Once You Go Drag You Never Go Back 

 Bearing witness to a Drag performance for the first time is as if you have been opened to a whole new world that is more fabulous than anything you have previously known. Tuesday night saw us stray away from our usual haunt of the local bar and head to one of my personal favourite corners of Brighton - The Blind Tiger Club. This time however, the bar had been inhabited by something beyond the usual frequenters. A take over by the unrelentingly fierce likes of The House of Grand Parade had us subject to something we could previously not have dreamt of. 

Described as an alternative performance platform based in Brighton widening the horizons of drag, burlesque, magic and other notable cabaret/circus performance styles - we found ourselves amidst an array of feathers, glitter and down right gorgeous ladies with moves that left us not only envious but simply in awe. 

What this group offer is something far above a performance - the atmosphere they create is entirely infectious and I found that even the most reserved of friends became overcome with a level of sass that I would never come across out in the everyday world. Yet, after leaving this remained with us, leaving us with an air of confidence that seemed alien prior to entering through those doors. Half way through the show, the wonderful Rubyyy Jones asked a member of the audience what was up with him, and receiving the reply 'I'm just so happy!' seemed to epitomise the kind of cohesive experience that the night projects. You better be damn straight that once you go drag you never go back - and none of us would have it any other way.

Do You Like Good Music?

Every time I hear Arthur Conley's Sweet Soul Music it makes me want to jump up and dance, and so I find myself constantly questioning why there is such an absence of good 50s and 60s nights in my life. That hope to be transported back in time and immersed in feel good music, that will undoubtedly wash away any signs of stress, remains hopelessly unfulfilled. That is until I discovered the miraculous world of Itchy Feet.

After a Friday that was spent under a pile of books and pretty much chained to a library desk it was a welcome relief to put on my dancing shoes and escape the shackles of academia. The evening appropriately begun with a swing dance lesson. After enviously admiring every swing dancer I laid eyes on I decided it was time to learn some moves myself, and after my first class I am certainly glad to have finally taken the plunge. It seems there is no better cure for a long day than dancing it away.

Following the lesson, it was time to get dressed up and head down to The Haunt to put our steps into practice. Usually the home of student nights, it was a pleasant surprise to find ourselves met with an array of braces and rockabilly dresses. Even better was the lovely member of the Itchy Feet crew who took to the stage to teach us some moves - that is until the stage got far too packed with eager dancers to allow her to do so.

A night ensued that involved spinning around the dance floor in my full skirt and feeling like I had been transported into the high school dance in Grease. It is not a common fate for me to feel comfortable enough that I will lose all my inhibitions but here I found myself jumping around without a care in the world, until I was reluctantly told it was time to leave. From The Rolling Stones, to Curtis Mayfield and Aretha Franklin - the whole night was like music to my ears. Plus you can imagine my elation when Conley began to resonate on the speakers, both stealing my heart and causing me to make a solemn vow to remain lost in the 60s forever.

Birthdays at The Blue Man
The Blue Man is a late night cafe that has previously featured on my blog, here. On Saturday night we found ourselves there once again, this time for my housemate's birthday. The difference this time was that we managed to get a reservation, which found us in the intimate surroundings of downstairs. 

Tucked away like a secret Aladdin's cave, the underground section of the venue can be hired for FREE for special occasions. Providing plenty of privacy, the area has a magic all of its own. Lit up with an array of lanterns and illuminated tables it has the essence of an Arabian palace. The cafe provides a perfect setting not only for those who are watching their budgets, but for anyone that wants to get lost in a foreign land without having to leave the comfort of Brighton. 

On top of that, the food was exceptional as ever and left us yearning for more. This time it was the crispy potato wedges that stole the show and left us fighting over the last one. I've said it before and I'll say it again - this is not a place for sharing. And as the idyllic setting for an array of live music nights, there's no doubt in my mind that there will be plenty more to discover at The Blue Man.

Jungle Is Massive

I find that it is easy to forget just how much jungle music has the ability to lift your spirits, that is until you find yourself on a night where you can allow the music to run over you. In a second it seems every care is washed away and all you are left with is a night that is nothing but smile inducing. 

Last Saturday I attended Congo Natty and Run Tingz at Concorde 2. Having spent the previous night at the venue I was overcome with initial apprehensions at returning for the second day in a row, but all that was instantly dispelled upon hearing the genius mixing of the great Congo Natty. Upon entering through the doors I was instantly enchanted by sounds of Bob Marley pulsating through the walls - if there is anything else more calming than a room full of people singing and dancing to reggae music I am yet to find it. 

With a transformation into bass filled jungle music, a night of non stop dancing ensued. Despite having had a heavy night the day before, my feet refused to give out and we ended up staying right until the end. Not only a sweet night in itself, I found myself getting increasingly excited about the promise of Outlook festival later this year. Set in an abandoned fort in Croatia, the festival has already released a stellar lineup of bass music which seeks to fulfil all my musical needs - from hip hop and reggae through to jungle and drum and bass. For the time being though, I am relying on Concorde 2 to pander to all my bass cravings and somehow I don't think I'm going to be disappointed.

The Transformation of Concorde

Stepping into Concorde 2 is usually a pretty similar experience and I've become fairly accustomed to the venue, but when I entered through its doors last night I was met with a different world entirely. The take over by the Gypsy Disco saw an immersive experience quite unlike anything else I have seen set inside those walls. While standing in the queue, a burden usually dreaded by even the most patient of people, we were met with fire dancers and thus encapsulated before we had even made it inside. What was immediately ensured that we were in for a night we would fail to forget easily.

 

This promise was not made in vain and as soon as we entered we were exposed to the immense effort that the team had gone to. The whole of the venue was draped with material and foliage, creating a dream like world. There was a feeling that you'd left the streets of Brighton and found yourself in a magical land beyond human perception. 

The gypsy swing bands that played ensured that everyone was on there feet and dancing. The usual fate of awkward dancing and head bopping that is so often found on a night out was chased away by uninhibited displays of energy and beaming faces everywhere you looked. Its one of those things which if you embrace in its entirety, you find that you are left with this collective sense in the air - safe in that knowledge that you are all just glad to be there. My favourite moment of the night had to be heading into the smoking area to find a live band playing, complete with an impressively sized bass. That little corner of clarity away from the madness of inside is what really made me feel at ease, as if I'd truly stumbled on a little haven away from the chaotic whirlwind of everyday life. It is that feeling of calm that can be found in the unexpected corners that I am really appreciative for, and for providing me with that I can feel that I lay witness to something that can only be described as magical.

Tagine and Toe Tapping

A new term at university has to be the right time to try new things. I often find that with Brighton the second that I find a nice place to go to, it is then impossible to draw myself away from it and go anywhere else. The vast expanse of wonderful places in Brighton often means that I end up missing out because of this. That's why last night it seemed like the right time to try a new place to eat. 

The Blue Man is somewhere that I spotted when I was exploring last week. Located on Queens Road, very close to the train station, the cafe-bar jumps out at you as you pass it. With Moroccan style decor the place is quite literally lit up with an array of lanterns, practically begging you to go inside. Well boy am I glad we did. The atmosphere in the cafe is nicely laid back so you immediately feel at ease. The staff are among some of the friendliest I've come across which is a huge compliment in a place like Brighton. As for the food (which unfortunately was gone far too quickly for me to take any photos of it) all I can say is that you really should put it on your list to try. 

We went for a vegetarian shared platter which consisted of falafel, tortilla and halloumi with apple (who would have thought the combination would be so perfect - the pair really should never be separated). To top it off a vegetable tagine which was definitely the highlight. There still remains nothing I enjoy more than mopping up juices of a homemade meal with some soft french bread. Automatically I'm transported to a place of comfort - as if I've lived in that one little cafe for my whole life. My only advice would be not to share! I wish I could have eaten all the delicious food to myself, but if you insist on being a generous person then the platter is great between a couple of you as you have a delicious variety to play around with.

 

After the Blue Man we headed to The Blind Tiger, which is located opposite the pavilion on the Grand Parade. I sometimes feel like the bar is the best kept secret in Brighton but perhaps I'm simply kidding myself that I'm the only person that's discovered the magic that's held between the walls. Painted blue with an incredible jungle mural on the outside, the bar is hard to miss. Yet it is actually what is beyond the colourfully decorated walls that is really what should be seen. The people inside are always incredibly happy and friendly - expect lots of mad dancing and somewhere where you can really let loose. As your feelings of self consciousness rapidly fade away you find yourself having one of the best nights you can remember.

Stay Sick is a monthly night held at The Blind Tiger that I had been meaning to check out for the past couple of months. Described as 'A night of wild, weird, delinquent filthy fifties & sicksties rock 'n' roll to dance ya feet to the bone to.' it certainly did not disappoint. We arrived late but managed to catch the end of King Salami and the Cumberland Three, a 50s style band whose lead singer seemed to sum up the vibe of the bar nicely as he concluded in his raspy voice that Brighton was 'one of the places in the world where everything is about a smile'. I don't know where else you can go from listening to 50s rock n roll to 70s punk (and of course, anywhere that plays The Clash is good in my books). 

With grindhouse b-movies projected on the walls, featuring clips of the gorgeous Bettie Page, and music that frankly does make you just want to move your feet, by the end of the night I felt as if I were a character in a film. This was only aided by the fact that Jan Pehchan-Ho was played (see the clip below from Ghost World) which made me feel like I had been transported into Enid's TV screen. Then on top of that The Coaster's Down in Mexico which has to be my favourite song from Quentin Tarantino's Death Proof, which has one of my favourite soundtracks of any film. I managed to just about resist attempting to reenact the lap dance from the film but if you want to get an idea about how difficult that was I've posted the scene below as well. By the end of the night I was jumping around without a care in the world and dancing in a way that usually is solely reserved for the privacy of my bedroom. I'm left with aching feet and the knowledge that I may have just attended one of the best nights in Brighton. The night ended with Fever and the distinct thought that I will definitely be returning next month!

Ghost World Opening Credits with Jaan Pechechan Ho by Mohammed Rafi

Scene from Death Proof featuring Down in Mexico by The Coasters