live music cambridge – New in Cambridge

Coming up in Cambridge …..

Cambridge International Jazz Festival runs from 13 – 27 November, bringing together the many strands of the city’s strong jazz scene and welcoming national and international jazz acts too. With a crammed schedule of vibrant live music at locations across Cambridge and celebrating a wide variety of jazz styles, the programme includes workshops (if you want to learn how to Lindy Hop, now’s your chance!), talks, films, family events and free entry fringe events. For full programme details and tickets, check out the Festival website www.cambridgejazzfestival.info

“Buy less, choose well, make it last” is designer Dame Vivienne Westwood’s message. With this mantra ringing in their ears, Cambridge Carbon Footprint brings us the Sustainable Fashion Festival on 17 November at St Barnabas Church on Mill Road, for all Cambridge fashionistas and for anyone who cares about the huge negative impact that fast fashion has on the environment. You’ll find a clothes swap party, a sewing themed textiles repair cafe, an interactive fashion show, sewing skillshares, a styling zone, workshops, talks and pop up sustainable fashion stalls offering new and vintage clothing. Take a look at www.cambridgecarbonfootprint.org for more.

Sustainable Fashion Festival Cambridge — Image: Sustainable Fashion Festival

So it’s that time of year ….. I’m making a list and checking it twice before heading off to Cambridge Made Christmas Fair which is my go to for original Christmas presents. The Fair is running from 29 November to 1 December at St. Andrew’s Street Baptist Church and will showcase the work of forty four designer-makers, artists and craftspeople. You’ll find a huge variety of handmade goodies including ceramics, jewellery, textiles, quilts, botanical toiletries, cards, decorations, toys and homewares. More details on their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/events/927219054144713/

Image credit: Purplespoon Design

This post is part of my “New in Cambridge” column in the November issue of Velvet Magazine. Read more on http://www.velvetmag.co.uk

What’s On in January

So here’s the first what’s on listing for the year. I’ll update this through the month so do check back every so often and if you know about an event that could be listed, please get in touch via my Contact page.

Just to remind you that if you want a final skating session at The North Pole on Parker’s Piece, be quick as it shuts on 8th January. And if you haven’t made it to the Degas exhibition at The Fitzwilliam Museum yet, get there soon as it closes on 14th January – details at http://www.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk

Railings — The railings at All Saints Passage

6th Camyoga Open Day (also 13th and 20th). Free taster sessions at three locations. http://www.camyoga.co.uk

8th Life Drawing Class. Various days and times. Buchan Street Centre, CB4 http://www.cambridgelifedrawing.co.uk

9th – 13th 7.45pm Company. Festival Players. http://www.adctheatre.com

11th 7pm Introduction to pen, pencil and ink drawing class. 5 weeks. Barton Pavilion. http://www.made-in-ely.com

12th 10.45am South African Writing: Poetry, Prose, Theatre. 9 weeks. St Andrew’s Baptist Church, CB2. http://www.wea-eastern.org.uk

12th – 13th 7.30pm Bring It On, The Musical. Mumford Theatre. http://www.anglia.ac.uk/mumfordtheatre

13th 2pm and 4pm Tim and Tom’s Symphonic Adventure. Cambridge Philharmonic Orchestra. West Road Concert Hall. http://www.cam-phil.org.uk

13th 6pm King’s Voices. Evensong for the choir’s 20th anniversary. King’s College. http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/kings-voices-anniversary-evensong.html

13th 7.30pm Cambridge Graduate Orchestra. Handel, Strauss and Rossini. Corpus Christi Chapel. http://www.cambridgegraduateorchestra.com

16th 7.30pm The King’s Singers with the Choir of King’s College. 50th Anniversary Gala Concert. http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/concerts

16th – 20th 7.45pm Much Ado About Nothing. Cambridge University European Theatre Group. http://www.adctheatre.com

17th – 20th 7.30pm Sweeney Todd. Cambridge Operatic Society. http://www.cambridgeartstheatre.com

19th 5.30pm Migration 2018: Black and British Migration. Lady Mitchell Hall, Sidgwick Avenue. http://www.darwin.cam.ac.uk/lectures

19th 8pm Bringing It All Back Home, Flavors of American Music. The Portland Arms, CB4. http://www.cambridgeamericana.com

20th 7.30pm Sinfonia of Cambridge. Tchaikovsky, Elgar and Dvorak. West Road Concert Hall. http://www.sinfoniaofcambridge.org.uk

26th 5.30pm Migration 2018: Immigration and Freedom. Lady Mitchell Hall, Sidgwick Avenue. http://www.darwin.cam.ac.uk/lectures

28th 2pm Reading Great Expectations. Stapleford Granary, CB22. http://www.literaturecambridge.co.uk

28th 7.30pm Sampson Orchestra. Romance and Revolution: Rachmaninov, Shostakovich and Khachaturian. In aid of Camsight. West Road Concert Hall. Tickets from sally.n@camsight.org.uk

The Locker Cafe

I love King Street. Where else in Cambridge can you have a wet shave, buy a ukulele and replenish your art supplies, all without walking more than a few paces? And now a new cafe, The Locker, has just opened.

Locker Cafe frontage

Co-owned by Cambridge residents John and Adam Hodges, it is a real family affair. Dad, John, had a long held ambition to open a cafe in the city and when son, Adam, returned from a spell living abroad, they decided to go for it. Having acquired their premises in June, they worked hard on a total refurb and opened at the end of August.

They’ve done a great job. The cafe is light, airy and spacious with seating on the ground and first floors and a small balcony for sunny days. Art on the walls, curated by Adam’s mother, is for sale and sculpture is also exhibited. The team has future plans for live music and private hire of the cafe for events.

Locker Cafe balcony

I visited mid-morning and enjoyed a pot of green tea with an excellent white chocolate and raspberry blondie. Service was cheerful and charming. A small breakfast menu includes organic muesli, yoghurt, berries and sourdough toast. Cakes and other baked goods are served through the day while lunchtime offerings include sausage rolls, sandwiches, panini and bruschette. The menu includes vegan and gluten free options.

The tea selection is by T2, an Australian brand which Adam came to know during his time abroad. The hot chocolate is also an Australian brand but the coffee comes from nearer home as it’s supplied by local coffee legends Hot Numbers, who have created Davy’s blend especially for the cafe.

And finally, I have to mention the four legged member of the family, Adam’s much loved border collie dog, Davy Jones, who inspired not only the name of this new venture but also that signature coffee blend.

Opening hours are Monday – Friday 8.30am – 5.30pm, Saturday 9.30am – 5.30pm and Sunday 10am – 4pm.

Instagram @thelockercafe, Facebook The Locker Cafe

54 King Street, Cambridge CB1 1LN