International Connections
VERA BELL
This small town must surely be unique in the number and extent of its international musical connections. Think of any venue – the Kino-Teatr for example with its Russian and Irish connections, Barnaby’s Lounge hosted by international traveller and musician Barnaby Davies, a Japanese restaurant owned by a French musician. Then there is at least one Anglo-German violinist with world-wide connections across Europe and Asia and Africa, one Brazilian maestro with many European connections, and a truly international piano competition. The list goes on. I dare say it isn’t unusual for music to connect the world like this, but so many connections in this one small town are to be nurtured and treasured.
In addition we have many, many, talented and enthusiastic local bands and singer-songwriters of which again, I think Hastings has produced far more than is reasonable for towns of this size. We also have exceptionally enthusiastic and engaged audiences, made up of all classes and races and generations.
Readers may remember last issue’s article about a film exploring the mythology of Latvia, made here and shown in the Art Documentary Festival in Riga. Also mentioned in that article was the fact that, among its many other unique artefacts, Hastings now supports an Anglo-Baltic Electro-Folk outfit, Montague Armstrong Rippengal. They have a monthly slot at the Jenny Lind on the first Tuesday of every month, but here they are, in analogue mode, on the Fattest Tuesday of 2026.
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