Autumn Event
We are very excited to announce our autumn dance event on Saturday 13th September 4.30-9.30pm
A block party inspired event
There will be breakdancing, hip-hop, all the urban sounds and street art from streetfunk and projectfemale
Rap from: Marshall. Gramski. Teej
Street Art from Cassettelord, Brighton’s well known urban street artist will be creating a mural during the event.
Also DJ Frank! Francis will be interviewing Mark Riley who is a veteran Radio DJ from the US in a Q&A “Reflections from The Paradise Garage & The New York Loft: A Conversation with Mark Riley and Francis Field”
Mark Riley was there, back in the day in New York and was friends of some of the folk who stated the whole scene. A DJ who certainly has a tale or two to tell!
Here’s footage from a previous event, where Francis was on the
“wheels of steel”.
DJ Frank says…
“The Patch Block Party event will be another great community event by Friends of William Clarke Park, featuring music made in various districts of New York in the late 70’s to mid 80’s.
Great music came out of many communities such as The Bronx and Queens and reflected them, some songs were about finding the best party, others about looking after one another and respecting yourself. Norman Jay says when at a 70’s block party, MFSB’s classic track “Love is the Message” came on, he said you could feel the togetherness and emotion.
Rap took off in a big way and community was big in South Bronx’s “The Bottom Line”, Kurtis Blow’s “Hard Times”, Gary Byrd “The Crown” and of course Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five (with Duke Bootee) “The Message”, a tough reality call on living in 80’s New York.
Disco, soul and funk were still big, labels like Prelude and West End bringing heavy funk like Forrrce’s dubbed out funk crazyness “Keep on Dancing” to the cool disco-funk of The Strikers “Body Music”. Soon reggae-disco landing with Monyaka’s floor winner, “Go deh Yaka – Go to the Top” and then there was the futuristic sounds of electro.
The rockers weren’t sleeping either, artists such as Talking Heads, James White & the Blacks, Arthur Russell, Lizzy Mercier Descloux and a young Madonna among many brought funk into their sound. It was all going on for sure!
Films such as “Wildstyle” and books “Can’t stop, won’t stop” by Jeff Chang and Sophie Bramley’s “Yo!” The early days of hip hop 1982-84″ give you a taste of what to expect at a very funky Patch event, hope to see you there!”
Why not contact City Books in Brighton for copies of the books!
Spring in The Patch took place on Sat 26th April 2025 1-7pm.
Thank you to all the people who supported our Spring in the Patch event and gave generous donations. We are pleased to announce that thanks to your help we are now in a position to run future events.
We would like to thank all the fantastic performers – Moon clouds, Hanover, Bedford Celts and Britpop Underground for making the event such a success.
We would also like to thank all the volunteers and committee members who helped with organising the event, and on the day with the various roles on the bar, tea tent, stewarding, gates, set up and set down. A shout out to Good Gym volunteers who supported with the set up.
Thank you also to the stall holders, including Loud Shirt breweries and to all the organisers of activities including archery, Quoya and Yoga tasters.
If you have any video footage or photos from the event that you would like to share, please email info@friendsofwilliamclarkepark
Many thanks,
FWCP
Why not book a £10 bric-a-brac spot?
Spring in The Patch 2025
Programme
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