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.