Rock and Roll with Banners High and More

One big Party.  It’s been a fantastic way to end the week, and we’ve an extra day to recover from the hang over, so Monarchist or Republican, there has been something for everyone to join in on in Rotherham.

I was talking to the Speaker from Republic, the Republican action Group, Ray Evans after his session at Banners High on Saturday morning, and saying how difficult it was for lads of certain age not to have a sneaking respect for The Queen, having gone through the mill of Scouting, Church, and Cadets, where respect for the Crown was paramount; especially in a Garrison Town like the one I grew up in.  But the bottom line is that in Modern Society perhaps the weekend’s celebrations in London are just a bit over top, especially in a time austerity.

But an excuse for one big Party it was.  It was fantastic to see the Town Centre full of people, having fun.  Even better to see people getting up as far as the Imperial Building, thanks to their day long Vintage Tea Party. 

Rotherham Art Events contribution to the day was an alternative celebration "Banners High" Festival.  It was also a positive first step for RAE as an organisation.  From the business side of things we were able to identify our strengths and weaknesses and the logistic problems we face mounting multi genre Art events. 

We split the day into three parts, discussion in the morning, music and words in the afternoon and a rocking Party in the evening / night, in celebration of Art as a tool of Protest.

The whole day was kicked off by the fantastic Rotherham Red Choir.  There is no better way of bringing people to order and concentrating minds than a Choir in full harmony.  There is also no better way of making sure that you have an audience for the first speaker than having a full choir in attendance. 

The first speaker of the day was a Representative from Amnesty International, bringing us up to date with the work being done in Syria and the Middle East in particular and pointing towards the contradictions in UK Government Policy, and the way the current celebrations have highlighted our links with so many unsavoury World Leaders.   The Amnesty site can be found HERE

Ray Evans from “Republic” enlightened us as to the growth in his organisation with Members coming from all Political Parties, the armed Services and public Services.  The question, as to whether a Monarchy was the best way to organise a modern Nation was central to his contribution.  You can find their Web Site HERE

Updated on the need and importance of the October General Strike The Rotherham Red Choir performed a rousing programme of Song.  All I can say is Wow.  For a morning performance, and singers amongst us will know what I mean by that, this was choral songs par excellence.  Our thanks to the Red Choir for a wonderful interlude in the discussion.

Corinna Lutz would the mornings discussions up with a really interesting analysis of the collapse of Capitalism and offering alternative ideas to the established left as to what will need to follow.  Her Book and growing which is strongly aligned to Occupy “A World To Win” are well worth exploring HERE.

What better way to kick off into the afternoon session than by way of Rotherham’s own alternative to good taste with a revolutionary twist to their lyrics, Pocketful of N’owt.  The boys were making their debut as a quartet having added a drummer to their sound, and by gum did they sound good.  My thanks to Mick and the boys for squeezing us in; a band in great demand as no sooner finished and they were off to Elsicar to join in additional alternative celebrations.   If you’ve not yet checked out their Web Site pop over and pay them a visit HERE

Roy Blackman added a bit of his own magic to the event with a taster of his song and poetry.  As ever he inadvertently forgot to mention his CD, so I’ll mention it here and send you to his CD page HERE where you can get your hands on a copy.

We were then treated to a sketch performed by FOF Theatre Company called the “Twin Reich”, a brilliant surreal discussion between Hitler and Winston Churchill.  The Company were also having a busy day, performing their double bill presentation at Rawmarsh High Street Centre, the second play being “Tea and Kisses”.   There’s a second chance to see this production, at the end of June at St Anne’s School, that’s the 22^nd and 23^rd.  Ticket prices likely to be around £5.  On the evidence of what I saw on Saturday it’s well worth getting to the full Production.

More music followed, provided by the majestic Mr Paul Pearson.  A fantastic performance accompanied by Chris Treebeard.  Paul provided us with a demonstration of the power of the quiet word in song as a protest, using in the main the work of Ron Trueman-Boarder who in his own right is a fantastic song writer and other contemporary writers.

The centre piece of the afternoon was the full production of “A Poor Prospect :  Tales From The Workhouse” written and performed Tina McKevitt and Matt Hegarty.  I’d not had the privilege of seeing the full production before so this was a bit of a treat. 

Tina took us for a tour of a Sheffield Workhouse through the eyes and experiences of various characters, ranging from the Governess through to the poor souls at the receiving end of Victorian understanding and justice.   Through the words and music Tina has managed to capture some of the atmosphere and sociology of the period.  Played out as a one hander one cannot praise enough the performance of Tina, an hour and ten minutes of pure concentration.

I’d certainly recommend this Show to all, and if you get a chance to see it take it with both hands.  We will be featuring the Show again in October as a stand-alone during The Fringe Festival. 

To wind the afternoon a performer completely new to me, Chaz T and The Ersatz Jazz Sextet, who naturally enough were a duo. 

A lively mix of upbeat tunes, with jazz influences, in a very professional set, not made easy by the accompanist suffering the order of the twanging busted string early.  I shall ignore the fact that he didn’t enjoy playing the Mashing machine!!.  

Highlight of the set was listening to MC for the afternoon session, Gav Roberts, doing backing vocals to the song , “Methinks We Don’t Protest Enough”.  Great fun.  Chaz T has a CD “Accidental Life of an Anarchist”.  Check out the Rotherham backing band HERE

The performance was a fine way to wind up the day event.  

And what a pity there were not more people to enjoy the debate and superb entertainment on offer. 

OK taking on the Monarchy is probably not the most popular thing to do in a full face off.  And we were not helped by the rain not coming along until the last half hour of our show.  So the Town Centre was full of Union Jacks and street partying revellers, while the united front of Rotherham’s left evaporated into thin air.  He chuckles to himself. 

As an experiment it was a good thing to do, as said earlier many lessons have been learnt.  Those who came along will never forget the spectre of Hitler bouncing an inflatable atlas around, while explaining that everyone was subordinate to himself, and I must say the fetching net tights reminiscing of Hitler in The Producers, will be fixed in the minds of some.  I’d a good mind to send him around to sort out the Rotherham Trades Council.

 We’ll put the financial considerations to one side, after all we’re aware of just how short of cash Rotherham’s Trade Unions are as apparently they could not even finance the Insurance for the May Day March, so a £25 advertisement would certainly be out of the question.  But the pre warning for me was when the Chairman at the May Day Rally turned to Gav Roberts who had given a motivating speech, and recited one of his powerful poems, and said “Ah thank you Comrade for that, despite the poem”. 

Me thinks we have much work to do.

This was an attempt by some of Rotherham’s artists to show some political solidarity with the “left” one clearly ignored.  We all have things to learn from each other, but I suppose one can take a horse to water, yet it doesn’t mean that it is likely to drink. 

I suppose the most disappointing failure of the “left” groups of Rotherham to think outside of the box came in the evening.  Here was a packed event, with an audience made up of a cross section of young to us more experienced rockers.  Not one Group could be bothered to use the evening to promote themselves, even though they were invited to do so. 

I’m sure that this is an experiment that will not be repeated without massive guarantees beyond the fine words of encouragement that are not translated into reality, which is a great pity. 

And yes the Evening section of the day was a massive success, both in terms of numbers and in the quality of the music produced by some top local Bands who played in support to “Ed Tenpole Tudor Pole”, seen here at Rotherham's new Rail Station.  (no it's not finished yet).

Having met one or two rockers and musicians who have survived their era and now live upon their former reputations I was not sure what to expect from Ed.  Well I can report that a nicer chap you couldn’t wish to meet.  Accessible and a true musician’s musician.   

But building the atmosphere was down to the great work of first Brain Bomb, classic Punk played at it’s very best, driving guitars and a beaten out rhythm far better than anything I've recently seen attempting Punk tributes on the WMC circuit.

Papa Legba’s provided some brilliant blues based tunes.  Not much one can say about the Papa’s other than that in this wild and more intense atmosphere they were easily at their best, reminding me in many ways of a slightly stripped back early Dexy’s Midnight Runners.  Great mix of original and covers.

Winding up the support came The Son’s Of El Roacho.  Rockabilly, that’s what it was called in my day, but this is called phsycoRockabilly, an interesting mix of punk and classic rockabilly rhythms: really original work coupled to some classic covers.  

And then the main event.  Well. 

Having played events like this myself I know how exposed one is when facing a full house of excited wound up folks with nothing more than an acoustic guitar, let alone one that looks as if it is being held together by chewing gum and string.

But Ed “Tenpole Tudor” Pole is a true entertainer from the top draw quickly winning the audience over with his brand of rock and roll; original songs based on his experiences, and some quick fire Chuck Berry and other classics. 

Where the hour went I’m not sure.  And when he finished off with three from his Tenpole Tudor days it just made the evening.  And Ed can still do the jumps in “Swords of Thousand Men”.    The “Wunderbar” finale was just perfect. 

If you’ve not yet checked out Ed’s more recent material you can check it out on Utube HERE This links you to “You’re Not a Punk”  a song I personally found hilarious.  Especially as I had spent much of the evening being told that the evening was not a Folk night, so why was I doing the introductions.  Ed’s own Web Site can be found HERE

In fact I had a great time………….   I could throw in all the bits I can’t do after a Mashers set like “do you want more?  You’ll have to shout louder than that!!” 

A good night to end a good day.  And now we have a clear direction for Rotherham Art Events.

My thanks go out to all the RAE Team for doing everything asked of them and more.  

We had a limited run of T Shirts printed for the occasion.  We could have sold loads more on the night, so if you were one of those who missed out and would like a T Shirt to remember the night by and RAE’s first big event, then Email me HERE or go HERE to find out how you might be able to get your hands on one.

We’ve also some Souvenir Brochures of the Day left over.   Available for only .75p + postage   Worth it for the original cover art from Karen Gilmore alone.   Order HERE

Additional photographs from Linda Gamston and Mick Hill.  All the pictures can be found in Slide Show HERE  and the still Gallery HERE

The week was full of music though.  On Monday we had a really pleasant Nellie Folk session at The Bridge in Rotherham.  Fantastic to see some recently missing folks making it back to the Club.  Well done Roy and Rob.

Friday found me with my bevy of young ladies at The Rockingham in Wentworth.  Oh wow, music back in the Barn Bar.  And it was packed to see local blues band Black Toad rock it out.  I like Black Toad because they are so laid back and accomplished in what they do, and I have to admit I’ve seen them have to perform to some disappointing audiences, but this was something different with no seats left in the House. 

There is an appetite for quality live music out there, it’s a matter of getting the positive messages out there. 

And if all that was not enough my lady spies headed off to Swinton to see Swansong, also on Friday night, and also had a fantastic audience to play to. 

Maybe it was the celebratory nature of the weekend that brought people out, or maybe these are venues either starved of live music or know how to promote it properly.  We will see.

And behind the scenes much “stuff” was being dealt with.  But more about that at a later date, maybe. 

What I will say is this.  Fine words, good intentions, and platitudes, may sound great, they might even provide encouragement but if they are not followed up by positive action, or deeds then it means nothing at all.  Over the past nine months I’ve heard many fine words yet seen very little evidence of anything else. 

RAE has a lot of great events coming up in the future, Slamfest in particular.   23^rd July – 29^th July.  And what a day 28^th July is promising to be with over fifty bands playing in and around Rotherham Town Centre.  It’s going to be day to hear the very best of local Bands.

RAE is growing it’s activities quickly, often too quickly for me to keep up with, because of this we need someone who can concentrate their efforts on “Public Funding Applications”, especially now that the Board has agreed a major new Project.   Anyone interested in helping us, please check out the note HERE

Our Commercial Fund Raising activities are beginning to show some fruit, particularly following the successes of Banners High and the high profile that involvement with Slamfest will have.   We also have a number of fund raising Concerts being lined up with local Bands taking the lead, and we’re also helping local Bands by finding venues or recommending their services to venues.  

There will be more about all this in the weeks ahead.

Looking ahead to this coming week. 

All the usual weekly and Monthly Clubs will be meeting and you can find all the detail HERE

My brain is currently all over the place, so forgive me if I forget at this stage of the week to mention something that I should not forget.  However, for a top Saturday night of live music, hit The Bridge in Rotherham, where locals Goat Leaf are being supported by 6 Needles and Mudcats Blues Trio.

So I’m currently twelve days off the smoke.  OK I’m using those electric cigs, but in the words of the boring convert, I’m no longer inhaling four thousand nasty unwanted chemicals. 

Also this week Scan number one.  If you see me glowing around Town on Friday give me a wave.

And that’s it for this week.

Whatever your plans are post Diamond Jubilee, have great fun, support your local artists and KEEP IT LIVE