Incus Phoenix Festival at Cafe Oto, 18 & 19th September

Featuring Han Bennink, Duck Baker, Steve Beresford, John Butcher, Rhodri Davies, Alex Ward, Will Gaines, Thebe Lipere, Simon H Fell, Steve Noble, Ashley Wales.

A fabulous weekend of world class musicians and great fun

Lol Coxhill and Steve Noble at The Herb Garden, Deptford

Openned at The Foundry, 11th August 09

The Foundry is to be bulldozed to make way for a 17-storey hotel so to benefit the Geneva based Reuben Brothers who own a chain of 'Art'otels' across Europe. Hackney council is favouring the Swiss concern over local opinion as reported in The Hackney Gazette on the 30th July 09. The Reuben Brothers high art credentials include concerns in race-courses and shopping centres. They also own the London Oxford airport (Probably quite handy for transporting sacks of dosh wheedled from tax avoidance). There are photos of the Reubens other art'otels online. The decor is pure Conran shop floor, the 'art' Ikea ready-to-go with your colour scheme. But never mind, the locals can also make use of the 'relaxing spa'. If I could afford the entrance, I'd go have a shit in it and piss in the over-priced lager to boot.

Alan Brookman makes camp outside The Foundry, perhaps to practice a sit-in in protest of the hideous plan to put the five-star hotel on the site. He'd certainly make a much more attractive exhibit.


A performance of John Cage's Four6 by Harry Gilonis, Chris Goode, Dominic Lash and Josh Robinson, followed by poetry from, Tom Jenks, Francesca Lisette and Luke Roberts. The highlight for me was the black bin-liner shake out by Harry Gilonis - the least cautious of the chosen noises.

The Foundry, 30th June 09, Alan Wilkinson, John Edwards, Steve Noble

And splendid they were. Beardy reckons Mr Wilkison popped his earwax for him. Later Gina Southgate did mark making paintings to John Russell's guitar playing.

Lol and Ulli

Ulli Freer and Lol Coxhill, Saturday, 7 March 2009

Ulli and and Lol duet in the sole highpoint of an otherwise bleak affair at the South London Gallery - Lol having to actually leave the stage at one point as unannounced and with with so many people chattering over his playing he eventually despaired. The evening started badly with people, ticketed or not, herded and kept waiting at the entrance. Let us compare and contrast with an evening out at The Klinker, where all seated and comfy, Hugh eventually bumbles to your table to ask a mere £3,00 from us unwaged, all the while making us crack-up at some delightful nonsense or other and where we'll see world class musicians like Lol, fine poets, such as Sean Bonney and men pulling rubber gloves over their heads to boot;long may cabbage-head reign.