A quieter week. In fact The Masher has been in recovery mode, having done far too much last weekend. We all tend to do this from time to time, and of course we never really learn the lesson, a bit like saying “never again” after a heavy session of Real Ale drinking.
But that’s not to say I’ve been completely idle.
But let’s start with a bit of music stuff while it remains fresh in the mind, having been led by Mrs Masher to Rawmarsh Trades and Labour last night for a pint or two.
“After Shock”, well, the name of the Band said it all, a night of heavy popular rock. The promo picture I had seen in The Advertiser did little to lift my hopes for the evening, very smooth and serious looking, so I was expecting the bog standard leather clad show.
Wrong, as I often am. Here was a performance delivered with humour, without any pretensions and brilliant technical instrumental method. The lead guitarist was brilliant while the lead vocalist’s ability to actually play a six string bass was a master class in itself, supplemented by excellent keyboards and percussion. The vocals were superb, actually sung, rather than the shouting one gets from so many rock bands.
And not a stitch of leather in sight.
They rocked us through all the classics from Genesis (hmm, as Myke would have said), Bon Jovi, Metallica, Kaiser Chiefs, Kings of Leon, and loads more including of course another Myke favourite The Killers (not), making for a great evening of singing, if not dancing (for the energetic few)
I’m afraid they did suffer a little from that scourge of the jobbing band, sound balance. For my taste the lead guitar got lost behind the percussion and in some numbers the balance between instruments seemed to be all over the place. Rather than a criticism, it demonstrates the difficulty faced by Bands when they play LIVE, and are not reliant upon clever back track mixing.
A highly enjoyable evening and if you see this band listed and feel like heading out for a rock, Aftershock are for you. You can find out more on their Facebook page HERE
So to our main constituency, the acoustic / folk scene.
The Rotherham Open Arts Festival Concert Season for November is very nearly finalised. A couple of meetings in the coming week and the final programme will be published with due fanfare of course.
For those interested the Provisional Programme is published HERE
My main attention will now be turning to The Busking Day, 29th October. I’m sorry to sound a bit airy about this at the moment, but unfortunately we cannot push on until we have all the permissions in place.
However, given the time, it really would be helpful if Singers, musicians, Brass Bands, Fire eaters, street performers, poets and the like could REGISTER their interest HERE. I will then be able programme and sort things out easily, without having to go around drumming up support.
The day will only work as we all would want if the combined armies of the Rotherham Arts scene come together and get involved.
And watch out for news of the Festival within a Festival on the 19th November very soon.
From the Myke Barritt Music Trust I can now say that the planned recording of Roy Blackman is now all firmed up, and what’s more we’re also on to have the event filmed along with a lot of other Roy matters. So exciting times, and at last we’ll have a document of one of Rotherham’s true treasures.
There’s fantastic news for one of Acoustic Rotherham’s more recent performers. Who could forget the Fake Thackeray, ala John Watterson, brilliant reworking of the best of Jake Thackeray. His masterful performances have been rewarded and he is to support Fairport Convention on their upcoming tour. Well done John. He has also launched his own Web Site this week HERE
John McCullagh, yes, he of “Dance On The Grave of Mrs Thatcher” fame has a super new song out “Going Home”, check it out HERE
And yes, we’ve reached that time when you people involved in Acoustic Rotherham’s Third Birthday Party need to get your “words”, “songs” and “pictures” to me. We have only two debutants this time around so it should not be too complicated for me this time around. Famous last words.
For this one the boat is really going to be pushed out in terms of publicity so with your help we could have a fantastic audience as well as a great afternoon of music. Please get the Gig onto your Gig lists etc., and the more events created in Facebook for it the better. So do your stuff guys. If you’re not sure that if you are involved head HERE
Planning for the 2012 Wath Festival are well under way, Fairport Convention are currently headlining. And here’s a novel plan, the Really Early Bird Ticket, not only can you buy a Weekend ticket for £50 but you can also book a double room at the Park Inn Hotel for only £40 per night - £20 pp. Details HERE
And for those of us – and I don’t include The Masher here – with the confidence to ticket and charge for their events Yorkshire Gigs are offering a new service whereby if you use their brand new ticketing service they will include a whole flags and whistle publicity package. To get more details you need to contact them via this Facebook Page HERE
Finally in this section can I draw your attention to this little discovery, brought to my attention by Papa Legbas. It’s a song written and performed by a young Sheffield Band called The Retrospectives. I really recommend that you have a listen to this track, and it’s a Band I’m sure we’re going to hear a lot more of. But this track is simply brilliant, it’s entitled “Joining Lines” HERE
Ah ha!!! He says. Note the irony!! The Acoustic Rotherham Web Site has developed another technical problem, which seems to have worked its way into the back up files as well, this is in addition to the site search engine problem. You can hear the sigh of resignation can’t you? This means a major re-work, in the meantime only the important pages will be up dated – but a New look was due if only because I am aware of problems that Mac users have been suffering. Please be patient.
I’ve managed to keep away from Political comment in recent weeks, but I’m sure we’re all aware and feeling the effects of the things going on in our economy from the apparent slow response of Government Departments who cannot use temporary labour to closure or sever cut back in services at a local level because of draconian budget cuts. There’s a Public Meeting of the Rotherham Against the Cuts Campaign coming up on the 29th September. Full details can be got by going HERE
Some of you will be aware that the Beacons Festival was cancelled at short notice when the fields they were using became flooded and deemed unsafe by those who know best.
This was going to be a highlight of the Summer for many, with some great music planned.
My heart really goes out to the Promoters who are clearly working exceptionally hard to make FULL REFUNDS to all the ticket holders. There latest statement on the state of play reads………….
"Beacons festival would like to ask for your continued support and patience through the refunding process and this very difficult time. We have currently managed to refund around 50% of ticket purchasers and will continue daily until Mid October when we expect the process to be completed. We realise it will have taken 2 month to have completed the refunds for everyone and apologies for this. As directors we have had to raise the money by selling personal assets and are currently re mortgaging properties to cover the balance of the losses. We are still in discussions with insurance companies about cover and if we are to be paid any its going to take months to receive. We believe in Beacons and also feel that you believe in Beacons that is why we have gone to such lengths to secure the finances to give everyone their money back and move forward into 2012. This situation has been personally devastating for all of us. We want you all to rest assured that everyone will receive a full refund. Once again we thank you for you continued support, good will and belief in what we are doing. Lucy, John, Dan & Ash".
Acoustic Rotherham add their vote of support to these guys, especially when they could have just walked away, and their note about Insurance Companies says it all really……….. you take the right precautions and then…………………. Nothing – well certainly without a load of hassle.
And so to the week ahead. It’s the third week of the month so Tuesday see’s The Handsworth Folk and Poem gathering at The Cross Keys; Wednesday Paul & Liz Davenport will be holding court at the Ballads Evening at Burton Street, Hillsborough; all amongst the usual weekly sessions and Club meetings. All the details can be found on the Diary Pages HERE
And that’s it for the week folks.
Whatever you are doing have fun and KEEP IT LIVE
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