Drop In Centre / And what a Week We have Coming Up

Exciting times for RAE.   This year we’ve already launched Live At The Trades, and now thanks to the Point Blank Theatre Company, we shall shortly be opening the RAE Drop In Centre. 

The Drop In Centre was ranked as one of our more ambitious projects, given the cost of Shop Front rental, however, thanks to one of the various schemes that gives Land Lords allowances in return for allowing the property to be used by Community Groups RAE can test the viability of the Drop In idea. 

Our plan is to open in early March and we will be in the week after next.  The building has not been used for some time and so it does not take a genius to work out that job number one will be to give the place a good fettle. 

I’ve not told you where it is yet have I?    You’ll find the Centre at 25, Wellgate, Rotherham.  I’m sure you can recognise it from the picture. 

We need, desks, chairs, and other equipment to get us set up and running as well.  If you have any spare Office Furniture knocking about that you may like to donate to the cause then we’d appreciate it.  Failing that, cash will help and so we’ve set up two ways donations can be made via Paypal and “Gofundme”.  You will find the Links HERE. We also have a Sponsorship package and if people donate £50 or more they will get FREE membership of the Rotherham Rocks Club entitling them to a 33% discount on Live At The Trades ticket prices. 

At this point, once again, I would drop the reminder that Rotherham Art Events is a NOT FOR PROFIT Community organisation.   All the funding, Sponsorship, ticket revenue etc .  is put towards organising the RAE Festivals, and promoting Rotherham musicians.   Why do I slip this into the narrative, answer, because there are those out there who still think that Mick and I are lining our own pockets, indeed they consider it something to hit us with, and of course it’s all done by the behind the hand, these brave people are more than welcome to share in the thousands that Mick and I have personally put into RAE with no return and indeed the thousands in waived fees by Bands and performers, that allowed last year’s Festivals to go ahead and prove things for 2013 and beyond.   Year One Accounts will soon be posted on the Web Site. Still not sure what we do?  GO HERE

BUT WHAT WILL THE DROP IN CENTRE BE DOING?   

 

1    1.  It will provide an Organisational and Administrative base for RAE Festivals and projects.

2    2..A ticket Office for Live At The Trades and other RAE promotions

3       3. Act as a ticket Office for other Rotherham Arts promotions should the Organisations    and Bands wish to use it.

4    4. Promote Live at The Trades and other Gigs within Rotherham Borough.  Posters etc.

5       5. Will sell CDs on behalf of Rotherham Bands.

6       6. Provide a professional Meeting Room for RAE and other Arts Groups and Musicians.  An alternative to the public pubs and coffee shops.

7       7. An open door for musicians and artists to drop in for a coffee and chat and network with others.

8      8. Provide a base for RAE projects.  (We have a number under consideration including a Workshops and Volunteer Training)

Not an exhausted list of activities but enough to be getting on with.  MOST OF THE SERVICES WILL BE FREE.  Commercial activity in the form of CD sales and Art Sales may attract a very small charge. 

The date of the cleaning operation will be published on Facebook and I suspect in the News Letters and a Special Blog.  It should only take a couple of hours or so given it’s not the biggest building in the World, and has only four rooms.  So the more folks in with dusters etc  the better. 

 

You can find more sketched details HERE which will also be the page where activities at the Drop In  will be posted.  Worth Bookmarking.

Been a busy week beyond this News, with various meetings and Hospital appointments attended and some fun on Thursday night (not that sort unfortunately) when another old romantic Mark Hearne dragged me over to The Yellow Lion for a sing.  Being an old softie I dug out three love songs for the night, Shirley, Fat People in Love (even though the Road Crew were not there) and perhaps more tasteful, The Leaving of London.   Watch out, Mark and the Masher might get your session next week. 

 

I did get to take a look at the informative and interesting Exhibition currently on view at the Old Market Gallery, the Rotherham Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans history month.  There is some great “protest art” and loads of information.  If you’ve not already taken a look worth a few minutes of your time.

The question of the week?   Can we go seven days without a dose of snow?  

And so to half term week, and a very busy one it is too. 

Starting Monday the Pop Up Story Shop will be in full action with various sessions to suit families and people of all ages.  You’ll find the Shop almost opposite to what was The Turf on Corporation Street, so why not pop in and share in the activities.  They are also looking for volunteers so if you have a few hours to spare why not call in for a chat.  Activities run the full week. 

Indeed there is a lot of “spoken word” activity in the coming week including  ROMP at SNAFU on Wednesday when Gav and those in the know are hoping to put together a Committee to help steer the activities of the Group and I’ve listed all what I can on the listings page HERE

Ian McMillan is appearing at the Riverside Library on Wednesday night as well, bound to be one or two conflicts of interest there.

And of course Chris Bilton edits a very popular page in the Acoustic Rotherham Web Site entitled “The Word Pit” HERE.  There are two read so far.

I’d just draw your attention to a Meeting in Sheffield on Tuesday, to protest against and discuss the City Council’s planed Library closures.

All the details on the listings page HERE

Speaking of Volunteers, RAE need volunteers for all our activities during 2013.  You can find our policy and offer HERE   We cannot stress just how important this is to the success of 2013 projects. 

Musically we have another full week of regular sessions and events and it being the third week it’s as busy as busy can be. 

However, the whole week goes nuclear at its end, and it really does make one wonder at the thought that sometimes goes into the planning of events by various Groups.  One venue has two events running at the same time which should provide an interesting mix of sound as the Underground Heavy Metal Showcase upstairs at The Bridge, clashed very nicely with Papa Legba’s who will be wriggling their bums downstairs.   I hope that some discussion has gone on about the timings. 

It’s a good one at SNAFU that night as well with Rumble Strip doing their stuff.

The spoken Word are at it too.   The Banner Theatre will be appearing at The Trades on Saturday night.  This a World Class Theatre Company from the Midlands renowned for their challenge to Capitalism.  The satire is brilliantly funny and very cutting.   In support will be Band from Barnsley making their debut in Rotherham, The Hurriers, who will be rocking it out with songs of protest.  The event is FREE although donation buckets for Rotherham Against the Cuts and Save our NHS and other causes will I suspect be shaken in front of our noses.

Up the road at the Old Market Gallery on Corporation Street, Stan Skinney’s Word Smack Cabaret, with John Hegley, and the Hot Beanz Team all hitting the stage.  £5 entry. 

Over in Doncaster at The Ukrainian Centre, a Doncaster Folk Festival Fund raiser, with Something Nasty in the Woodshed topping the Bill.

And a heads up for Friday when my Garforth and Myers are appearing at The Mason’s Arms in Doncaster.  That one will be a top night.   SNAFU has The Killer Watts. 

Big outlet of breath…………..   pheeeeeeeeeeew.

And all this is the prelude to RAE’s  Mega Music Riot Weekend, on 1^st / 2^nd March with PSYCHEDELIC WARLORDS on the Friday night and the big revenge of the Indie Bands with Cambodia and five other  bands + on Saturday night.  Tickets for both events are going fast, Mesmerize, The Trades and Wegottickets on line for yours.   Booking Office HERE  along with the full line up for the nights.

And that’s it for this week’s News Blog.

Keep watching out for new Live At The Trades Events; Drop In Centre News and more on the RAE Web Site HERE

Whatever you are doing this week, have fantastic fun, support your local Artists  and KEEP IT REAL AND LIVE