| General | "We could go to Deptford..." (Albion, The Libertines)
This art and music drenched Shire of Elsewhere is London's best kept secret but in the ancient word of mouth tradition, increasingly immortalised in song, rather than journalism...
Including:
'Sultans Of Swing' - Dire Straits (about Paradise Bar (now the Royal Albert), New Cross Road)
'Fairytale of New Cross' - Greg McDonald
'Deptford Beach' - Deptford Beach Babes
'The Only Living Boy In New Cross' - Carter USM
'Deptford Wives' - Hatcham Social
'Peckham To Paris - The Hancocks
'Mirror' - Subliminal Girls ("I'm considering a move to New Cross")
'Peckham Acid!!!!' - Plugs
"Wading through the Deptford rubble,looking for the right kind of trouble" ('Shotgun Romance' - The Skuzzies)
'On Guard' - Tommy SE14/8 ("New Cross")
'New Craas Massakkah' - Lindon Kwesi Johnson
'I Love Deptford' - Nathan Persad
'Shooters Hill' - Officer Kicks
'Are You Ready For This?' - Tiszara (New Cross Gate)
'Mad Dot' - Band Of Holy Joy (New Cross Road)
'Popular Photograph' - Dexy (Dirty South, Lewisham)
'Deptford Broadway' - Ceri James/Zen
"On Tanners Hill,they're so fucking numb" ('Ice Cold' - The Skuzzies)
'Lewishambles' - Mr Bligh (and about New Cross Inn / Two Bob / Rocklands / Earwax Radio)
'Deptford Days' - Venus Kicks
'New Cross Symphony' - Mark Sampson
Local tribute names include Johnny Deptford, Amersham (now called Messengers), Deptford Noise Team, Hatcham Social, Nouvelle Croix, Deptford Beach Babes, The Duke Of Catford, Eltham John, Dulwich Ukelele Band, Deptford Bassix...
Everybody is from everywhere, so there is no end of great but affordable food (and decent helpings of it!). Unlike Rip Off Britain, this area is a Rock On Republic. Prices are realistic. Would be contributors, please comment with calendar dates for London's South East X (Festivals, Events, Holidays) and contribute information on Affordable Accomodation, Recommended Shopping and Dining, Places of Interest by email to SOUTHEASTX c/o Music Tourist Board -
ROCKLANDS CALENDAR (a fraction, the South East Bank rivals the West End, Shoreditch etc - all within easy reach - for quality entertaining, dining etc, but at realistic affordability) -
Historic, scenic, surreal mix of 20th century down to earth charm (including the clip clop of horses hooves on Deptford Market day) and sci fi views...(South East X is completely round the bend. Of the River Thames. Opposite Docklands - it is a love pirate's cove these days - (St Nick's Church inspired the jolly roger flag).
There's a fairy gateway, a stone circle, old boats in the creek and the biggest every day artistic and creative community collaborating and making their own world an increasing reality... Something positive for a change.
ACCOMODATION - Cheap hostels : The Birds Nest (venue, bar, hostel, Rocklands tourist point - SE8), New Cross Inn (above NX Inn art/music bar, SE14), St.Christopher's Inn (theatre, SE10), plus many hotels, especially in Greenwich.
ART galore. Over 100 galleries/studios in Deptford alone, and collectives; New Cross Gallery, Raw Nerve, Utrophia, Lewisham Art House, Artmongers, The Blue Light District, Matt Sargent, Chris Getliffe, 13:53 Magazine, Deptford Project, Arofish, Camberwell Art College, Deptford X Festival, Artful, Deptford Design, Goldsmiths ... more - come to Art Services Un-incorporated at www.asuarts.com and 13:53 Magazine, The Blue Light District, Raw Nerve, Utrophia, Artmongers, rsvplondon...
Outdoor art EVERYWHERE! Check out The Synergy Centre, 220 Farmers Road, SE5, (nearest tube; Oval) tel: 020 7793 1083
COMMUNICATION & DUPLICATION Lots of net cafes. Albany Theatre all day. Many along New Cross Road/Deptford High Street also. Greenwich Internet Cafe (town centre) is pretty quality. Photocopies at Gem on Deptford High Street. Free Wi Fi in Deptford Arms, New Cross Inn, The Birds Nest, Bear Cafe and many more. Deptford also has Boundless wifi in the air.
DANCE - Greenwich Dance Agency (SE10), Laban (SE8), Street Vibes (street dance)
FAIRIES Moon Fairies live at Mabel Lucie Attwell House (386 New Cross Road), Twinkle Park (SE8), Fairies Gateway (SE10), The Fairies Band, Rubbish Fairy/Rubbish & Nasty
FOOD Tony's Chip Shop, 399 New Cross Road SE14 for REAL, fried until golden brown, 20th century CHIPS. A little further along the road you can get a "Paul McCartney special" (pickled egg and chips), which The Beatle had when he popped in one day. As you do.
Also Cafe Crema (SE14), Noodle King (SE8), Maggie's Cafe (SE13) and nosh galore in traditional tourist spot, Greenwich (SE10)
INTER GALACTIC Local girl Rose Tyler was one of Doctor Who's travelling companions. The Battle of Canary Wharf happened in a parallel dimension over the river. One of Captain Spock's ancestor's beamed down to Hilly Fields (Vulcan Road, London SE4 - see streetmap.co.uk - is named in his honour). Aside from the Stargate at SE1 there is also Vega Fair, Space Port and Magic Market (Douglas Way SE8), not far from Comet Road in Deptford accidentally named after Moon Fairies came down on a moon beam and were spotted. The monster hunters (Primeval) dropped in at The Laban, in their dimension.
LOCALS and LOCALLY CONNECTED Jools Holland, The Pepys, Mo Slater (now moved to Walford), Ceri James, Junior Simpson, Klaxons, Cop On The Edge, Jack Penate, knOwn, The Rank Deluxe, Danny Baker, SE14/8, The Moon, Dire Straits, Rhys Ifans, Nebraska, The IRS, Alex Zane (oh, just loads - seriously got to 300 artists for the Gravity Guide first issue, and gave up)
MUSIC VENUES, CLUBS, LOCATIONS, STUDIOS etc include - The Albany Theatre (SE8), Arc Studios (SE14), Birds Nest (SE8), Bubblegum Club (SE23), The Bunker Club (SE8), Creekside Studios (SE8), Deptford Arms (SE8), Dirty South (SE13), The Fox & Firkin (SE13), Goldsmiths S.U. (SE14), Institute Of Music Technology / Hurricane Studios (SE8), Mindsweeper (SE10), Montague Arms (SE15), Moonbow Jakes (SE4), Music Complex (SE8), The Music Room (SE14), New Cross inn (SE14), Rivoli Ballroom (SE4), Sound Loop Studios (Welling), The Venue Basement(SE14) - more during festival events (all year!)
PIRATES Town Hall Pirates, Love Pirates, Greenwich Pirate/Toy Pirate, Saint Nicholas Church (SE8)inspiration of the Jolly Roger, Patchwork Pirates on the decks at Rocklands Party, rock pirate hang outs include The Fox, The Birds Nest, New Cross Inn and Deptford Arms. Deptford, as a sailor's town itself, is a virtual cove, hidden from public view (of or from the river) by Convoy's Warehouse.
SHOPPING - The East & West Supermarket on Deptford Broadway/New Cross Road, Prangsta (SE14), Rubbish & Nasty - "The Harrods of Rocklands"(SE14), Witcomb Cycles (SE8), Deptford Market/Vega Fair (SE8, Greenwich Markets (SE10) + shopping centres at Canada Water (SE16) /Lewisham Town Centre (SE13) and a big Sainsburys at New Cross Gate
THEATRES - Albany (SE8), Brockley Jack Theatre (SE4), Greenwich Playhouse (SE10), Greenwich Theatre (SE10, Bubble Theatre of Rotherhithe has many big screen connections.
VIEWS Old boats in Creekside (SE8), Greenwich Park (SE10) has many, including a vista of Docklands/London central. Telegraph Hill (SE14) also has a vista of the city. Many riverside views, around The Laban Dance Centre and you can walk/cycle along the Thames path to the Thames Barrier.
JANUARY - Martin Luther King Day
FEBRUARY - Valentines Month, NXI Pancake Day 007
MARCH - Telegraph Hill Arts Festival, Lewisham Irish Festival, Spikefest (comedy in honour of Spike Milligan)
APRIL - All Fools Month, Paul Robeson Day, London Marathon
MAY - Rocklands Party, Deptford Jack In The Green, Foxfest,
JUNE - Brockley Max Festival
JULY - Bonkersfest, Made In Deptford Festival, People's Day Festival
AUGUST - bring back Gateside Urban Festival!
SEPTEMBER - Deptford Design, Crossfields, Deptford X
OCTOBER - Artful Festival, Black History Month
NOVEMBER - Bored of Christmas yet?
DECEMBER - Chillout season
JANUARY - Poor, Cold, smiling...
|
