Viva Brighton Issue #60 February 2018

MUSIC
....................................
Photos by Mark Richards
Fat Tuesday
Hastings’ Mardi Gras
Fat Tuesday is an annual five-day music festival,
now in its ninth year. The name is an English
translation of ‘Mardi Gras’, the huge New Orleans
street party, involving a wild night of excess, the
night before the traditional fasting period of Lent.
We talk to co-organiser Bob Tipler.
How did it start up? I met organiser Adam at
our kids’ school gate and we decided to create a
musical event for the town to cheer up a gloomy
month. It’s been getting larger and more successful
every year.
How come the New Orleans feel? I’m a musician
with the Cajun Dawgs, and have always been
interested in the culture of Louisiana.
What can we expect? More than 154 acts (all
kinds of music, folk, funk, jazz, rock) in multiple
venues. There’s a Grand Masked Ball and a parade.
It ends with the Fat Tuesday Tour, when 24 emerging
and established bands play in Old Town pubs
and venues.
What’s the highlight for you? I love Unplugged
Saturday, on which 18 venues each have ten acts
appearing throughout the day.
Who comes? It used to be mostly locals, but we’re
getting lots more people and families from further
afield now.
How much is indoors? Most of it, other than the
Sunday Umbrella Parade.
What’s that? Anyone can bring a decorated
umbrella and march behind bands playing from
The Stade to St Mary in the Castle. This idea of
parading with fancy umbrellas comes from the
New Orleans jazz funeral tradition, when smartly
dressed mourners (some with matching umbrellas)
would follow the coffin and a jazz band playing
melancholic tunes. When the body is laid to rest,
the music goes up-tempo and everyone dances.
But you don’t have a coffin? No, just the umbrellas!
It’s very colourful and joyful.
What’s special about Hastings? It’s a place where
there’s been a lot of disadvantage, so it has remained
hidden away and been left alone. We’ve grown our
own scene in our own way. The low rents and cheap
housing have led to a place stuffed with people who
don’t earn much money but are very creative, plus
lots of specialists – musicians, photographers, sound
engineers, roadies, graphic designers, film and PR
people. We’ve got recording studios here. There’s
a strong community of musicians in Hastings and
St Leonards, and that makes it the perfect place to
organise a music festival.
Do you have to pay? Some events, such as the
Grand Masked Ball, are ticketed (see the website)
but most events are free.
How is it funded? The pubs taking part chip in,
we’ve got sponsorship, some Arts Council funding
and some other little bits. It’s not a problem persuading
people to help or take part. The hard part
is organising it all, as well as having businesses and
full-time jobs! We love it though. Emma Chaplin
Hastings Fat Tuesday Music Festival, Fri 9th - Tues
13th Feb. hastingsfattuesday.co.uk
....49....