This looks cool - A Tribal Gathering in Leeds. Plump DJ's to Happy Mondays are playing in in aid of the massive humanitarian disaster in Sudan. July 16th.. Some more info here :BBC - Leeds - Entertainment - Tribal Gathering Stumble It!
What a weekend. Newby was very rainy - all got soaking wet through yet still had fun. Big thanks to all the volenteers. We soon got warmed up at FIRE though. What a stunning night. The new Video Feed feature was ace - live action form the terrace - fire poi and staff etc) being pumped inside, onto the big screen. What a night. Archeo B - rocked it. More photos and that later. Stumble It!
This morning I finished reading Small Island by Andrea Levy. Superb read. In utter contrast to some of the stuff that I've been reading lately. Andrea's writing is great, the stories are very believable and it's a fascinating insight into war time Britain, Jamaican life and the black population of the UK that arrived in war time and prejudice from both sides.It won the Whitbread book prize last year.
Tonight - Just been to see Hansel and Gretel (Carl Miller) at the Harrogate Theatre Online. Took the boys. Hmm - slightly bewildered. It seemed to be a high art dance based (good choreography) play based on the Hansel and Gretel theme. It didn't feel like it was aimed at me or the kids, too young a plot for me, too 'grown up' and experimental a delivery for the kids imho. came out feeling bewildered, unfortunately didn't enjoy it much. (unlike some of the other top stuff I've seen recently at the theatre!) Stumble It!
What a weekend! Superb. After a brief meeting up at the Anima Mundi Shed to discuss things about the Newby Hall Easter openday that we’re running next weekend we headed back into town.
The Theatre (yes I’m sorry for previous versions of that spelling) All Day Music Party was fantastic. We saw a few bands in the afternoon – Nuns Bleeding Guns – already mentioned – very cool, the sort of stuff I’d really like to listen to at home as well as out.. Mullholland – I’ve heard a whole lot about these – pure power, grinding fast stuff, no idea how a three man band can make that much noise. High energy and quality. Then Jaygo and I sneaked onto the top balcony and got this photo of The Purple Mushrooms (below) before I was told off for being there (sorry!)
Went to see Tiger Bomb who were v.cool and then took the boys off to put them to bed/baby-sitter hand over. Came back into town, had high stress finding my brand new set of bongo’s (long and boring story) before getting back to the theatre an hour later than I wanted to – gutted because I wanted to see one of my fave Harrogate bands – Scapegoat Kelly – came in just as Rich was saying “thanks very much, good night!” Ahh well. By this point in the evening, the place was filling up with an amazing cross section of people in classic music party style (one of the amazing things about the music party). Started getting stuff together for our gig – we were headlining the Studio (Chinese Whispers Stage). The guy that was on before us was Karl Cully. I saw his set accidentally (just wanted to sneak in and drop off my bongo’s) but I’m so glad I did. Captivating style if ever I saw one. Technical finger picking guitar genius with heart felt velvety singing. It was as if Nick Drake had mentored him. After that we did our (Dalmatian Kebab) set which was really enjoyable and went without hitch.. (Thanks to Matty B for this photo.) The room was full – but all seated – 3 rows of seats like a TV studio. Everyone had no option to natter, go to the bar, wander about.. all eyes on us, scrutinising every move – certainly hones the concentration! After that, a mad dash for some of us to appear at the “Official Music Party After Party” at Bar Med’s Late Lounge in The JFK Experience. What a gig this was. The place was rammed and it was a total sweat box. Johnnie Fredericks on the decks pulled a blinder, accompanied by me on’t percussion, Len on Sax, Jimmy J on Trumpet, Cloudbass on Guitar and WB Sanders on Bass with guest vox from Rich (Scapegoat Kelly) and a Nicole who sang some top riffs – went perfectly with the sax line. What a day!
Can’t wait till next year!
Sunday – recovery mode (My hands bruised and battered, like my head!).. Massive Sunday roast fixed the latter followed by a shifty through Matt B’s photos of the event. Top shots - I'll let you know if they get published someplace. Today’s been work type mode – planning for the next few FIRE events… we’ve got some right treat in store! Anyway – I’m off before I fill up the internet with my ramblings. Stumble It!
Just popped home to put the boys to bed. Superb afternoon.. Can't wait to get back there (Music Party at the Theater) This pic was Nuns Bleeding Guns on the main stage - Felix's favorites (I love em as well ! ) Sort of The Doors meets Hawkwind. Stumble It!
Well, mums funeral at Christ Church on the stray yesterday was perfect. A fitting send off. Life can start getting back to normal.
Really looking forward to this weekend. It's the Harrogate music party tomorrow. 40 acts getting together to throw at 12 hour, triple stage musical extravaganza at the theater. We (Dalmatian Kebab) are headlining the "Chinese Whispers" stage.
Following on from that I'm part of The JFK Experience at Bar Med's Late Lounge. It's the official music party after party by the way - anyone with an artists wrist band gets auto guestlist. - rare groove meistro Mr Johnnie Fredericks on the decks accompanied by me on't congas and bongos and such, Mr Leonard Bassey on the Saxyphone, Robin on flute, Cloudbass on guitar(!) and Blake on Bass. Funked out grooves to disco moves. Should be great fun and tings. Stumble It!
Do I write this? Don't I? I don't know. A sad day at DragonDrop. My mum passed away after a long ilness in the wee hours of this morning. Rest in peace mum, I'll always love you. Stumble It!
Scatty mish mash of a blog coming up.. Been working near Runcorn for a few days. Decided to have a look at Runcorn. Nearly got caught in a chavalanche. Scary.
Driving home last night I broke down in the congamobile on the way back. On't M62 just near the farm that refused to move (so they had to build the motorway round it). Both headlights gone. The man from the AA managed to help me figure out that the full beams worked. Drove home dazzling everyone who came towards me. Not fun! Today I'm working in the all new wing of the Harrogate international Centre. Queens Suite it's called. Very nice but the all new bright red carpets are superb at building up static, ensuring that every time I touch something metal I get a shock. GT4 was released yesterday, my mate who? has been playing it says it's got loads of new stuff and the graphics are amazing and that the new Nissan Skyline looks weird. Can't wait to play it. Tomorrow I'm supposed to be playing at Dr Wu's in Leeds with Brett Weatherhead and Neil Jacques. Should be a larf! Right.. back to the chaos that is my life at the moment. Stumble It!
In Runcorn again today (well, near Runcorn). Was here yesterday as well. Last night went out for a couple of beers to with my cousin-in-law to his local in Cheadle. £1.70 a pint. Hydes Bitter it was called. Local brew. Not bad but not a patch on Yorkshire Ale!! Stumble It!
I've mentioned this before on DD here but someone has made this nifty animation giving a crash course in the history of Thornborough Henge.
There is a new petition aiming to stop the further quarrying that is leading to the destruction of this ancient site of anthropological importance here and a new (I think) site here : http://www.timewatch.org/ Stumble It!
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