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In August 004 there was a knees up in homage to the Paradise Bar, two minutes along the New Cross Road at the Amersham Arms where the Pirates & Fairies party took place. It was the usual shambolic fantasticness that proved the party travelled well. | ||||
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In September 004 there was a mass evacuation of rock n roll nutters from the club to the West End for the Rocklands Rocks event (live music, film screenings, DJs and total party courtesy of half of South East London decamping to the West End for the night) at The Metro in Soho. The buzziest event with no hype, just a preview on Xfm which ran a Rocklands Special on the Xposure show - having been mightly impressed by Digital Sneakers films. John Kennedy and Xfm are part of the reason that Rocklands exists, thanks to their support. The Rocklands Rocks show marked a turning point. A packed out West End club with a joyous riot taking place on and off stage until the last revellers hit Oxford Street (some literally) in the early hours. The next night Pop Of The Tops left London for the first time when The Rakes headlined it’s first trip to Bedford Esquires. It got more surreal in October 004 with the launch of Dirty Sounds DJs life as gig promoters at Infinity Club. Again. Packed. Again, they wangled the best cheap entry and drinks offers they could for the posse to come and rock. Dirty Sounds and Pyrrha Girls are two of the most in demand Pop Of The Tops DJs in town and they’re not the only regulars who have gone on to do more with every month that passes. Pop Of The Tops hit the big screen. The 13 short films and a documentary that comprise "Rocklands - Live In New Cross", resulted from Digital Sneakers spending a month of Tuesdays in the Paradise Bar. Screened at various events in London it was also shown at the Filmworkd multi-plex as part of Greenwich Film Festival (compered by the star that is Chris T T) and has been requested around the UK to screen or buy. Digital Sneakers are the real deal, part of the rock’n’roll, not spectators. They just took off as a mobile cinema, screening films wherever anybody would have them. Then bands, friends and local promoters with faith, staged the highly successful Rocklands Rounded tour. (Oct 004 to Dec 004) Corporation:Blend and Nebraska took the vibe of their Tuesday nights to new audiences. The double-bill rivalry improved their performances and, added to the bands they supported, made for thrilling viewing. At some places, locals admitted they had been let down by “London” bands but after every show, both were immediately invited back by crowd and promoters alike. In November, Music Tourist Board had a meeting at City Hall, The Mayor of London’s arts/event office took an interest in this new area of London! Art, film, photographer, written word, poetry, politics, sci fi, magic, myth and the universal gift of creativity through meetings and events has made Rocklands a reality - most of all though, it’s the bands that came and played in an little music bar in an unfashionable corner of a city. Rocklands Rounded Tour came home on December 9th when Pop Of The Tops returned to New Cross to bow out in (typically legendary) style at Goldsmiths. There were so many other club regulars playing at or staging gigs and events on the same night that it made everything that had happened since the club started, worthwhile. So yeah, the simple day dreams early in 003 have become a growing reality by the end of 004. Original Club Pages : * Club Listings Jul 004 to Dec 004 * | ||
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