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Newsletter #7 - January 2008

We’re back! Happy New Year to all you Arctic Circler’s and we’re very excited about bringing you Power to the Penguin 7, all fresh and full of new year optimism. But… before we can get properly stuck into 2008, we have a last proud glance back at 2007 in our year review when our favourite musical friends tell us their fondest Circle memories from the year just gone.

To be found in this first 2008 edition (Warning: may contain penguins):

• We update your diaries/calendars/mental memory space with the latest up coming gigs;

• Arctic Circle Artists tell us what their favourite Arctic Circle moments were from 2007;

• What on earth has happened to Chief Penguin? Are his brandy sniffing days over? Find out in the latest instalment of our ill advised serial.

CP
chiefpenguin@jointhecircle.net

It was a privilege to play at such a special Arctic Circle in a venue such as the Tate, which not only seemed to be a sympathetic setting for the music, but also had a unique acoustics and an attentive audience. Douglas Benford

The first thing I saw when I arrived to sound check at the Whitechapel Gallery was Ben and Mark from Rothko sitting at a table covered in plates of cakes and sweets, cutting out the various animal masks that Pika Pika had designed for the Arctic Circle. Ken Peel was busy untangling cables while Neil the sound guy set up microphones. Projections were being cast on to the walls and corners of the gallery. I said my hellos and offered to help with the masks. I remember how welcoming everyone was and how special an atmosphere that night had for me. I played alone, just me and my guitar, at a slightly daunting eye level with the audience but everyone was kind enough to listen. Oh, and I met my cellist that night! Dale Grundle

Sundown was invited to be part of the Arctic Circle event for May 2007, at one of their gigs being held at The Spitz venue in London, given free reign of a room at The Spitz known only as the ‘spare oom’, To deliver poetry and free verse to the lyrically starved penguins and polar bears of the AC, we also had the indie-filmmakers littlenobody screening their animated shorts, projected onto the only piece of white wall left that we could find and abuse. Sundown loved being part of it all and would definitely love to nurture a spare oom again, maybe one that isn’t mistaken for a toilet next time. Jo Overfield, Sundown

30th May saw my own first trip to The Spitz, where through the doors and up and down the labyrinthine staircases I found Ellis Island Sound, candles on tables, Guinness on tap, and down the industrial galvanised stairs into the Spare Oom (bringing back childhood memories of the Pevensey tales), led by fairy lights and the faint smell of Party Rings, the lyrical draw of Sundown and their band of poets, including the theatrical wordstrel Rhian Edwards and fellow Welsh poet Nathan Penlington. A night full of cultural treats, and further proof that Arctic Circle find the very best in almost-discovered-but-not-quite-huge-yet talent. Rachel Morgan, Sundown

When we played, the last band to play on the night (not a headline, I like to think, just a part of the whole of something special, full stop) the crowd was amazing. It was late, people had been there a long time, drinking, listening intently to the other artists on the night; the excellent and beautiful Anne Garner and Klima. Then, when we played, to hear (or rather not hear) the audience listening to intensely, after a long night, was overwhelming. Very overwhelming. We had the best of times playing. It was a very emotional and most special night. Rothko

What an evening at the Spitz. I remember arriving quite early at Liverpool Street and I had a couple of coffees around the area where the Spitz was. It was my first gig in London and I was a little bit nervous about what to expect. Also I heard that the Spitz will close down soon and I was a little bit worried how things will turn out. It was a wonderful atmosphere in there and people seemed to be very concentrated. Also playing with Max Richter was a pleasure I am a fan of evenings with a certain theme and this evening worked very well thanks to the arctic circle. Volker

Here are my top 10 moments of The Arctic Circle in September, in no hierarchical order:

• Chocolate Tea Cakes.
• My name on a poster outside the venue two weeks before the gig. A first.
• Stealing an inflatable penguin, who consequently stayed in the boot of my car until December 5th.
• A Walrus Mask.
• Trying to smoke through the Walrus Mask.
• Getting ash trapped between my face and the walrus mask.
• Burning my face and mask.
• Liz Bentley's swell song about a primary school teacher.
• People huddling together like penguins on a diving board during my set.
• Asking Liz Bentley, from that stage, "What is Gout?"

The Arctic Circle nights are a big, juicy cut above other nights. I feel like a part of something when i go or play. Something that people will remember as an actual scene or community. "Hey, remember when we saw Ellis Island Sound at the Arctic Circle?" Like Bob Dylan in Cafe Wha?, or the Village Vanguard in the late 50's, or Doherty in Whitechapel in 2002. Just Kidding. Josh Weller

Our October show at the Whitechapel felt like an important one for Dollboy. We were trying out new material, some of which felt as if we might be going out on a green limb and we expanded the line-up to do it.  We went from a duo to a five piece which included an extra guitar, synth, percussion and your dependable promoter on horns. There were a lot of people there and there was a sense of anticipation in the room.   As I remember it was hot and sweaty and felt like mayhem but all good. Lovely audience too – very attentive and supportive. We had a great time anyway. Dollboy

The Peskimos were warmed by the welcome at the Arctic Circle, in a non-habitat-threatening kind of way, though. They were amazed and impressed by the wonderful sounds emanating from the stage, by “Christmas jumpers”, and especially by the hair and/or shoes of several of the acts. Many of these styles are now being tried out on tundras across the globe, though some of the shoes have been deemed inappropriate for most weather conditions. All in all, the Peskimos had a whale of a time, but that is cultural, so don’t be too quick to judge. Peskimos

My Memoir-wees

Dear Reeders

Hello, Cheef Penguin here, and I want to tell you all that I smell and I like girl’s bottoms and I enjoy smelling by own bottom and I am in love with Tinkles, who is the best and I promise to give Tinkles his special pills back that I took off him because I am a stinky bum, a big posh flappy bird. Oooh, look at me with my port and cigar like a feathered bloody Stephen Fry with a beak, la la la…

Ha ha, its not really Cheef Penguin! Did you guess? Its me Tinkles, your favourite scampish ex-santa’s elf. I’ve locked ‘im in the cupboard dear reeders! But don’t worry, I’ve been feeding ‘im flat food that’ll go under the door, so he’s been eating a lot of licorish and salami.

He’ll be so cross when he gets out! He he he.

Chief Tinkles

(He he he)

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jointhecircle.net

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written by: chiefpenguin
with artwork by:pika pika