Ray's Gigs

Daily news and reviews of gigs bars clubs restaurants product launches films theatre fashion shows books art galleries hotels competitions interesting places to visit ...and much more!

Thursday 15 September 2022.

Thursday 15 September 2022...I went to two events in Paddington today. 6.30pm to 9.30pm... PACIFIC ASIA TRAVEL - summer party - Huckster, 4 Kingdom Street, Paddington, London W2. One of those hidden gems of a venue that is tucked away behind all the new high rise apartments and venues by Paddington Basin as the entire area has been totally given a new lease of life. Around 150 guests here from various travel agents and press. Around 20 stands from the likes of Taiwan , Hong Kong , Vietnam, Thailand , including airlines, hotels, etc. We chat to some of them...Hong Kong has four flights a day from Heathrow. At 9pm there are a dozen prizes to be handed out via lucky dip names ballot. It started off with some basic prizes before the big one at the end. Main prize was a return flight to Taiwan with a week's accommodation...I didn't win anything. Complimentary spirits n mixers, wines, beers, ciders along with canapes and bowls of nachos n dips. then 9.45pm to 11pm. ROYAL EXCHANGE PUB , Sale Place, off Praed Street, Paddington, London W2. Ex bass playing legend from THE CLASH "PAUL SIMONON" is playing a secret DJ set. My friend who lives in the area told me about this. Paul has been turning up most Thursday's in August and September to DJ at his mates pub. It is a tiny pub, so maybe 30 inside and another 60 on the pavement outside. Paul is outside when we arrive, along with lots of the older Clash Ladbroke Grove posse. At 10pm Paul djs for an hour playing some reggae, some Clash too. It is free entry and i would imagine Paul will be there the next couple of Thursday's. ------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------- Wednesday 14 September 2022....Noon to 7.45pm. THE BIG CHRISTMAS PRESS SHOW at The Business Design Centre, Islington, London N1. It is a 90 per cent female crowd, but I am with a couple of female friends. They both got a complimentary nail manicure and nails painted when there. At the same time i got a back and head massage. A neat stunt happened when i saw two security guys with their SIA badges on their arms wandering about then we had a " flash dance" when the two "security " and six "customers" burst into a street dance routine. Around 50 or 60 brands are showcasing their Christmas offerings. Hard to believe i was at this event for nearly eight hours. Lots of complimentary canapes, snacks, EMISSARY prosecco and coffees throughout the day. Chatting to various sales folks and then sitting down every now and then for refreshments. Many are giving out samples and goodie bags of their products. Here are some of the highlights... PAPERCHASE...will be having many three for two offers. BUYAGIFT.CO.UK and REDLETTERDAYS.CO.UK....Buyagift & Red Letter Days Christmas Gift guides, have everything from afternoon tea, dining, adventure, short breaks, spa’s and so much more. PACT COFFEE...featuring their V60 coffee dripper. ELF LAND...featuring The Lost Wish book to inspire young readers. RAVENSBURGER...children's & family games and CreArt. CARTWRIGHT & BUTLER...various hamper items. New hamper in for £80 is an array of truly pink products, from melt-in-the-mouth butter fudge to a fine bottle of Finders Fruits of the Forest Gin, various biscuits.The hamper makes a great gift for a Gin lover. BAYLIS & HARDING...beauty products and bath and shower products. PIGLETS PANTRY...for deluxe cup cakes, pies and treats etc. HAMPERS.com...various hamper items. RUSSELL & HOBBS....toasters and mixers. REMINGTON...hair tongs and curlers etc...along with shave & groom products for men. They were showcasing their new PROluxe You collection. BIRD & BLEND TEA CO....lots of different teas , my fave was Gingerbread Chai. TREATBOX...packaged and personalised boxed treats in the post. CRICUT...make your own ironed on images. DOBBIES GARDEN CENTRES... We sat down for an hour or so for the nice lunch provide by BERRY & BRIE. At 4pm we sat down for an hour for a bowl LITTLE MOONS MOCHI ICE CREAM and a coffee. From 6pm to 7.45pm NIGHTCAP Bars Group hosted the drinks reception. They have 33 bars in total , including the many Barrio Bars. Three very nice different complimentary cocktails to choose from. A female singer sung some cover versions and Christmas songs. All guests got a £25 UBER credit to help with getting all their bags home. -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- Tuesday 13 September 2022...6.15pm to 10.15pm... COTTON'S SHOREDITCH - showcase - 45 / 47 Hoxton Square, Shoreditch,London N1. Across from this venue, just 50 yards away back in 2007 , i was at an XBox 3 launch party feat three members of The Sex Pistols (John , Steve and Glen ) as they had re-recorded "Anarchy In The UK " for it. It was just before those amazing Sex Pistols five nights (I was at all five shows) at Brixton Academy. Cotton's are London's longest-running Caribbean brand with rum shacks in Camden, Vauxhall, Notting Hill and Shoreditch. We have a nice table in the corner, and the staff are bringing us non-stop drinks and food. Complimentary Caribbean canapes , along with rum punch cocktails and prosecco. Top notch entertainment here tonight... A three piece steel pan band played two sets of 30 mins each. Two fully dressed up female carnival dancers performed two sets of five mins each. SOUL II SOUL legend JAZZIE B played a dj set in the basement area from 8.30pm to 10pm. An enjoyable evening. www.cottons-restaurant.co.uk - Visit their website here. -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- Monday 12 September 2022....6.15pm to 8.30pm MOONAGE DAYDREAM - The Life and Times of Ziggy Stardust - The Anniversary Edition. Private View and Book Re-Launch - Atlas Gallery, 49 Dorset Street, London W1. Legendary photographer Mick Rock celebrates 50 years of David Bowies album Ziggy Stardust. Mick Rock died in November 2021. Sole survivor of The Spiders from Mars band, WOODY WOODMANSEY is here , now aged 72. I got a photo with him that will be up soon on my Facebook page. French singer based in London ANNE PIGALLE was here...her next gig is in Marseilles on 01 October. The book is on display to browse through, along with many of the best photos from it on the walls. Includes the iconic photo of David Bowie, Iggy Pop and Lou Reed together. First published as a signed limited edition, “Moonage Daydream” sold out in a matter of months and became lore among David Bowie fans. Now, on the 50th anniversary of Bowie’s acclaimed album, The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, the book is available once more as an Anniversary Edition, published by Genesis Publications. In time with the release of the book a special exhibition, with a selection of prints by Mick Rock will be exhibited at Atlas Gallery. The photographs by Mick Rock capture the span of Ziggy’s 18-month reign: the early English concerts where Ziggy and the Spiders made their name; Rock’s classic images of Bowie at home at Haddon Hall; Bowie’s collaboration with Lindsay Kemp in the ground-breaking shows at The Rainbow; the breakthrough tour of the USA; the massive sell-out UK tour culminating in Ziggy’s retirement; recording Pin Ups in Paris; and Ziggy’s final swansong, the flamboyant 1980 Floor Show. The book is on sale here for £125. The exhibition is on until 21 September 2022. Complimentary wines and beers for all the guests here.