David Gale’s Peachy Coochy Nites kicked off on Thursday, 21st January 2008. It was held in the new bar in what was then ArtsAdmin’s recently refurbished Toynbee Studios. I wrote the following for the host’s website:
Just a projector and 20 images. Just 20 seconds per image. During those 20 seconds the Presenter talks about the image. So simple. So precise. So demanding. This is the Peachy Coochy Way.
David Gale, ever keen to launch a nationwide performance must-have, is to curate a series of Peachy Coochy events at ArtsAdmin’s new, stylish yet reassuring Bar. Each event features five Coochers, or Presenters, drawn from many walks of life. Each Coocher will compose a verbal response to 20 images of their choice. The images need not be narratively linked but randomness is frowned upon. Thematic associations are embraced. Each presentation lasts 6 minutes and 40 seconds. There will be gaps between presentations for drinking and light conversation.
It might be that a typical Peachy Coochy event contains contributions from, say, a reliable yet inevitably narcissistic performer, a lepidopterist, a nun, a surgeon, a robber. We shall see. I can’t wait, personally.
David Gale, something of a Black Belt in these matters, will both compere and present in the course of the novel and fabulous evening.
After presenting a few Peachy evenings I found that I was referring to the presenters as ‘coocheurs’ rather than ‘coochers’. I felt that this added something rather exotic and sophisticated to the events. Then I found out what ‘coucheur’ meant in French.
I built up a mailing list and sent out a monthly announcement. Some of these ads are individually linked below. Each ad contains chunks of repeated, basic info that can be skipped.
After a few gigs The Guardian came to visit and ran this.