It’s about
time I put a full Blog together, rather than a headline update.
It has been
a busy time, and not helped by a meltdown in my Windows Profile Account which
lead to this past weekend being lost while I attempted to save my settings,
programs and files into a new Profile.
According to Help it was supposed to be a three click job, hoho; not the
case when one has so much data.
Anyway we’re
sort of there now with new protocols set up and new programs in use.
With so much
to cover it’s difficult to know where to begin.
RAE stuff
first. Let’s get some pictures going
again………….. and here’s one from the Drop In Centre opening. Pimms, great music from Phill, Chris and Sam,
and nibbles courtesy of Amanda’s Blinds, what could be a better way of spending
a Saturday afternoon. And we had a good
few visitors. So thanks to everyone who
popped in.
The Drop In
Centre Banner has arrived and Daz spent a productive Tuesday evening lifting it
into place with help from Craig. The
Banner comes courtesy of Bristol Street Motors (Chesterfield). We now certainly stand out on Wellgate.
Our Get
Creative Workshop, organised by our crafters Minx and Emma, are under way. The next one is July 10th in the
upstairs room of the Drop In Centre, where you can learn how to create your own
Tote Bag. The £10 fee includes all
materials. The Workshops are growing in
popularity – and are exceptional value for money. They start 6:00pm so everyone can get
there. Here’s four happy crafters at
work.
More local
artists, authors and Bands are making use of the Drop In. We have a growing collection of work from
Poets, most recently Carol Robson’s “Words of Darkness and Light”.
Tony Beesley
has visited the Drop In to sign copies
of his new book “Away From The Numbers” which is now available in the Drop In
Centre. It was a lovely afternoon with
Em providing the music. Good to see Em
back on the scene with all fingers crossed for some spectacular Exam results.
And watch
out for other Workshops and mini events at The Centre as we get ourselves
established.
If you’ve
not called in yet, pay us a visit, we’re currently open Tuesdays, Fridays and
Saturdays from 11:00am – 3:00pm. However
we hope to announce more days very soon.
If you would
like to join our fantastic team of volunteers then please get in contact by Emailing HERE or call in at The Centre………………. We need volunteers in all parts of
operations.
Live at The Trades and we’re having one or two Summer pull outs
as Bands book holidays or are seduced by the pull of Agents promising the possibility
of being signed up. You will forgive me
for being cynical. I really do not see
the importance of being signed these days………….. answers on a postcard please.
But somehow
Mick has, despite all his work for Slamfest, has managed to get things
sorted. So watch out for announcements
for July 13th and August dates soon.
Tickets for Chris Slade, former
drummer with AC/DC and many other top bands are now available from The Drop In
Centre. Book early for this one. Also bookable On-line HERE
We had a
classic night at The Trades a couple of weeks back when we joint promoted the
Night Train Revue. A repeat date has
been booked and will be announced soon.
The last two
Saturday nights have been interesting.
Last Saturday I went to Andy Morton’s punk promo at The Bridge one that
had Propane 4 headlining with the hilarious poet of our time Dwane Reads, and Bruce Tality. A super evening, but ohhhhhhhh, it didn’t get
underway until 9:30pm and for those of us who have to squeeze a quart into a
pint pot in two parts of the Borough it was far too late!
Dwane Reads
was simply brilliant, it’s the sort of poetry I love, easy flowing a delivered
with a cheeky glint in the eye with brilliantly observed humour. Watch out for an announcement soon about Dwane
coming back to Rotherham for a couple of RAE spots.
Unfortunately
I had to leave halfway through the Bruce Tality spot which I was enjoying and
sorry Propane 4 I missed your spot completely.
I did manage
to get back into Rawmarsh just in time to avoid the wrath of Mrs Masher, and
for once I was really pleased that she had made me get back to head for Rawmarsh
Trades and Labour. Yes, ever reducing
Club Land. But it’s pleasing to see the
Rawmarsh Club thriving. But in the
course of eight days I’ve seen the very best of Club Land musicianship, and
what I can only describe as a real low.
But first
the high. Mahogany Newt. Never seen
them before, despite my many years going to WMCs and the Bands undoubted
pedigree and experience. This was a
polished, smooth show of rock classics that had the Club bouncing and
dancing. Even Mrs Masher, not known for
her love of rock, was tapping her toes.
We can forgive the little bits of added tracked sound, like the
introduction to Brick In The Wall as it was an enhancement and not the be all
of the performance. Yep, I really
recommend this show – and it’s great value, the second set lasted a full hour then
three encores.
Trying to
twist Mick’s arm on this Band.
By contrast
this Saturday past was not fun at all. I
shall not name the Band, other than to say that it was an eighties tribute
Band. A drummer with only one rhythm, a
guitarist rarely heard above the bass being banged out from the keyboard, a
keyboard player who appeared to only play repeated chords to a beat. The lass vocals were in the main very good
and warranted much better back up from her musicians, even if the first set was
made up with far too many costume changes, but I suppose that’s down to
reducing tax liability. I shouldn’t
laugh but the highlight for me was her Tina Turner dance while singing
Madonna’s “Like A Virgin”. Nuff
said.
You’ll also
find basic instructions for Bands. I
expect this to become quite busy as more Stage Managers wake up lol.
Everything
is coming together, big time. Of course
we’re having the usual round of heart stopping moments, and the usual
frustrations when it feels as if you are banging your head against a brick
wall.
We’re also
being charged and having to supply services that we somehow avoided last
year. It really is strange that around
four hundred Rotherham / South Yorkshire musicians can give their time and
talent to create a fantastic two day show in Rotherham , for the people of Rotherham for FREE, while the Council appear to
simply hope that we will go away. This
Festival has been mounted thanks only to Commercial Sponsorship, from Bristol
Street Motors and the generosity of local business who recognise the potential
value of the event to Rotherham even if others don’t.
It might be
worth reminding one or two people who hold the purse strings in Rotherham that RAE
is a not for profit organisation dedicated to the promotion of Rotherham talent non of the Principles or any of the Volunteers take money out of the organisation.
We’ll still
have bills to pay after the event, so on the day please chuck some coins or
notes if you prefer into the buckets. Or
make a donation in The Drop In Centre.
We still
need volunteers
for the two days – don’t all rush at once – Email HERE, or pop in at The Drop In Centre.
The Web Site shows all the local businesses
that have supported Slamfest and the RAE this year. Keep your shopping local and especially give
support to these fantastic businesses.
My personal thanks to them all.
You’ve
around four days left to pop into the Old Market Gallery to see the RCAT Exhibition. You really have to get to it, as it
demonstrates the depth of creative talent that we have in Rotherham. The Gallery is open at 10:00am.
On Friday
night at The Bridge there’s a chance
for you good folks to listen to the music of Trevor Oughton and Gary Spencer.
Hot off the press this, and well worth your time to pop along and take a
look.
Saturday
sees Papa Legba’s do their end of
the month special, party on down to The Bridge.
A reminder that their EP is available from the Drop In Centre.
And stay in
touch with everything that is happening by visiting the Listing s page HERE
That’s
it.
So whatever
you’re doing this week, have great fun, support your local artists and KEEP IT LIVE.
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