Red Top Magazine – Camden Roundhouse

My newest creative outlet comes in the form of an online magazine called Red Top – created by young people at the Roundhouse in Camden.

The publication – released twice a year – used to be produced in print form, however, it will now be transforming into a brand new website.

Multimedia Journalism

Focusing on online and radio journalism, each Wednesday evening the team meet to expand our writing and broadcasting styles; so far we’ve been learning how to research features and will hopefully be producing simple audio and video packages to upload to the site in time for it’s grand launch.

You can view our content online at: www.roundhouse.org.uk/redtop

We’ll be launching the new site in a few weeks – with an invite-only launch party, which we are currently organising,

Hayley

The Joiners, Music Venue

[Originally written for Solent Riot in 2007]

The Joiners Arms has simply got to be the best place in Southampton to see local and not so well-known bands play in an intimate environment. The bar can be crammed, the space can be restricted and don’t even mention the lack of air-con, but there’s something very special and somewhat homely about this particular venue.

The images and posters that are plastered around the bar area document the many bands that have played in this small-time setting since it’s opening as a music venue in 1968. These include large paintings of Oasis, Coldplay, Franz Ferdinand and controversial Pete Doherty’s original band, The Libertines. Other well-known acts that have played this once quiet, local pub are Radiohead, Green Day, Suede, PJ Harvey and The Manic Street Preachers; proving that this place holds quite a legacy.

If you’re into bands of the alternative persuasion, or simply love finding out about new music, then there’s absolutely no excuse not to visit the Joiners as often as you can over the duration of your University life, especially if you’re living in halls as it’s literally a minute walk from Kimber and Hamwic, 5-10mins from Deanery/Chantry/Mercury Point and approximately 15mins from Lucia Foster. It’s the closest established music venue to Halls, followed closely by the Nexus [RIP – Ed].

Last year The Academy is… and Panic! At The Disco played a sell out performance at the Joiners right before they shot into the limelight, so keep an eye on the listings for bands of a similar buzz because you never know, tomorrow night’s headliners may be gracing much larger venues in no time at all.

If you live in Solent Halls of Residence, make the most of the Joiners being pretty much in your back garden!

Ticket prices vary depending on the artists and drinks prices are relatively low for a music venue (there’ll be no £3.50 pints here!) Check out the Joiners website for listings, artist previews and online bookings.

Solent Riot

Solent Riot was a student-run, online publication where Southampton Solent University students were able to contribute articles, read about student life in the city and discuss issues within the forum area.

The website was independently run by two Solent students and I was one of the regular feature writers. I often wrote music reviews, student features and was the main contributor to the ‘nights out’ section; recommending evening entertainment venues.

The site ran for two years, until the site owners and editors graduated.

I shall shortly be uploading the articles I wrote for the site onto this blog. Here’s an image of the site as it was:

European Festival Guide 2008

[Written for a feature writing assignment in 2008]

European Music Festivals

Music festivals are a fantastic way to spend your summer and although there are plenty of British music festivals for you to choose from, venturing abroad is an entirely different experience. We’ve compiled a list of five highly recommended music festivals in Europe for you to consider, along with tips on how to survive festival life.

Bennacism Festival, 19th – 22nd of July, Spain.

If the British weather has been putting you off festivals, then why not venture to Bennacism? Also known as FIB, (Festival Internacional de Benicassim), this musical extravaganza is held on the coast of Spain, a short walk away from the beach; providing not only an eclectic line up, but the added bonus of a tan! Far from conventional, FIB is a holiday and a festival rolled into one and with camping tickets priced at £105 for four days or £97 for three days, it’s much cheaper than booking into an over-crowded, tourist-ridden hotel. Here you get to choose where to pitch your accommodation and have the likes of Babyshambles, The Rumble Strips and My Bloody Valentine as your evening entertainment, rather than a cheesy bingo caller. What’s more the festival ends with a massive, free beach party.

Nearest Airports: Valencia and Barcelona.

Festival website

Rock Am Ring and Rock In Park, 6^th-8^th June, Germany

If heavy music is your thing, then Rock am Ring in Germany could be the one for you. There are two simultaneous festivals which take place the same weekend in separate parts of Germany, with Rock am Ring held in Nürburgring, West Germany and Rock im Park in Nürnberg, in the South East.

Both sites share the same line-up and with a back-catalogue of varied acts, including Tool and Marilyn Manson alongside Amy Winehouse and Maximo Park, this festival combines line ups of several big UK festivals, alongside the relaxed German culture. This year’s headliners include Metallica and Rage against the Machine. Three day weekend tickets cost around £97 and there are various coach and hotel packages to choose from.

Nearest Airports: Cologne or Frankfurt Main

Festival website

A camping-flight to Lowlands, 18^th – 20th August, Holland

If you’re a fan of the UK Reading and Leeds festival line-up but perhaps fancy a different location then take a trip to Lowlands in Holland. This festival is held in Biddinghuizen next to ‘Walibi World’ theme park and if you’re up for spending an extra few quid you can get access to the park throughout the weekend. You could even make a week of it by visiting the cultural streets of neighbouring Amsterdam, before venturing to the site.

Other main attractions to Lowlands are not only its friendly atmosphere and in order to avoid bad weather, all of its stages are set under huge tents, including the main stage, ‘Alpha’, which is one of the largest festival tents in the world.

Nearest Airport: Schiphol International airport

Festival website

Roskilde Festival, 3^rd-6^th July, Denmark

Concerned about the struggle for a Glastonbury ticket this year? Fear not, Roskilde takes place the same weekend in June and has often been dubbed as the Danish equivalent, due to sharing the title for the biggest annual Rock festival in Europe and many of the same bands perform. Similar to Glasto, Roskilde started life as a hippy festival but now aims to cater for everyone with musical styles ranging from rock, hip hop and electronica to contemporary world music. Many big acts have performed over the years including Bob Dylan and Morrissey, with Radiohead currently confirmed to headline this year. However, festival organisers say they don’t rely on previous successes, but instead aim to be innovative and challenging each and every year.

Nearest Airport: Copenhagen

Festival website

Sziget, 12th – 18th August, Hungary

For experienced festival goers looking for something completely different or even first timers who fancy a challenge, Sziget festival in Budapest, Hungary is a six day festival incorporating a mixture of dance DJ’s, metal, punk and indie bands as well as blues and jazz stages. With drink prices beginning as low as 80p a pint, meals from £2 and tickets for the entire week for under £100 it’s perfect for those of you on a tight budget.

Up until this year Sziget lasted for eight days, but has recently had to shorten due to noise complaints from local citizens. Festival organisers say that ticket prices have been reduced from previous years but that their diverse sites and venues won’t change.

Nearest Airport: Budapest Ferihegy

Festival website

An interview with DJ Hammy

(Originally written for a magazine assignment, in October 2007)

David Hamilton was born and raised at his home in Swaythling, Southampton where he still resides with his wife Emma and dog Bosun. Born on July 26th, he’s proud to share his birthday with several well-known stars including; Mick Jagger, Helen Mirren, George Bernard Shaw and ex-Saints manager Lawrie McMenamy. At the age of forty-seven he is one of the longest running alternative DJs in Southampton and has played a vast number of club nights across the South Coast since he first appeared on the scene in 1980.

Who would imagine that pestering your local DJ to play your favourite songs each week, would one day lead them to offer you a DJ slot of your own? That’s what happened to David Hamilton – now popularly known as DJ Hammy – who now has almost three decades worth of live club nights under his belt, all thanks to his love of alternative music.

Says Hammy, “I started out by pestering the resident DJ at the Magnum Club so much for two-tone, punk and early Indie tunes that he [John Davis] decided to get me my own night to shut me up. It didn’t work though! The Magnum [a popular gay club] was the only club that would let us in. Club land was very different then and a very scary place if you were different in any way, but what a great place. The gay community loved us and we loved going there! So, on a dark Tuesday night in early 1980 my friend Gary and I trudged off with an Adidas bag full of singles, to play to our mates at the supposed Country and Western Rio Grande Club, it was more like the Wild West in reality! We were terrible but soon moved onto Saturday nights. It was quite a scary place to be at the time. Full of punks, mods, skins heads and football boys, but great fun.”

The Rio Grande Club used to be situated on St Mary’s Road, but now in its place are Solent University halls of residence, a sight which the young Hammy may once have dreaded, but a lot has changed since then.

“The scene was certainly more working class back in 1980,” he explains, “most students were grey-coated hippies to me, I was quite ignorant then. Most of the people I knew from the original punk and alternative scene were local but I didn’t know many students. Gradually as my nights progressed I attracted lots of local college kids and still do. Then there was the huge explosion of the student population that happened in the late ‘80’s and early ‘90’s. The Indie thing started to explode as well at the same time, and then the rock and metal scene took off after years in the doldrums. Now without the students what would I do? ”

Despite his obvious love of DJ’ing, it’s not something Hammy foresaw. His ambition initially lay with his band, The Purple Alligators and a desire to live the rock and roll dream. But unfortunately the band – which according to Hammy was ahead of it’s time – folded in the early ‘80’s and what began as a simple love of music, soon become a life-long DJ career, providing him with fond memories;

“The queues outside Thursdays in ‘96 [at Western Esplanade] had to been seen to be believed – I nearly wet myself! And the first time I had a crowd go wild to a song I played (She Loves You by The Beatles at the Rio Grande) was so special. It gave me the hunger for more of that”

David Hamilton in 1979

“I never had the opportunity to do anything but live DJ work and I love working with a live crowd. You can work off them and instantly know if you’re doing a good job or not and what a buzz when you are. It suits my personality as well. There have been so many highs as well as massive lows. It keeps my ego in check for sure. Watching the crowd grow up and then being asked to do their birthday parties, then weddings. That’s the biggest thrill for me. DJ’ing my own wedding was a massive buzz, especially as it was full of club regulars alongside my family and friends.”

Outside of DJ’ing hours, Hammy is constantly rushing around dealing with promotions, club and bar link-ups and related business. He agrees that he barely gets a chance to relax, but when he does he enjoys taking trips with his VW camper van and as a vegetarian, he’s a keen supporter of animal rights.

“I spend nearly every living second working one way or another but I love the VW Camper Van scene and I go away with the VW Type 2 owners club to many a rally during the year in our trusty Type 25. I also love the scooter scene; both Emma and I have Vespas. I’m also a massive Southampton FC fan, a big supporter of animal rights and I love collecting music, films and old, classic British comedies.”

His real passion for people and music is certainly evident and is presumably why his club nights have been, and still are a huge success. Although often dubbed as ‘the drunken bald one’ his character as a friendly, request-driven DJ has been welcomed by club-goers old and new. Hammy often gives young, wannabe DJs a chance to show off their skills in various forms at his Supersonic rock night at Rhino Club every Wednesday. These include fifteen minutes of fame slots upstairs in the DJ booth and entire theme nights in the ‘Bassment Bar’ which often include live bands. Popular themes include take-overs by students from Solent University’s radio station, Sin Radio, The Electric Boogaloo with Tam and Joe and soon to be introduced are a 60’s psychedelic, soul and beat night called the Experimental Circus Club, as well as a monthly drum and bass night.

Over the years Hammy has built up good links with locals and students alike, of whom now significantly contribute to the body-count each week at his current nights at the Rhino Club each Wednesday, Hampton’s bar once a month on Fridays and at the Dorchester Pub every Saturday; which is where many of his regulars from years gone by still gather.

The key to his success then must be his genuine effort to personally communicate with his regulars, as well as those new on the scene. He keeps regular updates of his club nights and events on his own website and Facebook, offers free entry to those willing to help in the DJ booth or take photographs and often has a ton of freebies to give-away.

“I try and treat my customers with respect, first impressions do count. Giving local bands a helping hand has kept me in touch. I love meeting and booking new young gunslingers who often remind me of my younger self; enthusiastic to the extreme and sometimes a bit too arrogant but who cares, it’s part of growing up! Also I like people which helps. You shouldn’t be in this trade if you don’t!”

Windsurfing Feature

[Originally written for an assignment for Magazine Feature Development, in October 2007]

As we all know, the Olympics is to be held in London in 2012 and whether you’re a keen sportsman or merely an observer, the vast majority of people around the UK and beyond will be tuning into the coverage. Many will be following the progress of typically well-known sports such as swimming, gymnastics and a whole horde of other athletes as they take part in the global competition, but have you ever kept your eye on windsurfing?

Despite it being a largely credible sport with sailors worldwide taking part at both a competitive level and at their leisure, windsurfing is still perceived as an extreme sport and is rarely ever featured within the mainstream media. Although Olympic and other competitive types of windsurfing are highly advanced, windsurfing itself is now far more accessible to the public of all ages and abilities, than it is generally perceived.

So what exactly is windsurfing?

Windsurfing is a water sport based on the surface of the water using a windsurf board (also known as a sailboard), which is powered by a single sail. The sport combines a mixture of sailing and surfing aspects and incorporates similar maneuvering techniques as those used in skateboarding, snowboarding and water skiing.

“There are many different variations to this sport, a bit like skiing”, explains Alex Lardner, an Outdoor Sports Instructor from Portsmouth Outdoor Centre.

“There is your basic windsurfing where you speed back and forth along the beach and there are competitions in slalom; where you weave through markers, freestyle; which involves big jumps and tricks whilst riding the waves, boarder cross; where you follow a set course with jumps and turns involved and racing; where you follow a course as any other. The general population of windsurfers tend to do the sport just for enjoyment and not competition, though.”

Alex is qualified as a RYA Start Windsurfing and RYA Intermediate Windsurfing instructor, (the RYA is the Royal Yacht Association, the national governing body of windsurfing), and although he first tried the sport when he was fourteen, he only started to regularly practice the sport a year ago, whilst he was undergoing an instructor course for sailing.

“I was determined to be able to do it”, he proclaims. “And once I got it, there was no stopping me! Learning to windsurf has been my proudest sporting achievement so far.”

The twenty-one year old teaches sailing, kayaking, windsurfing and power-boating to anyone aged eight and above and he also leads team building activities at the centre, which is based at Langstone Harbour, along the Eastern Road in Portsmouth. He was keen to stress that anyone can get involved in the sport not just those with an adventurous streak.

“It’s not just for young people,” Alex continues, “I have taught several over 50’s and even a 60 something and they enjoy it every bit as much as the younger generations. My tip for beginners is not to give up at the first hurdle. It is tricky to pick up, and a lot to take in, but so worth it! Even after a couple of day’s tuition, you have enough knowledge to get out, have fun and improve without further tuition.”

But what if I’m not fit enough?

Speed, adrenaline, excitement and the general ‘cool’ factor are several features that attract people to sports such as windsurfing and as with any other sport, there is an element of fitness required, but Alex gives some encouraging advice for anyone who is perhaps wary of the physical aspects involved;

“If you have ever wanted to try any sport – go out there and give it a go! The best thing about sports like mine [water sports] is that anyone can do it, just maybe on a different scale. If you are not fit and able maybe sail yachts instead of dinghies but even with that said – if you are disabled – there are small, very fast or leisurely craft out there that have been designed for less able people.”

Won’t it cost a lot?

Courses in windsurfing for beginners range between around £135 for a couple of hours tuition, to £170 spread across an entire weekend and all the equipment will be provided for you. One of the popular factors of sports like these is that once you’ve mastered the basics, you’re then able to go out there and develop what you’ve learned yourself, with only hire or personal equipment costs to consider. However, if you’d like to improve on your techniques with a professional to guide you, Windsurfing for Improvers weekend courses are available at around £170, depending on which centre you visit.

Where can I find these courses?

The Royal Yacht Association (RYA) has several centres across the country, such as the Portsmouth Outdoor Centre, which provides courses and training at various levels in windsurfing as well as numerous other water sports. Or, if you fancy travelling further there are RYA and Yachting Australia centres which provide many of the same courses, with the benefit of a warmer climate!

“The outdoor sports are all about getting people out there.” Says Alex, “Health and wealth are immaterial; you just need a good attitude. If you want to get into outdoor sports, no matter who you are there is a way. All you have to do is ask. And trust me when I say, we are friendly people! If we weren’t, we’d be in the wrong industry.”

Windsurfing Centres and destinations in Hampshire

Portsmouth Outdoor Centre – www.portsmouthoutdoor.co.uk

Calshot Activities Centre –  www.calshot.com

Hayling Island Seafront – www.hayling.co.uk

For more information about windsurfing or other water sports, or to find a course elsewhere, visit the Royal Yacht Association’s website – www.rya.org.uk

Volume – Solent Volunteer Magazine