East London Food & Culture

Filly Brook

Filly Brook: don’t miss the final week of Connections

Live acts! DJs! Art! Talks! This free month-long celebration of music culture ends on June 2nd

There’s just one more week left of Connections, a brilliantly eclectic celebration of music culture at Leytonstone’s local bar, restaurant, and music venue, Filly Brook.

Over the full five weeks, Connections will have featured live music, DJ sets, art installations, and a roster of insightful talks with panels of industry experts and interactive workshops. Topics have included music production, creative writing, poetry, (mis)representation and access within the music industry, plus the importance of community and entrepreneurship.

Cleveland Watkiss MBE in conversation with Richard Spaven. Photo: Matt Simmons.

What’s it all about? It’s about bringing people together to celebrate music, art, and culture. Connections is a collaboration among friends, led by Filly Brook founder Simon Purnell, drummer Richard Spaven (who has worked with artists like Loyle Carner, Guru, and Flying Lotus), UK graffiti pioneer Mode 2, and talented illustrator and graphic artist Mitchy Bwoy, along with the extended Filly Brook friends and family.


“The aim is to inspire people from all backgrounds to connect through music, art, and culture,” says Simon, “with talks and workshops that make these creative industries more accessible. Creativity is for everyone, so we have made sure all events are FREE to attend and the goal is to make Connections an annual celebration.”

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Throughout the last week, don’t forget to book a table to enjoy Sireli’s delicious Persian and Levantine influenced small plates, or simply try something from their new summer wine list or 18 taps of craft beer that includes a special limited edition ‘Connections’ collab pale ale brewed with local friends Pretty Decent Brewery.

 

Schedule May 27th to June 2nd: ALL EVENTS FREE

ichard Spaven & Friends Live TENDAYI LO
Festival closing act Richard Spaven & Friends Live. Photo: Lucas John Eveleigh Edwards

Monday 27th May – Record Fair
Bank Holiday Monday sees the Connections Record Fair with second hand sellers and record labels (all day from midday) Shake The Foundations (aka Sherman At The Controls), Piers Harrison (Mysticisms), Chris Soft Rocks / Pure Pleasure Music and Matt Simmons plus more sellers to be announced. We also welcome Lizzie Walker who will be selling official merchandise from the late great Andrew Weatherall plus we have record labels Leng Records, Spacetalk and Claremont 56 selling their latest wax and back catalogue classics.

Wednesday 29th May – Workshop
DJ Workshops (Digital, Intermediate) hosted by Dem: sold out but more are being planned for the coming months.

Thursday 30th May – Panel talk
The final panel talk is about creating your own community and the importance of making connections as you progress through your chosen career. Moderated by Aliyah Husna *Thempress* (Voices Radio) with panelists The Silhouettes Project and Leah & Beth (U Gd, Girl?)

Marla Kether. Photo: Simon Purnell.

Thursday 30th May – Marla Kether live
Born in London to Congolese parents, Marla Kether is a producer, DJ and bassist who plays for the likes of Loyle Carner, Yazmin Lacey, Oscar Jerome and Obongjayar. With a number of singles now under her belt, her music blends Latin percussion, Theo Parrish-style groove, big basslines, afro-house and guitar riffs inspired by her West African heritage. Her live shows are a full on electronic West African highlife party.  “We cannot wait for this one,” says Simon.

Friday 31st May – DJ night:Yam Who? & Blackbeard
Back in the early noughties Yam Who? and Blackbeard began releasing their own reworks of modern underground soul and R&B productions. They were more than a classic re-edit as they added their own production, instrumentation and love to bring the original out to a wider audience. Arguably Yam’s rework of Raphael Saadiq’s ‘Sky, Can You Feel Me’ was the cornerstone of this movement that started a fresh approach to the edit/remix world. Tonight they reunite to play a classic Pirate Soul set that educates and entertains – like the last 20 years haven’t happened yet.

Saturday 1st June – Tony Nwachukwu
Tony Nwachukwu is a highly regarded music producer, DJ, lecturer and music consultant who continues to inspire and educate both established and up-and-coming artists. His long running (20+ years) CDR night continues to give a platform for producers to share their music in a relaxed environment with like-minded people, influential artists including Floating Points, SBTRKT, Maya Jane Coles, Sampha have all passed through the CDR doors. His always varied DJ sets take in hip hop, boogie, afrobeat, Detroit house or broken beat, so having Tony play the closing weekend “could not be a better way to bring our cultural excursion to a close”, says Simon.

Sunday 2nd June – Richard Spaven Live
It’s only fitting that Filly Brook’s in-house drumming maestro Richard Spaven closes the festival with a show of his own productions. It’s widely known that Rich draws inspiration from the broken beat, hip hop and jungle movements so expect to hear all of what makes him tick tonight.

Mitchy Bwoy
Image: Mitchy Bwoy.

Sunday 2nd June – Exhibition
Last day of the exhibition curated by Mitchy Bwoy that celebrates his design work with the legendary and much missed Amp Fiddler.

Main image: Richard Spaven presents The Freakestra (credit Sahil Kotwani).

For more info on all events: FillyBrook.co.uk/connections. Guarantee your entry by booking a free ticket on Resident Advisor here. Follow @fillybrook.  Hungry? Acclaimed Middle Eastern kitchen residency Sireli serves small and larger plates: find out more about the menu here.

Talks are supported by Voices Radio, Two Tribes Brewery and Waltham Forest Council Workshops are supported by Waltham Forest Council.

This is a sponsored post in association with Filly Brook. If you’re a North or East London business wanting to access tens of thousands of Londoners across our north and east London newsletters, websites and social media network, please email info@leytonstoner.london or info@londonbelongstome.com

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