Dag 1640: I've seen things that you'll never see

A quick music update:

I've spent a fair bit of the last year working towards a show called Carnival Of Legends that was put on at the, newly refurbished, Royal Hall in Harrogate on Saturday 5th July 2008. The show was performed by a local Youth Theatre Group called Theatre Box and it was written specially for them by Terry Deary (author of the Horrible Histories amongst others).

I was initially involved in preparing the music scores for some of the songs, but once I found out that Crazy Horses was in the show I thought it really needed a synth part in it, so I offered up my services as synth player and managed to worm my way into the heart if the crowd (I mean band).

By the time we had the dress and technical rehersal in the hall the night before, things seemed to be falling into place and the 2 performances on the Saturday went really well. The cast contained around 180 children and teenagers aged between 4 and 19 and all proceeds went to Martin House Hospice.

The show itself was fantastic and would, I feel, rival many professional shows.

The band consisted mainly of music teachers but the guitarist is also in a band called The Birdman Rallies so when I found they were playing at The Blues Bar in Harrogate the week after the show I decided I would try and go along and see them. I didn't manage to russell up any friends to go with so ended up going on my own, but the place was pretty busy so I didn't end up feeling like I stuck out like a sore thumb, despite the fact that I had a sore thumb.

Some Birdmen Rallying at The Blues Bar

The gig was great, with the singer/guitarist doing a short improvisational solo set first followed the band playing tracks from their self titled CD.

This year looks like it might end up being one of my busiest for gigs for a while. It started off pretty quietly with me ending up not being able to see The Cure at Wembley, but I shall be seeing a number of bands (including Golfrapp and Sigur Ros) at the Hydro Connect Festival in Scotland, Sigur Ros again in Blackpool and The Mighty Boosh in December. I will hopefully get chance to see Ashley Reaks at the Blues Bar in October aswell.

Then to cap it all off I have just heard that Magazine will be playing some gigs in February 2009. I have been hoping for some years that they might get together for a few gigs and it has finally happened. Of all the groups that have reformed recently this is, without doubt, the one I would see above all others. The last time I saw them was in 1979 at Leeds University and I can still remember how good it was.

I have also heard uncomfirmed rumours that Strange Devotion may also be cashing in on the reunion band wagon and playing a few gigs at some point in the future. No doubt they want to earn a few million before retiring.

Remember you read it here first folks.

Dag 1637: It's That Time Of Year Again

Yes that's right, it is the season where most (if not all) of the British Minimal Synth Societies have their annual conferences and social get togethers.

So last Wedneasday members of the Harrogate Outlying Villages Minimal Synth Society descended on Blackpool for a short meeting followed by the rest of the afternoon free at Blackpool Pleasure Beach.



Yet again, we had a 100% member turnout, which was fantastic to see and just goes to show how populer this musical genre is becoming in the UK.