From The Jam featuring Foxton and Buckler plugged back in to their past incarnation and returned to the Centre to face three-thousand expectant die-hards.

The former Jam duo have been augmented by Russell Hastings and Dave Moore.

The hits came thick and fast towards the set's end. That's Entertainment, When You're Young, Strange Town, Start, Going Underground and an encore featuring Down in the Tubestation At Midnight and A Town Called Malice.

Read A Review Of This Event

'This is brilliant' shouted a fan mid-set during Iron & Wine's cathartic visit to St. George's Church, in Brighton's bohemian Kemp Town district.

Read A Review Of This Event

London traffic and the notorious M25 couldn’t impede on a blistering one-hour set from Wilco Johnson & his more-than-able sidemen Norman Watt-Roy & Monti.

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Having come together to record Robyn Hitchcock's most recent album, 'Ole! Tarantula', Peter Buck (R.E.M), Scott McCaughey (Young Fresh Fellows) and Bill Rieflin (Ministry) came to Komedia for a magic night.

it was one of those gigs that you could attend knowing none of the material to be played ..and leave believing you'd heard them all before.

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Billy Bragg brought his 'Hope Not Hate Tour Part II' to Brighton Dome and, over the course of two one-hour sets, both converted and inspired in equal measure.

All-in-all Bragg came across like everyone's fantasy of a kindly and huggable uncle.

But underneath that persona lay a true believer and deep thinker .. if you got it, then you went home a better person.

Read A Review Of This Event

From mingling, pre-gig, at The Hove Centre bar and hearing the excited whispers of 'that voice', to the scenes of those in the late-flush of middle-youth devour Paul Carrack's twenty-three song two-set musical extravaganza .. last night's gig, in all honesty, was a revelation.

FULL GIG REVIEW ..

If British-Blues was a tube of Smarties, then the genre's aficionados would be the bright sparks who kept the remaining blue sweet marked 'John Mayall' to saviour as an end treat.

FULL GIG REVIEW ..

As he closed a sweat-soaked ninety-minute set @ Komedia, Hugh Cornwell was singing about seeing ‘the whites of their eyes’ .. a reference to the rats in ‘Down In The Sewer’, but also a good starting point to last night’s gig.

FULL GIG REVIEW ..

Shout To The Top' is the title of a book written by Record Industry Executive, Dennis Munday.

The Jam & The Style Council were worlds apart in terms of sound, sales and critical success, but what they both had in common was Paul Weller.

Dennis Munday's unique insight into these two bands comes from someone who was inside a very small circle. He mixed with Weller and his band-mates on a day-to-day basis.

READ MORE .. - Q&A ..

Taking to the stage once the band were up and cooking .. Carleen Anderson unleashed her renowned vocal on a succession of soul-stompers and heart-wrenching ballads.

FULL GIG REVIEW ..

Dr John Creaux - The Night Tripper – is just a matter of months on from the release of his Sippiana Hericane mini-album, and yet there he was fulfilling a solo Brighton Festival commitment and promoting his new album, Mercenary, at The Dome Brighton.

Read Full Review

Stomp is like the percussion section of an orchestra brought to wild, whacky life; the world premiere - commissioned by the Brighton festival to celebrate its 40th anniversary - offered an entire orchestra. The second half wass a giddy symphony of traffic-cone trumpets and violin saws that wail with an eerie intensity. In another section, aerialists swung through the air on pipes like human hammers knocking against bells. It was exhilarating and strangely beautiful.

Beth Orton played an excellent and eclectic set, at The Brighton Dome, which highlighted her new album, Comfort Of Strangers. The fourteen track set was recorded in New York, with Jim O'Rourke at the controls. Finished in just two weeks the tender songs became the night's highlights.

Richard Thompson held Brighton Dome spellbound on his recent visit to the city. Playing a set that featured material from all eras of his career, Richard showed exactly why he has recently been honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award at this year's BBC Folk Awards.

Billy Bragg headlined the recent 'Target BNP' gig, at The Corn Exchange, Brighton. A full house saw a special preview of the one-hour movie 'Who Shot The Sheriff' which detailed the twenty-year struggle of 'Rock Against Racism' and 'Love Music Hate Racism'.

For details visit: www.stopthebnp.org.uk

Prior to an Edinburgh Fringe Festival residency, Hugh Cornwell. brought his unique eccentric professor-like charm to Brighton's Komedia, for a ninety-minute trawl through past hits and recent classics .. all based around readings of recollections from his recent biography, 'A Multitude Of Sins'.

For a full review .. CLICK HERE

Here they come again! Another 'SOLD OUT' sign, another sing-along two hours of rock history. The Jones Gang were at The Astor Theatre, Deal, Kent, for one night only .. the last Saturday of July. Support came courtesy of Duncan McKenzie & Gary Grainger .. a full review will appear at www.magazine.brighton.co.uk soon.

Kenney Jones, Rob Hart & Rick Wills, opened their short UK warm-up tour with two incendiary nights, at The Cavern Club, Liverpool.

The Jones Gang, featuring Kenney Jones, Rob Hart & Rick Wills, opened their short UK warm-up tour with two incendiary nights, at The Cavern Club, Liverpool.

Over two nights, 21st & 22nd of July, the all-start band ripped through sets that featured tracks from their forthcoming album, 'Any Day Now', as well as hits from their past which included - Won't Get Fooled Again/Substitute (The Who) - Stay With Me/Pool Hall Richard (The Faces) - Lazy Sunday Afternoon/All Or Nothing (The Small Faces) - plus many, many more.

The gigs were a warm-up to their forthcoming gig at The Astor Theatre, Deal, Kent, on 30th July (SOLD OUT!). Check-out our News Page for more details.

The Jones Gang Pic - Courtesy Of Stephen Bailey

Duncan McKenzie & Gary Grainger

Duncan McKenzie, the UK's finest acoustic guitar picker, and Gary Grainger, once of The Rod Stewart and Kenney Jones Bands, played the gig of their lives recently when they teamed-up for a set of blues, Ragtime and more, at The Stanley Arms, Portslade.

The gig was a warm-up to their forthcoming Jones Gang support, at The Astor Theatre, Deal, Kent, on 30th July. Check-out our News Page for more details. 

Rick Buckler (The Jam) Introduced:

Lambretta Clothing, & 4 square entertainment presented one evening covering four complete decades of modernist music - featuring The Mods, The Paul Weller Council and Five Park Drive .

40 Years Of Modernism - featured band introductions from Rick Buckler (The Jam ) - @ The Brook, Southampton.

3MEN & Black! Punk/Ska Special

The last time I was locked into eye-to-eye contact with Stiff Little Fingers front man Jake Burns, was some two decades ago at a quarter full Brighton Centre.

Both institutions .. SLF and the Conference Centre .. still exist, though both are far from the bastions of cultural beauty they once were.

Jake Burns himself is in fine fettle. On a wet autumn evening, in the West Sussex town of East Grinstead, he'd joined forces with Dave Wakeling (The Beat) and Pauline Black (Selecter) as part of the ever-changing line-up, 3MEN + Black!

Sadly, Bruce Foxton , once of The Jam, is absent due to personal reasons, but his contribution of Jam songs is still to be delivered by late substitute Russell Hastings, of The Paul Weller Council.

To read more click here

Eve Selis & Kenny Jones

Eve Selis brought her wonderful band to Brighton and delivered a two hour show of spot-on intensity.

Playing cuts from her new album, Nothing But The Truth, she was joined for the encores by The Kenney Jones Band for a blazing rendition of The Faces classic, 'Stay With Me. '

David Blosse & The Soul Cowboys & Cathryn Stone

Eve Selis

Geist, Cathryn Stone & Rachel Innes

But that wasn't the only VBM M&P action over the last week. On Wednesday 24 th March East Grinstead's own, Geist , headlined a three-artist bill that also brought together Rachel Innes and Cathryn Stone .

The night was part of back-to-back nights which saw the three acts wind-up proceedings at the 12-Bar-Club , London .

The opening night, at Sussex Arts Club , was packed. People had travelled from all over the county and none returned home disappointed. Cathryn Stone opened with a set drawn from her current five-track EP.

Augmented by a tight band Cathryn displayed all the qualities that have made Maverick magazine's (the new voice of country music) Gerry Mansfield deem her ‘one to watch for the future'.

Rachel Innes filled forty-five minutes with songs from her own catalogue, as well as choice covers of classics by Sting and Janis Joplin . A blistering set from an extraordinary talent.

Headliners Geist are a band once viewed, never forgotten. Playing a selection of songs from their debut album, ‘Songs For Your Neighbour' , as well as new songs and tracks commissioned by Channel 5 and EMI Publishing , this lot will soon be deemed ‘the most hardworking band in Briton' . With songs of that quality their public won't give them the choice!

Doug Hoekstra, Rachel Innes & Cathryn Stone

Doug Hoekstra, Rachel Innes & Cathryn Stone played to a sold-out Sussex Arts Club ballroom .. mixing Nashville, alt country, folk, blues, jazz, pop & rock W: www.magazine.brighton.co.uk for more details.

Anna Leon & Corazon Flamenco

Anna Leon & her Corazon Flamenco dance company, present an evening of vibrant & passionate Flamenco ‘not to be missed' (The Argus, Brighton). Tickets £11.50/£9 (cons). E: events@brighton.co.uk for more details.

Pavilion Theatre, New Road, Brighton: Sunday 2nd November 8pm to 10.30pm.

Anna Leon & Corazon Flamenco returns to the Pavilion Theatre after last year's sold-out event. Tickets, priced £11 . 50 & £9 (concessions), are on sale now from the Dome Box Office. E: events@brighton.co.uk for more details.

04/09/03 at the Sussex Arts Club

As the first throws of autumn drew the crowds to the beautiful Ship Street venue, another VBM M&P bill garnered much praise from all.

Chimp: New album ‘can't stop, on fire.' is out shortly and you can read a Virtual Brighton Magazine review here ..

Find-out more about Rachel & Kolida below ..

03/07/03 saw at the Sussex Arts Club

Kolida: “Impressively talented and original they are reminiscent of Portishead but with a more upbeat sound. A refreshingly unpretentious band who are definitely worth looking out for ”. (Sonia Welch, Seelife magazine)

Rachel: “She may be lacking a surname but she's no hit factory processed pop princes. Her voice swoops from one extreme to the other - from Nina Simone style deep to Kate Bush shrill, and she can play a mean keyboard”. (Matt Woodhouse, Maxim magazine)

Geist: Playing stripped-down versions of tracks from their highly acclaimed debut album, ‘Songs For Your Neighbourhood'. This West Sussex band has been hailed as ‘ones to watch' by Uncut magazine .. “Set to be bigger than Coldplay. ” (Claire Watkins, VBM)

Past Gigs

4 square enetrtainment teamed up with Brighton Festival Fringe to present a very special evening of music at one of the city's finest venues. An evening of eclectic sounds, featuring Geist, a band that may be from out-of-town but who went down a storm at their recent headlining gig at O'Neill's, in Ship Street. They were admirably supported by Agent. J and Rachel, both of whom have recently worked with The Metway's producer-in-residence, Alan Scott.

An evening featuring the very best of local female singer/songwriters @ The Sussex Arts Club, on Wednesday 7th May, 7.30pm was headlined by 'the city's rising daughter' Rachel (featuring sounds of the didgeridoo, courtesy of Jason Salmon), with support from Kolida and the Cathy Rennie Trio.

Double Header with Rachel and Agent J - 3 April, 2003

A double header of Rachel & Agent. J, plus VBM demo winner; Kat ‘n' Rob at The Sussex Arts Club, Ship Street, Brighton on Thursday 3rd April 2003, 8pm – 2am.
Also included in the ridiculously low price of £3.50 is a special chill-out session from The Metway Collective, Kolida.

Rachel, Brighton's Rising Daughter, was adopted by VBM upon her relocation to the UK, in January 2002. She'd spent four years touring and recording in the USA and returned to her home shores with an excellent debut album, Open Face.

During last year Rachel teamed-up with Kenny Moreland, under the banner of, Just Bizarre, and played VBM's successful series of Best of Brighton & Acoustic Heaven gigs. She also toured nationally with Nashville's number-one singer/songwriter, Doug Hoekstra.

Rachel is currently working on a recording project with Al Scott (Levellers, Oyster Band, Eliza Carthy, Electric Soft Parade, Asian Dub Foundation) at the Metway Studios, Brighton.

Agent J came to the attention of VBM with the release of his excellent Pop Terrorist EP. The five tracks contained a master-class in pop sensibilities and tongue-in-cheek lyrical nuggets.

Agent J has gigged extensively over the past few years and, as well as headlining the majority of his shows, he's supported The Levellers & Oyster Band.

Last year saw the release of Agent J's debut album, No Hard Feelings For 300 yds, and the single Big Blue Sky ... the latter being championed by Mark & Lard (Radio 1).

Agent J is currently working on a recording project with Al Scott (Levellers, Oyster Band, Eliza Carthy, Electric Soft Parade, Asian Dub Foundation) at the Metway Studios, Brighton

VBM Presents: Brighton Flamenco Spectacular

The Pavilion Theatre, New Road was packed to the brim on Sunday 6th October 2002 with a passionate audience of flamenco followers eagerly waiting one of the most stunning and exciting dance productions staged outside of the Brighton Festival.

Anna Leon's Flamenco Spectacular

Brighton Flamenco Spectacular, an Anna Leon production, was the culmination of years of hard work by Anna and her slick and professional flamenco students. Each performed half the show - which included live musicians and singers.

Anna previously said: “The event is being staged because my students have reached the stage where they can provide excellent entertainment, as well as highlighting to the audience what can be achieved through flamenco dance.”

Anna, who has also produced a flamenco dance instruction video, An Introduction To Flamenco Dance, available from her website www.flamencodance.co.uk, has amassed almost a decade as a teacher as well as performing at penas (flamenco clubs) in Madrid, London and Brighton as well as theatres & quality venues throughout the UK.

V-Day at The Freebutt, Wed 14th August, 7.30pm.

Garrett, Noosa & Just Bizarre. Best of Brighton: One-Upmanship Sets Freebutt Alight
The Freebutt, Brighton's premiere small live music venue, has a history of being the pivotal first-rung in many-a-since-made-it rock band's climb to success.

And so it was, on a balmy mid-August evening, that Garrett, Noosa, & Just Bizarre: set out to stake their claim as the next band to join Electric Soft Parade, British Sea Power et al as the next local combo to make the leap from local to national acceptance.....Read full review here.

Best of Brighton at The Hanbury Ballroom, Tues 23rd July @ 7.30pm.

Just Bizarre, Different Planet & Bare Skin Rugs were the three bands handed the mantle of Best of Brighton. VBM's series of promotions saw audience levels grow, and this gig SOLD OUT!

Brighton Unplugged Monday 15th July 2002, Prince Albert.

Featuring the fabulous Bare Skin Rugs & our City favourite Rachel Innes (with the exceptional jazz guitar of Dan Clark) Prince Albert, 48 Trafalgar Street, Brighton. 8pm - 11pm. £4/£3 Concs.

The competition on the night saw two people run off with tickets to see Los De Abajo on Tues 30th July @ Concorde 2 & a copy of their latest CD 'Cybertropic Chilango Power'.

Agent J, Just Bizarre & Garrett: City's Best Bands Make VBM's ‘Best Of Brighton' Go With A Bang.

On the day The Who became half-the-band they'd started out as (due to the sad demise of bassist John Entwistle), Virtual Brighton Magazine doubled its integrity by holding a three-way musical spat at The Hanbury Ballroom. The event, titled ‘Best of Brighton', drew three potential headliners under one angel-adorned domed roof.

Agent J, Just Bizarre & Garrett performed electric & acoustic delights from a pool of self-compositions that have been championed by The Levellers, multi-Grammy nominated Doug Hoekstra, and Mark Radcliffe to name but a few.

The tight, professional, well rehearsed and downright awesome four-piece Garrett began the night playing songs from their ‘Work of Art' and ‘Live at Maida Vale' EPs. Audience feedback told me that the latter's stand-out track, ‘Sugarfree', is destined to go places even Garrett can only currently dream of.

Next up, Just Bizarre and lead singer, Rachel Innes, made a spectacular entrance with her film-star-features and an aura of the ‘it' factor. She bought a change of pace with an acoustic mix of Celtic, soul, r&b and jazz, backed by the ultra-talented singer/songwriter/guitarist Kenny Moreland. Fans were treated to the faves; ‘Remember', ‘Weaving Dreams', ‘Wonder' plus new composition, ‘Help Me Down'.

Virtual Brighton Magazine had a final trick up its shirt, they managed to secure the headline services of Agent J described as "The best thing to come out of Brighton since Bobby Zamora and the 09:50 to Victoria". A five piece with all the raw energy, awesome songs and ‘buzz' of a band that should already be turning down venues the size of The Hanbury.

From the opening blast of current single, and set opener, ‘Big Blue Sky', through all the soon-to-be-classics off their debut album, ‘No Hard Feelings For 300 Yds', Agent J never relented the pace nor dropped the bar. There was no mid-set lull, and no keeping the best for last. Just 45 minutes, plus well deserved encore, of brutal pop-fun.

Sunday, May 19th 2002

To round off a Semi-sun drenched Spring, Virtual Brighton Magazine sought to promote the services of one, Doug Hoekstra.

We teamed him up with "the city's rising daughter Rachel Innes" and booked, what Doug described as "a little heaven here on Earth", The Hanbury Ballroom.

Doug is Chicago born but currently resides in Nashville, Tennessee, and has a track of album releases that has seen him nominated for three Grammys, as well as gaining the title of Best USA-Based Independent Singer/Songwriter 2001.


But, being the true gent he is, Doug let Rachel and her equally talented musical partner, Kenny Moreland, put their band Just Bizarre top of the bill. The night was above the tag of ‘awesome'... you really should have been there!

Here's a snippet from a review of the night, as appeared in The Guardian Online:

"In Sunday night's Hanbury Ballroom gig Doug Hoekstra was joined by the city's rising daughter Rachel Innes, wrapping her soulful vocals around his simple yet perfectly constructed songs, which provided eloquent evidence for why Hoekstra's already bagged three Grammy nominations.

Innes has a voice that fits neatly between Aretha Franklin and Portishead's Beth Gibbons, while Hoekstra takes his cues from a long-line of country-ish confessors, from Hank Williams to Bruce Springsteen. And he's not the only one. Everywhere, it seems, the country credos of the dog done and died are being dressed up for the urban consumer in a way that's more New York City than Nashville.

The pair were teamed up through local online magazine Virtual Brighton. Hoekstra's internet-posted songs brought him to the attention of the magazine's Mike Cobley who, already well aware of Rachel, brought them together. Their first meeting taking place three hours before they took the stage."
David Prudame and Stephen Dowling. Tuesday May 21, 2002.

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