Independent magazines on stage
A couple of monhths ago I was emailing with the editors from The Fence and The Paper when I realised how much their magazines have in common. Clearly they’re very different from each other: The Fence is slim and focused, while The Paper is a sprawling mass of tall stories and random thoughts; The Fence is a product of London, while The Paper is very definitely Welsh; and The Fence is illustrated throughout, whereas The Paper uses lots of photography, plus illustrations, scribbled notes, and odd bits of found imagery.
But for all that, they share a particular tone that I love. Both have a semi-satirical approach to their writing, with stories that can veer from brilliantly silly to powerfully moving, sometimes managing both at the same time. And both are reflecting on their own particular images of Britain today – they have something to say about the world they find themselves in, and the pictures they create are incredibly compelling.
Emailing back and forth with them, I started thinking about how cool it would be to see them both in the same room, responding to each other. And then I started thinking about the other magazines that should be there. We’re in a particularly good moment for independent magazines that reflect on the world with a mixture of humour and intelligence, and I found myself thinking about Offal’s strange, slightly dystopian vision of the world, and the way that Vittles uses food as a way of exploring personal stories and cultural identity.
And so we’re doing it – I’ve booked the live music room in the basement of The Queen of Hoxton, and on Tuesday 17th June we’re going to turn up for a night of magazine-based fun. There’s a proper stage and of course plenty of beer, and we’re going to do something that’s sort of like a spoken word night, and sort of an independent magazine fan club. The writers and editors from The Fence, The Paper, Offal and Vittles will all take the stage to read out stories from recent issues, so we can get a sense of their editorial visions and where they come from. It will be funny, and sometimes vulnerable, and probably a bit weird in places, and I can’t wait.
Tickets cost £5 and they’re available now. The point of this one isn’t to make money, but I’d love to think we could cover the cost of booking the room, and if it goes well maybe we’ll be able to put on more nights like this in future. If you’re going to be in London on the 17th, book your place and I’ll see you there for a night of independent magazines on stage.
Book your tickets to see The Fence, The Paper, Offal and Vittles
The Queen of Hoxton, 1 Curtain Road, London EC2A 3JX
Tuesday 17th June, 6pm
the-fence.com
thepaper.bigcartel.com
offaloffaloffal.com
vittlesmagazine.com
