A packed Late September News Blog

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

Two or three short weeks of frantic activity to get this event up and running with Lizzy at RMBC taking most of the burden rushing around chasing artists, running workshops, and cajoling organisations to present programmes.  If anyone deserved a medal it is indeed Lizzy who went well beyond the call of duty on a occasions. 

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

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 4^th 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 29^th 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 5^th 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 25^th 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 27^th 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.

ACOUSTIC

October 27^th is the date of the next Acoustic Rotherham Event.  If you would like a spot then please Email me HERE 

On 29^th 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 17^th 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 50^th Anniversary on 2^nd 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 2^nd 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

I hope to catch one or two of you out and about, but whatever you are doing over the next couple of weeks or whenever I can find the energy to hit the keys again, HAVE FUN, SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL ARTISTS AND KEEP IT LIVE

Apologies for the lack of pictures - there appears to be a problem uploading the photographs.  

Time Travel Around the Ramblings of a Music Lover + some boring stuff

Wow three weeks gone.  I’ve been busy..........   and now everyone is away on holiday or raiding their wardrobes and filling rucksacks ready for Whitby – judging by the weather forecast Winter woollies at the ready I fear – and water proofs. 

With that happy thought I’ll move onto 2014.  Yes – they should have made me the new Doctor Who!  The phone call never came though.

SLAMFEST 2014

Following talks with RMBC Slamfest will be back in 2014, and we promise surprises and it will still be Rotherham’s biggest celebration of the Borough’s musical talent and FREE.  The date for your Diary is July 5^th and 6^th. 

Bands wanting to play need to Email Mick HERE

And of course if you want to be involved in the organisation of the Festival at any level contact Richard – that’s me – by Emailing HERE or trying to catch him at the RAE Drop In Centre in Wellgate.

ROTHERHAM STREET ARTS FESTIVAL

From 2014 back to 2013 and our link up with the other Art organisations in Rotherham to create a day of Arts Carnival, for the Rotherham Street Arts Festival (Ferretstival) on 31^st August in Rotherham Town Centre.  There is so much happening throughout the day that it would take up a whole Blog – so all I would say is that we still need Buskers / we still need volunteers, Email me HERE go on, you know you want to - but if you can’t make your  mind up don’t worry the door is open right up to the day – all you have to do is call in at the Old Market Gallery on the 31^st to Register for Insurance purposes–If you’ve got an art that can be performed or demonstrated during the day EmailHERE  

LIVE AT THE TRADES

Two brilliant nights Live at the Trades last week. 

We were very lucky to be offered the opportunity to feature German prog. Rock Band Vibravoid who were on a short tour following their appearance at Kozfest, and RAE who are keen to feature top overseas talent snapped their fingers off.  

This was prog rock of the highest standard, as one well known name on the Rotherham scene said, “we’ve got a lot of practice to do”, hoho.  But yes it was that good, brilliant keyboards supporting an amazing guitar performance, plus and a bonus a tremendous performance by the drummer who did a lot more than keep the beat.  

If that was not enough, in support we had Spiral Navigators, who must be one of the best prog Bands in South Yorkshire, who provided some interesting sounds and rhythms and superb improvisation.  

Not the best turnout though, but for the time of the year when people are having barbeques rather than wanting to go out and see a Band. 

I really hope that we get the opportunity to bring them to Rotherham again and that more folks will come out and dip their toe in the water.

Three days later RAE brought Led into Zeppelin to Live At The Trades.  “Close your eyes and it’s like the real thing” said at least two really big fans of Led Zeppelin that I know.  And wow, yes the level of musicianship was out of this World.  This is a Band that is going to become huge on the circuit; in fact, they are already in negotiations with another top Overseas Tribute Band for a full UK Tour in 2014. 

What a pity that so few decided to come out and support them.  There were also those who came along only to decide at the door that £7 was too expensive to go into The Trades.  In fact some were moaning that they were being asked to pay at all.  It seems to be a thing about Clubs in South Yorkshire that Members expect the entertainment to be provided free of charge.   I refer these people to the closure or change of status of The Rycroft, Eastwood, The Trades (Rotherham), and many other WM Clubs across South Yorkshire.  Beer sales alone can no longer cover the cost of good quality live music and entertainment, it’s a fact that the North Eastern Clubs sussed out a few years ago.   Those Clubs who do retain the free entertainment / low beer price formula either have to compromise on the standard of the entertainment, or up their beer prices. 

The Trades is no longer a WMC – it’s a Music and Entertainment venue offering a fantastic range of entertainment into which RAE has fused it’s Live at The Trades program.  Indeed our program for Autumn / Winter  2013 is amazing for the breadth of music and entertainment on offer.   Yes we are charging for it!  This is because there is no magic fund of money out there on which we can draw to pay the Band’s travelling expenses plus maybe something for their talent, to pay the sound engineers, the lighting crew, the publicity, the tickets etc, etc, etc.  

Our musicians have just given us one fantastic weekend of music free of charge at Slamfest, I think they should expect that their talent should get some minimal reward if only enough to buy some guitar strings.  And I can assure folks that they’re not on any fancy fixed fee, like those that brought down so many Clubs, they are playing for percentages and having to back themselves on pulling an audience. 

I’d also point out that the quality of the acts is on a par with those being offered at The Civic for almost £10 a ticket more.

So less knocking on this score and let’s get behind our musicians and dare I say the Promoters of Live Music and trying to keep an offer viable in Rotherham.

Sorry went off on one there.

To return to the Zeppelin Show.   The support for the night was also fantastic, Swansong Acoustic, oh wow the power and range of Karen’s voice is huge and with Nigel’s guitar playing is so understated.  Wish I had that talent.   The full Swansong Band will be playing Live At The Trades in December, and I promise if the performance is close to that they gave at Slamfest it’s not to be missed.

Oh and having said that Swansong are of course playing Music In The Park at Clifton Park on 1^st September.

Our Live at The Trades final offering for August was a five Band free special.  Hearts, Waiting for Eddie, Naked Punch, Habberdash and Sneaking Stupidity proving just how fantastic our local music scene is. 

Unfortunately, I missed the early Bands having been locked into The New York Stadium where I was paying £3.40 a pint or £1.60 for a bottle of tonic water at a wedding reception.  How do they get away with it?  It’s not even if the rooms are attractive, blank white blocks of plaster. 

But I did get in to see the real debut of Sneaking Stupidity a Band made up of 50+ oldies, provided us with a set featuring some classic Dr Feelgood and one or two other rocking surprises.  It was fantastic fun to watch and listen to and my guess is that they will have many more local Gigs the weeks ahead.   I also got to listen to Habberdash, who sort of headlined the event – I say sort of as I think all these Bands could be called local headliners for the standard of music produced. 

Habberdash are a young Band, and playing original plus a couple of covers with really superb musicianship.  They came on at a difficult time, but more than held their own.  Another Band we will be seeing much more of.   They work exceptionally hard around South Yorkshire playing all the venues and the rewards are already coming their way, having won the Radio Sine contest to open Doncaster Live on 7th September. 

COMING UP AT THE TRADES

RAE Live at The Trades kicks off the Autumn Program with what should be a fantastic night when Chris Slater the former AC / DC drummer will be bringing his Timeline Show to The Trades.   Chris has played alongside some of the all-time greats in Bands like Asia, The Firm, Manfred Man’s Earth Band, David Gilmour, Uriah Heap, +++.  So for some rocking music  and a fantastic exhibition of the drummers art it’s time to get your tickets £8, from The Drop In Centre / Online at We’ve Got Tickets / or from the venue.

On the 7^th September we have another amazing local show, with Dave Woodcock & The Dead Comedians being supported by Searching for Silvia, Mudcat Blues Trio and Phil Sinclair.  WOW and a special appearance from Dwain Reads, all for £4!! Can’t be bad.  Online tickets available at We’ve Got Tickets

News hot of the press, we’ve just been told by The Trades that they had forgotten to tell us that 14^th September had been booked for a Party, therefore the Roger the Mascot / Blind Drivers Indie Gig has had to be taken out of the program.  We hope to be able to place this night elsewhere in our Winter line up.  Stay tuned for details. 

ACOUSTIC ROTHERHAM

Yay – the late July edition of Acoustic Rotherham, the eighteenth, took place on 28^th July on a steamy Sunday afternoon at The Bridge. 

We had a fine gathering of artists from around the Region as well as some home grown stars. 

Chris, who has been playing the local sessions for some-time now and of course featured at the opening of The Drop In Centre, provided us with some well-crafted blues to kick the afternoon off.

Making a return, nearly two years after making their AR debut was Rum Doodle who had travelled down from West Yorkshire to play some of their own songs for us – there were some great songs. Since I last saw them in action Rum Doodle have become even slicker and certainly more confident in their material and performance. 

 Also from West Yorkshire we had that fast developing young musician and song writer Dylan Brierley.  WOW.  I think the time has come for him to start thinking about his performance, and replicating the songs as they sound on his albums.  This performance was confident and well within his comfort zone, but, to sell his songs he has to slow things down a bit, and get some eye contact with the audience.  He should be moving on from the shy young boy stage.   That said – time is on his side and I wish that I had just a little of his talent.  

Yes, and even The Masher reached into his gander bag and pulled out a guitar.  The 27^th July was Myke Masher’s birthday, and so it just seemed right to play through three of his most favourite Masher songs in his memory.   And so I did, accompanied by the massed chorus of the AR18 singers.  Thanks guys. 

And making her come back in Rotherham following her time out to concentrate upon her A Level results,provided us with one of her punchy and slick sets, along with a demonstration of some fine guitar playing.  I'm sure we are going to see a lot more of her, both in solo mode and with her Band Waiting for Eddie.  Yet another young person with so much potential.  The good news is that it's quite possible that we may not be losing Em as if everything goes to plan she will be going to Uni locally. 

Naked Punch made their Acoustic début.   This is a work in progress, yet I take my hat off to Sam and the Band for taking their music out and showcasing it wherever they can.  The music is inventive and does not fit any category and the more performances they play the more confident they will become in both the material and their musicianship.   Look forward to having them back again.

And to wrap things up we had the amazing Rachel Barley.  Oh how I love her voice and the style of song that she sings when in solo mode.  She is a Rotherham Gem, an open secret, and it’s a pity that we don’t see more of her in concert as a solo artist.  That said she is a busy girl as female lead singer with top Rotherham Band Papa Legba’s which I know she really enjoys doing, so I can’t be selfish……….   Or can I?  Can’t wait to have her back at Acoustic Rotherham in the New Year. 

I think the shorter run time of the event makes for a more Manageable and comfortable event, and it’s an experiment that will now become a fixture.

And great thanks to Tony at The Bridge for the wonderful Pizza at half time-ish. 

The Next Acoustic Rotherham is 27^th October 2013 at The Bridge.  We already have a few names on the list, hooray, but if you would like to be added please Email HERE

TITAN’S RUGBY CLUB

The tie in with the Titan’s continues.   Work on the Acoustic Sunday nights from September continues, but we can report that the first of the Friday night specials was a qualified success with Lee England headlining.  Coming up Swansong will be playing on Friday 24^th August and the amazing Tom Killner Band  will be playing on the 30^th August.  Two rocking Fridays for the end of August.

  

DROP IN CENTRE

Two dates to remember for the Diary 7^th September Dwain Reads will be doing a short set at The Drop In Centre, to launch his new Book.  I’m hoping that it will be the first of a short Tour of Rotherham, with performances at The Rotherham Show and of course Live at The Trades in the Evening. 

On Monday 16^th of September RAE will be launching it’s first sort of serious Exhibition with the best of the photography from Slamfest on display the Exhibition will be called “Slampics”   The pictures were taken by a team of photographers from a local photography groups and individuals. 

The Get Creative Team are building on their early success with the Workshops.  The team have already started to Branch out and are providing a few classes at Myplace to the youngsters throughout the Summer.   The next workshop open to all is 6:00pm at The Drop In Centre on 21^st August. 

IN THE PARK

The first Sunday in the Month Music from the Bandstand events we help to run with RMBC Clifton Park went ahead as planned on 4th August, with South Yorkshire legends Haze giving us a fantastic two hour show based mainly on their latest CD The Final Battle.  

They had a good audience as well despite the threat of bad weather and it's great to report that the electricity supply held it's own.   

It's a pity that the program was broken in June because of illness to the booked Band and our thwarted attempts to get another Band on with only twelve hours notice.  

Next up Swansong, with their play list of rock covers on the 1st September.  

PARISH NOTICES

There is no Nellie Folk this month.  The first time in my memory that The Bridge based singers Club has ever cancelled a Meeting.  I suspect it has to do with the clash with Bank Holiday again, but that has never stopped them in the past – but Roy has taken another of his Executive decisions!   The last time it happened resulted in the closure of the Handsworth Club at the Cross Keys.  I don’t think that will happen at Nellie Folk.

Based on an Email I received the Listings page temporarily showed the Barnsley Club as being closed for the Summer break through August.  It turns out that there is a skeleton Club running by some of the Members who enjoy a good sing, while the Committee are away doing their thing.

I haven’t been told about any other Summer breaks – but as I always suggest check Club Web Sites especially during Whitby week. 

OTHER NEWS

We were disappointed to see that the Metal dominated Khaos Festival had to be abandoned after one day. 

No Promoter can get it right all the time, however, the basics do need to be applied, e.g. keep to your contracted times, and if it is likely to overrun speak to the Land Owner and request an extension.  

Let’s hope the Promoters have learnt a few lessons as we have had to do in mounting Slamfest, especially when it comes to security and stage management. 

On a more positive note our friends from Sheffield’s bluegrass scene Aprille and the Shower caused quite a stir by playing the most unusual venue of a Pizza Express during a lunch time -  read the full story HERE  

The recent ROMP meeting has moved the ROMPERs a step closer to becoming a recognised Organisation with a structure.   It’s great to see that they have plans to outreach more as ROMP and to start publishing the best of the ROMPERS.  

You can find some of the work created by the ROMP community in the Word Pit HERE

The Rotherham Show 7th / 8th September will again be featuring the Folk Tent on the Saturday and Jazz on the Sunday.   The Folk line up is Flossie Mallavaille, Bill Whaley and Dave Fletcher, Hannah James & Sam Sweeney, and Full House.  You can find out more about these acts by going HERE

And that’s the Blog –

You can find the Live at The Trades program HERE

Our normal listings service currently August / September HERE

And RAE updates HERE   - expect a lot of updates in the coming weeks. 

Pictures from Slamfest can be found HERE along with some links to even more pictures. 

To keep right up to date make sure that sign up for the News Letter, and “LIKE” and follow us on Facebook.

RAE HERE

Live at The Trades HERE

Slamfest HERE

Acoustic Rotherham HERE

So whatever you are doing between now and the next time, have fun, support your local artists and keep it live.