Thanks to everyone who came to see us freeze our nuts off at the Portobello Winter Fest last night and thanks to the festival organisers themselves.
I arrived a couple of hours early because I wanted to catch Ebony Bones and I’m very glad I did. I first became aware of her a couple of years back when Rat Scabies (who was managing her … or something like that) asked me to try out on guitar for her. This despite the fact that I didn’t have a guitar1, hadn’t played guitar since I was a teenager (and never on stage) and that Rat had never seen me play any instrument whatsoever.
Anyway that didn’t come to anything because I didn’t have the time, but she put on an excellent show and we were really indebted to her for pumping up the crowd.
It was so cold when we went on that the ends of two of my fingers went numb during the second song and I made what can only be described as a right hash of it. During the next two songs the temperature change threw my guitar wildly out of tune, leading to some dark looks from Mick. Which was fair enough!
But it went really well and we made a good few new friends out of it if the comments we received afterwards and the hits on our myspace page this morning are anything to go by. We were honoured to be asked to play the first ever Portobello Winter Fest and wish them all the best. One of the organisers was saying that they were hoping to make it a 3 monthly affair.
Don’t forget, tonight is the Strummerville show at the Tabernacle on Powis Square. If you like it last night, you like it tonight, because it’ll be the same. Only in tune. Oh and we have the obligatory “surprise guest”. No not Mick, it’d be a surprise if he didn’t play with us these days.
1Actually strictly speaking I still don’t have my own guitar. The one I use is Wifey’s. She acquired it in a “settlement” when she split from a musician boyfriend in a medium sized US band I’d never heard of called Sister Machine Gun. I think he just never came back to collect it after they split up.
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December 22nd, 2008 at 7:37 pm
I wanted to go but have contracted the plague (read: cheat infection) probably from the grubby bunch at the Hammersmith Club on Tuesday.
I’d say it was topical but 1665 was a bit before Dickens!
November 13th, 2009 at 2:47 pm
Portobello Winter Festival
Portobello Road and Golborne Road; Wednesdays from 25 Nov–16 Dec; 4pm–9pm; free
Catch free film screenings, dance workshops, free tastings, food markets, Santa’s Grotto, children’s and street entertainment and much more among the host of surprises along Portobello Road and Golborne Road this festive season, as the two iconic market streets celebrate the second coming of the Portobello Winter Festival.
This year’s festival spans a whole month rather than a weekend and expands from last year’s music-based event to include film, food and festive shopping!
The unique festival will provide the perfect opportunity to buy loved-ones an unusual, quirky or one-of-a-kind gift. So whether you’re looking for cutting edge accessories by hot designers; artisan foods; distinctive designs; handmade, recycled gifts or a rare, vintage bag, you’ll find these and plenty more sought-after items that just can’t be found on the high street. What’s more, the independent retailers will be giving discounts and plenty of special offers throughout the festival dates.
Martin Miller’s Gin will be offering free cocktails throughout the festival. Times TBC. Each Wednesday throughout the festival will be gorgeously themed…
A Very Portobello Christmas: Wednesday 25 November
4pm: Traditional pan-around-the-neck steel group, Nostalgia Steel Band will be kick-starting the festival
4pm–9pm: Kids’ entertainment company Sparkletown will be providing balloon models and face painting
6pm–7pm: Innovative dancer Lindale will be hosting a Latin and Brazilian dance Lambada Zouk workshop
7pm–8pm: Soul singer Kate Stevenson aka Nana Green, often compared to Norah Jones, will be performing
8pm: Gutsy rock riffage from punk-rock band The DFCs
8.30pm: Live music from Encore
8pm–9pm : Thrill the World Zombie Convention will be hosting performing Chiller, a festive tribute to Michael Jackson
TBC: Festive film
Maghrebi Winter Festival: Wednesday 2 December
4pm–9pm: Kids’ entertainment company Sparkletown will be providing balloon models and face painting
6pm–7pm: Innovative dancer Lindale will be hosting a Latin and Brazilian dance Lambada Zouk workshop
6pm–9pm: Massages with therapists from Eastern Garden Oriental Therapy Centre in the pop-up souk and lounge area
7pm–8pm: Soul singer Kate Stevenson aka Nana Green, often compared to Norah Jones, is performing.
Time TBC: Film premiere of Zohra. A Moroccan Fairy Tale
Boas & Baubles: Wednesday 9 December
4pm–9pm: Kids’ entertainment company Sparkletown will be providing balloon models and face painting
6pm–7pm: Innovative dancer Lindale will be hosting a Latin and Brazilian dance Lambada Zouk workshop
7pm–7.30pm: Soul singer Kate Stevenson aka Nana Green, often compared to Norah Jones, is performing.
8pm: Music from local melodic guitar/vocal Ay Ducane
8.30pm: High energy trio The Indie Killers perform
TBC: Festive film TBC
All I Want for Christmas:Wednesday 16 December
4pm–9pm: Kids’ entertainment company Sparkletown [07704 765172; sparkletown@hotmail.co.uk] will be providing balloon models and face painting
6pm–7pm: Innovative dancer Lindale will be hosting a Latin and Brazilian dance Lambada Zouk workshop
7pm: Soul singer Kate Stevenson aka Nana Green, often compared to Norah Jones is performing.
7.30pm: Dark, melodic band Black Hay
8pm: Performance troupe FireFlyz will be lighting up the streets with their fire shows
8pm–9pm: Thrill the World Zombie Convention will be hosting performing Chiller, a festive tribute to Michael Jackson
Time TBC: Carols and classics from Great Western Singers
TBC: Festive film
Locations:
• Free film screenings will take place under the canopy on the corner of Portobello Road and Cambridge Gardens.
• Pop-up souk and lounge area will be under the canopy on the corner of Portobello Road and Cambridge Gardens.
• Live music will be performed at the entrance to Portobello Green Arcade.
• Santa’s Grotto is located in Portobello Green Arcade.
• Thrill the World Zombie Convention workshop will take place near Uncle’s, 305 Portobello Road, W10.
More updates coming soon at http://www.westlondonliving.co.uk/portobello-winter-festival
Line-up subject to change.
For more information and images, contact Lucy Land on lucy.land@westlondonliving.co.uk; 07786 532141