Online artists’ talks, book clubs & drumming workshops
Artwork by Lee Maelzer
Through January, February and March, we're hosting Grow Change, our annual event celebrating community, skill sharing and connecting. Our vision for this online series is to (re)connect our communities who previously might have to come to Grow to meet friends and/or new people to share & learn in a relaxed way.
Artist Talks
We’re very excited to have local artists sharing insights into their practice and participating in an online Q&A. First up is painter Lee Maelzer on Monday 1 February. The talks will be at 7pm and can be joined by the zoom link in the events or watched on our livestream. Following Lee in the series we have Gina Southgate, Painter (08/02/21), Dan Coombs, Painter (16/02/21), Emily Hana, Painter (23/02/21), Hannah Jane Smith, Printmaker (02/03/21), RUN, Street Artist/Muralist (09/03/21) and Walking Artist/Hackney Tours founder, Simon Cole (date TBC)
Techno Talk
On Monday 22 February we have Techno Talk with authors Julia Bell and David Stubbs discussing their experience of electronic music relating to their essays and books 'Really Techno' (Julia Bell) and 'Mars By 1980' (David Stubbs).
'If You Only Read One Book’ Book Club
Artists, makers and activists host a session where they share their 'essential' book and also give insights into their own working practice and how the book relates to this. We kick off with seamstress Rachel Johnson sharing a book on Craft (08/02/21), followed by writer & poet Sarah Kärpänen on Feminism (12/02/21) and artists Sadie Murdoch on Contemporary art (01/03/21).
Drumming Masterclass
If you are curious about African drumming or want to further your horizons on your drumming journey, Abass Dodoo (Ginger Baker's Percussionist) is here to take on a trip through the history of African drumming whilst showing some classic rhythms and sequences as well as answering your questions. He will end the session with an exclusive performance.
Find the events on our Facebook page, events section and sign up to our newsletter and we'll keep you updated as they’re announced.
Let's stay connected in 2021!
This cultural activity is supported by the Governments Cultural Recovery Fund, administered by the Arts Council England.
Also, don't forget we've got hours of amazing online content for you to enjoy from the 2020 'Grow at Home' series (see list below!)
Hackney Tours in the Wick
Champions of Hackney’s culture and goldmine of local knowledge began a whistlestop tour at Grow, packed with fun facts and insights into one of Europe’s most creative areas.
Hot Dog Grrrl and The Sesame Buns Live
Riotous grrrl power garage punk heroes launched their latest album with a live show and Q&A with an online audience.
Drumming Masterclass with Williams Cumberbatch
An interactive session where online participants honed their skills with a master conga player, enjoyed a potted history of the instrument and a live meditative freestyle showcase.
Fear Of Fluffing Live with Mai Nguyen Tri
Experimental psychoactive jam band played live, using traditional, circuit bent and improvised instruments, with tailor made props and costumes for the event and performance artist Mai Nguyen Tri performed a collaborative Bhutu dance.
RUN - live painting with interactive Q&A
Grow artist in residence, the world acclaimed graffiti writer and muralist RUN, live painted a 3 metre wall with a brand new image, talked about his work and technique and answered questions in a live Q&A.
BIG WOWIE!
A wild night of comedy, with an outrageous line up of the UK’s most colourful comedians on multiple virtual stages, with sketches, improv and audience interaction.
Black Lives Matter – Being Black In Entertainment Past & Present
Hackney music legend, TV documentary maker and DJ Dominic Benjamin chaired an open panel discussion around inclusivity in the grass-roots music industry, with Gary Powell (Libertines drummer), Barbara Phillips (Original Kiss FM), Mickey D (Former A&R for Warner & EMI) followed up by a conscious DJ set.
‘Sense’
Young musical collaborators and composers collectively presented a live audio-visual stream of electronic consciousness, with a parallel spoken word and meditation event.
Dubhouse/Rainbow Sounds Reggae Session
The Dubhouse reggae selectors played the decks with full dub mixing and improvised live trumpet.
And What? LDN- Freestyle Alchemy
Eclectic hip hop collective hosted an interactive show where they improvised live open cypher and freestyle over beats made and provided by producers from the Grow community.
Wild Dial Live
Long standing and gloriously eclectic Hackney radio show hosted a mini music festival focusing on mental health, LGBTQ+ and BLM issues with special guests: Sarah Marie – soul/blues singer and psychiatric nurse, who has toured with Boney M; rapper XYM (Jonathan Wright) brought tracks from his new Blak Forest collaboration and spoke about BLM; LGBT+ punk from Music In Our Underpants; Juha performed a set of conscious and political rock/soul.
Stratos Live
A live stream of our weekly jazz jam hosted by guitarist Boris Latinov and Mercury Prize nominated double bass player, Rio Kai with special guest Don Pusey on saxophone and Jamie Murray on drums. Playing audience favourites and showcasing new compositions written in lockdown.
Hackney Herbal
Hackney Herbal shared their expertise in using herbs to support wellbeing over the colder months, with information about the properties of a range of medicinal herbs along with some simple ideas for making your own remedies. They are a Hackney Wick based social enterprise, run by volunteers and local residents, that specialises in creative projects that connect and inspire people about the extensive uses of herbs.