Unsigned Artists Invited to Audition For the 2014 Jessica Foxley Event at Colne RnB Festival

The search is on again for young, aspiring Rhythm and Blues musicians to perform at this year’s Great British Rhythm and Blues Festival.

Jessica Foxley Unsigned (formerly The Jessica Foxley Stage) was set up in 2010 in memory of Jessica, who died the previous year in a car crash at the age of 21.

Its aim is to provide high profile performance opportunities for young musicians – and in particular to select outstanding young Blues acts to perform at Colne’s annual Great British R&B Festival.

Unsigned, up-and-coming talent will be chosen to perform on various stages alongside the main acts. Last year a total of eight were selected to play on three different stages, including the International Stage. Some of the artistes have used the Festival as a springboard to propel themselves into the music world.

Last year's success stories include the 45's from Carlisle, who appeared on stage with Wilko Johnson at the Festival and then went on to perform with him in his home town of Canvey. Manchester's Minor Blues have just released their second single since appearing on the British Stage.

Bright Shapes, who first played the British Stage in 2011 (in photo), are currently recording their third EP. They have since become regular and popular performers at the Festival's roadhouse venues, alongside Mog Stanley - from the 2012 Acoustic Stage - who is about to release his debut album.

Tom Killner, featured live on Radio Lancashire during the 2012 Festival, has since become a popular act at various Blues clubs and festivals. In the same year, following their British Stage performance, The Blind Dead McJones Band was nominated for a British Blues Award.

Now Rhythm and Blues bands and solo artistes are invited to apply for one of the sought-after places at this year’s Festival.

Live auditions will take place in front of a panel of judges, including local talent Lucy Zirins, who has performed at the Festival on numerous occasions, and a representative from Organic Mountain Records, at The ACE Centre in Nelson, on June 22nd and 23rd.

 
Interested musicians can apply online by filling in a form and submitting a sound recording and video clip. The form is available on the Festival website www.bluesfestival.co.uk or via www.jessicafoxley.com . The deadline for applications is June 8th. A shortlist will then be invited to audition.

Local Football Round Up

In our featured game of the day, Blackpool Wren Rovers reserves came from behind to beat Thornton Cleveleys reserves 3-2 through a Paul Carroll hat trick in the West Lancashire League Reserves Division 1.

The Wren Rovers first team won 5-2 away at Slyne With Hest. Rick Sear scored 4 of the 5 goals. They sit in 2nd place in the West Lancashire League Premier Division with 3 games left to play.

In the North West Counties League Premier Division, AFC Blackpool drew 1-1 at home to Congleton Town while Squires Gate won 2-1 away at Ashton Athletic.

The NWCFL schedule is now complete.  AFC Blackpool have finished in 13th place with 49 points from their 42 games.  Squires Gate finished in 19th place - avoiding the relegation places by 1 point - on 40 points from their 42 games.

Norton United are champions with 100 points from 42 games and Runcorn Linnets are runners up with 95 points.

In Division One, Nelson FC are champions with 89 points from 36 games. Formby are runners up with 84 points.

Mind Body Soul Weekend in Manchester - 10th & 11th May 2014

The popular Mind Body Soul (MBS) exhibition comes to Manchester Central...The world is full of mysteries, amazing people, natural science and age old wisdoms. The Mind Body Soul Experience not only brings these elements together, but adds a splash if excitement, a dousing of entertainment and more than a fair share of pampering.

To find our more, check out the website at: http://www.mbsevents.co.uk/Manchester/index.asp

Great Offers At Studio 11 Recording Studio, ACE Centre, Nelson

The state of the art recording studio at the ACE Centre in Nelson has been taken over full time by sound engineer & music producer Andrea Quarin (in photo) and he is inviting all singers, songwriters and musicians from across Lancashire to check out the facilities and special offers.

Andrea has had some of his own compositions used as themes on Sky Sports and elsewhere and would be more than happy to discuss how he can help with any type of musical project.

Andrea said:  "I've been a sound engineer/producer and music composer for almost a decade now and I believe my experience can help anyone achieve hi-standard results....

Most importantly I love to bring enthusiasm, energy, ideas, excitement, fun and skills to your music productions.

I'm also pretty easy going and fun to work with hence a great environment to work on what we all love the most: music!

I love to work with as many diverse people as I can and I would love to hear from you to see if I can help with your next music project."

You can contact Andrea by email at andreaquarin@hotmail.com, by telephone on 01282 661083, or drop by to the ACE Centre at Cross Street, Nelson, BB9 7NH

You can also check out his Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/AndreaQuarin.Engineer.Producer

NWCFL: AFC Blackpool Do Derby Double

AFC Blackpool completed the league double over near neighbours Squires Gate in this Easter Monday Premier Division encounter.  They triumphed by 3 goals to 1, mirroring the margin from their home win over Gate on Boxing Day.

That win leaves AFC Blackpool 13th in the NWCFL Premier Division table with 48 points from their 41 games.

Squires Gate are currently in the relegation zone with 37 points from 41 games - level on points with 2 other teams but in 21st place on goal difference.

Both teams play their last game of the season next Saturday, Squires Gate are away at 6th place Ashton Athletic while AFC Blackpool are at home to 10th place Congleton Town.

More information:  www.nwcfl.com  www.afcblackpool.co.uk  www.squiresgatefc.co.uk 

“Reclaiming poetry for the WW1 Centennial” - a special event organized by No Glory on 15th May 2014 in London

Book tickets

Poetry is central to how many people regard the first world war. The organisation No Glory has arranged a special night of poetry to commemorate Conscientious Objectors’ Day on 15^th May 2014.

You’ll enjoy a fine array of speakers. These include AL Kennedy, Blake Morrison, Michael Rosen, George Szirtes and Samuel West.

They’ll read from both their own work and that of the war poets –  and we’ll also talk a bit about the No Glory campaign. The evening should be both moving and entertaining.

Given the recent attacks on the war poets by the government-backed revisionist historians, it's important to reclaim their centrality to our memory of the first world war.

We’re calling the event …cold stars lighting… taken from Wilfred Owen’s poem (I Saw His Round Mouth’s Crimson)

And in his eyes
The cold stars lighting, very old and bleak,
In different skies.

There’ll be music, too, from Matthew Crampton and Nette Robinson & the Lyric Ensemble.

If you're near London, why not join us? And do spread the word - by sharing the link or by inviting friends on Facebook. This will be a wonderful evening.

Best wishes

Jan Woolf
Cultural Co-ordinator, No Glory

Book here

Tickets are £10 and £8 (concessions) and include a glass of wine at the interval. 

…cold stars lighting… First World War Poetry
Thursday 15^th May, 7.30pm
St Giles-in-the Fields,
60 St Giles High St
London WC2H 8LG

Tickets £10 (£8) including a glass of wine. 

No Glory website
Facebook Event Page

Charity Fashion Show In Aid Of Variety Children's Charity - 23rd April

Charity Fashion Show in aid of Variety Club Children's Charity

 

Wednesday 23rd April 2014 7.30 to 10.30pm

 

sponsored by Noosa Boutique and Horse and Country Style

 

Venue:  Singleton Village Hall FY6 8LL.

 

As part of fundraising for Miss Fylde Coast 2014.  Special guest current Miss Fylde Coast Jenna Howard (in photo, centre)

Tickets £8 and include Taylor's hotpot as-well as stalls selling drinks, cakes and fancy things.

Doors open at 7:30 please contact either

Kim Braithwaite - 07880351645 or Rebecca Copsey - 07528552366

for tickets and more information.

Also see the Facebook event page:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1394542677491039/?source=29

Book now for "Crazy For You" at Blackpool Grand Theatre - 23rd to 26th April

Blackpool Operatic Players presents CRAZY FOR YOU LIVE at the Grand Theatre Blackpool
Wednesday 23 to Saturday 26 April 2014

 

The Grand Theatre, Blackpool is pleased to announce Crazy For You, the latest production by Blackpool Operatic Players which will be performed from Wednesday 23 to Saturday 26 April.

 

Set in 1930s Deadrock, Nevada and New York City, Crazy For You is a romantic comedy musical based around the best-loved songs and music by George and Ira Gershwin. Hit classics featuring in the show include Someone to Watch Over Me, They Can’t Take That Away From Me and I Got Rhythm.

 

Bobby Child is the son of a rich banking family, whose mother gives him the task of going to Nevada to foreclose on a rundown theatre.  When he arrives, he falls in love with Polly, the owner of the Gaiety Theatre’s daughter.  If he forecloses on the theatre Bobby knows he will lose the girl of his dreams. 

 

His solution to this problem is to help the theatre pay off the mortgage by putting on a show, calling in The Zangler Follies Girls from New York to help stage this spectacle. All of a sudden sleepy Deadrock becomes a hub of singing and dancing and what follows is a rocky road of ups and downs and mistaken identities.

 

Taking on the roles of Bobby and Polly in their dramatic and exciting love/hate relationship are Blackpool Operatic Players Karl Hugo and Hayley Mallinson. As well as toe-tapping music, Crazy For You also features imaginative and energetic tap dancing scenes, under the direction of producer and choreographer Steve Chesters.

 

Coming to the Grand Theatre this April, the Blackpool Operatic Players’ staging of Crazy For You is a feel-good musical with comedy, romance and lots of singing and dancing for all to enjoy.

Crazy For You

Grand Theatre Blackpool

Wednesday 23 to Saturday 26 April 2014

7:30pm

Thursday and Saturday matinees at 2pm

 

Opening night, Thursday and Saturday matinees all seats £14.50

Thursday to Saturday evenings £14.50-£17.50

Children (Under 15s) £11.50

Groups 1 free with every 10 purchased

 

In line with legislation our £1.50 booking fee is now INCLUDED in all stated ticket prices. The Grand Theatre has an ‘open’ policy regarding the fees that is charges and what they are for.

 

Call Box Office on 01253 74 33 39 or visit blackpoolgrand.co.uk

WW1 Commemorative Exhibition at Salford Museum and Art Gallery until June 2015

Local Football Round Up - 5th April 2014

Blackpool Wren Rovers drew 2-2 in a closely fought match with Coppull United in the West Lancashire League Premier Division (in photo). 

In the NWCFL Premier Division, Squires Gate lost 1-2 at home to Norton United.  AFC Blackpool won 2-0 away at Abbey Hey. 

AFC Blackpool are next in action on Tuesday evening when they entertain St Helens Town in a 7.45pm kick off.

Next Saturday, Blackpool Wren Rovers are at home to Vickerstown in the West Lancashire League - 3pm kick off.

Help Blackburn Hawks Support Cancer Research UK

Blackburn Hawks have been raising money for Cancer Research UK as their selected charity for the 2013/14 season.  They have set a target of £1000 and would appreciate your help in trying to reach it before the end of the play offs next weekend.

Their most recent fund raising event was a fancy dress photo shoot and you can see the result in this great photo by John Milton.

If you'd like to help the Blackburn Hawks support Cancer Research UK, you can donate here: https://www.justgiving.com/BlackburnHawks

Grand Opening Of Galleon Coffee Bar, Topping Street, Blackpool

We were lucky enough to be at the opening of this new coffee bar in Blackpool today.

The ground floor is now open for business serving wonderfully smelling teas, coffees, croissants and lots more besides and the upstairs is going to be a community meeting room with a Blackpool heritage exhibition.

Numerous events are planned. You can follow the progress of this exciting new venue on the Galleon Coffee Facebook Group

Visit the new Galleon Coffee Bar at 11 Topping Street, Blackpool FY1 3AX

Photo: Owner Stephen Pierre at the opening of the new Galleon Coffee Bar