Moseley Folk website for more info.
Sunday, 11 September 2011
Moseley Folk
Now another wonderful Birmingham cultural highlight, Moseley Folk is admittedly for those who can afford festivals, but a really special and relaxing weekend in the park, with excellent bands (and a broad church definition of folk) and a laid-back atmosphere to savour.
Moseley Folk website for more info.
Moseley Folk website for more info.
Arts Fest 2011
Now a regular and highly popular event - or collection of simultaneous events at locations across the centre of Birmingham (and the Midlands Arts Centre) - ArtsFest is a real encouragement as Autumn takes hold and the economy seems full of bad news, arrogant bankers and useless and arrogant government.
Here's a taster in photographs:
Here's a taster in photographs:
Monday, 22 August 2011
On a visit
Sunday, 21 August 2011
Hungarian Photographers
Eyewitness: Hungarian photography in the 20th Century.
See:
Royal Academy Exhibitions page
Haunting images of earlier lifestyles in the countryside, pictures of war by Robert Capa, photo-realism during the restrictions of the Communist era.
Shows the power of black-and-white images, we came out of this feeling a strong impression had been made on us.
I hope the current Hungarian government, who sponsored the exhibition, can be prevented from continuing to restrict liberties in the way that recent reports suggest they have been doing (eg: Amnesty International (UK) pages ).
See:
Royal Academy Exhibitions page
Haunting images of earlier lifestyles in the countryside, pictures of war by Robert Capa, photo-realism during the restrictions of the Communist era.
Shows the power of black-and-white images, we came out of this feeling a strong impression had been made on us.
I hope the current Hungarian government, who sponsored the exhibition, can be prevented from continuing to restrict liberties in the way that recent reports suggest they have been doing (eg: Amnesty International (UK) pages ).
Location:Royal Academy London
Other World in the Library
The British Library has a display of science fiction and similar works through the ages - see BL What's on page - Out of this World. Intriguing to see how writers have imagined the future: utopia, dystopia, our problems solved or apocalypse now.
Free too, so go along and see it!
Free too, so go along and see it!
Location:London
Sunday, 31 July 2011
Saturday, 30 July 2011
On being international?
A day of folk from home and away (not the TV series).
Today I've been out to Warwick or their annual folk festival and hear folk from Northumberland to Ireland to Turkish influences on a young (and really excellent) duo on claw hammer banjo and harmonica(s).
This evening I was one of an audience in the MAC's outdoor arena, refreshingly unrefurbished from the old semi- in the round concrete of amphitheatre, stage and dance floor, so less corporate and open for the various dances of the Cajun band from Louisiana, the Savoy (pronounced Ça voit) Family Band. Mother leading on guitar, with intros on the background of the Creole (Afro-American) French and Cajun French of the songs. Father, expert on accordion and humour, and the two sons on fiddle and keyboards.
Altogether a super atmosphere and lots of couples dancing (the oldest couple leading the way).
I felt in some way taken into the wooden houses of Louisiana, the varieties of language, the physical closeness to but remoteness culturally from Texas, the heat and humidity.
In my home town and a place that's almost been a second home, I was taken around the world.
Home maybe is where you can be yourself, and part of self is sharing the worldwide, the international, the multiple cultures which make up cities and nations today, enjoying some openness and not feeling threatened.
We need a home, but we need to feel that the world is home.
Today I've been out to Warwick or their annual folk festival and hear folk from Northumberland to Ireland to Turkish influences on a young (and really excellent) duo on claw hammer banjo and harmonica(s).
This evening I was one of an audience in the MAC's outdoor arena, refreshingly unrefurbished from the old semi- in the round concrete of amphitheatre, stage and dance floor, so less corporate and open for the various dances of the Cajun band from Louisiana, the Savoy (pronounced Ça voit) Family Band. Mother leading on guitar, with intros on the background of the Creole (Afro-American) French and Cajun French of the songs. Father, expert on accordion and humour, and the two sons on fiddle and keyboards.
Altogether a super atmosphere and lots of couples dancing (the oldest couple leading the way).
I felt in some way taken into the wooden houses of Louisiana, the varieties of language, the physical closeness to but remoteness culturally from Texas, the heat and humidity.
In my home town and a place that's almost been a second home, I was taken around the world.
Home maybe is where you can be yourself, and part of self is sharing the worldwide, the international, the multiple cultures which make up cities and nations today, enjoying some openness and not feeling threatened.
We need a home, but we need to feel that the world is home.
Location:Home is
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