Playing Out Loud UK. (POL) THE guide to live music in the South UK! Live music Listings, News, Reviews, Articles, Festival guide, Food guide, Messages, Archive and more! Written by Peter Ashton. *ARCHIVE*
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POL News
APRIL 2004

Work has started on the 4m extension/refurbishment of Salisbury Arts Centre which will reopen in April 2005. Staff will move back into the building towards the end of this year while the technical equipment is fitted ready for the Spring 2005 programme. Meanwhile several events are taking part at other venues around Wiltshire including a performance by 9-strong African outfit Batanai Marimba at Blackledge Theatre, Godolphin School, Salisbury on Thursday April 15.
The music of Batanai Marimba is a mix of modern sound technology and
traditional African roots with instrumentation including marimbas, percussion, horns, bass and guitars plus ngoma drumming, all backed up with sweet vocal harmonies. The catchy and danceable music performance is preceded in the afternoon with a workshop featuring African drumming, dance and song from 1.30pm to 3.30pm. The evening
concert begins at 8pm; tickets are £5 for the workshop, £10 for the concert, £1 off if booking for both. Call 01722 321744 for more details.

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Ragamuffin Radio present an evening with South Carolina singer-songwriter Jack Williams at Roddington Forge, Allington Lane, near Eastleigh on Wednesday April 7.
Jack is a virtuoso guitarist and troubador who spends his life on the
highways and byways of North America appearing at coffee houses, concerts and festivals. As well as being a master guitarist he is an inspired storyteller too, as anyone who saw his gig at Southampton’s Talking Heads a couple of years ago will confirm. The gig begins at
8pm and tickets are £6 via Brian Glanville on 02380 614763 or Mike on 07766 122754. Don’t miss a great performer.

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Spring is guaranteed to go with a swing in Hampshire’s beautiful Meon Valley when some of the finest jazz groups in the South are scheduled to begin a series of Thursday evening performances at The Upland Park Hotel, Droxford. With enlargements to the premises now complete, proprietor Brian Lay has booked some great bands to perform on eight successive Thursday evenings beginning with the popular New Gateway Jazz Band on Thursday, April 1.
The emphasis is on jazz in the traditional, swing and Dixieland styles, and
lined up to appear on subsequent weeks are Alan James ‘n’All That Jazz (April 8), Cuff Billett’s New Europa Jazz Band (April 15), The Chris Walker Swingtet (April 22), The New Gateway Jazz Band (April 29), Cuff Billett’s New Europa Jazz Band (May 6), Alan James ‘n’ All That Jazz (May 13) and Tim Eyles and the Gentlemen of Jazz (May 20).
Brian is hoping that these Meon Valley jazz evenings will generate enough support to become a regular fixture. He is banking on a combination of the Upland Park Hotel’s superb setting alongside the A32 road at Garrison Hill, coupled with the appeal of bands with strong followings. "It will be well worth the drive," promises Brian who hopes to attract jazz-loving patrons from all over Hampshire. Admission is free as is the car parking. Start time is 8.30pm.
"Our enlarged main bar allows room for the musicians to perform to jazz
lovers – who can enjoy a quiet drink or bar snack while they listen," says Brian. His thriving main restaurant will continue to cater for diners, who will have the option of sitting within earshot of the music. Restaurant reservations are advised. Tel. 01489 878507.

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A charity gig is being staged in Eastleigh on Saturday April 24 on behalf of the Mayor Councillor Glynn Davies-Dear, in aid of his beneficial charities this year, Eastleigh and District Mind and First Responders.
On the back of Eastleigh's successful Music Festival organised by Peter
Chegwyn last year, the Borough are presenting a concert by Bee Gees Fever, probably the best Bee Gees tribute band around, who will be playing at The Point in Eastleigh on Saturday April 24. The evening's entertainment will also include a comedian and a prize draw.
Tickets are available through the Point, price £10.00, £9.00 concessions.
For further details please contact Kim Garner c/o Eastleigh and District
Mind, 02380 611475 or 07958 302092

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The Spirit of the Sixties Tour.

A full 2 1/2 hourshow by two of the UK's top tribute acts playing the music of late sixties legends Free & Jimi Hendrix.

Featuring Freed, THE Free tribute band and Purple Haze, The ultimate Jimi Hendrix experience.

Visit www.spiritofthesixties.com for all the latest tour dates and information. See also www.freed.org.uk & www.purplehaze.uk.com

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Vocal workshops are coming to Thornden Hall at Chandlers Ford! Whether you are a vocal teacher, a professional singer, or just enjoy singing in the shower, there will be a workshop to suit everybody over the next two years.
Singer Angela Jackson, who sings with West End Singers, 60s tribute band
Hard Drive, and a variety of local jazz bands, has been awarded a grant from
Arts Council for England, the Musicians' Union, and has an existing grant from Eastleigh Borough Council, to run a number of workshops and concerts over the next two years.
As Angela says: "This is a new and very exciting venture for me. Last
year I ran a pilot vocal workshop at the new Thornden Hall, with the renowned group Black Voices, which was supported by Eastleigh Borough Council and South East Music Schemes, during the Chandlers Ford and Hiltingbury Festival. It was so popular that I decided to apply for some grants to run more. Being a singer who is always keen to learn different techniques, I have travelled to Aberdeen, London and New York to attend quality workshops and felt it was time that local singers and teachers were given the opportunity to attend workshops such as these without having to travel too far. I am also an avid supporter of
keeping music live, and the concerts will be of great benefit to the community. Thornden Hall is the ideal venue with state-of-the-art music rooms and a concert hall."
The workshops will consist of vocal harmonies, classical singing, choral
singing, and a technical masterclass for singers and teachers who want to learn different vocal techniques to use in performing, and to pass on to their students. Three of the workshops will feature evening concerts open to the public and the workshop participants will have the opportunity to perform a piece of music they have learnt during the day.
The first of these workshops and concerts will take place on Sunday April 18 at Thornden Hall. The Vocal Harmonies Workshop will be run by "The Passion," an exciting musical collaboration of three of the UK's most popular contemporary performers - Sara Colman, Jacqueline Dankworth and Liane Carroll. They will go on to do an evening performance at Thornden Hall and tickets are available from The Point Box Office via 023 8065 2333.
For further information about the workshops and concerts contact Angela Jackson on 023 8025 3428 or visit: www.angelajacksonsworkshops.co.uk.
 (©Peter Ashton 2004)

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Festival organiser Peter Chegwyn has just announced the artists appearing at this year’s Gosport and Fareham Easter Festival. Here it is

GOSPORT & FAREHAM EASTER FESTIVAL 2004
Festival organiser Peter Chegwyn has finalised the lineup for this year’s Gosport and Fareham Easter Festival. Here it is:
Thursday April 8 to Monday April 12
The Levellers acoustic - Glenn Tilbrook of Squeeze & band - Show of Hands & band - Cara Dillon (pictured) - John Jones Oysterband with Benji Kirkpatrick & Seth Lakeman - The Phil Beer Band - Last Night's Fun - Emily Slade - Les Barker - Ron Trueman-Border - The Paperboys - Back of The Moon - Broderick - Luke Daniels & Jonathan Preiss - Clare Mann, Leo McCann & Ross Martin - Filska (Shetland) - Kate Purcell (Ireland) - Cantrip - Althing - Judy Cook (USA ) - Nick Burbridge - Helen Andrews & Deborah Peake - Legacy - Arlen - Tab Hunter & Ben Paley - The Carla Hendricks Band - George Wilson - Mary Jane - Doghouse & many more, plus:
Concerts - Workshops - Sessions - Dance Displays - Craft Fayre - Festival Club - Singarounds - Late Night Extra - & more
For further information, please contact info@gosportfestival.co.uk
Festival information: 023 9252 8017 Ferneham Hall Box Office: 01329 231942 Ashcroft Arts Centre Box Office: 01329 310600
  (©Peter Ashton 2004)

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SPYDAFEST 2004 is a brand new festival taking place in Portland, Dorset, this summer.

SPYDAFEST 2004 - PORTLAND, DORSET - JUNE 25 - 27
A new high quality music and community arts festival comes to Southwell Business Park (www.southwellbusinesspark.com ) Isle of Portland, Dorset this summer. Promoted by leading internet radio station SpydaRadio (www.spydaradio.co.uk ) in association with London’s celebrated Borderline Club ( www.borderline.co.uk) now a Mean Fiddler Group venue and music agency and Mutiny Music (www.mutinymusic.co.uk). This small, high profile event will showcase the eclectic music presented by Spyda Radio and this beautiful but economically struggling part of the Dorset Coast, recently designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Lists of artists taking part will appear in our Festival Focus section in due course.
Media profile for this event will be strong. The Big Issue is on board as the festival’s charitable benefactor. There are also very strong links with BBC Radio 2, and it is likely that certain shows will feature the artists programmed and the festival itself. BBC Radio 2 is now the nation’s most popular station with 18 million listener’s each day. There will be a series of advertisements released in the national press and music media in February/March ; MOJO, Uncut, FRoots, Guardian Guide and the Telegraph have all been shortlisted. Weymouth & Portland Borough Council are also firmly behind the event and will feature SpydaFest prominently in all of their seasonal publicity for the resort.
The site itself is an exposed outdoor Greenfield site overlooking the Jurassic coast and the famous Portland Bill and its lighthouse. There will be one main outdoor stage and a smaller 2nd venue in a marquee. The planned capacity for the festival will be 2000 customers for this first year. Both stages have an ongoing programme from Midday until late evening on the Saturday and Sunday. There may also do a "warm up" event on the Friday night for local residents and weekend ticket holders. Talks are taking place with a number of funders and community groups about securing finance for a programme of workshops and performances for local residents, both adults and children alike. In addition there will be a host of concession stalls offering a selection of foods and refreshments from around the world, craft products and of course a licensed bar. Portland residents will also get a heavily discounted ticket price, to make the weekend more accessible to them and encourage them to join in.
Brewing giant Carling are committed to sponsor SpydaFest 2004. This major player in the licensed products trade has been heavily involved in the UK live music scene for many years now, sponsoring festivals, concerts and an entire chain of venues throughout the country. The publicity that their presence will bring is huge, reflecting the vast numbers of visitors to their live event website (www.carlinglive.com)
More details are available from any of the websites listed above.
 (©Peter Ashton 2004)

Looking for different news? Click here for our archive

APRIL
Featured artists:
(see
Articles for info)

Cara Dillon - Gosport & Fareham Easter Festival - Sunday April 11th
Cara Dillon
Gosport & Fareham Easter Festival Sunday April 11th

Alvin Lee - The Anvil, Basingstoke - Tuesday April 20th
Alvin Lee
The Anvil, Basingstoke Tuesday April 20th

Ian McLagan - The Brook, Southampton - Friday April 30th
Ian McLagan
The Brook, Southampton
Friday April 30th

The Passion - Thornden Hall, Chandlers Ford - Sunday April 18th
The Passion Thornden Hall, Chandlers Ford Sunday April 18th

Wreckless Eric -The Railway Inn, Winchester - Wednesday April 21
Wreckless Eric
The Railway Inn Winchester
Wed April 21

Martin Stephenson - Talking Heads, Southampton - Wednesday April 21st
Martin Stephenson Talking Heads, Southampton
Wed April 21st

Freed - See Playing Out Loud News for full tour details
Freed
The Marine Theatre, Lyme Regis, Dorset Fri March 19

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