a film about Cleaners From Venus & the Universe of Martin Newell
+ DJ sets from Thogdin Ripley & Nikki Hirst (Long Swords) + Special Guests TBA
Martin Newell is a poet, songwriting genius and the Godfather of British Lo-Fi. ‘Upstairs Planet’ is an independent film about the greatest band you’ve possibly not heard of: Cleaners From Venus. They were the jangly-guitar, synth-driven outliers from the edges of the 1980s, and beyond.
Looking like the “keeper of a 19th-century asylum” – Newell gives us his eccentric, irascible world view and hints at why he’s admired by so many well-known artistes (MGMT, XTC, Ariel Pink, John Cooper Clarke, Mac deMarco, etc).
We’re talking cassette culture, DIY punk attitude and intelligent, poetic lyricism that should have found a much wider audience.
Graham Bendel’s previous films include ‘Derailed Sense’ (about Vic Godard & Subway Sect ) and ‘Billy Childish is Dead’ (nominated for a British Independent Film Award).
7pm doors | 8pm start