White Night has commissioned home Live Art to curate and produce a bespoke Alternative Village Fete for the people of Brighton & Hove.

Engaging the most exciting artists and creatives from the city and beyond, visitors to The Alternative Village Fete’s stage and stalls will encounter experiences that take them from deco tea rooms, swing dancing and vintage glamour makeovers to pop video routines, food flinging olympics, dark midnight rituals and everything in between. All you’d expect at a fete but with a nocturnal edge… there will be games, competitions, music, dancing, craft activities, home grown produce, tea and cake… but not as you know it.

This a fete re-imagined for the hours of darkness – expect ghouls, vamps (of both the blood favouring and 40’s starlet variety), kitsch popstars, rocka-hillbillies, retro hepkats and kittens. Visitors to the Fete are invited to express their twilight alter egos by dressing fancy for the occasion. Come out and play!

For more information about the project please visit the Home Live Art website.

Join Home Live Art and Fete friends: Cut a Shine Collective, Paul L Martin, 815agency, The Basement, Boogaloo Stu, Lone Twin, Copper Dollar, Ragroof Theatre, Made in China, Victoria Melody, Tom Marshman, Baby Warhol, Brighton Belles WI, Dolly Dagger, Anna Hunt, Lou McCurdy, Tanja Gangar, Livelovehoop, Fitbitch Bootcamp, Forest of Thoughts, Brighton Science Festival, Snoopers Attic, Candy Queens, Raw Living, The Community Chef, Chilli Pepper Pete, Candy Queens, Infinity Foods, Metrodeco…and more

With special thanks to Infinity Foods, Shabitat, Fishtail Neon, Montezuma, Stanford Junior School and Same Sky for their support of the project.

Detailed programme information and biographies:

MC Paul L Martin: www.paullmartin.com

The Alternative Village Fete MC extraordinaire, Paul L Martin, is an international cabaret performer. With over 15 years experience he has appeared at The Dorchester Hotel, Hackney Empire, The Pigalle, Café Royale, Madame Jo-Jo’s and Café de Paris.

Cut a Shine Collective – www.cutashine.co.uk

Cut a Shine have been responsible for presenting rocking hillbilly barn dances at festivals, events and venues all over the country for many a year. Kicking off the Alternative Village Fete programme with a bang, toe tapping simply won’t be enough…

Cut a Shine are a troupe of talented musicians, dancers and singers promoting, reinterpreting and propagating traditional folk music and dance in a lively, entertaining and accessible way to people who may not even know how much fun it can be!

815Agency: www.815agency.com

The 815 Agency seeks to explore architecture, playfulness and the city.  Their current interests include abandoned spaces, urban infrastructures, high streets, narrative, ritual, spectacle, collectivity and play. The agency was set up in 2010 by Nicola Read, who completed her architecture training of University of Cambridge and London Met and currently teaches at Kingston University. She has worked with Hopkins Architects,and on the Saemangeum Island City project featured at the 2010 Venice Architecture Biennial.

The Basement: www.thebasement.uk.com

Home Live Art is delighted to be hosting a programme of performance art specially curated by Brighton’s own live art venue The Basement, ‘where edgy and interesting stuff goes on in Brighton’ (Polly Toynbee – The Guardian)

Expect an invasion of angels and devils in disguise from The Basement’s Heaven and Hell orientated Supper Club event. All saints and sinners welcome.

Victoria Melody: www.victoriamelody.co.uk

Visit Victoria Melody’s alter ego persona Vector Victoria, creating objects and inventions from the future.

Victoria is a performer, filmmaker and curator, showcasing Nationally and Internationally including Artsway, New Forest; Centre for Contemporary Art, Russia; Study Gallery, Poole and Arts Claims Impulse Gallery, Berlin. Victoria has performed, curated and worked with Station House Opera, Billy Cowie and ‘Supper Club’, The Basement, Brighton.

Made in China: www.madeinchinatheatre.com

With their “Moronic Food Olympics” Made in China challenge the audience to a series of madcap food games inspired by traditions from around the world.

Made in China is the collaborative work of Tim Cowbury (writer and deviser) and Jess Latowicki (performer and deviser). They make visceral shows at the junction of playwriting and live art. their work is physical, excessive, playful and destructive. Each show makes its own rules. They are drawn to great stories but like to disrupt them during the devising process challenging themselves to down a pint, play musical chairs, have an arm wrestle.

Their work has been seen across the Uk and internationally at venues including: The ICA, Shunt Lounge, RIverside studios, The Junction, Warwick Arts Centre, Latitude Festival.

Tom Marshman: http://tommarshman.blogspot.com/

Tom Marshman invites you to take tea and together you will decipher your fortune through  reading the leaves.

Tom Marshman is a live artist and associate of both the Arnolfini (Bristol) and Chisenhale Dance Space (London) and also currently Artist in Residence at the ICIA Bath. Tom actively encourages a dialogue with his audiences and participants aiming to create a safe space to share their thoughts and experiences. The results give very evocative and authentic glimpses into the everyday. To date the purpose of his work has been to address issues that are often considered as mundane or commonplace. His work celebrates everyday domestic objects exploring what is often taken for granted. He has a particular English eccentric sensibility placing himself within the frame allowing a responsibly and clear ownership over the content. With a great attention to detail the visual aesthetic with which he works mixes minimalism with charity shop kitsch.

Ragroof Theatre: www.ragrooftheatre.co.uk/

Ragroof create work for outdoor or unusual spaces, taking inspiration from the sites in which they perform. They bring their work to the heart of the community; high streets, social centres, boxing clubs, dance halls and schools. They are a collective of individual artists with a dazzling array of skills in dance, physical theatre, visual art, written word and curation. They tour all four corners of the UK as well as working internationally, traveling with their theatre, performance and happenings that celebrate, explore and create community. They explore specific subjects and communities. It is the human experience and the people’s stories that are at the heart of their work. Ragroof will be running a small version of their tea dance the Alternative Village Fete.

Baby Warhol – Chris Cresswell  www.voodoovaudeville.com

Baby Warhol is an oracle for the new age, a guru with no message, just a coruscating wit and a waspish sense of logic, floating in a frame he appears out of the void to answer questions from the audience covering the personal, the philosophical and the improper.

“A real show stealer, Baby Warhol is one of the most inventive comedy acts I’ve seen in years. I would never have believed a puppet could make me laugh so hard”. ..Edinburgh Guide

Anna Hunt: www.stirringtheswarm.tumbir.com

Stirring the swarm is a site specific exhibition commissioned by Nottingham Castle, taking the form of a ceramic installation that tells a deliciously dark tale concerning an ancient dormant collection of taxidermy beetles and moths from the natural history collections of Wollaton Hall. The artist has been working on this body of work for 7 months. Audiences can create beetles of their own to take home as long as they also add another creation to the swarm.

Anna specialises in contemporary fine craft ceramics. She has won several prizes for her unique work, notably a Solo Exhibition prize at the Nottingham Castle Annual Open exhibition.  After the show The Swarm will travel to infest other venues.

FitBitch Boot Camp www.fitbitchbootcamp.com

Have you been FitBitched? FitBitch Boot Camp is  the ground breaking outdoor fitness concept for women. This unique fitness camp uses everything from boxing to kettle bells, and slides to SpaceHoppers for work outs which transform your body, fitness and much more besides. With camps in Queen’s Park, Hove Park and Brighton seafront.

A unique opportunity at the Alternative Village Fete, for both men and women to test out their Fitbitchness. Join the underground FitBitch Revolution!

Copper Dollar  www.copperdollar.co.uk

As a midnight ritual, a troupe of ghostly dancers and a beautiful Day of The Dead puppet will glide into the space performing a ritual dance that involves the audience. The dance will reach a climax and then will fade away, returning the Alternative Village Fete to the way it was. The otherwordly group will parade around the site before and after the dance.

Copperdollar is an Immersive Theatre Company. Inspired thematically by many festivals of the dead from around the world that honor a close proximity to the afterlife. This vibrant community of artists creates joyous celebration of interactive theatre and dance, collapsing the wall that separates performer and audience.

Live Love Hoop  www.livelovehoop.com

Come show off your hooping skills, pick up some new tricks or learn the basics with Jo Mondy of LiveLoveHoop who will be hosting a hoop jam and also dazzling audiences with her hoop performances at the Alternative Village Fete. Jo is a hula hoop performer and teacher based in Brighton. Find out more about her adult hoop classes, kid’s birthday parties and hooping hen’s parties at www.livelovehoop.com

Boogaloo Stu’s – Pop Magic  www.boogaloostu.com

Devised and hosted by part-time pop star and full time showbiz devotee Boogaloo Stu, Pop Magic is a brand new theatre show which combines cabaret, pop music and audience participation to create a fresh genre of work that is essentially ‘reality theatre’.

During the Pop Magic show an original pop song, dance routine and video is created from scratch in an hour. The audience is given the opportunity to collectively write produce and release a storming pop single. Along the way, pop mentor Boogaloo Stu also reveals the highs and lows of his own popstar trajectory.

Lone Twin – Gutter Racing with The Boat Project  www.theboatproject.com

Design your boat – build your boat – race your boat!

Come along to The Boat Project, come alone, as a team, a family, a tribe and get racing in this uniquely barmy water sport. We provide the materials, you provide the wind and off  we go. No sailing experience required!

This is a great opportunity to get to know The Boat Project: as people all over the world gather to celebrate the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, a remarkable boat will set sail on its maiden voyage. The boat will be made from the lives and memories of thousands of people from across the South East.  Come and meet the team behind this fantastic project and get a taste of racing on the high seas without stepping off dry land.

Racing timetable: 7pm – Session One, 9pm – Session Two, 10pm – Grand Final

The winners of sessions one and two will meet in the grand final for the chance to win a mystery prize. Let’s get racing!

The Boat Project is part of Artists Taking the Lead, a series of 12 public art commissions across the UK to celebrate the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad. The Boat Project is the winning commission for the South East region and is funded by Arts Council England.

The Forest of Thoughts and Brighton Science Festival www.forestofthoughts.co.uk  www.brightonscience.com

The Forest of Thoughts is an organisation encouraging arts and science collaborations and events. Founder, Emily Dubberley, joins Brighton Science Festival creator, Richard Robinson, to offer Alternative Village Fete visitors the chance to turn their tat into treasure and create experiments out of everyday objects, drawing inspiration from the worlds of art and science alike.

Forest of Thoughts

Bring along old toys, playing cards, charms, broken jewellery and scraps of cloth to create brooches and rings, alternative applique and artistic wonders. If you don’t have your own craft box, everything you need to make your own jewellery and frivolities will be available to buy at pocket money prices, including some special vintage treats. Set your inner artist free and learn skills that will help you make christmas presents to cherish. Short on creative inspiration? Step into the Forest of Thoughts and we’ll guide you along the way. Suitable for all abilities from beginner to superstar. Children must be supervised. No under eights.

Snoopers attic – Vintage Emporium

Come and play dressing up with Snoopers Attic. Transporting their beautiful shop space to the Alternative Village Fete visitors can browse vintage, hand made and unique items of clothing, jewellery and accessories, or try out their craft making and sewing skills.

Snoopers Attic can be found on Kensington Gardens above the legendary Snoopers Paradise. They have a unique range of items: re-made vintage jewellery by Future Folklore, cocktail dresses by Sows Ear, unique dresses, skirts and accessories created from vintage/recycled materials by Hearts & Guns, feathered tiaras, jewellery and small sculptures by Circus Kinetica, and a wonderful range of mens and womens vintage clothing, all sourced in the U.K. Alterations are also available!

Dollydagger Boutique  www.dollydagger.co.uk

Dollydagger Boutique Brighton is a piece of retro history brought bang up to date.

A treasure trove of dresses and accessories, perfect for your inner starlet. Stocking the best in new vintage fashion, at Dollydagger you’ll find an eclectic mix of designer treats, collaborations and exclusives you won’t find anywhere else.

Looking to add a touch of vintage glamour to your look for the night? Seek out the Dolly Dagger team at The Alternative Village Fete for a makeover.

Metro Deco – www.metro-deco.com

With a chocolate fountain, sumptuous cakes and an array of gourmet hot and cold drinks, Metrodeco is serving up luxurious treats in the decadent style for which it has become known. Come and enjoy yourself with friends amid our lush vintage setting – perhaps sharing a pot of our speciality tea – while immersing yourself in the perfect night of exuberance and decadence. The night may just never end.

Brighton Belles WI – www.esfwi.org.uk

Brighton Belles present: A delicious Gothic Fairytale

If you go down to the woods tonight, you’re sure of a big surprise: Brighton Belles WI’s most decadent confections to date.

Wicked queens will bewitch you with the sugary treats of your dreams. If you don’t have sweet fang, our savoury baked goodies will creep under your skin.

And, don’t worry, the red stuff oozing from those scones is strawberry jam. Or is it?

Community Chef -  www.communitychef.org.uk

A Taste of Utopia

In my utopian world

There is more than enough food for everyone

The bulk of our food is produced locally by community supported enterprises

Our food heals rather than harms us

We know the people who baked our bread and we regularly share food with them

Fruit trees line the streets and children cook the curriculum

The community chef will be waxing lyrical about this unfolding utopia while cooking harvest inspired dishes made with local, foraged and ethically sourced dishes – cooked in real time and served as sexy canapés.

Louise McCurdy

Brighton eco-artist, Louise McCurdy makes artworks from found plastic pollution on Brighton beaches to highlight the devastating consequences to the sea and articulate issues of unsustainable consumption and waste. For AVF Louise will work with a team of 30 local children from Stanford Junior School to create giant eden-like fruits and tempting piñatas, from which will pour heavenly treats and messages of Utopian dreams. Pinata bashings at 8pm and midnight!

Tanja Gangar – Demon cupcakes!

If you dare…you know you want one, or lots! Brighton artist and fine cake maker Tanja Gangar has made dark, delicious, devilish cupcakes …. the devil is in the detail…and they are wicked!

Candy Queens – www.candyqueens.co.uk

Candy floss with a twist!

Candy Queens will be spinning glowing, fruit flavoured candy floss especially for White Night this year! Each candy floss is spun on a flashing LED light stick – once you have enjoyed your candy floss you can play light sabres afterwards.

Kate Magic/ Raw Living – www.rawliving.eu

Raw Living is Europe’s leading supplier of raw foods and superfoods. Come and try raw chocolate, cakes and their ‘Raw Loving’ smoothies, the ultimate aphrodisiac!

Warning: Eating this way will cause you to surrender to the divine love that flows through us all and take you on new paths of discovery and wonder.