Tuesday, June 27, 2006

As the World Cup is on...


...and Brazil have just strolled into the quarters without breaking sweat. I took this pic of Ronaldinhio in 1999 when he was on the bench as a 17 year old prodigy in the Copa America game with Mexico in Paraguay. Me and a couple of friends managed to get accreditation for the tournament, so I on the pitch-side with the proper journalists - me with a cheap tourist camera next to all the seriously long lenses. Ronaldinhio was already been talked about in Brazil having come off the bench in Brazil's first game against Venezuala and jinked past a couple of defenders and scored a wonder goal


We also ran into Cafu after one of the games, who looks exactly the same now as he did 7 years ago... indeed the same as he also did when he fronted the Fine Young Cannibals back in the 80s

Wednesday, June 21, 2006

The next Dirty Canvas night (21/07/06)

The next Dirty Canvas (on Friday 21st July) features two more hard-working grime acts representing east and west London


First there’s Unorthodox (No Lay from Unorthodox pictured above), a crew from Hammersmith with their own unique and more lyrically-conscious style of grime. Their tunes have been showcased on the Run the Road compilations, play-listed on radio and even sampled by BBC News. They’ll be performing tracks from their new mixtape Nu Shape, which is out now and from which you can catch selected tracks here.


Also performing is Ears (pictured above), prodigious MC from the Jah Mek The World camp in East London, who was also showcased on the most recent Run the Road compilation. He will be performing from his forth-coming mixtape A Breath Of Fresh Airs, which looks set to be big and will include his new single "oh my days". You can listen to some of Ears’ tunes here.

Unorthodox and Ears will be joined by a very special guest DJ.

This will be the last Dirty Canvas night at the Whitechapel before it moves to the ICA in September....though I will be starting a new night at the Whitechapel after than...details to follow.

Friday, June 16, 2006

Happening on Sunday night

Saturday, June 03, 2006

what we gonna do about the youts?



This is lifted from a community safety pamphlet for the Aylesbury Estate in South London...the message is all about keeping kids on track so they don't fall into a life of crime...the picture...the gunfingers... well the irony doesn't need explaining.

I left my job yesterday in another part of South London - New Cross Gate almost three years I've spent working in a discreet neighbourhood awarded a stash of Government grants to turn it around. My part has been working with community groups and residents to try and help build more self suffiency...something loaded with difficulty, ideology and politics. I'm sure I'll reflect on this experience alot more now I've moved on, but for now i'll just say that this area and South East London generally is probably THE last remaining part of London

Another Eel money spinner



Another fundraiser/warm-up for the Vyner Street Festival...featuring...Shimmy Rivers and and Canal and special guests*, DJs Rocky, Whispering Tone, Coventry Dave, Irish Mick, stalls, raffle, films, comedy, drink, drink, drink....part of Alan Milner's The Large Club series of events on Sunday night.

Bethnal Green Working Mens Club
Pollards Row (off Bethnal Green Rd) E2
Sunday 18th June 2006
7.30 - 12.00

*any band interested in being da special guests - drop me a line

Vyner Street Festival will be taking place on Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th August...details soon come