriller centring round an FBI agent thrust into the never-ending war on drugs in the borderlands between the U.S.A. and Mexico. 121 mins

THE TRIBE (18) 2015 (UKR)Tue 19 Apr 7.30pmDir: Miroslav SlaboshpitskyCast: Grigoriy Fesenko, Yana NovikovaEerily compelling and explicit tale set in a Kiev boarding school for deaf adolescents where a new student is introduced to a world of teenage gangs and crime. Filmed entirely in sign-language and without subtitles. See opposite. 132 mins

THE LADY IN THE VAN (12) 2015 (UK)Tue 3 May 7.30pmDir: Nicholas HytnerCast: Maggie Smith, Alex Jennings, Jim BroadbentThis poignantly moving story

from Alan Bennett is based on real events, with a cantanker-ous homeless woman parking her campervan in his driveway and living there for 15 years. 104 mins

CHILDREN’S FILM CLUB @ THE HUGUENOT MUSEUMThe Huguenot Museum95 High Street, Rochester ME1 1LX. £3 per person. Relaxed screening.NEXT SCREENING is on 28 May: A CAT IN PARIS rochesterfilmsociety.co.uk

PAUL GREENGRASS CINEMA@THE WOODVILLE Woodville Place, Gravesend DA12 1DDEASTER FAMILY FILMKUNG FU PANDA 3 (PG) 2016Tue 5 Apr 11amWed 6 Apr 11am, 2pm and 5pmWith the voices of Jack Black and Dustin Hoffman.Adults £6, concs £5.50, under 12s £3. 11am Club £4. 95 minsSee website for more April films. woodville.co.uk

SUN PIER HOUSEMedway Street, Chatham ME4 4HFSPECIAL SCREENING:STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS (12A) 2015Thur 21 April, time tbcDir: J J AbramsCast: Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar IsaacSpecial screening to celebrate the film’s release on DVD. With special guests including ac-tors from the film. Ticket price tbc from zukes.org. Email: adam_zukes@yahoo.co.uk. 135 mins

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X3APril PREVIEWS BY NICK WALKER

ROCHESTER KINO @ THE BROOK THEATRE

FARGO (18) 1996WEDNESDAY 13 APRIL 7.30PM

A simply wonderful film, which inspired the recent television show. Joel and Ethan Coen return to their ‘Blood Simple’ roots with this bizarre, dialect-strewn tale of a kidnapping gone wrong which is apparently based on a true story despite its ‘any similarity to persons living or dead’ disclaimer. Frances McDormand deservedly won the Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role, with a stellar performance. Steve Buscemi and William H Macy add to a brilliant cast. Filled with the Coens' trademark dark wit and unique camera angles, there is never a dull moment.

MAIDSTONE FILM SOCIETY @ HAZLITT THEATRE

SHAUN THE SHEEP MOVIE (U) 2015MONDAY 18 APRIL 8PM

Based on the popular television show, those clever folk at Aardman tell the tale of a flock of sheep who travel to the Big City to rescue their amnesia-stricken farmer. Shaun the Sheep first appeared in the 1995 animation, ‘A Close Shave’ starring Wallace and Gromit. The filmmakers’ daring move of abandoning dialogue altogether, rather telling the story though barnyard animal noises, sound effects and clever sight gags really pays off.

As pure and charming as it gets: this romp is beautifully realised and well told, for adults and children alike.

ROCHESTER FILM SOCIETY @ ROCHESTER PICTURE PALACE

THE TRIBE (18) 2014 TUESDAY 19 APRIL 7.30PM

Ukrainian writer/director Myroslav Slaboshpytskiy has created an unusual, extremely ambitious and brave film, which features no spoken dialogue whatsoever, has no subtitles and is told entirely via sign language. It is set in a Kiev school for deaf adolescents and played out by real-life deaf actors, who skilfully use their bodies to communicate. It actually has its roots of narrative and expression in silent cinema. All told via Steadicam and with great unbroken takes, the film is a pleasantly surprising and gripping spectacle of drama and tragedy.

See Film (opposite) for full listings.

EMMA DEWHURST has been given a sneak preview

This popular, three-day festival celebrating May Day and the 19th Century chimney sweeps’ annual holiday is in its 36th year. Morris sides, art and craft stalls, an artisan produce fair and family activities punctuate the plethora of folk music playing open air stages across the town.

Festival music director, Doug Hudson, told WOW earlier this month that this year’s Sweeps features some ‘cracking acts’!

Headlining for 2016 are Kimber’s Men, the UK’s top shanty group and young folk band Gentlemen of Few, who were recent BBC Folk Award nominees.

Also headlining (and making their Sweeps debut) are a four piece Bluegrassy harmony group of ex pats living in Madrid, Track Dogs. Following their considerable success across the water in Ireland, Track Dogs are making Kent their point of entry into the UK. Describing themselves as ‘folk rock with a box and a bugle’, word has it Track Dogs has ‘em dancing in the aisles.

Singer/songwriter Sky Smeed from Kansas also comes with great recommendation, and favourites Sur Les Docks from France are joined by another French group Kriek Balise. Popular Medway band The Flowing is giving a special, free but ticket only concert in the Huguenot Museum (call 01634 789347 to book your ticket) and Simon Care and his ceilidh band are holding free barn dances in the Castle Moat for kids and adults. Storytelling will be on offer from theatre group Troupe and Ash Mandrake.

Hundreds of Morris dancers will descend on Rochester’s High Street, of course (see below for locations) plus Drumskullz and belly dancers, Tribal Banshees.

In addition to headliners Track Dogs, new acts for 2016 are The Thumping Tommys, Justin & The Argonauts, A.B. & The Underclass, The Filthy Spectacula, Liv Austen, The Oakland Brothers, who will play alongside popular return bands Hobo Jones & The Junkyard Dogs, The Allen Family, Thee Waltons, Hot Rats, We Ghosts, Green Diesel and countless more.

Keep an eye on wowkent.co.uk in the run-up to the Festival, where we will publish a more detailed, day-by-day programme. See you there!

ROCHESTERSWEEPS

2016

FESTIVAL FEATURES

PRE FESTIVAL ENTERTAINMENTFriday 29 April

7.30pm Gordon House Hotel, Rochester – PRE FESTIVAL MUSIC FROM THE SONGWRITERS’ DEN

8.45pm – 11pmGood Intent: SINGAROUND SESSION WITH SIMON BARLOWGranville Arms: BRUISEMan of Kent Alehouse: JUSTIN & THE ARGONAUTSPrince of Wales, Strood: SUR LES DOCKS

JACK-IN-THE-GREEN AWAKENING CEREMONY Sunday 1 May at 5.32amBluebell Hill picnic areaMorris sides and sweeps bring Jack to life at the crack of dawn. Everybody is welcome at this traditional welcome of May Day.

THROUGHOUT THE FESTIVAL10am – 5pm High Street – Morris Sides from around the Country perform throughout the day. Plus the festival three stages are situated at the Crown Public House, City Wall Wine Bar and the Old Post Office.

Corn Exchange - Mind, body and Soul event

Boley Hill area - Traditional Musical Instrument fair, Local Kentish Produce fair and Recollect Records fair, plus the festival’s Boley Hill stage.

War Memorial - Children’s circus workshops

Rochester Castle Gardens - Artisan Produce Fair, Folk-art and Mini Psychic fair, Children’s traditional fun fair, Real ale tent and full licensed bar plus the festivals main stage and more.

Sat 30 April – Mon 2 May

Festival

HIGHLIGHTS/NEW FOR 2016 TROUPE – An hour of folk stories and music from the devised theatre company Troupe, for kids and grown ups alike.

CEILIDH FOR KIDS AND GROWN UPS – Simon Care’s band and caller take you through some favourite barn dances in the shadow of Rochester Castle.

And look out for the have-a-go pianos on the High Street!

BAND HEADLINERS

• KIMBER’S MEN• GENTLEMEN OF FEW• SUR LES DOCKS• TRACK DOGS• SKY SMEED• GREEN DIESEL

Further Information: Medway Visitor Information Centre, 95 High Street, Rochester, Kent ME1 1LX. Tel: 01634 338141. Email: visitor.centre@medway.gov.uk.

MORRIS SIDES - Morris sides will be performing across the High Street at the following locations:

Guildhall forecourt George Vaults Jolly Knight Boley Hill j/w High Street (Ye Arrow)St Marys MeadowVisitor Information Centre La Providence The Eagle Tavern Crow Lane j/w High Street Thai for two

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MUSIC 1

MAIDSTONE FRINGE FESTIVAL28 Apr – 2 MayAt 14 venues across the county town. See page 13 for details.maidstonefringe.com

ROCHESTER SWEEPS FESTIVAL 2016Sat 30 April to Mon 2 MaySee page 20.

ANCHORIANS JAZZ CLUBDarland Avenue, Gillingham ME7 3ASFri 15 April 8.30pm: JAZZ: THE GREG HEATH QUARTET with Greg Heath on tenor sax, John Donaldson on keys, Nick Kacal on double bass and Milo Fell on drums. Enquiries: 01634 365353 or 07544 312743.

ARTS CAFÉ AT ST WILLIAMS CHURCH Walderslade Village Centre, ME5 9LRSun 1 May, doors open 6pm: PHILIPPA HANNA With her roots in Gospel, Hanna has been on the rise since the release of her debut album ‘Watching Me’ in 2007. The café operates a ‘Pay What You Want’ scheme, to make it accessible to all. For more information email arts@southchatham.org.

THE BARGE is now at THE SHIP!The Ship, Court Lodge Road Gillingham ME7 2QU 01634 850485Music starts 9pm, free entryFri 1 Apr: MIA AND THE MOONSat 2 Apr: CHARITY FUNDRAISERSun 3 Apr: QUIZ NIGHTWed 6 Apr: BARDS @ THE BARGE OPEN MICFri 8 Apr: ACME BLUES CO.Sat 9 Apr: HIDDEN CABINS (USA)Sun 10 Apr: QUIZ NIGHTFri 15 Apr: MATTHEW BROOKSSat 16 Apr: SALLY IRONMONGERSun 17 Apr: QUIZ NIGHT

Sat 23 Apr: FROM TEXAS USA… THE REED BROTHERS + CALLAHAN DIVIDESun 24 Apr: QUIZ NIGHTFri 29 Apr: NASHVILLE EXILEshipgillingham.com

BROOK THEATREOld Town Hall, The Brook, Chatham ME4 4SE Box Office 01634 338338Sun 17 Apr 8pm: FEAST OF FIDDLES sponsored by the MAN OF KENT ALE-HOUSE £18Thu 21 Apr 8pm: VIN GARBUTT English folk singer and songwriter. £14medwayticketslive.co.uk

CENTRAL THEATRE170 High Street, Chatham ME4 4AS Box office: 01634 338338Fri 29 Apr 7.30pm: MAGIC OF MOTOWN: THE REACH OUT TOUR £23.50, £25.50Sat 30 Apr 7.30pm: CHAS & DAVE: ON THE ROAD £27.50, £29.50medwayticketslive.co.uk

COOPERS ARMS10 St Margaret’s Street, Rochester ME1 1TL 01634 404298

Music starts at 7pm. Free entrySun 3 Apr: SEAN FARRELLYSun 10 Apr: NAME ESCAPES MESun 17 Apr: SMITHHURST & ROOTSSun 24 Apr: ANDY WHITEthecoopersarms.co.uk

EAGLE TAVERN124 High Street Rochester ME1 1JT 01634 409040

Sundays 12 noon. Thursdays 7pm. Free entry.Sun 3 Apr: THEO TRAVIS QUARTET featuring MARC PARNELL (Drums)Sun 10 Apr: DAVE WARREN & FRIENDSSun 17 Apr: ARTIE ZAITZ QUARTETSun 24 Apr: TOMMASO STARACE QUARTETtheeagletavern.org.uk

EARLS30 Earl Street Maidstone ME14 1PS 01622 751286Doors 9pm unless stated. Free entry.Fri 1 Apr: BARBEDSat 2 Apr: ALL DAY FALLINGSun 3 Apr: TONYThu 7 Apr: tbcFri 8 Apr: REPTILLIASat 9 Apr: BAD PANDASSun 10 Apr: STRUM BOMSThu 14 Apr: MAKE SOME NOISEFri 15 Apr: AS IS NOWSat 16 Apr: KELLYS HEROESSun 17 Apr: tbcThu 21 Apr tbcFri 22 Apr: REYESSat 23 Apr: MODRAPHENIASun 24 Apr: tbcThu 28 Apr: MAIDSTONE FRINGE FESTIVALFri 29 Apr: MAIDSTONE FRINGE FESTIVALSat 30 Apr: MAIDSTONE FRINGE FESTIVALSun 1 May: MAIDSTONE FRINGE FESTIVALearlsmaidstone.co.uk

NEW VENUE!THE FLIPPIN‘ FROG318 High Street, Rochester ME1 3ETRegular intimate unplugged gigs for local solo acoustic artists at this excellent independent micro pub. From 8.30pm. Free entry2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month, so far we have booked...Tue 12 Apr: FUNKE AND THE TWO TONE BABYTue 26 Apr: RACHEL LOWRIE Find Unplugged Tuesdays at the Frog on Facebook.

THE FLOWERPOT96 Sandling Road, Maidstone ME14 2RJ 01622 757705

Free entry.Every Tuesday from 8.30pm: OPEN JAM NIGHT: ELECTRO-ACOUSTIC PLUG-IN AND PLAY Full sound system available.Weekends: Regular live music. Doors 9pm. see website for details. flowerpotpub.com

THE GOOD INTENTJohn Street, Rochester ME1 1YLRegular live music and events.Find the at facebook.com/good.rochester

GULBENKIAN THEATREUniversity of Kent, Canterbury Kent CT2 7NB Box Office: 01227 769075Sat 23 Apr 7.30pm: RICHARD NAVARRO: FIREWATCHING A new collection of songs by this singer-songwriter that takes as its starting point the heroism of those who protected Canterbury Cathedral from incendiary bombs during the Blitz. See Main Feature p16. £10Sun 24 Apr 7.30pm: JOHN MCCUSKER 25th Anniversary Tour with his band. £16, Student £8.

Sat 30 Apr: 7.30pm: SHOW OF HANDS: 2016 LONG WAY HOME TOUR Revisiting their musical roots and featuring material from their new studio album alongside SOH’s trademark acoustic classics. £22thegulbenkian.co.uk

HASTINGS ARMS FUNCTION ROOMLower Rainham Road (leading to Danes Hill) Gillingham ME7 2YDFree parkingThu 28 Apr 8.30pm: GLENN MILLER NIGHT with musicians of the ROCHESTER SWING PRESERVATION SOCIETY plus the trombone and saxes of Cake Five. Doors 8.30pm. £7 entry. Raffle and nibbles. For more details or to reserve a table tel: 01634 712217 or check website. sukotto5.wix.com/rsps

HAZLITT THEATREEarl Street, Maidstone, ME14 1PL 01622 758611

Sat 9 Apr 7.30pm: THE THREE DEGREES Helen Scott, Valerie Holiday and Freddie Pool. £26 or VIP £37.50 with post-show meet and greet and Prosecco.parkwoodtheatres.co.uk

IAN HARRISON - GUITAR LESSONS• 15 years teaching / playing experience throughout

the UK, Europe and US• Emphasis on enjoyment, lessons individually

tailored to help you become the guitarist you want to be!

• All ages and abilities welcome• First lesson at introductory rate,

discounts available for block bookings• Fully CRB/DBS checked• Member of Registry of Guitar Tutors

0784 7023 330 ianharrisonguitar@gmail.com www.ianharrisonguitar.com

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SOUL l FUNK l WORLD l JAZZ

A unique chance to see…

Snake Davis Jazz Quartet with 4 Piece Band

Tuesday 3 May: 7 for 7.30pm – 9.30pmSt Mary Magdalene Church, Cobham, Tickets £12 (in advance)Call Anna: 01474 814819 07831 756306 or Sevie: 07415 884477

designreprolithodigitalstoragefulfilmentdistribution

9-10 Orchard Business CentreSanderson WayTonbridgeKent TN9 1QG

e: enquiries@cpg-net.co.ukt: 01732 366666

www.cpg-net.co.uk

North West TF 2008 8/9/08 17:19 Page 36

DESIGN l POS l LITHO l DIGITAL STORAGE l FULFILMENT l DISTRIBUTION

TONBRIDGE KENT

e: enquiries@cpg-net.co.uk t: 01732 366666

www.cpg-net.co.uk

LV21 LightshipPier Approach Road, Gillingham ME7 1RXFri 15 Apr 8pm: STUART TURNER & THE FLAT EARTH SOCIETY Album launch show. See Phil Dillon’s review p25. With support from Theatre Royal and Rachel Lowrie. Tickets £6 from wegottickets.com/event/354303

THE LADY LUCK18 St Peters Street, Canterbury CT1 2BQFree entry. Over 18s only.Thu 7 Apr 8pm: YORKSHIRE RATSWed 13 Apr : MUSKETS + BIRDSKULLS + COLOURED IN + RED LIGHT RUNNER £3 entrySee website for more:theladyluck.co.uk/live-music

MAN OF KENT ALEHOUSE6 - 8 John Street, Rochester Tel: 07772 214315Wed 30: CELTIC CAPERSThu 31: ASH MANDRAKESun 3 Apr: JAM NIGHTTue 5 Apr: UKULELE JAM NIGHTWed 6 Apr: TWO MAN TINGThu 7 Apr: KINGSIZE SLIMSun 10 Apr: JAM NIGHTWed 13 Apr: SALLY IRONMONGERThu 14 Apr: GLENN BARNES & QUESTION 17Sun 17 Apr: JAM NIGHT @ THE MAN OF KENT+ FEAST OF FIDDLES @ THE BROOK THEATRE (see above)Tue 19 Apr: MIKEY D'S FUNTIME QUIZWed 20 Apr: STEVE SHOREY & JOHN CUNNINGHAMThu 21 Apr: THE DREDGERMENSun 24 Apr: MARK CHADWICK - THIS IS A TICKETED EVENTMon 25 Apr: COCKTAIL NIGHT - Smart Dress OptionalWed 27 Apr: BRUISEThu 28 Apr: GUM BOOTS featuring PAUL MINTER of THE MERCURIALS and TENER DUENDE Fri 29 Apr: JUSTIN & THE ARGONAUTS

Sat 30 Apr: 2pm SKY SMEED + 8pm KRIEK BALISESun 1 May: 2pm HARTLEY MORRIS SINGERS + 8pm THUMPING TOMMYSMon 2 May: HOG EYE MENTue 3 May: UKULELE JAM NIGHTWed 4 May: IAN PETRIE & SUE HUDSONThu 5 May: SON OF KIRKFind Man of Kent Ale-House on Facebook

MARLOWE THEATREThe Friars, Canterbury CT1 2AS 01227 787787Wed 6 Apr 7.30pm: PHILHARMONIA ORCHESTRA: IN THE HANDS OF FATE Beethoven’s Overture Leonore no. 3, Mendelssohn’s violin concerto & Tchaikovsky Symphony no. 5 in E minor £11 - £34, concs available.Sun 10 Apr 7.30pm: KATE RUSBY Soulful music and Yorkshire wit, Rusby is backed by a virtuoso band. £23.50, under 16s £15.marlowetheatre.com (booking fees apply)

THE MIDDLE EI8HT1-2 Town Pier, Gravesend DA11 0BJ 01474 328947Live artists/musical acts every Friday from 8 or 9pm, indie bands on Saturdays and Sunday jam sessions starting at 2.30pm.Open mic night every Wednesday from 8pm. Full backline supplied.themiddleei8ht.co.uk

ORCHARD THEATREHome Gardens, Dartford DA1 1ED 01322 220000 Wed 13 Apr 7.30pm: BEYOND THE BARRICADE with a cast of principal performers from Les Miserables singing hit Broadway show songs. £21, concs available.Thu 14 Apr 7.30pm: SOLID GOLD 70s SHOW £19, £22, concs available.Wed 20 Apr 7.30pm: DEAN MARTIN JNR His youngest

son, Ricci. £25, £29. Concs and VIP packages available.

Fri 22 Apr 7.30pm: SHALAMAR One of the most successful soul groups of all time. £33.50, concs and VIP package available.Sat 23 Apr 7.30pm: THE BLOCKHEADS £20, concs available.

Sun 1 May 7.30pm: THE DUBLIN LEGENDS, formerly of The Dubliners. £22.50, concs available.orchardtheatre.co.uk (booking fees apply)

PIZZA EXPRESS MUSIC ROOM32-34 Earl Street, Maidstone ME14 1PF 01622 683548

Doors 7pm, show 8.30pm unless stated.Regular shows – see website for details.

28 Apr – 2 May: MAIDSTONE FRINGE FESTIVAL with gigs by CARAVAN, JAH WOBBLE, COCO AND THE BUTTERFIELDS, FIL STRAUGHAN, DAVE MIGDEN & THE TWISTED ROOTS with CLEA LEWELLYN, & NICK HARPER. pizzaexpresslive.co.uk

POCO LOCO58-60 High St, Chatham ME4 4DSRegular live bands at this popular venue.

ROCHESTER CATHEDRALThe Precinct, Rochester ME1 2PY

Sat 23 April 7.30pm: GRAVESHAM CHORAL SOCIETY & ORCHESTRA present THE DREAM OF GERONTIUS by Elgar with Tania Williams (mezzo-soprano), Robin Green (tenor) and Simon Thorpe (baritone) and Bexley Phoenix Choir, Vigo Singers.Conductor is Alan Vincent . Tickets £16, Students £5

available by phoning 01474 816684, from members of Gravesham Choral Society or on the door. rochestercathedral.org

SUN PIER HOUSEMedway Street, Chatham ME4 4HF

Tue 12 Apr: OPEN MIC & SHOWCASE Doors at 7pm, music from 7.30pm. Sunspot: UNKNOWN REPORT Every second Tuesday of the month. £3 entry, free for performers. To book a spot get in touch at: sphopenmicnight@gmail.com

UNIVERSITY OF KENTGalvanising Shop Performance Space, The Historic Dockyard, Chatham, ME4 4TE

Tue 29 Mar 12.00-1.00pm: ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE LUNCHTIME CONCERT A chance to hear from SMFA students studying band and ensemble playing. FREE but booking via www.kent.ac.uk/smfa/events.html

THE WHITE HORSE46 London Road, Maidstone ME16 8QL

Sun 3 Apr: JAM NIGHTSat 9 Apr: COCOSun 17 Apr: JAM NIGHTSat 23 Apr: MASTERCLASSSun 24 Apr: JAM NIGHTFri 29 Apr: MAIDSTONE FRINGE FESTIVALSat 30 Apr: MAIDSTONE FRINGE FESTIVALwhitehorsemaidstone.co.uk

THE WOODVILLEWoodville Place, Gravesend DA12 1DD Box Office: 08442 439480

Thu 28 Apr 1pm: LUNCHTIME CLASSICAL CONCERT: JEAN JOHNSON & EDWARD COHEN Piano and clarinet. £5woodville.co.uk

MUSIC 2

25

PHIL DILLON has a listen

Recorded “as live as possible” at Ranscombe Studios over a single weekend in 2014, the eponymous fourth album from Stuart Turner & The Flat Earth Society has presumably been maturing in an oak cask or some such vessel ever since. It is finally about to be released on Vacilando ’68 on delicious vinyl and as a download, and will be decanted live on Gillingham Lightship LV21 on 15 April.

STFES albums always start right in your face, so it’s little surprise that opener ‘Sunday Song’ finds Turner lying in bed on a Sunday morning imagining a confrontation at work on Monday. Upbeat, tense and announced by incongruous jangly guitars and trumpets, it’s the first of a number of songs on the album which have isolation, loneliness, frustration and claustrophobia interlaced throughout. These topics are handled adeptly though. ‘The Boy Doth Protest Too Much’ is about being left alone, but banjo-led African rhythms and trumpets are used as a coping mechanism. ‘Ever Decreasing Circles’ employs a fruity bass slide to distract the listener from “hanging around in this old house while branches scratch the glass” and ‘Unmissing’ shifts its shape and employs excellent “wasp in a tin can” vibrato guitar as a decoy.

‘King Of The Hill’ sees Turner and his resonator guitar standing in the rain on Horrid Hill, a place on the Medway whose most notable attraction is an abandoned hull sinking into the mud flats, watching the waters ebb and flow, just before the whirlwind waltz of ‘Byzantium’, a sonic highlight to put on your red shoes and dance to. The birds have flown the tower. There is no more future, yet the song is somehow kept desperately in motion. ‘Every Passing Year I Retreat More Inside

My Own Head’ is a corker too, and may well be the philosophical centrepiece of the album.

Then there is the delightful presence of The James Worse Public Address Method. Part diversion and part “translucerent underbundle”, James (for it is he) delights us twice. First, on ‘A Flarch Of Woundwillow’, where he is accompanied by the band, and again on the longer (and, one suspects, ruder) ‘Upon Glanderous Thrane’ where he performs alone. Imagine Unwin and Stanshall channelled, nay, “gazzled” with a “tupperty plossum”. You know the sort of thing. Equally (but differently) glorious is The Pend Precedent, which sounds like REM with the Muppets on vocals. Wonderful stuff.

In the end, two songs say it all: ‘Glad I Knew You’ is a warm, widescreen reminiscence of youth that salutes mortality and decline with a single finger and is genuinely moving. Its twin (in every sense) is the glorious ‘Things That Make Up A Life’, which is not unlike a short Super 8 film by Belle & Sebastian flashing before your eyes.

A rewarding listen, and the band’s most complete and unified album to date.

The album’s launch show is on Friday 15 April aboard LV21 Lightship, Pier Approach Road, Gillingham Pier ME7 1RX at 8pm, with support from Theatre Royal and Rachel Lowrie. Tickets £6 from wegottickets.com/event/354303.stfs.com

vacilando68.org

Cover photo: Nikki Price

STUART TURNER & THE FLAT EARTH SOCIETY

The new album is out!

BROOK THEATREOld Town Hall, Chatham ME4 4SE Box Office: 01634 338338

Sat 9 Apr 2pm: TIDDLER AND OTHER TERRIFIC TALES Woven together by Scamp Theatre and Watford Palace Theatre are the tales of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s best loved titles. With live music, puppetr and colourful characters. Suitable for ages 3+. £12.50, £11, concs available. Family of four: £42. 50 mins with no interval.medwayticketslive.co.uk

GULBENKIAN THEATREUniversity of Kent Canterbury CT2 7NB 01227 769075

GREAT EASTER SHOWS FOR CHILDREN: Sat 2 and Sun 3 Apr 11am, 1pm & 3pm: LITTLE ANGEL THEATRE present HANDA’S HEN: Puppetry and music. £8, family group of 4+ £6.50. Baby on lap £1. Suitable for ages 2-5. Run time 35 mins.

Sun 10 Apr 2pm: THREE HALF PINTS present BAD GUYS Comic misadventure, songs and slapstick. For ages 5+. £8, Family Groups 4+ £6.50, Baby on lap (0-18months) £1.

Sun 17 Apr 2pm: LYNGO THEATRE present THE CURIOUS ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO Suitable for ages 4+. £8, Family Groups 4+ £6.50, Baby on lap (0-18months) £1thegulbenkian.co.uk

KING’S SCHOOL HALLThe Precinct, Rochester ME1 1LX

Sat 2 Apr 8pm: FUN DEMENTAL presents NIGHT OF THE BURNING PESSARY See News pages. Box Office: 01634 311387. Comedy revue show – all proceeds to Demelza and MIND. Email: info@alternate-shadows.com. £10 full price, concs £9

MARLOWE THEATREThe Friars, Canterbury CT1 2AS 01227 787787Sat 1 and Sun 2 Apr 7.30pm + Sat mat 2.30pm: INTO THE HOODS: REMIXED Revamped Hip Hop dance show by ZooNation. £14 - £29.50, concs available.

Fri 8 Apr 1.30pm & 4pm and Sat 9 Apr 10am & 1pm: MISTER MAKER AND THE SHAPES LIVE! £13.50, concs for children and family ticket available.

Tue 19 – Sat 23 Apr 7.30pm + Thu & Sat mat 2.30pm: The RSC and Canterbury Players pre-sent A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM. See 5 Really Good Things p5. £14.50 - £33.50, concs available.

Mon 25 – Sat 30 Apr 7.30pm + Thu & Sat mat 2.30pm: HAIRSPRAY The smash hit West End musical. £24 - £42.50, concs available. Pre-show talk: Thu 28 Apr 6pm (free but booking re-quired).marlowetheatre.com (booking fees apply)

MEDWAY LITTLE THEATRE 256 High Street Rochester ME1 1HY 01634 400322Thu 7 – Sat 16 Apr 7.30pm: George Feydeau’s classic French farce FRENCH FANCIES. £10, concs £6 + booking fee.mlt.ticketsource.co.uk

ORCHARD THEATREHome Gardens, Dartford DA1 1ED 01322 220000

Tue 5 – Sat 9 Apr 7.30pm + Wed & Sat mat 2pm: TERENCE RATTIGAN’S FLARE PATH Epic wartime drama. £10 - £26, concs available. Captioned performance: Sat 9 Apr 2pm.

Sat 16 at 11am, 2pm & 5pm and Sun 17 Apr at 11am & 3pm: MY FIRST BALLET: SLEEPING BEAUTY from the English National Ballet. £20,

£15, under 16s £5 off. Family of 4 ticket: £65

Mon 25 – Sat 30 Apr 7.30pm + Wed & Sat mat 2.30pm: PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT starring Duncan James and numerous hit songs. £22 - £37, concs available. Signed performance: Fri 29 Apr.orchardtheatre.co.uk (booking fees apply)

THE WOODVILLE AUDITORIUMWoodville Place, Gravesend DA12 1DD 08442 439480boxoffice@gravesham.gov.uk

Thu 10 Mar 7.30pm: AUSTEN’S WOMEN £10-£12.woodville.co.uk

COMEDYARTS CAFÉ AT ST WILLIAMS CHURCH Walderslade Village Centre, ME5 9LR

Sun 3 Apr, doors open 6pm: JO ENRIGHT The café operates a ‘Pay What You Want’ scheme, to make it accessible to all. For more information email arts@southchatham.org.

CENTRAL THEATRE170 High Street, Chatham ME4 4AS

Sat 2 Apr 8pm: RUSSELL KANE – RIGHT MAN, WRONG AGE. New show based on the premise that no-one is ever the ‚right age‘ – it is the beauty and curse of being a real per-son. £16. Suitable for 15+medwayticketslive.co.uk

GULBENKIAN THEATREUniversity of Kent, Canterbury, CT2 7NB 01227 769075

Tue 5 Apr 7.30pm: MARK STEEL – WHO DO I THINK I AM? Newest stand-up show from Steel. £15, suitable for 14+ thegulbenkian.co.uk

HAZLITT THEATREEarl Street, Maidstone, ME14 1PL 01622 758611

Thu 7 Apr 8pm: MARK STEEL: WHO DO I THINK I AM? Suitable for 14+. £16.50Sun 17 Apr 8pm: JEREMY HARDY LIVE Radio man does stand-up. £14, concs availableFri 22 Apr 8pm: OMID DJALILLI: LIVE 2016 Intelligent, energetic comedy. For 16+. £23.50parkwoodtheatres.co.uk (booking fees apply)

SMARLOWE STUDIO: The Friars, Canterbury CT1 2AS 01227 787787

Fri 8 Apr 8pm: ALUN COCHRANE: A SHOW WITH A MAN IN IT £12

Sun 24 Apr 7.30pm: JULIAN CLARY: THE JOY OF MINCING Adult language & themes. £23Sat 30 Apr 8pm: THE MARLOWE COMEDY CLUB with IAIN STIRLING, ALAN SMITH, JACK BARRY & STEVE BUGEJA. Adult themes. £14.marlowetheatre.com (booking fees apply)

ORCHARD THEATREHome Gardens, Dartford DA1 1ED 01322 220000 Tue 19 Apr 8pm: ED BYRNE Stand-up. £20orchardtheatre.co.uk (booking fees apply)

THE WOODVILLE STUDIOWoodville Place, Gravesend DA12 1DD 08442 439480boxoffice@gravesham.gov.uk

Thu 28 Apr 8pm: LAUGHING BOY COMEDY CLUB: JIM TAVARE + others. £10, or £14.50 with curry. woodville.co.uk

THEATRE/COMEDY

A nostalgic and quirky exploration

of the nation’s favourite (and lesser known)

board games from the 1920 to the 70s.

The Guildhall Museum

High St, Rochester, Kent ME1 1PY

Phone: 01634 332680

www.guildhallmuseumrochester.co.uk9 FEB - 17 APR 2016

12 May 7.30pmJames Seabright presents Superbolt Theatre’s production

Tickets £12 concs £10Woodville Studio, Gravesend DA12 1DDBox Office 08442 439 480 www.DinosaurParkShow.com

‘Spielberg should be amused and touched by what this young trio have produced… both

irreverent and reverent.’ THE TIMES

This award winning, laugh-out-loud spin on Spielberg's classic is a theatrical celebration of cinematic nostalgia and a powerful reminder of the ones we love.

THE BEANEY HOUSE OF ART AND KNOWLEDGE18 High Street, Canterbury CT1 2RA 01227 862162Mon to Wed 9am to 5pm, Thu 9am to 7pm, Fri and Sat 9am to 5pm, Sun 10am to 5pm. To Sun 19 Jun: BENN JUDD: STORIES IN THE DARK: Contemporary Responses To The Magic Lantern (see p 14). Pay What You Can.Sat 16 Apr: Four unique live MAGIC LANTERN PERFORMANCES See p15. To Sun 24 Apr: 40 YEARS: CANTERBURY ARCHAEOLOGICAL TRUST. Free Admission, drop in.PrescriptionsFrom Thu 21 Apr to Sun 14 Aug: PRESCRIPTIONS Focusing on the book art of Martha Hall which documents her experiences with breast cancer. Free Admission, drop inthebeaney.co.uk

Stories in the DBELOW 65 GALLERYGilbert & Clark Frame and Print 65 High Street Maidstone ME14 1SR01622 685146 Open Mon-Sat 9.30am-4.30pm. Free entry1 - 29 April: DAMEON PRIESTLY Ten year retrospective of works. See this month's The Artist's Space. dameon.co.uk.gilbertandclark.com

FRANCIS ILES GALLERIES103 High Street Rochester ME1 1LX 01634 843081Open Mon-Sat 9.30am-5.30pm. Free entryQUARTERLY COLLECTION ONE Featuring Susan Evans, Katya Gridneva and Jeremy Sanders and new works from the Gallery Artists.francis-iles.com

GUILDHALL MUSEUM High Street, Rochester ME1 1PY 01634 332900Open Tue-Sun 10am-5pm. Free entryTo Sun 17 Apr: THE GAMES WE PLAYED: CHILDHOOD

BOARD & CARD GAMES Exploring some of the most popular and lesser known games from the 1920s through to the 1970s.

HUGUENOT MUSEUM95 High Street (above Medway Visitors Information Centre), Rochester ME1 1LX01634 789347Opens Wed-Sat 10am-5pm + Bank Hol Mon 10am-4pmArtworks and treasures. £4, concs £3, family £10, under 5s free. From Wed 20 Apr to Sat 18 Jun: HUGUENOT SILK: CANTERBURY AND CATWALK (see p10).huguenotmuseum.org

MAIDSTONE MUSEUM & BENTLIF ART GALLERYSt Faith's St, Maidstone ME14 1LH 01622 602838Open Mon - Sat 10am-5pm, closed Sun & Bank Holidays. Free entry. To Sat 30 April: WOMAN OF GENIUS An exhibition about the magnificence of female artists. Works from the 16th century onwards from the Museum's collections feature alongside original artwork by Vicki Cooke. Sat 9 Apr: WORKSHOP: SELFIES 10.30am–12.30pm (Under 14) 1pm–3.30pm (Over 14) Work with artist Vicki Cooke to create a ‘Me Mosaic’ to take home. £8. To Thu 24 Apr: CAFE GALLERY: SECRETS by David Hover. Colourful wooden collages. 28 Apr 6–9pm: MUSEUM LATE: JAPAN Curators tour at 6.30pm (repeated at 7.30pm if full) museum.maidstone.gov.uk

NUCLEUS ARTS272 High Street, Chatham ME4 4BP 01634 812108 Gallery: Mon- 10am-4pm (café to 5.30pm) Closed Sun. Free entryTo 1pm on 6 Apr: SRI-LANKA EXHIBITION Photographs by TOMMY REYNOLDS. Meet the artist: 31 Mar 11am-1pm; Sun 3 Apr 11-1pm; Wed 6 Apr 11am-1pm.From Thu 7 Apr 6pm to 1pm

on Wed 20 Apr: LESSER KNOWN ROCHESTER Exhibition of works by the successful entrants to Richard Watts Charities’ 2nd public art competition. The winners will be announced at the exhibition. Preview: Thu 7 Apr 6-8pm. From 2 Apr at 6pm to 1pm on 27 Apr: APART GROUP SHOW Work by local artists. From 28 Apr at 6:00 pm to 1pm on 4 May: CHRIS BLUNKELL. Popular Whitstable-based painter. Preview: Thursday 28 April 6 – 8pm. All welcome.nucleusarts.com

NUCLEUS ARTS ROCHESTER 75 High Street, Rochester ME1 1LX Open 9am-5pm Mon-Fri; Sat 10am-5pm; Sun 11-4pm01634 812108Shop gallery, café and garden.

ROCHESTER ART GALLERY & CRAFT CASEMedway Visitor Information Centre 95 High Street Rochester ME1 1LX 01634 338319 Open Mon-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 10.30am – 5pm Free entryTo 15 May: RUST AND BLOOM: WORKS BY HANNAH MAYBANK. Decay and renewal through paint and flora.CRAFT CASE: Ceramics by Emma Clegg.Sat 23 Apr 10am - 12.30pm: FLORAL WATERCOLOUR WORKSHOP. £26 per person, inc materials. Inspired by Hannah Maybank’s paintings. Following a visit to the Gallery, local artist Jackie Trinder will guide you through creating your own watercolour masterpiece in the Huguenot Museum. Limited spaces so booking is essential. Tel: 01634 338319.

ROYAL ENGINEERS MUSEUMPrince Arthur Road, Gillingham ME7 1URTel: 01634 822839Open Tue-Fri 9am-5pm; Weekends & Bank Hol:

11.30am-5pmNormal admission charges apply. Partial opening from 10 April due to heating and lighting upgrade. Still plenty to see and a reduced admission price in operation.To 17 Apr: EXHIBITION: THE GREAT LINESre-museum.co.uk

STEPHEN OLIVER STUDIO & GALLERYOrchards Shopping CentreHigh Street, Dartford DA1 1DN 01322 278674Open Thu - Sat 10am-4pm; Sat to 5pm.Affordable contemporary art.stephen-oliver-art.co.uk

SUN PIER HOUSEMedway Street, Chatham ME4 4HFSat 2 - 30 Apr: THE CONTEMPORARY OPEN Private View: Fri 1 Apr 6 - 9pm.

TURNER CONTEMPORARYRendezvous, MargateKent CT9 1HG Admission is freeOpen Tue - Sun and public holidays 10am - 6pmOpen every day over the Easter weekendTo Sun 10 Apr: LEISE WILSON: 365 DAYS - 1460 paintings documenting the sky at low tide through the same window pane every day for two years. To Sun 8 May: JOACHIM KOESTER: THE OTHER SIDE OF THE SKY Works by this leading Danish artist, paired with selected watercolours by JMW Turner To Sun 30 Oct: YINKA SHONIBARE MBE: END OF EMPIRE. Part of the 14-18 NOW programme of World War 1 Centenary Art commissions.turnercontemporary.org

XROSS-POLYNATION GALLERY3-4 Starnes Court, Maidstone ME14 1EB 01622 299043Throughout April: UK YOUTH AND AFRICAN ARTIST FOUNDATION.xrosspolynation.co.uk

VISUAL ART

Rust and BloomWorks by Hannah Maybank

26 Feb > 15 May 2016 Free admissionRochester Art Gallery and Craft Case, Medway VisitorInformation Centre, High Steet, Rochester, ME1 1LXwww.enjoymedway.co.uk

Maidstone Museum & Bentlif Art Gallery, St Faith’s Street, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 1LH

facebook.com/MaidstoneMuseum@MaidstoneMuseum

www.maidstonemuseum.orgp 01622 602838

Admission to Museum FREEPlease check the website for opening times

5 March - 30 April 2016‘Objects from the Museum’s collections alongside original artwork by Vicki Cooke, celebrating female artists from the 16th century onwards’.

A Woman of Genius

WORKSHOP

Selfies Saturday 9 April10.30 – 12.30 Under 1413.30 – 15.30 Over 14

It’s all about you! Draw selfies with artist Vicki Cooke, experiment with different drawing techniques and create a ‘Me Mosaic’ to take home.

Cost £8, Call 01622 602838 to book

CAFÉ GALLERY‘Secrets’ 1-24 Aprilby David HoverColourful wooden collages that hold a secret.

MUSEUM LATEJapan - 28 April18:00 – 21:00

Curators tour at 18:30 (repeated at 19:30 if full)

90cm x 60cm, acrylic, aquarelle pencil, enamel paint and ink on canvas

Maidstone’s Below 65 Gallery is holding a ten year retrospective of works by Kent-based artist Dameon Priestly throughout the month of April. ‘Miss Davis’ is part of Priestly’s ‘Shop Girls’ collection – the result of research into the significant number of girls who led double lives as prostitutes while working as shopgirls in the Victorian era.

Priestly’s paintings have been exhibited and sold extensively on both a national and international level. His works are often considered to be well-crafted, realistic examinations of modern culture within a historical context.

The artworks draw on historical writings, giving them a contemporary setting and encouraging viewers to contemplate the continuity between past and present embedded in the human narratives woven throughout.

The artist lives in Rochester and is delighted to be exhibiting locally for the first time.

Dameon Priestly’s retrospective is at Below 65 Gallery (below Gilbert & Clark Frame and Print), 65 High Street, Maidstone ME14 1SR from 1 – 29 April. Tel: 01622 685146.

gilbertandclark.comdameon.co.uk

THE ARTIST’S SPACE

Miss Davis

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LIVE MUSIC FROM SINGER-SONGWRITERS

MARCHWed 30th Celtic CapersThurs 31st Ash Mandrake

APRILSun 3rd Jam NightTues 5th Ukulele Jam NightWed 6th Two Man TingThurs 7th Kingsize SlimSun 10th Jam NightWed 13th Sally IronmongerThurs 14th Glenn Barnes & Question 17Sun 17th Jam Night @ The Man of Kent

Feast of Fiddles @ The Brook Theatre

Tues 19th Mikey D's Funtime QuizWed 20th Steve Shorey & John CunninghamThurs 21st The DredgermenSun 24th Mark Chadwick - this is a Ticketed

EventMon 25th Cocktail Night - Smart Dress

OptionalWed 27th BruiseThurs 28th Gum Boots Featuring Paul Minter

of The Mercurials and Tener Duende

Fri 29th Justin & the ArgonautsSat 30th 2pm Sky Smeed 8pm Kriek Balise

MAYSun 1st 2pm Hartley Morris Singers

8pm Thumping TommysMon 2nd Hog Eye MenTues 3rd Ukulele Jam NightWed 4th Ian Petrie & Sue HudsonThurs 5th Son of Kirk

MAN OF KENT ALE-HOUSE