Saturday at St Luke’s

Last Saturday (8th Sept) I was glad to play at St Luke’s (the bombed-out church) on Leece St.
The event was called ‘Hobo Market’, a regular Saturday market run by my friends Tristan and Delia Brady-Jacobs.

In addition to stalls selling books, clothes and some gorgeous handmade bits and bobs, there was a ‘listening tent’ for hearing tracks by local artists. Other people performing included singer-songwriter Kaya (who also runs Threshold Festival)

I reckon the bombed-out church, run by the art collective Urban Strawberry Lunch, is one of the few places holding out against the tide of soulless, corporate development sweeping the city centre. It’s a place that offers a chance for contemplation, creativity and understanding in the midst of the urban hurly-burly.

USL do some really valuable work there with the homeless community as well. They only got the place off the council after years of persuading and cajoling, as there were all kinds of horrible plans for tidying it up and revamping it. These guys are the best stewards I can imagine for the place – keeping it as an island of peace and creativity for everyone.