This is the third year of the Phoenix Festival a free event where all the arts studios, venues, community projects, workshops and creative businesses on the estate join together to throw open their doors to the community. There will be three music stages with brilliant live performance, food, art, workshops and more.
The CdA stage will be boasting a full line up of impressive musicians, poets and performers. Kicking off the event at 12pm will be Thomas Christen’s Djembe workshop at 12pm followed by Emma Gatrill an ‘unstoppable and multi-instrumental collaborator. As well as being a full time musician with the multi-tentacled psych-folk behemoth Sons of Noel and Adrian and getting crowds dancing to the rowdy stamp-along anthems of The Mariner’s Children, she has found time to lend her voice, clarinet or accordion skills to everyone from Laura Marling to Broken Social Scene. Her new album Chapter 1 is out now.
From 2:15-4:15 we have an open stage with performer, director and MC Rikki Tarascas, voice artist Adrienne Thomas. No Fixed Abode will be providing a rhythmical back-line of bass and drums for some free exploration for any other poets or performers who want to get involed, so if that’s you, get in touch (cafedesartisteslewes@gmail.com). Singer/songwriter Matthew the Oxx will be performing songs “that sort of come into your consciousness from the left field.’ Son of a new age composer and a choir singer his work will be lyrical, crisp and different. Songbird Kerry Ann Jangle will be sharing her “clear sincere cocoa voice with husky edges” and local singer/songwriters Peter Murphy and Tom Lockyear from Morlove and the Moonbeam will be performing their evocative soundscapes with melodies and phrases which sink into your soul and stay there.
The fully stocked bar will be open throughout the day until late serving delicious ale form local Sussex brewery Langhams and a selection of special summer cocktails.
From 12-6pm vegetarian restauranteur and nutritionist Sally Galloway will be serving her Mexican Mash Up of Sweet potato pancakes filled with black bean mole, herb and feta salad and homemade chipotle sauce. Hibiscus water, horchata and an iced coconut chai.
8pm onwards there will be a simple supper of dhal, chicken and rice to accompany Club A-Go-Go’s mix of original SKA, Reggae and Rocksteady vinyl. More Dj’s will be performing an eclectic mix of tunes for your delectation.
There’ll be art exhibits upstairs and an interactive art wall in the atrium.
With the estate under threat from developers and Café des Artistes’ notice to quit the site by the landlords Santon, it may be the last time to see what wonderful things are occurring here. See the event on our Facebook page for more details or join the CdA group and become part of our growing community.
Café des Artistes 
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