And The Fun Just keeps Coming. Fringe, Busking and much more

So well done to all you Rotherham Folkies who remembered that last Monday was the rearranged August Nellie Folk, even though it was September.  These Bank Holidays cause so many complications, especially one as date blind as I.  I do hope that no one turned up on Bank Holiday at The Bridge, as I'm aware that Listings page was completely wrong.

It was an “all the usual suspects” gathering with some fine quality singing including a new duo!   Louise and Tom – and a fine couple they made, and the heavy breathing heard from the rehearsal room was completely legit – they say.

No new faces but nice to see a rare visit from Phoebe and Sylvia + young man.

And more good local Folk Club News as John has let me know that The Butchers Arms, Braithwell venue proved to be a great success.   A good Club attendance and “food” appears to have convinced John.

Personally I feel as if I’ve been everywhere this week, yet nowhere.    Yet somehow progress is being made.

Performing Street Arts Festival (that’s the Busking Day to me and you) on 29^th September, and plans are afoot to make the launch of the Urban Piano Project Exhibition around the Town very special.  A special short piece of music is being composed for the day.  Once the day is officially open the pianos will be available to play by everyone and we’ll even making arrangements with a team from Getsorted to provide tuition for folks like I who will not have a clue.

I was very lucky to meet many of the artists who will be using their creativity to transform the pianos.  

Anyone c an get involved.   There are workshops 17^th and 24^th at Manor Farm Community Centre  and at the Old Market Gallery on Saturday 15^th September, with Vicky Hilton. 

We still need a couple of pianos, you can in touch with Lizzy HERE should you have one taking up space in your garage, living room or dining room.  Maybe the bedroom – and that’s a whole story I’ll not go into here.

I’ve also had confirmation from some pretty special musicians that they will be in the Town Centre playing you a tune of two.   If you’re interested in spending a few hours with us on 29^th September just drop me a note HERE or if you want to make up your mind on the day Registration will be at the Imperial Building from 10:00am

There will also be a programme of poetry and acoustic music at the Imperial Building. 

We are still hoping that we’ll get a brass band, gospel choir and more.

The Fringe Festival Programme is near complete.  The confirmed dates for this week have been a night of blues from The Tom Kilner Band on the 20thn October at The Charters and a really special end to the Festival as one of the UK’s finest acoustic singer song writing teams come to Rotherham.  Sheedyfrost will be playing at The Charters on Wednesday 31^st with Tina McKevitt and Matt Hegarty in support.   Sheedyfrost will be playing tracks from their latest CD Something Definite, which is already getting heady critical acclaim. 

If you want to keep up to date with the ticketing arrangements and what will be happening throughout October, you’ll need to go HERE

Those wanting tickets to ODS Saxon can buy them at £5 from Mesmerize on Wellgate and The Trades Club at the Bar.   On line arrangements soon.

Whoops.  Rotherham Show.  Wow, isn’t the Rotherham Show and Clifton Park great when the sun comes out, if Saturday was busy, Sunday was double buzzing busy as the  weather Gods were generous to the Organisers.

The Diversity area was busy with the Marquee being very busy for most of the time with many people creating birds to be put on the Urban Piano for which I believe an interesting ending is planned.   

The ROAR Drawing Board proved to be very popular too, with some fantastic art work on show within their tent.  

The main Diversity Stage provided some great entertainment especially from the local artists.  Gav Roberts  once again surprised me with his ability to hold an audience with his poetry.  I say surprise;  this is because I know just how difficult it is to hold a Show Ground audience, and Gav did a fine job – at one stage you could have heard a needle drop.  Masher hat off.

Life Act one of the Youth sections of OMTC performed a series of energetic and thought provoking sketches on the subject of bullying that attracted many people to the stage performance area.  So easy to be patronising, but there were some super performances in difficult conditions.  And of course well done to Steve and the team; a personal note – just would like to see more of the OMTC groups showing off their creativity. 

Caught a bit of Nic Harding who was her super self, as was Steph Little who shared her time with some of the talent she has found hidden away within some of the Eastwood projects that she has been involved with.  Steph’s self-penned songs are to kill for, just a feeling that she needs to be more confident with them, but hey, Steph is a one off and you’ll never know what you’re going to get from her.  Be sure of some surprises when she performs at The Gallery during October.  

I also got to see some great Zumba workout dancing.  I loved the young lady who was yelling out the songs, and making the sales pitch; very reminiscent of Skegness Market. 

Made it to the Folk Tent for an hour or so on Saturday and was treated to some great music from SUNJAY BRAYNE, who was nominated for the BBC Folk awards young performer of the year award and won the Wath Young Musician prize in 2012.  Oh wow, guitar work to kill for and from one so young, and with a maturity in the performance.  

Making an interesting contrast I also got to listen to Flossie Malavialle, I’m sure she’ll forgive if I say demonstrating her relaxed tried and tested performance.  Sparkling with humour and delightful songs.  There is something wonderful about watching and listening to a top artist in action whatever their genre.   I believe Flossie is back in South Yorkshire for the Doncaster Festival Fund Raiser later in the autumn, on 27^th October.

The rumour is that the Folk / Jazz Tent will not be given funding for 2013.  I’m sure Judy Dalton and her Partner will not give up without some heavy negotiation as the Tent has become such a popular feature of the Rotherham Show.   We also have to say, that while we’ve all at times had our moans and groans about the acts invited, it has been Judy’s ability to attract some of the top acts around to the Tent that has led to it being so popular.  

Judy did make one very important public information announcement:  It seems that The Rock Folk Club (Maltby) has somehow lost their mailing list – if you want to be kept up todate with ticket availability and the top names visiting the Club, please contact Pete at his Email HERE

The Diversity Stage on Sunday somehow got a little dominated by the Street Dancers, punctuated by a punchy performance from Andy Hault, I think the audience were hypnotised by his knees which were enjoying an airing.

I was making a second visit for the weekend to see a couple of Bands close to the heart of RAE.  First up The Tom Kilner Band.  Tom is growing in maturity every time I see him, and this was a fine demonstration of the blues guitar.  On the basis of this performance I was also well impressed with the growing confidence Tom is getting with his vocal delivery.  At such a young age it’s not easy to get an authentic blues sound but Tom is beginning to get the hang of it.   Of course it’s not easy on a Show Ground Stage.

Next up were Waiting for Eddie.  This was the Band’s first Show Ground / Festival like performance, and was certainly their biggest audience. They delivered a workmanlike performance, if at times a little nervous, and with the bass hampered by a hand injury.  The energy of Em and the enthusiasm of the drummer pulled the Band through the set wonderfully. 

Well almost.  I can only guess at what was happening, but there was clearly some sort of communications breakdown.  The Band were given 30 minutes, and I know that WFE have a dead 30 minute set.  I could see activity as one of the MCs attempted to tell the Band halfway through a song that they were to finish at the end of the song – but of course being young and let’s be honest, inexperienced they failed to see this, an attempt was then made to talk to the drummer during the song – what was that about?  - and then as the song finished, the MC marched onto the stage announcing that they had to cut short the Band.  No thanks to the Band – just an announcement to say how great the next Band was going to be.

I’m aware of the problems that organisers have, but essentially destroying three very young musicians on stage by giving the appearance that a) they didn’t matter and b) that they were being hooked.  Even if the performance had been inept then because of their age more care should have been taken in how the set was wrapped, but in this case the performance had been far from inept, and it was simply poor Stage Management.

The irony was that in being so unprofessional the MC actually wasted time as the audience demanded that Waiting for Eddie be given the opportunity to finish their set, meaning leads had to be re-connected and sound levels re-set.  So well done to the audience.

What disappointed me most was that the Stage MCs should have known 100% better.  This wasn’t a Pub or even a commercial stage, this was a Community Stage run by local arts professionals.   We really must take great care of our local emerging talent, and those of us more experienced should give it every opportunity to shine.

The whole situation was really caused by bad timings and planning, with the main act of the afternoon going on as most of the stalls were either closed or closing down and the audience were making their way home. 

We all learn from these errors though and hopefully it won’t happen again.

Onwards.

Besides the excitement of the Busking Day  coming up at the end of the month, there is just so much going on…………  

I’ve just got back from a sneak preview of the Art In The Park Young Person Exhibition that has been mounted at the Old Market Gallery on Corporation Street, in Rotherham.  Personally I was stunned by the technical skills that the some of the very young artists display – and there’s some great art from the over eighteens as well.  But don’t take my word for it, why not pop along to the Gallery on the 13^th September at 7:00pm and join in the opening Party.

Opus Hatch has it’s second outing on the 13^th in Halifax, The Weather Forecast Poetry over in Sheffield, also on the 13^th……………….   Whitby Pirate Day!  On Saturday, you can find all the details on the listings page HERE

Talking of art here’s a young lady with an eye for a potential market.    Decorated hard cases what a great idea, beats the slogan stickers.  Next – he says in hope, Gig Bags.  Check it out HERE

There is just so much happening at the moment that it is very difficult to keep up with everything.  I’m doing my best Folks – so keep a close eye on the Listings page HERE

Over the weekend there will be massive improvements to the Fringe Festival Web Site and the guests for the Wednesday and Saturday Acoustic Gigs will go up to complete the programme.

There have been a few comments about the fact that small charges are having to be made for some of the Fringe events.   The fact is that the Fringe Festival, like Slamfest is being mounted on a very small budget, in fact a zero budget, indeed if it were not for a small donation towards the basic costs from Open Minds Theatre / RCC Ltd all the events would have to be charged for.

The maximum ticket cost will be £5 most are no more than £3 which for the quality of acts on offer represents amazing value for money, that’s classic rock / amazing critically acclaimed Edinburgh Fringe Theatre / and top quality acoustic music / and appearances from personalities at the top of the Music business.

There is a wider debate about arts finance and 2013 in particular but we’ll save that for after this Festival. 

RAE might have more exciting News to talk about very soon to…………….   So worth keeping your finger on the pulse.

That’s it my friends for this week.

Whatever you are doing this week have great fun, support your local artists and KEEP IT LIVE