Southend's musicians and artists come out to launch of the Scene by the Sea at Southend

May 27, 2025

Image Jules Balme, Kosmo Vinyl and Will Birch

Over 300 of Southend’s musicians and artists came out on Friday 23rd May for a private view of the Scene by the Sea art exhibition and map launch at Southend’s Beecroft Gallery.

Will Birch and Paul Shuttleworth from the Kursaal Flyers were joined by fellow Southend legends Jackson Sloan, DJ Snowboy, as well contemporary local musicians David Woodcock, Wendy Soloman and Fiona Nancy and Dave Dulake. Wilko Johnson’s long term bassist, and Harlow raised Norman Watt Roy also visited the exhibition.

‘The Scene by the Sea’ map is the brainchild of former Clash and Ian Dury right-hand man, Kosmo Vinyl, graphic designer Jules Balme and Westcliff musician, writer and former member of the Kursaal Flyers, Will Birch. Together the three passionate music lovers have detailed and mapped the venues, record shops, hip coffee bars and cool outfitters around Southend, Canvey Island and Rayleigh. For the exhibition, the Thames Group of Artists have created new artwork that pays tribute to the cultural icons on the map.

The map starts off in the 1930s in the Kursaal Ballroom and concludes with The Horrors ‘Junk Club’ at the Royal Hotel early in the Millennium. The project celebrates the many diverse music artists to have visited the area; Queen playing Canvey Island in 1974, Fleetwood Mac at The Cricketers Inn, The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix and more, as well as the world class acts the Southend area has produced; Dr. Feelgood, The Kursaal Flyers, Procol Harum, Eddie and the Hot Rods, and The Horrors, to name just a few.

Will Birch said: “The map and the ‘Scene by The Sea’ exhibition are wonderful ways to acknowledge the impact of pop culture in the area. The list of music artists to have visited the area is staggering, David Bowie to Snoop Dogg, Oasis to Black Sabbath, let alone the inspirational acts that called the area home! The map and exhibition celebrates the youth cultures that have influenced the music, and the haunts where the kids gathered. We recall the Rockers at ‘The 77’, the jukebox at the Shrubbery Coffee Bar, the ‘Brit Funk’ club The Goldmine and the Railway Hotel scene. I’m exceptionally proud to come from Southend and of the acts to have sprung from our scene by the sea!”

Kosmo added: “If you like music, there will be something on the map or in the exhibition that will excite you. Likewise, if you are interested in culture, fashion, social history or just remembering some of the areas’ shops, you’ll love it.”

The corresponding exhibition features artwork by the Thames Group of Artist, a collective of artists, painters, sculptors, photographers and film makers, which is celebrating its tenth year of being. The group will be showcasing new work inspired by the iconic pop culture locations plotted on the map. The exhibition will also feature special guest artists including Billy Bragg and Phil Jupitus, along with retrospective contributions from Ian Dury, Wilko Johnson and Viv Stanshall.

The Scene by the Sea map is available to pick up for free at locations around the city. The Scene by the Sea exhibition runs at the gallery from 24 May until Sunday 26 October, Wednesdays to Sundays, between 11am and 5pm.

To find out more visit: www.thamesgroupartists.co.uk