In tribute to the passing of the great man, this week’s What’s On In Camden focuses on David Bowie related events. Bloc Bar in Camden celebrated with a David Bowie themed party on Sunday 18th; there’s Variety of Kings comedy at the Star of King’s – organiser Katie Pritchard gives us a David Bowie song; you can be a Hero just for one day by heading for Keat’s House to see the Heroes and Heroines family day; Ziggy Stardust would have understood a man like John Dee—Elizabethan physician, alchemist and mystic; Let’s Dance! at Cecil Sharp House for a ceilidh; there’s a new Starman in the sky and you can go look for him at the Hampstead Observatory every Friday and Saturday night.

File download (14:12 mins | 13 MB)

Katie Pritchard is a stand-up comic, musical genius and creator of the Variety of Kings – a new night of comedy at the Star of Kings on York Way. It’s a night that pulls together some of the whackiest and funniest comic acts around.

Freddy Chick talked to Katie about why she started the night and about her own experience as a stand up in London, as well as what lessons she has learned from her comedy podcast.

File download (19:55 mins | 21 MB)

In the churchyard of St Pancras Old Church is the mysterious Hardy Tree. A proud ash tree with over a hundred gravestones studded into its roots.

The story goes that the poet Thomas Hardy was its creator, while he was a young architects assistant helping the Midland Railway company. But that’s only a story. No one can say what the true origin or import of this tree is, could it be a truly mystic tree?

Brought to you by: Lester Hillman from the Camden Tour Guides Association and Freddy Chick of Camden Community Radio.

With contributions by:

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Our first What’s On In Camden of 2016: Award winning classical music at the Conway Hall; Boccia at the St Pancras Community Centre; Anthony Gormley exhibits at the British Library; Camden People’s Theatre have festival ‘Whose London Is It Anyway?’ looks at the changing face of the capital; meet new people & dance to Michael Jackson 80’s hits at the WAC Arts; ‘The Story of a Nervous Man’ is at the Etcetera Theatre; Join in landscape gardening at the Castlehaven Community Centre.

Script by: Angela Routely

File download (8:24 mins | 10 MB)

We look back at what has been a busy year for Camden Community Radio. If you’ve been listening carefully then this will be a chance to relive some great moments we shared together. If not, then you’re in for a treat with these highlights from our year!

Thanks for listening and see you in 2016.

Contributions from: Marian Larragy, Catherine Carroll, Angela Routley, N.N.D, Danielle Manning, Jodie Altham, Joseph Hughes, Athos Harber, Alexander Quinn, Freddy Chick

File download (18:42 mins | 20 MB)

Supa Fine Sessions has a live session from an amazing young singer songwriter, Wolverhampton’s Cariss Auburn. Cariss came to our studios before heading off for a gig at the Jazz Cafe. The tracks she did for us are a must hear!

Before that your host DJ Speedy is cracking into music from the best independent record labels around.

Turn up your headphones and get ready for a party!

File download (37:27 mins | 34 MB)

Rob Inglis reads from Charles Dickens’ classic ‘A Christmas Carol’. Rob is renowned for his reading of this story, bringing Ebenezer Scrooge to life in all his cantankerous meanness.

Plonk yourself down with a nice warm mulled wine or hot chocolate and prepare for Christmas shivers down your spine!

File download (8:08 mins | 7 MB)

In this Christmas edition of World of Whoa, your beloved host Catherine Carroll is joined by two special guests. First is Rob Inglis with a reading of A Christmas Carol, for which he is rightly famous. Then there is Dan Carrier, journalist and occasional Santa Claus, from the Camden New Journal to tell us about their Christmas Hamper appeal. In between there’s a song from Gerry Carty and musing on all things Christmas.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Written and presented: Catherine Carroll

File download (21:09 mins | 19 MB)

Join UCL’s Museums Treasure Hunt and support children’s charity War Child; learn about the world’s most famous grump Ebenezer Scrooge; Keats House is holding a free family day on the 20th of December; try something a little different on Christmas Eve with comedy at the Camden Comedy Club; if you’re not sharing Christmas Day with anyone, why not go along to help at Crisis and be part of their amazing work; New Year’s Eve Fireworks are best seen from Primrose Hill, great view and no ticket needed; Kick start the new year with the Camden Street Art Tour; and then put your best foot forward in 2016 with dance classes from Swing Patrol!

File download (8:07 mins | 9 MB)

The ‘Camden Mothership’ was the name given to a recent squat in the former Council offices on West End Lane. It didn’t last long as the Council wasted no time in having them evicted, branding the squatters ‘freeloaders’.

For their part, the squatters said they were there to reopen the building to the public as a community centre and space.

Are the Council right to be so dismissive of the squatters as time wasters and freeloaders? Or are the squatters pointing out an uncomfortable truth about the council’s sale of public land?

File download (6:44 mins | 7 MB)