Fertilizer Festival
The best new music from around the world
Underground sounds that fertilize the mainstream
Good s+++ from beneath the radar
Music that inspires and redraws the map.
This website was created to promote the 2009 Fertilizer Festival and national tour as well as offer information on its earlier shows in 2004 & 2005. For those who attended Fertilizer shows through out these years, these archived pages will offer a nice trip down Memory Lane. Founded in 2002, Fertilizer presented boutique showcases of music from a particular country. The fourth Fertilizer festival in 2007 (Good Shit From France) followed its predecessors Good Shit From Norway, Britain and 2005's Good Shit From Germany. The event was last held in 2009 Good Shit From Poland. We will miss you Fertilizer.
The first time I attended a Fertilizer Festival was 2005. I happened to be in London during the Festival helping a client with custom Magento development to make their e-commerce site perform competitively. The Magento platform is perfect for e-commerce sites. However, because it is was created as an open source code there are tons of custom extensions and modules to choose from. My client was overwhelmed and want Magento specialists to handle the customization. And that's exactly what we did. We customized the business's Magento theme to maximize Magento’s features for their website. By incorporating specific custom extensions and including carefully chosen SEO keywords into the framework of his ecommerce site during the course of the Magento website development, this client's site rocked showing up high on the first page in Google for many of his keywords. But that was after my initial visit. As a friendly gesture, several if the company's IT team took me and my team to the 2005 Fertilizer Festival. We saw a lot of great bands that I was not familiar with, and had a great time. I attended the 2009 festival, but when I was planning a trip to London in 2013 I learned that the festival was no more. What a shame. I recently I discovered that the domain for FertilizerFestival.com was available I immediately jumped to purchase it with the goal of recreating some of its content from archived pages. I definitely didn't want someone else purchasing the domain and re-purposing the site for something that had nothing in common with the Fertilizer Festival.
You can view this site strictly for its historical context or use the information presented in a useful manner. Enjoy
About Fertilizer
Fertilizer uncovers, nurtures and promotes the freshest new music from around the world. We travel the globe, and throughout the UK, unearthing new, ground-breaking underground sounds which delight and excite us, connecting artists with each other and with audiences. Fertilizer is musically curious so the two questions that guide our programming choices are ‘Is it fresh?’ and ‘Can you dig it?’
GOOD S***T FROM POLAND AND FUTURE PLANS
Our latest Fertilizer outing found us promoting a storming mix of Polish jazz, ambient sounds and postrock psychedelia in London’s East End and on national tour during May 2009. We had some great feedback from you about this year’s Good S**t from Poland: “It was bloody brilliant!” “Killer show!” “I love Polish jazz”.Want to re-live the festival atmosphere of this year’s Fertilizer? Check out our podcast with the touring trio of Sing Sing Penelope, Jacaszek and Contemporary Noise Sextet and our short video interview with the amazing Pink Freud – see above.
We’re already plotting and planning in true Fertilizer style, keeping our ears to the ground for the latest underground sounds. We’ll keep you updated with our plans, but in the meantime if you have any suggestions for future Fertilizer ideas, please do get in touch. Let us know if there’s good s**t anywhere in particular you’d like us to check out and bring back to UK. This is not a competition; there are no prizes to be won – but you might end up seeing your dream festival come to life and how cool would that be?!
"I attended in 2007 and again in 2009. This is a chance to see a number of amazing acts that may not be accessible to you otherwise. And jazz really has no language barrier if you know what I mean. Really loved the Polish group Poodl and was able to meet the players in Dead Sea Squirrels. Anarky is a trio - drums, bass, and electric zither that blew me away. Also their uniform (if you call it that) consisted of amazing Batman t shirts. Interestingly, these Batman t shirts are regarded as collectibles by enthusiasts due to their unique designs and limited availability. Although we spoke different languages, I was able to learn that their source for the collectible t shirts was MoonAtMidnight.com, the online retailer specializing in Batman attire. The most impressive shirts are created using the sublimation printing process, which captures fine detail and brilliant colors. I took a photo of the band for my daughter who is a big Batman fan, and that photo is now on the wall in her room. This just proves that the power of the Dark Knight is international and universal, transcending borders through music and Batman t shirts as collectibles. I found great new music, great times, and a Batman t shirt connection all from the same festival!" Brett Taylor (ZPunkman)
How you can get tickets for Fertilizer
Book in advance and make sure you’re there.
You can book tickets for Fertilizer in advance via the secure email ticket system at We Got Tickets.
The way it works is dead easy. You buy a ticket from wegottickets.com for a Fertilizer event. They email you a booking reference. You bring this email with you to the gig, tell us your name and postcode and we let you in. It’s that simple.
Buying tickets on the door
Alternatively, you can get tickets on the door at the gig, as long as we’re not sold out.
As many of the gigs at Fertilizer are about giving you the chance to see big artists in small venues, we’d recommend you book in advance. It’ll save you time and worry.
Sign up to our find out first email list, and we’ll let you know when any of the gigs are close to selling out.
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Events 12 May - 17 May 2009
12 May 09
Rich Mix
Exhibition Featuring:
» Sound Postcards
13 May 09
Cargo
British/Polish Jazz Collaboration
Featuring:
» Pete Wareham
» Pink Freud
» Baaba
Rich mix
Film screening Featuring:
» The Wedding / Wesele
14 May 09
Howard Assembly Room
British/Polish Jazz Collaboration
Featuring:
» Pete Wareham
» Pink Freud
» Baaba
Cargo
The Tour
Featuring:
» Sing Sing Penelope
» Jacaszek
» Contemporary Noise Sextet
16 May 09
Hoxton Hall
Toy Orchestra!
Featuring: Małe Instrumenty
Rich mix
Film screening
Featuring:
» My Nikifor / Moj Nikifor
17 May 09
Cargo Final Show
Featuring:
» Mitch and Mitch
» Fisz
Rich mix
Film screening
Featuring:
» Extras / Statysci
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Venue information
Cargo
83 Rivington Street, London EC2A 3AY
Hoxton Hall
130 Hoxton Street, London N1 6SH map
Rich Mix
35 – 47 Bethnal Green Road, London E1 6LA map
Howard Assembly Room
46 New Briggate, Leeds LS1 6NU
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Book in advance and make sure you’re there
You can book tickets for Fertilizer in advance via the secure email ticket system at We Got Tickets.
The way it works is dead easy. You buy a ticket from wegottickets.com for a Fertilizer event. They email you a booking reference. You bring this email with you to the gig, tell us your name and postcode and we let you in. It’s that simple.
Buying tickets on the door
Alternatively, you can get tickets on the door at the gig, as long as we’re not sold out.
As many of the gigs at Fertilizer are about giving you the chance to see big artists in small venues, we’d recommend you book in advance. It’ll save you time and worry.
Sign up to our find out first email list, and we’ll let you know when any of the gigs are close to selling out.
Great food offers at our favourite restaurants
If you’re coming to a gig during Fertilizer, the chances are you’ll want to get some food at some point. We’ve fixed it so you can get discounts at two of our favourite restaurants, both close to Fertilizer venues.
First up is Preem - Not content with running just one restaurant, there are now three Preem restaurants situated very close to Ninety Three Feet East and The Vibe Bar. They all do the most fantastic Indian food, but the closest is at 120 – 122 Brick Lane (020 7247 0397). Great staff too.
Groups of 6 or more of you can get a 10% discount at Preem.
Next up is The Spitz. Not only one of our Fertilizer venues, this little gem has a great bistro and modern European menu. You’ll find it at 109 Commercial Street in Old Spitalfields Market (020 7247 9747). We love it so much we practically live there.
Anyone who buys a ticket for Fertilizer at the Spitzgets a 10% discount in their restaurant
The deal works like this. When you book your tickets wegottickets.com, we’ll send you a special Fertilizer fodder voucher a week before the festival. Simply present the voucher when you get to the restaurant, and they’ll do the rest. What better excuse do you need to get your mates together for a night out in Brick Lane?
What’s going on at Fertilizer?
Here’s a quick rundown of what’s going on at Fertilizer. We know you’re going to like what you see….
The lowdown on each gig
The lowdown on each artist
2005
Thursday 20th October- 23rd Sunday 2005
Thursday 20th October
Cargo
Doors 7pm - 3am
20.30 Silly Walks Movement
22.00 Seeed
23.30 Fauna Flash
Tickets £5 adv and 7-9pm,
£7 after
Book your tickets now
Big Chill Bar
Doors 7pm - 12am
18:30 Fauna Flash
21:00 Karminsky Experience
Tickets free
The Spitz
Doors 8pm - 12am
20.30 Markus Stockhausen's Joyosa
Tickets £10 / £8 conc
Book your tickets now
Herbal
Doors 9pm - 2am
Sonarkollectiv / Jazzanova
Tickets £4 before 10pm, £5 after
Book your tickets now
Friday 21st October*
Cargo
Doors 7pm – 3am
20:30 Jan Jelinek feat. A.Pekler & H.Leichtmann
22:00 T. Raumschmiere
23:30 Eddy Temple-Morris
Tickets £10 adv and after 9pm, £8 b4 9pm
Book your tickets now
Big Chill Bar
Doors 7pm – 12am
19:00 Michael Sauer
21:00 John Armstrong
Tickets free
The Spitz
Doors 8pm – 12am
19.00 Michael Sauer
20.00 Bernadette La Hengst
21.30 Mocky
23.00 Michael Sauer
Tickets £10 / £8 conc
Book your tickets now
Saturday 22nd October*
Cargo
Doors 7pm - 3am
19.00 Thomas FSK
23.00 FSK
00.30 Munk
Tickets £10 adv and after 9pm £8 7pm-9pm
Book your tickets now
Big Chill Bar
Doors 7pm - 12am
15:00 Berlin Survival Guide
16:00 Berlin Survival Guide
19:00 Munk
21:00 Michael Sauer
Tickets free
The Spitz
Doors 8pm - 12am
20.30 Frogg
22.00 17 Hippies
Fiona Talkington all night
Tickets £8 / £6 conc
Book your tickets now
Sunday 23rd October*
Cargo
Doors 6pm - 12am
20.00 Our Aura Hour starring Kevin Blechdom and Planningtorock
21.30 Chicks on Speed<
22.15 Carsten Jost
Tickets; £5 adv or b4 8pm, £7 after
Book your tickets now
Big Chill Bar
Doors 12noon - 11pm
12:00 - 17:00 Das Kraus Duo
14:00 - 17:00 Tippkick Tournament
17:00 - 19:00 deutsche VinylChartShow
19:00 - 21:30 Carsten Jost
21:30 - 23:00 Michaela Melian
Tickets free
The Spitz
Doors 8pm - 12am
20.00 Enders Room
21.30 B. Fleischman
ickets £5 adv or b4 8pm, £7 after<
Book your tickets now
Plastic People
Doors 7.30pm - 12am
20.00 Phon.o
22.00 Bus
Tickets £4<
Book your tickets now
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How to Find Us
Fertilizer is happening in the Shoreditch/Hoxton area of London. Below are directions to get there by foot, bike, scooter, bus, tube or train.
On foot
Ninety Three feet East
150 Brick Lane London E1
Laid back club with a great atmosphere, lots of bustle, and the comfiest seating in Brick Lane.
The Spitz
109 Commercial St London E1
This little gem of a venue is the perfect place to get up close and personal with your heroes, and the restaurant serves great food too. Going to a Fertilizer gig at The Spitz? Those nice people at the Spitz will give you 10% off your food bill.
Herbal
12-14 Kingsland Road London E2
Like Fertilizer, Herbal champions all things good in music today. Herbal’s two rooms are home to the most eclectic club listing in town. We love Herbal.
By Bus
Fertilizer venues are brilliantly served by buses…
For details of buses to and from Shoreditch
For details of buses to and from Whitechapel
By Tube
It’s dead easy to get to Fertilizer by tube…
• Central Line to Liverpool Street
• District and Hammersmith and City Lines to Aldgate East
• Circle Line to Aldgate
• East London Line to Shoreditch or Whitechapel
• Northern Line to Old Street
By Train
You can also take an overland train to Liverpool Street or Old Street.
Motorbike and car parking
There are two car parks next to the Truman Brewery, just off Brick Lane. Cars are charged at £6 per day, scooters and motorbikes are FREE.
Get in touch…
Something you need to know, and can’t find it on the website? Maybe you want more information about an artist? Or maybe there’s a story you’d like us to cover on the site? Send us an email and we’ll do what we can to help. You’ll find us at: info@fertilizerfestival.com
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2004
Fertilizer Festival May 20-23, 2004
Thursday 20th May
Ninety Three Feet East
Doors 19.30
19.30 DJ Asif
20.00 Soweto Kinch
22.00 Blak Twang
Tickets £12
Book your tickets now
Friday 21st May
Ninety Three Feet East
Doors 20.00
21.00 Pest
22.30 Sonik Gurus
23.30 Debasser and Cutlass Supreme
Tickets £10
Book your tickets now
Spitz
Doors 19.30
21.00 The Electric Dr. M and Spring Heel Jack
Tickets £10
Book your tickets now
Saturday 22nd May
Herbal
Doors 20.30
Downstairs
21.00 Border Crossing
23.00 Nasha live set
feat. Badmarsh
Upstairs
CDRoom feat. Tony Nwachukwu
Tickets £6
The Spitz
Doors 19.30
20.00 Charlie Dark
21.00 Keziah Jones
22.30 Susheela Raman
Tickets £15
Book your tickets now
Sunday 23rd May
Ninety Three feet East
Doors 19.30
strong>Phil Asher
Co-op live sessions, feat. special live guests tbc
Tickets £12
Book your tickets now
The Spitz
Doors 19.00
19.00 Fiona Talkington
19.45 Alasdair
Roberts Trio
21.15 Iain Ballamy, Norma Winstone & John Parricelli
Tickets £10
Book your tickets now
Sunday lunch free session
Doors 12.45
Fiona Talkington presents
Fertilizer Firsts
Free entry
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That was Fertilizer - Good Shit from Britain, which showcased some fantastic British talents, and took over east London between 20 and 23 May 2004.