This week sees not one but two Heavy Pencil (in association with the ICA) events – where some of London’s most in-demand illustrators draw live to a soundtrack provided by DJs and live acts…

First up is Heavy Pencil East – tonight (Wednesday March 10) at Catch, 22 Kingsland Road in Shoreditch – which will feature live drawing by Adrian Johnson, Al Murphy, Hannah Waldron and Charlie Duck, who will all put pen paper to a soundtrack provided by two bands - Three Beards and illustrator Andrew Rae’s musical combo, The Marmosets – not to mention a DJ set by yours truly: G the P!

All the illustrations created during the course of the event will be stuck up on the walls and offered for sale at the end of the night. Details on Facebook and also on the poster designed by Rae (shown above).

Then, on Thursday night (March 11), at the Institute of Contemporary Arts in central London, Heavy Pencil is taking place alongside the Birds Eye View film festival’s closing party. In keeping with that party’s theme of femmes fatales, Heavy Pencil has enlisted the talents of set design and art direction duo, Anna Lomax and Lauren Davies of Jiggery Pokery, who will be doing the live drawing while music is provided by Iain Woods, aka Psychologist. Here’s the flyer:

More info at jiggerypokery.blogspot

I originally posted this on the Creative Review blog

Bob Callaway and The Chicks - Native

Great bongo-fuelled titty-shaker from 1959 with a Western soundtrack vibe – something to do with the brass arrangement. If you want a copy of the 45 though, you might have to part with big bucks. As I type this post there’s a VG copy on eBay - priced at a whopping $1500: http://cgi.ebay.com/BOB-CALLAWAY.

Apparently, the seller is offering free shipping!

Renowned photographer, friend, and fellow Shing-A-Ling DJ, Dean Chalkley’s current exhibition, The New Faces, is running until 29 April at The Book Club on Leonard Street in London…

The New Faces is a collection of images Chalkley took late last year of a group of young Mods who he first encountered at his monthly DJ night, Shake!, at The Boogaloo pub in Highgate. Intrigued by their sharp dressing and enviable dancing skills, Chalkley suggested he immortalise their look and attitude on celluloid and invited them to come to a studio shoot. “These guys are the antithesis of the all too common don’t-give-a-fuck attitude of some young adults,” explains Chalkley. “They’re bright young folk who take a real pride in how they present themselves and they’re really into their music - mainly late 50s and early 60s rhythm and blues. They’re actually from varied backgrounds and different parts of the country – but their shared passion for music, dancing and looking sharp brings them together. And you should see them dance!”

To see a super selection of images from the show - check out the preview I posted on Creative Review’s blog yesterday by clicking here.

The New Faces runs until 29 April at The Book Club, 100 Leonard Street, London EC2A 4RH

See more of Dean Chalkley’s work at deanchalkley.com

Al Simmons, Slim Green and The Cats From Fresno - Old Folks Boogie

I first heard this killer blues number on a tape made by the late great Roger Eagle for my good pal “Boogaloo” Bill Sykes. Damn those tapes Roger did were good - massive thanks, Bill, for sharing some with me. Anyhoo, the label that this is on, Dig, was set up and run by Johnny Otis (Get Involved hero of the highest order) in the mid 50s and this is one of the later (and best known) releases on the label. It’s from 1957 and is the flip-side of Sid Maiden’s Hand Me Down Baby. Shit, it’s good…

Tennessee Ernie Ford - Blackberry Boogie

I recently acquired this 1952 ditty by Tennesse Ernie (Ford) and only heard it for the first time when I put the needle on the record. I don’t like it quite as much as Ford’s previous (1950) track, Shotgun Boogie - or his brilliant Sixteen Tons from 1955 - but this is still pretty good. Lyrically, it’s about going blackberry picking with a girlfriend - with a whole lotta making out thrown into the bargain. There’s even the suggestion of baking a pie - which is, as far as I’m concerned, always a great idea - whether literal or (as it is in this case) loaded with inuendo. And doesn’t it look fetching in its company sleeve?