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Counting under way at Horntye sports centre (photo: Chris Connelley).

The grass is Greener in Hastings…

HOTs election commentator Chris Connelley reports from yesterday’s nail-biting count on a historic day when the Greens became the largest party on Hastings Borough Council just three years after taking their first seat. Labour also made gains, but the Tories lost seats and none of the Hastings Independent candidates was elected. Graphics by Russell Hall.

This week’s local elections proved a memorable day for Hastings Greens who won nine of the 16 seats in the poll. In contrast to their performance nationally, Labour trailed in second place with five, while the Conservatives managed only two and the Hastings Independents none. Continue reading…

The Fabulous Red Diesel: Win tickets!

The Fabulous Red Diesel are offering tickets to Fairy Fest later this month. They’re also very busy with lots of other gigs coming up. HOT’s Zelly Restorick spoke to Kat Lee-Ryan to find out what the band is up to in the coming weeks.

Jen Painter: ‘Show and Sell’

Lifelong pacifist and prolific artist Jen Painter died last December. Her long-term comrade and friend, Ann Kramer, shares the news of an exhibition and fund-raising sale of her work.

Judy Atkinson at Jack in the Green

Jack in the Green – looking ahead to the festival with Judy Atkinson

Rattlebag’s Judy Atkinson gives an introduction to the famous Jack in the Green Festival at Hastings and reflects on her own involvement. This year the fun happens FRIDAY 3 MAY – MONDAY 6 MAY. Report by Jude Montague.

Elaine Delmar stars at Jazz Hastings

For their session on 7 May, Jazz Hastings will be welcoming a true ‘Grand Dame’ among British female jazz singers, Julian Norridge reports: Elaine Delmar will be appearing with her quintet, featuring guitar legend Jim Mullen.

Cherries, chairs, and complexity

Elizabeth Allen reviews the recent production of The Cherry Orchard at The Stables Theatre directed by Frances Viner.

Songwriting #1 – Mike Willis

In the first of an occasional series Resonance FM host Jude Montague talks about songwriting with local exponents. Mike Willis chats about a song he has been writing.

Schoolkids’ artistic skills on display at Hastings Contemporary

HOT’s Judy Parkinson visited Hastings Contemporary on a family day when the whole place was alive and buzzing with tots, mums, dads and grandparents, not to mention a BBC news crew and visitors to the Quentin Blake and Elias Sime shows. Her focus was the Pearls of the Sea exhibition – an eye-popping show created by 400 local primary school children.

© Gregory Heath

Photopia Summer 2024 Open Call Closes Sunday, 28th April

Photopia has announced a new Open Call for its Summer 2024 exhibition, to be held at Hastings Arts Forum from July 23rd to August 4th, 2024. Jude Montague chats to Chris Coombes.

Brightling lambs

Two artists, Geraldine Swayne and Jude Montague, visit Brightling village early morning to see Mad Jack Fuller’s pyramid and are greeted by lambs and a budding spring day.

Beyond Bach

Victoria Kingham saw a wondrous programme of music from baroque to modern, at Christ Church St Leonards this week, featuring two top talents: violinist Max Baillie and conductor Marcio da Silva.

Active travel hustings identifies many failings for councillors to tackle

With half of Hastings’ councillors up for renewal, this is the time to ask candidates for their views on some pressing issues. So thinks Hastings Sustainable Transport Forum, which invited all parties standing candidates in next month’s local elections to come to a hustings and discuss active travel. Report by Nick Terdre, photos by Tony Polain.

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Mad about the BUØY

Sharon Rhodes waxes lyrical about BUØY – playing at Barnaby’s Lounge this Saturday, 20 April.

£40m of levelling up monies for Hastings and Rother

Projects to ease Hastings’ housing crisis have been awarded levelling up funding as part of a £20m allocation to the town which also includes £2.5m earmarked for completion of the long-stalled Queensway Gateway Road. A further £20m allocation has been made to finance projects in Rother. Nick Terdre reports.

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Gary on TV

Gary Willis, Spirit of Invention artist

Gary Willis is a Spirit of Invention artist about photography whose contribution to the celebrations of the inventor John Logie Baird will be part of a group exhibition at Electro Studios 10–12 May. Jude Montague, who is curating the show with Royal College of Art graduate Chris Simpson, takes the opportunity to chat to some of the artists about their process.

Trash Cannes 5-day film challenge – Louise Whitham wins

The Trash Cannes five day film challenge 2024 screening and awards took place on Sunday 14 April at The Printworks. Jude Montague talks to Louise Whitham who took home the trophy for best film.