Ginger DJ Rob

The beatboxing, multi-instrument playing music supremo was on top form. Loved his intro as he surprised the up-for-it crowd walking down past the audience and inviting interaction with the mic. He was joined with 3 guys doing visuals who mixed up searched for Google Images which worked well. I had expected to hear him mimic well-known dance tracks in his own beatbox style. Instead the show encouraged the crowd to shout out ideas of made-up song titles and musical styles to make up songs. This worked well up to a point but I sensed either the crowd were more used to his past shows of get-up-and-dance or were getting too drunk and leery with predictable suggestions. Don't get me wrong, his performance was excellent. I felt the show's format needed some variation and perhaps a standing room-only venue so people could dance. It might have been the wookie reggae song that was my favourite.

Sunday was a packed day of London sightseeing with almost a minute by minute travel schedule. Rolled up to Holborn at around 12pm to see the Mr Brainwash exhibition expecting the door to open at 11am only to find a sign saying opening at 1pm. Bah! Instead I had a back-up plan to watch the Men's Marathon down on bankside. With it being such a nice warm day, Londoners were packing in to see the long-distance runners. Managed to see the race just opposite the drinks pick up point. Funny to see all the pro-photographers in the lorry in front. Menier Chocolate Factory Restaurant Next on the list was lunch at the Menier Chocolate Factory Restaurant for 1:30pm. It was almost deserted when we got there but this soon filled up to capacity. Next to us was an US actor who kept us trying to guess which film or TV show we'd seen him before. Starters was the sharing platter but for two people it was a little greedy. The ham hock with chutney was a highlight. My main was t...

If it hadn't been for Underworld , I doubt any of us would have gone to South West Four festival on Clapham Common . The previous few times we'd been it had a slightly shambolic organisation and the crowd were getting less interested in the dancing and music aspect and more about the getting twatted and annoying others. Looking back through my blog and it seems that the last time was 2005 titled 'Cheesy daytime disco' ! Although the line-up was great, the organisers of SW4 really did skimp on the essentials such as tents that have enough room for people to actually dance instead of constantly being jostled and barged into by others and security staff who could give a fu*k. But it was the sound levels that were the main issue and according to South West Four website it was 'restrained by conditions set on us by the (Lambeth) Council'. First thing that put us in a bad mood was the queue. Seemed that the vast majority of those attending arrived after lunchtime...

Although I've lived in Brighton for fours years this was the first time I've been able to see the Brighton Pride Parade. Starting at 11am from Madeira Drive it snakes its way up West Street then down North Street turning left past Old Steine and down to Preston Park via London Road. We staked out a good shaded spot along Gloucester Place. It must have taken nearly an hour to reach us but it was worth the weight in gold glitter. There were some excellent costumes and some cheeky moments. The local police got a nice cheer after the riots business last week. Surprised to see many politcial parties having their own float and dressing up as outlandish as possible keeping within the brief of 'Out of this world' with so many sci-fi and alien costumes. This year's Pride was no longer a free event at Preston Park (at £12 pre-booked or £18 cash entry). I didn't really enjoy it the other year , mainly because of the soaking wet rain that drowned even the highest platfor...

Been planning to do this for years but I think Wireless Festival had always been on the same date. In comparison it was about the same price for entrance at £50 a ticket plus Goodwood FoS didn't specify what would be showing. It was also a chance for me to have some quality father-son time however when he turned up he was not alone! In fact he brought his new (since February) girlfriend along who he'd forgotten to mention...at all. Awkwardness ensued and luckily (for him) we were able to buy another ticket. We knew we had to get up early expecting some traffic (arriving about 9:30am) but really the queues for the car park wasn't too much to complain about. What we didn't expect was the time to walk and queue to the main entrance. It must have taken half an hour with no toilets along the way. You couldn't ignore the amount of helicopters flying in or out which I mistakenly took as a famous person taxi service. Alas it was just a pleasure flight, a very popular ...

To open the Great Escape festival , DJ Shadow brought his Shadowsphere for some top trip hop sounds and AV delights. We arrived just after the doors opened expecting an early show but were treated to two very good support acts. No idea who the first act was but he did manage to whoop up the small crowd with his guitar and sampler set. Beardyman I was a virgin before hearing him but for a first time Beardyman broke me in good and sore for more. I knew he was talented but his range of beatboxing and bang-on accurate rap impressions were excellent. He had such stage presence and confidence that you couldn't help but smile and laugh at his mouth-making beats. There was no mention of McVities though though he'd probably never buy a packet of biscuits again! Personal highlight was his rendition of Daft Punk's Around the World. The Shadow appears All throughout the support acts there was a sphere structure on stage but no mixing table for the Shadow. After Beardyman...

Saturday night was a Brighton Festival free event in a Hove public park . The fire-art installations were beautiful with some eerie jazz music for a chilled feel. Very much like the hedonistic feelings of Glastonbury and Big Chill.

This was our only festival this year. Over the past few months I'd been hoping the line-up would add a few decent, up-and-coming dance acts but instead they added Missy Eliott and Snoop Dogg for the Saturday. Still the festival has the best organisation and location in Hyde Park plus some new and old friends were coming along for a laugh. We'd planned to see AutoKratz but didn't make the start time and there wasn't a lot on for another 2 hours so headed for the bars until UNKLE came on. I'd seen them years ago at Glastonbury and they were still flogging their rock style. By now we expected the tent to be over-flowing like previous years but today you could tell ticket sales were low as there was plenty of room. It wasn't long until 2ManyDJs were on the main stage and all our friends had made it on site. The Belgian boys played well, perhaps their best performance in awhile playing their biggest fun party set yet. Funniest moment was a naked guy invading ...

Throughout May's Festival and Fringe, we heard so many good things about this but for something to be based on a Russian playwright's characters and play it didn't exactly inspire me to buy tickets. Before this event, the thought of seeing a Chekhov play sounded like it would be a bleak, complicated and boring affair. The old, abandoned Co-op department store (slightly Scooby Doo style) on London Road, Brighton had been converted into a multi-floor experience. The entrance was at the back at the delivery depot and we were grouped into fours. Our first interactive experience was a creepy door opening and a sleepy-headed Russian beckoning us in to his room lit only by candlelight. He kept babbling in Russian and led us through the dark, It was confusing but exciting at the same time. Then...another event which I'm not going to give away but just introduced you to the bizarre world created in a basement of an shop. Described as a promenade theatre experience we walked...

Brian Eno is the guest artistic director for this year's Brighton Festival and there were two events we made an effort to see. His Speaker Flower Sound Installation in Malborough House off Old Steine is worth a look and is free to get in. It's a grand and beautiful building to wander round in and the installation is quite interesting but not worth a long journey for. If you're in Brighton anyway than make the effort. Below is a video of me walking through a couple of rooms to give you an idea of what to expect. Nice use of coloured paper on the windows. We followed up the visit with the 6:30pm showing of Brian Eno's This is Pure Scenius . We were initially put off by the £20 price tag even if Underworld's Karl Hyde was performing because it was split into three performances. There was no guarantee to know which one Karl would turn up in but after speaking to the curator in Malborough House he was playing in all three. So for just £10 each we got excellent se...

With the Brighton Festival being launched this week I've tried picking out some Fringe events that might be worth their ticket price. Their printed brochure won't be published and on the streets until 17th March so we'll have to put up with their clunky website. Since I know a little about CMS run websites I couldn't help myself to email the Fringe people and moan about it as its so slow and takes forever to go through ever event. Here's some interesting comedy events I've found so far: How To Survive a Zombie Apocalypse 1, 2, 4 and 5 May at Komedia, £8 In 2010 the Sell-Out Cult Hit of the 2009 Edfringe is destroying brains across the UK! Join Dr. Dale and his team as they teach you inventively insane ways to survive the inevitable rise of the undead in this 'Brilliantly Bizarre' (Broadway Baby) & 'Wonderfully Weird' (ThreeWeeks) life saving seminar. Four stars from British Theatre Guide, Broadway Baby and Zombiecommand.com Phi...

Finally, a glimpse of Spring and Summer entertainment that's coming to Brighton. Can't wait to see the back of Winter. Both the Brighton Festival and Fringe websites have gone live with this year's events. Brian Eno is the big name for the festival but I'm struggling to find anything accessible that's not up its own arse. The Brighton Festival Fringe website is completely useless as you have to search by date or category with no real idea of the highlights. Getting the printed brochure this weekend will be one of my priorities. Here are some Festival events that appeal to me at the moment: Electric Hotel - 14 and 15 May Described as: Electric Hotel is a bizarre and beautiful outdoor spectacle; a uniquely designed, fly-by-night residence brought to life through dance and sound. Sitting on the outside looking in, you snatch glimpses of the do-not-disturb lives unfolding behind the floor-to-ceiling windows. Wearing headphones to eavesdrop on the intern...

I've been playing catch up ever since we've been back for holiday adding a Peru entry nearly every day. Saturday was a Brighton Fringe play called Godfather Death . St. Andrew's church in Hove was a pretty venue though the pew benches drained the enthusiasm from the performance. The actors were excellent with some clever small touches but the story was a little too simple even boring. Then all of a sudden it ended. The evening was another Fringe do called Kanoti/Bamboozled seeing a free screening of various animated films from local producers (see Beastenders by Cyriak as an example). It was a nice feeling to see so many outside the town library watching the projected films. Pity the screen was a bit small but the films were excellent whilst trying to ignore the bemused hen and stag night tourists passing by. You can actually see us standing in the video footage they took of on the night on the website. Afterwards we headed over to Paul and Sarah's for a good local ga...

After a great BBQ on Saturday with Emma & James and Paul & Sarah, we're now cooking up a party for Halloween/Bonfire night. The problem is that Underworld play on Saturday 1st November so are people willing to come down to Brighton for a tame Halloween on the Friday night or would rather save themselves for a Saturday night. Either way we only have one proper room for guests, though Paul & Sarah may put up a few, or you'll have to make your back by train or car. Email, text, call us to say which you'd prefer: Friday 31st October or Saturday 8th November (If you can't make either then please say as well) Whichever date we go for we want to make it a memorable one with Kerry's Pumpkin Lantern Competition which there will be prizes. Have a look at these websites for some ideas and guidance. Our back garden bank will be a gallery of spooky lanterns amongst the bamboo, trees, plants and tree-stump. Pumpkin Carving 101 Zombie Pumpkins More details to come soon...

What a difference a decent weekend makes. I’m now taking advantage of this new optimism and energy and have almost rewritten my job description for the next year with new ideas. So what happened? I wasn’t expecting too much from Wireless as after seeing a couple of dull sets from Underworld, last year’s crushing crowd but excellent Daft Punk performance and a doubtful weather forecast for rain. Instead, Steve and Sam came along as first time Wireless playmates getting in for about 3:30pm. This year, the entrance had been moved to the other side of the park which meant a longer walk from the tube but the security was relaxed and efficient so whisked in without hassle. The beer tents looked heaving but were one of the best ideas yet with a snake-like queue and security pointing out the next available server just like post offices. With starting drinks sorted we sat down to overhear Har Mar Superstar with Neon Neon on the main stage. Japanese Popstars Out of all the relatively new support...

Just a quickie before I plough into work duties. More music mayhem at tomorrow's Wireless festival at Hyde Park, London. The website has released the full schedule and will try and use Twitter to update on the bands we see with some short reviews. Cut Copy 15:30 - 16:00 The Japanese Popstars 16:20 - 16:50 Does it offend you, yeah? 17:00 - 17:30 MSTRKRFT 17:45 - 18:45 Underworld 19:00 - 20:30 Fatboy Slim 20:30 - 22:00 With most of these in the tent behind the main stage I hope there's not going to be a repeat of over-crowding such as the year we couldn't see DJ Shadow. I think its a big mistake not putting Underworld on the main stage. The weather forecast's not looking promising at the moment either - will it be wellies or crap trainers - decisions, decisions!?

Image by Ginger DJ via Flickr Last day of the festival and we're now pinning and desperate for our home comforts especially our bed after suffocating in the hot van. We packed almost everything away with the intention to leave after the last act and avoid the Monday traffic. I've only dealt it with it once and once was enough really. The first main act we wanted to see was Goldfrapp at the Pyramid stage. They started off ok but like most acts, they were trying to flog their new material which didn't go down that well. It was a million miles away from their glam-rock electro anthems as their new album was ambient folk rock. The May Pole dancers were good though. Headed back over to Dance Village curious to see Crystal Castles at the John peel tent. Just missed them by half a song but they sounded amazing with the singer doing a crowd surf. I got the feeling the set was cut short as we heard some nasty booing straight after. Watched some cabaret act in the Pussy Parl...

Woke up to the sounds of Shakin' Stevens, and feeling a little worse for wear. It took us about 3 hours to have breakfast and get ready for our next site visit. The legendary toilets and getting higher with people's poop as they forget to flush and keep piling it on and upwards. At least the weather's behaving itself and when the sun's out it's warm. With very little energy we headed anywhere we could sit or lie down so the Cabaret tent was our first stop with Simon Munnery performing. Missed most of his comedy set so drifted around watching the side shows and street performers. At this point the Twitter plan was starting to go fail as everyone needed their phones charging at the Orange tent, especially Sony Ericsson owners like me. Unlike the chilled-like atmosphere outside, everyone was either paranoid their phone was going to be stolen or were desperate to get a charge point. We spent 20 minutes circulating then left in a huff: the Twitter experiment would soon b...

Image by Ginger DJ via Flickr As a relatively new member to Twitter, the instant personal status update service, I thought I'd update everyone on our Glastonbury experience through the blog. Shame my phone battery didn't last the distance and the Orange tent didn't have enough Sony Ericsson charge points. Anyway, we left Brighton about midday Thursday with Mark's campervan for the festival. We were a little anxious seeing the news to see what looked like almost everyone getting there the day before so getting a decent pitch looked doubtful. The first shock was hearing the massive scrapyard fire had caused some major traffic queues. It took about 30 minutes to get in after joining the queue. We went for the 'families' field with the prospect of actually getting some sleep but that didn't really matter later as you could hear the sound-systems from the main site. With the added space next to the fence, we were able to pitch up our pop-up tent and mini-por...