music, art, books, comedy, food, coffee, prosecco and more….

 

from Thursday 19 July – Sunday 2 Sept 2018

 

Open: every Thurs to Sun, 11am – 6pm (plus evening events)

 

Metal’s popular, travelling Café Valise returns to Chalkwell Hall complete with sunny veranda, stunning views over the Thames Estuary, art and music events, second hand book-shop, exhibitions and fully licenced bar and café.

For seven weeks of summer expect cake, coffee, cool drinks, snacks, prosecco, cocktails and a packed programme of things to see and do.

 

Highlights include:-   (scroll down to see Programme At a Glance listings – more to be announced soon)

 

Open Mic: 15 Minutes of Fame

Every day at 1pm

A platform for local writers, poets, acoustic musicians, singers and artists to showcase work from our Café stage. To book your slot, please get in touch at chalkwell@metalculture.com

photo credit:  Doug McDonald

 

Lazy Sundays

2pm – 4pm

Live jazz with some of the UKs best musicians and singers, curated by our Southend friends, The Jazz Centre UK.  What better way to while away a summer afternoon?

photo credit:  Dylan Howe by Alan Smith

 

Next Generation Thursdays

6pm – 9pm

(except Thurs 16 Aug)

Young singer songwriters and musicians from South Essex perform original material alongside creative covers. Performers are all aged 11 – 19 years. Catch the next generation of superstars here. In partnership with SoSlam and Village Green: Next Generation. Open Mic slots available – contact chalkwell@metalculture.com to find out more.

 

photo credit:  Caitlin King

 

Permaculture Weekend

Sat 21 / Sun 22 July

1oam – 4pm (café open till 6pm)

Activities and workshops for all ages exploring Permaculture  – a design process, that helps create intelligent systems which meet human needs whilst enhancing biodiversity, reducing our impact on the planet, and creating a fairer world for us all.  Come along to one, or all of our workshops to find out more….

Book on to the free activities by clicking here!

 

10am – 11am:  The Web of Life: Explore the web of connections to be found in nature’s ecosystems, and why these matter for us too!;  11.30am – 12.30pm: Nature Scavenger Art Trail:  Observe and explore the world around you and create your own eco-collages.;  1pm:  Official Launch of the newly created, permanent, Permaculture Planters;  1.30pm – 2.30pm:   Sound Maps:  Tune in and turn on to the sounds of the world around you, and create your own individual sound map art work!;  3pm – 4pm:  Tree Explorer:   Get up close to find out more about the trees in your park.

 

Run by Spiralseed (www.spiralseed.co.uk).  New permaculture planters funded through Make Southend Sparkle.

 

photo credit:  courtesy of Spiralseed

 

Unplugged

Various times and dates (check Programme at a Glance, below)

A series of acoustic sets peppered throughout the seven weeks by a whole host of talented musicians from Southend and further afield – bringing in turn soulful, uplifting and energising music to the park.

photo credit:  Darren Jones and the World Music Band

 

Comedy Saturdays

Various times and dates (check Programme at a Glance, below)

Join us for a series of hilarious stand-up events hosted in partnership with PINTS. With special guests including avant-garde comedians, comedy writers, club comic and up-and-comers.

 

 

Beauty and Chaos

Thurs 16 Aug

7pm – 9pm

An opportunity to meet our Time and Space artist-in-residence, Kana Waiwaiku working with photography, sound and mental health.

 

NetPark

24/7

15 digital artworks in Chalkwell Park, from poetry tours, stories for children to more mindful meanders, these GPS audio works are in turn funny, moving, thought-provoking and informative. Borrow an iPad for FREE from the Café – or use your own.  Guided tours available – focusing on different artworks and stories each time –  at 11am and 2pm on the following dates:  Fri 20 July (Witch Quest);  Sat 21 July (What Said That? Poetry Tour);  Fri 27 July (What Said That? Poetry Tour);   Fri 10 Aug (The Disappearing Spell);  Sat 18 Aug (Hello, Friend Monster);  Sat 25 Aug (Scentopia).  Places are FREE but limited, please book by following this link.

 

photo credit:  Talking Trees at NetPark by Simon Fowler

 

Geocaching

Metal operates three geocache sites in Chalkwell Park, activating programme, games and activities. See www.geocaching.com for more info and join the world’s largest treasure hunt. Vouchers for FREE café drinks and treats left randomly for lucky treasure hunters throughout the summer.

 

Digital Art Park – Explorers Kit

A summer special! Our NetPark team have put together a family activity pack of all the fantastic, digital fun that can be found in the outdoors. From geocache treasure hunts, GPS poetry and discovery APPs – hours of fun for the iGeneration! Pick up your copy FREE from the café – or download it here.

 

photo credit:  Michaela Freeman

 

Listening Bench

Take the weight off with a cuppa and a seat on Metal’s newest addition to NetPark, a bench with changing audio – from poetry to conversations with artists. Originally part of the Essex Records Office, You Are Hear project the bench has travelled 260 miles, with 32,000 ‘listens’ in its two-year round-Essex tour!

 

photo credit:  Metal

 

Book Shop

Everyday 11am – 6pm

New and second hand literary classics of all genres available to browse and buy with The Book Shop Experience who will be in residence at Café Valise for the summer.

 

photo credit:  Metal

 

Programme to Date – at a glance

Everyday:  1pm: Open Mic: 15 Minutes of Fame.

 

Thurs 19 July:

6pm – 9pm: Next Generation Thursday (Anna-Marie Child’s curates).  (FREE but please book here)

 

Friday 20 July:

11am and 2pm: NetPark Tours (FREE but please book here)

 

Sat 21 July:

10am – 4pm: Spiralseed permaculture workshops for all ages.  FREE – just turn up

1pm: Launch of Permaculture Planters

11am and 2pm: NetPark Tours (FREE but please book here)

 

Sun 22 July:

10am – 4pm: Spiralseed permaculture workshops for all ages. FREE – just turn up

2pm – 4pm: Lazy Sunday Jazz – Avanti, feat. Trevor Taylor. FREE – just turn up

 

Thurs 26 July:

6pm – 9pm: Next Generation Thursday (Genevieve Johnson curates). (FREE but please book here)

 

Fri 27 July:

11am and 2pm: NetPark Tours (FREE but please book here)

 

Sat 28 July:

2pm – 3pm : The Care Home Tour (FREE but please book here)

Sun 29 July:

2pm – 4pm: Lazy Sunday Jazz with Mick Foster & Dominic Ashworth. FREE – just turn up

 

Thurs 2 Aug:

6pm – 9pm: Next Generation Thursday (Lottie Mollica curates). (FREE but please book here)

 

Fri 3 Aug:

7.30pm – 11pm: Unplugged – Darren Jones and the World Music Band plus Nunhead Folk Circle. (FREE but please book here)

 

Sat 4 Aug:

7pm – 10pm: PINTS presents…. Comedian John Dowie Book Launch.  (FREE but please book here)

Sun 5 Aug:

2pm – 4pm: Lazy Sunday Jazz with the Alan Clarke Trio, featuring Heather Simmons. FREE – just turn up

 

Thurs 9 Aug:

6pm – 9pm: Next Generation Thursday (Leo Clemenson curates). (FREE but please book here)

 

Fri 10 Aug:

11am: NetPark Tour (FREE but please book here)

 

Sat 11 Aug:

7pm – 10pm: PINTS presents Holly Burn & Sam Fletcher (£5 – please book here)

 

Sun 12 Aug:

2pm – 4pm: Lazy Sunday Jazz – Digby Fairweather and Brian Dee. FREE – just turn up

 

Thurs 16 Aug:

7pm – 9pm: Meet our artist-in-residence, Kana Waiwaiku. (FREE but please book here)

 

Fri 17 Aug:

7pm – 11pm: Unplugged – Beckie Margaret; Luke & Jazz (of Asylums); Schubert (of El Ray) Liam (of A.C.I.D). (FREE but please book here)

 

Sat 18 Aug:

11am and 2pm: NetPark Tours (FREE but please book here)

 

Sun 19 Aug:

2pm – 4pm: Lazy Sunday Jazz with Tori Freestone & Harrison Dolphin Trio. FREE – just turn up

 

Thurs 23 Aug:

6pm – 9pm: Next Generation Thursday (Caitlin King curates). (FREE but please book here)

 

Fri 24 Aug:

1.30pm – 3.30pm Project 49 presents, Jump up and Join In. FREE – just turn up

 

Sat 25 Aug:

11am and 2pm: NetPark Tours (FREE but please book here)

 

Sun 26 Aug:

2pm – 4pm: Lazy Sunday Jazz with Laura Jurd & Elliot Galvin. FREE – just turn up

 

Thurs 30 Aug:

6pm – 9pm: Next Generation Thursday (Josie Tullett curates). (FREE but please book here)

 

Fri 31 Aug:

7pm – 11pm: Unplugged – Abi Wade; Alexander Carson; South Benfleet Folk Orchestra. (FREE but please book here)

 

Sat 1 Sept:

CAFÉ CLOSED FOR PRIVATE BOOKING

 

Sun 2 Sept:

2pm – 4pm: Lazy Sunday Jazz – Dylan Howe Trio feat. Special guest Snowboy. FREE – just turn up

7pm – 11pm: Farewell to Summer – Special Guest DJs Snowboy & Urban Allstars. (FREE but please book here)

 

 

More details on events and activities to follow soon – please check back here for further updates or be in touch at chalkwell@metalculture.com / 01702 470700