Fun and Games is an exhibition opening on 20/11/2026 at The Wooden Box Gallery in Ramsgate

A veritable galaxy of art stars from around the world will be exhibiting work at a gallery that is just a few minute's walk from Ramsgate train station. Dan Bass, Cristina Calvache, Emma Coleman, Luke Gottelier Kev Hopper, James Lawson, Harry Pye, and Jonas Ranson have all confirmed they are taking part. The address of the venue is: The Wooden Box Gallery and Rebekah Sunshine Art Studio, 92 High St, Ramsgate CT11 9RX The opening party will be between 4:30pm and 7:30pm on Friday the 20th of November. There will then be eight chances for you to come and visit... Sat 21st Nov between 11am till 4pm, Mon 23rd between 11am and 4pm, Tues 24th Nov between 11am - 4pm, Wed 25th of Nov between 11am and 4pm, Thurs 26th of Nov between 11am - 4pm, Saturday 28th Nov between 11am and 4pm, Monday 30th of Nov between 11am - 4pm, and finally Tuesday the first of December between 11am - 4pm.

Top photo is an Untitled work made of lego by James Lawson. The vase above is by Luke Gotellier. We are born to create, to love and to win at games.

Interview with Andrew Petrie of Stone Guest

Last month saw the release of a fantastic six-track album by Stone Guest. http://tiny.cc/StoneGuestSpotify The album's producer agreed to answer a few questions. Now read on...

Q: In terms of music what is manna from heaven? Is there a certain song or album that feeds you, inspires you, makes life seem good? ‘Six marimbas’ by Steve Reich, which I discovered a few years ago. It runs about 16 minutes with no variation in dynamics or tempo, but manages to be a glimpse of perfect world in which order reigns. There are a couple of piano parts on the Stone Guest record which were influenced by the way Reich offsets melodic fragments over time.

Q: Where does your album sound best? Was it intended to be played on headphones while waiting at the bus stop or alone in the dark very late at night on your own or on the radio whilst driving in a car? I think it would sound best on earphones looking out of a train window crossing a flat landscape in winter, probably in the American Midwest.

Q: Which track on your new album is the oldest and which was written last? This is going to sound like the most godawful wannabe rock star bullshit, but I swear it’s true: ‘Broken balconies’ was written in a room at the Four Points hotel in Emeryville, California in late 2007, making it the oldest composition on the record. The most recent is ‘No grave but the waves’, which I finished writing in April this year.

Q: What can you tell me about the artwork you choose for the cover of your album? It’s a postcard I bought in a second-hand bookshop in the States about 15 years ago. It was in mint condition and had obviously never been through the postal system. On the back someone has typed: “This is the picture of our home.” I’ve done some research and it seems like it was taken somewhere in New England around 1910.

Q: Did your parents have art on the walls and do you own any paintings or artworks? My parents had a few paintings on the walls, which were either generic 1970s prints bought from a department store or watercolours of the village in North Yorkshire where my mum grew up. As time went on they were joined by portraits of various deceased pets. As for my own walls, I was lucky enough to have my portrait done by Humphrey Ocean RA, who with just a few strokes of a pen managed to capture a perfect likeness of me. It’s pretty much the first thing visitors to my flat see when they come up the stairs. I also have a painting by Mikey Georgeson called Mysterious Reason which I love.

Q: Can you name three bands who have made better records than The Beatles and The Stones? Three of my favourite bands all made albums which easily stand comparison with theirs: Countdown To Ecstasy by Steely Dan, Country Life by Roxy Music and Sheet Music by 10cc.

Q: In terms of music, what’s your idea of success? With this record, success means as many people as possible hearing it and appreciating the effort I put into melody and harmony. It has zero commercial potential so financial returns were never going to be a measure of success.

Q: Can you see any kind of live performance happening in relation to this release? It would be impossible unfortunately. At any given time there are six, eight, 10, 12 of me playing and live reproduction would never work. Plus I think the record’s best experienced in its studio form and doesn’t really lend itself to rocking out live.

Q: Which living guitarists can play better than you? Too many to list! My favourite guitar players still around include Richard Thompson, Kim Fahy, Bill Frisell, Vini Reilly and Marc Ribot.

Q: If you could collaborate with any living film director who would you enjoy composing a soundtrack for? Probably Gary Hustwit, who made Helvetica and the recent documentary about Brian Eno, another of my heroes.

http://tiny.cc/StoneGuestBandcamp

https://www.instagram.com/winteredpearrecords

The Things That Make Us Human exhibition at Kahaila Cafe on Brick Lane

The Things That Make Us Human is a group show curated by the artist Kyle Hall. The venue is the Kahalia Cafe which is a non profit cafe on Brick Lane (near to Shoreditch High Street Station on the Windrush line) that supports community projects and charitable causes. Two Pye Portraits are featured in the show...

Above: 'Tell Your Friends You Love Them' by Harry Pye and Rowland Smith. Acrylic on canvas 2026, 65cm wide and 90cm high.

Above: 'Too Much On My Mind' by Harry Pye. Acrylic on canvas, 2026. 30cm wide, 42cm high. Harry:"To me, being human means you don't always make sense and sometimes make a mess but that your heart is in the right place. Anne Frank once wrote in her diary that despite everything she still believed that deep down everyone was good. It's human to feel fear, sadness, anger, and despair but it's also human to keep trying to see the best in others and to have hope for the future."

Above: Jackie Clark is exhibiting a painting called 'Kaftan rack in the souk. Essaouira, Morocco'. Oil on aluminium 33 x 42cm Jackie: "For me, humanity is found in travel - in stepping into unfamiliar cultures without judgement, staying present, and letting new experiences shape how I see the world. These experiences become the paintings I create."

Above: Works by Mikey Georgeson: "The Patens of Longing", 2 x ceramic plates 20x20cm. Mikey: "Being human is surviving and making sense through an aesthetic of improvised, pragmatic problem solving. To express in repetitive acts of feeling is needfully human. The longing in the title is for a way of life based in expanded lyrical meaning. The meaning of artefacts always exists in a ritual context - a pop song, a memorial ceremony or even a gallery visit. A paten is the dish communion wafer is offered on and it sounds a bit like pattern, which is the pleasure of repetition."

Above: The Things That Make Us Human exhibition is part of the sober community.

Address: Khalia Cafe, 135 Brick Lane, London, E1 6SB Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday, 8:30 AM – 6:00 PM

Above: Curator Kyle Hall (of Spirtual Pharmacy Enterprises): "Join us for coffee, cake and a chinwag on Friday 4th September. Meet the artists at 8pm"

Nigel Planer records vocals for track on Christmas themed compilation album

Nigel Planer and The Values have recorded a cover version of Nick Lowe's classic song 'Christmas At The Airport' which will appear on The Specialized Christmas Boxset a four-disc ska and reggae CD boxset, scheduled for release at the end of 2026. Nigel's track has been produced by Simon Edwards who has recorded and toured with numeuros artists David Gray, Talk Talk, Fairground Attraction, Brian Eno, and Graham Parker, Julian Lennon, Kirsty McColl, and Billy Bragg. Nigel Planer released a comedic cover of the 1967 Traffic song 'Hole in My Shoe' in July 1984 which won him a BRIT award. Performed in character as the spaced-out hippie Neil from the BBC sitcom The Young Ones, the single reached number 2 on the UK Singles Chart. In 1986 Nigel, Rik Mayle, Ade Edmonson, and Christopher Ryan joined forces with Sir Cliff Richard and Hank Marvin to record a new version of Lionel Bart's Livin' Doll. This charity single for Comic Relief went straight to number one on the UK Singles Chart. Nigel has had a prolific career in London's West End theatre. He is famed for originating and starring in major West End musical productions including Evita, Chicago, We Will Rock You, Wicked, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Nigel also played the part of Den Dennis in the Comic Strip's fictional heavy metal band Bad News. This project included playing live at the festival in Castle Donington and venues such as the Marque often performing onstage with rock legends such as Brian May, Jeff Beck, and Jimmy Page. The Values were formed by artists Harry Pye and Julian Wakeling. The Values have previoulsy collaborated with singers such as Roland Gift, Neil Innes, and Mikey Georgeson. The musicians who appear on 'Christmas At The Airport' are Paul Speare (sax), Tim Smart (trombone) Clare Kenny (bass), Paul Cuddeford (Skanky lead guitar), Tim Weller (drums) and Francis Macdonald (additional singing, acoustic guitar, percussion). 'Christmas At The Airport' also benefits from the voice talents of Morwenna Banks.

Photo Above: Nigel Planer and Simon Edwards

Above: Nigel Planer

Above: Nigel Planer with Harry Pye

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Ian McCulloch: "Old Big Lips Is Back" Jan 1992

In January 1992, former Echo & the Bunnymen frontman Ian McCulloch was featured on the cover of the New Musical Express (NME) to promote his second solo album, Mysterio, which was released in March of that year.

People Let You Down painted by Harry Pye and Rowland Smith

Above: 'People Let You Down' by Harry Pye and Rowland Smith. Acrylic on canvas 101cm long and 81cm wide.

Kevin Keegan Rest In Peace

It was announced today that Kevin Keegan OBE had lost his fight against cancer and died at the age of 75. Keegan was once also Known as "Mighty Mouse" and "King Kev" - he won 63 England caps, scoring 21 goals for the Three Lions as a player before he managed the team between February 1999 and October 2000

Above: A new Harry Pye painting: 'The Fab Kevin Keegan'. (Kevin's hair painted by Rowland Smith). Harry says: "I was very young in the Summer of 1982 but I do remember the music, the ice lollies, and the haircuts of that time. It was really exciting when Kevin Keegan appeared on television - he was amazing. Sadly he did very badly in the World Cup in Spain because he had a dodgy back. I remember the build up to the matches and I remember feeling jealous of the children who had items that had the World Cup logo on them. I didn't have enough pocket money to buy a sticker album or football kits etc but I remember being happy in day dreams - playing football and trying to be fab like Kevin."