All The Pretty Horses…

It’s been a while in the planning but the first Brixton Splash Community Festival is taking place on August 13th (from midday to 7pm). It’s an event that started out as a genuine grassroots affair by some of the venues and businesses in Coldharbour Lane and the pretty vibrant arts and music community in the area, although by all accounts the council and others have been keen to interfere and get their pound of flesh. Luckily, the organisers – or at least the ones I know – are pretty sussed and not likely to give in to too much bullshit. 

Nonetheless, it’s looking like it’s going to be a genuinely entertaining and genuinely inclusive event.. Taking in Electric Lane and Coldharbour Lane, they’ve roped in some excellent performers for the day – Alabama 3 (goes without saying, really… ), Asher Senator, Top Cat, Tenor Fly, Levi Roots and Daddy Freddy amongst others. As well as the usual mix of stalls and poets and kids stuff.

Frustratingly, I’m going to be down in Devon at the Beautiful Days festival, chucking rocks at hippies, which is a shame because I’d love to be there (there was even talk of People’s Republic of Disco setting up in the Prince Albert in the evening) but hopefully this will go right off and become an annual event, provided the council back the fuck up.

I remember sitting in the middle of Coldharbour Lane with a bunch of mates during the brilliant Brixton Reclaim The Streets back in 1998 (God, that makes me feel old), drinking a pint and enjoying the sunshine. I’ve long wondered if it wouldn’t make sense to pedestrianise that stretch of road anyway – from the Ritzy to the Dogstar – but doing so for a day a year to give Brixton something to celebrate is a step in the right direction.