Mark McGowan Delivers Bee Facts
The News caught up with local legend Mark McGowan, the performance artist extraordinaire whose art pieces always upset those who deserve it most, writes Michael Holland.
He spoke about his past exploits and his current work and said this two-day music extravaganza – SXSE x RSD25(South By South East x Record Store Day 2025) is “going to be massive!”. It will feature 38 artists. 18 DJs. 4 venues. 2 days. 1 wristband, celebrating Record Store Day 2025.
Dash The Henge Store, The Old Dispensary, The Bear Camberwell, and The Greyhound Peckham, in partnership with Two Tribes, are joining forces again to provide two days of live music and DJs in Camberwell, their little corner of South East London, on Saturday 12th & Sunday 13th April.
Dash The Henge Store will open at 9 a.m., and the resident DJs will soundtrack the first couple of hours for all the early risers, with live music commencing in store from 11 a.m.
Over the road at The Old Dispensary, live music kicks off at 2 p.m. with bands and artists programmed throughout the day and offset with the shop so you don’t miss a beat!
Down the road at The Bear Camberwell, in partnership with Naturalite Sound System, DJs will be spinning vinyl back to back on a dub sound system from noon until late.
Meanwhile, at The Greyhound Peckham, bands will be playing in their basement venue with DJs spinning throughout the day with an extended license so the party can continue into the early hours!
Sunday sees things kick off at noon with another full day’s programming, including a screening at The Bear Camberwell of The Guard, complete with an introduction from The Nickel Cinema and a Q&A with writer/director and Camberwell resident, John Michael McDonagh.
McGowan, though, in between enjoying the sounds, will be The Bromley Poet Tree reading poetry while dressed as a tree, alternating with being dressed as a bee to give out amazing bee facts. “Do you know bees have five eyes?” he declared. Before I could show my amazement, he was off again: “Bees fly by their two vocal cords!” He began buzzing. “It’s the vibrations that lift them up,” he said while rising slowly from his chair. Before I had a chance to ask for some explanation, he hit me with, “Bees have OCD, that’s why their hives are spotlessly clean.”
I was absolutely bee-ed out by now, and he saw my surrendering as open season on bee facts: “Queens fight each other by pooing on each other; bees are from The Devil – My bee schtick at the festival will be: Bee Amazing, Bee Extraordinary…” He was truly buzzing now.
Mark will also be displaying work with the Bethlem Performance Collective at The Kabinett Gallery, the former bus inspector’s shelter, opposite the bus garage at Crystal Palace Parade, all through April.
Watch the full interview with Mark McGowan here: https://youtu.be/zzm4eI5quQw
Wristbands available now on DICE: https://link.dice.fm/o060dbc08cbb
Full schedule and alphabetical artist/DJ list available here: SXSE x RSD25 – Schedule: SXSE x RSD25 – Schedule
