Free and Cheap things to do in April
April has arrived, bringing with it plenty of free and cheap events to keep us all busy. If you like female fronted acts, neo-burlesque, plus- sized talent, comedy game shows, the noble art of boxing, masked balls, gravity defying acrobatics, food, the vagina monologues, and not spending much money… then your going to love April. Here’s our highlights! (Photo: Hendrik Jelen)
__________________________________________________________________________________________
FemRock– Green Door Store
FemRock is a queer feminist event in Brighton that showcases Brighton’s best female fronted performers in live music, spoken word and comedy. This night is about female representation in music and performance, raising money for charity and promoting local artists. Femrock welcomes and encourages people of all genders to come to the event!
Tues 1st April
7pm-10pm – £4
_________________________________________________________________________________
V-Day Presents The Vagina Monologues – University of Sussex
V-Day Sussex proudly presents Eve Ensler’s, The Vagina Monologues. Ensler blends humour, pain and wisdom in her frank conversations with women, first performed in 1996. Since then the monologues have risen to global acclaim and in response Ensler founded V-day. V-Day, a global activist movement, seeks to end violence against women through creative theatre and art.
Thurs April 3rd
6.30pm – £7
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Hove Book Festival
The inaugural Hove Book Festival, founded and curated by bestselling author, Dorothy Koomson will run from Thursday 3rd April to Saturday 5th April 2014. Created to celebrate great storytelling for all ages, the launch line-up includes authors Lynne Truss, Alexandra Heminsley, Bethan Roberts, Araminta Hall, Simon Toyne and Eleanor Moran.
Various venues and dates in April
Free and Cheap!
_________________________________________________________________________________
Sugarkicks – Latest Music Bar
Sugarkicks invites you to the exclusive launch of Brighton’s latest neo burlesque night! Brighton performer Sugar Shane welcomes you to a brand new, fun and sexy stage show bought to you by the most creative, quirky, sexy and entertaining performers Brighton has to offer.
Fri 4th April
10pm, £7
_________________________________________________________________________________
Hamburger Queen – Marlborough Theatre
Scottee welcomes you back for a forth and final, super sized helping of his infamous talent show for fat people Hamburger Queen! Over three heats and a grand finale, a gang of plus size punters will be whittled down in a game show designed to find the perfect fatso. This years head judge is international plus size model and ‘British bombshell’ (Vogue) Felicity Haywar. Who will become the final Hamburger Queen?
Fri April 4th
8pm, £8.50
_________________________________________________________________________________
Molotov Jukebox – The Old Market
If you haven’t heard of Molotov Jukebox, you’ve really not been getting out enough. They are a relentlessly fiery London-based 6-piece with a large home grown following and a rapidly expanding international fanbase, having played to packed crowds at festivals across Europe and the UK and whilst on tour in Brazil. Here’s our Preview of Molotov Jukebox
Sun April 6
7.30pm, £10
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Damien Clark and Pete Johansson: Work in Progress – Upstairs at Three and Ten
Pete Johansson: Imagine that God and Super God drank a magic potion to create an even more amazing baby than each of them individually, that offspring would kneel at the crumbs tossed aside by Pete Johansson. “Supremely Entertaining” The Independent
Damian Clark: Standing on the cusp of stardom, Damian Clark explodes onto stage with his new hour of high-octane observational stand up. “A relentless onslaught of crippling laughs” – The Skinny
Tuesday 8th
April 8pm, £5
_________________________________________________________________________________
Departure from Normal– Concorde 2
Up and coming Brit-pop band Departure From Normal hail from Brighton and have already been making waves, supporting major artists such as Tinchy Stryder amongst others, and playing a headline show at Concorde2 in 2013. They have recently been gaining considerable radio airplay from popular names, which include Radio 1′s Huw Stephens, who named them Radio 1′s unsigned band of the week.
Thurs April 10
7pm – 10.30pm, £7
_________________________________________________________________________________
Universal Genius – Komedia
The cult comedy game show pits two top comedians against each other for your amusement. Join host Mark Allen and his “glamorous” assistant Eli Silverman as they put the contestants through their paces in subjects such as art, science, poetry, etiquette, wit, anthropology, literature, languages, maths and hunting “A brilliant concept hilariously executed” Latest 7
Thursday 10th April
8pm – £9, £7 Conc, £5 NUS 16 +
_________________________________________________________________________________
Boxe Boxe with live music from the Varèse String Quartet – Brighton Dome
Strength meets elegance in Compagnie Käfig’s spirited jumble of hip-hop and fisticuffs, in which eight exceptional performers fuse dance and the noble art of boxing. Boxe Boxe draws on the theatricality of the boxing ring. Gloves morph into puppets. Punch balls explode like balloons. All set to live music by Schubert, Ravel, Philip Glass and Glenn Miller, performed by an on stage string quartet.
Thurs April 17
7:30 pm, £10
_________________________________________________________________________________
Masquerade– Proud Cabaret
Adorn yourself in your finest gown and find yourself a vintage mask to cover your eyes and hide your identity from the other naughty suitors. Escape the bustling streets of Brighton and whisk yourself away in the ballroom where passion, glamour and illicit behavior meet. Unrivalled burlesque and some fiery behaviour await you…
Fri April 18th
7pm, £10
_________________________________________________________________________________
‘Signs of Light’ – ink’d Gallery
Signs of Light brings together a dazzling collection of artists working in neon and light. On show will be light boxes and neon galore. Plus an amazing exclusive edition of neon letters by Andy Doig that will only be availabe for the duration of the show.
Sat. 19th April
10am – 6pm – Free
_________________________________________________________________________________
Brighton & Hove Food and Drink Festival – Various Venues
Spring has sprung, and the twice annual Brighton & Hove Food and Drink Festival is dishing up it’s Spring Harvest! Now entering its 13th year, the festival is dedicated to celebrating great local produce, and supports local food and hospitality as it brings free and cheap food and drink to Brighton this April.
Wed 16th – Sun 27th April
Free and cheap!
_________________________________________________________________________________
* Header image by Hendrik Jelen.
