Experiments & Innovation on the Roundabout

What is is that makes Roundabout so special? The innovation, experimentation and sheer professionalism in an intimate, friendly setting make the monthly arts club unlike anything else locally.

From the moment Paul Hotton opened the night, it was obvious the audience were up for the unusual. Joined by Dave, an ace guitarist, Paul played flute and accordian for a left-of-centre folksy set. On one number, audience members wrote the lyrics, each line starting with "So English like...", during the song. It was the experimental and artsy nature of Roundabout at its best, and probably wouldn't have worked anywhere else.

Steve Carroll's 'The Oak Leaf', which claimed to be unlocking the secret poetry of the universe, carried on the experimental theme.

Claiming to be a transcript of a computer's optical reading of a leaf, the poem was two minutes of improvised squeaks, grunts and clicks. In a set of powerful, emotional poetry, including the ever-excellent I Love You With All My Madness, this humour was perfectly placed. Steve also had pages from his graphic novel 'Riddler's Fayre' on display, with illustrations by 2000AD artist Jeff Anderson.

The Bamboo Band, as ever, played a crowd-pleasing calypso set, but for the early part of the evening poetry seemed to be ruling. Wendy Greene from West Sussex Writers' Club held the audience well, as did compere Dan Thompson, giving possibly his finest ever performance of Manifesto - a poem that's come to be a Roundabout trademark.

Another Roundabout trademark is the video art of Nathan Bean, and he had three works - all new - on show, alongside his notorious 'Apathy Is Catching' which features two dolls, peppered with matches, catching fire.

Headline act Arrowsmith-Stezaker, who formed to play Roundabout just two months ago, crowned the evening with a polished and professional set of well-crafted acoustic rock. It was a homecoming for the duo, who since their Roundabout debut have gone on to record an ep, and the pair revelled in the occasion. They finished the evening with the first public play of the lead track from the ep, 'Darling There's Not Enough Beauty'.

Singer Eugenie Arrowsmith explains "First I would just read poetry at Roundabout, then I found Jay Stezaker through the Friday-ad and before you know it we are recording an ep and making plans for the album.  That’s the kind of energy Roundabout brings ... positive, motivating, encouraging and experimental. Things happen there and they are always good!"