The Forum Basement

Dealing in sweaty groove and physical menace, Sex Swing are musically tied to an England both squalid and hallucinatory: rain-soaked and rat-bitten but also (genuinely) psychedelic. Because while psych – a contentious phrase at the best of times – is often thought of in terms of beatific hypercolour and can readily encompass everything from jangling 60’s revivalists to bedroom laptop alchemists, Sex Swing operate at the brutal end: a greyscale dockland in a warped hive mind screwed by lack of sleep and haunted by the twisted waking dreams that inevitably ensue. Waves of cranial discomfort tempered by the pure physical release of the music.

For Ash Dodd music is a vital means of expression. A self-proclaimed ‘awkward 18-year-old’, Ash discovered the purest way to communicate what’s going on inside their head is through music. Exploring topics prevalent in the collective consciousness of Gen Z including the mental health pandemic, social isolation and the universal experience of a teenage crush – Ash has an inherent ability to empathise with those around them and speak directly to the listener. Inspired by the emotional soundscapes of Phoebe Bridgers, Billie Eilish and fellow Sussex songwriter Maisie Peters, Ash aspires to transform sadness into beauty and hopes their music can help those in similar situations find comfort.

Irish Music Night at The Sussex Arms – Free Entry

The Sussex Arms are bringing the true Irish spirit to the Pantiles! Join us for an afternoon of live traditional Irish, Cornish, Folk, and old-time tunes with some of the county’s finest session players. If you’re a fan of the Pogues, the Dubliners, or new folk legends like Lankum, this is for you. Our handpicked Celtic Session band is here to bring ‘Trad’ back to where it belongs – in the heart of the pub.

So grab a pint of Guinness, get cosy by the fire, and settle in for some of the best ‘Trad’ this side of Dublin. Sláinte!