East End Review

Tag: Sebright Arms

  • Concert pitch – October gig guide for East London

    Concert pitch – October gig guide for East London

    Isabel-Sörling-Soil-Collectors
    Isabel Sörling of Soil Collectors, playing at Match and Fuse Festival this month

    15–16 October, Hackney Wonderland @ Oval Space, The Laundry, London Fields Brewery, Sebright Arms, The Pickle Factory

    Five venues play host to a line-up of established bands such as Mystery Jets and We Are Scientists as well as up-and-coming acts like singer Sonia Stein and NGod.

    21–23 October – Stoke Newington Music Festival @ various venues including Mascara Bar, St Pauls Church West Hackney, The Waiting Room, Haunt, Stereo92, The Lion, The Lacy Nook, Green Room Café, The Haberdashery

    Three-day multi-venue event across Stoke Newington will see DJ sets and live music from the likes of Thurston Moore, Sterling Roswell, Pink Cigar and The Pacers

    22 October – Super Hans @ Oval Space

    One of the nation’s best loved comic creations Super Hans from Peepshow (aka Australian comic Matt King) takes to the decks for his debut London DJ set.

    28–29 October – Match and Fuse festival @ New River Studios, Café Oto, The Vortex

    Organisers boast this will be a “knees up like no other”, bringing together musicians from 14 European countries. Highlights include Portuguese trumpeter Susana Santos Silva and the Native American/Scandinavian pop improvisers the Soil Collectors.

    29 October – Mirrors festival @ St John at Hackney, Moth Club, Oslo, Round Chapel

    Eyes will be on the Mercury Prize-nominated Bat for Lashes, who is set to headline this one-day indoor festival. Also on the line-up are Allah-Las, Bill Ryder Jones and the curiously-named garage punk six-piece Diarrhea Planet.

  • Concert pitch: September gig guide for East London

    Concert pitch: September gig guide for East London

    Thurston Moore credit Vera Marmelo 620
    Thurston Moore. Photograph: Vera Marmelo

    Merzbow and Thurston Moore

    Never before have Japanese noise musician Merzbow, Hungarian drummer Balázs Pándi, Swedish saxophonist Mats Gustafsson and Sonic Youth great Thurston Moore performed live together. Or at least until now. The four solo artists released acclaimed ‘avant album’ Cuts of Guilt, Cuts Deeper last year. And this month they are set to perform it live for the first time at St John at Hackney.

    28 September
    St John at Hackney, Lower Clapton Road, E5 0PD
    stjohnsessions.co.uk

    The Invisible

    South London three-piece The Invisible will be at Oslo this month, playing songs from their impressive third album Patience. The group have defined their music as ‘experimental genre-spanning spacepop’ with front-man Dave Okumu’s impressive CV including production credits for the likes of St Vincent and Amy Winehouse.

    28 September
    Oslo, Mare Street, E8 1LL
    oslohackney.co.uk

    Sing for Samaritans

    Vintage clothes boutique Paper Dress Vintage is to host a night of live music in aid of Central London Samaritans this month. Indie rockers Belle Roscoe and singer-songwriters Will Connor and Nadia Rae are confirmed for the fundraising event, with some ‘very special guests’ yet to be announced…

    7 September
    Paper Dress Vintage, 352a Mare Street, E8 1HR
    paperdressvintage.co.uk

    Hairy Hands

    Hairy Hands, the moniker of electronic musician James Alexander Bright, will be playing a free gig at the Sebright Arms this month for the launch of his album Magic. If the rest of the album is anything like single ‘YNA’ then expect watery synths, liquid funk and sultry melodies.

    21 September
    Sebright Arms
    31–35 Coate Street, E2 9AG

    Opera Cabaret

    Mezzo-sopranos Lore Lixenberg and Lucy Stevens will be performing songs and arias by baroque maestro Henry Purcell at The Old Church this month. The Opera Cabaret describes itself “a spectacular celebration of music and fun”and will feature Elizabeth Marcus on harpsichord.

    Music for a While
    10 September
    The Old Church, Stoke Newington Church Street, N16 9ES
    theoldchurch.org.uk

  • Bunsmiths at The Sebright Arms – review: burgers with a barbecue twist

    Bunsmiths
    So much bun: A Bunsmiths barbecue feast

    After a three-year residency at the Hackney pub and music venue the Sebright Arms, now legendary pop-up Lucky Chip has packed up and moved on. With oodles of national press and legions of fans, as well as trendy if not wholly tasteful branding (see, for example, its Breaking Bad menu with “meth hot sauce” and free rock candy for all diners), it helped the Sebright become a destination for hefty late-night burgers.

    Enter Bunsmiths. This new food venture has been developed by Sebright owner Charles Ross. At first glance, it is intended to fill the gap that Lucky Chip left behind: many of the items are identical. However, with plans to expand into a standalone restaurant in the next year, Bunsmiths is also presenting itself as a new contender on the scene. “When do you think we’ll hit peak burger?” my dining companion asked, as we were perusing the menu. It appears no time soon.

    Bunsmiths, however, has a barbecue twist. Ross imported specialist smokers from the United States and as an American transplant in London who often feels bereft of proper soul food, I was heartened to see beef brisket on the menu, as well pulled pork – although I drew the line at a bun that combined the two.

    The bacon cheeseburger and the brisket bun we ordered came accompanied by a tower of serviettes that were quickly used up: meat juice and sauces from both sandwiches ran through the bottom bun, down our wrists, and onto the food tray: this is not first date fare. While the barbecue perhaps didn’t quite reach the dizzying nirvana that it does in the States (my search continues), both sandwiches were ample, greasy and satisfying, appropriate fare for booze-soaked gig goers.

    The sides are also worth a mention: homemade onion rings, fried chicken strips with chipotle mayo, and a crème fraiche coleslaw. There is a salad option but truly, this is not the place for salad. Along with my meal, I had a shot of decent Mezcal and a beer back, and my partner chose from the numerous craft ales on draught. Looking at the busy Thursday evening bar suddenly drain of people as they all headed downstairs for a gig, I was happy to see that despite plans of expansion, the Sebright has retained its unpretentious charm and local atmosphere.

    Bunsmiths at The Sebright Arms
    31-35 Coate Street, E2 9AG
    http://www.sebrightarms.co.uk/