Archive for March, 2009
WOMAD line up annouced
Posted by Culture Vulture in Events, Live Music, Theatre on March 26th, 2009
WOMAD has now announced the first names of the exciting line-up for 2009; Ethiopia’s biggest music names, The Ethiopiques, the funky, hi-Tec septet from New Zealand Fat Freddy’s Drop and US soul legend and Grammy winner Solomon Burke will be joined by his band. Also joining us this year will be Nigeria’s Afro beat singer/songwriter Nneka, another thrilling sound from Ethiopia, Dub Colossus, and two of Mali’s most talented musicians, Oumou Sangare and Rokia Traoré.
WOMAD Charlton Park is so much more than just first class world music festival and returning this year will be the popular ‘Taste the World’ tent where some of the artists will show off their cooking prowess and which, more often than not, turns into a impromptu gig. The Drum and Dance Tent will make a welcome return with early-bird yoga sessions to salsa lessons to night owl happenings. And for those who fancy a luxurious moment to themselves and a scrub up, the WOMAD spa, complete with treatments, spa pools, great showers and a cocktail bar, is the place to go.
Cheltenham restaurant in Food Awards 2009
Posted by Culture Vulture in Events on March 23rd, 2009
‘Scrumptious and inventive food’ was the verdict as Cheltenham restaurant, Le Champignon Sauvage was voted as a runner up in the peoples choice of the countries best restaurants in the Guardian newspaper Food Awards.
EMF return to Cinderford!
Posted by Culture Vulture in Events on March 18th, 2009
Keyboard player Derry Brownson said: “We’ve used the facilities up at Soundspace a couple of times and it’s been great.
“We’ve been working through lots of ideas and hope to put an album out later this year. So far we’ve recorded about seven songs and have probably scrapped twice as many.”
The band have had to start rehearsals without original guitarist Ian Dench, who is currently in New York writing for pop diva Beyoncé. In January, Ian and songwriting partner Amanda Ghost received a Grammy nomination for Beyoncé song Once In A Lifetime and also won an Ivor Novello award for another Beyoncé song Beautiful Liar last year.
It is almost 18 years since EMF topped the US Billboard Chart with Unbelievable and Derry said the band wanted to put together a DVD of some of their career highlights.
Synchronised swimming to cause a splash
Posted by Culture Vulture in Events on March 18th, 2009
The European Junior Synchronised Swimming Championships 2009 are at GL1 from 22 April to 26 April.
With 150 competitors taking part, the 5 day event is the elite competition for synchronised swimmers aged 15-18 in Europe, with up to 30 countries competing. With many of the world’s best synchronised swimming nations from all over Europe, a significant amount of today’s World and Olympic medallists of attended the junior championships in their formative years. This event will be one Gloucester can be proud of in the lead up to the 2012 London Olympic Games. Tickets are available on 0800 220 292.
The Sound of Textiles?
Posted by Culture Vulture in Art, Events, Live Music on March 17th, 2009
Stroud International Textile Festival (1-21 May, 2009) is an annual, innovative exploration of the wonder of textiles. And if that sounds like something for the initiated only… well think again and come down to the Stroud Valleys to have perceptions changed. These days textile artists create sculptural masterpieces that would grace any conventional art gallery. And Stroud’s event is world standard.
The organisers are always keen to diversify – this year Keith Tippett and Julie Tippetts play one of the most unusual gigs of their career as they bring contemporary jazz to the Stroud Subscription Rooms as part of the Festival, on Sunday, 3rd May. Tickets on 01453 760960.
The Gold Cup
Posted by Culture Vulture in Events on March 13th, 2009
“Kauto Star wins the Gold Cup, Denman second, That was some horse race. Neptune Collonges set the pace but was passed three out by his two stablemates, who were neck and neck. But Kauto Star galloped clear on the run to the second-last and galloped right to the line to beat Denman by about 10 lengths, with Exotic Dancer third.” from the Guardian Newspaper, Photograph by Tom Jenkins
Welcome to Hogwarts
Posted by Culture Vulture in Film on March 10th, 2009
Coming soon (ish!) to a cinema near you, Gloucester Cathedral with a little extra magic!! As Harry Potter begins his 6th year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, he discovers an old book marked mysteriously “property of the Half-Blood Prince” and begins to learn more about Lord Voldemort’s dark past…….. Expecto Patronum!
Waterways and Canal Culture
Posted by Culture Vulture in Crafts, Events on March 9th, 2009
Gloucester Docks is a great place to visit for those who enjoy the mix of history and industry that give any dockside setting a special atmosphere. Sunday 19th April sees the welcome return of the boat jumble and waterways festival event at Gloucester Docks. Live music and craft demonstrations are hosted in and around the National Waterways Museum, which is based in a Victorian warehouse right on the docks. The museum has an impressive folk art collection, a theme that you can also follow up at the nearby Gloucester Folk Museum.
Slimbridge Wetland Centre’s Summer Exhibition
Posted by Culture Vulture in Art, Crafts, Events on March 6th, 2009
Slimbridge Wetland Centre is usually associated with outdoor views over the Severn Estuary, flights of geese and swans – a firm favourite with families.
The recently added visitor centre includes a gallery and is a under-
appreciated space for art exhibitions. Between May 3rd and June 30th, the theme will be ‘At Home with Nature’ with Emma Ball, Libby Edmonson, Martin Cheek and Lisa Katzenstein bringing a mix of mosaic, ceramics, acrylics and watercolours, with work inspired by wildlife and landscapes.
Vanessa Mae – Arboretum Concert
Posted by Culture Vulture in Classical Music, Events, Live Music on March 5th, 2009
Westonbirt Arboretum is quietly emerging as one of the Cotswolds most loved venue for live music – offering a range of artists from Paul Weller to McFly.
With a new CD coming in 2009, Vanessa Mae, the world-famous classical superstar violin prodigy continues to attract an international following and is lined up for Westonbirt on Saturday the 18th of July. The combination of artist and setting is intriguing and this is a rare chance to experience Vanessa performing outdoors in one of Britain’s most beautiful settings.
P.S. And Westonbirt has just added David Gray to this year’s schedule!