The Gold Coast

The Gold Coast is one of South Norwood's true success stories. The fantastic Ghanian food, wide range of drinks and friendly, vibrant atmosphere have helped establish the Gold Coast as one of the major African venues anywhere in London. This year the Gold Coast will host the Festival headliners as well as other events throughout the week.

Dave Woodhead and The Positively Test Card

The Sunday 14th June. From 8:00 pm. FREE!!!

PPR are thrilled to announce that Dave Woodhead and the Positively Test Card will be playing the Portland Arts Festival again this year. There set of lively African music went down a storm at a packed Gold Coast last year so we have booked them into the same venue this time around.

Positively Test Card are real local heroes. Check out the picture of them under local landmark - Crystal Palace mast - or pick up a copy of their album The Indestructible Beat of South Norwood for proof of their local credentials!

The Positively Test Card play Kwela. Kwela -- South African penny-whistle jive -- must be the world’s happiest and most uplifting music. Orginally played on the street, kwela became the first black commercial music of apartheid-stricken South Africa. It had a brief heyday in the late 50's and early 60's, when thousands of Kwela 78's were made.

Dave has been in the Kwela game since 1995 and he has played with such luminaries as Billy Bragg and Robyn Hitchcock before forming his band The Positively Test Card. The band have played hundreds of gigs including an appearance at the Glastonbury festival a couple of years back.

Check out the Positively Test Card website to hear samples of their sounds and find out more about the band.

Poetry and Pints with Poets Anonymous

Wednesday June 10th. Upstairs from 8:00 pm till close. FREE!!!

Poets Anonymous at The Gold Coast on opening night is fast becoming an Arts Festival tradition - this year makes 3 out of 3! If you know about poetry then I am sure you already know about Poets Anonymous but if you don't then don't let that put you off. The evening is tremendous fun and you can even read your own or your favourite poems if you like.
To find out more about Poets Anonymous visit www.poetsanon.org.uk.

Thank you to Fishers the Chemist for sponsoring this event.

The Catalina Blues Band

Thursday June 11th. From 8:00 pm. FREE!!!

If you like your music down and dirty get yourself to the Gold Coast for a night of Brit Blues with these guys. Harmonica, slide guitar and covers of classic blues tracks of every kind are the order of the day and judging by the dancing going on in the bar last year it will be a good night!

Old Palace Clog

Wednesday June 10th. Outside from 7:30 pm. FREE!!!

PPR are pleased to welcome Old Palace Clog back to the Arts Festival. Clog dancing is one of the oldest of traditional British dances and these ladies sure know how to dance. It is exhausting just watching them go through their paces so get to the Poets early and enjoy the show!
To find out more about Old Palace Clog visit www.oldpalaceclog.org.uk.