18 Happenings Bring Music, Art and Poetry Back to Friday Nights

18 Happenings is a new, monthly, Chester-based arts event launched by the founder of the award-winning Chester poetry night, “The Speakeasy.”

The first of eighteen “happenings” occurred on Friday the 24^th June at St Mary’s Creative Space, hosting Mancunian poet Mike Garry and The Cassia String Quartet, with support from Jem Stuart, Tosin Salako and Kaziboii, who all took to the stage to rave reviews.

Critic Brian Gorman wrote, “it was an unforgettable, inspiring and magical evening” and St Mary’s “the church on the hill” with its “high, ornate ceilings” and  “shafts of dying sunlight piercing the stained glass windows” was an “absolutely perfect” venue.

Michelle, the organiser of 18 Happenings says, “the pandemic has left us feeling depleted, disconnected and uninspired. For me personally, it’s been difficult to be creative whilst existing in a state of perpetual anxiety and I’ve really felt the loss of creativity as an outlet for my stress and I’m sure there are plenty of people who feel like me. I’ve launched 18 Happenings to quench our collective creative thirst and reunite people through art, music and spoken word. The Happenings are 18 unique events that aren’t just for those people who already consider themselves to be arty or creative, they’re for normal people who are searching for a good night out that gives them a healthy outlet; a way to communicate and connect with people through art and performance. We nurture the weird, the wonderful and the surreal and want our audiences to really feel part of the evenings, rather than merely spectators. It’s important that everyone who walks through our doors feels immediately at home: even if they’ve arrived alone, they’ll leave with friends.”

But, the organisers of 18 Happenings have no time to bask in their success, they’re already busy organising the next one for you all!

Happening 02: Fridays, 7 pm -11 pm at St Mary’s Creative Space.

There will be live performances from local clowns, stuntmen and musicians of which experienced art teachers will guide you to capture your own artistic masterpieces to take home. All art materials and paper will be provided on the night but feel free to bring your own equipment. At the end of the evening, there will be a competition for the best work to win a cash prize, voted for by you.

The local artists’ gallery on the night will be packed full of talented painters, collage makers, poets, photographers, sketchers and more, all ready to capture your portrait, starting from as little as £2.