Food, Days Out and Travel stories from Brighton, London and the Rest of the World

Friday

We Are The Mods, We Are The Mods, We Are The Mods - Brighton's August Mod Weekender

The final summer Bank Holiday weekend starts today and for Brighton that means the Mods are amassing. The action will centre around Madeira Drive on the seafront with a scooter competition and ride-out; free music from bands and DJs, vintage stalls and this year in the middle of it all, the Big Screen will be showing Quadrophenia and a new Mod musical.


We Are The Mods, We Are The Mods, We Are The Mods - Brighton's August Mod Weekender, photo by Modern Bric a Brac
Madeira Drive, Brighton seafront

Beginning tonight, Mod shenanigans will kick off with dancing and boozing at Komedia from 11pm til sunrise, with tickets still available for tonight, and although Saturday and Sunday are sold out, the Big Weekender has secured another venue for these nights too.

Tomorrow the Volks Tavern, east of Brighton Pier will have free Live bands on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, featuring The 45’s from Carlisle at 2:30 and The Faith Keepers from Spain at 3:30, as well as DJ sessions and a market selling records, vintage and bespoke clothes, art and memorabilia.

On Sunday at 3:00 there will be a scooter competition before a ride-out east along the coast road.  Then at 7:00, the Big Screen beside the Big Wheel, will have a free performance of the new Mod Musical, about the Small Faces band, ‘ALL OR NOTHING’, written by Carol Harrison.  The star studded cast includes actors Danny Dyer, John Altman and Carol Harrison with more celebrity guests promised.
We Are The Mods, We Are The Mods, We Are The Mods - Brighton's August Mod Weekender, photo by Modern Bric a Brac


Finally, while in town, here are the Mod shops to check out:

Modern World Gallery
283 Madeira Drive
Brighton, BN2 1PT
Tel: 01273 567168

We Are The Mods, We Are The Mods, We Are The Mods - Brighton's August Mod Weekender, photo by Modern Bric a Brac

Started 4 or 5 years ago by Neil Sykes, as a result of his own love for Mod culture the Modern World Gallery sells pictures, vinyl and memorabilia on Madeira Drive, forever associated with the Mods and Rockers fight that broke out in 1964.

Over the counter Neil has an original poster advertising Quadrophenia, signed by Roger Daltrey, besides which are smaller canvases for sale and cheaper than similar ones to be found on the high street. At the back Neil keeps his vinyl collection, which may still contain some rare finds from the Small Faces amongst them.




Jump the Gun
36 Gardner Street
Brighton, BN1 1UN
Tel: 01273 626777
Opening times: Mon – Sat 10:00 – 6:00 Sun 12:00 – 5:00

When looking for clothing the most well known and a mainstay of the Mod armoury definitely goes to Jump the Gun, where Jonathan LeRoy, the owner has been selling Mod clothes for the last 20 years. Now sending items all over the world, Jump the Gun only sells new clothes, mostly their own brand, not available anywhere else and specialising in the sharpest slim fit shirts, trousers and suits you can get.

They also have Harrington jackets, named after Rodney Harrington and his American Ivy League look that was adopted by the Mods, and made in the Midlands, there is also knitwear from Scotland plus a range of Desert boots from Loake. This is the place to go for the Mod look influenced by the years around 1963, and this year is the 50th anniversary of this enduring style.

Fred Perry
2 Dukes Lane
Brighton, BN1 1BG
Tel: 01273 776023
Opening times: Mon – Sat 10:00 – 6:00 Sun 11:00 – 5:00

Of course Brighton could not be complete without the presence of a Fred Perry store to style the nation. Not only has this brand always had strong connections with Mod dressing throughout the decades and still going strong, it is now also embracing the new digital culture with its new music site at http://www.fredperrysubculture.com/.

We Are The Mods, We Are The Mods, We Are The Mods - Brighton's August Mod Weekender, photo by Modern Bric a Brac
Fred Perry, Brighton

Log in to create your own playlist and pick from new and rising talent as well as iconic artists, linked to the various British sub-cultures that have emerged over the decades. http://www.fredperrysubculture.com/music-news/7687/bradley-wiggins-and-paul-weller-radio-show



Profile – there are SIX locations in Brighton
3 Dukes Lane, 4 Dukes Lane, 27 Dukes Lane and 55 Ship Street (all cater for men)
Brighton BN1 1BG and 1AF
Tel: 01273 733561, 733086 or 774886
Opening times: Mon – Sat 9:30 – 6:00 Sun 11:00 – 5:00

With snappy dressing to suit any Mod, Profile has six locations across central Brighton specifically catering to the most style conscious of lads, so a look-in to one of these shops is highly recommended.




Pretty Green
15 – 16 Dukes Lane
Brighton, BN1 1BG
Tel: 01273 227117
Opening times: Mon – Sat 10:00 – 6:00 Sun 11:00 – 5:00

Pretty Green, Brighton
With the name coming from a Paul Weller song during The Jam days and Liam’s signature ‘do, Pretty Green has Mod influences at its very core. Pretty Green offers high-quality tailoring through their Black Label collection and everyday signature pieces through their Green Label collection.


Richards of Church Street, Brighton


Hair dressingTo complete the look you might need a coiffure to sculpt your noggin so I asked Mod guru Jonathan LeRoy to suggest where to go for a Mod haircut. He told me to go and have a chat with Roy at Richards of Church Street, which happens to be just round the corner from Jump the Gun so within easy reach if you do decide to go in.
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