5 X 15 Unbound, Alan Yentob and fish pie.

The Tabernacle took a literary turn yesterday. Alan Yentob, armed with a BBC film crew, was interviewing Kate Mosse in the conservatory during the afternoon prior to a special, one off, 5 X 15 Unbound, in the auditorium.

I managed to have a chat with Alan during a break, on the theme of the evenings event; the future of the book. The word Kindle featured quite prominently. I suggested that Kindle may indeed be the way forward until we hit the post I.T. winter. It occurred to me that one day storytelling will return to it's natural medium; spoken narrative. Curious how we seem to have forgotten that books, certainly books

available to the general public, are quite a recent arrival.

5 X 15 Unbound: Here's the idea: you will be treated to an evening of riotous literary entertainment as 10 authors go head-to-head pitching ideas for books they would really like to write.

Authors include the international bestselling novelist Kate Mosse, Booker shortlisted comic novelist Tibor Fischer and creator of cult 90s TV show This Life, Amy Jenkins. Robert Llewellyn (Red Dwarf, Scrapheap Challenge, Carpool) will be presenting his utopian fantasy, News from Gardenia. Graham Smith will offer up We Can Be Heroes - a lavishly illustrated insider's account of London's club scene in the early 80s.

Vitali Vitaliev, the Russian Bill Bryson, presentsCattivo Recordo, a journey through italy in search of a bad meal. Keith Kahn-Harris, a sociologist and expert on Jewish heavy metal shares Big Fish, Small Ponds, his attempt to find obscure heroes (like the best waterskier in Luxembourg). George Chopping, former Sainsbury's 'shelf replenishment technician' now performance poet unleashes Shelf-stacker Blues. Elliot Rose (aka awarding winner novelist Will Davis) reads fromDemonica, his chilling tale of a woman who loses her face (and also performs an aerial trapeze display piece). And sensational Oxford band Little Fish unveil The New Official Little Fish Paper Club Handbook, a guide to starting modern rock band and perform their new single. After they've all delivered their pitches we'll be gathering everyone's (silent) pledges.

The auditorium was packed, with a peppering of literary names and the odd rock star in attendance. It was a light hearted affair and made a change from the usual 5 x 15 format.

Chef Mark Richardson Knocked up a fish pie for the event which I can assure you was splendid.

The next 5 X 15, back in it's usual guise will be on Monday September 19th with AS Byatt, Misha Glenny, Simon Baron Cohen, Lucy Worsley and Alexander Masters

Alan Yentob's telly thing will be shown in November on the BBC.

High tide in Porchester Gardens. W2.

Actually it is yet another burst water main. details HERE

The nurse.

A year ago I was admitted to St Mary's Hospital Paddington; they got my lungs going again. the staff were great, the food not great but to misquote the fabulous furry freak Brothers:

Good nursing will get you through times of lousy food better than lousy nursing in times of good food.

I was looking through my notebook for that time. I found this:

The nurse

She leans in

and for one moment

supplements my weak breath

with hers

then whispers

Elephants graveyard, Back view and Italian sports cars. Portobello scenes!

Actually more like telephones graveyard.
I wondering if perhaps she had the dress on back to front.

The Hurlingham comes to All Saint's Road.

I'm not joking either.

I really do not understand the thinking behind the naming of a new 'nightclub' in All Saint's road. You know the place; heart of Notting hill, flash point for the riots, home to Mangrove. surely not the ideal place for a venue named after that toff's sporting club in Fulham.

It was very quiet last night, I did however get to chat with the door people. they were bored.

I guess I'll look in one of these days and report back but for the time being I shall just look on in amazement.

Charity Auction? Portobello.

I'm confused.

There is an event calling itself a charity auction today. When I asked the organizer how much of the proceeds were going to charity I was told: "30%". yet there is no indication of this on the publicity material.

Surely the bidders should be informed that the majority of the sale price will not be going to any charity.

People tend to be generous at such auctions because they assume the money is going to a good cause.

Clarification please.

Maison du Chien returns to the bumpkin, Westbourne Park road.

From the 28th of september Maison du Chien begins a residency on the top floor of Bumpkin. Expect the unusual as usual. I'll post more information as and when I get it.

Read more HERE

Michael Horovitz needs space.

At the opening of the Urban Art Exhibition at the Muse at 269 Portobello Road last night I bumped into Michael Horovitz. michael is one of the reasons I am doing what I do now... An inspiration. I nicked the following from the Evening standard:

Can you dig that? The big daddy of the British Beat movement, co-organiser of 1965's legendary Poetry Internationale at the Albert Hall and founder of the Poetry Olympics is making the scene. He is the editor of Children of Albion, the influential Sixties underground verse collection, publisher of New Departures anthologies since 1959, husband of the late, renowned poetry reader Frances, father of another poet, Adam, and friend of every cat from Damon Albarn and Samuel Becket to Patti and Stevie Smith.

Monumental chaos: “Indoor skip it may seem to you,

but compared to Francis Bacon’s studio, my pad here is

Versailles,” says Michael Horovitz of his Notting Hill flat

Michael's newsletter popped into the inbox this morning. At 75 he is still performing and painting. He does however need studio/storage space in London. I've cut and pasted the following:

ARCHIVE/STUDIO SPACE/S NEEDED
I’m still pretty desperately seeking STORAGE/WORKSPACE – if anyone knows of or might lead to anything at lowish rental (or even free as an act of patronage) by all means pass on my contact data to any potential lessor/patron, or tell me directly. Anywhere round Greater London, large or small, might be welcome (tho West/Central would be ideal).

If you can help house one of Britains national treasures please get in touch. tristanhzll@gmail.com

Layla Wiseman. Performance at Energy Lines at the Tabernacle. W11.

Layla Made a wonderful contribution to Joanna & Caroline Lazzarini's Exhibition last night.

Ah Ballerina Ballerina!

Roxanne and the Painkillers. Live at the Ink Rooms.

LOCO at the Grand Union, Tammy Weisgerber and Rob Alder.

LOCO has gone weekly, demonstrating that one can never have enough of a good thing. Despite having put out a call for cowbells none were forthcoming and I was forced to shelve my planned premiere of the 'Poem for Cowbell'. Oh well! Another time. Many thanks to Odrin for the rock n roll poem guitar solo.

This weeks surprise was provided by the appearance of Tammy Weisgerber in the audience who very kindly allowed herself to be persuaded to do a couple of numbers accompanied by Paul Greendale...  then came back on later to duet with Rob Alder. Powerful stuff.

                                                  Tammy Weisgerber.

Rob finished the evening off with, along with 'The Freak Elite', a couple of Led Zeppelin numbers. Loud, rowdy and rousing. Rob has a great rock/blues voice. Check him out!

Carnival postcards. Carnival people.

                                Gaz Mayall & Ishmail

                                                    Gaz

All photographs courtesy of CHRISTOPHER SCHOLEY.

The Golborne Variations World Premiere. Portobello Film Festival.

The 'pop up' Cinema under the Westway, Portobello Road was the perfect venue for the Premiere of JC Carroll's 'Opera'.

the evening kicked off with a couple of films. Michael Horovitz did a little of his uniquely mad somethings; age is not withering his unique madness.

JC surrounded himself with an eclectic ensemble with which to take us (with the help of a film backdrop) on a slow journey down Portobello to that wonderful place called Golborne road. Infused with Spanish and Moorish elements the 'Variations' perfectly conjured up the multicultural melting pot hidden away in North Kensington. Excellent stuff.

The 'Rice N Peas' film of Frank Crichlows funeral was shown as was (a rare occurrence) 'Mangrove Nine' documenting the attempted bullying and subsequent acquittal of nine members of this community back in the 70's.

the Popup was packed with a predominantly local crowd. Portobello road at it's best.

Originally recorded in 2010 by JC Carroll, Nick Cash, Guy Pratt, Nigel Bennett, jennifer Pearl, David M. Allen and Chester Kamen. The Golborne Variations is an Opera about the Sights Sounds Smells Shopkeepers and foods of Golborne Road. It celebrates the ethnic diversity and the unique character of a special road in North Kensington.This premiere Will hope to bring together most of the original Players plus Special Guest Opera Singers String Section Percusssionists. A Film has been commissioned to be screened in conjunction with this event... Its free.. Its an opening party for the Portobello Film festival.... JC Carroll is a Composer and Songwriter whose career has spanned Punk, Folk, and Electronic Music. he has scored soundtracks for movies had hits all over the world with his band The Members and he has also recorded supermarket commercials....... This piece of music has taken 25 years to complete.. there will be music dancing singing and poetry......Come! Its Free! MORE