This Monday 27th August - Winstan Whitter and friends screen "The Bastille Concerto " and "Legacy in the dust -the Four Aces story".

Winstan Whitter will be presenting and discussing his brilliant documentary film "Legacy in the dust: The Four Aces story" at a rare screening in Cafe Oto on Monday 27th August as part of the DalstonArts150 celebrations. You can read more about it and get tickets in advance here and on the door. The evening will begin with a very special treat - a trailer to Winstan's latest film "The Bastille Concerto" (see below)

Sharing the platform with Winstan will be the legendary Newton Dunbar who ran the Four Aces Club for 33 years at 14 Dalston Lane until its eventual compulsory purchase by Hackney Council and its demolition to subsidise the redevelopment of Dalston Junction - particularly TfL's £64million bus stop on The Slab above the station. ( You can read here the incredible but true Dalston story of the looting of public funds and of corporate welfare subsidy. Ed)

Also on the platform with them will be Keith Drummond, the former lead singer of the roots rock reggae band Black Slate and a regular performer at, and patron of, the Four Aces Club.

And there's a very special treat in store to start the evening - a sneak preview of Winstan's current 'work in progress'. This is how he describes it:

The Bastille Concerto

Director:  Tony Collins + Winstan Whitter

2018, 10mins

A short taster of a new film by Tony Collins and Winstan Whitter. 

The Bastille Concerto is the story of a piece of music composed by Malcolm 'Shorty' Jarvis whilst in prison with his friend Malcolm X. 

Now, 70 years after it was first composed it is being resurrected in the UK by a generation of Jazz artists who form part of its fascinating history.

Clifford Jarvis - the son of 'Shorty' who wrote the Bastille Concerto

"The Bastille Concerto" traces the story of a jazz composition passed from father to son and reveals links between Boston USA and Dalston UK and the part played by Pyramid Arts in its former home at 10-14 Ashwin Street, Dalston. The film includes footage of the brilliant jazz drummer Clifford Jarvis, known for his work with Sun Ra's Akestra, Alice Coltrane, Pharoah Sanders and others, who settled in Dalston. Clifford became a mentor to many of the talented young musicians emerging in the UK 1980s jazz scene who have later gone on to win international acclaim.

The film evening is hosted by Cafe Oto in continuation of the DalstonArts150 celebrations. Forthcoming events include a not-to-missed weekend of local artists' open studios on Saturday 8th September 

and an exhibition of art and craft with food for sale at St Marks church hall on both Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th September. 

This short film gives a background story of Dalston's 150 years of association with the performing and visual arts and an explanation of why the character, cultural uses and affordability of the area are again under threat from "regeneration" .

Unmissable opportunity to see Winstan Whitter's "Legacy in the dust - the Four Aces story"

Here's a rare opportunity to see Winstan Whitter's brilliant documentary film "Legacy in the dust: The Four Aces story". It will be screened at Cafe Oto on Monday 27th August as part of the DalstonArts150 celebrations. You can read more about it and get tickets in advance here and on the door.

You can watch the trailer of the film here

The film charts the story of the legendary Four Aces reggae club which started life in 1966 in Dalston's  old 1886 Circus and Victorian Variety Theatre entrance halls at 14 Dalston Lane. The venue soon acquired an enviable reputation and went on to present reggae and soul artists of international standing, and later became The Labyrinth hosting dances and raves attracting thousands of visitors.

The main entrance of the former Labyrinth Club in Roseberry Place off Dalston Lane. The 1886 building was originally a circus, later a Victorian variety theatre and then the Gaumont Cinema until 1963

The film documents the developing cultural scene, with interviews and contemporary film footage, and explores the club's contentious relationship with the police and the local Council and its eventual closure and demolition to satisfy the requirements of the developers of Dalston Junction

The film is one of several which have built Winstan Whitter's reputation for radicaL documentary film making - others include You Cant Move History about the fight to preserve skateboarding on the South Bank and Save our Heritage  about the destruction of Dalston's architectural and cultural heritage. Winstan will be present to discuss his films and to present a trailer for his latest film - which traces the story of a jazz concerto passed from father to son, and reveals links between Boston and Dalston and the part played by Pyramid Arts of Dalston's Ashwin Street in the emerging 1980/90s jazz scene in the UK. (Fascinating stuff! Ed.)

This short film gives a Dalston background story of its 150 years of association with the performing and visual arts and an explanation of why the character, cultural uses and affordability of the area is again under threat from "regeneration" .

DalstonArts150 has been staging various events in 2018 to celebrate Dalston's 150 years of association with the performing and visual arts. Forthcoming events include a weekend of local artists' open studios  and an exhibition and sale of work at St Marks church hall on 8th and 9th September.