Four things to do in East Sussex

Intimate gigs to celebrate rock band’s vinyl release

Downes Braide Association (DBA) will be on stage once again at Trading Boundaries, Sheffield Green, Fletching, on Friday and Saturday, February 14-15 (doors 7pm).

The live gigs coincide with the vinyl release of the rock band’s Live in England album.

A 2CD/DVD Box set is out now via Cherry Red Records and the album features stunning artwork by Roger Dean.

A spokesperson said: “These intimate gigs are totally unique. Joining Geoff Downes (Yes/Asia keyboardist) and singer Chris Braide this time around will be guitarist Dave Bainbridge (Iona, Lifesigns), together with bass player Andy Hodge and David Longdon (Big Big Train) and the show will again be narrated by Barney Ashton Bullock.”

Tickets from £35. Visit tradingboundariesmusic.com or call 01825 790200

Live In England was recorded at their first ever concert at Trading Boundaries in September 2018.

Stirring soul and Motown memories in new stage show

Soultown USA offers the authoritative story of soul and Motown in a brand new stage show spectacular.

The concert will be at the Royal Hippodrome Theatre on Thursday, February 13 (7.30pm).

Tickets cost £24 from the box office on 01323 802020.

A spokesperson said: “Taking you right back to where it all began – the R ’n’ B hits of the late ’50s – on to ’60s Detroit, ’70s Philly and beyond. Return to time when Ike and Tina Turner were rolling on a river, The Spinners were still working their way back and the world held on for Sam and Dave. There’ll be no hurrying The Supremes and your Motown memories as the tracks of Smokey Robinson’s tears are well and truly retraced.”

New stand-up from Rob Beckett

Cheeky chappie Rob Beckett brings his hilarious new stand-up show Wallop! to Eastbourne’s Congress Theatre on Saturday, February 22 (8pm).

Tickets cost £25 on 01323 412 000 or from www.eastbournetheatres.co.uk.

At the end of 2019 and start of 2020, Rob presented Rob Beckett’s Savage Socials on E4, which took a look at the latest memes, digital blunders and celebrity socials from the previous week. Rob has also been hosting Head Hunters on BBC One and in 2019 he hosted the Royal Variety Performance.

Rob has also appeared on BBC One’s Live At The Apollo and Would I Lie To You?.

See one of folk music’s greatest innovators

Folk music hero Martin Carthy is bringing his ground-breaking sound to Lewes Con Club on Sunday, February 16 (7.30pm, £19.25).

A spokesperson said: “For more than 50 years Martin Carthy has been one of folk music’s greatest innovators, one of its best loved, most enthusiastic and, at times, most quietly controversial of figures. His skill, stage presence and natural charm have won him many admirers, not only from within the folk scene, but also far beyond it. Q Magazine has described Martin as “arguably the greatest English folk song performer, writer, collector and editor of them all.”

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An interview with Baxter Dury ahead of Hastings Fat Tuesday’s launch night. Click here to read more.

Inspiring workshops with Claire Martin and Guy Chambers: Hastings International Piano Festival. Click here to read more.

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