Leeds Alternative Comic Fair back in December

The free Leeds Alternative Comics Fair returns for its fifth outing on Saturday 8th December, and this time it’s got a distinctly seasonal theme.

The organisers are encouraging everyone to ditch the Christmas shopping and discover a haven of creativity and inspiration from some of the finest artists in the North (and beyond), and there will be plenty of unique and unusual comics, art and crafts that will make great gifts.

Once again, it’ll take place at A Nation of Shopkeepers, a spacious bar that has proved to be the ideal venue with its great atmosphere, interesting food menu and well-stocked bar, and as usual the team will be keeping it intimate in scale so that attendees can have a good look at everything on offer, and get to chat with the creators about their wares.

Exhibitors this time include ‘friends of LACF’ Gareth Brookes, James ‘Couk’ Downing, Kristyna Baczynski, Adam Cadwell, Andy ‘Hexjibber’ Sykes, plus organisers Steve Tillotson and Hugh Raine, and Sean Azzopardi will be exhibiting for the first time, along with more new faces to be announced soon.

It’s on from 12 noon until 5pm and as usual the event is completely free to enter, so come along, have a browse, a chat, a drink and a fish finger sarnie, and pick up some unique presents for your friends and family (and don’t forget to treat yourself of course!)."

• More info: www.leedsaltcomics.wordpress.com Twitter: www.twitter.com/leedsaltcomics and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/385617881507995

Leeds Alternative Comics Fair back in April

The Leeds Alternative Comics Fair is back once more on Saturday 28th April, and the fourth fair is once again going to be held at A Nation of Shopkeepers, which has proved itself an ideal venue with its great atmosphere, interesting food menu and a well-stocked bar. 

The organisers are sticking with the same formula as the previous fairs, with a diverse selection of creators from the North of England, keeping it intimate in scale so that attendees can have a good look at everything on offer, get to have a chat to the exhibitors and choose from a wide range of comics along with badges, posters, cards and other handmade items direct from their makers.

Exhibitors at the fair this time include John Allison, Oliver East, James Downing, Kristyna Baczynski, Dan Berry, Adam Cadwell, Gary Bainbridge and Andy ‘Hexjibber’ Sykes, organisers Steve Tillotson and Hugh Raine plus more yet to be confirmed. 

The Fair opens at 12 noon and runs until 5.00pm and as usual the event is completely free to enter, so get along, have a browse, a chat, a drink and a fish finger sarnie. 

• More info:  http://leedsalternativecomics.wordpress.com, Facebook search “Leeds Alternative Comics” or tweet them @leedsaltcomics

Leeds Alternative Comics Fair in October

The 3rd Leeds Alternative Comics Fair will take place on Saturday 1st October, in A Nation of Shopkeepers, Leeds, just behind the Leeds City Art Gallery.

In keeping with previous events, this small but perfectly formed event hopes to bring you some of the best Northern, alternative comics makers, print-makers and illustrators, who will be selling their wares in the quirky, relaxed bar on Cookridge Street.

Don’t like comics? (Surely not! Did you think this was a surfing web site for some reason?) Well, there’ll be lots more on offer, such as craft wear, badges, art and music.

This event's guest list includes old friends such as Steve Tillotson (Banal Pig), Hugh “Shug” Raine (REET! Comics), Gary Bainbridge, Andy Waugh, Gareth Brookes, Helen “Memo” Entwisle, Huw “Lem” Davies, Ben Clark, Kristyna Baczynski and Geof Banyard (Fetishman), who will be showcasing new work.

New exhibitors include James Downing (COUK), Jim Medway, Isaac Lenkiewicz, Kelly Walton, Bob Milner (Milk Two Sugars) and a cameo appearance from Darryl Cunningham, of Psychiatric Tales fame.

The Fair is also reintroducing the communal table, giving non-exhibitors the chance to bring their comics along to sell. All we ask is that you help man the table for a short period of time.

• The event will run from 12 noon until 5pm and is free to enter. Get along, have a browse, a chat, a drink and a fish finger sarnie! More info: http://leedsalternativecomics.wordpress.com, Facebook search “Leeds Alternative Comics” or tweet us @leedsaltcomics

Leeds Alternative Comics Fair back in March

The second Leeds Alternative Comics Fair takes place on the 19th March 2011, 12 noon-6pm, at A Nation of Shopkeepers bar (behind Leeds City Art Gallery). Steve Tillotson (banal pig comics) and Hugh “Shug” Raine (REET! Comics) are again to organise the event.

 "We were very pleased with the way the first fair went last September and it seemed that the exhibitors, visitors and the venue were all happy, so we have decided to keep the format largely the same," says Steve. "The fair will keep its intimate scale and we are pleased that the majority of the creators we chose last time will again be selling their creations.

As before, the event will focus on creators from the North: from the North East will be Gary Bainbridge, Andrew Waugh and Ben Clark, from Manchester will be Adam Cadwell and new to the fair will be John “Scary Go Round” Allison from Oldham. Everyone else is from Leeds and West Yorkshire: Steve Tillotson and Hugh Raine, Helen “Memo” Entwisle, Krystina Baczynski, Geof “Fetishman” Banyard, Dr Simpo, the Black Dogs collective and another newcomer to the fair, Huw “Lem” Davies. The only exception is Gareth Brookes who, although from London, is an honorary Northerner for the day!

 The event promises to be a fun, relaxed environment in which comics fans and the uninitiated can browse and buy comics direct from the creators, without entry fees or table costs and we're sure A Nation of Shopkeepers will again be the perfect venue. It also hosts the “Doodle Booze” drink and draw events run by OK Comics and is a popular gig venue that holds up to 850 people, with great food and drink.”

• Leeds Alternative Comics Fair, 12 noon - 6.00pm, Saturday 19th March 2011, A Nation of Shopkeepers, the bar behind Leeds City Art Gallery, Leeds (Google Place Map here). Admission Free. Web: http://leedsalternativecomics.wordpress.com

First Leeds Alternative Comics Fair set for September

The first Leeds Alternative Comics Fair takes place on the 18th September 2010, 12 noon-6.00pm, at A Nation of Shopkeepers bar (behind Leeds City Art Gallery).

The event is being organised by comic creators Steve Tillotson of banal pig comics and REET! Comics Hugh “Shug” Raine.

“We have both exhibited at the excellent Thought Bubble Festival for the last few years but want to see more events like it in and around Leeds and West Yorkshire," says Steve. "We were inspired by the events put on by the Alternative Press collective in London, the Alternative Press fairs and “Are You Zine Friendly” events, and wanted to try and replicate that in the north, raising the profile of small press comics in the north and staging an enjoyable social event in the process.

"We've selected a range of creators that we feel represent the broad scope within the small press comics scene in the north and make up an interesting selection of products to buy and browse," He adds. "There will also be a communal table for other creators to drop their comics off and sell.

"We wanted to create a relaxed environment in which comics fans and the uninitiated could browse and buy comics direct from the creators, without entry fees or table costs and we’re sure that A Nation of Shopkeepers will be an ideal venue. It already hosts the 'Doodle Booze' drink and draw events run by OK Comics and is a popular gig venue that holds up to 850 people.”

• The blog for the event is http://leedsalternativecomics.wordpress.com