Let’s see if
I can get the News Blog underway. Yes it’s much overdue because so much has
happened, both good and not so good and there is much on the blocks awaiting nods
from higher authorities. And of course
it wouldn’t be the News Blog without the odd bit of controversy, would it?
ROTHERHAM STREET ARTS FESTIVAL
The main
lesson from this is that we really need to develop ideas early and put
structures in place early. Leaving
things to the last minute is not an option and with changes being made to the
way that events over a certain size are to be sanctioned in Rotherham from next
year requiring a minimum six week lead in period from the point of the event
being approved, then we are all going to have to get our acts in order.
Also late
were the run-in Workshops and unfortunately under publicised, so many people
simply did not know that the event was on.
As far as
the arts, crafts, music, and showmanship was concerned the event was a massive
success. Not easy pulling together so
many arts organisations in Rotherham and getting commitment, ask one who knows,
and Lizzy did this. We had a number of
Buskers on show, all new to the Busking event; Philip Padmore doing some
brilliant spray painting in the Old Market Gallery, a piece of art that I hope
will soon be installed within the Drop In Centre; Stilt walkers; a fire show;
moving sculptures; and of course the theme of the day, Ferrits both live and
created by Get Creative, the later proving very popular.
On the
negative side was the lack of people coming into the Town to check out the
event. There could have been many
reasons, it being the Saturday before the big return to School / College
etc.; the big Hull Festival; poor local
media coverage, with the exception of BBC Radio Sheffield; and poor / late
publicity of the event. I’m sure there
are more.
But I’m
proud we part of this Festival and hope that it will be the first of many to
come. Let’s face it, it takes time to
build Festival audiences.
Photographs
of the show can be found HERE
THE ROTHERHAM SHOW
Well the
weather held off nicely, the promised wind and rain held off nicely until the
Monday following the event.
The RAE
involvement centred around the “Diversity Festival”, put together by The
Rotherham Culture Group.
Get Creative
fronted up providing Workshops with the Ferrets and the masks proving very
popular.
Once again
though the organisation was plagued by late administration and structure. I won’t go into details here.
Unfortunately
the acts did not get the publicity they deserved as final stage times and
line-up was not fixed until late in the day, and once again I have tom ask if
placing the “Headliners” at the end of the afternoon is such a good idea when
the Show closes at 6:00pm – but hey what do I know.
There were
some fantastic and colourful performances to be seen, and of course I took full
part in the Zomba interludes. In more
toned down mode there were some excellent poetry spots, Dwane Reads amongst
them.
Where Sameed
got his energy from for the entire weekend I do not know. So a well done to him, always good when a
plan comes together.
Photographs
from the show can be found HERE
DWANE READS
Dwane Reads came
to the Drop In Centre on the Saturday of the Rotherham Show to launch his new
book and double CD “The Annoying Megaphone Pigeon” and dragged us all down into
All Saints Square where he gave us a Master Class of an hour in Busking
Poetry. It was a simply brilliant
performance, animated and demanding the attention of people. All the RAE folks felt privileged to have
witnessed the performance.
Dwane pulled
quite a gathering during his outflow of words, causing people to stop and see
what was going on so it was a shame that on several occasions kids were dragged
away by parents unable to spend just a few moments indulging the interest of
their charges. I think it applied to one
or two older males as well, the Wives wanting to get the shopping done. If it was to avoid Dwane so they could rush off
to the Rotherham Show they were to be disappointed as Dwane was to be found
popping up all over the Show Ground as well as making two visits to the
Diversity Festival Stage.
Dwane’s Book
and Double CD can be bought from the RAE Drop In Centre for £5 each or £9:00
the two.
You can find pictures of Dwane's visit HERE
You can find pictures of Dwane's visit HERE
Need to find
the Drop In Centre – go HERE
LIVE AT THE TRADES
After what
can only be described as a disappoint summer in terms of bums on seats for our
presentations it was fantastic to set off on the Autumn and Winter program with
a huge bang in the form of former AC/DC’s drummer Chris Slade, and his Timeline Band.
This was a
musical walk across very nearly five decades of music making from this
innovative pro, who has worked with so many of the big names of music and
rock.
It was
pleasing to see The Trades packed to the rafters with happy rockers, most of
whom have paid ten quid to see the spectacle.
With
musicians on the Venue circuit it’s always difficult to know what to expect,
but this guy was something else, showing patience and professionalism during
the sound check which was unusual for the sound crew as they had to set up 16
drum mics. He played a full two hours
and fifteen minutes almost without a break.
He then spent two hours after the show talking, signing autographs, and
having his picture taken. What a really
nice man and someone from whom many local bands could well learn a thing or two
from. Pictures HERE
The
following week we put on three of South Yorkshires top indie Bands, a sure fire
success at £3 a ticket one would have thought.
Unfortunately, not so. The fifty
odd who did turn out had a fantastic show to listen to, with Phil Sinclair, Searching for Sylvia, Muscat
Blues Trio headlined by Dave Woodcock and the Dead Comedians.
Following
this RAE were called into The Trades for a friendly chat. Our target had been to place an average of
100 bums on seats across all RAE promoted events at The Trades across
2013. When there is only a turnout of
thirty odd to see five of Rotherham’s finest for FREE then serious questions
had to be asked of us.
We were
already on it of course, there is nothing worse than staging good music shows
to an audience of around fifty in a Concert Room that will hold close to 300,
and with a couple of exceptions which we’ve been ordered to rectify our program
for Autumn and Winter should take us close to our original target.
Even the
enforced change of venue of the Roger
the Robot gig (a Band that has toured and supported The Artic Monkeys) to
The Titans Club failed to make an impact.
Brilliant night of music with Blind Drivers in support, pity not more
got to enjoy it.
However,
this has meant compromise. If we are
maintain our association with The Trades we are no longer allowed to book local
bands who have played for free within Rotherham in the six previous months. Now, I can see one or two moving uneasily in
their seats, “surely local bands are what RAE is about?” they ask.
And yes indeed it is, and we are certainly not surrendering our grass
roots position. We will be using local
Bands to support headliners that are of the standard required by The Trades
Management. We will also be featuring
at least two celebrations of local music which will be made more potent by a
strong Live at The Trades brand. And
that’s not forgetting an even stronger Slamfest for 2014 which will feature of
course mainly local musicians and Bands.
Also through
2014 you might well be surprised by the Bands and artists who may well be
visiting The Trades to perform and run Workshops…………. That’s all in the Top Secret Folder for now,
but can be sure that I’ll let it all slip once confirmations are in concrete.
But on the
downside we’ve had to pull The Lambrettas Charity Concert at The Civic Theatre
on 4th October. There are a
whole number of reasons for pulling – well there would be wouldn’t there be –
but I’m not going into the nitty gritty this time.
So what’s
coming up Live at The Trades. Next Saturday 29th September, we
have Ian Huddleston’s Be The Revolution
launching their EP, with a full support program of poetry and music. Tickets
are only £3 Get them from the Trades - Drop In Centre or On Line HERE
On the 5th
October we have ODS Saxon returning
to rock The Trades, and what a support line up with The Monte Carlo Safe
Crackers playing their first Gig after coming out of retirement and The
Bar Steward Sons of Val Doonigan. Tickets
are a very reasonable £6. Get them from the Trades - Drop In Centre or On Line HERE
The final
October offering will be The East Street
Band, with Steve Gasgoine bashing out his Bruce Springsteen, tickets are £5 on the door only or on
line HERE
All our
program including The Night Train
Burlesque Night in late November can be found HERE
Talking of
Burlesque I popped along to Shelly’s
Burlesque at the Trades. Sorry to
say that it was not supported in the numbers that the Promoters would have
liked. If Burlesque is to work then it
needs atmosphere, and much like a few of the Live at The Trades shows, forty to
fifty people in a 300 seater simply does not help. However more work could have been done on the
staging. I know it might be nit picking
but running with the House Lights up and using what is not the best House sound
system simply does not help any presentation.
Good fun though, as Burlesque
always is.
THE WELLGATE DROP IN CENTRE
Our Get Creative program of Workshops
continues. The next one is 25th
September at 6:00pm where they will be working on basic knitting, if you check
out the Drop In window you’ll find
some examples of very smart knitted hand warmers. The ferrets have all but disappeared,
although I get that feeling that I’m being watched, so they may not all have
gone.
We have tickets for all the main Live At the Trades
events available, along with some excellent local indie Band CDs from Punk
to Folk and now poetry. You’ll also get
an eyeful of some excellent artwork and photographs.
New to the Drop In “Coolart” Workshops on a Tuesday morning
at 11:00am. A chance to learn how to
draw and paint + some of the interesting theory that underpins much art.
On 27th
September we will be joining with many other Shops and Clubs by hosting a Big Coffee Morning for the McMillan
Nurses Charity. We’ll have cakes –
bring your own if you so desire to sell for donations, music, workshops and I’m
told surprises.
The Drop In News can always be found HERE first.
The Drop In News can always be found HERE first.
ACOUSTIC
October 27th
is the date of the next Acoustic Rotherham Event. If you would like a spot then please Email me HERE
On 29th
September, that’s next Sunday our tie in with the Titans will see the launch of
a new Monthly acoustic session called “The Sunday Warm Down” hosted by Swansong
Acoustic. This is going to be based on
the old Folk Club format, with a guest, in this case the wonderful Paul Pearson
and Chris Treebeard, supported we hope by an army of Floor singers. Best of all it’s a free Event. You can find all the details HERE
The team are
currently working on a series of top rated acoustic nights for Winter / Spring,
so stand by your beds.
While I have
been trying to write this Blog up the good old Whitby Folk week has run it’s course. For those who don’t know Whitby Folk Week is
where every supporter of Folk Music in Yorkshire seems to head off east to the
Fishing Town for an orgy of Folk music.
For obvious reasons I can no longer get to this event and so I rely upon
my spies to keep me informed.
In this case
my old mate John has contributed and I finish this section with his tale from
the Whitby Fringe
“From Your Roving Reporter...
a superb week of weather blessed the
festival goers this year. The town was packed at the weekend but a little less
busy from Monday, with some vacancies popping up in B&B windows. So no
signs of the green shoots of recovery here, then. On the other hand your correspondent was
pleasantly surprised at being able to get a seat at some of the organised tune
sessions (led by ‘proper’ musicians!) at The Dolphin, Fisherman’s Rowing Club
and, gulp, Conservative club without having to queue for 20 minutes beforehand.
Singing was still well attended at The
Station and Jeff Wright’s afternoon session at The Fleece but the non-stop
Irish tune session at The Ship was noticeably absent much of the time – in fact
the pub was totally empty one night. Up the hill The Elsinore (tunes) was also
slack at times – you couldn’t get through the door last year. The Golden Lion
and Black Swan had good mixed sessions going on when we called in.
The Middle Earth Tavern was a bit
disappointing. As the last pub we passed on our long midnight trudge back to
the flat, we would always pop in to see what was happening. Last year we
usually re-emerged at 2 am after some excellent sessions. This year there were
just as few seats available but many fewer musicians inside- it seemed less
vibrant. Plenty of pop/country stuff
going on outside though, if that’s your cup of Lapsang Souchong.
Anyway a good time was had by all, with
Whitby looking beautiful in the sun and even a German cruise ship tendering its
passengers into the port. Then, as if to stop us having to return to South
Yorkshire, the train broke down n Whitby station and we were stranded for 2
hours.
C’est la vie
SLAMFEST
Oh yes
indeedy!! preparations for Slamfest 2014
have already started.
But we need
your input, and we certainly need your organisational skills in all usual
Departments. If you think that you have
something to contribute well be holding a General Open Meeting to discuss Slamfest
on 17th October, 8:00pm at
the Drop In Centre. Hopefully we’ll
organise a glass of wine for those who attend.
OTHER NEWS
In these
days when so many Working Men Clubs are closing it’s great to report that
Rawmarsh Trades and Labour Club will be celebrating their 50th
Anniversary on 2nd October with a special Club Concert night. Congratulations to the Club.
The Autumn /
Winter ROAR Program was published
last week I’ve linked it HERE There’s some really interesting Workshops
and briefings.
Also on the
2nd October is what looks to be a super project financed by The Co-operative
called Sing Your Life. This is an attempt to bring together all the
cultural communities together to create a choir singing songs from all
cultures. The Choir will be lead by
that Master of music Mr Mark Hearne. I
wish the project every success and you can find links to further details HERE
I thought he
had been quiet, Rudi has emerged again to promote what looks to be a great Gala
afternoon of live music at the Woodlands Club.
Looks as if virtually every established Band playing the Rotherham scene
will be doing their bit for the Rotherham Hospice – everyone from Tom Killner
to Blacktoad and a rare appearance of Steph Little………. It will be really good
to see her out again.
There’s a
bit of an early finish, so why not pop along to the Woodlands and then head to
the other side of Clifton Park for the Sunday Warm Down at The Titans Club, to
play a few tunes or simply have a listen.
Those supporters of the Monthly Club in
Braithwell Folk Club will by now have discovered that yet another
supportive venue has had to close – The Butchers Arms. All a little potent for me beyond the sorrow
at seeing another Pub close – The Butchers Arms saw the last performance of The
Rawmarsh Mashers with Myke Masher in his customary place on my left wing. We shared a great night with Paul Pearson,
and the pubs Thursday hosts. Strangely
it was on dropping him off after that night that Myke gave me hug and thanked
me, as if any thanks were necessary, for taking him out to some wonderful night
of music. We were never to speak
again.
And there we
finish this Blog.
Given the lateness of the month, I think we can take it that the Rotherham Open Arts Festival will not be taking place this year. RAE had been planning a Fringe Festival to be fit around the ROAF, but this will not take place given that it's far too late to bid for our independent funding. However, the fact is that I have still not been officially informed by RCC Ltd. Perhaps it's OK for me to waste my time, but some are far to busy to pick up a phone or drop an Email to tell me something that I have been waiting at least five months to have news about, despite my asking.
That aside it's a pity that the Festival has been rested for 2013, I hope we might be able to find some way of reactivating in 2014.
Quick Links: Acoustic Rotherham
Rotherham Art Events
Live At The Trades
Slamfest
Given the lateness of the month, I think we can take it that the Rotherham Open Arts Festival will not be taking place this year. RAE had been planning a Fringe Festival to be fit around the ROAF, but this will not take place given that it's far too late to bid for our independent funding. However, the fact is that I have still not been officially informed by RCC Ltd. Perhaps it's OK for me to waste my time, but some are far to busy to pick up a phone or drop an Email to tell me something that I have been waiting at least five months to have news about, despite my asking.
That aside it's a pity that the Festival has been rested for 2013, I hope we might be able to find some way of reactivating in 2014.
Quick Links: Acoustic Rotherham
Rotherham Art Events
Live At The Trades
Slamfest
Apologies for the lack of pictures - there appears to be a problem uploading the photographs.