Hot Air! / Banners High / Apologies and Dylan What more could you Want

So, not a word in the G8 Communiqué about the need of funds for Rotherham Art Events; this, even though they say that their eyes are firmly on Europe.  Clearly not focussed enough I fear.  I only asked for a Billion quid, I think that’s less than 1% of the Greek debt.  Never mind we’ll just have to look elsewhere, for now.

Talk about a load of hot air, on one hand they want growth in the Western economies, on the other hand they require austerity policies known to stifle growth and confidence, as we will discover as the summer months stats will I suspect prove. 

One thing is for certain it’s not very edifying watching Europe’s Heads of State running around like headless chicken.

But to the past week, a week that supposedly saw the start to Dickie being weaned off smoking.   I must say I was quite pleased with the progress of the first Meeting, “carry on as usual” said the Lady, I rather liked that approach to stopping.   I’m sure it’s about to get tougher though.

I was offered a range of replacement therapies, but strangely the electric cigarette was not one of them, the strict Lady explaining that so far that there is no scientific evidence that they are safe or work.  So I was left to consider the range of gum, (that will pull my teeth), spray (which might hurt the throat), little tablet things (they don’t taste nice apparently, too minty), or the good old patches (which may not, apparently, be enough on their own).  Yes it’s a complicated business.

Session two on Monday of this coming week when I have to analysis my habit, e.g. the triggers. 

It has to be done though, and “we” will succeed.

Tuesday and an on the hoof Meeting with RAE folks over coffee.  Lisa has started to get the money raising message out there in her role of Commercial Fund Raiser, while Mick just keeps coming up trumps with the Bands who will be taking part in Slamfest Rockin’ Rotherham Saturday on 28^th July.  My have we some great stuff going on. 

That was before shocking myself and very nearly killing myself off by going to the optician.  Free this and free that, etc., and two for one, the price you see is the one you pay, but not quite.  Selecting a nice pair of £79.99 frames I sat down to pay and go, but by the time the lenses had been prescribed, “I advise the Gold Varifocal” said the nice Optician, “especially with the big change in prescription since your last visit”, and of course they will need to be anti-glare and photosensitive”, total……………  shall we say that somehow the original figure had been trebled. 

“But you get a completely free pair” the Sales person said, but not photosensitive, and you’re only allowed silver grade varifocals.  She was not impressed when I suggesting halving the price of the first pair, and doing away with the free pair

I’m sure there is some good reason for this marketing, but it defeats my poor brain.

But light relief in the evening by way of a surprise trip out in the company of Paul Pearson and Christine  who very kindly called in at Masher Towers on their  to the Doncaster Folk Club.  Much appreciated.

It’s some years since I was last at the Doncaster Folk Club, I think it was some four years ago when Myke and I raided the regulars at The Railway, which is where they used to meet.  The Club now meets at The Masons Arms which offers cosy accommodation in the back room. 

Unfortunately it gets just a little over cosy when the cliental need to visit the gents, tracking trail straight through the singing circle, a matter of much merriment.   However it’s a little disappointing that the clients failed to have the basic of manners by waiting to break the circle until a song was completed, particularly when Paul was performing and having to find interesting angles to hold the guitar so as to allow the desperate drinker through. 

A really good fun evening among some excellent singers.

A short Meeting with Lizzy at The Council on Wednesday just to bring her up to date as to where RAE were in getting things underway, and to show Jane the joys of the inner sanctum of our new Council Building. 

I made the mistake of doubling the trip up with getting a form from the Council.  It said on the screen “Forms: 0 Waiting  Average time 5 minutes”.  After thirty minutes we left without our form.  Might be an idea for the Council to sort that little problem out.

Guess what, Thursday gave me a chance to get my nose into the pile of paper on my desk that needed reading, continued on Friday, by the much appreciated visit from Tina to discuss staging for Banners High on second June.

The Banners High Posters are going up around Rotherham and at the weekend the fliers and tickets arrived at the door and are now getting out there.

At the moment I’m praying for a bit of rain, on 2^nd June, if only to push Town Centre Party goers towards the cover of The Trades Club for a drink, or two and some great entertainment.

Help get the word out there, if you can hand out a few fliers or have somewhere to put a Poster then contact Mick or Lisa – details HERE

Can I have a bit of a nag.  Dickie Masher, RAE and Acoustic Rotherham go out of their way to help publicise Rotherham based events by sharing links and posters and the rest, it would be nice to see some people doing the same for us – please, especially on Facebook, takes a couple of clicks and ten seconds of your time.  Thank you.

Su has done a brilliant job on the Brochure, given the difficulties of getting the copy together.  A few lessons have been learnt on this one.   The print run is limited so you’ll have to get in quick to secure a copy. 

The mess that is the Jmucreate bit of the Web Site has taken another major step forward with the launch of The Mashers own site, a nice vivid green, chosen because it’s the normal facial colour of our audiences when we finish.   Check it for yourself HERE

I’m sorry, I’ve been asked by several people to comment on the winding up of the Myke Barritt Music Trust, in all fairness to the Trust and everyone involved I’m not saying anything until the Minutes of the Meeting are published.  I believe that this should not be long now.

 

The main details of the Myke Barritt Song Writing Competition, judging to be done at the Rotherham Open Arts Fringe Festival in October, have been published.  There are three age categories so go take a look HERE

We can’t let this week pass without noting that 16^th May marked the second Anniversary of Myke moving onto the bigger session, I hope that like me you have found time to raise a glass to the lad.

Roy Blackman’s CD will remain on line on Acoustic Rotherham HERE

I didn’t have too many spies out at Holmfirth last week for the Folk Festival.  Those who did go had one word in common, “chilly”.   By all accounts though it was once again a fun weekend especially amongst the grass roots sessions, which is great to hear.  I only wish I could have got over to experience the atmosphere for myself, perhaps next year.

A heads up for something that looks as if it’s going to be great fun.  Based at the Old Market Gallery Open Minds Theatre are putting on an Exhibition called “Fabulous Sound Machines”, which is an interactive exhibition of unusual musical instruments.  It all starts on the 16^th June and runs to mid-August the poster will be on the relevant Diary pages..  I’ve asked Steve but he says none of them will make The Masher sound any better.   A must for the Diary.

While we’re on Open Mind productions, don’t forget the two productions of “Taming of The Shrew” being performed in Urdu, 29^th May at The Old Market Gallery and 31^st May in the Clifton Park Wall Garden. 

This coming week we have a standard programme of Sessions and Folk Clubs ending the week with a whole host of Festivals, including Shepley Folk Festival, a Festival that is growing in popularity amongst singers and musicians. 

Next Saturday 26^th May there is a special night for all Bob Dylan fans when The Annual Bob Dylan Night is hosted by Lou (Dylan) Marriott at The Princess Royal (upstairs), Crookes.  It’s bound to be packed so get in early, the music starts at 8:00pm and I believe it’s FREE – although I’m sure some enterprising individual will find something to raffle.

 Go HERE to find all the details and links to the Festival Web Sites. 

And a big apology to The Captain Cooke in Staithes.  From Emails I gained the impression that the Staithes Festival had been cancelled with a new venue having been found at Roxby. Apparently, while running the same dates as those published for the Staithes Festival (which was cancelled) and with the same organiser, The Roxby Singers Festival has nothing to do with the Staithes Festival or Captain Cooke.  Does that make sense?  We apologise for any confusion which was non of our making......... of course.

There is so much bubbling under the surface which I cannot talk about at the moment, it’s all good and should if it reaches reality help in promoting the Artists of Rotherham. 

So posters out, SPEAK UP for Banners High, and whatever you are doing this week have great fun, support your local artists and sessions, and keep it live.