Month: June 2015

So, we’re slap bang in the middle of music festival and summer sports season, and where you and your bank balance sit financially and on the class graph may dictate where you end up.

ALL PHOTO’S TAKEN AT THE QUEEN’S CUP FINAL, COPYRIGHT – RICHARD PASCOE PHOTOGRAPHY @RichardPascoe).

On the one hand we have music festivals like Glastonbury and Wireless for the great unwashed. On the other we have House Festival and Hampton court style music festivals for the middle class, more grown up, hamper and picnic set, who don’t want to rub shoulders with or mingle with the bawdy working class.

Similarly with sports, it’s about the televised big dog events like Wimbledon and rugby, watched on telly for many of us. The horsey sports like racing, shooting and polo, are even more out of reach and always seem to be off limits for your average working class bod for obvious reasons. Horses are expensive to keep, own, ride or consider as part of your weekly hobby.

Do you recall when the TOWIE set tried to overtake the scene around five years ago, and were subsequently ridiculed and made to feel unwelcome, by articles like this Can anyone stop polo being over-run by chavs? http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1202024/Can-stop-polo-run-chavs.html

Nowadays the general public aspires to attend things like Ascots Ladies Day with as much gusto as they do their local tanning salons , but in 2015, we still haven’t really been convinced about how accessible and inclusive the actual sport side of polo can be, to the masses.

I’ve visited the biggest polo club in Europe – Guards Polo Club – out past the west London city boarders, over the years, as both a one-off lunching guest or working on media stories and last weekend had a conversation with Diana Butler from GPC about just how inclusive the sport of polo can be for your average Brit. So pay attention.

Diana should know what she’s talking about as she’s been working in the sport of polo for many years and this year marks the club’s 60th anniversary – Prince Philip founded the Club in 1955. They play more polo, at all levels, than any other club in the UK. In fact, the club wrote the polo pony welfare rules that are now recognised around the world and put pony welfare at the top of all that they do. Diana gave me her thoughts on all the misconceptions many of us have about the sport of polo. Isn’t it totally inaccessible to us minions? Don’t you need to be a billionaire to partake?

What kinds of backgrounds are the players usually in most instances from?

Players come from all types of backgrounds these days – it is no longer exclusively a game for the very rich or the military. The world’s top players are from South America, Argentina predominantly, and they are often the sons/grandsons of players who learnt the game on their family’s farms alongside the gauchos. With an increasing number of clubs in the UK, many people now take up the game with no background in the sport – you can even pay to play these days, without the need to own horses. Many of our patrons are successful businessmen who were introduced to the game by colleagues/friends and became hooked.

How much would it cost a player to learn and play regularly?

It depends on what level you play. To play the high-goal you need a substantial amount of money as you need the horsepower and employ the very best professional players you can afford. However, to play club matches and low-goal (up to 8-goal polo) you need a much lower budget. A rough guide is:
· Competitive low-goal £50,000 – playing several key tournaments in a season
· Competitive medium-goal £500,000 – playing several key tournaments in a season
· Competitive high-goal £1m – playing top two tournaments in a season

Gulp, that’s still pretty steep! Do all players own their own ponies? If not how do they play? It is a wealthy persons sport isn’t it? Can you play without owning horses/kit/livery etc?

At the high level, the team patrons own many of the horses, but the players also own their own horses. The higher handicapped players have their own strings. However at some clubs – such as Ascot Park – you can pay to play so you just turn up, jump in a horse and play a practice chukka or two without the expense of ponies, farriers, stabling, grooms etc.

‘‘Jump in a horse’’! Love it! Can ‘’regular folk’’ just turn up and watch matches? How much does it cost?

Anyone can come and watch polo as Windsor Great Park is a public park with free access for those on foot/bikes and they can watch the games from the north side – opposite side to the Royal Box. For regular days we charge £20 per car (regardless of occupants) and charge £40 on the day per car for the Cartier Queen’s Cup Final. However on finals day we also open our members’ side (same side as the royal box) to the public so they can buy hospitality, grandstand tickets and car passes.

Well it’s obvious that your average A-Z list celebs and their teams, all want you be seen where the upper classes and Royalty are. How and who decides which guests join the Royal box?

The balcony is reserved for members of the Royal Family, the chairman of the Polo Club and the key representative of the sponsor of the day.

What makes clubs like yours the best place to enjoy polo in the UK?

The location, great fixtures and superb facilities. We host some of the leading polo tournaments in the world and each game, regardless of handicap, is managed by a professional and dedicated team which ensures that players and spectators experience polo at its very best.

I see that the social side of the polo scene is as buzzing if not more than the actual sports side what with regular dances and parties, you guys love a twenties themed party?

Social membership to Guards Polo Club costs just £375 per annum, plus a one-off joining fee of £300, which is no more expensive than a gym membership For that a social member receives one metal members badge, three guest badges and members car park pass. This gives access to more than 600 games in a season and major discounts for our two major ticketed events – the Cartier Queen’s Cup Final and the Royal Salute Coronation Cup. We also have an extensive collection of reciprocal clubs around the world, which offer access to our members at their members’ rates.

That’s exactly what I pay for my annual gym membership! So I could be hanging with the hoi polio instead of my treadmill at my local leisure centre.

What is your biggest challenge as a club? And as a sport?

To promote the sport rather than the celebrity activity in the media. The top teams and their ponies are athletes and train as hard as any leading sportsmen and women and the game should be recognised for its toughness, horsepower, skill and bravery.

ALL PHOTO’S TAKEN AT THE QUEEN’S CUP FINAL, COPYRIGHT – RICHARD PASCOE PHOTOGRAPHY @RichardPascoe).

Whole industries and commercial ventures have been based on the 1961 romantic comedy Breakfast at Tiffany’s. From posters, to copycat film promos, to t shirt slogans and even a hit music record, (The lines of dialog “How do I look?” “Very good. I must say, I’m amazed” and “I am a very stylish girl” were sampled in the Dimitri From Paris song “Une Very Stylish Fille”).

This past week London’s Royal Albert Hall brought a new angle to the iconic film, with a live screening accompanied by the Philharmonia Film Orchestra accompanied by the Philharmonia Chorus, conducted by Justin Freer.

Conductor Justin Freer, who was leading the Philharmonia Film Orchestra, has produced, curated and conducted film-and-live-score shows for movies including Gladiator and The Godfather, and will bring Alice in Wonderland and Star Trek: The Ultimate Voyage to the Royal Albert Hall later this year. Performing Henry Mancini’s Breakfast at Tiffany’s score at the iconic London venue was the culmination of a lifelong dream for the conductor, whose musical education was supported by a Mancini Scholarship.

The Royal Albert Hall has put on regular classic films with live orchestra’s performing the soundtrack to the film, and this was one of its greatest pairings, as Henry Mancini’s Academy Award-winning score lends itself to a big band, big experience, and big night.

This classic Blake Edwards film, based on Truman Capote’s bestselling book stars Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly, a deliciously eccentric New York City playgirl and socialite who catches the attention of her new neighbour, struggling writer Paul Varjak (George Peppard). Regularly cited as one of the greatest movies ever made, it’s also among the most stylish, with the sight of Holly – oversized cigarette holder in hand – one of the most clear-cut and distinct moments in cinema.

I’m always fascinated by the way Audrey Hepburn plays Holly Golightly, the craziest heroine who ever crept between the pages of a best-selling novel! That one-minute manic diva, the next the sweetest most vulnerable waif, makes me think she was certainly on some level bi-polar. Her salary for the film was $750,000, making her the highest paid actress per film at the time.

Even though the World Premiere of Breakfast at Tiffany’s was at the famed Radio City Music Hall in New York City many decades ago, I know the vibe; atmosphere and experience of the grand Albert Hall brought the film to life and afforded the score much more extravagant justice.

Watching the film, simultaneously to seeing the orchestra pick up their instruments every few scenes, to interpret Mancini’s legendary score, is truly a once in a lifetime experience for a film and music aficionado.

As if the whole experience wasn’t already special enough, as a special treat for the audience, Mancini’s daughter, double Grammy-nominated singer Monica Mancini, performed her father’s Oscar-winning song Moon River at the start of the performance with her mother (Mancini’s wife) Ginny watching sat just behind us!

The irony of this classic moment and song, is that the song “Moon River” was written especially for Audrey,and since she had no training as a singer the vocals were written to be sung in only one octave. Its said that when the film was first screened in Hollywood, at a post-production meeting that followed, a studio executive, in reference to “Moon River,” had said, “Well, I think the first thing we can do is get rid of that stupid song.” Apparently Audrey stood up at the table and said, “Over my dead body!” The song stayed. The rest as they say….

Back then Mancini had said, “It’s unique for a composer to really be inspired by a person, a face or a personality, but Audrey certainly inspires me. Normally, I have to see a completed film before I’ll compose the music, but with Tiffany I knew what to write for Audrey just by reading the script.”

It’s incredible to think how many fashionistas have been influenced by the style of Holly Golightly, who wears the same dresses all the way through the movie, simply changing the accessories to give each outfit a different look. Her black shift dress features through the movie at least four times. Also, no huge ageism in the screen industry back then clearly, as Holly is supposed to be just nineteen years old. Audrey was in fact thirty-one years old when playing Holly!

Interestingly, Audrey very nearly missed out on this ground breaking moment in her career though as originally author Truman Capote envisioned the Goddess Marilyn Monroe in the but Marilyn’s drama coach, Lee Strasberg, told her that playing a call-girl was not good for her image. The film went on to be a huge success, with Audrey receiving Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations for Best Actress. Bet Marilyn kicked herself and cussed Lee!

Although not visible on camera, hundreds of onlookers watched Audrey’s window-shopping scene at the start of the film. Legend has it that this made her nervous and she kept making mistakes and It wasn’t until a crew member nearly got electrocuted behind the camera that she pulled herself together and finished the scene.

Additionally, animal film stars were already in vogue back then with around nine cats used throughout the film as the role of ‘Cat’. More post production trickery in the fact that Holly’s whistle when she hails a cab for Paul was actually dubbed in. Audrey attempted to learn how to whistle with two fingers, but could never produce the desired sound.

After an interval during which I accidently learnt how well champagne and sweet popcorn compliment each others flavours, (and were my ‘edible Audrey moment of fabulosity”), we settled down to the second half of the classic movie, after which as an extra-special treat, we got an encore over a montage of film stills, behind-the-scene images and shots of the team, whilst Monica Mancini once again sang and her mother, who was acknowledged by the conductor, stood up to applaud the moment.

All in all, a truly fabulous occasion after which I really did feel like ‘a very stylish girl’.

(ALL PICTURES COPYRIGHT RICHARD PASCOE. @RICHARDPASCOE).

We Brits are a great contradiction. On the one hand we are infamous globally for our questionable behaviour on Marbella style vacations. On the other, the world believes there’s something so proper, classy and quaint about our heritage, history and all things adorned with the union jack.

They say people in high places judge each other on the watches, cars and pens that they own. Well, add the activities they partake in to that list. Fabulous things rich folk like include horses, fine wine, sailing, private jets, black credit cards, pre-nup agreements, professional blow dry’s, butlers, white trousers on men, range rovers and the air of being a very classy girl.

Stuff rich people love also includes sports that the rest of the world does not pay attention to, including aerobatics, shooting and polo. Most attractive to the wealthy in polo, is that the horse is central to the match and money can buy happiness and success.

To speak the language of polo you need to understand the basics. Each team on the field consists of 4 players and their horses. The object is to strike the ball through the posts at the opponent’s end line, the most goals wins. One match is typically 8 ‘’chukka’s’’ or periods, which last 7 minutes each. What truly distinguishes this as stuff that rich people love, is that polo players typically switch horses after each chukka – that’s 8 horses ponies per rider per game!

I introduced myself to the sport this weekend with the first of the annual high-goal UK tournaments; The Cartier Queen’s Cup Final at Guards Polo Club, Windsor (Guards is the biggest polo club in Europe). They told me that the day’s team sheets read like a polo Who’s Who. Sunday was the date for the final of The Cartier Queen’s Cup – featuring Dubai v King Power Foxes.

I was told that after the previous 22-goal matches that this was going to be an epic game featuring Facundo Pieres v Adolfo Cambiaso. So, the Messi and Ronaldo’s of polo. The final, with trophy’s presented by the Queen, took place straight afterwards on the field.

THE QUEEN PRESENTED THE TROPHY TO THAILANDS WINNING TEAM, DUBAI WERE RUNNERS UP.

This is what I learned.

ITS NOT JUST A BRITISH THING.
Polo is now a big thing all across the world; in fact, the final winning team at Guards Polo Club this weekend were Thailand. It’s also big in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Morocco and the USA. In fact according to the Polo Times ‘’ Polo is played all over the planet and over 50 countries worldwide are involved in the game. The dominant nations are Argentina, the USA and Britain, each of which has a thriving polo scene and industry. Other polo hotspots include New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Dubai, China, Chile and Spain.’’

QUEEN ELIZABETH ARRIVES, ALL SMILES AND IN THE PINK!

TEA AND CURRY ARENT THE ONLY THING BRITS PILFERED FROM INDIA.
The modern game of polo, though formalised and popularised by the British, is derived from India, where the game was known as ‘Pulu’. The name polo is said to have been derived from the Tibetanword “pulu”, meaning ball.The first polo club was established in Assam, India, in 1833. The reason the players wear white pants is as the Indian players needed something light to avoid heat-seeking mosquitos.

THE ROYAL FAMILY

PHIL GAVE LIZ A RIDE TO THE POLO.

At Guards, The Royal box is a part of the polo grounds, slap bang in the centre of the field for the best views of the match.

Convenient for Queen Lizzie as her abode is next door. Apparently she treats the grounds like her back garden, often to be seen driving her own (vey cheap regular) Land Rover across the grounds.in fact Prince Phillip drove her in on Sunday himself! Its not called the sport of Kings for nothing. But it is a sport of Kings that anyone can play…

THEY DO WELCOME EVERYONE TO JOIN IN
Yes, inclusivity is the way forwards. One of the aims of the clubs is to dispel the myths associated with polo and make the sport accessible to all. Sussex Polo Club, for example, was set up in 2002, with the slogan “more new blood, less blue blood”. Contrary to popular belief, most polo games are cheap to watch. Entry to some parks for their biggest day, the Gold Cup final, costs under £20 per person in advance. Many smaller clubs around the world don’t charge entry at all. In fact, many of the UKs clubs have more social members than playing members. Playing polo is not cheap. But contrary to popular belief, it is not exclusively the preserve of millionaires. Although running a high-goal polo team requires a well-padded bank balance, a growing number of enthusiasts are playing locally at weekends, hiring ponies or perhaps keeping just a horse or two to play.

POLO IS NOT FOR THE FAINT HEARTED.

The Prince of Wales found he had suffered more serious injuries from playing polo than Amir Khan has done from boxing. Polo is the game for true men of steel. The idea of actually straddling a horse and playing polo makes my blood rush. I could just about hit the ball in hockey at school and forget rounders- I hated it. This is multi-tasking on behemoth levels.

BLING BLING!

Whether a rider on the ponies or a socialite on the polo scene, Polo is one of the most, if not THE most activity to partake in or attend. You will find many HNWI (high net worth individuals), are a part of this very exclusive scene. Amongst the sponsors at Guards Polo Club for example, are big brand names like Cartier, Audi, The Dorchester, Land Rover and more.

THE WINNING BOTTY TABLE SET UP OUTSIDE THE ROYAL BOX.

Most sports teams win sponsors and cups. But at the polo the main sponsor Cartier also gift each player in each finals team, with a very big face blinging Cartier. Forget the cup, it’s all about the booty.

COLONIAL OLD SKOOL HERITAGE AND MANNERS.

Old school manners, pomp and livery are de rigour.

From the elderly gent’s in their grey slacks, navy blazers and straw hats directing people, to the weathered faced outdoorsy horsey types, to the marching band and drummers, this is old school British heritage at its finest.


THIS DUDE POPPED HIS STICKS IN MY HAND AND ENCOURAGED ME TO BEAT HIS DRUM.

Whoever you are, wherever you’re from, regardless of how much money you have, their manners are friendly, welcoming, informative and formal. EVEN ALL THE OTHER PAPARAZZI ARE LOVELY AND HELPFUL TO EACH OTHER! (Totally unheard of).

GET THE VERNACULAR RIGHT.
Regulars at any event can tell if you’re a regular or newbie. This is more prevalent than ever at the polo. There are subtle yet not strict rules. For example one always refers to the horses as ‘’pony’s’’. The mounts used are called ‘polo ponies’, although the term ‘pony’ is purely traditional and the mount is actually a full-sized horse. The polo pony is selected carefully for quick bursts of speed, stamina, agility and manoeuvrability. Standing on the side of the pony lines watching the riders gallop up at high speed, screech to a stop and leap sideways to a fresh pony is breath-taking (and slightly terrifying!). Pony tails are either wrapped or braided to stop them becoming entangled with the sticks.

GET THE DRESSCODE RIGHT – YOU CANT STOMP DIVETS IN STILETTOS
The surface of a polo field requires careful and constant grounds maintenance to keep the surface in good playing condition. During half-time of a match, spectators are invited to go onto the field to participate in a polo tradition called “divot stamping”, which has developed to not only help replace the mounds of earth (divots) that are torn up by the horses’ hooves, but to afford spectators the opportunity to walk about and socialise. (It’s not clear who was the first enterprising club manager to realize he had an abundant and cheap grounds-keeping crew at his disposal, but old-timers will tell you the job used to be done by hired help).

For this reason, dress code is a very intricate choice. Regulars like Princess Kate may well just rock a nautical t-shirt with jeans and ballet pumps but all other female regulars rock wedges. At a special polo day with final matches and public riffraff like me attending, they may make a bigger effort with smart trousers and a blouse or a floaty frock with blazer, but on NO ACCOUNT will a lady that’s classy and knows her polo etiquette, wear the Essex look of tight, bright mini-dress and vertiginous stilettos that sink into the grass. It’s awkward to watch a newbie polo attendee totter around looking uncomfortable all day. No one will point or snigger openly. But they saw you. And judged. Trust me. They think you’re vulgar.

KNOW YOUR POLO FABULOSITY SPOTS.
Guards at Ascot, Henley, Ascot, Hurlingham, and Cowdry are part of the polo location vocabulary in the same way that Aspen, Capri and St Barts are for vacations.

VIP TENTS VS. REAL RANGES AND POLO MEMBERS
On a very big public event like a polo final, the real horsey community don’t care about the superfluous dressed up VIP tents, catering for once a year visitors and their fancy 3 course lunches and champagne flutes. In fact what I noticed was that, they pull up in the car park alongside the playing field and open up the boot of their big, family range and out pops a fully set picnic with hampers. Many of them also bring pop up mini marquees, foldup chairs and tables. Don’t get it twisted though. They can afford the fancy experience and much more, but they choose to spend their cash wisely. (The polo merchandise shop on site sells a simple shirt for £120! – I wanted a navy one real bad and nearly bought it, but my photographer Richard gave me ‘’the reality talk’’ as I was fumbling for my credit card).

LIFESTYLES OF THE RICH AND FAMOUS

Whilst most of us partake in some apple bobbing at the fair or wall climbing at the O2, at polo, the punters get to play with the sponsor’s wares. For example Land Rover owners not only get to relax in its exclusive hospitality area with a complimentary ciabatta and soft drink or afternoon tea, in addition spectators were able to experience how the latest Land Rover models handle the steep incline of the mighty Twin-Terrapod. Like Alton Towers where you drive your own ride!

FOOD CHOICES CAN BE LIMITED.

Set up just offsite, next to the car park, are four stalls. A hog roast stall that does pulled pork rolls. A coffee and sandwich stall. A bar staff for drinks like the expected champagne and pimms set. And the best of all find for me? A mobile POPS wagon that sells ice pops/ ice-lollies. But not any ice lollypops. Oh no, these are made from champagne and Bellini ingredients! The champagne popsicle was divine! There are no chips, burgers or fried chicken options here. So if you’re not a sarnie girl or if you are Muslim, eat before you come! Also, bring real cash. It’s all in the middle of a field in the middle of nowhere. Wireless credit card transactions can be ropey.

THEY’RE USED TO THE QUEEN- AND POLITELY RESPECTFUL.

Can you imagine The Queen popping to Ealing Community Centre to hand out prizes without huge fanfare, security, hysteria and pomp? No, neither can I. what’s really impressive about the polo crowd is that they don’t scream or ask her for a selfie, but politely take photos from a distance.

The Queen is clearly quite comfortable walking around freely and conversing in these well-behaved circles. Polo doesn’t discriminate between humans and animals. As well as the best player awards, even the pony’s get a look in with the best pony being crowned and being wrapped in a Cartier blanket.

The pony was even walked up to the Queen who clearly knows and loves her horsey talk.

THERE ARE REAL VIPS AND THENTHERE ARE REGULAR CELEBS.
There’s nothing us media folk like more than to see the divide between real A Lister household names and then your average celeb that’s gotten famous in dubious ways. How they all sit above and below each other on the chart chain of celebdom is of great entertainment.

DAME JOAN COLLINS LOOKING EVERY INCH THE GLAMOUROUS FILM STAR AT GAURDS POLO CLUB.

For example, bonafide classic legends like Dame Joan Collins, supermodel and Jaggers ex wifey Jerry Hall, actress Stephanie Powers and other various Lords and Ladies were guests in the Royal Box.

JERRY HALL IN THE ROYAL BOX AT GAURDS POLO CLUB.

Whilst tennis ace Boris Becker, singer Ellie Goulding and others were merely VIP guests of Cartier, quite a safe distance away from the real old moneyed wealth.

THE POLO SOCIAL SCENE IS POPPING!
The polo set love to party with themed dances and a very full annual social calendar. Tickets for the Club’s amazing, 1950s-themed dinner dance on Saturday 27 June are like gold dust. Not surprising, with classic cocktails, sumptuous food and decadent theming, plus twilight polo and a bespoke cabaret. If that is not enough you can then dance into the night with a Big Band. Ticket info here; events@guardspoloclub.com ‘’Fifties fashion is encouraged’’.

P.S YOU CAN’T PLAY POLO IF YOU’RE A LEFTIE.
No not your political aspirations; Left-handed. Why are there no left-handed players? Lefties were officially banned from polo in the mid-1930s for safety reasons, but the restriction was relaxed after World War II when polo players of any persuasion were a scarce lot. Then clubs reinstated the lefty ban again in 1974 and it’s stuck: there are no more left-handed polo players. They can only play if they are willing to play right-handed . To understand why, consider this: you’re driving merrily down the road when all of a sudden, coming straight at you, is a crazed American driving on the right side of the road. The panic you’d feel in that situation is just what a right-handed polo player feels when he and a lefty approach the ball from opposite directions.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST;
If there’s only one thing you take away from this don’t forget, if you’re a lady attending polo, forget the stilettos. And whatever the weather sunglasses are quintessential!

(ALL PICTURES COPYRIGHT RICHARD PASCOE. @RICHARDPASCOE).

A hectic fortnight full of fabulosity!

USHER MASTERCARD PRICELESS GIG AT LSO.
ALL USHER PICS COPYRIGHT PAUL HAMPARTSOUMIAN.

This weekend I had dinner with my girls at Jamie Oliver’s restaurant where we put the world to rights and shared our life growth so far over a bottle of red. Saturday at the Dotiwala crib saw a big group of us settle in to watch the whole of season 1 of 50 Cents TV series Power which had us all screaming at the telly whilst chowing down on sushi, curry, cheese boards and prosecco (its running out so we stashed a few bottles!).

Sunday daytime was a trip to Chelsea’s Hurlingham Club to watch those dashing men play polo. They sweat and galloped, we supped bubbly and nibbled delicately on afternoon tea.

USHER.

The weekend was rounded off watching Usher at his private VIP invite only gig for MasterCard. The venue was LSO St Luke’s, a very interesting choice of location. Basically it’s a church. Yes Usher took us to church to sing and gyrate on a Sunday night LOL. It was truly a priceless moment as he ran through many of his hits like U got it bad, Burn, U remind me and more. At one point of the set he even took audience requests of his own hits and it was the best intimate jam session with him and his live ban, all washed down with-yep you guessed it, more wine and cocktails with mini fingerbowls of mac&cheese, curry and burgers.

ACTRESS NAOMI HARRIS AT THE MASTERCARD USHER GIG.

The 100 lucky few in the audience, had to be Mastercard customers and enter a random draw to win tickets. A few even got t meet, greet and take a photo with him!

JASMINE, ACTRESS MICHELLE GAYLE AND FRIENDS AT THE USHER MASTERCARD VIP SHOW AT LONDON’S LSO.

This gig was part of MasterCard’s Priceless Surprises campaign in which a number of iconic artists including Usher, Kaiser Chiefs, Paloma Faith and Mary J. Blige have already surprised their biggest fans and brought them closer to their music. Usher surprised his lifelong fan Claire Spence when he disguised himself as a street-performer on Venice Beach and unveiled himself with a personal performance to her in front of a crowd of onlookers.

LABRINTH GOT RUSHED BY FANS AT THE USHER VIP PRICELESS GIG!.

Usher told us: “Performing tonight was a completely unique experience – from the intimate crowd and acoustic set, to the incredible venue. It was great to be able to perform a completely different type of concert for my British fans.”
My mate, the big dog, Shaun Springer, Head of Brand, Sponsorship and Music, MasterCard UK & Ireland said: “It was a truly one-off experience for fans to see Usher perform in such an intimate setting. His gig kicks off our intimate music programme which sees us connecting music fans to the artist they love.”
Also in the crowd were interior designer Kelly Hoppen, broadcaster Nihal and his wife, music producer and artist Labrinth, actress Naomi Harris and more of London’s influencers.

DEAL REAL LEGACY

I hosted a panel at the Deal Real Legacy pop up store just off Carnaby Street. It was a full house!

The panel was titled TOO HOOD FOR TV? On the panel were movers and shakers from the TV and film industry like Paigey Cakey (Rapper/Actress), Arnold Oceng (Actor/Musician), Femi Oyeniran (Actor/Filmmaker), Aaron Fontaine (Actor), Victor Adebodun (Founder/CEO, Purple Geko Ltd & Director/Producer).

We all debated things like; Do black actors need to go to the US for success? If the writers’ rooms don’t reflect the experiences and backgrounds of the characters for whom they are writing, will we get good and honest portrayals? The media is a powerful tool for change. Are we currently fed up with the stories that are being told and the representation of marginalized communities on television? What role do TV commissioners play in what we see on TV? Do we need help to get us through the door to work in film or/and TV or can we do it ourselves? Do we need the TV networks to get our voices heard? I won’t lie.

It got heated. But a lot of myths were put to rest, debates were squashed and no doubt gave the audience and panellists much to think about moving forwards with great new knowledge and contacts.

THE JAVONE PRINCE SHOW

I was lucky enough to be sent a preview-screening link for the new BBC Comedy brand THE JAVONE PRINCE SHOW. It’s been a long time since the BBC committed to a solo black comedy act, in fact was the last one Lenny Henry? Anyhoo, the show is starting on your screens soon. It’s a juxtaposition of live studio audience comedy sketches and band. Like the Lenny Henry show meets the Jonathon Ross show meets the real McCoy.

The sketches that are inclusive work better for me. One I like is a pair of characters that are gogglebox style trolls. I also like the sly inside jokes about TV people that try and understand shadism and race issues. There’s a special music star performing live and clearly a lot of money and resource has been thrown at this.

However, there are parts I’m not a fan of. Some sketches feel old and predictable when you expect edgy and genuinely funny from the urban scene that I know exists out there. I’ll watch your feedback with interest once it starts airing.

TERRI WALKER

As if all that wasn’t enough, the week also saw us trot down to the heart of Covent Garden, to the United Nude Flagship Store to watch an intimate music set performed by one of my favourite UK female vocalists- miss Terri Walker!

ALL TERRI WALKER PICS COURTESY WILL LAVIN.

Before Terri arrived, we were treated to sparkling Presecco, cocktails, cider, chocolates, food, and authentic entertainment. So we’re eating and drinking to our hearts content whilst surrounded by shoes. Like juxtaposing every fun girlytime activity into one mash-up night.

TERRI WALKER SINGS SONGS FROM HER NEW ALBUM ‘ENTITLED’.

Many of Terri’s die-hard fans and supporters turned out to see her sing a few tracks from her latest album ENTITLED. Before she even hit the stage and welcomed her guests, the crowd were buzzing and the energy was positive. Terri’s arrival instantly charmed her audience with her usual giggly, infectious, charismatic presence. Also of course a voice that speak volumes!

Performing songs from her brand new 2015 album ‘Entitled’ – Bad, Boy, Already Told Ya, Feel It In The Water, it’s fair to say that Terri Walker the artist continues to grow and continues to make it happen no matter what the industry hurdles she’s had to overcome.

‘Entitled’ is a body of works that highlights her legacy as a songwriter and also the artist that vocalises the songs. Live, she’s never disappoints, she can’t disappoint. Her talent is immense and timeless and it certainly looks like she is in a good space. She will continue to remind us (UK), that she isn’t going anywhere and given any opportunity to demonstrate what she does extremely well……..we will support!

A salute to United Nude, King Bloom Cocktails, Alska Cider, Pop Chips and Divine Chocolate for hosting such a wonderful event.

Catch Terri live near you and London; get your tickets now for her headlining gig at Under The Bridge (Stamford Bridge) on September 6th.

Entitled Out Now http://geni.us/Entitled @TheRealMzWalker

London’s inner city housing developments can be pretty grimy and unwelcoming, but here’s a new idea that could be picked up by locals to transform their areas.

This fortnight, Fiona Hawthorne, a Northern Irish artist who lives and works in London, has come together with residents and a housing association, to make the best of those grey, urban walls. Together they’ve been ramping up local creativity with her new community art installation, on the infamous Wornington Green Estate in Ladbroke Grove.

ARTIST FIONA HAWTHORNE WITH THE NEW PROJECT RAMP.
Photo Courtesy – Wilde Fry and Catalyst Housing.

The unique and vibrant piece transforms what were grey walls, ramp and stairs into a celebration of the community and local history of North Kensington. The area has been given a mini-facelift, after its ramp leading into the estate, was turned into a local history art gallery of sorts.

Photo Courtesy – Wilde Fry and Catalyst Housing.

This artwork has personal resonance for Fiona. Only a short walk from this instillation, Fiona set up her first home with her now husband Colin Salmon (best known for his work in various James Bond films as well as Arrow, 24 and Paul Abbott’s ‘No Offence”) with Kensington Housing Trust which is now part of Catalyst Housing.

The artwork has been created with funding from the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea Housing and Regeneration Fund along with support from Catalyst Gateway.
Following Fiona Hawthorne’s very successful “Aspects of Carnival” mural installation on Portobello Road, Catalyst Housing commissioned Fiona to take on this new project. Fiona spent months engaging with people from the local area to find out their stories and what inspires them. Fiona gathered information by attending workshops, talking to people through Facebook and a special session with children at the local school.

Photo Courtesy – Wilde Fry and Catalyst Housing.

Fiona told our London360 camera crew ‘’ “It has been such a pleasure to meet local residents, to hear views on life now and stories of the past, and to mix photos old and new of an area I know and love. I wanted colour and texture to enhance life force, objects to help us consider the beauty of the rich tapestry that makes this community, and to spark a narrative. Children and their families have used this ramp for many years and I have made the art with children in mind – I wanted to create something that could help inspire stories, the imagination and possibilities. Art helps us look again at what we see every day, and I am very pleased to have had the chance to have so much fun adapting a landscape and sharing my work in a public space’’.

Photo Courtesy – London360.

Photo Courtesy – Wilde Fry and Catalyst Housing.

Wornington Green is a key part of the eclectic community of North Kensington, contributing much to the unique heritage of London. The area is currently involved in an exciting regeneration programme and to celebrate this Catalyst decided to create a new commission and put art into a public space.

Photo Courtesy – Wilde Fry and Catalyst Housing.

Photo Courtesy – London360.

Sue Hannah, Area Manager at Catalyst Housing for Wornington Green added ‘’ the idea came about from a walk about with residents to look at environmental improvements on the estate, on Wornington Green Estate, and the ramp was identified as an area that needed a bit of a make-over and people wanted to do a community art project. What was great about it was that Fiona’s involved local people in the project, including lots of the residents living on the estate. It’s been absolutely fantastic, and people love it!. Our office is just up the road and every time we walk past it, people are looking at it and pointing at it. It’s become a real focal point for North Kensington, for Ladbroke Grove, and for Wornington Green too. Wornington Green is going through exciting changes and bringing more people to this area of the Royal Borough of Kensington Chelsea. Fiona has done a great job at capturing the history and community feel of North Kensington and I look forward to seeing the creativity it inspires in the local community.’

FIONA’S HUSBAND COLIN SALMON JOINED US AT THE RAMPS LAUNCH.
Photo Courtesy – Wilde Fry and Catalyst Housing.

Fiona’s famous hubby Colin Salmon proudly explained ‘’ for me art is a perfect conduit for communication, therefore people can enjoy it and just look at the use of colour! Fiona has a skill, with a beautiful use of colour that lifts and galvanises me and the young children who are walking through at eye level, they’re in another world. This has been designed for the next generation to be lit up because we have to light up the next generation. Sometimes you can’t say it but you can draw it. If I was to leave you with a thought, it is the fact that it’s this. This is London. It’s the most incredible city in the world, the diversity, the tolerance, and the way in which we live in these small villages, and they are small villages and we have to celebrate them. We have to include each other and we have to look after our children, the art I hope just lifts it and makes it a bit more special because everybody deserve to live in something special’’

As a freelance illustrator Fiona serves a broad spectrum of both national and international clients. Known for her witty and delicate line-and-wash style, she’s often commissioned to draw live in situations that range from film shoots and jazz festivals to the Henley Regatta and the tearoom of Harrods. She’s even worked with President Obama!

Fiona told us how he became involved in ‘’Project Ramp’’. ‘’ This ramp was actually grey cement, and a bit of an eye-sore, I heard that there was a commission going, where the local residents who live in this estate, had actually said “we’d like some regeneration of the ramp, we’d like the ramp to be a celebration!” and they’d come up with the idea of an art commission. So, when I heard about it I had to get it! And luckily I got it!’’

Photo Courtesy – Wilde Fry and Catalyst Housing.

She continued ‘’Over a 3 month period, I drew, and I had an adventure going into inventive drawing, and taking photographs and collaging them in. But a key part of it was to work with the local residents. So I met residents, we held meetings, I told people about it, and with technology the way it is nowadays, people could bring me old photographs, or things, things they liked, things they had, like clippings, and I could just photograph them on the spot and then drop them in digitally to my art work. So that’s what it’s all about, a project to celebrate the area and its local residents!’’

If you’re in the west London area do take a walk to the ramp and explore its many images. We noticed a lot of diversity in the mural. There’s a girl wearing a hijab, a variety of races and ages. Fiona nods ‘’Yes! It was very important. There’s a place for everyone in this area and it always has been. Lots of different groups have come here, the diversity has stayed and it has created carnival, amongst other great things in this area. But I think my opportunity in the art was just to challenge some of the perceptions, and make sure everyone was represented’’.

Photo Courtesy – Wilde Fry and Catalyst Housing.

She continues ‘’It’s really important to have art, everywhere, council estates, the streets, everywhere. it sparks ideas, it makes people think of other possibilities. And I don’t think you have to understand art necessarily, you know, with my art it’s just how it is… I just want people to feel, to respond to it. I didn’t want to do anything that would in some way alienate people, but equally very conceptual art is great to see it and find out what the backstory is. So, I’m all for art in public spaces, and I think we need more of it in London!’’.

Photo Courtesy – Wilde Fry and Catalyst Housing.

One local middle aged female resident, who seemed to be at first numb with tears, and then jubilant with elation told us ‘’ Some of the pictures, I haven’t even seen, I was in tears when I got here and our photo’s are right in the front. It’s like, just goose bumps, goose bumps, hair standing up, I was bawling! I don’t know where my daughter got them from, but there are a lot of memories here. There is one photo of my sister, she lived here and passed away when she was 46, so when I first saw that I was emotional, then there’s another picture of me with my brother who is currently very sick. It’s a lovely memory, just amazing. My parents must be looking down really proud I think’’.

Photo Courtesy – London360.

The last word went to a sprightly 10 year old young girl who was skipping around and lives locally who gushed ‘’ by seeing this wall I’ve learnt the different stages of this area and how it has changed over the years. I think for the younger kids like ourselves, we like to look back at our ancestors. It’s just a really nice thought to be able to look on there and say “oh, this is what they used to wear, and these are the things they got up to, and we do the same sort of thing in this day and age, its so cool!’’