Ho,ho,ho Christmas is coming upon us fast.
PANIC.
No cards sent and no presents bought, not that I have any money; but
then, who has?
Saturday
night and what a cracker. Just about
squeezed myself into The Bridge to have a listen to The Tom Killner Band. But first an honourable mention for Jesse
Courts who produced one of the stronger female acoustic performances
I’ve seen on a Saturday night in 2012. A
great set of covers ranging across so many song genres – particularly liked The
Queen number. I suspect we’ll be seeing
a lot more from this young lady into 2013.
As for the
Tom Killner Band…….. with a cracking
atmosphere in the pub, Tom slammed out his blues; his guitar technique
shows maturity beyond his years, and
there were signs in this performance that he is beginning to find and
experiment with his own sound more.
Make the
most of the chances of listening to this amazing talent locally as it will not
be long before Tom is heading off to more exotic venues………….
Next chance
to spot Tom locally is on the 2ndt February when he Band at the Goat
Leaf CD launch which also launches the “Live at the Trades” series of Rock
Concerts.
The great
music didn’t end there on Saturday. Mick
headed off to take a look at The Charters where The Sons of El Roacho
were in residence with their Psychobilly punk rockin’. Mick’s verdict, excellent music but what a
pity about that not more were in attendance and where was the heating? Hate to say it, but all the signs of dyeing
pub. The Sons of El Roacho have built a fantastic
reputation for themselves locally and rightly so as they always produce a great
show. It really does surprise me that
they don’t get bigger Gigs to play, especially when you see some of the Bands
imported by Agents from the North East that populate our Working Men’s Clubs
for much of the year.
For me it
was back to Rawmarsh Trades and Labour where Mike Burton and the Soulmen
were plying their wares. Packed
Club. Dancing all the way and a
fantastic atmosphere. Simply fantastic
entertainment even if one is being a snob, the harmonies were not that
fantastic, and on one occasion they even started to sing the wrong song to the
backing tracks…………. but no one cared. Particularly impressive was the way it was
clear that the play list was altered to suit the audience and atmosphere at any
one time, a trick that a lot more acts be they in the WMCs or on the pub
circuit could learn.
A pointer to
two look back videos of Rotherham Artists out and about. The Urban Piano project, featuring a special
appearance by twinkle fingers Vicky Hilton ( a talent she has kept under her
hat from me – probably frightened that she would be invited to become a
Masher). HERE The second celebrates
the brave souls who headed to the Imperial Building Winter Market, which the
Masher could not get to as Son Number 1 was recovering from a hangover, (he has
paid the price. (HERE - only just as I went
to set the link the presentation disappeared from Facebook.)
And the great music just keeps carrying on
into Christmas. Seasonal, hohoho, Leather Zoo set off on their Eurotrash Tour
on Wednesday night and hits Rotherham on Friday. And what a show they have with the best of
Euro Punk from across the Continent, supplemented with a few local bands and
singers, including one of Rotherham’s young bubbling under Bands, Waiting for
Eddie. The Rotherham leg of the Tour is
at The Charters (hope the heating is on and it has some beer) on Friday 21st
December, yes that’s this FRIDAY. The
Tour is travelling the Northern Midlands, and Manchester.
If you’ve
not caught up with Leather Zoo you can find their music HERE. It’s simply classic
Punk and now has a togetherness that comes only from lots of gigging; and that
is exactly what Leather Zoo do, continually touring Germany and other parts of
Europe and even the USA. So for a real
Party get yourself to the Charters on Friday. AND
IT’S FREE
If you still
have energy after this Christmas Party, then The Bridge on Saturday is where you will want to be, with Papa
Legba’s, beating out their rhythms and causing much wriggling around the Town
from 9:00pm
And also at
The Bridge on Saturday evening, something just a little bit different with BOT, that’s Bunch of Thespians to
you and I. From 7:15pm and for £3 to get
into the upstairs room you’ll be treated to a potboiler of serious and comedy
sketches entitled “Here Comes a BOT”.
Worth getting into the Club a couple of hours earlier for one week to
catch this show.
But a quick
step backwards to Wednesday night 19th and the ROMPers
will be having their last ROMP of 2012 at SNAFU; the atmosphere is bound to
be Festive so get down to SNAFU for a poem or two, and everyone is
welcome.
Another of
the monthly events that is bound to have a great seasonal atmosphere will be
the Davenports Ballads singers session at
The Riverside in Sheffield. Bound to
be an atmospheric night for the singers out there. That’s Wednesday.
Amongst all
this activity though it’s sad to report the demise of The Cross Keys,
Handsworth Club. The Club started as a
mixed genre Club with a great mix of music, storytelling and poetry, with a
monthly invited guest. Indeed the Masher
has had several very memorial nights at The Club, where one was always assured
of audience participation and, lump in his throat, appreciation. And whenever I’ve guested we’ve always had a
good audience, but sadly the Land Lord has decided that recently attendances
have not been at their best, and I know from experience myself, unfortunately,
that Club nights have been cancelled, or moved, and while Roy has tried to call
everyone it’s not worked, in the sense that he has failed to contact the full
potential audience, sometimes involving people in long unnecessary round trips. It’s also unfortunate that he still feels
unable to talk to me – so I can’t get the late programme changes out via the
RAE / Acoustic Rotherham Networks.
The word on
the Street is that Roy is currently out trying to find another venue for the
Club. It would be nice if he felt able
to keep me in the loop.
The Christmas Nellie Folk is confirmed for
Friday 28th at The Bridge.
Going to be great fun this as down stairs there will be an eighteenth
birthday party rocking on – and I’m invited to both…… so it’s a guitar in hand job.
The first Nellies of 2013, 28th
January will be in a new format; a new format for Nellie Folk that is; yes
it’s going to Folk in the Round. A neat
circle will be formed and acts will sing one song each throughout the evening. Sounds as if we might have to time our runs
to the bar better. I can see why this
has been done; to try and breathe some new breath into the Meetings, and I hope
that it will work. We can’t afford to
lose another Club in the area.
Speaking of
which I see from the latest edition of Stirrings that The Rock is to go fortnightly, with each month having one, let’s
call it, big name and the second Saturday for more local quality
performers. While the programme is in
Stirrings it has not yet made The Rock’s Web Site, fingers crossed that they
will have it all sorted before January.
The full listings can be found on our
listings page HERE. We will endeavour to keep things current
over the Christmas period. Always check
Web Sites where available during the Holiday weeks as every Club will be making
it’s own arrangements to celebrate the season and unfortunately few will give
changes to the norm wide publicity.
It was
fantastic to see Pete Stone pop up on Facebook yesterday, showing that recovery
from his operation is well underway.
All power to you mate, and given that clearly your fingers have not been
affected we hope to see you out there playing for Pam very soon.
Fans of Mike Harding who have been upset by his
removal from the Radio 2 Folk Show will be pleased to learn that his view on
the Folk scene will still be accessible via an On Line Radio Station and
Podcast. You can find Mike’s new Show at
www.mikehardingfolkshow.com
from the 30th December at 5:00pm. It will then run for the week to be replaced
by the new show. The old show will be
put in a archive and made available as a Podcast.
Charity CDs
and Christmas songs come to my Inbox, / News feed. Thanks guys.
So let’s point you to some goodies starting with the Liverpool
Hillsborough Fund’s “He’s Not Heavy He’s My Brother”. It’s available as a hard copy for £2 and 89p
as an MP3 Download from our Amazon Store HERE
Being a complete snob, you will not find the XFactor recording in our store. Being a bit cynical or judgemental; finding it strange that Simon has decided to make the Xfactor recording a Charity Record.
Here’s
something for nought – a performance live from his kitchen or shed from Germany
Based Alan Moorhouse “Oh Sod It!
Here Comes Christmas”, surely a must for next years NOW Christmas Album (you know that you’re getting old when you
can remember the first twenty track version on vinyl – it’s now a three CD
Collection!) Alan’s song is HERE While closer to home the Bar Steward Son’s of Val Doonigan have launched their Christmas
video. Be afraid, as they launch into a
typical BSS version of “Do They Know It’s Christmas” , it’s something I’ve
often wondered about Bansley, indeed often wondered if Barnsley knew that there
was life beyond Tesco. Find it HERE
There are
also some excellent tracks released by good friends of Acoustic Rotherham and
RAE. Dylan fans will be interested in young John McCullagh, yes, he who made
his debut on stage during the Fringe Festival in Rotherham, who has recorded
some cover versions of Dylan songs which he has put on SoundCloud HERE The recordings demonstrate the
talent this young man has. I can also
report he is already building a fine reputation for himself around the County.
Dylan Brierley another young gentleman
who is building a fine reputation has his EP Black Sheep available. We’ve got it in our Amazon Store for just
under three quid for the download. HERE
It’s excellent.
And one from
one of Yorkshire Folk’s unsung heroes of promoters and singers, Stephen Mathews of the Acoustic G
String Fame has released a song of his very own “Albatross”. Great to see Stephen flourishing out there;
and incidentally, he writes a mean News Letter as well. Check out his song HERE
And here's a bit of my favourite blues man from the North of the County, if only because he's let me play with his former girl friend's wooden leg. Chris Martin. If you've not had him at your Club, he's a must. Click HERE
And there’s
still time, especially if you’re stumped for a Christmas present, to buy one of
the astonishing Slamfest T shirts
for the remarkable price of £4 plus bus fare to Rotherham Town Centre to pick
them up. Details of how to order HERE
More
Christmas goodies, and you might find some unique presents at the Swinton Lock
Art Centre. Pop in, and there are some
excellent bargains to be had in the Sale they have on. More details HERE
And who
remembers our man from Germany Kurt.
Back in April he played to a very select yet sensationally appreciative
audience at The Bridge. Kurt has a new
CD out, and he promises to have it in the post to you before Christmas if you
order before 11pm on 24th December.
When it’s delivered, that will be
anyone’s guess. Email Kurt for more details
On RAE matters. The programme for “Live At The Trades” continues to take shape. This week we’ve added The East Street Band and DirtyDylan to the line-up for the year.
Despite some dreadful shift patterns Mick has been grinding away. The difficult bit will be setting up the
local showcase shows, so Bands please bear with him. We are also looking to put more feature
nights on, let us know of Bands and music you would like to hear – Email HERE
but more of that in the New Year I suspect.
We’d also
like to hear from young folks who
would like to help us with the Festivals and events during 2013. Perks, a T Shirt when we get to print them,
free entry tom RAE events, the gratitude of two old men and if we get the
sponsorship, who knows? food, water, and
if you are big boys / girls beer.
Duties will include all sorts of interesting activities – from ticket
sales to fly posting, etc, etc, etc. If
you would like to join us for a Meeting in the New Year Email HERE That includes
anyone who would like to volunteer to work with RAE.
Acoustic Rotherham
continues to consult about it’s future.
If you’ve a view, or an idea that will make it sexier and more
attractive to the none performer, please Email HERE
Yes times
will be very hard in 2013, and for the Arts in particular. Before you cheer about Pickles pledge to
freeze Council Tax for yet another year be very careful what you wish for,
because when the freeze is put against the cuts that our Council will be
expected to make and the current inflation rate many of the services we take
for granted will be under threat – well not threat – they will simply have to
be cut. WARNING once they are gone, they
will be gone forever. Make it
your New Year’s Resolution to make your voice heard, and protest against this
so called caring Government.
I’m passing
on this message / Facebook posting from Steve, and if you can help in anyway,
please do:
“After a four year wait, Steve Rogers and
Taiba Yasseen are embarking on the final play of The Kashmir Project – the
“jewel in the crown” of Open Minds Theatre Company’s artistic work. The plan is
to tour this next year to Rotherham, Sheffield, Huddersfield, Bradford, Luton,
Oxford, Birmingham and Leicester.
Would you like help this happen? We have
made an application to the Arts Council but, as many of you know, the Arts
Council like match funding and we need to raise some.
Your support will make a real difference to
help complete this unique work telling the story of the Kashmiri community in
Rotherham.
Donations whether small or very big would be
extremely welcome and acknowledged in the programme.” CLICKHERE
And from
projects looking to get underway in 2013 the Justgiving site may provide you
with an extra tool in your tool kit.
STOP
PRESS: More bad news from the music side
of things. I’ve just found out, probably
well behind everyone else, that Andy Hoult of Toein’ In the Dark has done
something nasty to his hand which involved a two day break in Hospital. My
source tells me that he on the mend and we’ll be hearing him playing and
singing in the New Year.
There’s
exciting Toein’ In the Dark News coming our way in the New Year, so stay
tuned.
That’s it
for the moment – sorry I’ve left a load of stuff out, but time presses and I
must get this Blog live.
OK, you’ve
twisted my arm before I go. A picture,
not sure where I collected it from, of our Rotherham Town Centre Team lapping
up being over shadowed by the Guardsmen.
I for one will not be deliberately upsetting them in 2013 given the
friends they have.
Whatever you
are doing this week have great fun, support your local artists and KEEP IT LIVE
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