Sunday 26 February 2012

Street Cred Top Hats / Great Memories / Busy Tiimes


Hey.  An early start on this week’s Blog in the hope that we can get it published on a Sunday, which is of course the highlighted day.

Good time to remind you that if you want something included in the News Blog or the Mailing we send out twice a week, the deadlines are:

News Blog  Material by the Saturday morning of each week.
Mailings:  1.  Monday Morning     2.  Thursday Morning.
Additions to the Web Site, Diary listings etc., can be sent at any time. 

Well my friends we’re into Lent.  What have you given up.  Mrs Masher and I have given up paying Bills, we think this is the best way to note this reflective time of the year, and of course it will give those who send us Bills something to reflect upon. 

We noted that the pre Lent Celebration of Shrove Tuesday was a fantastic success for our Leader, beside trying to defend Britain from Bankers, he is of course currently at War with The Lords over Welfare Reform, what seems to be the entire Nation over NHS Reform, (so much so that he’s refusing to talk to anyone who is opposing the Reforms! Which is leaving him with a very small circle of friends), and of course there has been much hand wringing over the economic crisis in Greece and the slaughter being carried out by Syrian Government against their own people.   

A weird week, if only because The Masher had an outing.  It was a really lovely evening Session to celebrate the life of Harry Darson.  Not Darkman as one had previously been told, my excuse is that I only knew Harry as Harry.  For those who didn’t come into contact Harry he was anarchic poet who graced the Sessions of Rotherham for many years before heading North to the Shetland Isles.   He was one of life’s big characters, once seen never forgotten.  

Wednesday’s session included many of the local acts who had shared evenings with him and one or two too young to have met him, making for a super evening, and one or two renditions of his poems as well, serious, funny and sometimes just abstract and off the wall. 
So good to see Gill, Jeff, and Em (now there’s a young lady with a fantastic voice and a mean guitar)doing their bit from the Thursday session, Sue Sutherland, Ray Hearne, Steph, Andy Hoult, John, and many others doing their stuff.  Congratulations to the two Toms for organising the evening.  

Yes, The Mashers took their traditional starting position………..   I’m more convinced than ever that it is a deliberate ploy by organisers to see us off by hoping that we’ll electrocute ourselves on the untested equipment. 
  
Yes, and again The Masher was joined on stage by John Statter who did another great job as wing man without any practice.  He’ll also be joining me at The Cannon, Worksop on St Patricks Night and at the Filey Folk Festival; we promise to do some practice before those Gigs.  

One really nice personal moment came at the end of the evening when Harry’s brother approached me. “I remember you when you played at the Rugby Club” he said, “you were crap”!  he went on “But hey you’ve certainly worked hard over the past seven years ‘cos the performance tonight was really very professional.”  

Sometimes people can be too kind.  

Not so lucky with post Gig comments were Cracktown this week.  

Cracktown are one of my favourite duo’s, in fact one that Harry would have appreciated to the full, best described as musical anarchists.  

They played a venue in Leeds on Thursday night in typical style, finding something to say that might make everyone in the audience challenge any pre-conceived or entrenched ideas they might have.   

My Reporter tells me that as a Band of pirates took to the stage Silver Fox popped out for an intake of nicotine to wind down.  He did not return. Indeed the King Rat made his apologies and Cracktown made a swift exit.  It seems a that one or two members of a Lesbian Group out that night, not listening properly to the lyrics of a song, had taken exception to the boys, and having Silver Fox isolated in smokers corner decided they would accost him!!  Fortunately it was only Silver Fox’s top hat that took the brunt of their anger and apparently now boasts the Street Cred scars of audience engagement. 

A warning to us all of the dangers we run when on the edge of social comment. 
To find out what might have upset said audience head off HERE and listen to a few of Cracktown’s ditties.

My Leed’s Reporter tells me that a number of venues in Leeds, even in the student quarter are being populated by a Fascist Group called “Blood and Honour”, I thought this worth passing on.  

Reports from the Doncaster Folk Festival Fund Raiser last Saturday by contrast were fantastic.  There was a packed house for Flossie Malavialle, Fyrish, Paul Pearson + others.  A super evening doing a great job to raise funds for the Doncaster Festival, which I am told is suffering from a cut back in Local Authority spending on the arts.

And talking about Art.  I’m not sure if I’m flattered or not by the use of my portrait as a backdrop for Florin’s Gig at Dada’s.  While I think that the artist has managed to get the proportions fairly spot on I’m not convinced about the likeness to my facial features – and of course the hat is missing. 

Planning on the Festivals carries on relentlessly.  More folks have been recruited to the team and new Partners dragged screaming into the events.  There will be much more next week on this if not a full Blog later in the week on it’s own to point you into the right direction.  In the meantime follow these links to find out what the hell I’m talking about.  BannersHigh FestivalSlamfest Rotherham Busking DayRotherham Open Arts FestivalFringe.

We’re still looking to add a keen and very affective FUND RAISER to join the team.  From the early sums I’ve done this will be a very critical position.  If anyone would like to have a chat about it just Email me HERE

Now, while I do have a fairly good knowledge of local Acts etc., it’s not encyclopaedic.  I don’t know everyone.  So it’s disappointing when people take the huff because they have not been “invited” to take part in Events.  Please be assured that we have an open house policy – to be included simply Email me – that includes any of the Festivals or any of the events run by Acoustic Rotherham.

A Band that I hope will be featuring during our activities is of course Pocketful of N’owt, mentioned here because this week has seen the launch of their Web Site HERE and of course their outing at The Bridge next Saturday night where they will be supported by a bevy of poets including ROMP’s very own Gav Roberts.

We’re moving into what on paper looks like a very busy opening to Spring.  The March Diary Page HERE seems to get longer everyday with new events being added daily.  

This week though the Old Market Gallery Exhibition of Rotherham Graduate Art, “Repercussions” will come to an end, still time to check it out on Thursday and Friday 10am – 4pm.  

However, you may also like to take a look at the opening Exhibition of the ROAR Gallery in the Imperial Building, with the title “One” which starts on Thursday evening with a viewing between 6pm and 8pm.  The Gallery will be open Monday to Friday, in The Imperial Building from 10am – 5pm.   Another exciting development for Rotherham Arts. 

Out of Rotherham, but very much on the radar, based in Hillsborough is the Cupola Contemporary Art Gallery who are running a series of late Winter Workshops at their premises.  Last week they ran a very successful Book Making Workshop, and coming up is Animation and Film Making.  To find out more head off HERE

Also a bit out of our geographical area but nonetheless important, we’ve put up the March poster for the Acoustic Circus events on the Diary page.  Just a pointer to acts who may be looking for an outlet for their music The Acoustic Circus run a lot events throughout West Yorkshire and will always give new names a go.

A reminder that Highlighting History Festival  takes place next weekend at venues around Sheffield.  Starts Friday, when Tina, Matt + will be performing their “A Poor Prospect: Tales From The Workhouse” Folk Theatre – check out where and when and all the other Festival events HERE

I know many of you have been worried about Roy Blackman. Yes unfortunately he has not had the best of Winters with regard to his health which has meant that he has not felt fit enough to get out to the Folk Clubs as he would normally have done, especially with his CD to sell now.  I’m sorry to say that Roy still is not at fully fit so it’s going to be at least another week before we’ll see him out and about.  For those who are growing impatient about getting their hands on one of his CDs you can buy it on line HERE which will also give you a direct line to the additional tracks available in two Zipped packages.  Your CD will be signed, as I have stash of signed CDs ready to go. 

I can assure people that Roy is improving and will soon be back in full swing.   We are holding off a launch Party and a full media assault until he is fully fit.

It’s that time of the year, yes, this week will see the start of the Rotherham Real Ale and Music Festival where many of our local Bands will be playing while the good men of Rotherham sample the Real Ale on offer.  One hopes that it will all be a little warmer than last year!  But I doubt it.  From the music programme there appears not be an Acoustic Stage, but I’m sure there has to be somewhere.  But I can assure you there’s plenty of top local talent on show, with View From S62, Rawmarsh’s finest, seemly playing on each night.  Hard work lads so the very best of luck to you.  All details about the Festival can be found HERE

For The Masher this week it’s Nellie Folk on Monday preceded by a host of meetings, so I will be interesting to see if the body can hold up.  Nellie Folk Rotherham's top Monthly Session Club for Folkies, at The Bridge, Rotherham.

And we shouldn’t forget to remind folks that this month see’s ROMP become a two a month event.  The Bridge (Traditional) ROMP is this Friday (the first Friday of the Month) 2nd March and the new event will be at SNAFU on the third Wednesday of the Month 21st March.  Keep in tune with goings on in Poets Corner HERE or the ROMP Facebook Page HERE

So with the usual reminders that the full Club and Session listings can be found on the Dairy HERE, David Kidman Reviews HERE, and the best way to keep up with everything going on is to be on our mailing list – just fill the form in on the right of the Blog (Blogspot) or on the Acoustic Rotherham Home Page HERE  or if you also want to have the squalid Masher comments then Facebook is the place to find us HERE - I shall leave thee to enjoy your week. 

Have great fun, and whatever you are doing this week, support the local Arts and music scene and KEEP IT LIVE. 

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