Almost Desk Bound but the Spies Are Out

2012 seems to be flying ahead, and leaving me behind a bit.

So it’s hard to believe that Acoustic Rotherham 14 is already upon me!   I’m currently held up because of confirmation required for the venue…………… so Acts please stand by your beds.  There’s a brilliant line up as well.  So whatever happens, somewhere in Rawmarsh next Sunday 29^th January around 1:30pm we’ll all be getting together.   Watch your In-boxes and the Web Site HERE  

It’s not fun being desk bound for much of the time and not being able to get out to sample the great things that are going on, but my spies are doing a great job at keeping me informed. 

Paul Pearson’s outing with Chris Treebeard at the Red House last Sunday along with some of their friends appears to have been a great success with Paul being in great form.  So good was the evening that they have been re-booked next Month 12^th February, the music kicks off around 7:30pm.

There was another great night for people at the Handsworth Folk Club where Rob Slow and John Statter entertained the troops royally with songs and tunes.   Well done lads.

I’m also told that the Shanty UK Gathering at Goole was a great success.  Mr Kidman plus Masher Roadies in Chief Sue and Barry were all in attendance and making contributions to the days entertainment. 

On Friday another event that I would have loved to have got to was Pub Scrawl in Sheffield.  The brain child of local artist Pete McKee.  What’s more the general concept is one that could be used by other Arts genres.  Pete selected ten local Artists, linked them to pubs, where they exhibited their work for a night. There was a tour and a brochure.  Brilliant.  I’m told that it was a great success with the punters as well which has to be good.  One hopes that there will be more in the future.

While on visual arts matters here’s a heads up for an Exhibition of Art at the Old Market Gallery that has it’s first viewing on 2^nd February.  It’s called “Repercussions” and features the work of Artists with Rotherham roots who have Graduated from Universities around the UK.  Six artists are featured.  The Exhibition will be open to the public each Thursday and Friday from 10:00am – 4:00pm until the 2^nd of March.   It’s fantastic that we have so much talent in the Town it would be even better to have them be able to prosper as artists and contribute to the Arts Community.  So why not pop along and take a look at their work?  Find a link to more details HERE

Cupola Contemporary-Art Annual "Under the Bed Sale" has started!!!  This is where local artists dig out their canvases etc. from under their bed and fill up the rooms of Karen’s Gallery.  Another great idea.  It’s great for the art buyer to, with loads and loads of bargains to be got; so well worth a rummage.   All the details can be found HERE 

And go on Richard, while doing commercials why not throw in Vicky Hilton’s new range of Union Jack T Cosys which are available from Craft Cottages for £5  HERE  they are not listed on the site so you’ll have to send an Email via their contact page. 

And so to music.

  

My attention has been drawn to an event in March which many of you might find interesting the first ever Yorkshire Cajun & Zydeco Festival in Malton from 9 - 11 March 2012.  Now, showing complete ignorance I didn’t have a clue as to what sort of music this was, in fact I’d never heard of it, which I suppose is no real surprise given that I hide away in Folk Clubs.  So I went to the Web Site.  It looks really interesting stuff so if you’re up for something different in March this might be for you.  Links to their Web Site Page in the Festival section HERE

News this week that the Bean Fest line up will be announced very soon.   Link to their Facebook page is on the Festival Page HERE

 

The Wath Festival has slowly moved into the 21^st Century.  Apparently they are soon to announce a link up with the Motorpoint Sheffield Arena, which will help their marketing of the Festival and for the first time allow for on line payment of tickets.  Great stuff.  Again, you can find the Link to the Wath Festival Web Site on the Festival page HERE.   This year Fairport Convention headline. 

My Worcestershire friends have been upset to learn that The Big Chill Festival 2012 has been CANCELLED.  The Festival organisers blame two things, the clash of dates with the Olympic Games and not being able to find an alternative, and, and I have to admit this surprised me, not being able to confirm Bands.  The organisers have said that they are looking to put on a smaller inside event .  

I’m told that several local Festivals are being cancelled this year in June and July because of the Olympic Games, but these are mainly blaming a lack of infrastructure, in that the Games appear to have booked every Porta Loo in the Country, and a lot of staging equipment.  Good to know that visitors to the Olympic Games will be able to spend a penny though.  

I’m always getting enquiries at Acoustic Rotherham as to how an Artists should do this and that, and this week there has been an a sudden growth in questions from the writing fraternity, something we welcome with open arms.  

On the Web Site’s Poets Corner you’ll find two new poems added to the page, I’ll not go into the details here other than to say that they are self-explanatory.  HERE

 

I’d also draw your attention to a local writer who has been experimenting with self E-Publishing via Amazon, Linda Gamston.  Frustrated by a lack of sales / downloads she made her book available for free for forty eight hours.  What a result!  Nearly two thousand copies of her book were down loaded in those two days.  Linda also reports that sales, at a modest price, have been steady since, if a little less spectacular.  You can find Linda’s book available in the Acoustic Rotherham Amazon Shop HERE

David Kidman has sent me a huge stack of Reviews to be added to the Review page HERE I promise to have them published in Monday mornings update. 

And congratulations to The Bar Steward Sons of Val Doonigan, just as we going to press they issued their latest video.  The introduction is to kill for as they appear to have press ganged Peter Dickson, that’s he who does the big announcements on X Factor, to do them a BSVD special.  I’ll have to find out how they twisted his arm if I know Scott Doonigan it will be under hand and some sort of Blackmail applied.  Check it out HERE   

 

So to the week ahead.  

Monday it’s The Mashers home Club, Nellie Folk in action at The Bridge in downtown Rotherham.  A great singers and musicians Club.  Starts 8:45pm.  

Fourth Tuesday of the Month so a reminder that it’s Hillsborough Folk this week, at Burton Street.  

Last Wednesday of the Month and The Bridge entertains the Jazz Open Mic.  The December meeting was one of those disasters that we’ve all experienced from time to time, so all you Jazz Jammers, get down to the Bridge and make this Months a fantastic success.

You can find the week’s fun and games on the Diary Page HERE  

Now, I have been intrigued by the number of hits on the December Diary, and sometimes the April Diary page.  I’ve now established where the bad link is for December and I’ll put it right.  However the accidental hits on April remains a mystery.  THE MESSAGE IS PLEASE IF YOU FIND A BAD LINK REPORT IT – I do try my best but there are thousands of links on the site and unless I happen across a broken or bad link I shall go on in happy bliss just thinking you’re all mad for wanting historic listings………. Lol.  

And finally, my week has not been completely devoid of activity, I did get out on Thursday to a general meeting and chit chat about various projects that will be coming up this year and next.  It’s looking good, so keep your eyes peeled for News coming soon.

Whatever you’re doing this week, have great fun, support local music and events, and KEEP IT LIVE