A special UK edition of ‘An Otherwise Quiet Room’, the Melbourne, Australia based video series placing artists (songwriters) in local social spaces, creating shared moments where artists, venue managers, and the host can swap songs and stories in an intimate and relaxed setting.
This edition celebrates the uniquely creative UK coastal town of Ramsgate which over the last 10 plus years has attracted a fantastic array of artists, musicians, writers, film makers and more. The night will be an opportunity for the audience to listen to performers who have adopted Ramsgate share their songs and stories about relocation, Ramsgate and life as a professional travelling musician.
It will be filmed to be put together as part of the UK segment of An Otherwise Quiet Room to be released and distributed at a later date and screened publicly.
Performers: Gabriel Moreno, Ty Watling, Andreas S. Jensen, Alex Gillings & Joni Belaruski (The Great Malarkey). Hosted by John Whitaker.
Gabriel Moreno:
Gabriel Moreno is Gibraltarian singer-songwriter, currently based in London but previously Ramsgate. An irresistibly engaging performer, he combines a latin exuberance and passion with a rare lyrical calibre (he is also a published poet, with 12 books in Spanish and English). Performing on nylon-stringed guitar, he creates a live experience that has been described as ”Taberna Folk” – at once both energetic and intimate, anarchic and absorbing
Moreno’s unique artistic voice lies in the meeting and fusion of different identities. Born and raised in Gibraltar, a British territory bordering southern Spain and just 8 miles from Africa, he has since lived and performed across the world, absorbing influences from music, literature and art everywhere he went. Now considered one of the most compelling and distinctive artists in London’s thriving folk and roots scene, he was previously the longtime curator and host of the legendary Lantern Society folk club, and in 2022 was awarded the title of Cultural Ambassador of Gibraltar. For this special performance he is accompanied by talented clarinet player Alice Jelaska.
Ty Watling:
Ty Watling is a guitarist and songwriter from Kent, UK. He released his first solo album “Fruitful Harvest” in 2012 and in recent years has moved to Ramsgate on the Kent coast where he has had the opportunity to write a lot more. Over the past 15 years he has been fortunate enough to open for many great folk and country artists including Richard Thompson, Julie Felix, Martin Simpson, Emily Barker, Josh Rouse and many more.
Andreas S. Jensen:
Born in Denmark but for many years residing in the UK, in recent years Andreas has made Ramsgate his home. Andreas has an extensive background as a writer and producer and live performer with bands like festival favourites the Dub Pistols. Andreas has also played solo tours in the US, Australia, Germany, UK and his native Denmark. Live on-stage Ramsgate based Andreas bares his soul and speaks his truth in song, giving his audiences, a heartfelt intimate experience, a show that is not to be missed. One man and his guitar stripped down and acoustic.
Alex Gillings & Joni Belaruski (The Great Malarkey):
Alex Gillings and Joni Belaruski are the singer/guitarist and drummer/percussionist/backing vocalist of the well-loved epically raucous 8 piece The Great Malarkey: a band which is able to deliver high energy but also bruising vulnerability. Influenced by the likes of Tom Waits, The Pixies, The Pogues, Beirut, Nick Cave, Fanfare Ciocarlia, Manu Chao, The Dead Brothers and Toots and the Maytals (the latter of whom they supported with only their third gig), The Great Malarkey are riotous mix of musical styles and genres delivered in a “multicultural train of fast beats and trembling slams of punk-folk spirit”.
Drawing on their experience of over six years of extensive touring, with shows at Bestival (UK), the London Olympics, Boomtown (UK), Colours of Ostrava (CZ), Tønder Festival (DK), to name but a few, and mainstream airplay in both the UK and Denmark, The Great Malarkey continue to delight audiences across the UK and Europe.
MC John Whitaker:
Since retiring from the events industry and moving to Ramsgate from (you guessed it) London, John Whitaker has been delighted to discover a vibrant arts scene here, especially rich in musicians and visual artists. He has lent his house as an occasional film and music venue, and gotten involved in helping to run the Ramsgate Film Festival. He is a self-confessed entertainment junkie.