Natty Bo presents Killer Dillers - Sat 29 Nov

Natty Bo's Killer Dillers club night returns to central London for a second outing on Saturday 29th November. This time the venue is Guy's Bar near London Bridge - another club owned by The King's College Student Union, so expect the same super cheap drinks prices. Natty tells me this venue is more intimate and more atmospheric than Tutu's, though I'm not sure whether this one has a view of the river.

Musically you can expect another phenomenal night of 78rpms from Natty and Count Sizzle covering blues, jazz, swing, calypso, mento and Latin sounds so don't miss out!

Killer Dillers (part 2) @ Guy's Bar
St. Thomas Street (through courtyard), London Bridge, SE1 9RT
9pm - 2.30am
£5 admission

Right On! weekend - 14-15 November - Vibe Bar & Ronnie Scott's

I'm extremely sorry to announce that I just received a phone call telling me the management of Ronnie Scott's have cancelled my night there tomorrow (15 Nov). Apparently they double booked the venue and forgot to tell the promoters and DJs until this evening! Unfortunately there was absolutely nothing I could do to change this decision.

All I can do is offer my sincerest apologies to you all. Especially for the unbelievably short notice. If I had any idea this could have happened I would never have arranged the night there.

Not only has this messed up my night and wasted many hours of my time spent in promoting and preparing it, but another 100 or more people have also had their Saturday night messed up including people who were going to celebrate their birthday there and some who had planned to travel from outside of London.

Please could I ask you to pass this information on to anyone you know who might be planning on attending tomorrow night? I would really hate for anyone to waste their time and money travelling down there.

I can only apologise again and assure you I will do everything in my power to never allow this to happen again at any venue I DJ at in the future.

Fortunately tonight (Friday the 14th November) is still happening, so come down to Chick-A-Boom at The Vibe Bar to hear me and Mistah Brown plus special guest Andy Smith (Portishead, Jazz Cafe, Lost & Found, Document, etc.). We'll be playing plenty of ska, reggae, Northern soul and rockin' rhythm & blues.

Chick-A-Boom @ The Vibe Bar
Friday 14th November
The Truman Brewery, 91 Brick Lane, E1 6QL
8pm - 1am. £5 (NB. over 21s only)

Burlesque Social Club launch party - Sat 26 July

Chaz Royale (aka Chaz Royal) - the man behind the excellent annual London Burlesque Festival - is launching a new night called The London Burlesque Social Club which will take place at two locations each month. Taking place on the last Saturday of each month at The Apothecary in King's Cross and the first Thursday of each month at Madame Jojo's in Soho, this new night will showcase the best in Bawdy Burlesque, Cabaret & Vaudeville - locally & from abroad.

Every month the Social Club promises a rotating cast of Burlesque Strip Teasers, Variety & Novelty Acts, Slap Stick Comedians, Hilarious Hosts & Hot DJs playing vintage sounds to rock the dancefloor until the early hours. I have been invited to do a guest DJ spot at the launch party on 26th July at The Apothecary and am really looking forward to it. Especially as visiting American burlesque artiste Sienna Sinclaire will be putting on an exclusive performance. Details as follows:

Date: Saturday July 26th
Venue: The Apothecary
Location: 3 Vale Royal, N7 9AP (next to the Egg Club)
Nearest tube: King's Cross
Doors: 9pm - 3am (show 10pm - 1am)
Price: £15.00

Good news is that I have been offered a '2-4-1' concession for all my readers. This means that two people can go along for just £15 (instead of £15 each).

To take advantage of this great offer, just email your full name to chazroyal@hotmail.com mentioning my name: Jean-Paul Séculaire.

NOTE: Offer expires on 25th July at 12 Noon.

For more info about the Burlesque Social Club (including full line-ups) vist: www.myspace.com/londonburlesque

One way ticket to Flipsville - Sunday 8th June

Dig this cats, it's Sunday evening. It's hot and sticky inside your pad and out. And yet you have a real gone urge to jump up and shake your feet. Like, too much! A no-goodnik would lie naked in front of a fan. But you have this beastly desire to dance - and not sedately. Wildly!

It's time to fall in and dig the happenings at Home Cookin', where the chicks and gators beat the boards to the crazy sound of the gonest lacquer crackers dished out with flair by El Nino and Jean-Paul Séculaire. And it won't cost you a cent.

The only thing that's square here are the meals, and they come on a round plate. So whether it's lubrication you need, or a real fine feedbag, this joint will send you to the end.

Like, make a shape in a drape and don't be late.

The date: Sunday 8th June
The time: 5.30pm - 10.30pm
The place: Filthy MacNasty's lounge bar, 68 Amwell St, EC1R 1UU
The sounds: Bebop, Hard Bop, Soul Jazz, Latin Jazz, Blues, Funk
The food: Pie & Mash
The drinks: Plentiful
The cover charge: Nix. Nothing. Zero.

NB: The first 20 groovers to hit the hop will bag themselves a hip to the tip compact disk of solid kicks.

And remember, it ain't no sin to take off your skin, and dance around in your bones, so cop the bop and make the scene. Home Cookin' is your one way ticket to Flipsville.

Find out more from www.right-on.org

60s French Cinema at BFI Southbank - April 2008

Following on from last month's fantastic European Film Noir season, the BFI Southbank presents yet another exciting season of films between the 11th and 30th April: Pop Goes The Revolution: French Cinema and May '68

This season features 12 films from such directors as Jean-Luc Godard and Francois Truffaut as well as William Klein's cult swinging 60s satire "Who Are You, Polly Maggoo?" (pictured above)

For tickets and full details visit the BFI website

The 45rpm Jukebox Jump-off - SAT 23 FEB

I'm very pleased to be playing another Right On! style set this coming Saturday. I've been invited to join resident DJ Simon Stretch on the decks at his Stormy Weather night at Barrio North - a bar opened last year dedicated to vintage and underground music.

We will be spinning a mix of 1950s-1970s black music - all off of original 45s. Expect to hear some fantastic rockin' r'n'b, 60s soul, funk, jazz, ska, reggae, mambo, calypso, boogaloo and whatever other aural curiosities spring to mind.

Simon and I DJ'd alongside each other at the last Rakehell's Revels and complemented each other perfectly, so I am really excited at this chance to DJ with him again.

Details as follows:

Stormy Weather presents the 45rpm Jukebox Jump-off
@ Barrio North, 45 Essex Road, London, N1 2SF (tube: Angel)
SATURDAY 23rd FEBRUARY 2008
8pm til 1.30am; FREE entry

London After Dark - film season

An excellent film season is currently underway at the Birkbeck Cinema, which offers a unique look at London after dark throughout the ages. Films are being shown every Tuesday afternoon at 2.30pm until the 4th December. And best of all, the screenings are free.

Here's the press release:

"The London Screen Study Collection continues in its mission to promote awareness of London's film heritage with a new season. Catch free screenings until 4 December.

"The focus is 'the capital by night' - as portrayed by both native and visiting film-makers over a seventy year period. The films range from low-budget talkies, to recent film-making that makes use of CGI to alter aspects of London locations."

The Birkbeck Cinema (formerly known as The Screen on Gordon Square) is located at 43 Gordon Square, WC1H 0PD

Note that, although admission is free, due to the small size of the cinema (it seats 70) you should reserve a place in advance by contacting Angela English on a.english@bbk.ac.uk or (020) 7631 6181

This afternoon's film (23 October) is "Night and the City" from 1950 which offers an Expressionist view of London's sporting underworld.

Other upcoming films that sound particularly interesting include:

30 October - "Every Day Except Christmas" and "Nice Time"
Films from the 1950s Free Cinema movement that examine both the gritty and the glamorous sides of London life.

6 November - "Peeping Tom" (Michael Powell, 1960)
Seedy Fitrozia alleyways and attics in Powell's satire on the film business, which also explores the roots of voyeurism.

13 November - "Nighthawks" (Ron Peck, 1978)
Pioneering British independent film which aimed to portray metropolitan gay life from the inside for the first time.

For full film listings and details visit:
http://www.filmlondon.org.uk/news_details.asp?newsid=1233

The Birkbeck Cinema is part of Birkbeck University's Centre for Film and Visual Media. For more information on the centre and the work they undertake vist:
http://www.bbk.ac.uk/hafvm/research/centre_fvm

White Mischief @ The Scala - Sat 10 Nov

I'm very excited to be DJing at The Scala on Saturday 10th November for a night called White Mischief: From The Earth To The Moon. This promises to be a unique indoor festival over 3 floors featuring live music, DJs, burlesque and cabaret.

I'll be DJing in the main room (capacity 500+) supporting ace soul band Lord Large and British Sea Power with a set of 60s soul and other related dancefloor sounds. I'll be on from around midnight til 3am.

Lord Large have been making a great name for themselves with their authentic 60s soul and ska releases on Acid Jazz. If you haven't seen them live yet, you're in for a treat.

For full details see the flyer below or visit: http://www.whitemischief.info/

To buy advance tickets online visit: http://www.ticketweb.co.uk/user/?region=gb_london&query=detail&event=235130

Steinberg & Tolkien closes down

I heard this news a while back, but forgot to post anything about it. Popular King's Road vintage clothes shop Steinberg & Tokien have apparently closed down.

Though geared more towards women than men, I still have fond memories of this place. It was in this quirky little boutique that I bought my first silver tie clip many years ago.

Full story from Time Out here:
http://www.timeout.com/london/features/3330.html

New Piccadilly Cafe closes forever on 22 Sept

As you may have read in the press, this Saturday - 22 September 2007 - is sadly the last day of business ever for The New Piccadilly Cafe, one of the few original cafes left in central London and a Soho institution. It has been there since the early 1950s and still has its wonderful original interior.

The place is likely to be completely demolished so get down there while you still can for one last cup of tea (best avoid the coffee) and a sad farewell to one of Soho's most colourful locales.

Be warned though, it is likely to be extremely busy and you may well have to wait to get a table.

The New Piccadilly, 8 Denman Street, Soho, W1. (020) 7437 8530
(nearest tube: Piccadilly Circus)

for more info see also:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2007/sep/08/saturday.whereidratherbe
http://www.urban75.org/london/piccadilly.html

V&A 60s music event

The Victoria & Albert Museum is hosting a free Sixties Fashion exhibition until the 25th February 2007.

To celebrate this the museum is hosting a free event on Wednesday 9th August called "60s Underground Lost and Found" - an opportunity to "relive the 60s underground scene with a day and night of Northern Soul, Bluebeat, Ska and Rocksteady"... or so they say!

The event runs from 1pm till 9.45pm and includes films about Northern Soul and a DJ and dance session with selectors Gladdy Wax, Keb Darge, Andy Smith, Ady Croasdell and the Tighten Up crew.

There will also be an after party at the Jazz Cafe from 11pm till 2am. Admission to that is £5 with a special V&A voucher.

For full details of the event visit http://www.vam.ac.uk/activ_events/events/60s_underground/index.html

For more information on the 60s Fashion exhibition visit http://www.vam.ac.uk/collections/fashion/1960s/sixtiesfashion/index.html

Jamaican label art website launched

A great new website has just been launched dedicated to the Art of the Caribbean record label - jamaicanlabelart.com. It is the brain child of two respected reggae collectors who are regular contributors to the Blood and Fire reggae message board.

Check out the website here: http://jamaicanlabelart.com/

For more information contact: mike@jamaicanlabelart.com or Ian@jamaicanlabelart.com

Vespa & Lambretta exhibition

A new exhibition called "Ready, Steady, Go!" opens tomorrow (Saturday 13th May) at the Chelsea Space examining the history of Vespa and Lambretta scooters and their influence on British culture.

The exhibition includes advertising and posters from Innocenti and Piaggio, films and photographs and a rare Vespa from the 1950s.

There will also be a scooter rideout tomorrow ending in the piazza in front of the gallery. Music will be supplied in the piazza from Noon onwards by one of my favourite DJs - Dave Edwards (compiler of the Trojan Mod Reggae boxsets)

For more info on the exhibition email arpna@kabinetofcuriosities.co.uk

Address:
The Chelsea Space
Chelsea College of Art & Design
16 John Islip St
Millbank
London SW1P 4JUN
(Nearest tube: Pimlico)

For more info on the Chelsea Space visit http://www.chelsea.arts.ac.uk/chelsea-space.htm