Las Iguanas Lands in Exeter

There was a photo booth...I just about got the hang of it!

Las Iguanas launched their new Exeter restaurant this weekend with a bang. The party at their new Queen Street branch was heaving with VIPs grooving to a salsa beat and indulging in a delicious and generous selection of samples from the Latin menu.

VIPs a plenty....if you look closely you might see an Exeter Chief

We're talking mango & brie empenadas, mushroom quesadillas with garlic & thyme, mini smokey shredded beef burritos, nachos with quality guacamole & spicy salsa and that's before we even get down to the business of cocktails! Their signature caipirinha and rum punch were the stars of the night and the friendly staff were working hard to keep everyone topped up.

I was so excited to attend the event because Las Iguanas is kind of the answer to my prayers. As a native Californian I grew up on Mexican food and have struggled to find a good restaurant to fill that need. While the Taco Macho stall at the Exeter market, run by Ensenada Chef Gus, is a brilliant place for a spot of lunch, sometimes you just need more. Las Iguanas skill is that they manage to mix European ingredients with Latin recipes in a way that keeps the essence of the dish whilst giving if a fresh perspective. Add to this lovely staff and a vibrant atmosphere and you've got a recipe for awesomeness.

Bienvenidos a Exeter Las Iguanas!

Delicious Veggie Burrito that I sampled at their Brighton branch last spring.

Speaking out for Exeter, Together

Cllr Richard Westlake, TOSFOR's Nazima Khan, MP Ben Bradshaw
and myself at Ben's recent Multicultural Lunch event

Exeter is a city that is home to a beautiful purpose built mosque, one of the country's oldest synagogues, a Sikh Temple, a number of restaurants and business serving our large Chinese student population and one of the South West's largest annual celebrations of diversity. I have friends here from all corners of England, Scotland, and Wales, as well as the Ivory Coast, Hong Kong, Palestine, Lebanon, Poland, Iran, Egypt, Germany, Venezuela, Mexico, Columbia, Kenya, South Africa, Malawi, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Italy, Brazil and France...to name but a few. Our city celebrates Diwali, Chinese New Year and Dia De Los Muertos, alongside Christmas, St George's Day, and our local Llamas Day traditions. It's part of who we are. It's part of what makes our city a great.

On Saturday, 16 November, Exeter will stand up for the diversity that has shaped our city for hundreds of years and will stand against a visiting contingent from the EDL. In 2011, the last time the EDL held a 'march' in Exeter, their half dozen members left with tails between their legs because they were met with about 300 people from all different backgrounds reveling in their rights to revel with whomever they chose! For Round Two, the fine folks from Exeter Together will be standing together for what we believe in with colourful English Disco Lovers style counter protest. I spoke with long time activist and Exeter Together rep, Lizi Allnatt about plans for the day.

Who is Exeter Together?

We are an umbrella group of lots of local organisations such as faith and political groups and trade unions, Woodcraft Folk and Exeter Unite Against Fascism.   

Why are you demonstrating?

We are demonstrating because the English Defence League have decided to call a national demonstration in Exeter on Nov 16th. This is the first time the EDL have called a national demonstration here.  

What have you got planned?

Initially we wrote a statement which condemned the EDL and called for people to support an alternative event on the 16th Nov. So far over 80 local organisations have signed the statement and nearly 500 individuals. We have asked people to join with us and celebrate the diversity our beautiful city has. On Nov 16th we are marching from Belmont Park to Bedford Square and holding a rally in the centre of town. We have invited dancers and singers and poets to perform and there will be family friendly activities available.  We hope that our event will be loud and proud and colourful. The police have assured us that our route does not clash with any plans the EDL may have so we really hope families will join us for the event.

Why is it important?

We believe it is important to have an alternative demo to show that the EDL are not speaking for the people of Exeter when they claim that they are coming to claim back Exeter because it is being over run by Muslims both at the University and the city. They spend their time making racist Islamophobic comments/threats on their  Facebook pages. Even Tommy Robinson their old leader admitted recently that the organisation is riddled with racists and fascists. We do not want these people to march around Exeter without an alternative view being shown. They do not really seem to know why they are marching here, however we fear that unchallenged views like those of the EDL can grow and spread fear and hatred and divide a community.


Come along to the Exeter Together march on 16 Nov at 1030, starting at Belmont Park, Exeter.

Melosa storms Boomtown 2013: Chinatown may never be the same

Melosa at Boomtown's Chinatown 

Boomtown gets under your skin. So many townies in one field. So many small worlds raised from nothing. It is a festival like none other. It's filthy and skanky and brilliant. This year, Exeter's ska band extraordinaire, Melosa, returned to the town that boom built for the third time. They rocked the Chinatown stage on Sunday in true Melosa style. The set included classic Melosa tracks like Warning and Nemo as well as my favourite song from the latest EP, Silverspoon. 

Melosa at Boomtown 2013's China Town Stage

And they were in good company with a line up that included ska  reggae royalty like Lee Scratch Perry, Los Angeles cumbia kings Ozomatli, hip hop from High Focus Records and the dopest DJs in the vicinity.

The site was epic this year and between all the music, there was so much to see. Like Arcadia rising like a phoenix from the depths and worshiped by a seething crowd of thousands. The Lords of Lightning. The Hidden Woods, engineered by our very own Exeter Sound Hire. The giant Boombox. The graffiti. The roller disco. The ninjas. That's right; I said ninjas AND lightning AND a roller disco. Though the festival has at least doubled in size since I first went in 2010, they seem to have resisted the race to banality that saturates and sanitizes our world. It's not for everyone. It's just awesome.

Behold, Arcadia.

Boomtown Boombox Stage, like boom!

Sunset at the Town Centre

Exeter Big Screen at the Park 2013 listings announced!

The good folks at the Exeter Phoenix have really outdone themselves this year with the lineup for the 2013 Big Screen in the Park at Northernhay Gardens. One absolute classic, one total legend, a masterpiece and a visual feast? There will be much popcorn eating methinks.

If you've never been before, the way that it works is for 4 days every summer, they put a...big screen...in the park....and everyone comes along with a picnic and enjoys the show. It's brilliant. It used to be free but they sell tickets now at a reasonable £3 per film so that they can afford to do it again next year.  Shows start at 9pm and it's just lovely to cozy up with your sweetheart and a film as the sunsets.

Envelope please. And the nominees for best Devon hillside picture show are....

The Goonies on Weds 14 Aug

Poster by Brickhut

Skyfall on Thurs 15 Aug

Poster by Jack Woodhams

Life of Pi on Fri 16 Aug

Poster by Chungkong

The Great Gatsby on Sat 17 Aug

Poster by Tiffany Chen

Meet me Halfway: My Year in Exeter So Far

It's hard to believe that Summer Solstice has come and gone. That the long dark, cold, wet winter which started back in March 2012 and only relented at the end of May 2013 will soon be making it's approach. Today, the longest day of the year and midpoint of our annual orbit of the sun, I reckon is a good time to take stock and look back on what I did with the whole first half of the year.

NYE 2013

I was lucky enough to spend NYE at The Grapevine in Exmouth with my band Lazy Lizard. Wearing a carnival head dress and a brand new frock from Exeter's best dress shop, Off The Hook, we had an amazing night and I was feeling pretty good.

Exeter CAMRA Festival of Winter Ales

This is one of my favourite annual Exeter events. More than 60 amazing real ales on tap at this fabulous beer festival run by our local chapter of CAMRA every January. If you're a fan of real ales in Exeter it is a must do. If you're a local you are certain to find someone that you know there toasting a pint so you can raise a raiding party or just bowl up on your own and you're guaranteed a good time. I've been twice now and it's always full of friendly people and of course, delicious ales, ciders and even a few ginger beers.

Artist Michael Buckland

I met London born, Exmouth based, artist Michael Buckland one evening whilst checking out Melosa that The Grapevine in Exmouth. Tucked away in a corner, I could see him taking in the surroundings and scribbling way in his note pad. As he got up to leave I got a sneak peak at the drawing he'd done of  our table of friends an was in awe of how much detail he'd captured such a short time. A few weeks later he popped up on my Facebook and somehow we arranged for me to sit for a portrait. I was honoured. Such a lovely experience.

Tony Law at Exeter Phoenix

Irreverent, surreal and joyful Canadian comedian Tony Law played his first show at the Exeter Phoenix back in February. It was brilliant. He's amazing. I'm not telling you anything more about he elephants though.

Telling Our Stories, Finding Our Roots at RAMM

As part of Telling Our Stories, Finding Our Roots, I have been researching the history of black American GIs who were based in Exeter during WWII. It has been a fascinating journey that has taught me so much about England, American, historic and current attitudes to race, my family, my culture, and my city. There are lots of different elements to the project. Interviews, research and storytelling will help us to present a website, school materials, and even a guided tour to the wider public, helping to spread the word about some of Exeter's multicultural histories. In March we did our first storytelling evening at RAMM to an audience of more than 100 people. Everyone in our volunteer group and from the Global Centre, worked so hard to make it happen.

Exeter Pride at Exeter Phoenix

Exeter Pride has been going for a few years now and there are so many brilliant people working to make it on of the best pride celebrations in the South West. My band, Lazy Lizard, played at the March 2013 post parade party and it was oh so much fun. There was a conga line during our set and more importantly I got to wear the shiniest dress I could find from Jane Norman.

History of Exeter's Black GIs

In April, the Global Centre hosted a book launch for Marika Sherwood's latest title 'World War II: Colonies & Colonials'.  I was honoured to be asked to speak alongside this marvelously inspiring woman. She is a prolific writer and historian who's explored all aspects of BME history in Great Britain and subverted histories around the world. Her latest title is one of more than 50 publications that she's penned and is a must read.

Exeter Respect Festival

Exeter Respect Festival 2013 was just brilliant. The weather was fabulous and they organisers really worked hard to use every possible resource to put on what is probably the city's largest annual event. Bringing together live music, community groups, faith groups, and local businesses, it was a great celebration of the diversity and energy of our city. I was lucky enough to participate as a performer with my hip hop group The Bitterati on the PhonicFM stage and event more randomly, we were on ITV Westcountry!

Photo by Clive Chilvers

Cheers to all my Exeter friends and neighbours for making this a great year so far!

Gillian Ayres Exhibition Opens at RAMM

Last Friday I was lucky enough to meet leading British abstract artist Gillian Ayres at the opening of her new exhibition at Exeter’s Royal Albert Memorial Museum on Saturday 15 June. The exhibition, featuring a beautiful collection of some of her vibrant, heavily-worked canvasses, and bold block prints runs until Sunday 15 September.

Her works resound with a passion that is clearly inspired by her deep love for her craft. Speaking with the RSA from her west country studio in 2009 she explained, ‘It’s all I ever wanted to do, all my life. I can’t live long enough to paint all I want to do. Thirty years ago, I gave up my teaching job at Winchester College of Art to paint. And that’s what I do.’ The vivid colour palette, she explains is not drawn from life, but rather from herself.  ‘People think I came here for the views...but, as you can see, I have no views: I don’t paint from nature so I don’t need them. My paintings are about painting, about shape and colour, not telling stories. From my studio I can’t see beyond the trees.’

Born in 1930, Gillian studied at Camberwell College of Art between 1945 and 1950. She worked initially in London and then went on to teach at the Bath Academy in Corsham, Saint Martins School of Art and finally became Head of Painting at Winchester School of Art. She left teaching in 1981 and moved to Wales and then Cornwall, where she currently lives.

Artist Gillian Ayres at the RAMM Exeter

Over the course of her career, Gillian has made a significant and varied body of original prints. Most of the works in this exhibition have been proofed by Gillian Ayres and Jack Shirreff and were printed at 107 Workshop. Ayres and Shirreff first met at Corsham and it was his reinvigoration of the use of carborundum combined with etching that offered her a whole range of possibilities in the medium of print.

Gillian Ayres’ work is in the collections of the British Museum, Tate, the Victoria & Albert Museum; and the Museum of Modern Art, New York. Gillian was made a Royal Academician in 1991 and awarded a CBE in 2011.

Gillian Ayres: Paintings and Prints 1986 to 2011 runs from Saturday 15 June to Sunday 15 September.

Museum volunteers at opening night

Museum volunteers at opening night

A spanking good time at the 2013 Oxjam Launch Party

Exeter's newest funk band, Electric Spank, are topping the bill at the launch party for Oxjam 2013 at the Exeter Phoenix. The first of a series of gigs taking place in our fair city as part of an Oxfam musical take over, the 29 May event will not disappoint. Fronted by the unstoppable Lucy Rice, of Melosa fame, with guitar by the insatiably funky Alastiar Toms, Electric Spank's last gig at the Lamb Inn, nr Crediton was a phenomenal mix of funky as originals and  rock solid covers to bring happiness to your ear holes.

Next October, Oxfam GB will be raising funds with 60 music festivals throughout the country. The Exeter event will be on 19th-20th October comprising many events right across the city. There will also be fundraising events prior to the Takeover so keep your eyes peeled! Follow them on Twitter @oxjamexeter2013 and like them on Facebook.

Pop along to the event to hear more and more importantly have a good time! If you dig it, them you could make friends and get involved. They're currently looking for volunteers, bands/artists, venues, security, fundraising ideas and more. If you would like to be involved them tweet or take a look at the Oxjam website for more information: http://www.oxfam.org.uk/oxjam/get-involved