Tuesday 18 September 2012

A Special Royal Orb Issue / Fringe Festival the latest and the usual chit chat



Following the shock horror topless pictures of Kate filling up Giga Bytes of Internet space this week security at Masher Towers has been stepped up. 

The pictures have in one click exploded so many myths.  Royals only have two nipples like commoners and are roughly placed in exactly the same position on the body.  We were also shocked to discover that Royals do not have their own special sun screen Servants, "one's significant other" must perform the duties around the Royal orbs.

The picture is not one of our future Queen, but one I took myself with my wideangled long range lens over a hundred miles.

The fact is we cannot have Masher myths smashed in a similar way, the public have to believe that The Mashers cap is permanently fixed to his head; that he has the body of a God ; and that his foot size is quite large (if you know what we mean) if The Mashers commercial standing and value is to be maintained.

Group4S have specially trained “sausage dogs” and handlers are currently patrolling Rawmarsh seeking out anyone with a long lensed camera around their neck, now that their Olympic duties are complete.  So if you’re high fived by a stranger or offered purple clothing at car boot sale you’ll know that they are undercover and working for the Mashers.

Enough of this rubbish as I must soon away to lend my frame to the London Fashion Week cat walks; watch your telly closely and see if you spot me, then call me, as I will have been plagiarised.

It’s only a couple of weeks to the Busking Saturday in Rotherham, or for those with a preference The Rotherham Street Performance Festival – we use the later name so as to encourage anyone who would like to perform to take part – it’s not just a music event!! On the 29th September. 

Register HERE or in the Imperial Building on the day.

And as you will have discovered in last week’s Blog, this year we also celebrate The Rotherham Urban Piano Project and will be featuring specially decorated Pianos throughout the Town. 

The Urban Piano Project has been financed by Gallery Town funds and the workshops have been a great success as groups of Children and even happy people at last week’s Rotherham Show, overseen by local professional artists, have been creating Master Pieces from Rawmarsh to Kiverton.  

On the 29th September they will all be centring upon Rotherham to join in the Busking Day.  Within the Library The Steinberg will be open to public view, and the Kasbian piano will be available for public use at Riverside – why not pop in and have a tickle on the way to the Match?   Two pianos will be available around the Imperial Building, another around Riverside Walk and others across the Town Centre.

Everyone is welcome to take part and even learn something about the piano, this is not just for the veteran players.  Staff Members from Rotherham’s top musical tuition Centre for young people and adults “Get  Sorted” will be on hand to help you through playing the specially written twelve bar tune. 

Watch this space for more details very soon. 

The Fringe Festival Planning goes grinding on.

The Programme for the Wednesday evening Festival Acoustic Sessions is very nearly complete, already confirmed are some of the top acoustic musicians from across Rotherham, and a tiny bit beyond.   Toein’ In The Dark, Storm Tree’s Acoustic, Swansong Acoustic, Keystone Acoustic, Phillip Hartley, Paul Pearson, Dylan Brierly, Nic Harding, Steph Little and Will Padfield have confirmed; watch out for the detailed programme on the Fringe Web Site HERE over the next few days. 

We’ve got loads of places left for the Saturday Acoustic Brunch Club with David Kidman, if you would like a spot then please Email us HERE  The venue for the first Saturday Brunch Club is yet to be announced, the remaining three are as advertised and FREE and open to children ages 9 - 900

The line-up for the Acoustic Rotherham 17 is very nearly complete, and the details will be up before the end of the week.

And with the exception of one featured event the Full Programme for the Rotherham Open Arts Festival is set.  You can find the skeleton on the Programme Page of the Festival Web Site HERE.  Nice fleshy pages of information will be on the site within a couple of days.

Tickets for the ODS Saxon Concert are now on sale at The Trades Club, Rotherham during normal opening hours and at Mesmerise on Wellgate in Rotherham.  You might even spot Mick about this week and he is a ticket carrier – grab him with care. 

REA have appointed we’ve got Tickets as our On-Line booking Office.  By going HERE you buy tickets to all the pay events, and a useful little season ticket that lets you avoid the cash queues. 

The final item for the Programme is a Theatre event.  I require a small Theatre or a Theatre like environment for Sunday 21st October – please contact me urgently HERE if you know of one that might be available at minimum charges.   We need tea making facilities / cakes and for the theatre to be available from mid-day to 7:00pm.

This past week saw the opening of Art In The Park at the Old Market Gallery – and what a great evening celebrating the young artists of Rotherham Thursday was.  There really was some incredible art work on display ranging from abstract pieces, to experimental use of materials and even what might be described as creative commercial artwork. 

Besides the visual work we were treated to music and poetry from some of the Town’s top young talent.  Full marks to the poet the Lass who really had to fight against the odds to be heard. 


Best still was that the evening had a fantastic turn out.  So well done to Vicky and OMT / RCC for all the work putting the Exhibition together.  I believe that you can see the work at the Gallery throughout this week, and if you’ve not checked it out yet get yourself down to the Gallery. 

I see that I’m not the only one who can stir things up on Facebook.   Our Karen has made herself popular with a few folks at The Bridge for tongue in cheek comments about the behaviour of the Bridge Audience on Saturday night.  Personally I think the venue itself, while a fantastic supporter of live music, does not lend itself to comfortable music listening.   The result tends to be that most people find themselves migrating between the stage room and the bar, and if like poor little me one needs a sit down occasionally then you’re in the main bar where you’re either drawn into a conversation or trying to listen over the hum of the other drinkers and punters.   It can’t be helped – but I know other bands that have found it difficult, as it’s like playing to two different types of audience on occasions, the ones who are listening with the use of 10% of their ear and those who are hanging on your every word (the latter is an audience I do not know much about – but have heard rumours).

On the wider issue, it is really interesting how perfectly logical and generally nice people suddenly become “Mr Angry” on Facebook, and shoot off what they think to be logical arguments in a manner they would never think to use if sat next to the Mr Nasty who has attacked their senses so.   And yes I’ve been guilty myself of this modern day sin.   Yes, these manufactured arguments can be fun, on the other hand they can hurt the feelings of people.   So just perhaps some us need to be a little bit more careful before wadding into some one’s private thoughts that they have shared on Facebook. 

But let’s be honest.  I’m happy to share the stocks with Karen………  if for no other reason than she is a very talented lady.  If you’ve not had a look at her art work then take a look at this brilliant Slideshow which takes you deep inside Karen’s creativity, look HERE

Honesty eh?   Musicmetric have published a top twenty of the worst offenders when it comes to downloading illegal / sharing (delete according to your view) tracks from the Internet.  Sheffield stand just inside the European places at fourth, while Manchester top the league, which would obviously be the case given the cost of season tickets at Old Trafford and whatever they call the other place now (City of Manchester Stadium).  What did surprise me is the position of London who are laying in twentieth place.   Bankers’ bonuses do make a difference!  

It’s Rotherham’s turn for the plague of “Calendar Girls” productions currently hitting the UK.  Apparently the License on the Play has been generally available for twelve months or so and as a result every Rep Company worth its salt are ripping their cloths off to be as risqué as they can be.  The Rotherham Rep is no exception and from Tuesday until Saturday the Civic Theatre will be demonstrating the art of carefully choreographed flesh flashing on stage.   A bargain at £7 and a Rep Company well worth supporting.

Indeed the Rotherham Civic Programme for the Autumn is full of good things for everyone, Phil Collins Tribute to an evening with the real Des O’Connor, need I say more.   Full details HERE

Speaking of Des O’Connor, my old mate David Kidman will be singing a song or two at The Cross Keys, Handsworth tonight.  Sing out young man. 

It’s a Mad weekend in Barnsley.  The rearranged BOMB FEST takes place out at Worsbrough, tickets still available, while MADFEST runs at Elsicar, with the Masher on stage for half an hour or so  at Mid-day.    Madfest has it’s usually ambitious line up with Friday night being headlined by Thea Gilmore, Saturday The Deon Barbers Road Show + Chumbawamba, and on Sunday Eliza Cathy and her Band.   Not sure about the current ticket availability but more details HERE

Opus Hatch will be making an appearance at The Montgomery Theatre on Saturday.

There’s also an interesting little Festival down in London at the this weekend The Acoustic Guitar Show, worth checking out HERE 

But there is just so much going on again that I can’t mention or remember it all so check it out for yourself on the Diary Pages HERE

There’s two things next week I’d bring your immediate attention to.  On the 26th there is a Rally Against Austerity 7:00pm at The Old Market Gallery, on Corporation Street Rotherham.   There is a brilliant line up of speakers so come and join the movement putting an alternative to the policies of the grey suited politicians.  All details HERE

And Phoebe starts her seven week WEA Singing Course.  You can find all the details HERE

Ray  tells all who will listen that the Barnsley Folk Club 50th Anniversary celebration evening tickets are going like hot cakes and beginning to run short, not surprising given the line up.   Friday Sep 28th Trades Club Barnsley.  For the day drinkers and thosem with loads of singing stamina the fun starts at 12:00. 



Carol Robson's Collection of Poetry that we reviewed here a couple of weeks ago is to have a Formal Launch more details coming soon.

And sad news that Paul Arrowsmith is moving to the back seat as far as Folk Club Organisation is concerned.  The programmed Kirkby Fleetham Folk Club events are the last one's for the foreseeable future.   The Final Bash takes place on 23rd November and tickets are already on sale.  All the details HERE

And that’s about it for another week  - whatever you’re doing this week have great fun, support your local artists and KEEP IT LIVE.

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