A+ A A-

Rotten Hill Bar & Grill II

 By Piers Thompson

Powis Square Festival - Rotten Hill Gand

The second Rotten Hill Bar and Grill was a Quality Shambles,and we can only hope that the promised plans to stage two more in Powis Square next Summer come to fruition. It featured performances by Notting Hill’s finest and also youngest.

We got a glimpse of The Band With No Name, featuring local hero Gus Robertson and Razorlight’s Johnny Borrell. We even witnessed a ‘spontaneous’ gathering of the characters from Seven Days, our very own ‘reality’ show. It was the perfect post-modern street party. The usual suspects were all in attendance, plus Ray McVeigh, Coozie Johns, Paul Cook and someone from Guns And Roses (It was Duff McKagan – Ed).

Powis Square Festival - The Band With No Name, featuring local hero Gus Robertson and Razorlight’s Johnny Borrell.

Powis Square has always been the epicentre of Notting Hill’s Rock n Roll rebellion. It was here that Mrs Rhaune Laslett, a middle aged Polish lady in a wheelchair, inadvertently started Carnival in August of 65, when a week of events for the kids of the London Free School broke out into a procession led by Trindadian jazzmen, Sterling Betancourt and Russell Henderson. The Situationists, The Pink Floyd, Hawkwind, and the squatting of the Tabernacle followed.

Powis Square Festival - Ray Roughler-JonesSyd Barrett would have loved the festival. The Square was teeming with kids, who seemed more interested in the playground than the bands. But Powis Square is the kind of place that you can let them run wild. Food and drink came from the Tabernacle and was devoured with enthusiasm.

Between the acts, compere Ray Roughler-Jones managed to get in a plug of his book (Drowning On Dry Land from tangentbooks.co.uk since you ask). He did a brief poetry set, including Holiday Homes and Kill A Tory as did Radical from Jamaica. Billy Idle looked fabulous as an Artful Dodger and played a very eclectic range of tunes.

The crowd was looking a bit thin to start with, but word seemed to sweep around the Portobello and around 4, people started streaming. Further impetus was given by the bizarre circus that is Seven Days. The characters have all become mates and appear to be hanging around together. It’s kinda sweet. Malcolm turned up on his own later. Myself, I like the show.

Powis Square Festival - Pink CIgarOn stage, proceedings were kicked off by The Tabernacle’s own Georgia (who made her debut at Ray’s book launch and now has a really good band), followed by the ever reliable Dirty Strangers.  Pink Cigar whistled through a high energy glam-punk-rock set. See Tommy Kennedy for bookings. They were followed by a short but intense set by Gus’ new band that also features Borrell. They did a Razorlight song but couldn’t say which. Next up were the wunderkinder, The West Borns, who were the only band prevailed upon to do an encore (they did Rising Sun).

 

Powis Square Festival - Rotten Hill Gand

It was topped off by the top-hatted Rotten Hill Gang. They were tight as you like on a short but very sharp set. Reds belted out all the hits, supported by Holly and Hayley providing that soulful undertone. Where do they keep getting these gorgeous girls who can really sing?

Councillor Dez O’Neil was delighted with the first attempt to bring music back to the Square. “This is what arts in the community is all about”. The ghosts of Notting Hill’s past could be seen tapping their feet. And only one resident complained. It may take a bit of people power to make sure that this event returns. We might have to occupy the Tabernacle again. People get ready.

See related video by Roughler TV here

Photographs courtesy of the Tabernacle Manager, Christopher Scholey

You can see all other Piers Thompson Blog entries here.

{module Related articles} 

Join us on Facebook - it helps! Honest!

{module Facebook FanBox for articles} 

More News

Prev Next

Hits:12129

Two meetings, one voice

Two meeting…

You had to be there. North and south of the boro...

Read more

Hits:34321

New Site

New Site

We're back ;)   Read more: New Site...

Read more

Hits:12714

Corbyn Won Kensington Nomination

Corbyn Won …

On July 21st Jeremy Corbyn overwhelmingly won th...

Read more

Hits:13298

Hats-off to Micky P: Portobello Live 3rd/4th May

Hats-off to…

Reflecting on the Portobello Live Festival - by ...

Read more

Hits:16083

Portobello community stands up against plans to turn iconic area into bland shopping centre

Portobello

Hundreds of protestors, including children and p...

Read more

Hits:14174

Leon Löwentraut at the The Muse Gallery

Leon Löwent…

Never too early to become a full fledged artist ...

Read more

More News 2

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
Prev Next

Hits:15196

Greferendum: an anthology

Greferendum…

Thinking of Greece. ...

Read more

Hits:12712

Pink Cigar video release

Pink Cigar …

 Local down’n’dirty rock’n’roll outfit Pink Ciga...

Read more

Hits:16871

Gaz’s Rockin Blues 35th Anniversary Spectacular

Gaz’s Rocki…

Gaz’s Rockin Blues 35th Anniversary Spectacular ...

Read more

Hits:13831

Interactive Video Art at The Dissenters Gallery Catacombs

Interactive…

On Saturday 4 July, 11-5pm, a chance to see the ...

Read more

Hits:13112

"Exposed" a Solo Show by Louis-Nicholas Darbon

"Expos…

 Coming up Thursday- June 4th -  at the Graffik ...

Read more

Hits:13511

Mock The Opera Protest @ Holland Park

Mock The Op…

A protest is taking place tomorrow at the Hollan...

Read more

Hits:13980

Where next for Labour?

Where next …

 Labour’s defeat in the UK general election on M...

Read more

Hits:13312

Artists For Nepal – local benefit gig for Nepal

Artists For…

 Thursday May 21st at the Elgin with music, film...

Read more

Hits:13521

RED ALERT by Maximilian Wiedemann

RED ALERT b…

West Bank last exhibition at the current buildin...

Read more

Local Events Calendar

<<  <  July 2020  >  >>
 Mo  Tu  We  Th  Fr  Sa  Su 
  
  

Upcoming Events

Fb

writers pic2

We're looking for writers! Join in! (scroll down the article)

Rants

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7

I don't do …

I don't do rants. But,

...it's a rant! ...

Read more

Last Night …

Last Night I Dreamt...

"I could see the body of Kim Kardashian..." ...

Read more

Portobello …

Portobello drinkers 'harassed' by children

  From our sports correspondent Dave 'the ...

Read more

Everyone’s …

Everyone’s a F*****g DJ

by Kensal Scream  At long last! Another salvo f...

Read more

Lap dogs …

Lap dogs & devil dogs - the final solution

By Kensal Scream Time for another rant by the K...

Read more

Trains and …

Trains and  lycra pants

 By Kensal Scream That Really Grinds my Gears i...

Read more

An e-mail f…

An e-mail from Billy Connolly?

We can not be sure that  it’s his but it co...

Read more

Your Experience

review and preview

Login or Sign Up