The London Burlesque Festival - 1st-5th April

How time flies! Seems like yesterday I was at the opening of last year's festival, but in less than a week Chaz Royal's International London Burlesque Festival returns for its 3rd year, showcasing the best in British and international burlesque.

The Festival will expose Londoners and burlesque connoisseurs from around the globe to over 100 of the world's top ecdysiasts hailing from North America, Europe, Australia and of course the United Kingdom. The festival will feature a variety of acts, from the nostalgic traditional style of burlesque's early years to 50s 'Bump and Grind' and more modern avant-garde interpretations that are growing in popularity with neo-burlesque's younger set.

There will be several showcases of sizzling striptease, vaudeville variety and burlesque pageantry taking place across London over the span of five nights:

Wednesday 1st April
Opening Press Party 'Glitterati Gala'
@ CAFE DE PARIS, 3-4 Coventry Street, W1D
7pm-1am, Tickets £18.50 - £24.50
www.cafedeparis.com

Thursday 2nd April
UK Showcase Night: *2 Showcases
@ MADAME JOJO'S, 8-10 Brewer Street, W1F
Early Showcase - The Princess Palace: 6pm-9pm, Tickets £24.50
Late Showcase - Burlesque Social Club: 10pm-3am, Tickets £22.50
www.madamejojos.com

Friday 3rd April
Newcomers Contest 'Battle Royale'
@ THE SCALA, 275-277 Pentonville Road, N1
8pm-3am, Tickets £12.50 - £18.50
www.scala-london.co.uk

Saturday 4th April
International Gala 'Jetsetters Ball': *2 Showcases
@ BUSH HALL, 310 Uxbridge Road, W12
6pm-9pm, 10pm-1am, Tickets £24.50 - £29.50
www.bushhallmusic.co.uk

Sunday 5th April
VIP Closing Party
@ CAFE DE PARIS, 3-4 Coventry Street, W1D
Dinner Soiree, Secrets in Lace Fashion Show, Closing Showcase
6pm-1am, Tickets £34.50 - £39.50
www.cafedeparis.com

For full details and performer schedule visit: www.londonburlesquefest.com

Tickets are on sale exclusively from www.ticketweb.co.uk

You can read my review from last year's opening show here

Not sure I'll end up on stage again this year, but I will be behind the DJ decks on Saturday 4th April at Bush Hall for both the early and late shows.

To further whet your appetite, here are some photos from last year courtesy of Elizabeth Shingleton:

Muddy Waters Jr. at The Luminaire - Thu 19 Mar

Muddy Water's first-born son, Mud Morganfield, will be playing live at The Luminaire with Big Joe Louis and his Blues Kings this Thursday 19th March. This will be Mud's debut London show and should be an unmissable night.

Tickets are still available from wegottickets.com and ticketweb.com, but be quick!

The Luminaire is at: 311 High Road, Kilburn, London, NW6 7JR

Doors open at 7.30pm

Just like his father, Mud Morganfield was a truck driver with a passion for music and in his spare time he would sing with various soul groups. As he grew older and particularly since his father's funeral in 1983 (where he met his half brother Bill Morganfield for the first time) he moved towards and finally embraced the blues. Mud is his fathers son, looking remarkably similar and possessed of a fine baritone voice in the tradition of Muddy Snr. Mud cut his teeth in the clubs of the Chicago Southside, but has until recently kept a low profile and quietly built a solid audience with childhood friends like Eddie Taylor Jr helping him out on the bandstand.

In July 2007 Mud stepped out into the limelight playing a show with Big Bill Morganfield at the Muddy Waters Memorial Festival in Westmont, Illinois and then straight on to his own set at the Chicago Blues Festival. He then released his debut record in 2008 and hasn't looked back.

Mud Morganfield's first UK shows in 2007 were a sell-out success and he has since toured throughout Europe, North America and South America. Mud's show at The Luminaire on Thursday 19 March will be his first ever London appearance so don't miss out on a piece of living blues history!

You can listen to some great performances from Mud on Youtube here:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgLVdBgJxBM
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzlU5EQ7Wjg

For more info on the venue visit www.theluminaire.co.uk

To find out more about Mud Morganfield, check out his website: www.mudmorganfield.com

The Cavern threatened with closure - please help

Just received news from the promoters of 60s soul night Walls Of Heartache that the club's venue, The Cavern, has been threatened with closure. This is a great night and a lovely little venue that I've DJ'd at myself in the past and it would be a sad thing for the Waltham Forest community if it were to shut down.

If you have time and would like to help protect another independent quality music venue from closing down, then you should email Brian Bowater at Waltham Forest Council ASAP to voice your concerns.

You should send emails to: Brian.Bowater@walthamforest.gov.uk with "The Cavern, Forest Road, Walthamstow" as the subject line.

Please also copy Dave from Walls Of Heartache in at: dave@brhodgson.co.uk so that he can print off the emails ahead of the venue's license review.

Here is the info I received from Dave:

"Dear Walls Of Heartache friends,

Our home in Walthamstow for the past four years - The Cavern on Forest Road - is under threat after one complaint about noise and a petition from a resident following an incident nearby, not even inside, The Cavern over Xmas.

The license is up for review next week and there is a real possibility that the club will be closed.

We are asking people who care to drop an email to the Council's Noise Team/Licensing Dept showing your support for the club.

It's important that we can show that while there may be a few people who want to see it closed for their own reasons, that we see it as an important place where local people of all ages and backgrounds can come together and enjoy themselves without having to travel into Central London or further afield.

We would appreciate it if you could take ten minutes to email the Council officer detailed below.

Many thanks

Fingers crossed

Andy & Dave Wall Of Heartache"

Skinny silk tie clearout at John Pearse

Soho tailor John Pearse is currently clearing out hundreds of lovely hand-made slim silk ties in dozens of different designs. I have a few of John's ties myself (such as the one pictured) and they are amongst my favourites. They are lovely looking, very narrow and just as importantly they tie extremely well.

The ties have been reduced to £30 each or three for £60 - bargain! Some of these designs are very limited with only one or two left, so get down there now to check them out. And don't forget to say Jean-Paul sent you!

To find out more about John Pearse visit: www.johnpearse.co.uk