Pop Brixton (formerly Grow Brixton) Pope's Road development

[editor]

If anyone wants actually authentic reggae nights - the kind of thing put on for the local community and not trendy, pork guzzling tourists - they can be found all over Brixton. Hootananny, for example. has been putting on reggae nights - often several times a week - for years on end.

 

[Nanker Phelge]

I don't think they are overlooking local talent. A good few locals DJs have played there, including some prominent faces from Reclaim Brixton...

 

[editor]

Are Pop the only venue in Brixton "overlooking" local talent and booking artists from outside the area? Are they supposed to use people from the local community at 100% of events hosted at the place? And if not, is it such a terrible offence that they have on this occasion? Or just another go at trying to have a go at them at every single possible opportunity, not matter how straw-clutching it can be (notice the finger of blame swiftly being pointed elsewhere as soon as the 'insensitive food' argument was countered)?

Wouldn't it be amazing if they put on some events for the actual community located outside their door? Probably too edgy, though. Thank heavens for the tens and tens of thousands of pounds spent on security!

 

[Lead Belly]

Are Pop the only venue in Brixton "overlooking" local talent and booking artists from outside the area? Are they supposed to use people from the local community at 100% of events hosted at the place? And if not, is it such a terrible offence that they have on this occasion? Or just another go at trying to have a go at them at every single possible opportunity, not matter how straw-clutching it can be (notice the finger of blame swiftly being pointed elsewhere as soon as the 'insensitive food' argument was countered)?

I was acknowledging the alcohol analogy as tbh I hadn't considered it when I posted and it just about holds up. The point I was making though is that a lot of Jamaican people, rasta or not, don't eat pork so to me the concept is clumsy. Clumsy could also apply to numerous other Pop projects over the last year though imo that would be putting it very nicely.
If they removed the mention of community from any of their marketing and paid for the land then they can book whoever and put on whatever events they want however as a community project they should be open to scrutiny as they are in this thread. Despite a smattering of local acts asked to perform this is clearly not a community event and to my mind is aimed squarely at one specific demographic while paying no heed whatsoever to the very long established reggae community in the area.

 

[T & P]

Wouldn't it be amazing if they put on some events for the actual community located outside their door?

Do they not? Ever?

 

[elmpp]

You've got to be seriously jaded to think about roast is trendy

Sent from my D6603 using Tapatalk

 

[editor]

Do they not? Ever?

Can't say I've ever seen anything aimed at the community that can be found directly outside their door. Perhaps you could furnish me with the details all such events they have put on?

 

[editor]

You've got to be seriously jaded to think about roast is trendy

Most regular street stalls don't get written about in Esquire Magazine, neither do its owners get labelled as the "Beautiful Bastians of Pork," neither do they appear in 'trendspotting' websites like Cool Hunting Magazine and Cooler Lifestyle Magazine so yes, I'd call that trendy.

PS Please fix that sig.

 

[T & P]

Can't say I've ever seen anything aimed at the community that can be found directly outside their door. Perhaps you could furnish me with all the events they have put on?

I must have looked at their website about three times so I'm not particularly versed in their event history, but just by going by what have been posted in here alone, there have been a good number of free and low-cost events ranging from egg hunts, sport activities and other such gigs for kids and families, to live music for grown ups.

I'm not entirely sure why you'd think the local community would be excluded from such events?

 

[editor]

I must have looked at their website about three times so I'm not particularly versed in their event history, but just by going by what have been posted in here alone, there have been a good number of free and low-cost events ranging from egg hunts, sport activities and other such gigs for kids and families, to live music for grown ups.

I'm not entirely sure why you'd think the local community would be excluded from such events?

I'm obviously talking about music events, not egg hunts. Do you even know what the community that spends time in Brixton Station Road looks like? Try taking a walk along that stretch from Brixton Road to Pop - any time of day - and then go into Pop and see if you can spot the difference.

Mind you, I don't expect they'll be there for long anyway seeing as the entire stretch is being 'redeveloped', with that particular community pushed out to make way for Planet Vibrant.

 

[T & P]

I'm obviously talking about music events, not egg hunts. Do you even know what the community that spends time in Brixton Station Road looks like? Try taking a walk along that stretch from Brixton Road to Pop - any time of day - and then go into Pop and see if you can spot the difference.

Mind you, I don't expect they'll be there for long seeing as the entire stretch is being 'redeveloped' (gentrified), with that community pushed out to make way for Planet Vibrant.

I don't possess the powers to know the musical tastes of people just by looking at them, and I'd be amazed if anyone does. Nor that it is inconceivable that folks might like more than one type of music.

At this point I bow out because such line of argument can only get sillier and sillier.

 

[editor]

I don't possess the powers to know the musical tastes of people just by looking at them, and I'd be amazed if anyone does. Nor that it is inconceivable that folks might like more than one type of music.

At this point I bow out because such line of argument can only get sillier and sillier.

You really can't spot the obvious general difference in the demographic from those people directly outside Pop Brixton and those grazing inside? Unbelievable.

 

[SpamMisery]

Frock Swap

Saturday 8th October | 12:00 - 17:00

Bring any unwanted clothes and swap them for new ones! (Donations of clothes can be collected in advance if you can't attend on the day).

In aid of the Baytree Women's Centre, Brixton

 

[CH1]

Is this a free Pop Up to raise money for RNLI? Or is it on a par with chuggers who haunt Brixton tube station and the Butterfly precinct at Camberwell - on commission?

A pop-up sea water bar is coming to Brixton

 

[discobastard]

Is this a free Pop Up to raise money for RNLI? Or is it on a par with chuggers who haunt Brixton tube station and the Butterfly precinct at Camberwell - on commission?

A pop-up sea water bar is coming to Brixton

It's a PR exercise for a charity to boost fundraising and to raise awareness of the dangers of open water (admittedly to a bunch of people who aren't that near any open water).

ETA: though exposure to a lot of people who may well be tempted to do the H20 fundraising challenge. And that can only be a good thing.

 

[Nanker Phelge]

So I popped down to Pop yesterday for the Reggae all dayer thing. I'll admit I was really looking forward to the Hog Roast. Sadly there was no Hog Roast. It was just the DJs. They played alright.

The weather was poor, so I'll accept that this did dampen the atmosphere, but that aside, it was desperately soulless. If I had to find any positives it was that the record shop was nicely stocked and the prices mostly incredibly low (some items they felt were rarities where ridiculously over-priced) and there was a good amount of greenery; some lovely plants and fruit and veg growing healthily among the shipping container blandscape.

I was deeply saddened to look down upon Pop Fields, down upon the space that was The Canterbury Arms, down upon the space where we would set up decks, where the dance floor used to be, and the back bar and the toilets etc. It was just dead. It lacked character. It was deathly dull.

As for the overall offering, I suppose there is a nice choice of food and drink, and it isn't as outrageously priced as some might suggest. That said, those working there seemed to have zero passion or care or interest in being there. Everyone from the guy in the record shop to the security and those cooking and selling the food seemed to be miserable as sin. I thought the idea of a 'pop up' was that it was fresh and exciting and that all these 'foodie' ideas were supposed to be delivered with vim and vigour, not with all the enthusiasm of a toilet cleaner on a Monday morning after a weekend festival.

We ventured upstairs and I can honestly say that I have never felt so alienated by a crowd in Brixton ever. It was like stepping into another world. A world of privilege and wealth. My GF was the only person of colour in the whole venue that wasn't serving white people food and drink, and I was really uncomfortable with the overall atmosphere of consumption and greed. It was messy and dirty and people were just discarding litter, and generally rude and ignorant. They pushed by us, or through us, to get from place to place, and generally had utter disregard for anything but their own needs.

I didn't want to feel like that, but it I did and it was really quite unattractive.

On Friday night after I finished DJing I was confronted and abused by two young men on the bus. They were cross at me for being white, for being in Brixton and gentrifying their area. While they were a right pair of twats, I kinda got their attitude after wandering around pop. I could see that I looked like the enemy. I think it was clear to them quite quickly that I wasn't scared of them, and being called a 'rich batty' wasn't gonna make me run away, but I walked away feeling more empathy for them than any one of the entitled folk spending time at Pop on Saturday afternoon.

I gave it a shot, and I've tried to remain as balanced as I can about it, but if I am honest, it's really quite a horrid space populated, when I was there, by shallow and ignorant people.

 

[Gramsci]

It's a PR exercise for a charity to boost fundraising and to raise awareness of the dangers of open water (admittedly to a bunch of people who aren't that near any open water).

ETA: though exposure to a lot of people who may well be tempted to do the H20 fundraising challenge. And that can only be a good thing.

RNLI have rescue boats for the Thames. Surprisingly its one of the busiest RNLI areas. As someone who comes from a seaport I usually give a bit of money to the RNLI when I see them out asking for donations in London.

There is a lifeboat station next to Waterloo bridge. As this article says its not something most Londoners notice.In a seaport, like I originally come from, the RNLI lifeboat and the volunteers who man them have a higher profile and prestige.

How many of the thousands of people lining the embankments who witness our progress downstream knew there were lifeboats on the Thames in London – and have been since 2002? The answer is probably very few. According to a YouGov poll conducted in 2012 only 16 per cent of Londoners were aware that the RNLI, which celebrates its 190th birthday this year, operates a search and rescue service on the river through the capital. It is a disappointing finding for a charity that uses a largely volunteer workforce and receives not a penny from central or local government, relying almost exclusively on public donations and legacies

 

[Nanker Phelge]

It kinda sums up the clientele when they have to be asked not to piss in a planter.....which isn't even in a discreet, out the way space....

 

[CH1]

those working there seemed to have zero passion or care or interest in being there

and zero hours contracts?

Sorry about the trouble on the bus.

 

[Nanker Phelge]

Sadly, the bus incident was the first of its kind I have experienced in 25 years of Brixton living. I hope to go another 25 before it happens again...

 

[editor]

We ventured upstairs and I can honestly say that I have never felt so alienated by a crowd in Brixton ever. It was like stepping into another world. A world of privilege and wealth. My GF was the only person of colour in the whole venue that wasn't serving white people food and drink, and I was really uncomfortable with the overall atmosphere of consumption and greed. It was messy and dirty and people were just discarding litter, and generally rude and ignorant. They pushed by us, or through us, to get from place to place, and generally had utter disregard for anything but their own needs.

I didn't want to feel like that, but it I did and it was really quite unattractive.

I've tried giving the place a go many times and I've found the same thing every time. It's just a soulless palace of consumption for the haves, with precious little real connection to the area it sits in. It could be anywhere. That would normally be fine, but this is supposed to be a community focused venture that has been gifted to Pop Brixton rent free.

 

[Ergo Proxy]

On Friday night after I finished DJing I was confronted and abused by two young men on the bus. They were cross at me for being white, for being in Brixton and gentrifying their area. While they were a right pair of twats, I kinda got their attitude after wandering around pop. I could see that I looked like the enemy. I think it was clear to them quite quickly that I wasn't scared of them, and being called a 'rich batty' wasn't gonna make me run away, but I walked away feeling more empathy for them than any one of the entitled folk spending time at Pop on Saturday afternoon.

WTF is this shit?

You feel empathy for people trying to see if you''re week/scared of them so that they can rob you?

Seriously?

 

[Nanker Phelge]

How it went from some angry young men sounding off on a packed night bus to people trying to rob me is beyond me.

Please expand?

 

[T & P]

I hadn't noticed your post until it got quoted above, Nanker Phelge , but I'm a bit surprised at it tbh. You generally come across as a fairly balanced poster, and I would not expect you being sympathetic in any measure to the attitude you describe. I'm not talking about hostility towards gentrification, and not even towards Pop. But the prejudice towards those who visit, or indeed towards anyone who just 'looks wrong' it is well dodgy IMO.

I happened to briefly visit Pop on Saturday at lunchtime. I didn't think much of it or its atmosphere as it happens, but I did pay a bit of attention to the patrons (something I would never normally do) with this thread in mind. All I saw was normal human beings. Some races and fashion styles were certainly more prominent than others, but that was about it. The patrons I saw were about as guilty of the social ills affecting Brixton and society as a whole as my cats, and condoning any kind of hostility or finger pointing towards anyone because of their looks is an unhealthy attitude.

 

[Nanker Phelge]

That's how I felt. That's what I experienced. You don't have to like it or agree.

I tried to find some positives. I just really struggled.

 

[Gramsci]

I hadn't noticed your post until it got quoted above, Nanker Phelge , but I'm a bit surprised at it tbh. You generally come across as a fairly balanced poster, and I would not expect you being sympathetic in any measure to the attitude you describe. I'm not talking about hostility towards gentrification, and not even towards Pop. But the prejudice towards those who visit, or indeed towards anyone who just 'looks wrong' it is well dodgy IMO.

I happened to briefly visit Pop on Saturday at lunchtime. I didn't think much of it or its atmosphere as it happens, but I did pay a bit of attention to the patrons (something I would never normally do) with this thread in mind. All I saw was normal human beings. Some races and fashion styles were certainly more prominent than others, but that was about it. The patrons I saw were about as guilty of the social ills affecting Brixton and society as a whole as my cats, and condoning any kind of hostility or finger pointing towards anyone because of their looks is an unhealthy attitude.

From what I have seen of Nanker Phelge on this forum he is a balanced poster. He makes up his own mind on issues here. Now he has done a post that surprises you. Thats because he is independent minded. The impression I got from his post is that he would have rather have had a more positive evening there. He was not going there to look for faults.

It was a considered and well written post of his experience of an evening at Pop. Its not how you see Pop. If you don’t agree with it that’s up to you.

 

[Nanker Phelge]

Perhaps I'm just not one of the 'normal human beings'?

 

[Lucy Fur]

Perhaps I'm just not one of the 'normal human beings'?

Who wants to be 'normal'

 

[Nanker Phelge]

I don't know who that is?

 

[Lucy Fur]

I don't know who that is?

Owen Smith, tosser thats standing againt Corbyn, recently declared he was 'just a normal'.