‘Basics’, a series of music and poetry nights in Brighton took place in a mysterious little nook up the stairs inside The Quadrant pub are The Folklore Rooms – a cosy, intimate setting with dimmed yet colourful lights arranged for performances that can thoroughly engage an audience. The first event on the 29th of March delivered powerful words and rhythmic tunes and had a terrific line-up with more nights to come in the near future.
Basics Volume 1 In Brighton – Live Music & Poetry: The Performers
First up, there was Diomede who with her acoustic guitar and soulful voice delivered an enchanting start to the night. Her music created a comforting atmosphere for the audience to settle in.
Next was Anna Margarita from London, a spoken word poet who performed her poetry that ranged from themes of heartbreak to new love to her Greek cultural heritage. The poems were extremely well-written and she gave us a powerful performance for each of them. Not only did she get quite a few laughs out of the audience but also moved them to a certain degree of relatability.
Arjun Nala was the third act and he re-energised the ambience with indie rock music. He was accompanied by his electric guitar which added a different flavour to the mix. His lyricism and vocal range shone through in songs like ‘Paper Kites’.
Fourth was Jed, a poet and rapper, accompanied by his talented band composed of keys, vocals, guitar, bass and drums. His unorthodox representation of the British youth scene came through in his imagery of pints, pubs and pricks. Jed has also previously performed at Sofar Sounds in Brighton.
The last and headliner act was Brighton-based rapper Kavzad, who has already made quite a name for himself in the scene. He made a dramatic entry like a pro but did not hold back on humility when it came to filling in the silences between performances. He was perfect as a closing act as he made the crowd participate, even invoking a demand for an extra song.
I have to add that it was not simply the performers and organising but the venue that equally contributed to the overall vibe. The candles and decor sparked a mystical vibe and the bar downstairs makes it convenient to grab a drink to enjoy with the show.
The organisers also made sure to time the show well enough to provide sufficient breaks for the audience to refresh themselves. I look forward to more events from Basics.
Find out about future events: https://www.instagram.com/basics.agb/?hl=en
