Many congratulations to our good friends at Ramsgate Music Hall, named by NME this week as the UK’s best small venue. Bands and music lovers have consistently praised the venue for its friendly atmosphere and superb sound system and the award is fitting recognition of the dedication, commitment and hard work of the team. We love you guys for what you’ve given to Ramsgate – and the UK!
The Hovercraft arrived at Ramsgate Music Hall on Saturday night with a brand new show featuring new musicians and new music with brilliant support from Maggi Swallow’s Really Free Dance Ensemble. The evening started with a thirty-minute improvised dance accompanied by Mark, Paul & Kit from the Hovercraft providing improvised electronic ambient backing. Later the full band hit the stage and rocked sounds new and old until late in the night. As usual the venue couldn’t have been better and the crowd full of Hovercraft love.
Incidentally if anyone in the audience didn’t get their card with details of the free Hovercraft EP download please contact us so we can sort you out – info@theramsgatehovercraft.com
Photos by Susan Kennedy
The Ramsgate Hovercraft will be performing live at Ramsgate Music Hall on Saturday 21st November. The line-up will include ace drummer Paula Frost and keyboard wizard Paul Naudin and the band will be joined by special guest Claire Dugué on hurdy-gurdy. The band will be performing tracks from their LPs Arcane Empire and Cinéma Vérité as well as new material. And we can’t wait to see Maggi Swallow’s Really Free Dance Ensemble who will be opening the show. And as if that wasn’t enough entry includes a free download of the band’s new EP Driftbreaker containing all new material. Tickets are available online and from Vinyl Head Café, Ramsgate.
Paul Naudin and Paula Frost in rehearsal
An Extraordinary Expedition into Sound at The Ballroom, Canterbury on Saturday 25th found six bands from around the country performing a variety of alternative explorations of contemporary rock music with the finale provided by none other than The Ramsgate Hovercraft (once more teaming up with ace drummer Paula Frost). Check out Dig Ng’s Facebook album for a first-class photographic account of the day and Susan Kennedy’s Facebook album for more of The Ramsgate Hovercraft. Special thanks to Jon and Sooz of Sound Pilgrims for organizing such a great event and a particular raising of the hat to Longstone who provided a captivatingly beautiful electronic/acoustic soundscape.
Photo: Dik Ng
Photo: Susan Kennedy
Photo: Dik Ng
Here is the latest video of The Ramsgate Hovercraft, joined by Ray Gun drummer Paula Frost, performing live at Ramsgate Music Hall on 28th February 2015. The medley consists of If Then Else and Enceladus (from the album Arcane Empire) followed by A Complex Dream (from the album Cinéma Vérité). Camera work by Andy Barrett and Margot Bandola.
And don’t forget that the band will be appearing live on 25th April when they will be headlining An Extraordinary Expedition at The Ballroom Canterbury – tickets available here.
Surrounded by the entrancing and sometimes disturbing work of Margot Bandola at Pie Factory Margate on Friday, The Ramsgate Hovercraft performed two extended ambient electronic improvisations. The band’s musical response to the environment was assisted by an appreciative crowd and several dogs who occasionally voiced their approval. The experience could only have been enhanced had a mysterious and beautiful dancer emerged to perform a magical improvised dance as the band played. Which was exactly what happened. It felt like a blessing.
Found Out, Caught and Tried is on at Pie Factory Margate until 31st March
Photo by Dik Ng
Pie Factory Margate is currently hosting Found Out, Caught and Tried, an inspiring exhibition of paintings by Margot Bandola including many new works. And this Friday, 27th March, The Ramsgate Hovercraft will be there playing an extended ambient improvisation between 6pm and 8:30pm. Join us on Friday to enjoy art and music in a great venue.
