Artists Attending SFW XV
As well as our amazing Author Guests, we’re also delighted to welcome to SFW two of the top artists in the UK … working across the realms of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror
JIM BURNS
Jim Burns is a contemporary British science fiction illustrator. His work mostly deals with science fiction with erotic overtones. His paintings are generally intricate photo-realistic works of beautiful women set against advanced machines and spaceships. While his preparatory sketches are more erotically focused, his final works and published book covers have a more academic tone portraying far off and imaginary worlds. Apart from book and game covers, Burns briefly worked with Ridley Scott on Blade Runner, and his illustrations and paintings comprise much of the book Mechanismoby Harry Harrison. He has also had books of his own works published, including Lightship, Planet Story (written by Harry Harrison), Transluminal, and Imago. Burns won the Hugo award for best professional artist three times and has also been awarded 12 BSFA awards.
GRAHAM HUMPHREYS
Graham cut his teeth with the original film posters for The Evil Dead and A Nightmare On Elm Street and has gone on to create poster art and covers for a wide variety of books, events and DVD/Blu-Ray releases. He’ll have original prints and posters and books of his work for sale at the event, and will be talking horror and art at every opportunity …
Entertainment Guests at SFW XV
As well as the immense pool of talent from Television, Film, Literature and Artwork, SFW XV features an incredible roster of evening entertainment…
LOST VOICE GUY Lee Ridley may not be able to talk but he definitely has something to say and his comedy will leave you speechless. Lee won Britain’s Got Talent in 2018 and the BBC New Comedy Award in 2014. Lee’s other credits include America’s Got Talent: The Champions (NBC), Live At The Apollo (BBC Two), The Royal Variety Performance(ITV), I Just Called To Say… (Sky Arts), Comedy Central At The Comedy Store (Comedy Central UK) and four series of Ability (BBC Radio 4). Lee went on a massive nationwide tour of the UK in 2019, performing 103 shows and selling out venues up and down the country. He’s also performed at the Edinburgh Fringe, Latitude, Comedy Central Live, Galway Comedy Festival, Brighton Fringe, Glasgow International Comedy Festival, Leicester Comedy Festival, Nottingham Comedy Festival and Liverpool Comedy Festival.
Lee’s first book, I’m Only In It For The Parking, was published in May 2019 by Transworld. Lee has told jokes/given motivational speeches for a range of charities and organisations including Sainsbury’s, Barclays and The Royal College of Nurses. He is also an ambassador for Scope as well as being a patron of Smile For Life, Find A Voice, Communication Matters and The Sequal Trust.
POP UP PUPPET CINEMA – AND QUIZ! Ever popular, SFW wouldn’t be the same without em. Your fav Horror movies but in puppet form – this time featuring a brand new show The Shining and A Nightmare on Elm Street! Not only that – SFW are also in for a real treat as the puppets premiere a brand new interactive quiz!
VICTOR AND THE BULLY Armed with a steampunk aesthetic and bringing in a thunderous twisted sound of Guitars, pianos, violins, trumpets and anything we can throw in the mix, ‘Victor and the Bully’ create a carnival blend of music inspired by pop, punk, swing, mariachi, classical and metal to blow the cobwebs away and get the feet tapping! Victor and the Bully have entertained from small stages, large public festivals, to sold out 2500 cap venues playing to all types of audiences from UK, Lithuania, Czech Republic and USA!
MADAM MISFIT AND HER B.A.P.S. Straight outta Lincoln – UK, Madam Misfit is the maestro of mischief, where comedy meets chaos. This ball of energy gives a ladylike spin to Chaphop and Electroswing with vim, vigour, and vaudevillian vocals. Rapper, singer, and rabble-rouser, her witty remixes and parodies, along with original works, unite audiences through humour and self-belief. And that’s not all! She’s bringing her B.A.P.S. along to gather some new recruits! As she explains: ‘Here at the British Aeronautical Piloting School I can take any individual and train them in to a fully fledged pilot – Quicker than one can say… “Up diddly up – Down diddly down!” so don your best flying outfit and come join me!’ Signups on the day; Family friendly silliness: imagine wacky races, catch the pigeon, Carry On, Monty Python and Lord Flashheart all rolled in to one big adventure.
PROFESSOR ELEMENTAL ‘HELLO CHUMS! Professor Elemental here – I’m a Neo Victorian Hip Hop Emcee with a knack for making songs to keep people smiling. But you knew that already!’ The Prof will be gracing us with his presence for the weekend once more, ably assisted by Maxwell – but will he bring Geoffrey this time?!
To keep the party rocking, we welcome back LEVEL-UP LEROY with his own special blend of music and video to keep the night jumping!
After GEORGE COPPEN’s triumphant comedy set at last year’s event, we’re delighted that he is back! George is an actor and comedian who appeared in the Netflix film The School For Good And Evil playing Cupid, and also in the new Willow television series. He’s a regular in Pantomime, and will be performing his stand-up on the main stage.
Another acclaimed returnee from last year is PAUL ECCENTRIC AND THE ANTI-POET. Paul is a published author, songwriter, poet and playwright who’s probably best known as being one half of the comedic beat poetry combo, The Antipoet. He has played hundreds of festivals including Glastonbury, The Edinburgh Fringe, Camp Bestival etc.
After over 40 years of writing and performing, and having several books published, Paul is now thoroughly enjoying writing in his favourite genre, that of Steampunk. His series, The Periwinkle Perspective is published by Caffeine Nights and has been very well received, with a comic series coming later this year. Volume five of the series, The Brotherhood of Man will be launched at Waterstones Milton Keynes on 8th May, 2024.
Paul lives in Aston Clinton, Bucks, with his wife, Donna, from where they run three telephone box libraries and a farm school library, whilst looking after cats; a goat; various chickens and Samantha, the very naughty Herman tortoise.
‘The Antipoet’, Paul Eccentric and Ian Newman, are comedic beat poets with a double bass and a triangle. They have become somewhat successful over the last fifteen years, tirelessly touring the poetry, comedy, Steampunk and music circuits, and appearing at countless festivals including: Glastonbury, Bestival, Camp Bestival, The Edinburgh Fringe, and Brighton.
IT’S A TRAP! A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away… The Improvised Star Wars Show brings you the hilarious, untold, and completely unofficial tales of the Star Wars universe! Taking a title suggestion from the audience, It’s a Trap!fills in the gaps between the films, exploring old characters and inventing new ones, showing us the locations and real stories neglected by Star Wars canon. Every show is a unique chapter of Star Wars, complementing and breaking the universe in new, unexpected and ingenious ways. Truly geeky, hilarious entertainment – whether or not you’re a fan of Star Wars – this IS the show you’re looking for. Nominated for Best Improv / Music Show at Leicester Comedy Festival 2022!
THE JUNKOACTIVE WASTEMAN AND THE TIN CAN TWINS The Junkoactive Wasteman, self proclaimed junkophile. World’s 1st ever Tinphonia player. Playing chopped up samples and live breaks. Whilst working as a freelance bin man, relentlessly picking litter in the backstreets, he drowned in a barrel of toxic waste but was saved by tin cans which fused to his body. No longer a bin man, but part man, part tin can. Unbeknown to The Junkoactive Wasteman, two rival freelance bin men followed his tin can trail and fell into the very same barrel of toxic waste. In so doing, they became the mega dance duo they are today . . . ‘The Tin Can Twins’. Now outcast from polite society and rejected by those they once called friends, the tinny trio are feted to travel the wastelands. Mouth and skin now bound to the tin, the Wasteman can barely speak an understandable sentence, so is forced to communicate via the use of breakbeats and gnarly bass lines, whipping audiences into a frenzy wherever his Tinphonia contraption is brought to life!
EXPERIMENTAL SONIC MACHINES A triumphant return for SFW’s cult hero. Grab your tin foil hat and get ready to Conga. Everything used on stage is completely fully homemade. Bonkers and truly brilliant!
GRAHAM GRAHAM BECK He’s not been the same since he found SFW – the Action Man With a Giraffe’s Head has been busy working on some new material especially for SFW, so get ready to boogie to some inexplicably catchy tunes about everyday household objects … and UFOs. Graham has recently been featured on Radio 6 Music as he continues his rise through a parallel Universe of Pop.
Karen Woodham is the founder and owner of the Blazing Minds. She is also a Cinema reviewer and works with RealD 3D reviewing the latest 3D releases and IMAX, she has also had several articles published in various publications including the first edition of SFW Magazine. In 2015 she became an Award Winning Blogger and also has her website listed as one of the UK’s Top 10 Film Blogs.
