Japan – one year on… We salute you.
Heat Guy J – Top Anime/Manga
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It’s Writers Block Birthday :)
WHERE: Concrete, 56 Shoreditch High Street, E1 6JJ
Writer’s Block is a contemporary performance night for live literature, short films topped off with a musical tinge and enriched with the beautifuly eclectic vibe of young London.
This Sunday 20th May we can look forward to that includes…
► INUA ELLAMS
Poet, performer, playwright, graphic artist and designer. Inua Ellams started performing in cafes in 2003 and has since worked in venues which include Queen Elizabeth Hall, Tate Britain, Theatre Royal Stratford and Glastonbury Festival. He has also undertaken several commissions, including those for Tate Modern, Soho Theatre and for the BBC’s Politics Show. His first book was the best-selling poetry pamphlet, Thirteen Fairy Negro Tales (2005), and in 2009 his debut play, The 14th Tale (2009), a partly autobiographical coming of age tale, won a Fringe First Award at Edinburgh Festival, toured, and ran at the National Theatre in 2010. His second play, Untitled (2010), toured in Autumn 2010. Just recently, Inua brought his latest stage adaptation- Black T-Shirt Collection, to a pretty much consecutively
sold out audience.
Photo Copyright: J. Watson
Having shared the same stage as US megastars Musiq Soulchild, Donell Jones, Avant, Kirk Franklin and Fred Hammond, it is evident that Rachel Kerr is a loaded hurricane about to strike the UK’s music industry. The last year has seen the rising R&B popstar and songwriter being accosted by the media wherever she goes, including the US number one urban TV station BET. Rachel Kerr is the sensational new talent; certified to be Britain’s own national treasure. Rachel is proof that first-class performers are not solely limited to the United States. Her music is epic, honest, infectious and she comfortably strides the tightrope-fine line between the R&B and pop genres. Bold kick drums, fat snares and soaring synths teamed with Rachel’s breathtaking effortless vocals are proving to be a recipe for success for the rising star.
► FEMI MARTIN
Femi is a flash fiction writer and performer. She has told her tiny tales at many fantastic places including Literary Death Match, UpRise Festival, The Charles Dickens Museum, and The Southbank. Using humour and sensitivity along with a fearless honesty, Femi’s stories explore the gamut of the human condition. She is the Dickens 2012 Young Writer in Residence.
► CHOCKZ
Born in East London, with roots firmly set in the UKG and hip hop cultures, Chockz’ s lyrical trickery comprises of clever wordplay, mesmerising metaphors and impeccable diction laid out upon the smoothest of flows. Not content with just mastering lyrics, Chockz is also a poet, producer and song writers for contemporary artists, making his “I’m more than a rapper” moto more than apt.
► RAPHAEL ATTAR
Lounge lyricist. Failed poet. The bastard offspring of ODB and Tim Key. None of these things, and less, have been said about Raphael Attar. With South London roots and a newly acquired Northern twang, Raph combines deft wordplay with an eye for an absurd to talk about the things that really matter. Politics. Dinosaurs. Gary Barlow.
► AZEKEL
Nigerian-born, alternative pop artist Azekel is characterised By experimental beats laced with soulful tones. With numerous achievements under his belt such as featuring on the Mercedes-Benz Mixed Tape, performing on the Roundhouse Rising Festival 2012 stage and opening for a number of UK acts, the singer-songwriter producer is about ready for take off…
P L U S:
► Short Film screening from Filmmaker Yemi Bamiro.
• • • E N T R Y • • •
.:: £5 before 8.30pm, £7 thereafter. Artists have individual guest lists, or pay on the door::
For further details on Writers Block check out:
W E B A G E
Y O U T U B E
F A C E B O O K
T W I T T E R
Courtesy of ‘The Thinker‘
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The most anticipated film of 2013…
RIP Donna Summer 1948 – 2012
What a legend. Her voice was unmistakable. She left her presence in music by redefining and taking disco / electronic music to another level. RIP Donna Summer.
Courtesy of ‘The Thinker‘
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Don’t make me get Old Skool!
The Blue Orchid
The Blue Orchid
The Blue Orchid
Having snuck into what is arguably up there with the best venues to have supported the Garage movement in the 90′s, The Blue Orchid, Croydon is like a living time capsule . . .ah the memories 
Who can name all these big bad boy UK Garage Dons??
Written by Farouk Deen
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Dems – House
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Company Results
- Carphone Warehouse Europe have reported a 4.6% decrease in like-for-like sales for the 52 weeks to 31 March 2012.
- Dixons have reported an 8% increase in UK & Ireland like-for-like sales for the 16 weeks to 28 April 2012. Group like-for-like sales also increased by 4% for the same period.
- Feelunique.com have reported a 63% increase in sales to £26.7m for year to 12 March 2012. (Source: Retail Gazette)
- Inchcape have reported Group sales of £1.56bn for the quarter to 31 March 2012. Group and UK like-for-like sales increased by 1.4% and 4.9% respectively for the same period.
- John Lewis have reported an 18.3% increase in sales (including VAT) for the week to 05 May 2012. Fashion, Electricals & Home Technology and Home sales increased by 4.6%, 47.2% and 14.1% respectively for the same period. Sales at johnlewis.com increased by 61.1%.
- Lookers have reported a 6% increase in new car retail sales for the quarter ending 31 March 2012. Used car volumes also increased by 11% for the same period.
- Pendragon have reported an 11.4% increase in used car sales for the first quarter 2012. (Source: AM Online)
- Sainsbury’s have reported a 6.8% increase in sales to £24.5bn for the 52 weeks to 17 March 2012. Pre-tax profit also increased by 7.1% to £712m for the same period.
- SuperGroup have reported a 31.9% increase in Group sales to £313.8m for the 52 weeks to 29 April 2012. Retail sales (including eCommerce) increased by 29.6% to £191.0m for the same period.
- Waitrose have reported a 6.8% increase in sales (including petrol) for the week to 05 May 2012.
Clothing, Footwear & Accessories
- It is reported that Arsenal Football Club are to debut a new fashion focussed store in the Brent Cross Shopping Centre, London, in July of this year. (Source: Retail Week)
- EBay have updated their eBay Fashion application to feature ‘Image Swatch technology’, allowing shoppers to find fashion items on eBay.co.uk using their smartphones. (Source: Mobile Marketing)
- It is reported that Primark have appointed Garry Gordon as their new Group Sourcing Director. (Source: Retail Week)
- It is reported that Reiss have appointed Gwynn Milligan to the newly created role of Trading Director. (Source: Retail Week)
- It is reported that Shoon have been acquired out of administration as a part of a management buyout deal supported by restructuring specialist GA Europe, securing 153 jobs. (Source: Drapers)
Electrical & Entertainment
- Clinton Cards have entered into administration. Zolfo Cooper have been appointed as administrator. (Source: Financial Times)
- Z-It is reported that Maplin have appointed Ryan Thomas to the newly created role of Multichannel Director, effective June 2012. (Source: Retail Week)
- Pretty Green have partnered with Universal Music UK to open pop-up virtual record stores in all 10 of their stores. The virtual vinyl shops will operate 24 hours a day from May 24 to June 10.
- The bookseller and stationery brand, Relay, have announced plans to relaunch in the UK by opening a trial shop in London’s Cannon Street station.
Food & Drink
- It is reported that Colin Graves has resigned from his role as Chairman of Costcutter. (Source: Retail Bulletin)
- It is reported that Iceland have entered into a franchise agreement with Johannes Jonsson to open their frozen food stores in Iceland. (Source: Retail Week)
- Ocado have launched a own label shop-in-shop as part of their plans to increase their own brand presence. (Source: Retail Week)
- It has been reported that Bob Stack has resigned as Non-Executive Director of Sainsbury’s, effective July 2012. (Source: Retail Bulletin)
- Thorntons are to introduce a new range of British-branded Jubilee products. The range will be available in stores in mid-May until the end of summer.
According to the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and KPMG, retail sales for April 2012 decreased by 1.0% compared to a 6.9% increase seen in April 2011. Like-for-like sales values decreased by 3.3% for the same period. Food sales declined below their year-earlier level, when they had benefitted from Easter Buying. Clothing & footwear sales were affected by record April rainfall and chilly temperatures whilst online sales of non-food items grew by 9.0%. Though the weather helped some smaller homewares, big-ticket purchases continued to struggle.
Household
- It is reported that Lord Harris of Peckham is to step down from his role of Chief Executive of Carpetright. Lord Harris is to be succeeded by Darren Shapland, who is to take up the role on 14 May 2012. (Source: Retail Week)
- It is reported that Mamas & Papas are planing to launch 25 stores in Russia and five in Lebanon, as part of their international expansion plans over next three years. (Source: Drapers)
- It is reported that Shop Direct have hired Serco to run their customer service operations. Serco are to manage customer contact services and invest in technology across Shop Direct’s brands over the next 10 years. (Source: Reuters)
Courtesy of ‘The Thinker‘
