Wednesday 18 April 2012

Festival s / Moans and Groans and I'm Late Getting this Up


This week I really don’t have a lot to say – that’s why this week’s Blog is late going up on line, or one of them.

It was after all the week after Easter.

Typically, loads of people I needed to talk to had all cleared off on a “Spring break” which meant I have been left to twiddle my thumbs.

However, before getting into what my thumbs have been twiddling at, my spies have been reporting good things about The Sheffield Folk Session Weekend Festival that went off over the Easter weekend.  While attendances at the various venues was middling, and including of course many of the “usual suspects”, it’s said that there was enough to promise better things in future years.

Being out and about during the week into Easter, I have to say that publicity about the Event was minimal, indeed I only came across the glossy Flier on the Thursday.  But we should be used to this.  One of my spies who ventured down the Parkway to take part in the event tells me that signing and mapping of events was, at least for him, was not that clear.  But any sort of criticism of a “grass roots” event of this sort is rather churlish. 

One Concert that was by all accounts a rousing success was the Hallamshire Traditions Sponsored “Rarely Heard” Concert.  The Concert, hosted by Paul & Liz Davenport, featured the talent of Pete Smith,  John Bowden & Vic Shepheard, Tagwen Roberts, Simon Haywood, Hugh Waller with a Band made up of Raymond Greenoken, Patrick Walker and Kate Green.  It was one of those I would have loved to have been at.   

From what I’m told it was a fantastic way to kick off the Easter weekend. 

Congratulations to all involved for all the work that went into the planning and promoting of this Festival, it’s one that will for sure establish itself on the South Yorkshire Folk Calendar.

And thank you Paul, I’ve nicked one of your photographs.

My time has been mainly spent working on the new look to the Acoustic Rotherham Web Site, HERE which is now totally a standalone Site.   Think it looks a lot better and reflects the more professional approach that needs to be made now that Acoustic Rotherham has an important part to play as part of Rotherham Art Events, Web Site HERE 

The key pages will be converted; however, using my stats as a guide I shall be pruning back on the site and concentrating all efforts on the most popular pages.   However, I will provide links to some of the older pages under an archive.  I will not be changing the pages but it will give some opportunity to dig back if necessary.

Unfortunately as I write I also have a problem with my Email people which I hope will be sorted in short time, hence the lack of an update last week.

Preparations for the Banners High Festival continues well.  We’re still waiting on Speaker Confirmation before the main publicity goes out.  Details and tickets, £10 for the whole day or £5 for the afternoon and £5 for the evening if bought in advance.  Unwaged concession on day ticket only £5  More details HERE

You'll also find details of the Banners High T Shirt
 Yesterday (Monday) I received what I think was intended to be a friendly Email from “Official Sources” suggesting that one or two people may have got the impression from my Blogs that the Council were spending tens of thousands of pounds on the Mayors Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Street Party to be mounted in the Town Centre on the 2nd June.   Well, let’s be honest, I did say it in one of those moments where I must have been in a ruthless mode.  So  I’m happy to put the record right by stating that for “tens of thousands”, read “potentially thousands of pounds”.

I have based this on the sketchy outline we were given of the Street Party.  Unless someone know differently I personally fail to see how the event can be mounted for less than thousands, via both direct cost and internal costs to the Council.

It was pointed out that the Entertainment planned for the event has in the main been donated, again, and contributing, despite all the fine words, to a culture of Rotherham Art on the cheap.  It’s clear that this is going to be a hard nut to crack, but RAE will be doing everything it can, with the support of Equity and other artist and arts based Organisations will be seeking to change.  It might take time but if Rotherham cultural Festivals and Artists are to be taken seriously at all levels from pro – to semi pro – emerging talent then we must be seeking to invest in their efforts. 

I know, Dickie is a fine one to talk, but hey a start has to be made somewhere, by us all.

The Email also questions the loss of 200 jobs in the 2012 / 2013 Rotherham Borough Council Budget as reported by the Advertiser.   

Granted this sort of stat taken in its raw form can be misleading as with natural wastage, etc., the actual number of people losing jobs never quite reaches these heights.  My humble view is that there is no difference between natural wastage and sending out redundancy notices, it all amounts to the same thing, less jobs. 

And of course this does not account for the jobs that will be lost as a result to “cuts” to frontline services provided via other organisations.

However, I am more than happy, and relieved to report, that these cuts have not affected the RMBC Arts Services. Indeed many Councils have made major cuts in the Arts, and so it’s great to see that Rotherham Council recognises the importance of the Arts within the Community.

Finally, well almost finally, the contents of my Blog, while seeking to inform, also contain many views that are personal to me, which is what Blogging is all about, some people may agree with what I have to say, others may disagree, and for those who feel really strong about what I might say the comments box for each Blog always remains open and unless clearly abusive, and I’ve never had that (touch wood) remains unedited. 

Long-time readers of The Blog know only too well that it is not unknown for The Masher to unintentionally upset someone, or on some occasions to directly upset some people – even, dare he say, to get a fact wrong here and there.  Normally such matters are sorted quickly

Let’s be clear, The Masher does not in any way speak for the whole of the Rotherham Arts. 

I would suggest that Banners High is one of those waves that come along from time to time and that we need to ride out, and then once 2nd June is out of the way we’ll be flying in full co-operation mode, towards Slamfest at the end of July.

Let us not forget, Banners High is after all a celebration of how the Arts can be used as a tool of protest, and we’ve covered all the bases from a Rally, to an afternoon of creative words and music, to a Concert providing a more light hearted mode of protest, (the spoonful of sugar approach lol)

As such, it’s not surprising that a few waves have been whipped up and it demonstrates a healthy debate one hopes. 

What makes me choke though is that while I’m using my Blog to support various people and processes within Rotherham Arts not a word is said, indeed the good folks do not have the time to bother to read what is being put out, it’s only when there is sniff of controversy that all of a sudden my Blog becomes the most important piece reading in the Town.  It does explain why this past week has seen a record number of back issue hits.  I would also add as one parting shot from this section that all the basic information about Rotherham Art Events and Acoustic Rotherham can be found on the relevant Web Sites, which stated earlier, have recently been greatly improved.

So my hand slapped and retaliation delivered we move on.

The first General Meeting of Rotherham Art Events will take place at The Bridge in Rotherham on 25th April 2012 7:00pm Upstairs.   Everyone is welcome, especially those who have something to bring to the Organisation or has a project or idea that might be used at Slamfest or The Fringe Festival. 

Mainly though it’s a getting to know you exercise as while some people may be quite well known many people on the Committee have not really been involved in what might be described as the mainstream of Rotherham Art productions in the past.

As a real special treat, and a sort of carrot, I’ve managed to talk Kurt Sawalies, who is in the UK on a Tour, into providing us with a Concert to follow the Meeting.  We might also talk someone into doing a support spot, but one thing is for certain it will be a Masher free zone.   So no excuses for not coming.

Poet and great supporter of the Arts in Rotherham, as well as editing the Poets Corner on the Acoustic Rotherham Web Site, Carol Robson, has been going through a rough period.  When she had her breast implant surgery done the Surgeon used PIP implants which on checking were found to be leaking.  After considerable hassle she has found a surgeon who will do a replacement operation, but at considerable cost.  The original Clinic having been taken over and the new owners refusing to accept liability for the PIP Implants. 

Many women find themselves in this dreadful situation.  Quite often the impression is given that breast Implants are a cosmetic procedure, a vanity opt in.  However, for a lot of women, Carol being one of them, the procedure was essential, and to now find that they have been let down by the Carers to whom they trusted the work.

Carol is undertaking a Sponsored Creepy Crawly event, where she will be exposing herself, sorry, will be playing with some of the little critters.  The event is organised by the Trusted PIP Group, and will be taking place at a Wild Life Park in Hertfordshire.   You can find the Sponsorship Form in Poets Corner, from Friday.  Please Sponsor Carol, download and print off a form and send it to her.  These ladies deserve our support.

Great news is the release of the Papa Legba’s new EP Four Shots.  And about time too some would say.  Now what was it Tim told me say.  The EP is a masterpiece of modern musical engineering, featuring Rotherham’s favourite band at their eccentric very best.  One suspects that copies will be available at all their Gigs at a very reasonable and democratic price. 

I look forward to a Review copy by return………………………….

I’d give you a HEADS UP to a great evening of music on the 27th April at The Old Market Gallery on Corporation Street, featuring the Rotherham Red Choir, Toein’ In The Dark and Ray Hearne.  It should be a very special way to celebrate the start of May Day. 

And on Saturday 5th May there will be a traditional march starting at the Town Hall Square 10:30am followed by a rally in All Saints Square, with music from The Rotherham Red Choir and who knows? Perhaps even the Rawmarsh Mashrer.  We should know by then if the Country will have sent a message to the millionaires in Government that the current austerity programme is unacceptable.   

Over 45? Play the guitar? Sing songs?  Then why not enter the Wath Folk Festival Silver Roots Competition?  An interesting line up is developing, and of course it’s all going to be introduced by The Rawmarsh Masher who will be passing on some of his slick guitar tips.  Keen followers of the Mashers will know that he has 101 variations on the three basic chords……………..   It’s free entry, and runs from 1:00pm at The Red Lion on Saturday 5th May.   Email me at acousticrotherham@jmucreate.com

I shall be at both events.

Art Organisations from all genres interested in talking to Schools have a great opportunity on May 3rd at The Arts Interchange, which is being held at the Old Market Gallery.  The event runs from 4:00pm.  If you would like a stall / take part, then please Email Matt Butt at ROAR matt@rotherhamroar.org

Starting the 26th April a new Exhibition starts within the Imperial Building Gallery, “The Creativity of Rotherham” mounted by ROAR.  This Exhibition is open to all genres, from text to fine art, and if you have a piece that is A3 mounted then pop into the Gallery for more detail or see the poster alongside this paragraph.  The Exhibition ends on 24th May. 

Anyone around the Cotswolds area this weekend have a real treat in store.  It’s the Oxford Folk Weekend where Paul & Liz Davenport will be performing, and the Cheltenham Poetry Festival will be in full swing.

And of course all the usual stuff will be going on so check out the Diary Listings Page HERE

So whatever you are doing this week, have fun, support local music, and keep it live.

No comments:

Post a Comment