Monday 11 June 2012

All a Bit Wet. But Everyone has a Smile (In Public)


So what day of the week is it? 

Damp rot of the brain, well what part of the brain was left after the wind blowing through my ears; an extra Bank Holiday; and enough plays of “God Save The Queen” on the television to send the song to number one in the charts for years to come, all have had a negative effect upon my powers of time negotiation. 

I suppose I may not have been helped by entering my third tobacco free week and / or an hour’s radiation during Thursday’s scan.

I suppose I would have to admit that recovery from the Ed Tudor Pole Gig also figured high in the brain scrambling.  In fact I’m still not sure that I’ve fully recovered from Banners High.

A couple of bits of house keeping following Banners High.

The limited edition T shirt proved to be very popular and Mick was over joyed that his plastic bag was empty before the first act on Saturday night had started.  This of course meant that some people missed out on an opportunity to buy a T Shirt marking RAE's first event and of course Ed's visit to Rotherham.  So if we can get 25 orders we'll do a new print run of the T Shirt.  All sizes - and a quality garment for £10.  Go HERE to place order. 

And we've also got a very few Brochures available from the whole event you can buy them at this link HERE

I had sorted myself out just enough to make my way to a Meeting with ROAR’s relatively new CEO, Sharon Gill on Wednesday morning; our first, and very constructive it was to.  Personally I think there was a general meeting of the minds and a general understanding of where we currently are at. 

The keen eyed will have spotted that ROAR has undergone a bit of re-branding recently which is part of the plan to sharpen up the Web Site and services, I really hope that Sharon's enthusiasm and brilliant ideas are not to be lost on the alter of a zero budget and lack of dedicated time to the organisation. 

There's Arts Network Meeting on Thursday 21st June with something they are calling a Pecha Kucha Night, an experience that has me by in life up to now.  All kicks off at 7:30pm at The Arts Centre, Westgate.

We also had a very constructive meeting with the Clifton Park Manager on Friday, finalising the Band Stand for 28th July and looking forward to an event in mid-August that we hope to soon be able to announce. 

Should we get a Summer, Bands / Acts may like to spend a lazy Saturday or Sunday afternoon playing on the Band Stand in Clifton Park for a couple of hours, (yes, it has power, you electric boys), to be considered contact Alistair Far the Park Manager by Emailing HERE

A bit of bad news.  Su Senior slipped on her decking during the week’s dreadful weather and chipped her shoulder.  Ouch!  Sounds very painful to me, but critically she is not going to be able to put the Slamfest Brochure together, so, anyone out there who fancies helping us out by becoming our Brochure Editor, with added Portfolios if desired then please Email HERE

If I didn’t plug Papa Legba’s enough in last week’s Blog, let me give them another big shout this week.  Not only did they have a busy Saturday playing the Town Centre Street Party, the Imperial House Vintage Tea Party AND the Banners High Festival evening event supporting Ed Tudor Pole, but on Tuesday they could be found in the middle of a field in Ravenfield playing at another Golden Jubilee Party, warming up the sixty or so souls who had braved the elements.   Stamina of the highest levels chaps and chapettes, and my Masher hat off to you.  Mind you, Tim looked to be sleep walking when I bumped into him on Saturday night. 

Great to see a packed Bridge on Saturday night.  A big turnout for a rare visit from local Band Goatleaf to The Bridge.   I’m glad that I made the effort to get down as the first support Band of the night The Mudcats Blues Trio were a real treat.  A relatively new Band these young gentlemen will fast be making a huge impact on the local music scene.  Rumour has it that they have already made the Bill of the National Blues Festival. 

A mention to for 6 Needles, for a brave effort in what for their music was difficult conditions.  I’m not sure that staging the event facing into the room really worked (normally Bands face towards the bar in The Bridge) as the sound seemed to bounce off the walls creating a tidal wave of sound with little musical notation, that even I found difficult, so it wasn’t surprising that they lost a few during then set.   I’m told we’ll get a much better idea when they are unleashed in a bigger venue.

But never fear Rotherham friends, Rockin’ Mick was on hand and expect to see details of The Mudcats doing a full set in Rotherham very soon.

With only the only a bit a dusting and tidying to be done after Banners High, it’s now onwards towards Slamfest at the end of July.  We hope to be making all the key announcements over the next couple of weeks, but for those who can’t wait you can check out the line-up of over fifty Bands that will be taking part in the Rock Rotherham Saturday on the 28th July.  Keep an eye on the RAE Web Site and Facebook page status updates. 

I think we’ve left the admin fairly open on the RAE Facebook pages, BANDS do feel free to put your Gigs onto the page. 

Over the next couple of weeks I hope we’ll start to see a further knitting of the Folk / Acoustic listings with the Rock listings and a new site that will turn the spotlight on emerging and gigging Rotherham Rock Bands from across the genres.

The coming week see’s all the usual weekly and monthly sessions.  A mention for new Open Mic Sessions, both on a Thursday!    Left handed Andy will be hosting one at The Travellers, Bramley, while The Masons at Wickersley will be seeking to cash in on the demise of the Vascos night (the poster says a free pint a song, but I think it really means a pint for everyone contributing to the night, however if it is a pint a song The Masher will be heading the way of The Masons very soon, complete with his heavy song book of three hundred songs………. ) 

On Wednesday there is an interesting Festival of Documentaries starting in Sheffield.  Sheffield Doc Fest runs from the 13th – 17th June at various venues.  Full details can be got HERE

A shout to for the start of the 2012 Worcester Literary Festival.  OK it’s a bit out of our normal radius, but this is a Festival I have heard nothing but fantastic reports about, and this year’s programme looks really interesting.   Full details HERE

As it happens The Masher will be down in Worcester this weekend, taking South Yorkshire music to the unwashed of Malvern.  I’m on stage on Sunday, directly after O2 Unsigned Finalist Sam Eden:  really looking forward to that……………….   It will make for an interesting clash of cultures, he laughs.

Saturday at The Bridge has the return of The Bar Stewards Sons of Val Doonigan fresh from their sell out tour of Elsicar along with Pocketful of N’owt new drummer in tow.  It will certainly make for a great night of music.  If you can’t get down to Malvern to see the Masher this is where you want to be.  Last time the Doonigans appeared the audience was rather disappointing, so come on, there is something  for everyone, comedy, folk, acoustic, punk  and pure rock and roll. 

My attention has been drawn to a newish but growing wheeze by some people looking to make a quick buck off the back of artists.  

Create a music Web Site, import music content from Web Sites throughout the ether, Myspace etc, without any reference to the Artists and song writers and use the tricks to push the site up the Google listings.

The first the artist knows of their music being available is when they Google themselves and the Site page is thrown up.  Once on the page you are invited to take ownership of the page!!   So how does that work?    What it looks like to me is someone making money on the back of real artists via advert sales.  Not good.  The general recommendation from good friends of Acoustic Rotherham is tell them to take the page down.  

I really don’t want to promote this site, but many of the acts around Sheffield and Rotherham can find their work on this site.  HERE   Make your own mind up.

Getting your material off the site will be a bit of a battle I’m afraid.

And that’s it for this week.  All the listings etc.  Can be found HERE and expect to find a few changes on the Web Sites in the days ahead. 

Next week’s News Blog will be late because of the trip to Worcestershire.  

Whatever you are doing this week, have fun, support local artists and KEEP IT LIVE

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