Wednesday 28 April 2010

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DUMMY AND P- ROCK!

So, we have an extra special weekend lined up for bank holiday. Celebrating two our favorite nights first birthdays. On friday we have DUMMY then Saturday we have P-ROCK!
Amazing, no?
So come down and celebrate with us plus saturday is on until 4am!

Friday 30th April

Dummy 1st Birthday...
Bringing you the finest acts and DJs.

Hudson Mohawke (LIVE)
Electronic genius.

Egyptian Hip Hop (LIVE)
Play melodic jams.

DJs
Fnord
Stopmakingme
Dollop
Dummy
playing House, Hip Hop, Disco and Techno

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=354972058467&ref=ts

£10 on the door or £7 advance from www.gigantic.com
8pm - 2am


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Saturday 1st May

P Rock 1 Year Birthday...
Celebrate our first Birthday wit us at The Macbeth.

Callum Reed (LIVE)
Callum will be belting out his Pop Punk classics.

special gust DJs
playing Pop Punk

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=106183672737510&ref=ts

free entry
8pm - 4am

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xxx

Tuesday 13 April 2010

Staff Profile

Brenda

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Nickname: B

Favourite Bar Snack: I eat SWEETS

Favourite Party Drink: Sailor Jerrys and coke

Who have you been most excited to see at the Macbeth?: Bo Ningen, their style and music was so good, I had to go see them again.

What do you love most about working at the Macbeth? : Its very down to earth and friendly, it's just not like other bars

If you could throw one massive theme night here, what would it be? : Bouncy Castles, trampolines, and everything else you would need for fun mayhem.

And finally...

Do you think Madonna is introducing her daughter Lourdes into the limelight at too early an age?: Fuck knows.

The Gallery Bar gets a face lift, interview with Mike Ballard

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For a long time now The Gallery Bar (first floor) has been not much more than a pathway to the smokers terrace, and a spot for Kirstie’s stalkers and fans to skulk. We decided that it was worth much more than this, and an opportunity was being missed. A makeover was due, but this wasn’t going to be some sub-changing rooms style lame lick of paint, no this is the Macbeth, and a makeover is a chance to try something new. So with this ethos in mind we decided to bring in the unparalleled talents of renowned graffiti writer and just artist in his own right Mike Ballard. With a free reign on the space he decided to create what could be described as The Macbeths own contemporary Sistine Chapel. It really is something to behold.

To celebrate the unveiling of The Gallery Bars rebirth, we held a private view of Mikes work and the work of Art Wars, with DJs Pierre Hangover (Real Gold), Ruby Doobey, and Mellé Modé and a free BBQ followed by an after party till 1am.

In between finishing a few last touches on the Gallery and tattooing a Storm Trooper we got to sit down with Mike for a minute and I ask him about the piece and himself.

The Macbeth: Hello there Mike, how are you today.

Mike Ballard: Good, busy finishing this storm trooper.

TM: OK let’s get started. What was the inspiration for the piece?

MB: Well first off, I haven’t used animals in my designs before, and I wanted to take it further than my last piece, create a new energy. Animals incorporated with space, galaxies, the cosmos. Then there is also lots of inspiration from Rubens drawings, pop art and the Mexican pavilion for the Olympics where they painted a whole room in parallel black and white lines. Bringing it all together.

TM: What other artists do you admire? That inspire your work?

MB: Well a lot of the 60s/70s comic book artists, a lot of graffiti writers, in fact the whole graffiti movement really and then more contemporary artists like Diann Bauer and Chris Ofili. Also all the classic renaissance, baroque period painters. With someone like Caravaggio its less that my work is influenced by him, more I admire his technique, his skill. I love how over-the-top the Baroque period was, how ornate. Lots of imagery going on at one moment.

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TM: So how did you get started?

MB: I started drawing from a young age, maybe 9 or 10, and then when I was about 12 I got really into heavy metal, and started drawing heavy metal band logos. Copying the album artwork of late 70s early 80s heavy metal bands like Black Sabbath, Judas Priest and White Snake, so from that I was already into drawing letters. Imitating the gothic styles of the logos and motifs. Then I was introduced to a book called Subway Art, which was a book on New York graffiti and saw that it was all about letters. These people with their own code names, and styles, so I decided not to draw anybody else’s artwork anymore and create my own fantasy alter ego, that I would paint everywhere.

TM: Apart from the Gallery Bar, you’ve done two other big installation pieces, covering the walls, ceilings and floors of expansive rooms like his all encompassing takeover of The Arts Gallery (University of the Arts). Do you prefer doing big pieces?

MB: To be honest it’s just one element of what I do. I like doing collage, which is very different because it’s using existing photographs and found footage, which I then make my own using digital imagery. I also like to make a lot of music, sound installation and video. I do love painting big though, like when painting graffiti, you’re not constrained to a piece of paper, there are less limitations.

TM: What is your position on public graffiti?

MB: The way I see it as long as pieces aren’t affecting individuals property, costing people money, like homes its fine. As far as I’m concerned the advertising industry and corporations has been imposing itself around the city, and cities all around the world for hundreds of years. Why should a company be able to push images on us when an individual can’t?

TM: Over the last decade street art has really entered the public conscience, becoming far more mainstream and maybe the idea of what it is has gotten a bit confused. You refer to yourself as a Graffiti writer, for those who wouldn’t know what is the difference?

MB: I come completely from the Graffiti world, when I started in 1986 this idea of what street art is wasn’t around. People were using stencils, it was a very punk thing at the time, but amongst the true graffiti writers fraternity, its completely seen as cheating. Its pre-planned. The defining difference is the culture that goes along with graffiti, free hand spray painted graffiti. It’s all about the letters, people might draw characters around the letters, but they are purely to attract attention.

The Gallery Bar is always open on the first floor of The Macbeth, 70 Hoxton St, be sure to come down and see it.

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Monday 12 April 2010

Manager Profile

Jo

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Nickname: Mama Jo (never big momma Jo, or you'll get a slap)

Favourite Bar Snack: Peanuts, unsalted

Favourite Party Drink: Tuaca shots, always

Who have you been most excited to see at the Macbeth?: When Mel DJs, and Metronomy were pretty good

What do you love most about working at the Macbeth?: Being able to see great live music for free

If you could throw one massive theme night here, what would it be? : A hot man wet tshirt night, with the Glee soundtrack playing in the background.

And finally...

How on earth would you fix Lindsay Lohans life?: Thats a hard one, i'd let her know that she is loved, to not try so hard and go on a holiday.

Wednesday 7 April 2010

TRIBUTE 10.04.10

TRIBUTE

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TRIBUTE IS A NIGHT WHERE WE NOT ONLY COME TO WORSHIP THE GODS OF METAL BUT WHERE WE ALSO BOW DOWN TO THOSE WHO HAVE DEDICATED THEIR LIVES TO BEING THEIR HEROES.

AT THE MACBETH ON APRIL 10 WE HAVE GUNS 4 HIRE. THE BEST GUNS N ROSES TRIBUTE ACT IN THE UK. COSTUME CHANGES, INSANE GUITAR SOLOS, THE WHOLE LOT.

Scarlett: Tell us abit about your nights.

Mike: the night is about hedonistic ritual. Getting drunk to screaming guitars and drums that sound like armies of orcs attacking your forest. It's a metal night and it's also very sexy

S: What gave you the idea for your night?

M: From a point of elevation all becomes lucid. For ideas you should scale mountains or read old copies of Metal Hammer. It's a no brainer. Heavy metal, heavy drinking and gnarly Tribute ban

S: I went to the Sack Sabbath gig at bardens, it was amazing, do you think GUNS 4 HIRE will be able to top that act?

M: I think guns for hire are obviously very charming in their own way. It's not a competition. Ozzy Asbeen was a great Ozzy and the crowd went fucking crazy but I'm confident once songs like Its So Easy and Paradise City kick in that we will all be sweating utter delirium

S: Who would be your dream tribute band to play?

M: My dream tribute band are coming in august. Iron maiden. IRON ON MAIDEN. There is also MEGADETH UK next month

S: If you could describe your night in 5 words what would it be?

M: Appetite for destruction mother fucker


S: Is this going to become a regular night at The Macbeth?


M: It's booked monthly all the way til December when guess what? Sack Sabbath Christmas Party

TRIBUTE
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=371130038996&ref=ts
SATURDAY 10TH APRIL
£4 ENTRY
8PM- 2AM