Vortex Outdoors
Sunday May 9th 2010
1pm - 7pm
For information on the artists who appeared at Vortex Outdoors, click here
All photos courtesy of Alex Winn
OVER A THOUSAND music lovers descended on Gillett Square on Sunday 9th May to watch some of the UK's most exciting jazz, hip-hop, soul, funk and reggae artists perform at Vortex Outdoors, the free music and arts festival organised by The Vortex, HCD and BrazenBunch.
Vortex Outdoors opened with an accomplished performance from a group comprising of local young people and students from BSix College in Clapton, who were brought together by arts collective BrazenBunch. Going under the name of 'No Race' (left), the seven-strong band showed off the material they had worked on during two workshops run by professional musicians from the collective including Marcina Arnold. They shared the bill for Vortex Outdoors with artists from the local and surrounding area including; Sharlene Hector, Aruba Red, Jamie Woon and Shane Solanki - who also compared the event. The aim of the day was to bring a unified community together and provide a high quality event that was completely free and accessible to all. It was a great success with outstanding performances from all the artists and we hope to make Vortex Outdoors a regular fixture in the Hackney Calender.
As the live music drew towards the finale, the enthusiastic crowd was treated to Zarif - who recently toured as support to Beyonce and dueted with soul star John Legend - and Don-e, who is currently working with Grace Jones.
Dalston-based artist Gina Southgate captured the performance on canvas, producing a live painting of Don-e and the Lifeforce Band, which was then placed on stage. Visitors also took part in the creation of a junk art installation run by local creatives Pangolin's Ark and received free advice and bike maintenance from Push Cycles located on Newington Green. As the sun set, local DJ's including Dusty Lungs took to the decks in The Vortex jazz club and an 'instant legacy' featuring various highlights of the festival created by Mateusz Novak was projected on to a screen in the square and displayed way into the night.
Vortex Outdoors gratefully acknowledges financial support from PRS Foundation, Arts Council England, Hackney Council and West Hackney Parochial Charity
Vortex Outdoors Event Partners:
The Vortex www.vortexjazz.co.uk
The Vortex is a world-renowned jazz club in Dalston established for over 20 years. It is a beacon for jazz, folk, world and contemporary music in the capital.
The Vortex Jazz Foundation www.vortexjf.org
The Vortex Jazz Foundation was set up as the charity arm of The Vortex jazz club during its closure and relocation to Dalston in 2001. It strives to help secure the future of live jazz in North and East London and to develop a programme of jazz education and audience development.
BrazenBunch www.brazenbunch.com
BrazenBunch is a not-for-profit organisation working with artists, musicians and filmmakers providing events and projects that benefit local and global communities – especially young, vulnerable and disadvantaged people – and have successfully produced projects in the UK, Caribbean and Africa.
Lifeforce Muzic www.myspace.com/lifeforceband
Lifeforce Muzic is committed to supporting and promoting high quality events featuring the best of UK musicality. The Lifeforce Band is made up from some of the UK’s finest musicians
BSix 6th Form College www.bsix.ac.uk
BrazenBunch will be working with BSix 6th Form College to provide music workshops for local young people in Hackney and BSix students. The workshops will be run by BrazenBunch with professional musicians Marcina Arnold and Leon Michener, and culminate in performances at the festival as a part of the launch pad for UK performers of the future.
Hackney Cooperative Developments www.hcd.coop
Hackney Cooperative Developments (HCD) is a Community Interest Company which has been creating opportunities for inclusive local economic development since 1982. HCD’s Gillett Squared project was initiated in 2006 to stimulate and promote the use of Dalston’s new public space, Gillett Square, for cultural activities and events which relate to local communities.
Associated Partners:
Arcola Theatre www.arcolatheatre.com
The Arcola Theatre is now one of the most respected arts venues in the UK and is a favourite of established theatre literati as well as young, upwardly mobile innovators. London’s largest theatre studio, Arcola has become well known for the variety of its programming– from new writing to classic drama, music and comedy.
Arcola Energy/Green Sundays www.arcolaenergy.com
Trailblazing sustainability projects as part of its core business, Arcola Theatre aims to be the world’s first carbon neutral theatre. To this end, Arcola established Arcola Energy in 2007 – promoting innovation in sustainability, through the Arts.
Additional Festival Activities run by:
Push Cycles www.pushcycles.com
Push Cycles is a new shop based within walking distance of Gillett Square providing everything from cycles and cycle accessories to expert bike advice.
Pangolin’s Ark www.pangolins-ark.co.uk
Pangolin’s Ark is a creatives’ collective based in Hackney that provide open air workshops for those wishing to be involved in everything from junk art sculptures to art and music workshops. ‘Environmental arts for a sustainable community’
Gina Southgate, Artist in Residence
You can also watch resident artist, Gina Southgate (right), making live art in The Vortex Jazz Club in response to the day's events. You can see examples of Gina's work here.
The members of Gillett Squared:
Hackney Co-Operative Developments
New Vortex Jazz Club
East London Design Show
