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// HEY, GOOD LOOKIN ’ // Tog up for summer // PAINTING THE TOWN // The world’ biggest outdoor s art exhibition hits Bristol // BRISTOL SHORT winner, re-printe STORY PRIZE // 2011’s d in full // SORT YOUR LIFE courses & training OUT // Free 32-page guide
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DESTINATION
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HOLIDAYS: WHERE SHOULDYOU BE GOING AN D WHY
film music clubs the atre ART BOOKs culTuR E
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// JULIAN DAVIS // Meet the new man helm of St Pauls Carnival
West superbness
of the decad e
// THE BIG ISSUE // VENDOR FOR THE VENUE BECOMES A DAY
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nought but ey 2000-2009:nic review
// REGINALD D HUNTER // ‘THE VOICE’ OF COMEDY COMES TO BRISTOL // GOING DARK // VENUE’S THEATRE MAKERS OF THE YEAR GO ASTRONO MICAL // JAMES BLAKE // THE ALL-CON QUERING, SPING-TINGLING ACE OF BASS
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// TREASURE ISLAND // Jim lad! Br Vic bring Robert Louis Stevenson’ s hig spectacular home // GLASTONBURY // What the hell ha // COMEDY FESTIVA LS // Bristol gets dose of laughter therapy
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BIG GIGS, GUERIL LA ART, OSCAR FRINGE FAVOU RITES & MORE: TIPS, AUTUMN’S ABOUT TO DETONATE IN BRISTOL AND BATH
film music clubs the atre ART BOOKs culTuR E
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BIGGER THA BANKSY? N
9/28/2011 5:14:21 PM
1982 - 2012
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3/27/2012 12:48:05 PM
FILM MUSIC CLUBS THEATRE ART BOOKS CULTURE Cover 980.indd 1
29/06/2011
BATH COMEDY FESTIVAL PHIL KAY, ARTHUR SMITH, ROBIN INCE…O THERS KIDS’ THEATR E A SURVIVAL GUIDE FOR PARENTS COMMUTING IN BRISTOL TOP TRUMPS SPECIAL BRISTOL’S REFERE NDUM DO WE REALLY NEED A MAYOR?
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CONTENTS
editor@venue.co.uk @venueeditor
18.
48. FEATURES p.4 Farewell Eugene Byrne explains all… p.16 Interview Festival of Ideas’ Andrew Kelly p.21 30 Years of Venue Let’s take it back…way back…
REGULARS p.6 Letters Emails, opinion, the mad... p.9 I Saw You Did you see me? p.12 And Another Thing Of homes and chocolate bars…
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// THE BIG ISSUE // VENDOR FOR THE VENUE BECOMES A DAY // REGINALD D HUNTER // ‘THE VOICE’ OF COMEDY COMES TO BRISTOL // GOING DARK // VENUE’S THEATREMAKERS OF THE YEAR GO ASTRONOMICAL // JAMES BLAKE // THE ALL-CONQUERING, SPING-TINGLING ACE OF BASS
1 - 10 january.
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www.venue.co.uk nO.971 // AugusT 2011
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21/12/2009
film music clubs theatre
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// SORT YOUR LIFE courses & training OUT // Free 32-page guide
2011
HOLIDAYS: WHERE SHOULDYOU BE GOING AND WHY
ART BOOKs culTuRE 10/31/2011 11:54:31 AM
film music clubs theatre Cover 971_Final.indd
1
// TREASURE ISLAND // Jim lad! Bristol Vic bring Robert Old Louis Stevenson’s high seas spectacular home // GLASTONBURY // What the hell happened? // COMEDY FESTIVALS // Bristol gets a dose of laughter double therapy // JULIAN DAVIS // Meet the new man at the helm of St Pauls Carnival
15:33:01
// HEY, GOOD LOOKIN’ // Tog up for summer // PAINTING THE TOWN // The world’ biggest outdoor s art exhibition hits Bristol // BRISTOL SHORT winner, re-printed STORY PRIZE // 2011’s in full
BristOL & Bath's maGaZiNe
www.venue.co.uk nO.973 // OcTObER 2011
// fREE
// THEATRE WEST // Pub theatre perfection // A NOVEL PREMISE? // The best (and big screen literary worst) adaptations // ALICE COOPER // Shock-rock‘o’clock // MICHAEL MORPURGO to screen: the incredible // From page to stage journey of ‘War Horse’
Cover_Final 970.indd
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ART BOOKs culTuRE 27/07/2011
BRISTOL & BATH'S MAGAZINE
Cover 973 Final.indd
1
www.venue.co.uk NO.979 APRIL 2012 FREE
ART BOOKs culTuRE
BIGGER THAN BANKSY?
9/28/2011 5:14:21 PM
1982 - 2012
Cover 979.indd
29/06/2011
BATH COMEDY FESTIVAL PHIL KAY, ARTHUR SMITH, ROBIN INCE…OTHERS KIDS’ THEATRE A SURVIVAL GUIDE FOR PARENTS COMMUTING IN BRISTOL TOP TRUMPS SPECIAL BRISTOL’S REFERENDUM DO WE REALLY NEED A MAYOR?
da vinci
BIG GIGS, GUERILLA FRINGE FAVOURITESART, OSCAR TIPS, & MORE: AUTUMN’S ABOUT TO DETONATE IN BRISTOL AND BATH
film music clubs theatre 10:40:53
ART BOOKs culTuRE FREE TAKE ONE!
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p.48 FILM Marvel’s Avengers Assemble Robin Askew meets some superheroes
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DESTINATION:
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365 days of South
West superbness
322 reasoNs to LoVe 2010
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nO.970 // July 2011 //
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PLANNER
noughty but nice
2000-2009: review of the decade
Wonderland! oN the biLL: GLasto 2010 massiVe attacK toY the crucibLeshaKesPeare at thestorY 3 beN hur tobacco FactorY harrY PotterstePheN K amos michaeL 7 the LoVeLY PaLiN boNes WorLD cuP FootbaLL PLus: PoWer uP For 2010 With our Free FitNess GuiDe
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3/27/2012 12:48:05 PM
10:48:33
21.
p.59 MUSIC Crybaby on life after Babel
Issue 980 1982 - 2012 VENUE MAGAZINE Bristol Office Bristol News & Media, Temple Way, Bristol, BS99 7HE Tel 0117 942 8491 (12 lines) Fax 0117 934 3566 BathOffice Bath News & Media, Floor 2, Westpoint, James West St, Bath, BA1 1UN Tel 01225 429801 Fax 01225 447602 Email (Editorial): editor@venue.co.uk (Advertising): ads@venue.co.uk Website www.venue.co.uk Twitter @venueeditor Publishing Director Dave Higgitt Editor Tom Wainwright Associate Editor Mike White Studio Manager Cath Evans Design Team Sarah Clark, Sarah Malone Production Charis Munday Sub-Editors Tom Phillips, Jo Renshaw Advertising Manager Becky Davis Bristol Advertising Adam Burrows, Ben Wright, Bex Baddiley Bath Advertising Ellie Pipe Distribution and Subscriptions Simon Butler Publication Co-ordinators Sam Ulewicz Art Steve Wright Books Tom Wainwright Classical Paul Riley Clubs Adam Burrows Comedy Steve Wright Days Out Anna Britten Dance Steve Wright Events Mike White Film Robin Askew Jazz Tony Benjamin Lesbian & Gay Darryl Bullock News Eugene Byrne Rock Leah Pritchard Roots Leah Pritchard Skills Anna Britten Sport Simon Fry Theatre Steve Wright
VENUEMAGAZINE
Contents 980.indd 3
HELLO This 30th anniversary issue will be our last – at least in this particular incarnation – but you probably know that by now. When we put this issue together, we had no idea of our imminent shaft based fate. Now Eugene Byrne’s and Mike White’s brilliant scrapbook feature documenting 30 years of Venue in all its disgraceful glory has taken on an unintended poignancy. I’d like to give huge thanks to everyone here and to you lovely readers for letting me join the party right at the end. As a late arrival to the fray, however, less from me might be a little more. Euge will fill you in on what the hell happened/is happening, over the page. I’ll just say thank you. You were amazing. Tom Wainwright Editor
p.73 CLUBS Simple Things Festival A Good Thing returns p.79 PERFORMANCE Directors Cuts at The Alma Tavern p.85 COMEDY We can’t stop laughing, us p.86 ART Next month’s highlights p.89 BOOKS Eugene Byrne reviews Bath and the Blitz: Then and Now p.90 DAYS OUT Mayday Mayday p.92 SKILLS Bristol and Bath’s contribution to UK-wide Adult Learner’s Week p.99 GAY Gay Pride - now free MAY 2012 3
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hirty years more or less to the day since Venue was started, it’s going to finish. It lives on online (www.venue.co.uk) and a revamped site will provide a what’s on listings service for Bristol & Bath. The same material will also feature in the local edition of Metro, and be the basis of a what’s on pull-out in the Post every Friday. But this is the last ever Venue on paper, and some folks will be leaving. These include Publishing Director Dave Higgitt, Associate Editor Mike White and Editor Tom Wainwright, who was in the job for just six weeks, and now faces a lifetime explaining that one on his CV and in future job interviews. I’m gone, too and will henceforth be found cadging drinks off people in public houses in return for long and uninteresting anecdotes about Bristol and/or Venue in the good old days. Of course this isn’t the last ever Venue on paper if any of us wins the Euromillions. What you do then is flip a coin; heads we bring out a new magazine for Bristol and Bath, tails we get an immense pile of £20 notes and spend several days tearing them up and flushing them down the toilet, one by one. Meaning, as a “business model” Venue was acceptable in the eighties (and indeed the nineties, and on into the noughties) but isn’t anymore. Sad, but so it goes. Forces of history. Venue was launched in 1982 by a group of amateurish but enthusiastic people who had worked on a local magazine called Out West. The latter was trying to be a local equivalent of 4 MAY 2012
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London’s Time out, but there were differences between the publisher and the staff, resulting in everyone going off and starting their own mag. Brave, impossible early days, blah, producing magazine on kitchen table, blah, pasting up pages in the taxi on the way to the printers, drone, solicitors’ letters and libel cases, witter ... If you want more of this, buy me a drink sometime. Venue survived several early crises on enthusiasm, luck and the deep pockets of its backers, gawd love ‘em. Mostly, though, it was because people bought the magazine. Never before had you been able to get all the information you needed about entertainment, the arts and stuff to do for fun in a single place. Venue also had news and features, often from a left/ liberal slant. Again, there was nowhere else locally you could get this stuff. By the late 1980s, everything had fallen into place; we knew what we were doing journalistically and commercially, we could afford to pay for decent reporting and lots of articles. If you look at old copies of Venue from the mid 1990s you’ll be amazed at how much there is in them. At the time, mind, it felt like the usual lurching from one crisis to another, especially following the disastrous failure of the Cardiff edition of Venue, which those who were there still don’t talk about on anything less than four big drinks. The Evening Post disdainfully ignored us while we lost no opportunity to take the piss. Then, in 2000, having themselves just been taken over by the Northcliffe Newspaper Group, they came and made an offer the management saw fit not to refuse. Venue was taken over by the Evening Post
in June of 2000. They’ve owned it ever since. Now it goes without saying that Northcliffe, part of the same newspaper empire that brings you the Daily Mail, is ultimately controlled by the Lord of Darkness and is the font of all evil. The Daily Mail and the Post are both printed with a special shade of black ink so utterly, satanically black that it creates its own gravitational field, draining the common sense from its readers. But as Venue’s owners Northcliffe were pretty cool. They sorted out the business in loads of different ways but never interfered in editorial policy. The same old sanctimonious left/liberal/ green guff pervades each issue now, just like 30 years ago. Northcliffe basically saw to it that Venue survived for many years after every other listings magazine in England apart from Time Out, went under. Not a lot of people know this, but there’s been nothing like Venue in most English cities for over 20 years. What did for Venue in the end was all sorts of factors which added up to a terminal fall in sales and revenue. In no special order: - The internet, social networking and even mobile phones. People now have much more instant and efficient and free ways to find out what’s going on. Aficionados of particular musical genres, say, will have their own little local networks. - Everything else. All the time there are more and more different ways of spending/wasting your leisure time. - Demographics. When Venue launched there VENUEMAGAZINE
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well then... was a big population bulge of young people. Then they all got married, had kids, stopped going out so much. We had fewer potential readers. - Adverts (lack of) ... Venue, like a lot of publications, made most of its revenue from advertising, not sales of copies. The ads started going off to the internet, or advertisers started to say things like “oh, we’re spending all our advertising budget this year on a website.” - The recession. Everyone’s poor. Not going out so much, cutting down on expenses. You only have to see the numbers of boarded up pubs and restaurants (and shops) to see that. Also the costs of running the mag kept going up, especially the price of paper. The first big crisis came a year ago when the management proposed shutting down the whole thing. A huge outpouring of Venue-love from supporters on the web, particularly the Facebook campaign, helped us put together a sort of rescue package, involving going free and monthly, and joined at the hip to Folio. But yet again, the numbers don’t stack up no more and the evil empire is shutting us down. Then again, most other evil empires would have shut us down a lot sooner. It’s been a grand ride. I’ve been involved in Venue for 29 of the last 30 years, though never full-time. Nobody could work full-time for Venue for that long and keep their sanity, apart from Dave Higgitt, but he’s always been quietly unhinged, and loudly unhinged after a few drinks. In all that time all manner of remarkable people have been involved with Venue. Some of them have gone on fame and riches, while VENUEMAGAZINE
Goodbye - Eugene 980.indd 5
many more are working as journalists all over the world. The huge majority of them have been wonderful people, ranging from the comparatively normal to the barking mad. We love them all, but there are too many to mention. At the risk of offending many, many folks who played key roles in the mag down the years, though, there are two individuals without whom; Dougal Templeton, the magazine’s founder, and Dave Higgitt, who’s kept the whole thing on the rails all this time. Dougal and Dave are two very different individuals, but they formed a brilliant partnership that established the firm, and steered it through its most successful times. They are your classic roundhead and cavalier. Dougal was inspired and visionary, with a very sure feel for what the punters wanted. He is also an extremely charismatic individual, capable of charming all manner of favours out of people for little or no money. Dave was the practical one, the guy who actually made it all happen. Dave’s shrewd and resourceful management kept the show on the road when anyone else would have given up in despair. History will decide what Venue achieved. We ourselves would lay claim to having made a lot of things happen in the last 30 years. We were there to promote all that cultural stuff for which Bristol is now famous, from music to street art. We played a key role in turning this town from a sleeping provincial backwater where the pubs closed early and everyone was in bed by ten on a Sunday evening, to the much more colourful and fun-loving place it is nowadays.
Perhaps its most lasting achievement was that it brought people together. We know that many readers used Venue as a way of finding their way round when they were new in town. Then there were the personal ads in the mag, and online, plus the world-famous I Saw Yous which resulted in innumerable lasting romances, and probably a few bitter divorces by now as well. The broader achievement, though, was as a vector, platform and clearing house for creative people and ideas. In ways big and small, all sorts of artistic collaborations and businesses happened because Venue brought people together, and helped deliver an audience. Venue now slips from everyday fact into history and mythology. The stories we broke, the opportunities we missed, the huge cast of eccentric staff and writers who would never have found a proper job anywhere else. The parties. Oh, Venue’s parties were the best. Like some gouty old Regency rake who’s survived into Victorian times, I now keep hearing stories from young ‘uns about how crazy, drunk and drug-sodden Venue used to be. This is a gross exaggeration. But we had some great parties. So long, everyone. It’s been brilliant. We couldn’t have done it without you; the readers and advertisers past and present, writers, sales and admin staff and contributors past and present; the newsagents, pubs and venues who sold the mag for us, and many, many more. We thank everyone who ever had anything to do with Venue. We thank you for the extraordinary privilege of letting us produce this wonderful magazine for three whole decades. It’s been a great honour and the most enormous fun. MAY 2012 5
4/25/2012 11:53:39 AM
LETTERS OFFICE POLITICS
would not tell me who had complained and did not say why. If a licence was required, why not simply advise me for future reference or display clear signs to that effect, rather than grilling me and throwing me out? Especially as I had told him I had stopped taking pictures and was just leaving anyway. It seemed particularly incongruous that photography was (supposedly) disallowed at an art students’ night, given that artists are, by definition, open to both imagecreation and maverick mind-broadening behaviour. Of course, that is a homogenising generalisation: it is conceivable that some goers were more private and introverted than others, or that the illustrators – for all their alleged arty credentials – reserved the right not to be illustrated themselves or to only be photographed by their personal acquaintances. But details of the event on Facebook specifically declared (my italics): “It’s going to be an awesome night of fun, photos, frolics and photocopies”: www.facebook.com/ events/179876335433711/ Photographers are too often the victims of suspicion, presumption and ignorance. They are knee-jerkingly assumed to be spies, terrorists or weirdoes, even if taking pictures of genuine social reportage/documentation for legitimate purposes. Such images are fascinating to contemporaries and
I suffered an unpleasant experience at Rewind nightclub in Bristol. I attended an Awkward Office Xmas Party at the club, held as a fundraising event by UWE illustration students. As the name suggests, the dress code and decor were inspired by gruesome office parties, with bureaucratic fancy dress (collars and ties, secretary glasses etc) and walls plastered with ironic photocopies of bottoms. I took a few innocuous pictures of the dancefloor and wall displays, with an eye to submitting them to Venue’s Bristol & Bath in Pictures page. But a few minutes later, after I had desisted from using my camera and just when I was about to leave anyway, a bouncer approached me and said the club had received ‘complaints’. He asked what I had been taking pictures of and why. I inwardly considered this none of his business, but politely and truthfully responded. He asked to look at the shots on the camera. Again, I grudgingly but politely complied, implementing a rewind in Rewind. He told me I needed a licence if I wished to take pictures at the establishment, and escorted me from the premises, telling me that I was permanently banned from the club. He
road alterations but their objections have been ignored. I believe a similar situation exists on Fishponds Road. What is really sad though is that this useless waste of money caused resentment among people living in different areas of Bristol. Mary, Clifton
I was so sad to the read the letter ‘The Rich Get Richer’ from Sarah in Greenbank (Inbox, issue 978). Like many people she feels that the road ‘improvements’ on Whiteladies Road are unnecessary and that the money could have been better spent on safety measures outside her local primary school. Well, I would like to assure Sarah that many people in the Whiteladies Road area do not want wider pavements and extra trees at the cost of a narrower road. We can see that the road is so narrow in some places that emergency vehicles could be held up. Local businesses and residents voiced their reservations to some of these 6 MAY 2012
Letters 980.indd 6
LET OF TTER MONHE TH
invaluable to posterity. By coincidence, the debacle occurred in the same week that the Times newspaper reported on the Metropolitan Police paying damages and apologising to youngster Jules Mattsson, after officers blocked his attempts to take photographs of a parade in London. http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/ uk/article3255606.ece True, taking a few snaps in a nightclub doesn’t exactly make me Don McCullin. But the episode, while leaving me riled, indignant and patronised, only served to reinforce the belief that, within reason and unless
genuinely inhibited by privacy/security considerations, photography should be freely allowed in any public place. Indeed, who do Rewind (or owners of shops, shopping centres etc) think they are when they try to ban it? Francis Harvey, by email
FROME WITH A DO
Cheese and Grain, good places to eat… Jacqueline, by email. Thanks, Jacqueline. It’s on our radar – see the free Festival Guide with this issue, and check our website for more. Meanwhile, dear readers, swivel your peepers at www.fromefestival.co.uk/
Great little mag, but how about including friendly, historic Frome and its great festival, which runs for 10 days at the beginning of July? Hits the national press, great events at
Who indeed, Francis? Who indeed? It seems to be the same in Cabot Circus, where would-be photographers have been bafflingly scolded by security staff. Well done for trying, and thanks for raising this issue. Here’s a pictureperfect £10 Waterstone’s voucher for your troubles.
WWW.JOEBERGER.CO.UK
CROSSTOWN TRAFFIC
Going out this month? See venue.co.uk - the home of Venue's what's on listings
VENUEMAGAZINE
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For more I saw you's plus I'm sore at you see venue.co.uk/isawyou
I SAW YOU
I SAW YOU... ...in La Shocca shaking your stuff on the dance floor. It seems the OB's got a little more than they bargained for when you whipped off your top and whirled it above your head. Seeing those moves and your impressive skills at downing JB's makes me want you more. Oh, Dirts don't be in Club I on your birthday, play the ice cube game with me instead instead...Naughty Nx I SAW YOU in your room above Park News where you play dubstep. I think you're great and respect you. One night in the future when you are truly healed take me to dubstep if I'm still available. I won't wait, but I'll always wonder. I SAW YOU... CALM DOON and LUV THE TOON! ;)XXXX I SAW YOU girl behind the counter in Stationery World on Park St; shortish brown hair, hair band, v.slim, gorgeous (you, not the hair band). You're unimaginably hot, but I'm with someone! Argh. Ah well, take the compliment eh. I SAW YOU again, for the umpteenth time, gorgeous man at the Better Food Company in St. Werburgh's. And yet again, I have VENUEMAGAZINE
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not had the courage to tell you how I feel about you, as I cannot tell if you are gay/bi (and therefore possibly biddable) or straight (and therefore not biddable) – this is because my gaydar does not work. The truth is, I fancy you! I SAW YOU taking a chance & emailing me. You're great and if I was still interested in men I'd give it another go but I've stepped over to the 'dark-side' so if your feelings are still strong its best we don't meet up but all the best x I SAW YOU quite some time ago now. I understand it's for selfprotection, but I'd love for you to be in my life in some way in the future, and want you to know that I'm still here, still thinking so many good things about you, and still always there if you need anything. Much love, as always Xx I SAW YOU you stood behind me in the cue at sainsburys brislington last week, i forgot my PIN, i don't eat chocolate cookies anymore as they were making me fat, for the 3rd and final time, with your black glasses & beautiful hair, i still think you are gorgeous xxx I SAW YOU H. In fact i've seen you several times, at your flat, and mine, laughing and smiling at Leslie Neilson. I want to see you more, much more, but I don't quite know how to say it. You're always perfect company. P x
were wearing a cap, backpack, jeans and trainers. I smiled at you, you smiled back, my heart skipped a beat. I hope our paths cross again. I SAW YOU C Abe... selling the most beautiful clothes, your delightful smile and caring nature is only let down by the fact your a M.O.P x
I SAW YOU... serving at the Cosy Club, Bath 5th April. You - auburn hair, nose piercing and gorgeous. Me - with work colleagues trying hard to focus on them and not you . . . and failing.
debordista@me.com I SAW YOU in sin in worcester on saturday night, but you live in bristol and i didn't get your number....
I SAW YOU Dawn in Sainsbury's near the arches on Gloucester Rd... your smile makes me happy and your soulful interactions are enigmatic, I wish I was single so I could attempt to ask you out, I am sure we would get along. For now, I'll have to dream.
I SAW YOU pretty lady in "the better food company"..you browsing the veg ,me browsing the veg, we smiled twice, me grey hair and goatie wearing orange shirt and denim jacket you petite and brunette,you have nice smile:-) i think you are a bit younger than me:-)
I SAW YOU on Saturday, 7th April at around 5.20pm at the Tesco store on West St in Bedminster. I was getting out cash, you were unlocking your bike. I was wearing black boots, black jacket, scarf and floral print dress, big eyes and curly hair. You
I SAW YOU I saw you, HS, and I have wished away a lifetime since hoping to see you again. Despite trying to move on, you are in my thoughts always and through twist of fate I think you might now know how to contact me...please do x
I SAW YOU Maunday Thursday (5th April) Wilkinsons escalator. You old school gallant knight, me over shopped damsel. It was much appreciated. Thank you. Coffee sometime? coffee300-isawu@yahoo.co.uk I SAW YOU Zachary C. on the 1pm London train on Wednesday 18 April; you gave me a lovely smile as we were leaving the train at Bath. Hope to see another of those smiles again. I SAW YOU Have you forgotten me? I am the one you used to say you loved. I used to sleep in your arms – do you remember? But you never write. You are perhaps mindless of me. I am not of you. I SAW YOU When will you notice me Fearon??? I SAW YOU J L Weave, looking like a hottie in that video... come back and see me soon urban warrior xx I SAW YOU from across the office.... you beautiful smile fills the room with joy. I hear your laugh and wish I could hear your jokes. one day I hope to build up the courage to ask you for a drink... I SAW YOU Messy blond-haired guy behind the bar at the Raven in Bath. You are a god-like creature, and I am in AWE! I SAW YOU again, for the umpteenth time, gorgeous man at the Better Food Company in St. Werburgh's. The truth is, I fancy
I SAW YOU... BLB... you are quite possibly the best thing ever x MAY 2012 7
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10 MAY 2012
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BRISTOL & BATH ‘Clifton Suspension Bridge’ – Scott Salter Scott is studying digital design/ photography at Bath Spa University. He took this with a 30-second exposure, giving lots of light and movement and breaking the boring symmetry nicely. He’s done well to run the lights into the corner, making the picture look more intentional and less snappy. Congratulations Scott – you win a one-day photography course to the tune of a hundred quid with our judges, Photography Made Simple.
‘Holbourne Museum’ – Francis Harvey (right) We like the way that we can see down Great Pulteney Street. Perhaps a gentle crop would have been nice, but an interesting picture. Nice one, Francis – you get a voucher worth £50 with AudioGo. Proof there are prizes for coming second.
‘Mud Dock Harbour, Bristol’ – Adam Jones (below) A little lens flare spoils the picture slightly, but a gentle calm view of the water here. Like all reflection pictures, it’s fun to look at it upside down, but it shows we could have done with a bit more
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This month’s prizes are courtesy of Photography Made Simple http://photographymadesimple.co.uk/ and AudioGO (formerly BBC Audiobooks) www.audiogo. co.uk who publish thousands of comedy, drama and factual programmes in both CD and downloadable format.
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AND ANOTHER THING... Tom Wainwright's had a bad week. Don't judge him.
Yours for 281, 818 Mars Bars
I
am one of the luckiest people in the world – in spite of getting the bullet seven weeks into a job that made me happier than life itself, I have no right to complain about anything. Why? I’ve just bought a house. Well actually, no, I didn’t. My mum did. She’s worked her arse off all her adult life, given a large proportion of her savings to me. And I’ve spent them. We all know it’s almost impossible to buy a house now without family hand-outs so let’s not exhaust that narrative any further. Instead a couple of facts: in 1982 a Mars Bar cost 16p. Today it’s around 55p. In 1982 a terraced house in Easton cost 10 grand. If my newly acquired house was a Mars Bar, it would cost £34,375. It cost more than that. I am aware that this column contains pedantic and over-simplified maths that bear no relation at all to economics. I am also aware that I couldn’t give a Welsh toss. Up until a few months ago I never really cared about owning a house. I still don’t – but I don’t want to pay through the nose and into somebody else’s retirement plan for somewhere to live. This is called renting. It figures that as homeowners borrow ever greater sums to secure their pension, I mean house, they pass that debt on to the people paying their mortgage off for them. That’s what I would do. If I were a Fatty Pig. Because that’s what you are: if you own and live in a property and simultaneously own and rent out another one. There are myriad exceptions – people who rent themselves and rent out a property, people in grief, people who are betwixt and between: you good people are not Fatty Pigs. The Piggies are the happy people I’ve described above. Often these Piggies will have small children and so justify their property-based fisting in the interests of their little ones’ futures. Nice for the kids; not so good for everyone else. Bit like sending your children to private school. But that’s a different tory. At some point it became an accepted fact that as a renter, not only should you provide your landlord’s retirement plan, but also give them three or four hundred quid spending money on top of that. A mark-up, I believe it’s
called. Hard to prove but put it like this: if you rent a three-bed terrace in St Werburghs, it’s unlikely the £950 you’re paying a month covers nothing more than the mortgage repayments on a property purchased by your landlord 10 years ago. They could come round once a month and demand you fill a brown paper bag with 400 quid cash, but then they might look a bit like a loan shark. The question is – how many houses do you need? There are exceptions, but generally the answer is one. If, on your second home you charge a mark-up, things start to get very difficult for your tenants. Not only are they priced out of a pension, lowincome renters are finding it increasingly hard to live. And they’ve got to live. So what? That’s life, some might say. People are free to buy and sell whatever they like (including property) as they see fit: it’s their right. This creates the market that gives us Choice. A grocer buys a job lot of Mars Bars and then sells them on at a profit, at say 55p, and generally we can afford that mark-up. However, if said Mars Bar cost £2.62(which is what a Mars Bar would cost if it were my newly acquired house), I might give it a miss. I’d also give all its competitors, similarly priced, a miss. But I can’t do that with a house or flat. I have to live somewhere, whether I rent or buy: I can’t avoid it. I don’t have to have a chocolate bar, much as it might feel like it sometimes. Thirty years ago, it wasn’t uncommon to hear people describe all property as “theft”. You’d get laughed at for saying that now. So I won’t say that. I’ll just thank my lucky stars and hope I don’t lose my job.
“THE QUESTION IS – HOW MANY HOUSES DO YOU NEED?”
12 MAY 2012
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MAY
Going out this month? See venue.co.uk - the home of Venue's what's on listings
OUR FAVOURITE TEN THINGS THIS MONTH... MUSIC
Bath International Music Festival
1.
From the spine-tingling jazz showmanship of Courtney Pine to the dark magic of Angela Carter’s vivid imaginings, the BIMF continues to push boundaries way beyond classical – though there’s still plenty of that too. This year’s 10-day spectacular opens with a Baroque Carnival outside the Abbey and a gala opera night inside, and continues with Bath Phil orbiting Holst’s ‘Planets’ and a joyous chamber ensemble adaptation of ‘The Magic Flute’, amongst much else besides. Many events – including the Baroque Carnival (Wed 30 May) and the huge Party in the City (Fri 1 June) are free.
FILM
2.
Marvel Avengers Assemble Boom! Blockbuster season kicks off with Marvel’s latest CGI-pumped comic-book cash-in, in which a select band of superheroes unite to kick ass when Earth is threatened by the “Asgardian God of Mischief, Madness and Evil”, Loki (played by Etonian pretty boy Tom Hiddleston). Amongst those braving the silly masks/capes/unitards are (deep breath) Robert Downey Jr (as Ironman), Mark Ruffalo (Hulk), Scarlett Johansen (Black Widow), Samuel L Jackson (Nick Fury) and Chris Hemsworth (Thor). This film has changed its title three times in the last two weeks. This is the correct one as we go to press…
BATH INTERNATIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL VARIOUS VENUES IN BATH, WED 30 MAY-SUN 10 JUNE. SEE MUSIC FROM P.59 AND CHECK WWW.BATHMUSICFEST.ORG.UK FFI.
MARVEL AVENGERS ASSEMBLE OPENS ON FRI 27 APR. SEE REVIEW ON P.53 AND CHECK WWW.VENUE. CO.UK FOR SCREENING DETAILS.
PERFORMANCE
Bath Fringe Festival A 17-day spree of performance and creativity of all descriptions (with a definite leaning towards the odd and unexpected), filling dozens of Bath’s best venues and more secret spaces, a creaking wooden Spiegeltent and the streets all around… BATH FRINGE FESTIVAL VARIOUS VENUES IN BATH, FRI 25 MAY-SUN 10 JUNE. SEE WWW.BATHFRINGE.CO.UK FOR FULL DETAILS.
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3.
4. MUSIC
Simple Things Festival The only bad thing about Simple Things is that it’s only one day long. But what a day: across 14 hours and six secret venues, with an inspired line-up – Squarepusher, Simian Mobile Disco, Ghostpoet and Death in Vegas are among the bigger names – alongside proper festival food stalls, alfresco bars and walkabout performers. Get your wristbands now. SIMPLE THINGS FESTIVAL VARIOUS VENUES IN CENTRAL BRISTOL, SUN 6 MAY. SEE FEATURE ON P.73 AND CHECK WWW.SIMPLETHINGSFESTIVAL.CO.UK FOR UPDATES.
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5. EVENT
FILM
Festival of Ideas Asking questions like ‘Are Women Animals?’ and ‘How Much Is Enough?’, the brain-challenging thinkfest picks up the pace this month, exploring cities as centres for anti-capitalist struggle, heading off on a walking tour through Bristol’s ancient sacred sites, investigating how memory warps time, and even explaining why there is no ‘you’ inside your head at all. FESTIVAL OF IDEAS VARIOUS VENUES IN BRISTOL, THROUGHOUT APRIL, MAY AND BEYOND. SEE INTERVIEW ON P.16 AND CHECK WWW. IDEASFESTIVAL.CO.UK FOR MORE DETAILS.
6.
Dark Shadows Depp and Burton reunite for a feature-length spin-off of the American gothic sitcom of the same name, roping in an all-star cast including Michelle Pfeiffer, Helena Bonkam-Harder and Eva Green. Our Johnny plays Barnabas Collins, a confused vampire reawakened in the 1970s after centuries of curse-induced slumber to find his descendants are very dysfunctional indeed and a sexy witch is out to ensare him. Fish-out-of-water hilarity ensues. DARK SHADOWS OPENS ON FRI 11 MAY. SEE WWW.VENUE.CO.UK FOR SCREENING DETAILS.
EVENT
7.
Penny Farthing Festival An unlikely music and arts festival powered entirely by bicycles, with a thigh-rubbing line-up including think-rock wonders Tall Ships and the unlikely English teacher-turned-rapper Mark Grist, whose painfully brilliant rap battle roasting of a young MC has clocked up close to two million views on YouTube and been described as “absolute dynamite” by Stephen Merchant. There’s more from Stephen Merchant on p.34, but that’s not important right now. PENNY FARTHING FESTIVAL BATH PAVILION, BATH, SAT 5 MAY. SEE WWW. PENNYFARTHINGFESTIVAL.COM FOR DETAILS.
8. FILM
The Dictator “Women, Jews, and disabled not allowed.” Controversy-hungry Borat Baron Cohen returns as a massively wealthy, massively bearded tyrant from the made-up East African nation of Wadiya, to take a ham-fisted swipe at stereotypical self-styled despots, at America and at all of us, with cringe-inducing results. THE DICTATOR OPENS ON FRI 18 MAY. SEE WWW.VENUE.CO.UK FOR SCREENING DETAILS.
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9. CLUBS
Rave on Avon
moves to Stokes Croft This year BrisFest will be taking over Ashton Court (though not ’til in September), so its monster club-hopping allnighter Rave on Avon has been cut loose as a stand-alone event, with an exhausting dose of dance music running rampant across more than eight venues around Stokes Croft. And for those lamenting the loss of the excellent Stokes Croft Street Fest, the party begins at 2pm with four hours of free fun indoors and out before the main event gets underway. After that you’ll need a wristband – yours for a measly eight quid. Get ’em while you can. RAVE ON AVON VARIOUS VENUES AROUND STOKES CROFT, BRISTOL, SAT 19 MAY. SEE WWW.BRISFEST.CO.UK FOR FFI.
ART
10.
Spike Island Open Weekend Open your mind and then ladle it into the welcoming crannies of Spike Island for three days of behind-the-scenes studio exploration, hands-on workshops, interactive drawing exercises and all the weird and wonderful art your eyes can eat.
SPIKE ISLAND OPEN WEEKEND SPIKE ISLAND, BRISTOL, SAT 5-MON 7 MAY (WITH A FREE PREVIEW PARTY ON FRI 4). SEE ART FROM P.86 AND WWW.SPIKEISLAND.ORG.UK FOR DETAILS.
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INTERVIEW
Martin Palmer The writer and conservationist explains the ancient secrets behind every-day Bristol to Mike White.
I
’ve been very fortunate in that ever since I – an absolutely astonishing event that changed the was a child growing up in Hartcliffe – which shape of British Christianity. Then we’ll move into the was a very tough estate to grow up on in the Old City, exploring how the names of churches tell you 50s and 60s – I had three things that gave me something about the city’s sacred layout – St Stephens great inspiration. One was Dundry Hill. I just Church, for example, is the first church that was built used to like walking up and over the hill, into outside the city wall. It was dedicated to St Stephen this amazing landscape, with Maes Knoll Tump for the simple reason that St Stephen was the first – probably a burial mound for warriors slain Christian martyr, and he was stoned to death outside by the Romans when they sacked the area in the city wall. Then we explore the city itself, which around 65AD; or going down towards Stanton arose out of climate change. It was impossible to build Drew and seeing the stone circles there. Although I Bristol until the west coast of Britain rose by about a grew up on a tough housing estate, within half-an-hour foot and a half in the eighth century, as a result of the I was amidst some of the oldest and most powerful sites land recovering from the last ice age. And suddenly all anywhere in the country. Secondly, I had a godmother this land became available, and when the Anglo Saxons who lived on the Quantocks, and she taught me how decided to build a town there, they laid it out as a Celtic to see the stories that lie just below the surface. The cross. So we’ll be examining that too. way that a road bends, or the name of a town, or patterns in the land I’ll be giving people the tools left over from a Celtic farmstead to look at names of streets and or a deserted medieval village. churches, to look at layouts of The third factor was Bristol itself, buildings, to look at, for example, which, when I was growing up in how banks in the 19th century tried the 50s and 60s, was still recovering to make themselves look like temples to lure us into a false sense of from being bombed. As a lad I could security about finance – something wander through these bombedwhich is not that uncommon today. out areas – I remember smashing most of the glass in what’s now the I suppose what writing the Arnolfini, for example, because it book has taught me is that when was derelict. Wandering a bombwe develop or change a site, you damaged landscape, you saw the should have some understanding bones of the city. It was a strange of how it has been developed and time to grow up, but an exhilarating changed by human action over time, one. MARTIN PALMER and an awareness that really until a hundred or so years ago nobody built The reason I wrote the book anything without thinking they were part of a much ‘Sacred Land’ was to help people to discover what lies greater story. A story that was cosmic and sacred and just beneath the surface. We’re very good at looking at divine. We’ve lost that, to a very great extent. And I what’s there, but it just takes a little bit of imagination feel very strongly that we need to be humble in front and a slightly different angle, and you can see beneath of what our ancestors did and thought, because they what we’ve put up in the 20th century, layers and layers built a much more sustainable world than we’ve ever and layers that tell very different stories. done. What we’ll be doing on the walking tour is MARTIN PALMER LEADS ‘SACRED BRISTOL – A GUIDED discovering some of the history, the legends and the WALK’ ON SAT 12 MAY FROM ARNOLFINI, BRISTOL. SEE WWW. sacred geometry of Bristol. We’ll be looking at some IDEASFESTIVAL.CO.UK FOR DETAILS. HIS BOOK ‘SACRED of the ancient stories about Bristol, including College LAND’ (PIATKUS, £16.99) IS AVAILABLE FROM ALL GOOD BOOK Green, which is the reputed site of one of the most SELLERS. significant meetings that took place in the Dark Ages
“UNTIL A HUNDRED OR SO YEARS AGO NOBODY BUILT ANYTHING WITHOUT THINKING THEY WERE PART OF A MUCH GREATER STORY.”
16 MAY 2012
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Darlin Ever-eclectic performance extravaganza Mayfest forays forth for its tenth outing this year. Steve Wright immerses himself.
A
Bryony Kimmings: 7 Day Drunk
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ngry, exhilarated, depressed, delirious, panicked, betrayed, exploited and joyous.” There you are: a typically rich and complex audience reaction to a typical Mayfest show. Actually, since you ask, those were our reviewer’s feelings on emerging into the cold daylight after Ontroerend Goed’s extraordinary, intimate ‘Internal’, an off-kilter highlight of Mayfest 2010 (and conversation piece, discussed in hushed and confessional tones by all who’d witnessed it, for weeks afterwards). In fact, every year since its inception in 2003, Mayfest – Bristol’s springtime festival of “adventurous theatre for playful people” – has provided a battery of eye-opening, off-centre theatrical treats for audiences from Bristol and, increasingly, beyond – so much so that the Guardian labeled it, a coupla years back, “a mix of work so tasty it makes you want to up sticks and move to Bristol permanently”. Mayfest has consistently surprised
and delighted, in an increasingly eclectic array of venues – from ‘Black Tonic’, a promenade psychomystery around a Redcliffe hotel, to Mem Morrison’s wonderful one-man show ‘Leftovers’, performed in a Bedminster greasy spoon. Dozens of local artists and companies, from Publick Transport to Tinned Fingers, Dave Fish Theatre to Stand + Stare, have flourished under its nurturing umbrella: others have been lured from far and wide, from the Czech Republic’s Adriatic to American collective The Team. Venue catches up with Mayfest’s directors (and co-founders) Matthew Austin and Kate Yedigaroff on a mid-April morning at their small, frenetic College Green HQ, where they’re dotting the ‘i’s and crossing the ‘t’s on Mayfest #10. Brochure printed, Matthew and Kate are now knee-deep in scheduling: making sure the packed 10-day programme meshes together, that visiting artists are booked into the right digs and will turn up on the right day. “Then it’ll be a case of making sure that they have a nice time while they’re here, and it’s not just us staring wildly at them and falling over because we’re so tired,” grins Kate. So, folks: any trends, themes, styles or conversations coming through strongly for Mayfest 2012? “We deliberately don’t theme the festival, but there are a few strands this year,” says Matthew. “There’s a political edge to some of the shows – for example ‘Crunch’ and ‘Hitch’, both at The Brewery, both solo shows by Scottish artists and both quite politically engaged. Both are about the tyranny of money, really – ‘Hitch’ is one man’s story of hitchhiking to the 2009 G8 summit, ‘Crunch’ about our dependence on money and how it controls us – via a spoof life coach giving a motivational speech. And ‘Minsk’ (a portrait of underground life in a repressive regime by the persecuted Belarus Free Theatre) is obviously deeply political by its very nature. “So there’s some quite thoughtful, nittygritty stuff – but there’s also lots which is totally outlandish, or purely about having a stomping good time.” There are also, as last year, an intriguing smattering of intimate, off-piste, one-to-one or small group shows, from Andy Field’s ‘Motor Vehicle Sundown’, in which two audience members at a time VENUEMAGAZINE
4/24/2012 4:05:05 PM
ing buds of will be taken on a trip inside the last car on earth, to a return from The Other Way Works (they of the aforementioned ‘Black Tonic’) with ‘Avon Calling’, an intimate drama that will tour private homes. Dance and movement also have a strong presence this year, with a new piece by Frauke Requardt, the choreographer behind Mayfest 2010’s ambitious ‘Electric Hotel’ (Episode), and a solo performance (‘Small Talk’) by the captivating Antonia Grove. And, though you’ll have read all about it last month, we can’t not mention Mercurial Wrestler’s ‘Magna Mysteria’, an interactive series of magical events, culminating in a spectacular magical showdown in The Big Top, a new circus space near Temple Meads (register by 12 May). Kate: “We can’t say too much about that, it’s top secret. But you would be an idiot if you didn’t buy a ticket…” Kate and Matthew have recently decided to devote all their energies to programming new, adventurous theatre, forming their own production company MAYK as an umbrella for a wide raft of performance-related fare. The decision to go it alone (Kate was until recently a producer at Bristol Old Vic, Matthew a freelance arts marketeer) has been brewing for a while. “Chiefly, we wanted to create an identity for the things we do together, and to start to do things outside of Mayfest,” Matthew explains. “Mayfest works well just as it is: a 10-day festival of adventurous theatre. As a pair, though, we have a desire to do other things that aren’t a 10-day theatre festival. MAYK gives us that framework.” And what will MAYK’s mission statement be? Matthew: “We want it to be a fluid, flexible thing, and we’re interested in breaking our own rules…” Kate: “Mayfest’s tagline is ‘adventurous theatre for playful people’ and we’ve always been a bit leftfield and experimental. Similarly, with MAYK we want to respond to artists we find interesting. So it feels unlikely that we’re going to suddenly produce a season of Shakespeare: but if someone extraordinary came to us wanting to do that in a new way – without words, for example – who knows?” MAYK will be a performance production company, in VENUEMAGAZINE
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short, both responding to artists knocking at their door with ideas and initiating their own projects. Over the summer, for instance, MAYK will start work on a project in Bristol’s St Nick’s Market, asking artists to come up with their own responses to this atmospheric space. “Through Mayfest, we have a lovely relationship with various venues in Bristol – we’ve often described Mayfest as being like a glue between those venues and audiences, and it’s going to be really fun to see what we can do with that position.” Matthew: “We also really like putting on parties and getting people together! And we hope to find new ways of doing that, through Mayfest and beyond.” MAYFEST 2012 TAKES PLACE AT VENUES ACROSS BRISTOL FROM THUR 17-SUN 27 MAY. FFI: WWW.MAYFESTBRISTOL.CO.UK
From top: Probe: Small Talk, Mark Bruce Company: Made in Heaven, Gary McNair: Crunch
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DON'T MISS... A small selection from Mayfest's smorgasbord OPEN HOUSE Thur 17-Sat 26 May, Bristol Old Vic • In which theatre-maker Chris Goode and members of the public (all welcome) will work flat out to develop a new piece from scratch in one week. The doors of BOV’s Coopers’ Loft will be left open, so all and sundry can contribute to the conversation, join rehearsals or simply watch what’s unfurling. From the Wednesday onwards, there’ll be an evening showing of whatever’s emerged so far, and on Friday night the finished piece will be unveiled. “Aside from the space and the days, there are no parameters,” Matthew explains. “Anything can happen, anyone can join in. We’ll just let them get on with it and see what happens.” Ffi: http://beescope.blogspot.co.uk/ HITCH Tue 22-Thur 24, The Brewery • Using a mix of live music, film and storytelling, performer Kieran Hurley narrates his hitch-hiking journey to take part in protests around the 2009 G8 summit in the Italian city of L’Aquila, recently ravaged by an earthquake. Nominating it the best piece of theatre he had ever seen when he caught it at 2010’s Edinburgh Fringe, Chris Goode (see above) said: “Hurley’s open, gentle charisma makes me think I could listen to him all night… It’s instantly warm and generous as a conversation between old friends. And then it’s suddenly, unexpectedly moving. One minute in and there are tears in my eyes.” Ffi: http://bit.ly/9vMgcL THE FURIES Fri 18-Sat 19, BOV Studio • Birmingham’s Kindle Theatre draw on that Brum speciality, heavy metal (think Black Sabbath, Led Zep, Judas Priest…), smashing together rock, metal and soul songs in a
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drastic retelling of the ancient story of Clytemnestra. “We saw a scratch version at Edinburgh, and were amazed,” Matthew recalls. “It’s a full-on show, brilliant musically, very exciting. It’s like a proper stand-up gig, and completely immersive.” Ffi: http://kindletheatre.co.uk/
anyone who saw ‘Electric Hotel’ will get the feel of it. It feels good to be bringing a dance piece of this standing to Bristol – there is some momentum around dance in Bristol at the moment and we are glad to be part of that.” Ffi: http://requardt.org/
THE GUILD OF CHEESEMAKERS Thur 24-Sat 26, Church of St Thomas the Martyr • Bristol-based outfit Stand + Stare reprise their Mayfest 2011 number: an Annual Ceremonial Tasting for the aforementioned guild. Audiences are sat at tables laid with crisp white cloths and invited to taste a selection of artisan cheeses, wines and breads, while a panel of experts discuss successful flavour matches. “Except that this proved to be no ordinary gastronomic tasting,” noted our reviewer. “While we chowed down on a slice of blue-veined Stichelton and sipped at an eminently quaffable sherry, weird stuff started happening… The tasting session mutated around us into a gothic sci-fi yarn.” Ffi: standandstare.com
GOOSE PARTY Fri 25 & Sun 27 May, Bristol County Sports Club • Another Bristol date for the much-swooned-over Little Bulb Theatre, whose mix of musical virtuosity and childlike theatrical whimsy has won them an adoring following – and whose ‘Operation Greenfield’ was one of the highlights of Mayfest 2011. LB’s latest promises a typically eclectic musical hotchpotch from fiesta funk via electronica to (it says here) dirty agro railway blues, in a high-octane evening of madcap musical wildness asking that biggest of questions, “who are we?” Venue’s verdict on last year’s ‘Greenfield’: “Its rich mix of surrealism, well-observed teenage gaucheness and high-speed madcappery makes for an enjoyable and pleasingly issue-free exploration of the spotty, confused years most of us would probably rather forget.” Ffi: www.littlebulbtheatre.com
EPISODE Sat 26, Arnolfini • Choreographer Frauke Requardt was the force behind Mayfest 2010’s most adventurous show, ‘Electric Hotel’ – a dance piece that saw a life-size hotel built from shipping containers down on the Harbourside. This year she returns with another dance work, leading audiences on an unusual and darkly atmospheric journey through humanity’s highs and lows. Three dancers travel on an odyssey through four very different, yet subtly linked landscapes, from Arctic wastes to a 1950s ‘Mad Men’-style family tableau, each world assembled from a mix of references to comics, TV and fairytales and set to a soundtrack mixing punk and industrial music. “It’s a visual feast, very dark and haunting,” says Kate, “and
Clockwise from top left: Goose Party, Episode, The Furies, The Strage Undoing of Predencia Hart, The Guild of Cheesemakers, Open House & Hitch
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4/24/2012 4:07:45 PM
FEATURE
SCRAPBOOK COVER
scrapbook 1982 - 2012
Adam Burrows catches up with Atlantic-hopping dubsters DJs Stryda and Digistep.
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1982 FEATURE
Venue magazine is born!
massive fore attack beew anyone kn were who they
1983 Eugene Byrne
Various, 1985-present
Nobody does better parties than Venue. The year is 1990; the location Bristol City Museum. There are actors doing weird stuff, some silly speeches, a display-case featuring my own personal collection of interesting and unusual paper clips, and a lot of spectacularly inappropriate behaviour, including at least one senior council employee taking all her clothes off. After this, the council decide that hiring out the museum as a party venue is a really bad idea.
22 MAY 2012
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1984
FEATURE
Robin Askew
Various, 1985-present Your only hope of getting anything candid out of film stars is when they're on their way up. It’s 1993 and when I meet him the relatively unknown Hugh Grant is great fun and splendidly indiscreet: he's just finished filming 'The Remains of the Day' and 'Sirens' ("Mmm, lesbians – my favourite!"). It’s a tough fight to persuade Venue to run the piece, as often happens when you're ahead of the curve. Alas, I am not able to persuade the then music editor that it might be a good idea to review Guns n' Roses at the Colston Hall or Nine Inch Nails at the Bierkeller.
1985 VENUEMAGAZINE
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1986 1987 FEATURE
this was in april, of course..
Mike Gartside Various, 1985-present
It’s an ordinary night down the Moon Club in the mid 1980s and I’m chatting amicably to some new acquaintances about music. About a year previously, I’d reviewed a band called the Royal Assassins who, to my mind, epitomised everything wrong about much of the local music scene. The singer, perched selfimportantly on a bar stool in Bono-esque shades, blurted stream-of-consciousness lyrics to a grinding soundtrack of doomladen art rock. He had an eye firmly on the next NME cover, with no thought at all for entertaining the audience. Something similar appeared in my review. Back in the club, our conversation turns to Venue and I let slip that I write for the magazine. “What’s your name?” asks one of my new acquaintances. I inform him. “So you’re Mike Gartside, we’ve been looking for you.” It turns out he’s the guitarist in the very same doom rock outfit. “Wait here!” he orders. Then, with all the strategic subtlety of Harry Hill’s SuBo, he informs me, “I’m just getting my mate and we’re going to beat you up.” Deploying a healthy dose of cowardice, I avoid royal assassination by slipping out of the backstage exit.
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1988 poll tax!
Yuppies. .
1989 26 MAY 2012
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1990
FEATURE
John Mitchell
Music Editor & Editor, 1990-1996
1991 VENUEMAGAZINE
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Credit for dragging Venue (if not kicking and screaming, then certainly not particularly bothered either way) into the internet era must go to Deputy Editor Eugene Byrne and all-round Uber-Freelance Robin Askew. It’s the mid-90s and both see that something big is in the air; the rest of us just sit around taking the p*ss. When Robin complains that a URL in his copy has been set across two decks with the attendant hyphen rendering the whole thing useless, I loudly proclaim something to the effect of “Who cares? This interweb thingy won’t amount to anything anyway.” Thankfully, Eugene has somewhat stronger powers of foresight. Not only does he register the www.venue.co.uk URL but also introduces the strange new world of email to the office. For a considerable time, Eugene’s cranky and exasperatingly slow dial-up modem is our sole online link to the world. Emails are downloaded onto a disc and physically passed around the office. One day, Eugene says with the air of a wide-eyed prophet: “You know it doesn’t have to be like this. We could each have our own individual email address and receive messages straight into our own PCs.” Our looks of slack-jawed incredulity suggest that such heresy has marked Euge as some kind of witch and he should therefore be immediately burned at the stake.
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28 MAY 2012
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2 91 9
1993
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1982 -2012
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HOLIDAYS: WHERE SHOULDYOU BE GOING AND WHY
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BATH COMEDY FESTIVAL PHIL KAY, ARTHUR SMITH, ROBIN INCE…OTHERS KIDS’ THEATRE A SURVIVAL GUIDE FOR PARENTS COMMUTING IN BRISTOL TOP TRUMPS SPECIAL BRISTOL’S REFERENDUM DO WE REALLY NEED A MAYOR?
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DOCK ROCKIN' BEATS
Wonderl and! oN the biLL: GLasto 2010 massiVe attacK toY the crucibLeshaKesPeare at thestorY 3 beN hur tobacco FactorY harrY PotterstePheN K amos michaeL 7 the LoVeLY PaLiN boNes WorLD cuP FootbaLL uP For 2010 With our Free FitNess GuiDe
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FEATURE
91 94 1995 VENUEMAGAZINE
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6 9 19 FEATURE
venue does drugs and guns.. (again) Tom Phillips
Various, 1996-present press It’s January 2004 and my last-gasp ming beco e befor r edito re junket as theat n’ crew Saigo ‘Miss the year Last r. edito mag urgh flew a planeload of us hacks to Edinb and g eatin of s for a rollicking 24 hour For t. uran resta and hotel top drinking in a god help cal, musi ge Geor Boy the – o’ ‘Tabo and us – we’re driven to High Wycombe ? what So . lodge Trave a slap-up buffet in a done are s view inter the and Everything’s free think up en masse (i.e. I don’t even have to moraleral any questions). Thanks to seve by drifts itself cal musi boosting cocktails, the I’m it know I e befor and gh, painlessly enou highest back in hospitality, maintaining the free the ing professional standards by pillag re Cultu hated I that bar and telling the cast to retire alists journ other the Club. One by one ps. Not lapto their from copy file to s room their hassledme. At four a.m., a dozen actors, a g in sittin still are I and looking press minder e loung rture depa rt airpo an what looks like says ?” know you “Do ania. Rom unist in comm me. “I the press minder archly, turning to in the left ual osex think you’re the last heter about ing ificat pont years eight room.” After a proper had y finall I’ve e, Venu for re theat luvvie moment.
? 1997?? ?
?
? 34 MAY 2012
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8 9 19
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three pigs, a wolf and a cat in ugly ruck shock at ashton gate..
1999 VENUEMAGAZINE
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2000
FEATURE
April 1st. . This got alot of angry letters
2 001 36 MAY 2012
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Thinking about changing the world?
re l a t e
Why not start with yourself and then help one or two others. Become a volunteer Relate counsellor and work with adults and children experiencing relationship difficulties. • You will need to be available for 6 to 8 hours per week. • Counselling experience is helpful but not necessary. • Join us at Relate in supporting the most difficult
challenge going – relationships! • We work in Bristol, Bath and Weston-s-Mare. • Telephone 0117 9428444
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Oh Steve, you've c9h7.a. )nged! (see 19
Julian Owen
Music Editor 2003-11 I’ve been Venue Music Editor for six months and, finally, the moment is here. I’d walk barefoot across jagged holy grails for a chance to enjoy this, the backstage pass to trump all backstage passes – Michael Eavis is making me a cup of tea in the farmhouse kitchen at the top of the Glastonbury Festival site. Like Marc Bolan before me, no doubt, or Bowie, or Bjork, or... oh, I dunno, I’m too excited to think! Twink out of the Pink Fairies, or something. Now this all-time hero is breaking off a great John Peel anecdote to ask “Milk? Sugar?” Sitting in here is even more exciting than the handshake five minutes back – if you’re playing ‘Degrees of Separation’, I’m now a seriously hot card. And he’s just full of exclusive revelations! “Oh yeah, this year will definitely be the best ever.” Will it?! Cor! Just wait ’til I tell my editor! Now he’s giving me a tour of the still-empty site in his Land Rover. Only the Pyramid Stage allows me to get my bearings, and even that’s standing stark pole-stacked naked. A closed gate. I can be useful here! Leave tape player whirring on seat, open gate and... no... maybe lift that bit... hmm... oh balls, he’s coming to help. Right then, back in the office. Rewind tape, transcribe. Ooh, the gate bit! “He’s not very bright, is he?” mutters Michael Eavis, opening the door. He said what..? Oh... Ah, never mind, I’m sure I’ll have forgotten all about it in a couple of days.
VENUEMAGAZINE
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2003
. .and after
before she was famous. .
2004 FEATURE
she did
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FEATURE
2005
Mike White
Associate Editor 2006-present
40 MAY 2012
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2006
It’s a chilly January day. My hands tremble as I lock my bike outside Massive Attack’s studio, an anonymous industrial unit in Bedminster. A CCTV camera stares down as I wait to be buzzed in. Inside are dark green walls, battered flight cases stacked everywhere, a Sex Pistols poster, a glass-cased sculpture made of tiny animal skulls. I’d been worried that the Massive boys might be a bit scary. They always look angry on the telly, after all. But soon we’re upstairs, slouching on sofas in the den. “Have a cigar,” says 3D with a smile, opening a box of chocolate Havanas. He does most of the talking, whilst Grant ‘Daddy G’ Marshall smiles alongside. They’re friendly and open. Over the next 45 minutes, I record one of the best interviews I’ve ever done, from the dark past of the Wild Bunch to what 3D would do if he spent all his money on Bristol’s cultural scene. We exchange nob gags and laugh like old friends. This, I think, is a career-defining interview. I can feel it. As we’re finishing off, 3D gives me one of his screen-prints – a one-off, which he signs and numbers for me. I’m so overcome with gratitude that instead of pushing ‘save’ on my Dictaphone, I hit ‘delete’. All those words, gone forever. I can feel the colour draining from my face. I go down to the Massive Attack loo, and stare at myself in the mirror. “Idiot,” I say, out loud. I phone the editor and tell him what I’ve done. “Go back, and do it again,” he says. I swallow, splash cold water in my face and go back. 3D and Daddy G are deep in conversation with their manager. I tap on the window with my finger. I confess. Daddy G rolls his eyes. “You fucking plum,” sighs 3D. Then he takes me back upstairs and does it all again. Although it’s not the interview I had – the spontaneity’s gone, the jokes are fewer and flatter – I get enough for the feature. They’re lovely blokes, the music’s great, but I still can’t listen to Massive Attack without cringing inside. VENUEMAGAZINE
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2007
Joe Spurgeon
Editor 2007-11
2008
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Election fever, May, 2010. Gordon’s tumbling, Dave’s mumbling and Nick’s emerged as the man who just might. A masterclass in television-aided outsider politics has caught the attention of the nation. They’ve even decamped to Arnolfini to battle it out on Sky! Someone’s projecting pictures of explosions onto the outside wall of Bristol’s favourite contemporary arts bunker! What’s that all about? We simply don’t know. For answers, Venue turns to election fox and king swingometer monitor, Peter Snow, for an exclusive interview. It hasn’t been easy bagging him at this time of year. It’s quite a coup. Feverish days (hours) of interview preparation follows. Who will win? Why? What does it all mean? Shouldn’t he be doing more natural history at his age? I’m going to make a cover feature out of this, two pages plus another splash of local talking heads, charts, graphics, the works. I call, bang on time. He answers, faintly. “I’ve not got long,” he says, probably in a taxi, dashing across Westminster, I imagine, party briefings and extra-shot mocha in hand. It’s about the only straight answer he gives. Which isn’t surprising given my somewhat baffling line of questioning. Six minutes in, he eventually caves. “You do know this is Jon Snow, not Peter Snow, don’t you?” [Pause] Ah. [Click.] Later that week, our plucky work ex calls back and finishes the interview. It runs the following week as a single page.
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9 0 0 2 B NKSY
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should have been 5 stars .
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Tom Wainwright
Editor - present
Friday 13th April 2012. I’ve just done an interview with Ali Robertson, Artistic Director of Tobacco Factory and having assured him I’m not going to stitch him up I’m already licking my lips at the prospect of starting a huge row between him and Bristol Old Vic by quoting him completely out of context. Dave Higgitt, my new boss and friend gives me a bell: seven weeks into the job and I’m getting the bullet. I’m heartbroken. I feel like a small child who’s bonded with a new toy – a red tractor perhaps – and said toy has been summarily confiscated and stamped into tiny pieces by a large sweating man screaming passages from Mein Kampf. It occurs to me that what I was going to write for the anniversary feature is now going to look a little daft. I look at what I’ve written but can’t help thinking that events put people into relief far better than the reverse, so beyond this intro, I leave it alone… “It’s 2012 and I’ve just started as editor of Venue magazine. I’m not an editor – I write plays. I’ve got the gig on account of talking high grade bollocks in the right order and now my bluff has been called. Spectacularly so: my first issue proper falls on Venue’s 30th birthday. OK. The rather brilliant Mike White and Eugene Byrne have compiled a fascinating scrapbook feature of our best bits. Past and present contributors have… contributed some hilarious anecdotes about their time here and all that’s left is for me to write something. Now. OK. Deep breath: Received wisdom has long predicted the end for print media but still we’re here and against all odds, growing. Other than Time Out in London and The List in Edinburgh and Glasgow, we’re the only regional mag that provides across the board What’s On listings and quality features in print and online. There’s a reason for that: you. You keep picking us up, you keep hitting our site and we are bloodcurdlingly grateful. Anyway – that’s enough of that touchy feely crap, I’ve got to learn how to be A Editer. And think of something to write. OK.”
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NEWSVULTURE Choice morsels plucked from the decaying corpse of last month’s news. For the very last time.
I
asked what the hell she was doing and looking really nervous she said sorry, that it had just happened. “She looked down at her drink and admitted they were seeing each other. Jack didn’t seem bothered at all. “So you’re telling me I set you up to test my boyfriend and you stole him from me? “I completely lost it. I flung my drink over her and she started crying. I stood there looking at them both, her with gin and tonic dripping down her face, him just gawping at me. I shouted at her that I wanted my money back and she cried that I’d get it back as my friends led me away. “In all my years of dating men I don’t think I’ll ever beat this story. I hired the woman and then she stole my man off me.” Bristol administrator Samantha Phipps, 26, told the Daily Mirror how she had hired a “Miss Honeytrap”
FACT BITES Bristol - Green Capital of Europe?
Sam Phipps: it didnt work out
for £200 to test the loyalty of her boyfriend Jack Ewing. Miss Honeytrap, aka Jane Gill, met Ewing in a pub, where they arranged to meet at a hotel the following week. Gill then told her heartbroken client that customer services manager Ewing, 32, was indeed prepared to cheat on her. What Phipps didn’t realise was that Gill and Ewing had fallen for one another. Ewing disappeared for several days before texting her to say that he wouldn’t be back. It was only
LESS THAN 20%
COPENHAGEN & FRANKFURT
CYCLING CITY
Number of finalists to be chosen as European Green Capital, 2014.
The two other cities on the shortlist. Look what posh company we’re keeping these days.
MONEY
What we get if we win. European funding for green projects, R&D for new green tech, and (we hope) lots of private investment from firms attracted by our greenness.
Last time Bristol entered the contest, making it to a shortlist of six, including such provincial backwaters as Paris, Vienna and Brussels. We didn’t win.
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when going out with friends to drown her sorrows that she found her now very ex-boyfriend and Miss Honeytrap sitting together in a wine bar. Ewing has long since moved out of the couple’s home, saying he felt “quite good” about what had happened. Gill, 26, has now given up her part-time role as a honeytrap. “I did it as a way of earning a bit of extra cash. I had about half a dozen bookings in two years so it’s not been a massive success.” She said she and Ewing were “well-suited”.
THREE
2010
46 MAY 2012
GOING UP
Proportion of Bristol domestic waste going to landfill. It was 80% in 2004. One reason we’re so green.
Another reason we’re that green. See local web forums for what a splendid idea/scandalous waste of money it was.
10,000
Number of new trees the council plans to have planted by 2015. They’re green, too.
JUNE
When the winner is announced. Fingers crossed!
The price of eggs ... A group of preschool age children were on an Easter egg hunt at Holford, in Somerset a few weeks back when a parent spotted a three-year old boy standing on a hand grenade. The bomb squad came out and destroyed the weapon, thought to be a relic from a US Army camp which had been nearby in WW2, in a controlled explosion. Note to children: Easter eggs and hand grenades look similar, but you can tell the difference. If it tastes of chocolate (or, if your parents are central or eastern Europeans, boiled egg), it’s an Easter egg. If it tastes of metal, it’s a hand grenade. If it tastes of gold and diamonds, it’s a fabulously expensive golden Fabergé egg and should be given to me at once. Cheddar’s history... On 31 March taxi driver Mati Levi sneezed, causing his VW Transporter to hit the medieval market cross in the middle of Cheddar. Levy, 42, was travelling at about 25mph when he sneezed. The next thing he knew was that his vehicle had stopped and about half of the stone structure was in pieces around him. He was unhurt, but extremely upset. He told the press: “All I can say is sorry to the people of Cheddar and the area. And extend my apologies to the motorists and everyone caught up in the traffic jams as a result... The last thing I would want to damage is a 500-yearold market cross.” Work is now under way to repair the cordoned-off cross and there are indeed long traffic queues in Cheddar.
GOING DOWN
VENUEMAGAZINE
4/25/2012 5:25:14 PM
S EVERN BORE
OUND R THESE PARTS
Opinion. If you like that sort of thing...
You probably walk past it every day... No.29 Temple Church The ruined Temple Church, just off Victoria Street, is one of the most enigmatic places in the west of England. Just as you’d expect from the site of what was once a church belonging to the Knights Templar, the medieval order of soldier-monks and font of all manner of occult stories and mystic bullshit. What’s left of the present church was built in the middle ages and was the main place of worship for Bristol’s fabulously wealthy cloth industry. Built on marshy ground, its tower leans at a slight angle. Choirboys would turn up for the service and put nuts in the gap between tower and church; after the service and the bell-ringing they’d come out and retrieve their nuts, all cracked and ready for eating. In 1778 the church was the scene of the famous/ notorious exorcism of George Lukins, aka the Yatton Daemoniac. Seven ministers, including John Wesley his
THE MISTS OF TIME Twenty years ago, Venue was still handwritten by monks on parchment and then bound in unicorn leather. Nowadays it is produced by the unemployed on compulsory work experience and printed in their own blood. So what was in Venue in 1992, eh? Here’s an interview with Diana, a professional dominatrix, who’d worked in New York, and was now working in Bristol. “There were, she says, some particularly bizarre cases, like the eminent professor who wanted three articulate tall women with their hair in bee-hives to feed him dog food.” ... In the 1990s Bath was famous/notorious as home to large numbers of the dog-on-a-string brigade, aka “crusties”. Reader’s letter: “What can be done about Bath’s crusties or travellers? (Why do they call themselves travellers when half of them never leave Bath’s shopping centre?) I can sympathise with the poverty-stricken, but cannot find it in my heart VENUEMAGAZINE
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Methodist self, supposedly cast out the demons who had possessed Lukins, a tailor from Yatton. Temple Church’s overcrowded graveyard was closed down, along with most other parish churchyards in Bristol, as a health hazard in the mid 19th century. Some years later it was reopened as a little urban park, and it remains one of the nicest little hidden spaces in Bristol, especially on hot days. The church was gutted by fire during the first major German air raid on Bristol in 1940. A company of Royal Engineers came into the city to help clear up the damage the following morning. The officer in charge of them was about to demolish the leaning tower as he assumed it was about to topple anyway. The locals had a hell of a time persuading him it had always been like that. Church and tower now remain as a memorial to the Bristol blitz.
to accept the behaviour of crusties who are always trying to scrounge money from passers-by and, when refused some (not all) turn nasty. Often the target of their hassling are students like me who, as everyone knows, have no money. I do not regard this problem as being as serious as Bath’s pigeon problem because I have not yet been pooed on by a crusty.”... Glastonbury Festival was back on, having taken a break in ‘91 after big problems with new age travellers, aka The Convoy in 1990. “We tried to restrict the Convoy,” Michael Eavis told Venue, “but I let them on in the first place. I gave them firewood and water as our contribution to people who were skint and on the road. They repaid us with £50,000 worth of damage, which was really disconcerting and really got me down.” “His patience with the Convoy snapped when he saw some of them dismantling a marquee worth £10,000 and packing it onto a wagon. When Festival security smashed the lorry’s windscreen in an effort to make it stop, some 700 travellers descended on them and a full-scale riot broke out. ‘That’s not romantic at all,’ he said.”
Pity the poor, pathetic smoker. Reduced to standing outside the office or pub, exposed to all as a desperate addict. Reduced also to queuing in the supermarket in front of covered display shelves, having to ask the assistant for his/her preferred brand, like a dirty old man requesting under-the-counter pornography in a British movie from the 1950s. The ban was about die-hards prepared to stand in the rain, and the wusses who couldn’t take the humiliation. It had an immediate impact on reducing the number of smokers, but the hard-core remain. The latest line of attack on smoking is government consultation on proposals to put all tobacco products in plain packaging. Bristol’s largest company by turnover, though one of its smaller ones by numbers of actual local employees, is dead against the move. An Imperial spokesman was quoted as saying: “Our trademarks are protected by law and we have a fundamental right to differentiate our brands from those of our competitors.” Does this mean Imperial has a “fundamental right” to sell a product which it knows harms the health of its customers, and can go on to kill them? Imperial Tobacco is descended from WD & HO Wills, a company which cared passionately for the welfare of its staff and generously endowed loads of good causes, including Bristol University. It was a firm Bristolians were rightly proud of until the scientific evidence against tobacco became overwhelming. Imperial and the others lobbied furiously, first denying the science, and now using all manner of surreal arguments to defend the indefensible. Really, they ought to do the decent thing, and just pack it all in and apologise. But that’s just a, er, pipedream. You do have to wonder how harshly future generations will judge us for tolerating this deadly business, and affording it “fundamental rights.” MAY 2012 47
4/24/2012 7:25:57 PM
FILM
Fancy a film this month? See venue.co.uk/film - the home of Venue's what's on listings
THOR BLIMEY! It’s got a ridiculous title, and represents something of a gamble for the beleaguered suits at Disney, who’ve invested $4 billion in the Marvel franchise. But worry not. ‘Marvel Avengers Assemble’ is actually pretty good. Robin Askew points his microphone at the self-congratulatory cast and crew.
I
f Disney bigwigs seem massive flop back in 1998. a bit nervous and Producer Kevin Feige is bullish. touchy, that’s perhaps “We felt, wouldn’t it be nice for understandable. The last English fans to give them another major release from the word? Now you have two words in House of Mouse was ‘John the title rather than just one word. Carter’, which bombed so It’s cool, isn’t it? Listen,” he adds heavily that it cost the seriously, “decisions like that aren’t company a reported $200 made lightly, and there’s lots of million and was followed marketing research and lawyers and last Friday by the resignation of things that get in the mix on it. And studio boss Rich Ross. There had the determination was to add that been much discussion about the additional word. But the logo’s still film’s change of the ‘A’ and it looks title, dropping ‘… cool. It’s the same of Mars’ supposedly look.” to dodge a ‘curse’ Actually, they on Martian-themed needn’t have flicks such as worried, because Disney’s previous this time Disney disaster ‘Mars seem to have got Needs Moms’. everything right. A Now they’re at it Marvel superhero again. For months, pile-up featuring the studio had Thor, The Hulk, been trailing ‘The Captain America, Avengers’ - the Iron Man, Black first fruit of its Widow and so eye-watering $4 on had plenty billion acquisition of potential to of Marvel become a horrible Entertainment. mess, reeking of Then the film desperation to was suddenly resnare fans of each named ‘Avengers of the various Assemble’. franchises. But Finally, and most the studio had the cumbersomely, good sense to hire it became writer/director Joss ‘Marvel Avengers Whedon, creator of Assemble’. ‘Buffy’, ‘Firefly’ and Presumably, this clever current box TOM HIDDLESTON was to avoid any office hit ‘The Cabin confusion with in the Woods’. Busy the British ‘The Avengers’ (you Whedon is absent from the suitably know - John Steed and Emma Peel), giant press junket at Claridge’s, so which coincidentally gave Warners a it’s left to everyone else to sing his
“WE’RE LUCKY THAT WE ALREADY HAVE PEOPLE THAT LOVE THE CHARACTERS AS MUCH IF NOT MORE THAN WE DO. I FIND IT THRILLING THAT THERE’S A PREEXISTING PASSION FOR THE MATERIAL”
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praises. “The best thing about Joss is that in all of his work - no matter if you’ve got vampires in ‘Buffy’ or outer space in ‘Firefly’ - it’s always the characters that rise above,” says Feige. “If you look at the cast, we wanted them to shine more than the visual effects, more than the explosions - which, of course, you need in a movie like this. In fact, my favourite moments in this movie are just the performances among this amazing group.”
“The thing that most impressed me about Joss was the incredible screenplay that he wrote,” adds token Brit Tom Hiddleston, who plays Thor’s bad guy brother Loki. “I mean, as an achievement in itself, his screenplay was simply phenomenal. I think all of us weren’t sure what to expect. It was the most extraordinary answer to the question, ‘How do you get all these superheroes into one film?’ I take my hat off to him for that, because
Samuel L Jackson, playing Samuel L Jackson
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Marvel Avengers Assemble. Like Geese
I think that was his hardest job. It must have made directing it seem like a walk in the park.” He corrects himself. “Maybe not a walk in the park. Maybe a light jog. But he was incredibly open, and that’s all you want as an actor. You want to collaborate. Everybody has a degree of ownership about the characters they play and he’s very respectful of that. We’ve all lived under the skins of our characters for some time, and so he was constantly asking, ‘Does this feel right? Is this true to you? Is this in your voice?’ But most of the time, I was just turning up and saying my brilliant lines that he’d written on my behalf.” Unusually in the world of geekdom, Whedon is renowned for creating strong female characters. Scarlett Johansson, who reprises her role as Black Widow from ‘Iron Man 2’, has a theory about this. “Joss met with all of us individually to talk about what we wanted to see from our characters. He talked about my character’s dark past. But VENUEMAGAZINE
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never did he say anything about her gender at all. I think Joss is gender-blind in some way. He wants his female characters to be dynamic and competitive and assured and confident - and that has nothing to do with anything but the fact that he celebrates those kinds of strong female characters. He’s just a charming fellow.” Robert Downey Jr., whose snarky Tony Stark/Iron Man steals the film from the moment he walks on screen, is quick to acknowledge the danger of bringing the whole Marvel adaptation industry crashing down if this film turned out to be a turkey. “All three franchises that we launched so far [‘Thor’, ‘Captain America’, ‘Iron Man’] have worked. If this didn’t work, it would have affected all the previous franchises extremely adversely. There was also the potential for additional franchises based on how strongly people are reacting to Jeremy [Renner - Hawkeye] and Scarlett [Johansson - Black Widow] and Mark [Ruffalo - The Hulk]. I don’t
understand why everything’s gone this well.” He smirks. “In this one instance in my life, it’s a good situation.” This being an international press junket, there’s no shortage of daft and rather obvious questions from our colleagues who’ve flown halfway round the world to ask them. A lady from Japan has a convoluted two-parter. From Robert Downey Jr she wants to know what lessons he’s learned from the newfound maturity of his character, and from Scarlett Johansson she’s eager to get some diet tips. Downey Jr contemplates the open goal for a couple of seconds before hitting the back of the net. “If I’ve learned anything, it is that people are much more interested in your second question to Scarlett,” he quips. “I was just going to say that,” says Johansson, turning to Downey Jr. “How come you get, like, the really interesting existential question and I get the rabbit food question? Yes,” she adds witheringly, “you’re training and doing all this stunt work and so you eat a lot of green things.” We move swiftly on to the question of fan expectations. There’s no nerd quite like an enraged nerd, so how do the actors deal with this kind of additional pressure? Tom Hiddleston takes a
diplomatic punt at that one. “One of the strange things about being in these films is that we’re lucky enough to have a fanbase. I mean, it’s so often that you make a film and you put your heart and soul into it and you really care about it and you think it’s half decent. Then you say, ‘Does anybody want to see it?’ And maybe nobody does. We’re lucky that we already have people that love the characters as much if not more than we do. I find it thrilling that there’s a pre-existing passion for the material. It’s a privilege to have people who care so much. Rather than being paralysed by fear over what they might think, it’s fun and a challenge to deliver what you hope they might enjoy.” Fine words, but incoming Hulk Mark Ruffalo had an entirely different experience. The two previous attempts to bring this big angry green fella and his alter ego Bruce Banner to the screen (Ang Lee’s 2003 ‘Hulk’ and Louis Leterrier’s 2008 ‘The Incredible Hulk’) were conspicuously less successful than the other franchises leading into ‘The Avengers’. And fans were not universally delighted at the casting of Ruffalo. “I was overcome by a moment of very poor judgement early on, by going online and seeing the response to me coming in as the new Banner,” he deadpans. “I won’t do that again. It wasn’t glowing. And I found the fans’ exuberant passion to be very, very brutal. I hope we’ve amended that…” ‘MARVEL AVENGERS ASSEMBLE’ IS OUT NOW. SEE REVIEW ON PAGE 53 AND WWW.VENUE.CO.UK FOR SCREENING DETAILS.
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FILM
For film listings and more reviews visit venue.co.uk/film
THE MONTH AHEAD Albert Nobbs (15) (Dir: Rodrigo Garcia, 113 mins) Glenn Close came over all blokey and duly received an Oscar nomination for the title role in this adaptation of a stage play in which she first appeared 30 years ago. So keen was she to bring it to the screen that she’s also credited as producer and co-writer, though that didn’t prevent a difficult 15-year gestation. The eponymous Nobbs is an introverted, fastidious waiter at Pauline Collins’ 19th century Dublin hotel. Having lived as a man for 30 years, Albert dreams of settling down with a nice wife and reckons flirty chambermaid Mia Wasikowska (aka the latest Jane Eyre) might fit the bill. Meanwhile, house painter Hubert (Janet McTeer) is billeted with Albert and reveals himself to be a kindred spirit - such is the apparent epidemic of ladies passing themselves off as chaps in 19th century Ireland.
The Raid (TBA) (Dir: Gareth Evans) If you’ve seen the trailer for this one, chances are you exclaimed “What the f*ck!?” at its relentless barrage of ultra-realistic violence. Intriguingly enough, what may turn out to be the action movie of the year was directed by a Welshman (Gareth Evans) in Indonesia. The plot doesn’t take much explaining. There’s an evil drugs baron holed up in a tower block, defended by hordes of machine gun-toting junkie scumbags and machete-wielding martial arts acrobats. A SWAT team is dispatched on a mission to fight their way in, feel the bad guy’s collar, and fight their way back out again. The ensuing carnage sets new standards for the cinema of bonecrunching and blood-letting.
ALBERT NOBBS IS OUT ON APRIL 27
THE RAID IS OUT ON MAY 18
Dark Shadows (TBA) (Dir: Tim Burton) Johnny Depp teams up with Tim Burton again. Would it surprise you to learn that the result is all dark and comic-gothic? Or that Helena Bonham Carter has a role? This is an adaptation of a cult ‘60s US TV soap opera series that no one in this country has ever seen. It’s already spawned a couple of early ‘70s feature spin-offs that nobody’s seen either. Here’s the conceit: our Johnny (Hey - he’s got a home outside Bath; he’s practically family) plays 18th century playboy Barnabas Collins, who gets on the wrong side of a local witch (Eva Green). Understandably, she turns him into a vampire and buries him alive. In the early 1970s, Barnabas rises from the grave and is alarmed to find that his magnificent pile has been allowed to fall into ruin by his dysfunctional descendants. The cast includes Michelle Pfeiffer and Chloe (‘Kick-Ass’) Moretz, while Alice Cooper and Christopher Lee have cameo roles. DARK SHADOWS IS OUT ON MAY 11
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The Dictator (TBA) (Dir: Larry Charles) Unless you’ve been living in the Republic of Wadiya for the past six months, you’ll know all about Sacha Baron Cohen’s new film - thanks mainly to his stunt at the Oscars. Wadiya? Yep, that’s the fictional nation ruled by luxuriantly bearded, democracy-hating Supreme Leader Admiral General Shabazz Aladeen (guess who). Allegedly “inspired by” the novel ‘Zabibah and the King’ by Saddam Hussein, the story has this monstrous tyrant visiting the US, where he expects to see all the sights. Especially Megan Fox. It’s directed by Larry (‘Seinfeld’, ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’) Charles, who also collaborated with Cohen on ‘Borat’ and ‘Bruno’. Check out www. republicofwadiya.com which is a lot funnier than most official websites put up by film companies. THE DICTATOR IS OUT ON MAY 18
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Outside Bet: the stuff of fantasy
APRIL 27 African Cats (U) See review on page 54. Marvel Avengers Assemble 3D (12A) See feature on pages 48-49 and review on page 53. Damsels in Distress (12A) See review on page 53. Outside Bet (12A) (Dir: Sacha Bennett, 101 mins) Yet another of those whimsical Britcoms. This one’s set against the backdrop of the 1985 Wapping dispute and has a former print worker teaming up with his boozing buddies to invest in a racehorse in the hope of winning some much-needed loot. The cast includes Bob Hoskins and Jenny Agutter.
MAY 4 American Pie: Reunion (15) See review on page 54. The Lucky One (12A) (Dir: Scott Hicks, 101 mins) The latest product of the Nicholas (‘The Notebook’, Dear John’, ‘The Last Song’) Sparks tweenie romantic weepie factory casts ‘High School Musical’ hoofer Zac Efron rather improbably as a rufty-tufty US marine Sergeant who finds a snap of a hottie buried in rubble in Iraq. Deciding that she must be his lucky charm, he sets out to track her down back home. Blubbing ensues, along with a lot of guff about fate. Beauty and the Beast 3D (U) (Dir: Gary Trousdale & Kirk Wise, 84 mins) Having milked a cool additional £12m from ‘The Lion King’ at the UK box office with last year’s 3D makeover, Disney attempt a similar money-for-old-3D-rope trick with their 1991 animated musical version of this classic fairytale. Goodbye First Love (15) See review on page 55. Safe (15) (Dir: Boaz Yakin, 94 mins) Vengeance-crazed frowny hardman Jason Statham saves a little Chinese girl from the Triads, Russian mafia and corrupt cops. Turns out she has a valuable secret VENUEMAGAZINE
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locked in her noggin. And to stop the bad guys being beastly to her, it will be necessary to whup an exceptionally large quantity of ass. Silent House (15) See review on page 55. Two Years at Sea (TBA) See review on page 55.
MAY 11 All in Good Time (12A) (Dir: Nigel Cole, 94 mins) ‘East is East’ writer Ayub Khan-Din adapts his acclaimed West End and Broadway play ‘Rafta Rafta’, which has an unfortunate newlywed couple obliged to spend their honeymoon in his parents’ cramped Bolton home. Consummation consequently proves something of a challenge. Beloved (TBA) See review on page 56. Café de Flore (TBA) See review on page 56. How I Spent My Summer Vacation (TBA) (Dir: Adrian Grunberg) Roll up for the weirdest release of the month. Mel Gibson’s bizarre previous film, ‘The Beaver’, tanked completely. And given Mad Mel’s ongoing misfortunes in the media (y’know - even more accusations of anti-Semitism), there’s no reason to suppose this one will do any better. That’s probably why it’s going straight to video-on-demand in the US under a different title (‘Get the Gringo’). The story? Well, it seems
he’s attempting a belated return to action as a US career criminal who winds up in a Mexican jail, where he befriends a 10-year-old boy. Jeff, Who Lives at Home (TBA) (Dir: Jay and Mark Duplass) The sibling directors of ‘Cyrus’ serve up another man-child flick. Jason Segel plays the eponymous slacker, who lives in his long-suffering mother’s (Susan Sarandon) basement. Piranha 3DD (TBA) (Dir: John Gulagar) Splendidly titled sequel to ‘Piranha 3D’. Whatever the franchise’s faults, it could never be accused of disappointing its target audience in the gore or naked breast departments. This time those pesky killer fish have somehow made their way to the Big Wet Water Park, which is about to fling open its door for the summer influx of ripe and delicious teens.
MAY 18 2 Days in New York (TBA) (Dir: Julie Delpy, 91 mins) Writer/ director/star Julie Delpy’s follow-up to 2007’s ‘2 Days in Paris’ is a Gallic arthouse ‘Meet the Parents’. Now resident in New York with her new boyfriend Chris Rock (no, really), she’s promptly invaded by her embarrassing, over-sexed, cheesesmuggling family. The Source (15) See review on page 56.
"Do you want to see some puppies?"Jason Stratham does acting in Safe
Battleship (12A) (Dir: Peter Berg, 131 mins) It’s ‘Transformers’ at sea as Taylor Kitsch and shameless Liam Neeson battle malign aquatic ET. The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (12A) (Dir: John Madden, 123 mins) Codgerly Brits seeks cut-price retirement in India in a gentle, mildly patronising sleeper hit comedy starring every British thesp over 60. HHHHH Breathing (15) (Dir: Karl Markovics, 94 mins) Excellent Austrian drama about a troubled kid banged up in a juvenile detention centre. His life changes after he gets an unlikely day-release job with a mortuary team responsible for ferrying cadavers across the city. HHHHH The Cabin in the Woods (15) (Dir: Drew Goddard, 95 mins) An ingenious reworking of the titular horror film staple. It’s written by busy ‘Buffy’/’Firefly’ creator Joss Whedon, who also directed this month’s ‘Marvel Avengers Assemble’. Gone (15) See review on page 54. The Hunger Games (12A) (Dir: Gary Ross, 143 mins) Successful launch of a post-Twilight/ Potter kidlit franchise, adapted from the post-apocalypse ‘Young Adult’ novels by Suzanne Collins. Lockout (15) (Dir: James Mather & Stephen St. Leger, 95 mins) Wise-cracking Guy Pearce is dispatched on a suicidal mission to quell a riot on a space prison - and rescue the US president’s daughter. Luc Besson assumes daft scripting duties. Marley (15) (Dir: Kevin Macdonald, 145 mins) Oscar-winner Kevin Macdonald directs the definitive Bob Marley documentary. HHHHH Mirror Mirror (PG) (Dir: Tarsem Singh, 106 mins) Lily (daughter of Phil) Collins is rather bland as Snow White, but a campy Julia Roberts is great fun as the Evil Queen in Tarsem Singh’s handsomely staged, liberty-taking reworking of the Grimm fairytale. HHHHH The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists! 3D (U) (Dir: Peter Lord, 88 mins) Funny, richly detailed (see if you can spot the Golf Sale man) and refreshingly bereft of cheesy morals and lazy pop culture references, Aardman’s claymation masterpiece is the best film on release. HHHHH Salmon Fishing in the Yemen (12A) (Dir: Lasse Hallstrom, 107 mins) Treaclemeister Lasse Hallstrom and writer Simon (‘Slumdog Millionaire’) Beaufoy adapt Paul Torday’s bestseller. Ewan McGregor is the shy fisheries expert recruited to help a wealthy sheikh realise his dream of bringing flyfishing to the desert. Streetdance 2 3D (Dir: Max Giwa & Dania Pasquini, 85 mins) Energetic 3D hoofing, British-style, with the usual dance-off plot. MAY 2012 51
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FILM REVIEWS
The Avengers took their new traffic patrol very seriously indeed
REVIEW Marvel Avengers Assemble(12A) USA 2012 143 mins Dir: Joss Whedon Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Chris Evans, Jeremy Renner, Samuel L. Jackson, Mark Ruffalo, Cobie Smulders, Tom Hiddleston, Clark Gregg Nerds will tell you that the Marvel Avengers have a history stretching back 48 years and have featured in 500 comics. They’ll also waffle on about how these characters all exist within the ‘Marvel Universe’. Normal people may be forgiven for thinking that the concept looks rather cheesy. Chucking Thor (Hemsworth), Iron Man (Downey Jr), The Hulk (Ruffalo), Captain America (Evans), Uncle Tom Cobbley and all into one story smacks of opportunism. And how exactly is a
hammer-wielding Norse god supposed to interact with a giant angry green fella, a square-jawed WWII superhero and an eccentric genius billionaire playboy philanthropist? Disney’s masterstroke is to hire ubergeek writer/director Joss Whedon to figure it all out. His typically sleek, clever, character-driven script is filled with much-needed humour, while delivering everything the fanboys demand. It’s not perfect. You may find yourself stifling a yawn as each smackdown permutation is worked through during the formulaic climax, though the hilarious Hulk vs Loki (Hiddleston) one is well worth the wait. Comic Book Guys have been soiling themselves with excitement
REVIEW Damsels in Distress USA 2011 99 mins Dir: Whit Stillman Starring: Greta Gerwig, Carrie MacLemore, Megalyn Echikunwoke, Analeigh Tipton, Hugo Becker Missing in action since 1998’s ‘The Last Days of Disco’, unprolific US indie director Whit Stillman returns with another audiencedivider. Self-consciously out of step with the modern world, this is an idiosyncratically whimsical, talky entry in the overpopulated ‘Heathers’/’Mean Girls’ campus clique genre. If you’re familiar with Stillman’s frequently grating hipster style, you’ll know to expect wordy, arch exchanges in place of dialogue, with smug, preppy characters who look pleased with themselves each time they say something they imagine to be clever. Winsome Greta Gerwig, who appears to be navigating the Zooey Deschanel route out of dreary mumblecore and into mainstream Hollywood, leads a cast who will irritate as many as they charm.
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at the brief appearances by Nick Fury (Jackson) in previous Marvel films, as this has suggested the S.H.I.E.L.D. director will eventually recruit the whole gang to tackle one of those pesky Ultimate Threats to Planet Earth. Sure enough, a gizmo called the Tesseract permits Thor’s rotten halfbrother Loki to turn up with hordes of nasty 3D CGI something-or-others bent on total destruction. The gettingthe-gang-together sequences aboard S.H.I.E.L.D.’s cool flying aircraft carrier are handled briskly and elegantly. But the moment dryly sarcastic, egotistical Tony Stark/Iron Man shows up, it’s obvious that the show has been comprehensively stolen, especially when he clashes with the humourlessly patriotic Captain America.
Website marvel.com/avengers_movie Opens April 27 Opens:correctness April 27 had forced a change Political of policy
(12A)
Down at the fictitious Seven Oaks University, Violet Wister (Gerwig) is the queen bee of a clique of perky, superior social reformers who crusade against the prevailing atmosphere of ‘male barbarism’ and its attendant whiff of pungent body odour. Together with admiring acolytes Heather (MacLemore) and Rose (Echikunwoke), who inexplicably affects a posh English accent, self-confident Violet runs the campus Suicide Prevention Centre, treating depression through tap-dance and doughnuts - which are available only to the “suicidal, seriously depressed or otherwise nutty”. Twee and quirky enough for you yet? Transfer student Lily (exmodel Analeigh Tipton) is swiftly swept into the trio’s orbit and indoctrinated into their philosophy of avoiding “playboy operators” (pronounced with some relish by Rose). Instead, as part of a selfless mission to raise male standards, they date frat boys who are conspicuously
Scarlett Johansson, whose Black Widow had only a small-ish role in ‘Iron Man 2’ enjoys a great entrance, and gets to perform considerable whupass in a skin-tight costume that’s liable to provoke much involuntary trouserexpansion among the target audience. As the third screen Hulk in nine years, Mark Ruffalo acquits himself impressively, thanks in part to state-ofthe art special effects. Jeremy Renner fares less well. Poor old Hawkeye doesn’t even have his own movie franchise and can hardly compete with larger-than-life superheroes by firing arrows, albeit high-tech ones. (Robin Askew) HHHHH
more stupid and ugly than average. But Lily soon has to choose between two rival suitors, including a pretentious self-styled Cathar named Xavier (Becker), whose adopted religion, he insists, permits sex only of the backdoor variety. It’s a good job jocks and frat boys don’t have their own PC lobby group, as they’re depicted here as being so two-dimensionally idiotic that they don’t even know what colours are. This is as flatly directed as a Kevin Smith movie, but Stillman keeps up a barrage of literary pastiche witticisms (“Have you noticed how good and moral people tend to have large posteriors?”) until the whole thing fizzles out with a colourful dance number. If you’re not itching to reach through the screen and throttle the lot of them, you may feel the urge to join in. (Robin Askew) HHHHH Website www.sonyclassics.com/ damselsindistress/
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FILM
Fancy a film this month? See venue.co.uk/film - the home of Venue's what's on listings
REVIEW Gone (15) USA 2012 95 mins Dir: Heitor Dhalia Starring: Amanda Seyfried, Daniel Sunjata, Jennifer Carpenter. Emily Wickersham, Michael Pare When her recovering alcoholic sis Molly (Wickersham) disappears on the eve of an important college exam, Jill (Seyfried) becomes convinced she’s been abducted. Trouble is, nobody believes her because she’s a bit of a loony. A year earlier, Jill herself claimed to have been abducted by a serial killer and dumped in a big hole filled with human remains in Portland’s woods, from which she escaped after whacking her abductor with a handy bone. Alas, the cops could find no
evidence to back up her outlandish story. What’s more, they discovered she’d done time in the nuthouse after her parents’ death. So when she turns up insisting that the same psycho has come back for Molly, she’s greeted with much eye-rolling. Now our obsessive, freakishly big-eyed heroine has to track down the bad guy herself. Fortunately, there are plenty of candidates. Could it be the creepy widowed guy over the road? Or the creepy locksmith whose van was seen in the area? Or Molly’s creepy boyfriend? Or the creepy new cop in town who takes an interest in the case that can only be described as, well, creepy?
REVIEW African Cats (u) USA 2011 89 mins Dir: Alastair Fothergill & Keith Scholey The best in Bristol-based wildlife film-making meets the worst in US anthropomorphic narration in this Disneynature production which, perhaps understandably, sanitises nature for squeamish tots. More offensively, it ascribes human feelings and emotions to animals while tiptoeing round issues that idiot creationists might find offensive. Filmed on location in Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve, ‘African Cats’ follows a cheetah struggling to raise her cubs and a pride of lions threatened by rival males from the
north. Had David Attenborough bagged voiceover duties, you can be certain that he would be drawing conclusions about evolution by natural selection. Since 73% (estimate) of Americans believe Beardy Man in the Sky made everything in a trice and cowboys tussled with dinosaurs in the Old West, this is as controversial across the pond as the notion that it’s not a terribly good idea to go around armed to the teeth. So Samuel L. Jackson, sounding as though he recently paid a visit to the vet to have his manhood removed, doesn’t mention genes once. Instead, his message is a wholesome family values one - skirting round the fact that these are families in which
Making his Hollywood debut, award-winning Brazilian director Heitor Dhalia can’t do much with this terrible, lazy load of old cobblers. Only in an art movie would everything be happening in Jill’s damaged noggin, so the inevitable showdown is duly supplied after we’ve been forced to wade through a trawler load of red herring. Having dismissed Jill as a waste of their valuable time, the rozzers appear to have nothing better to do than run around after her. And when one of the creepy suspects simply disappears, it’s explained that he’s gone to make his ailing mum some soup. Bless. (Robin Askew) HHHHH
Amanda was more-than-usually wide-eyed with fear
Website www.gone-movie.com/ Out Now
Leo was looking forward to the new anthropomorphic Disney wildlife documentary
dad has lots of sex with mum’s sisters. The survivors, he informs us in treacly tones, “are living proof of the power of a mother’s love.” Indeed, he stops just short of getting Biblical on our asses. As one might expect of BBC Natural History Unit alumni Alastair Fothergill and Keith Scholey, the wildlife footage is superb. Sure, it delivers plenty of cutesy kitty-cat images.
But, to be fair, the film doesn’t shy away from showing us where they get their dinner, cutting away only when fleeing ungulates are brought down by razor-sharp claws. For maximum enjoyment, take ear-plugs. (Robin Askew) HHHHH Website www.disney.com/AfricanCats Opens: April 27
REVIEW American Pie: Reunion (15) USA 2012 113 mins Dir: Jon Hurwitz & Hayden Schlossberg Starring: Jason Biggs, Shannon Elizabeth, Alyson Hannigan, Chris Klein, Tara Reid, Seann William Scott, Mena Suvari, Eugene Levy, Ali Cobrin Jason was delighted to find that his socks really were ‘one size fits all’
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Ignoring those three straight-toDVD spin-offs, which is probably wise, this fourth official slice of Pie charts a predictable course, shoehorning in all the sexual embarrassment and excrement gags its audience has come to expect in a rather tired and mechanical style, with sentimentality replacing the well-judged sweetness of the first film. That’s especially unfortunate when the adult Jason Biggs’s resemblance to Adam Sandler becomes a running joke. At least the series’ only two consistently funny characters get plenty of screen time: Jim’s dad (Levy) and Stifler (Scott), who remains a pleasingly arrested adolescent.
After all, who cares about the formerly horny teens’ struggles with adult relationships and parenthood? Nobody bought a ticket to see that. At least it starts strongly, with Jim (Biggs) and Michelle (Hannigan) now going full circle to seek solace in masturbation after their sex life expired with the birth of their son. Back home for the Class of ‘99 school reunion, Jim is both alarmed and excited to find that Kara (Cobrin), the girl he used to babysit, is now a strapping teenager who’s mysteriously eager to lose her virginity to him. Meanwhile, his widower dad is eager to offer the usual unwanted
sexual advice. (“Is it an erectile problem? Because sometimes you can buy a little time with a well-placed thumb.”) The other characters are all suffering various soapy relationship problems, while Stifler, bless him, is trying to get into 18-year-old girls’ pants by feigning an interest in the ‘Twilight’ novels. Since Biggs has yet to figure out what to do with the rest of his career, we can presumably expect ‘American Pie: Retirement Home’ in due course. (Robin Askew) HHHHH Website www. americanreunionmovie.com/ Opens: May 4 VENUEMAGAZINE
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FILM REVIEW Two Years at Sea (TBA)
REVIEW Silent House (15)
It was so gloomy that he could never find a razor blade
USA 2012 85 mins Dir: Chris Kentis & Laura Lau Starring: Elizabeth Olsen, Adam Trese, Eric Shaffer Stevens
UK 2011 90 mins Dir: Ben Rivers A hairy-beardy chap trudges through the snow towards his rundown, rambling rural abode, which appears to be full of junk. Later, he whistles a cheery tune while taking a dump (mercifully offscreen) and enjoys an improvised shower. We then follow what seems to be his daily routine: chopping wood, cooking food, sorting through crap, playing scratchy old folky/blues records and sitting in a dilapidated armchair in what might once have been a garden. Every so often, he has a kip, either in the house or a caravan. At one point, he constructs an improvised raft using giant plastic containers and paddles out into a loch, where he floats about a bit. Who is this guy and why are we watching him? Answer came there none. He doesn’t speak, apart from the occasional mutter. The internet tells us that he’s Jake Williams, who enjoys a marginal existence in the wilds of Scotland and was the subject
of experimental film-maker Ben Rivers’ earlier short ‘This Is My Land’. Old photographs imply that he may have led a more conventional existence before coming over all hermity. In some scenes he appears to be acting, which suggests this is no documentary. No other people are shown, and yet he’s clearly not cut off entirely from civilisation as he pootles around in a jeep. In a vaguely surreal sequence, his knackered caravan is hoisted into a treetop - which is not something Jake can have achieved alone. Rivers’ ascetic aesthetic is very much an acquired taste, and many will find the enigmatically titled ‘Two Years at Sea’ both annoying and frustrating. But if you surrender to the strange beauty of its 16mm monochrome cinematography, which is so grainy it occasionally seems pixelated, this does have an undeniably mesmerising quality. (Robin Askew) HHHHH Website www.benrivers.com/ Opens: May 4
REVIEW Goodbye First Love (15) France/Germany 2011 111 mins Subtitles Dir: Mia Hansen-Love Starring: Lola Creton, Sebastian Urzendowsky, Magne-Havard Brekke Mia Hansen-Love follows her impressive ‘Father of My Children’ with a coming-of-age story that only a French director could hope to get away with. Specifically, a female French director. For a cynic might observe that this is yet another of those arthouse male wish-fulfilment flicks in which a pert ingénue, who’s frequently seen naked, blossoms in a relationship with an older, cultured man, who keeps his clothes on throughout. To be fair, this is skilfully written and directed, and beautifully photographed, with a central performance of raw emotional VENUEMAGAZINE
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honesty by Lola Creton. We swiftly get down to business back in 1999 as tousle-haired Sullivan (Urzendowsky) races home with a packet of condoms to bound into bed with his horny 15-year-old girlfriend, Camille (Creton). For clingy Camille, her first boyfriend is “the one” and she throws a strop each time he goes off with his mates. But the heartless brute is planning a 10-month adventure in South America, which sends her into a decline. After his letters dry up, she sulks, mopes, pouts and blubs - much to the understandable annoyance of her long-suffering parents. As the years drift by, she begins to shape up, suddenly and rather improbably becoming an architecture student and falling for much older lecturer
whole thing is shot in one continuous take, ‘Rope’-style, although the screen fades to black so often that this is most likely bollocks. You’ll probably enjoy it better if you haven’t seen the original film, especially as the ‘twist’ is the same in both versions. But whereas the Uruguyan ‘Silent House’ took the subtle, slow-burn approach, opting for its big reveal over the closing credits, the remake doesn’t trust its audience’s patience or ability to figure stuff out for themselves. So everything is heavily underlined and additional explicit nightmarish visions introduced for the benefit of those who might otherwise feel short-changed on the bang-forbuck front. (Robin Askew) HHHHH
Desperate for ideas, the Hollywood remake machine continues to scour the globe for material to dumbdown for those who can’t, or won’t, read subtitles. The low-budget 2010 Uruguayan haunted house flick on which this one is based was never released in the US, so the remake can be passed off as an original project to all but those who scour credits closely. Husband and wife team Chris Kentis and Laura Lau have form in the hugely profitable micro-budget horror department, having co-directed 2003’s wobblecam shark shocker ‘Open Water’ (Budget: $500,000. Box Website whyisthishappeningtome. office: $55 million). Encouragingly net/ too, they’ve snared the youngest Opens: May 4 and most talented Olsen sibling, Elizabeth - hot from the acclaimed “Crikey - it really was only a mouse” ‘Martha Marcy May Marlene’ - to expose much gratuitous cleavage as their heavy-breathing scream queen. Olsen, who appears in almost every shot, plays a young woman who’s helping her dad and uncle tidy up a creepy lakeside summer house prior to sale. Inevitably, there’s no power, so everyone has to wave lamps around, and the usual excuse about mobile phone reception is trotted out. As before, the USP is that the
“Obviously, what I need is a much older man”
Lorenz (Brekke), who resembles a seedier Sting circa 1990. But this is a different kind of love, with earnest discussions about downpipes and floor tiles taking the place of vigorous passion. A knowing exchange about French cinema acknowledges the film’s audience-dividing nature (take your pick: annoying, talky and complacent or beautiful and deep). But if you
can tolerate the authentically insufferable, navel-gazing drama queen Camille and the wretched twee soundtrack, ‘Goodbye First Love’ is an above-average contribution to an over-stuffed genre. (Robin Askew) HHHHH Website www.ifcfilms.com/films/ goodbye-first-love Opens: May 4 MAY 2012 55
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FILM
For film listings and more reviews visit venue.co.uk/film
REVIEW Café de Flore (TBA) “Let’s pretend we know who Led Zeppelin are”
Canada/France 2011 120 mins Subtitles Dir: Jean-Marc Vallee Starring: Vanessa Paradis, Kevin Parent, Helene Florent, Evelyne Brochu, Marin Gerrier, Alice Dubois
If you saw French-Canadian director Jean-Marc Vallee’s ‘C.R.A.Z.Y.’, you’ll recall that that whimsical, overlong yarn was distinguished by striking cinematography and imaginative use of classic rock. After taking an unexpected thematic detour with ‘The Young Victoria’, Vallee returns to his roots with this even more ambitious film. It unfolds in two timeframes, with the same strengths and weaknesses. For ‘C.R.A.Z.Y.’, Vallee mined Pink Floyd’s ‘Wish You Were Here’. Although Sigur Ros are employed to churn out their trademark etherealism by the yard here, it’s Floyd’s ‘Dark Side of the Moon’ that provides the film’s
REVIEW Beloved (TBA) France/UK/Czech Republic 2011 135 mins Subtitles Dir: Christophe Honore Starring: Catherine Deneuve, Chiara Mastroianni, Ludivine Sagnier, Milos Forman, Paul Schneider, Rasha Bukvic Something of a follow-up to Christophe Honore’s 2007 film ‘Love Songs’, which wasn’t shown in Venueland, this epic romantic melodrama spans 45 years, encompassing the convoluted love lives of two generations of women. The Soviet invasion of Prague and 9/11 both provide bookending dramatic backdrops, while AIDS pops up pretty much on cue. Honore has certainly assembled a great cast, including reallife mother and daughter duo Catherine
The harsh climate was playing havoc with her beauty regime
Belgium/Italy/France 2011 125 mins Subtitles Dir: Radu Mihaileanu Starring: Leila Bekhti, Hafsia Herzi, Biyouna, Sabrina Ouazani, Saleh Bakri, Hiam Abbass 56 MAY 2012
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Deneuve and Chiara Mastroianni - plus Milos Forman in a rare acting role. Alas, every so often they burst into mediocre song. ‘The Umbrellas of Cherbourg’ this ain’t. It’s not even ‘8 Women’. Indeed, one of the most awful songs seems to be titled ‘London Calling’ (not that one) and includes such deathless couplets as “Is it the Thames/Or am I just pissed?” and “Is this Oxford Street/ Or my sadness and grief”. We’ve all been there, love. It starts off fluffy as can be back in 1964, when chic young French shoe shop worker Madeleine (Sagnier) decides to become one of those happygo-lucky, only-in-the-movies whores to pay for a few luxuries. Naturally,
sonic and emotional centrepiece, specifically ‘Breathe’ - although Vallee also samples the chimes from ‘Time’ and the scream at the end of ‘Speak To Me’. I’ll get me anorak. In present day Montreal, 40-yearold recovering alcoholic club DJ Antoine Godin (Parent) lives an apparently idyllic family life with shapely young peroxide blonde Rose (Brochu) and his two daughters. But unhappy Antoine pines for his first love, soulmate and the mother of his children, Carole (Florent). Back in grey 1969 Paris, fiercely protective single parent Jacqueline (Paradis) falls to pieces when her beloved seven-year-old Down syndrome son
Laurent (Gerrier) forms a bond with a little girl named Vero (Dubois). From the outset, heavy hints are dropped that the two strands are connected, possibly by reincarnation. At first, Vallee handles this deftly and with subtlety through skilful cross-cutting and clever use of music, which is almost sufficient to banish the memory of the last time this device was used in Madonna’s dire ‘W.E.’. But when a medium is wheeled on to talk bollocks in the ill-judged last reel, any benefit of the doubt is swiftly rescinded. (Robin Askew) HHHHH Website www.cafedeflorelefilm.com/ Opens: May 11
She was so sexy she’d inspired an inflatable doll
she promptly falls for one of her johns, cheeky Czech endocrinologist Jaromil (Bukvic). The fruit of their initial businesslike union grows up to be Vera (Mastroianni), whose own complex personal life includes a crush on a gay American drummer (Schneider). It doesn’t help that mum (now Deneuve), who over-shares about her sexual exploits, has remarried after divorcing philandering Jaromil (now Forman)
but continues to meet him for secret trysts in Paris’s Hotel Kuntz (oh, stop it). There’s a lot of very Gallic emoting and mooning about, but Deneuve and Forman steal it as the incorrigibly frisky oldsters for whom the free love era never ended. (Robin Askew) HHHHH Website www.newwavefilms.co.uk/ Opens: May 11
REVIEW The Source (15) A glossy, calculated liberal arthouse crowd-pleaser that practically sits up and begs for applause, this latest confection from the director of the similarly button-pushing ‘The Concert’ feels like a cinematic equivalent of the world music industry at its patronising and exoticising worst. Set in a nonspecific drought-stricken North African/Arabic village and directed by the Romanian-born son of a Jewish communist who doesn’t even speak the language it’s written in, ‘The Source’ is a self-styled modern-day fairy tale that boasts one-dimensional characters, stodgy speechifying and cheesy, inexpertly performed Bollywood-style song’n’dance routines. It is, however, unquestionably colourful and achingly
well-meaning, with enough innuendoladen dialogue to delight any stray ‘Carry On’ enthusiast who wanders in by mistake. While their menfolk lounge around drinking tea, playing cards and getting fat, the village’s women are treated as brood sows and dispatched on hazardous mountain missions to collect water, where many suffer injury and miscarriage. Encouraged by a feisty old crone (Biyouna), educated outsider Leila (Bekhti) proposes a sex strike until the lazy blokes agree to do their bit. But keeping “the cellar door shut” proves easier said than done as marital rape and domestic violence ensue, Leila’s progressive schoolteacher hubby Sami (Bakri) is pressured to ‘repudiate’ her,
the local Imam is drafted in to quote Koranic authority for wife-beating, and the men even consider sending out for less stroppy wives. Several soapy female empowerment sub-plots postpone the sexist old goats’ inevitable comeuppance, which is carefully couched in terms of enlightened Islam during a Koran-reading showdown. Gorgeous, unblemished French-Algerian actress and new “face of L’Oreal” Leila Bekhti gives it her best shot, but is never remotely convincing as a toiling peasant with no access to running water. (Robin Askew)HHHHH Website www.lasourcedesfemmes.com/ Opens: May 18 VENUEMAGAZINE
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DVD's The Descendants (15)
CINECISMS Slapstick Festival… Time Travel Festival… and the man who’s had his hand up Elmo’s arse for thirty years
R
ather annoyingly, the full lineup for Bristol Silents’ Stand up for Slapstick event at the Colston Hall on June 24 hadn’t been confirmed as we went to press. But we can tell you that some very big names indeed are likely to be added to the bill shortly. They join Rory Bremner (pictured), Marcus Brigstocke, Barry Cryer, Lucy Porter and Arthur Smith, who are all performing in this benefit for Bristol’s annual Slapstick Festival. It’s certain to be a sellout, so grab your ticket now from
BUMS ON SEATS Battleship - aka ‘Transformers’ at sea - continues to steer a steady course at the top for a second week, while last week’s number two, Titanic 3D, goes down with all hands to number five. Mind you, James Cameron’s 3D makeover has managed to add nearly £10m to his film’s total tally. Salmon Fishing in the Yemen was the weekend’s highest charting new entry. But Marley scored the biggest screen average of all films on release, just missing out on a top ten placing from just 64 screens. After four weeks, Aardman’s The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists! has done strong if unspectacular business and is likely to end up a few million short of Arthur Christmas’s tally. All eyes will be on the US now, where the film opens this Friday (April 27). Outside the top ten, ace Norwegian thriller Headhunters has quietly clocked up £1m and is now enjoying a wider release - including the Watershed.
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the Colston Hall box office - a snip at £22…The Compass Film Festival returns this month with The Time Machine: A Festival of Time Travel at Hamilton House from May 17-19. Attractions include the Soviet silent classic Aelita: Queen of Mars with live accompaniment. See www.compass-film.co.uk for more…If you enjoyed the ace new Muppet movie, be sure to check out acclaimed documentary Being Elmo, which celebrates the puppeteer who’s had his hand up Elmo’s arse for the best part of 30 years. It’s showing at the Little Theatre on May 1 and comes to the Cube from May 20…The Watershed has seasons devoted to Dickens on Screen (May 8-27) and Angela Carter (May 12-18).
The ‘shed also has a screening of the new digitally restored version of Fritz Lang’s classic Metropolis on May 3, with a talk on May 4 about the restoration process. On May 26, author James Sallis drops by to talk about the film version of his novel Drive, in an event organised in partnership with Crimefest…Finally, if you’re already tugging your forelock feverishly in anticipation of the upcoming Diamond Jubilee celebrations, you’ll be delighted to know that A Queen is Crowned is back in cinemas on May 27. This is the original 1953 Technicolor coronation documentary, with a fawning commentary by Laurence Olivier…That’s it. Outta space. Byeee.
BOX OFFICE Takings for the weekend of Aril 20-22 £1,282,091 (£6,088,174, 2 weeks)
1
6
2
Salmon Fishing in the Yemen
£1,169,235 (new release)
7
3
The Hunger Games
8
4
The Cabin in the Woods
Battleship
£1,070,787 (£21,259,368, 5 weeks)
£1,033,533 (£3,543,472, 2 weeks)
5
Titanic 3D
£925,740 (£9,919,113, 3 weeks)
The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists!
£772,887 (£14,085,303, 4 weeks)
Lockout £596,500 (new release)
Mirror Mirror
£535,093 (£6,070,901, 3 weeks)
9
21 Jump Street
£376,781 (£9,465,305, 6 weeks)
10
Gone
£275,087 (new release) (£1,625,015, 2 weeks)
It only bagged an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay, but Alexander Payne’s belated follow-up to ‘Sideways’ was well worth the wait. Playing a father dealing with his comatose wife’s infidelity and a brace of wayward daughters, George Clooney strips layers of selfsatisfaction from his familiar persona to reveal a man adrift in ‘paradise’. Out: May 14 HHHHH
ALSO RELEASED Shame (18) HHHHH Michael Fassbender and Carey Mulligan do sex addiction and trademark blubbing respectively as siblings who are difficult people to love, or even to like, in Steve McQueen’s nonetheless hugely impressive second feature. Out: May 14 … Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (12A) HHHHHSurprisingly Guy Ritchie’s most enjoyable film in years, his Holmes sequel is a lovingly staged period combination of the homoerotic buddy movie and the globetrotting Bond flick. Out: May 14 … Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol (12) HHHHH Former animator Brad Bird keeps Tom Cruise’s impossible missioning franchise ticking over nicely with the biggest global box office hit of the series (nearly $700m, fact fans). Out: April 30 … War Horse (12) HHHHH Spielberg visits the fictional UK county of Devonland for his treacly, horsey WWI romp, which benefits from a handful of terrific battle sequences. Out: May 7 … The Iron Lady (12) HHHHH Meryl Streep bagged her mandatory Oscar for playing Thatch in Phyllida Lloyd’s lumpy biopic. Hands up - we thought nobody would pay to see this. We were wrong. Out: April 30 … Hadewijch (12) HHHHH Bruno Dumont - the unprolific king of Bressonian rural miserablism - returns with a confused and confusing film that attempts to say something or other about religious fundamentalism. Out: May 14 … The Grey (15) HHHHH Silly old stranded Liam Neeson takes on a pack of Alaskan wolves. With his bare hands, obviously. Out: May 21. MAY 2012 57
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MUSIC
For more news, reviews and extra pics, see venue.co.uk/music
DRY YOUR EYES, MATE Because the prospects for Crybaby are looking distinctly rosy, says Julian Owen.
C
hances Bristol’s favourite early 21st-century are strong band – came to play their last ever gig you’ll in a gay bar outside Bremen. already Coughlan expected to return fullhave heard time to building work. “I thought I’d Crybaby. had my fair share of farting around The debut with bands and, by rights, shouldn’t single be allowed to do it any more. I dug out picked up the stuff I used to listen to growing airplay all up – The Cure, The Smiths – and all the over the shop, a lonesomely crooning old 50s/60s stuff my dad used to listen voice set against airily shimmering to.” Just to listen to, you understand, guitar, as much manifesto as song not necessarily be inspired by – he’d title: ‘I Cherish The Heartbreak More grown tired of songwriting with Babel, Than The Love That I Lost’. At the having to supply on demand. But yet... time of writing, second single – ‘When unbidden, songs appeared and insisted The Lights Go Out’ – is a nominee for on being written down. To hear the Lamacq’s Rebel Playlist, the self-titled passion with which Coughlan talks, the debut long player Rough Trade’s Album wonder is he ever thought they might of the Week. Things, in short, are just not have come back. “I find songs dandy, as the band’s today are a bit too singer takes us over-sexualised, or through the premise glib and infantile, of a potential new or clever-clever and song. “I was just ironic. If you think driving this morning about someone like near Bracknell on Roy Orbison or Buddy the way to Brighton Holly, they were and went past the born in the 30s, their petrol station where parents would have I remember sitting had a hard, hard in the van, thinking life. [So their songs ‘Actually, I don’t show] a blue-collar really want to do this realisation that you any more’.” don’t get much time Except that’s not on the planet, bad what he’s doing at things happen, but DANNY COUGHLAN all. Instead, Danny there’s hope in there, Coughlan is telling light and dark, and us of the moment he that’s important.” realised he no longer wanted to front Of his own work, he says: “They’re Babel. “Half the band had disappeared, love songs in the best tradition of old we were playing the same songs over folk songs, soul music. I like the idea of and over again, and I was away from using the grammar and language of 50s my home and family.” The realisation doo-wop stuff, and all that teeny stuff was fully shared with the band on the – Bobby Vincent, Bobby Vee – that ensuing European tour. And, thus, the delivered a saccharine dream; if you’ve eight-piece folk-stompers – arguably got darkness in there, it amplifies that
“I FIND SONGS TODAY ARE A BIT TOO OVERSEXUALISED, OR GLIB AND INFANTILE, OR CLEVERCLEVER AND IRONIC.”
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a whole lot more – there’s a murderous quality to those love songs. The Joe Meek stuff [check the hat-tip to ‘Telstar’ in the first single’s clavioline outro], Scott Walker, all the stuff I love right through to the Jesus and Mary Chain, 80s pop stuff – space and reverb is the connection.” The songs were demo’d with one guitar, one drum, at the kitchen table. Via a friend, they reached a producer sympathetic to a strippedback sound. Not that you’d necessarily have expected it. As Merrick, Chris Hughes was drummer/producer with none-more-ostentatiously-rollicking Adam & The Ants. “It was a bit of a teenage moment,” recalls Coughlan, on meeting him. “I was obsessed. I went to Bridgwater fair to buy flintlocks and plastic pirate gear, to become Adam & The Ants. I used to wear make-up to school discos, got a kicking. So meeting him was amazing, and then he ended up drumming on the album. We do a sneaky little ‘Kings of the Wild Frontier’ every now and again...” Plans to put down “a couple of tunes” turned
into “What are you doing in the next two weeks?” and they recorded a song a day. At this point, Crybaby was still a one-man show. Live assistance was needed. “The great thing,” says Coughlan, “is the record was done before the band was put together, so everyone just learnt parts.” And it’s been a pleasure working with new people. “It’s not as close to home. Babel was a big family, here we get together for gigs and that’s it.” There might be quite a few gigs, mind... “You feel like you’re bluffing,” he says, in tones of happy bemusement, at the number of interviews he’s given recently, of the number of people who queued to have him sign their copy of the album at a Rough Trade in-store session. “You feel like you’re going to be found out. It’s more than I ever expected.” CRYBABY PLAY THE FLEECE, BRISTOL ON FRI 11 MAY. ‘CRYBABY’ THE ALBUM IS OUT NOW ON HELIUM RECORDS. FFI: OHCRYBABY. COM
Crybaby: reasons to be cheerful
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MUSIC
Got a gig to list? Submit it to us at venue.co.uk/submit-a-listing
THE MONTH AHEAD TUESDAY 1ST MAY
WEDNESDAY 2ND MAY
ROCK BLOOD RED SHOES The Trinity Centre, Bristol, Tue 1 May, £10, 7.30pm. Ffi: www.bloodredshoes.co.uk • Brighton indie two-piece with a garage rock slant. Support from The Cast of Cheers.
ROOTS DAN MANGAN The Thekla, Bristol, Wed 2 May, £7, 7.30pm. Ffi: www.danmanganmusic.com • Canadian singer-songwriter and Polaris prize nominee, with support from Zeus.
ROCK WEIRD DREAMS Start the Bus, Bristol, Tue 1 May, £5, 8.30pm. Ffi: www.facebook.com/ weirddreams • East Londoners making surfy psychpop, with support from local art rockers Empty Pools.
ROCK BOW WOW WOW The Fleece, Bristol, Wed 2 May, £15, 7.30pm. Ffi: www.thefleece.co.uk • Goofy 80s new-wavers, now featuring No Doubt’s Grammy-winning Adrian Young. Support from Pussycat & The Dirty Johnsons. ROOTS STACEY EARLE & MARK STUART St. Bonaventure’s, Bristol, Wed 2 May, £12, 7.30pm. Ffi: www.staceyandmark.com • Tennessee country rock with a spirited sense of humour. CLASSICAL BRODOWSKI QUARTET Victoria Rooms Clifton, Wed 2 May, retiring collection, 1.15pm. Ffi: 0117 331 4044 or www.bris.ac.uk/music • Bristol University’s resident quartet plays two powerful string quartets by Shostakovich – Nos 7 and 8.
THURSDAY 3RD MAY
ROOTS
Malcolm Middleton Malcolm Middleton is known for his work in Arab Strap with Aidan Moffat, as well as his cathartic, oft-humorous folk rock. Now performing as Human Don’t Be Angry (he feels like he’s exhausted the creative voice of his given name), he’ll be previewing work from HDBA’s debut album, as well as the older ‘solo’ work. MALCOLM MIDDLETON THE LOUISIANA, BRISTOL, FRI 4 MAY, £12.50, 8PM. FFI: WWW. MALCOLMMIDDLETON.CO.UK
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ROCK ARBOURETUM The Fleece, Bristol, Thur 3 May, £9, 7.30pm. Ffi: arbouretum.blogspot.co.uk • Baltimore free-form folk rock with support from Hush Arbors and The Minke Whales. ROOTS TREMBLING BELLS & BONNIE ‘PRINCE’ BILLY Trinity Centre, Bristol, Thur 3 May, £12, 7.30pm. Ffi: www.3ca.org.uk • Collaboration between the British folk group and the legendary Will Oldham. ROOTS EZIO The Thunderbolt, Bristol, Thur 3 May, £10, 7.30pm. Ffi: www.thethunderbolt.net • Folk group from Cambridge who are a favourite of Tony Blair (he chose two of their tracks for his ‘Desert Island Discs’). JAZZ DAVE STAPLETON QUARTET FEAT MARIUS NESET & BRODOWSKI STRING QUARTET
St George’s Bristol, Thur 3 May, £16, 8pm. Ffi: davestapleton.com • Superb jazz pianist and composer Stapleton’s new project marshals top Norwegian sax-power and sparkling strings.
7.30pm. Ffi: www.tammyweis.com • Canadian vocalist whose velvet voice and swinging delivery make the best of jazz standards and her own wellwritten material.
CLASSICAL BRISTOL ENSEMBLE Colston Hall, Bristol, Thur 3 May, £16£23/under-26s £8, 7.30pm.Ffi: 0117 922 3686 or www.colstonhall.org • The Beethoven symphony odyssey reaches ‘Eroica’; Matthew Barley plays Tchaikovsky’s Rococo Variations; Adrian Sutton’s Sinfonietta gets its first performance.
FRIDAY 4TH MAY ROCK TELLISON The Croft, Bristol, Fri 4 May, £6, 7.30pm. Ffi: www.tellison.co.uk • London indie rockers signed to the Naim Label. ROCK LIANNE LA HAVAS Trinity Centre, Bristol, Fri 4 May, £10, 7.30pm. Ffi: www.liannelahavas.com • Folk and soul singer who’s toured with Bon Iver, performed on Jools Holland and been nominated for the BBC Sound of 2012. ROCK GEISHA NOISE RESEARCH GROUP The Louisiana, Bristol, Fri 4 May, £5, 8pm. Ffi: www.thelouisiana.net • Formerly Bristol noise rockers Geisha, they’ve now scrapped the guitars in favour of brutal electronic beats. Support from Big Joan and Thought Forms. ROCK THE SADIES The Polish Club, Bristol, Fri 4 May, £13, 7.30pm. Ffi: www.thesadies.net • Torontonians blending traditional country, surf music and garage rock. JAZZ C.W. STONEKING Cheltenham Jazz Festival Jazz Arena, Fri 4 May, £13, 6.30pm. Ffi: cwstoneking.com • Gravel-voiced ‘Jungle Blues’ coming straight from the old Victrola via CW’s impeccable vintage style.
SATURDAY 5TH MAY JAZZ TAMMY WEIS Chapel Arts, Bath, Sat 5 May, £15,
CLASSICAL
Orchestra Of The Age Of Enlightenment Given the added expense of securing three soloists not one, concert performances of Beethoven’s Triple Concerto (an exuberant marriage of piano trio and orchestra) are pretty rare. Trust the OAE to strike gold. Fresh from her recent head-turning Beethoven/Berg concerto disc, Isabelle Faust leads a dream team of Steven Isserlis and Robert Levin – with Haydn’s ‘London’ Symphony and Mozart’s vivacious Violin Concerto No 3 to left and right. ORCHESTRA OF THE AGE OF ENLIGHTENMENT ST GEORGE’S BRISTOL, FRI 4 MAY, £13-£33/CONCS FROM £11, 7.30PM. FFI 0845 402 4001 OR WWW.STGEORGESBRISTOL.CO.UK
JAZZ CANDI STATON Cheltenham Jazz Festival Jazz Arena, Sat 5 May, £20, 7.30pm. Ffi: www.candi-staton.com • Will young hearts run free when Ms Staton’s gospel-soul vocals get going? Of course they will. ROCK YES SIR BOSS Fiddlers Club, Bristol, Sat 5 May, £6, 8pm. Ffi: www.yessirboss.com • Ska outfit who’ve become a fixture VENUEMAGAZINE
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MUSIC on the festival circuit and supported Joss Stone.
SUNDAY 6TH MAY ROCK MARIEE SIOUX The Cube, Bristol, Sun 6 May, £8, 8pm. Ffi: www.facebook.com/marieesioux • Nevada-based singer-songwriter in the vein of Joni and Joanna. JAZZ BILL FRISELL Cheltenham Jazz Festival Big Top, Sun 6 May, £25-£18, 5.45pm. Ffi: www. billfrisell.com • Awesomely original jazz guitarist with his own immaculate sense of what’s right – see panel for more. JAZZ HELGE LIEN TRIO Cheltenham Jazz Festival Jazz Arena, Sun 6 May, £13, 7.30pm. Ffi: www.helgelien.com/helgelientrio.com • The latest Scandinavian trio aiming to fill that EST-shaped hole in the scene and doing a damn fine job of it.
MONDAY 7TH MAY
JAZZ ABRAHAM WILSON SEPTET Cheltenham Jazz Festival Jazz Arena, Mon 7 May, £13, 12.30pm. Ffi: abramwilson.com • Ex-pat New Orleansian trumpet player brings Jean Toussaint over to join Pete King for an Olympic work-out at Cheltenham.
OPERA APOLLO ET HYANCINTHUS St George’s Bristol, Fri 11 May, £16-£29/ concs from £14, 7.30pm. Ffi: 0845 402 4001 or www.stgeorgesbristol.co.uk • Concert arias and a youthful symphony accompany the 11-year-old Mozart’s ‘classical’ opera. Ian Page conducts.
WORLD AFROCELT SOUND SYSTEM Colston Hall, Bristol, Mon 7 May, £18, 7.30pm. Ffi: www.afroceltsoundsystem.net • The band that started a genre, still mashing traditional Celtic tunes with floor-filling dance beats from the heart of Africa and the Caribbean.
SATURDAY 12TH MAY
TUESDAY 8TH MAY ROOTS SLOW CLUB The Fleece, Bristol, Tue 8 May, £10, 7.30pm. Ffi: www.slowclubband.com • Two-piece Sheffield indie poppers, known for their quirky lyrics.
WEDNESDAY 9TH MAY ROCK JIM LOCKEY & THE SOLEMN SUN The Louisiana, Bristol, Wed 9 May, £6, 8pm. Ffi: www.facebook.com/ jimlockeyandthesolemnsun • Energetic and poetic country punks. Support from Gaz Brookfield, Armchair Committee and Let’s Go Nowhere. ROCK THE CRIBS O2 Academy, Bristol, Wed 9 May, £18, 8pm. Ffi: www.thecribs.com • The Yorkshire indie rockers have just released their fifth album, entitled ‘In the Belly of the Brazen Bull’.
FRIDAY 11TH MAY
JAZZ
BILL FRISELL Bill Frisell’s restless imagination has sought out almost every form of electric guitar music from Appalachian bluegrass to African palm wine and all the jazz there is. It all gets used whenever he plugs in, his genius being to understand melody and know what to do next. His Cheltenham Jazz Festival appearance with Eyvind Klang (viola) and Rudy Royston (drums) has to be a weekend highlight. BILL FRISELL CHELTENHAM JAZZ FESTIVAL JAZZ BIG TOP, SUN 6 MAY, £24/£23/£18, 5.45PM.
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ROCK BEN KWELLER The Fleece, Bristol, Fri 11 May, £12, 8pm. Ffi: www.benkweller.com • Californian singer-songwriter. ROCK TRAILER TRASH TRACYS Thekla, Bristol, Fri 11 May, £7, 7pm. Ffi: www.trailertrashtracys.com • Fuzzy, kaleidoscopic shoegaze. HIP-HOP SHABAZZ PALACES Start the Bus, Bristol, Fri 11 May, £4, 10pm. Ffi: www.shabazzpalaces.com • Funk, jazz and the sounds of Zimbabwe underneath psychedelic poetry. ROCK THIS IS HELL Green Park Tavern, Bath, Fri 11 May, £7. Ffi: www.facebook.com/thisishellny • Melodic hardcore punk from New York City.
HIP-HOP BROTHER ALI The Thekla, Bristol, Sat 12 May, £9, 7pm. Ffi: www.brotherali.com • Religious and party-starting underground hip-hop from Minnesota’s Rhymesayers label.
or www.bathboxoffice.org.uk • The mid-point of the Endellions’ Bath ‘Razumovsky’ residency features Beethoven’s second Razumovsky Quartet alongside Mendelssohn and Haydn.
MONDAY 14TH MAY ROCK FRIENDS The Thekla, Bristol, Mon 14 May, £9, 7pm. Ffi: www.afriendszone.com • New York indie poppers.
CLASSICAL SEVERNSIDE COMPOSERS’ ALLIANCE Arnolfini, Bristol, Sat 12 May, £15/concs £12, 8pm. Ffi: 0117 917 2300 or www. severnsidecomposersalliance.co.uk • Lore Lixenberg and The Bristol Ensemble give a centenary performance of Schoenberg’s Pierrot Lunaire alongside Raymond Warren’s Burnt Norton Sketches. CLASSICAL BATH CHORAL SOCIETY Bath Abbey, Sat 12 May, £8-£20/concs from £4, 7.30pm. Ffi: 01225 463362 or www.bathboxoffice.org.uk • A Joyful Jubilee – accompanied by English Festival Brass, Will Dawes conducts English music by Walton, Vaughan Williams and Handel.
SUNDAY 13TH MAY ROCK PERFUME GENIUS Chapel Arts Centre, Bath, Sun 13 May. Ffi: www.facebook.com/ perfumegeniusofficial • That his last video caused so much controversy for featuring a gay porn star belies the fact that his music is subtle and heartbreaking. ROOTS KARIMA FRANCIS Moles, Bath, Sun 13 May, £7, 7.30pm. Ffi: www.karimafrancis.com • Blackpool-born singer-songwriter, named The Observer’s #1 act to watch in 2009. ROCK ESMERINE The Cube, Bristol, Sun 13 May, £11, 8pm. Ffi: www.esmerine.com • Experimental instrumentalists featuring members of Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Set Fire to Flames and A Silver Mt Zion. CLASSICAL THE ENDELLION STRING QUARTET Guildhall, Bath, Sun 13 May, £16-£24/ concs from £8, 3pm. Ffi: 01225 463362
ROCK
JAPANDROIDS Vancouver noise pop duo making anthems about leaving home and finally seeing just how small your hometown looks in the rear-view. It’s rebellious and gutsy, with as much of Jimmy Eat World’s pop-punk aesthetic as there is Sonic Youth’s gargling distortion masking it. JAPANDROIDS THE COOLER, BRISTOL, MON 21 MAY, £8, 7PM. FFI: WWW. JAPANDROIDS.COM
TUESDAY 15TH MAY HIP-HOP YELAWOLF O2 Academy, Bristol, Tue 15 May, £12.50, 7pm. Ffi: www.yelawolf.com • American rapper signed to Shady Records, with support from the inimitable Doomtree crew. Highly, highly recommended. ROCK FIXERS The Thekla, Bristol, Tue 15 May, £7.50, 6.30pm. Ffi: www.fixerstheband.com • Lo-fi Oxford indie poppers with hints of psychedelia.
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Going out this month? See venue.co.uk - the home of Venue's what's on listings
...CONTINUED CLASSICAL BERLIN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Colston Hall Bristol, Tue 15 May, £18£31/concs from £1, 7.30pm. Ffi: 0117 922 3686 or www.colstonhall.org • Alfred-Brendel-protégé Kit Armstrong plays Schumann’s Piano Concerto. Alexander Liebreich also conducts Beethoven Egmont and Sibelius 5.
WEDNESDAY 16TH MAY ROCK HOWLER The Fleece, Bristol, Wed 16 May, £9, 7pm. Ffi: www.howlerband.com • Surfy garage rockers from Minneapolis. CLASSICAL ELEKTROSTATIC Colston Hall Bristol, Wed 16 May, £8/ concs £6, 8pm. Ffi: 0117 922 3686 or www.colstonhall.org • After its Reich-infused clarinet programme, Elektrostatic looks to the flute with a bevy of premieres courtesy of Arcomis.
THURSDAY 17TH MAY ROOTS JOANNA CHAPMAN-SMITH Chapel Arts Centre, Bath, Thur 17 May, £8, 7.30pm. Ffi: www.joannacs.com • Urban acousticisms with jazzy and European flavours. ROCK SYD ARTHUR Porter Cellar Bar, Bath, Thur 17 May. Ffi: www.facebook.com/sydarthurband • Psychedelic rockers with funky jazz rhythms; heirs to the Canterybury scene’s throne. JAZZ KYLE EASTWOOD BAND Colston Hall 2, Bristol, Thur 17 May, £15, 8pm. Ffi: kyleeastwood.com • Smooth jazz bass playing in a contemporary West Coast style and never afraid of a bit of flamboyance. CLASSICAL TAKACS QUARTET WITH RALF KIRSHBAUM St George’s Bristol, Thur 17 May, £11£20/concs from £9, 7.30pm. Ffi: 0845 402 4001 or www.stgeorgesbristol. co.uk • Arguably one of the world’s very greatest string quartets, the Takacs play Schubert’s sublime C major Quintet and Ravel. 62 MAY 2012
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FRIDAY 18TH MAY ROCK KOLLAPS Cavern Club, Bristol, Fri 18 May, £4, 9pm. Ffi: www.facebook.com/Kollaps • Listing Ships, Americans, SJ Esau, The Colour of the Sun, Big Joan DJs, guest DJs and projections. ROCK THE LOVELY EGGS The Croft, Bristol, Fri 18 May, £7, 8pm. Ffi: www.thelovelyeggs.co.uk • Twee garage rock, with support from Standard Fare and Glis Glis.
rules, blending jazz with perfect hipwrenching dance grooves, Cuban-style. CLASSICAL THE PARAGON SINGERS St Swithins’ Church, Paragon, Bath, Sat 19 May, £12/students £5/under-12s free, 7.30pm. Ffi: 01225 463362 or www. bathboxoffice.org.uk • Super-sized choral music as Striggio’s 40-part Mass Ecco si Beata Giorno (rising to 60 parts!) unites the Paragons and the Thomas-Selle Vokalensemble of Berlin.
SUNDAY 20TH MAY WORLD BLACKBERRY WOOD Canteen, Bristol, Sun 20 May, free, 10pm. Ffi: www.myspace.com/ blackberrywood • Bringing Balkan beats, ska energy and a heap of theatricality, this lot hail from Vancouver, naturally.
ROCK
BEAR IN HEAVEN Bear in Heaven recently released ‘I Love You, It’s Cool’, a psychy, krauty electropop album, full of pounding beats yet glazed with a calming shimmer of shoegaze. Describing their sound belies the fact that these are songs which will claw their way into your head; melodies and lyrics that are catchy, relatable and... cool. BEAR IN HEAVEN THE LOUISIANA, BRISTOL, WED 23 MAY, £8, 7.30PM. FFI: WWW.BEARINHEAVEN.COM
JAZZ CAMILLE O’SULLIVAN Komedia, Bath, Fri 18 May, £20, 6pm. Ffi: www.camilleosullivan.com • There’s a deft husk to Camille O’Sullivan’s voice that’s obviously perfect for Jaques Brel and Tom Waits but surprisingly right for Bowie tunes, too.
SATURDAY 19TH MAY WORLD SALSA NOVA Plantation, Bristol, Sat 19 May, £2 after 9pm, 9.30pm. • Bristol’s Salsa Nova play it by the
ROCK BLOOD BROTHERS Moles, Bath, Sun 20 May, £8, 8pm. Ffi: www.moles.co.uk • Exclusive UK performance from the rock four-piece hailing from all corners of the globe. ROCK LADYFEST FUNDRAISER Start the Bus, Bristol, Sun 20 May, £6, 4pm. Ffi: www.facebook.com/ BristolLadyfest • Fundraiser for Bristol’s Ladyfest; fight the good fight with The Jelas, Poppy Perezz, Jemima Surrender, Morbison, Stevie Ward, Big Wave and more TBA. CLASSICAL MEDITERRANEA TRIO Pump Rooms, Bath, Sun 20 May, £9, 8pm. Ffi: 01225 463362 or www. bathboxoffice.org.uk • In the latest instalment of Bath Recital Artists’ Trust Sunday concerts, Schubert’s great Eb Piano Trio prefaces trios by Haydn and Mozart.
MONDAY 21ST MAY ROOTS THE HANDSOME FAMILY The Fleece, Bristol, Mon 21 May, £12, 7.30pm. Ffi: www.handsomefamily. com • Alternative country duo from Albuquerque.
ROCK YIP DECEIVER Start the Bus, Bristol, Mon 21 May, free, 9pm. Ffi: www.yipdeceiver.com Multi-instrumentalist Davey Pierce of psychedlelic pop outfit Of Montreal.
ROOTS
FAIRPORT CONVENTION Arguably the most important group in the English folk rock movement, Fairport convened for the first time exactly 45 years ago in guitarist/ singer Simon Nicol’s mum’s house. Nicol is the only founding member left, though he’s joined by a crop of talented musicians in Dave Pegg, Ric Sanders, Chris Leslie and Gerry Conway. FAIRPORT CONVENTION COLSTON HALL 2, BRISTOL, WED 23 MAY, £18, 8PM. FFI: WWW.FAIRPORTCONVENTION.COM
ROCK WHITE DENIM O2 Academy, Bristol, Mon 21 May, £12.50, 7pm. Ffi: www. whitedenimmusic.com • Blues, jazz and garage rock trio from Austin, Texas. WD’s last album ‘D’ was named among the best of 2011 by Mojo and Uncut.
TUESDAY 22ND MAY ROOTS FISH Komedia, Bath, Tue 22 May, £18. Ffi: www.fish-thecompany.com • Former Marillion singer playing a full electric band show. ROCK ELVIS COSTELLO Colston Hall, Bristol, Tue 22 May, 8pm. Ffi: www.elviscostello.com • Costello brings his Spectacular Spinning Songbook to Bristol. VENUEMAGAZINE
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MUSIC WEDNESDAY 23RD MAY ROCK THE HORRORS O2 Academy, Bristol, Wed 23 May, £14, 7pm. Ffi: www.thehorrors.co.uk • Following their Trinity show earlier this year, the Essex indie rockers take to the O2 in support of new album ‘Skying’. CLASSICAL GOULD PIANO TRIO St George’s Bristol, Wed 23 May, £7-£15/ concs from £5, 7.30pm. Ffi: 0845 402 4001 or www. stgeorgesbristol.co.uk • The Goulds round out their cycle of the complete Beethoven piano trios with the first of the Op 1 set and the mighty concluding ‘Archduke’ Trio.
• Still one of the region’s most exhilarating and authentic Afrobeat experiences, thanks to Alphonse Touna’s great compositions and some hot jazz players.
SUNDAY 27TH MAY ROOTS KAN Colston Hall, Bristol, Sun 27 May, £13.50, 8pm. Ffi: www.kan-music.co.uk • Boundary-bending Celtic four-piece.
JAZZ TRIO MEDIAEVAL/ARVE HENRIKSEN St George’s Bristol, Thur 24 May, £19, 8pm. Ffi: www.triomediaeval.no • Whoever thought of blending Arve Henriksen’s ambient free-jazz trumpet with the ethereal precision of Trio Medieval’s baroque acappella was a deranged genius. It’s perfect.
WORLD RSVP Green Park Station, Bath, Fri 25 May, free, 7.30pm. Ffi: www.rsvpmusic.co.uk • You want to make sure your Fringe Festival starts with a party? RSVP’s brand of good-time bhangra is the obvious choice. See panel for more. ROCK THE XCERTS The Cooler, Bristol, Fri 25 May, £6, 7.30pm. Ffi: www.thexcertsband.com • Scottish indie rockers who’ve recorded with Mike Sapone (Brand New, Taking Back Sunday, Public Enemy). ROOTS THE LONELY TOURIST Stag & Hounds, Bristol, Fri 25 May, free, 8.30pm. Ffi: www.facebook.com/ lonelytouristmusic • The Scottish singer-songwriter launches his second album ‘I Live Where You Are’ with a full band.
SATURDAY 26TH MAY ROCK THE ZOMBIES The Tunnels, Bristol, Sat 26 May, £15, 7.30pm. Ffi: www.thezombies.net • Legendary pop rock band from St. Albans. WORLD HELELE Chapel Arts Centre, Bath, Sun 26 May, £10, 7.30pm. Ffi: www.myspace.com/ helele VENUEMAGAZINE
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ROOTS GEMMA HAYES Moles, Bath, Mon 28 May, £8, 8pm. Ffi: www.gemmahayes.com • Mercury Prize nominee, combining prog rock, folk and electronica.
TUESDAY 29TH MAY ROOTS SARAH JAROSZ St Bonaventure’s, Bristol, Tue 29 May, £13, 7.30pm. Ffi: www.sarahjarosz.com • Former mandolin wunderkind, currently singer-songwritering with guitar and banjo. ROCK DZ DEATHRAYS The Louisiana, Bristol, Tue 29 May, £6, 8pm. Ffi: www.dzdeathrays.com • Two-piece Australian thrash-poppers.
THURSDAY 24TH MAY
FRIDAY 25TH MAY
MONDAY 28TH MAY
WORLD
RSVP
Just because they’re the only bhangra band hereabouts doesn’t mean that RSVP have ever rested on their laurels. Last year saw them tirelessly working the festival circuit and 2012 promises a new album and even more be-wellied crowds happily learning bhangra moves from Dildar and the boys. It all starts with the Bath Fringe, though, and a proper party to kick off this year’s funfest. RSVP GREEN PARK STATION, BATH, FRI 25 MAY, FREE, 7PM.
HIP-HOP MAC MILLER O2 Academy, Bristol, Sun 27 May, £15, 7pm. Ffi: www.macmillerofficial.com • Pittsburgh rapper known for his work in The Ill Spoken Group. CLASSICAL DAVID CHRISTOPHERSEN (PIANO) St George’s Bristol, Sun 27 May, £13£19/concs from £10, 7.30pm. Ffi: 0845 402 4001 or www. stgeorgesbristol.co.uk • Christophersen’s third concert surveying Prokoviev’s ‘War’ sonatas reaches No 8 – plus Scarlatti, Nin and Kabalevsky.
CLASSICAL PHILHARMONIA/ ASHKENAZY Colston Hall Bristol, Tue 29 May, £18-£31/ concs from £1, 7.30pm. Ffi: 0117 922 3686 or www.colstonhall.org • Berlioz’s sunny Beatrice et Benedict Overture and drug-fuelled Symphonie Fantastique frame Chopin’s Piano Concerto No 1 played by Nobuyuki Tsujii.
WEDNESDAY 30TH MAY
ROCK PAPA M The Cube, Bristol, Thur 31 May, £10, 8pm. Ffi: www.davidpajo.com • Solo project of the legendary Slint/ Tortoise guitarist. Support from The Liftmen and The Balky Mule. JAZZ VLAD MILLER & NOTES FROM THE UNDERGROUND Molloy’s, Bath, Thur 31 May, £6/£5, 7.30pm. Ffi: www.myspace.com/ vladmillernotes • Sophisticated piano-led jazz quartet drawing their inspiration from 20thcentury classical themes from the likes of Moussorgsky and Satie. WORLD ADRIANO ADEWALE St John’s School, Midsomer Norton, Thur 31 May, 4.30pm. Ffi: www.adrianoadewale.co.uk • Brazilian percussion virtuoso Adewale gets a solo opportunity to explore the rich world of rhythm from his homeland. CLASSICAL BATH FESTIVAL: LA SERENISSIMA Guildhall, Bath, Thur 31 May, £10-£14/ concs, 1pm. Ffi: 01225 463362 or www.bathmusicfest.org.uk • ‘Great Sonatas of Venice’ – Adrian Chandler’s period band plays sonatas by Vivaldi and Albinoni.
ROCK POST WAR YEARS Start the Bus, Bristol, Wed 30 May, free, 9pm. Ffi: www.postwaryears.com • Math-rockers in the vein of Battles. JAZZ GUESS THE BLEATING Canteen, Bristol, Wed 30 May, free, 9.30pm. • Your starter for ten… what postjazz quartet from Bristol is one of the hottest things on the UK jazz scene right now? And don’t say Acker Bilk!5 CLASSICAL BATH FESTIVAL: GALA OPERA Bath Abbey, Wed 30 May, £10-£32/ concs, 7pm. Ffi: tel 01225 463362 or www.bathmusicfest.org.uk • In the run-up to London 2012, La Serenissima gives the UK stage premiere of Vivaldi’s opera ‘L’Olimpiade’.
THURSDAY 31ST MAY ROOTS PAPER AEROPLANES Chapel Arts Centre, Bath, Thur 31 May, £8, 7.30pm. Ffi: www. paperaeroplanesmusic.com • Since forming six years ago in west Wales, they’ve supported Ron Sexsmith, Ed Sheeran, Marina and the Diamonds and Chris Wood.
CLASSICAL
BATH FESTIVAL Joanna MacGregor’s seventh and last Bath Festival is rich in topical references as the UK-staged premiere of Vivaldi’s ‘L’Olimpiade’ fingers London 2012, while the John Cage and Kathleen Ferrier centenaries are duly saluted alongside Hugh Wood’s 80th birthday and what would have been David Munrow’s 70th. But there’s surround-sound Striggio too, and, to end, MacGregor’s own funky accordion-rich respray of Mozart’s ‘Magic Flute’ relocated to a New York loft. BATH FESTIVAL VARIOUS VENUES, BATH, WED 30 MAY-SUN 10 JUNE. FFI: 01225 463362 OR WWW.BATHMUSICFEST. ORG.UK
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ALBUMS, SINGLES, EPs & DOWNLOADS
DAVE STAPLETON ‘FLIGHT’
(LP, Edition Records) Dave Stapleton’s Cardiff-based Edition Records is fast becoming the UK’s ECM-style repository of high-minded quality jazz, so it’s gratifying that the pianist’s own contribution more than matches its stable mates. Ambitiously combining a string quartet with a jazz foursome, Stapleton’s elegant compositions move easily between exactly scored arrangement and flights of nearfree jazz. Marius Neset’s awesome saxophone and drummer Olavi Louhivuori’s exemplary use of tone and time weave around the responsive piano, making tracks like the epic two-part ‘Henryk’, with its resurgent string eloquence, and the swooning ‘Unity’ a riveting listen and the upcoming St George’s concert (3 May) unmissable. (Tony Benjamin) HHHHH davestapleton.com/
JAG HARPS
‘THETA WAVES’ (EP, independent)
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Portishead/Blessing bass player’s round tones launch ‘New York’, the longest (and jazziest) of the four tracks on offer, with an easy-going pace and reflective solos on guitar and sax that somehow relocate that city to the West Coast. There’s all kinds of stuff going on in ‘Adptr’, flamenco guitars, sound samples and electrowashes colliding and resolving over a slightly hesitant beat. The dislocated collages hint at intriguing experimentation, jazzing with style as much as melody. Download it now from Bandcamp before someone dubs it post-something and puts it in a box. (Tony Benjamin)HHHHH http://jagharps.bandcamp.com
PAUL GARRY
‘WITH LOVE COMES RESCUE’ (EP, BMS Records)
Offensively inoffensive and supremely un-fun. Garry could be forgiven for trying to imitate the poignancy of the great folk lyricists – Dylan, Cohen, Young – but it’s every line, turning what we assume started as honest stream of consciousness into bland cliché after bland cliché, the pretence of emotion sung out in an amalgam of faux-transatlantic tones. Lines like “The whiskey haze of a hurricane kiss” and “Honeymoon blues when dancing shoes don’t fit” fall into the category of instantly recognisable yet un-Googleable phrases, which can be moving (see: David Berman), but when it’s mixed metaphors about wolves and the sea and Shakespeare, it’s just an incoherent mindf*ck that would not pass the Turing test. (Leah Pritchard) HHHHH www.myspace. com/paulgarry
OLO WORMS ‘IMAGE’ EP
(Coffin/Download, self-released) The clued-up few will already own this mind-boggling EP as a coffin. Yup, a coffin. A tiny, (very) limited edition coffin with a USB stick inside it. For everyone else, it’s a humble five-track download. But blazing scrotums what tracks! Inorganic bass that quakes the ribcage or bubbles like lava, insect clicks and hisses that pan right through your head, snatched spoken word non sequiturs, astral vocals hazing in and out. It’s weird, intimate, sinister and beautiful – often all at once. ‘Image’ was snubbed by OLO’s ex- label Fence for ‘not having enough tunes’. Foolish Fence: the OLO vision flies far further than mere melody. This is tangential tapestry; music that unfurls the brain like oil across water. (Mike White) HHHHH www.oloworms.co.uk
KID CARPET
‘KID CARPET & THE NOISY ANIMALS’ (LP, self-released)
Few things are more intoxicating
to a child than a cheeky “He’s one of us!” ally in adult world, and Ed ‘Doing A Poo In The Forest’ Patrick is the very personification. You, meanwhile, get to kiss cloying kids’ music misery goodbye with whirligig freakbeat, funk-hop, electrofizz, all rendered in lo-fi hi-fly fashion, the foundation of a fully realised world of animal charm, from homemaking ‘I Am A Badger’ (“You can come cohabit/If you’re a fox or a rabbit”) to ‘Hiccupotamus’ (“... had a problemicus down in his bellyus – a little bilious”). The wheels on the bus just got jammed. (Julian Owen) HHHHH www.kidcarpet. co.uk
MILLION WAY
‘YOUR CIRCUITRY’ (EP, self-released)
Dream Continuum release the ‘Reworkz’ EP and, thus, dance music continues to break ground like no other form. On the other hand, Million Way release this handy reminder it can be as witless and knuckleheadedly derivative as anything else. An EP deploying stuttery Fat Boy build in 2012? Whatever next? Vocoder ’n’ day-glo beat clatter, à la Daft Punk? Funny you should ask...The trio are a big live draw. Fine. But you need to be able to have this in your home as much as you do a corpulent sweat-drenched man in a smiley face T-shirt pouring lager over your carpet. (Julian Owen) HHHHH http:// millionway.co.uk/ VENUEMAGAZINE
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MUSIC THE BIG GIG
GARY NUMAN Mike White muses on the missing link between Kraftwerk and NIN.
T
he same year as ‘Alien’, three years before ‘Blade Runner’, awkward, acneridden 21-year old Gary Webb wrote a song called ‘Are ‘Friends’ Electric?’. It sounded like the future. But this was a sad, alienated future, shiny yet bleak, the vocals washed out by acid rain, the synth a wistful fanfare. Despite some regretful Thatcherist outbursts from Webb, the song struck a chord with Britain’s disaffected youth, even as the foul Tory harridan took power and began to disembowel the nation. ‘Are ‘Friends’ Electric?’ topped the charts and Gary (and his then band, Tubeway Army) went on ‘Top of the Pops’. His skin was so bad they covered him in face cream, then had to draw black rings around his eyes to make them stand out under the spotlights. Thus, quite by accident, his now-famous and much-imitated ghostly robot-androgyne image was created. NB He doesn’t look like that any more. Indeed, he’s much less bald now than he was in 1985, thanks to a futuristic ‘hair system’. Anyway, within two years Gary had changed his surname to Numan (inspired by a Yellow Pages ad for a plumber called Neumann), sold 10 million records and built a devoted following of ‘Numanoids’, who couldn’t care less about his hairplugs, or his sporadic nutjobbery. As one recent blogger said, “he’s as mad as a sackful of monkeys but terrific to watch in concert.” He was a pioneer of sorts, a loner who was not quite punk, New Wave or New Romantic. His career took a nosedive
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in the late-80s, then made a Lazarene recovery as everyone from Beck to Bowie to Basement Jaxx began citing him as an influence and sampling his work. Not many people have been used by Nine Inch Nails and the Sugababes. Retrospective tours are very much in fashion these days; Numan’s latest road trip sees him reprise the ‘Machine’ era (technically the glory years from 79-80 ish), though the tour supports a new DVD release of unseen promos and TV appearances from right across his career, and promises a one-off set, based around Numan’s singles from the last 33 years, intercut with stuff from last year’s ‘Dead Son Rising’ album. If you’ve got a spare hundred quid, you can even meet the great man himself with a VIP ‘Machine Music’ package. In many ways, Numan was before his time – the melancholic synth noise he pioneered is now everywhere, and the future’s never looked so shiny, nor so bleak. GARY NUMAN 02 ACADEMY, BRISTOL, 29 MAY SEE WWW.O2ACADEMYBRISTOL. CO.UK FOR DETAILS. NB He doesn't look like this anymore
Q&A
MAGNIFICENT SEVEN As she prepares to hand over the baton, pianist and composer Joanna MacGregor looks back over seven years as artistic director of the Bath International Music Festival. Interview: Tony Benjamin. Seven years is a long time to have held the role as artistic director, especially for someone with an international recording and performing career. What has kept you involved with the festival? That’s a good question – seven years feels like a plot line in a folk tale! I think if you really want to put your stamp on something, you have to take a long view… to continue to build the shape and patterns, and nurture the audiences. It simply can’t be done in a couple of years. You have yourself provided some memorable performances each year – which of them have been personal highlights for you? Ah, I enjoy masterminding collaborations – from Brian Eno in my first year to pipes-player Kathryn Tickell and the Navarra String Quartet. Very often the way to spark complex events off is to perform in them too, or write some music. Looking back over your period as artistic director, what do you think will have been your legacy? Hopefully – consolidating an already historically important festival; developing the audiences, particularly young people; introducing different threads of music, including folk, blues and multimedia, to sit comfortably alongside classical and jazz; and lastly, to make the festival a joyous, celebratory and, above all, creative event. Are there any particular events/pieces that you are especially proud of introducing to the festival audience? Without a doubt Party in the City, where the city comes alive with hundreds of free performances in stacks of venues, on the first Friday of the festival. Last year we
had over 2,000 performers, many of them young, and it attracted an audience of 20,000. It’s a fabulous evening. Which events in this year’s programme do you most hope people will enjoy? The opera this year – two very contemporary, fast-moving productions. Vivaldi’s stunning ‘L’Olimpiade’ in Bath Abbey, with a Baroque carnival beforehand and physical actors being the athletes; and ‘The Magic Flute’ at the Komedia. But I love all the performances – I’m a fan too, which is why I asked them. I’m delighted Julie Fowlis is celebrating the Gaelic poet Sorley MacLean, and the new jazz kids on the block, Beats & Pieces, will blast the roof off the Komedia. Is there any advice you would want to give to your successor? My successor happens to be someone I’ve known for more than 20 years, the brilliant Scottish composer Alasdair Nicolson. He doesn’t need any advice from me – just my warmest wishes that he has as much fun as I’ve had in the last seven years. BATH INTERNATIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL 30 MAY-10 JUNE. FFI: WWW. BATHMUSICFEST.ORG.UK
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MUSIC
For more news, reviews and extra pics, see venue.co.uk/music
LIVE REVIEW
CHER LLOYD
O2 Academy, Bristol (Tue 10 Apr)
It’s a struggle-to-get-through-the-door sell-out tonight, Cher Lloyd’s first Bristol show since a poorly attended three-song singalong at Syndicate following her exit from ‘X Factor 2010’ as the runner, runner... runner-up. This is no longer a cheap drinks, karaoke, brush with a C-list celebrity. There’s a stage set-up of floor-to-ceiling lightbulb curtains and metal stairs that end four feet up them, a three-piece band, backing dancers, a(n albeit quite strange) Twitter segment, and covers of Robyn, Avril Lavigne, Usher and Jason Derulo. Given the love/hate reaction Lloyd inspired during ‘The X Factor’ (to the point of severe online bullying and death threats), you can forgive the organisers for wanting to nail every last detail, even down to the ridiculousness of a laminated sheet reading ‘BRISTOL’ which Lloyd peeks at before
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greeting the crowd. Don’t get us wrong, this is all to set the scene; enjoyment of her performance is not something that needs justifying through mention of a few gimmicks. From the bubblegum pitchperfect pop of ‘Superhero’ to the bratty rap of ‘Swagger Jagger’, she’s commanding and charming, relatable and intangible in equal measure, so as to be both endearing and, to the troops of young (and we mean young) fans shaking banners in the front row, a worship-able heroic figure. That’s not to patronise her younger fans; Lloyd is a discernible heroine. If there’s something to inspire those prone to cynicism tonight, it’s the visceral spark from a show of this magnitude and conviction, a spark that belies the fact most of us will never shimmy through a curtain of lights, and wouldn’t want to. (Leah Pritchard)
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MUSIC LIVE REVIEW
LIVE REVIEW
Louisiana, Bristol (Wed 18 Apr)
Trinity, Bristol (Fri 20 Apr)
Empty Pools/ Schnauser/Glis Glis
Alabama 3: Acoustic and Unplugged
Glis Glis’s Suzi Gage addresses the mic atop her keys with sophistiloucheness, like Bryan Ferry circa 1973. Brian Mackay makes like a New York guitarist stamping tight-limbed around the same old bars, occasionally relaxing by winningly playing guitar hero. Obaro Evuarherhe locks them to a beat as true, cold, smooth and unceasing as the flow of the Hudson. Amid the repeating crystalline, precisely interlocking patterns comes a blur of 60s girl pop, ‘Paris’-era John Cale, new wave from both sides of the Atlantic, music as thrilling as it is singular. Schnauser ply Californian psychedelia of a determinedly, Englishly, minutiae-detailing bent. The Gratefully Dead Arnold Layne, perhaps. There’s a hazy clarity to their work: countless
tiny passages float in and out but, in their brief moment of existence, live in sharp focus, like so many mayflies in a reality show. There’s a calm across the surface of Empty Pools. A lilting sound suggestive of dreams to softly remember, Leah Pritchard’s smooth and articulate delivery recalling Kim Gordon in its easy, offhand self-assurance. And then the twinkling guitar pulls a flickknife and cuts a couple of chords to shreds; the wonderful, happily burbling bass takes up a line of urgent concern. Presently, calm is restored, but for how long? Thus, a sound with a fabulous, compelling tension at its heart, a coolness and musical interplay suggesting The Liftmen moved from rural pond-side idyll into chic Manhattan tower block. (Julian Owen)
LIVE REVIEW
it was DJ Marco who held the fort after the interval when it seemed the Brazilian pop sensation had gone walkabout. People were beginning to leave when she belatedly appeared, and the first few numbers stumbled as her voice seemed strained and the band subdued. Only Dunstan Gallas’s rippling psychobilly guitar seemed assured, a vintage sound, more Texan than Brazilian. It was beginning to seem that we’d been hyped and then she sang a simple song, written for her daughter, to a shore-surf soundtrack that merged into an eerie duet with the guitar. Suddenly it all seemed special, the room electrified and it was clear she knew that she’d found us. The next number was simple bass, guitar, drums and vocal and it was perfect, as was the subsequent afrobeat song that ended the set. An encore of ‘Concrete Jungle’ was probably a mistake but that hardly mattered. We’d glimpsed Ceu’s soulful sparkle and it all felt worthwhile. (Tony Benjamin)
Ceu/Curumin St George’s, Bristol (Wed 18 Apr)
Electronic bands rarely sound good in St George’s and Curumin were no exception. The eponymous drummer and his two friends played “some sounds from my house” using three MPC consoles, guitar, bass guitar and drum kit. Even allowing for tech problems, it sounded awful, under-rehearsed and ham-fisted like a no-hope college band. Alarmingly two of the musicians were also in Ceu’s band, though
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The blues came down to Trinity... and blew it away. Alabama 3 walk the line of country, gospel and deep-down dirty delta blues and deliver it with the kind of gritty intensity that would make the dead dance. Tonight their lineup is pared down to their powerfully charismatic vocalist Larry Love, harmonica player Harpo Strangelove, guitarist Rock Freebase and the soulful larynx of Aurora Dawn. The big, acid-house-meets-countryblues of the full plugged-in band is instead given the acoustic treatment, but the clout and the tongue-incheek anarcho irreverence is still there in spades. There’s an edge to the Alabama’s sound, a knowingly drug-soaked outsider stance that’s electrifyingly compulsive when it kicks in. Love’s deep nicotine-stained growl and Caaardiff chatter lead the blues assault, Strangelove’s mouth-organ howlin’ and the pluckin’ of Freebase melding into a dynamic whole. Aurora Dawn’s voice is the cream topping. They open with ‘Too Sick To Pray’, go into ‘Horfield Prison Blues’ (with
LIVE REVIEW
Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra/Chorus: ‘Carmina Burana’ Colston Hall, Bristol (Thur 19 Apr) Time was when the definition of an intellectual was someone who could listen to the William Tell Overture without thinking of ‘The Lone Ranger’; these days they’d need to be able to withstand the opening of ‘Carmina Burana’ without surfing a
apologies to Johnny Cash’s Folsom), a copy of Blind Willie Nelson’s ‘Nobody’s Fault But Mine’ – aided and abetted by another band member, Sister Francesca Love – their house eulogy ‘U Don’t Dans 2 Tekno Anymore’, the famous ‘Sopranos’ theme tune ‘Woke Up This Morning’, other gems and occasional rambles (this is the Alabamas, after all), and a big-up to the rioters with ‘I Wanna Build A Barricade’. Love delivers his stuff almost into – literally at one point – the audience, and regularly pays respect to women in general as this is a benefit for local charity Womankind. The Alabamas lean left, hard and proud, and keep the spirit of sharp, sleazy, politico rockin’ alive and dangerous... not to mention humorous. Plugged or unplugged, they spark. (Elfyn Griffith) tide of aftershave in pursuit of ‘The X Factor’! Carl Orff’s celebration of trilingual medieval rejoicing in the joys of spring might be something of a choral warhorse, but the BSO had lined up a stable of solo thoroughbreds to complement its well-drilled (centenarybreasting) chorus Irresistible as ever, Ailish Tynan turned in an exquisitelyveiled ‘Tempus es rocundum’, and despatched the orgasm preceding the final choruses with a gusto that left no doubt of Orff’s intentions. Mark Milhofer’s spit-roasted swan gilded falsetto anguish with the pungent whiff of singed feathers. Best of all though was Jacques Imbrailo, star of Glyndebourne’s multi-award-winning ‘Billy Budd’, whose honeyed plasticity (one uncomfortable number aside) was spellbinding – his ‘In Taberna’ going beyond honey to earth his inner Carmenesque Toreador. Festive Berlioz and the imperial swagger of Elgar’s Cockaigne raised the curtain, tales of two cities painted with a broad brush in Owain Arwel Hughes’s efficient direction. But the ‘best of times’ fell to Orff as fortune’s wheel came full circle and the last choruses blazed with roofraising fervour. (Paul Riley) MAY 2012 71
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CLUBS
For more news, reviews and extra pics see venue.co.uk/clubs
SIMPLE PLEASURES Bristol’s Simple Things is back for its second year. Ben Wright is glad there’s at least one festival he can go to without taking a tent.
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n 2008, after five mindedness and sense of adventure incredible years, the team and this city’s predilection for behind Venn Festival innovation, experimentation called it a day, but their and the unconventional. Bristol policy of adventurous, has often been at the forefront broad-minded of underground art and music programming is clearly revolutions in this country and shared by the organisers its influence in these areas is of a new urban festival in international. “I think there’s a Bristol. Simple Things, lot more freedom in the city to do which sprang onto the scene last varied and exciting events these year, is an eclectic music and visual days,” says Saul. “Ever since Banksy arts event showcasing a range of went global, the council has really artists and genres across a number seen the value of the arts.” of city venues. The legacy of Bristol’s This year’s Simple Things last early summer celebration of certainly promises to be varied and unusual music and overlapping exciting. Although they’re unwilling styles is not lost on those who have to reveal which spaces are being picked up its mantle: “We wanted to used this time round, the organisers fill a gap that the much loved Venn have confirmed that there will be left,” they say, “more venues, “bringing together different venues, acts that were more of a spread doing something of venues”. This different and ones should solve the in the forefront major problem of pushing music last year’s event – forward.” too many people Speaking to trying to squeeze Saul and Matt, into the most the organisers of popular area of Simple Things, the festival, which it’s clear that that prevented, among they are music others, Venue’s obsessives – reviewer making it booking acts that back into the Fire they love rather Station to see the SAUL, SIMPLE THINGS than just booking headline act. ones which are The linesure to sell tickets. up this year That’s not to say that selling tickets has a lot more big names, both seems to have been too much of a leftfield heavyweights and more problem so far. Last year’s event was accessible fare. Topping the bill at capacity and confidence seems is the enigmatic Squarepusher. high as this year’s festival is set to Part genre-straddling electronic be bigger and more ambitious than pioneer, part classically trained the last one. This is a testament virtuoso bass guitar player, Tom to both the promoters’ singleJenkinson has been making
“I THINK THERE’S A LOT MORE FREEDOM IN THE CITY TO DO VARIED AND EXCITING EVENTS THESE DAYS.”
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challenging and experimental music since the mid-90s. Whilst his latest output has been characterised by his consummate but sometimes tiresome bass onanism, it seems that we should expect something different this time round. For his new album and live show ‘Ufabulum’, Jenkinson has whetted appetites by stating: “I’ve started thinking about pure electronic music again. Something very melodic, very aggressive.” Intriguing… As well as the iconoclastic Squarepusher, there’s a pretty expansive list of other artists. Well-established names sure to draw the crowd include the chameleonic Death in Vegas, popular remixers and current dance music darlings Simian Mobile Disco and the atmospheric bliss of Caribou. Perhaps more alluring are the up-and-coming and recent breakthrough acts such as Grimes, Kwes, Lunice and Ghostpoet, all of whom are making new and exciting music in their own styles. Hudson Mohawke’s new AV show is certainly also one to try and catch. There are more than 60 acts playing in all, though, and as with any good festival you’re likely to miss half of what you plan to see while catching lots of great stuff you never expected. Also, like most festivals, you’ll find that most people seem to be from Bristol. Unlike most others, however, when this one winds down you can be pretty sure you won’t be knee-deep in mud trying to find your flooded tent in the dark. It’s another chance to stumble through the streets, hear some great and original music and be thankful you live in Bristol.
SIMPLE THINGS IS AT VARIOUS VENUES ACROSS BRISTOL ON SUN 6 MAY. FOR THE FULL LINE-UP AND TICKETS SEE WWW. SIMPLETHINGSFESTIVAL.CO.UK From top: Grimes, Ghostpoet, Squarepusher
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CLUBS
Got an event to list? Submit it to us at venue.co.uk/submit-a-listing
THE MONTH AHEAD FRIDAY 4TH MAY FFTT XXL Motion, Bristol. Ffi: www. motionbristol.com • Funk From The Trunk return following the success of their first super-sized party in February. This one has turntable ace DJ Yoda, plus Cuban Brothers, Babyhead, Masta Ace, The Freestylers and loads more.
CRITICAL SOUND Basement 45, Bristol. Ffi: www. basement45.co.uk • Darkside drum & bass with Rockwell, Foreign Concept, Keika, Jacky P & Atomised, hosted by Remidy MC. Room two goes dubstep, grime and UK bass with Dubtekt, Stylus b2b Acid Jackson and others. HOT WUK TB2, Bristol. Ffi: www.tb2.co.uk • ‘Star Wars’-themed bashment as residents The Heatwave are joined by dancehall and grime MC Mr Williamz, DJ Mainy and Fire Man Sam. Whistles and light sabres are optional. RHYME & REASON The Croft, Bristol. Ffi: www.thecroft.com • The UK hip-hop specialists return with Dirty Dike (Contact Play), Upfront MC (Split Prophets), Mista Switch, Le Mart, G Zus, Phil McGappin and more.
BLACK SWAN Bristol Dub Club
51°27 Thekla, Bristol, Fri 4 May Ffi: www.facebook.com/fiftyone27 • The pioneering producer behind a string of UK garage classics - including the unforgettable ‘Neighbourhood’ – Zed Bias now works with Loefah’s excellent Swamp 81 label. Meanwhile, residents play everything from grime and dubstep to electro, breaks, footwork and ghetto house.
SATURDAY 5TH MAY
Expect roots and dub reggae as they’re meant to be heard as Bristol’s very own Jah Lokko take on the notoriously deadly King Earthquake system. Upstairs there’s jungle from Neverlution with the mighty Remarc and fellow 90s veterans Krome & Time. Soundclash heaven.
FREEJIVE Timbuk2, Bristol. Ffi: www.tb2. co.uk • Second half of Freejive’s fifth birthday celebration, as Belgian deep houser San Soda (We Play House) makes his Bristol debut. Residents play house, techno and disco.
BRISTOL DUB CLUB THE BLACK SWAN, BRISTOL, FRI 4 MAY. FFI: WWW. FACEBOOK.COM/BRISTOLDUBCLUB
DEPARTMENT S The Lanes, Bristol. Ffi: www.facebook.com/ gimmesheltervintage
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• Live music from indie rockers 12 Dirty Bullets, followed by John The Mod’s signature mix of 60s garage, northern soul, mod and more. THE BLAST The Croft, Bristol. Ffi: www.thecroft.com • Launch party for ‘Black Rainbows’, the new EP from London bass/electronica trio Dark Sky. There’s support from Memotone, Arsequake, Discord and Dubious, while 4/4 upstarts Shapes take room two.
SUNDAY 6TH MAY SIMPLE THINGS Various venues, Bristol. • See feature on p.73. SOUL TRAIN Motion, Bristol. Ffi: www. motionbristol.com • Bristol’s original all-nighter returns, with five arenas of soul, funk, R&B, reggae and funky house from the 60s to the present day. WAX Basement 45, Bristol. • 90s veteran LTJ Bukem tops this line-up of deep/liquid drum & bass. With TTB, Optimystic, Dub Concept, Natural Beatz and Relentless.
FRIDAY 11TH MAY DJ YODA Komedia, Bath. • Turntablist supreme DJ Yoda has described Bath as his favourite city, so expect him to pull out all the stops. The Transiberian Marching Band and five times DMC champ Asian Hawk support. 51º27’ Thekla, Bristol. Ffi: www.facebook. com/fiftyone27 • Fourth birthday showcase from hot-as-hell UK bass imprint Night Slugs, with L-Vis 1990 b2b Bok Bok, Jam City, Girl Unit and guests. Expect everything from grime and dubstep to electro, breaks, footwork and ghetto house.
LAKOTA Native Tongue Lakota’s new party session kicks off in style as ace turntablist, producer and original hip-hop superstar Jazzy Jeff rolls into in town. The action-packed undercard has Mr Benn, Frenic, Matt Hampshire, the Futureboogie DJs, Cedric Maison and Discord & JMT. Is it summer yet? NATIVE TONGUE LAKOTA, BRISTOL, THUR 10 MAY. FFI: WWW.LAKOTA. CO.UK
JUNGLE SYNDICATE & JIGSORE The Croft, Bristol. Ffi: www.thecroft.com • Two of Bristol’s most notorious wrecking crews get together to mark the release of their first vinyl collaboration. Scamp, Resinate, Spacedocker, Doomham, Humb, Sargy, VENUEMAGAZINE
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S NEWS Class Actress
Computer Says, Raggamuffin, Tiny Taste, Osh Kosh, Sketch, DJ Fuk and Drake Mallard are the face-melters.
Blak Twang and grime superstar Skepta. Also on the bill are Drumsound & Bassline Smith, Donaeo, Interface, Dr Meaker feat. Redskin and loads of others.
THE REBEL ALLIANCE Lakota, Bristol. Ffi: www.lakota. co.uk • Section 18, Oblivion, DMT and Kaotik join forces for a shockand-awe assault of hardcore, gabba, breakcore, drum & bass and hard techno. With Sandy Warez, Hellfish, Dione Vs E-Noid, Harry Potar, Gancher & Ruin and about 30 others.
RETRO-TRAX FESTIVAL Bath Racecourse, To Sun 13 May. Ffi: www.retrotraxfestival.co.uk • Five arenas of 80s and 90s big hitters. The Orb, Marshall Jefferson, Ce Ce Rogers, Kenny Ken, Slipmatt, 2 Bad Mice, Dave Angel and CJ Bolland are but the tip of a very nostalgic iceberg.
TOKYO DUB Motion, Bristol. Ffi: www. motionbristol.com • Big old session of dub, roots, drum & bass, dubstep and hip-hop with Aba Shanti-I, Channel One Soundsystem, Mad Professor, RSD, Split Prophets, EZ Rollers, Maldini (Bad Company) and Remarc.
MONDAY 14TH MAY GIRLS GO FREE Thekla, Bristol. • Garage, R&B, hip-hop and UK funky, with The Artful Dodger of millennial ‘Re-Rewind’ and ‘Moving Too Fast’ chart ubiquity.
SATURDAY 12TH MAY
FRIDAY 18TH MAY
ROUND HOURS TB2, Bristol. Ffi: www.tb2.co.uk • Techno, electro, breaks, house and disco session. The guests are Belfast DJ/producer Phil Kieran and Radioactive Man, aka Keith Tenniswood, formerly of Two Lone Swordsmen.
BOOMFACTOR Motion, Bristol. Ffi: www. motionbristol.com • Indoor mini-fest from the organisers of Boomtown Fair, with The Correspondents, Slamboree, Benny Page, Serial Killaz, ASBO Disco, Mr Benn B2b Shepdog, Kanji Kinetic, Dub Boy and tons more.
A MOMENT OF MADNESS Motion, Bristol. Ffi: www. motionbristol.com • Plus size hip-hop, breaks and drum & bass fundraiser for charities including Water Aid and Shelter. DJ Savage Henry, Mr Benn, DJ Kormac, Boom Monk Ben, Evil Nine, DJ Moneyshot and Juan Quay take on the main arena, while DJ FU, DJ Sly, Futurebound, Twisted Individual gather in the cave. RAMAJAM Lakota, Bristol. Ffi: www.lakota. co.uk • Gigantically proportioned knees-up with live sets from French electro-housers Dirtyphonics, UK rap legend VENUEMAGAZINE
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THE CUBE Qu Junktions Andy Stott’s masterful productions are as far from house music’s default hands-in-theair vibe as can comfortably be imagined. Derelict, crumbling, haunted and condemned are just a few of the adjectives that come to mind. Also on this forwardthinking, dancefloor-untroubling bill are former Vex’d man turned sonic explorer Roly Porter and murkily talented 4/4 electonicist Vessel. One for the horizontal ravers, this. QU JUNKTIONS THE CUBE CINEMA, BRISTOL, SAT 12 MAY.
KOLLAPS #1 The Cavern Club, Bristol. • New bi-monthly session of industrial, electronica, post-punk, hip-hop and noise. Includes live sets from SJ Esau and Color Of The Sun. CENTRAL SPILLZ SOUNDSYSTEM The Croft, Bristol. • Unstoppable Bristol hip-hop/ grime crew Central Spillz appear alongside East London rapper Klashnekoff, fast-rising Bristol collective Split Prophets, plus Superisk and Fingerfood. Ben Daley, Arsequake and Fire Man Sam hold court in the bar.
With his second album, 2010’s ‘Splazsh’, Actress aka Darren Cunningham proved himself to be one of the most individual and versatile producers currently working in the UK. Taking in blunted techno, smudgy post-garage, creepy lo-fi electronica and heart-melting, melodic electro, it won him a legion of fans and topped a number of yearend polls. Last month saw the release of follow up album ‘R.I.P’, which sees Cunningham moving sharply away from genre experiments towards a cohesive vision of his own. Produced entirely on hardware and reportedly inspired by Milton’s ‘Paradise Lost’, it’s ambitious, detailed, high-concept stuff that’s unlikely to be bettered in 2012. If that’s not enough to empty your pockets, the rest of the lineup should do the trick. As well as a talented producer, Pinch is one of the UK’s finest DJs and his set for Fabriclive is Venue’s mix CD of the year so far. While many of his peers have turned away from dubstep in recent years, the Bristol DJ has managed to widen his remit while staying true to the genre’s original deep and deadly aesthetic. Then there’s Wookie, one of UK garage’s most accomplished producers, who has recently returned to the DJ game after a self-imposed absence of six years. Also on the bill are the sophisticated 4/4 grooves of Midland, the grimier house sound of Toyc and a live set from Rinse FM regular and former Roll Deep MC Trim. With all that going down it would be easy to forget there’s a second room, but try to tear yourself away for the eccentric, broken-down delights of Dundee’s Samoyed and Bristol’s own Outboxx. In short, this looks like being a very special night indeed. CRAZYLEGS & DIMENSIONS IS AT BLUE MOUNTAIN, BRISTOL, SAT 12 MAY. FFI: WWW.WEARECRAZYLEGS.COM
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CLUBS 51°27 Thekla, Bristol, Fri 18 May Ffi: www.facebook.com/fiftyone27 • The guests tonight are both new to Bristol – moody, melodic deep house duo Dusky, and Night Slugs affiliate Helix. Residents play everything from grime and dubstep to electro, breaks, footwork and ghetto house.
SATURDAY 19TH MAY EMPATHY PRESENTS WHOMP Dojo, Bristol. Ffi: www. empathyclub.co.uk/ • Fresh from celebrating their 11th birthday with Darren Emerson last month, proghouse mainstays Empathy return with special guests Riddle, Cornelius, Rob Helps and Mel Spears. The residents are Jim Rivers, Stuart Wilkinson and Dave Kirik.
TB2 TANSTAAFL & Idle Hands Bristol debut for Swedish techno duo Skudge, whose blend of soft-focus, dubby synths and hard-nosed 4/4 beats made ‘Phantom’ one of last year’s most irresistible underground dance albums. Tonight they’ll be playing a hardware-only set with support from three of Bristol’s most consistently exciting DJs – October, Appleblim and Idle Hands’ Chris Farrell. TANSTAAFL & IDLE HANDS TB2, BRISTOL, FRI 18 MAY.
Night Train The Big Chill Bar, Bristol. • Crate-digging paradise as Bristol veterans John Stapleton (Blowpop/Wanted Records) and Steve Rice (Downbeat Melody/Passion FM) unearth the dancefloor gold of the precomputer age.
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MAD LUV Motion, Bristol. Ffi: www. motionbristol,com • Amply proportioned garage, grime, dubstep and UK funky session. Includes sets from DJ EZ feat. Koast, Lil Silva, Egyptrixx, T-Williams, Mele, Komonazmuk (live), Calski & Keyed Up, OH91, J-Man, Freddy P, Bazla and Wedcha. RAVE ON AVON Various venues, Stokes Croft, Bristol. • Details were very sketchy about this at time of writing, but we understand this is the official replacement for both the Stokes Croft Streetfest and the clubbing half of Brisfest. The participating venues are Lakota, Blue Mountain, No. 51, Left Bank, The Croft, Canteen, The Bank and The Full Moon, and an £8 wristband will let you hop between them all night long.
FRIDAY 25TH MAY RUN 014 Motion, Bristol. Ffi: www. motionbristol.com • Hugeness-as-usual from D*Style and Hench. As well as drum & bass from Ed Rush &
Going out this month? See venue.co.uk - the home of Venue's what's on listings
Break, DJ Die, Subfocus and Delta Heavy, there’s dubstep from 16bit, Koan Sound, Jakes, Beezy and loads of others. THE DROP TB2, Bristol. • Techno, electro, breaks and drum & bass with Rektchordz, Kris Meja, Anthony James, Paul Blandford, Matthew Miles, Stand Collins in the main room, and Model 101, Sircyo, KB, Synthesis, Crump, MK the Don and Henry J in the front bar.
SATURDAY 26TH MAY THE FUNK BOAT/EQ The Tower Belle & TB2, Bristol. Ffi & tickets: 07540 154000. • Boat party from 7-10pm with deep, funk-fuelled house from Luke Langson, Alex Clark, Gus Young and Rich Dolby. It’s followed by an after-party at TB2 with Kolombo, Simon Smith, Luke Langson, Tristan B, Marek & Farko and Alex Clark. KARNIVAL Cosies, Bristol. Ffi: www.cosies. co.uk • Ruffnek Diskotek’s tropical bashment offshoot returns with a guest set from London soca/dancehall/hip-hop crew Hipsters Don’t Dance. Dub Boy, Atki2 and Brother Wetlands are the residents. RIPSNORTER Motion, Bristol. Ffi: www. ripsnorter.co.uk • 15th anniversary celebration for a Bristol clubbing institution. As well as the techno, trance, hard house, acid and more you’d expect from Mark EG, Greg Zogg and DJ Pod in the main arena, there will be a terrace set from Eats Everything, a Ripsnorter veteran whose career has recently gone stratospheric. His bass-loaded take on 90s house has been bracketed with that of fellow Bristolian Julio Bashmore, and has seen him turn up everywhere from key labels like Dirtybird and Hypercolour to Radio 1’s Essential Mix and the main room at Fabric.
BLACK SWAN Agro Invites PRSPCT Agro’s last joint promotion with PRSPCT was a riot and this looks like being even better. The Dutch label specialises in savage drum & bass, and rave music doesn’t get much deadlier than Utrecht breakcore giant Bong-Ra and gold-toothed German angel of death The Panacea, both of whom are down to play twice. Also on the bill are label chief Thrasher, UK techno legend The Producer and the unflappable DJ iPorn. Say hello, then goodbye, to your internal organs. AGRO INVITES PRSPCT THE BLACK SWAN, BRISTOL, SAT 26 MAY.
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PERFORMANCE
PRIME CUTS This year’s budding directors at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School make their bow at the Alma this month with their takes on four modern classics. Steve Wright needs some direction.
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t’s a formula that’s won us over each spring for the past six years: every May, the four graduating MA directing students at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School each select a powerful piece of modern theatre to direct within the intimate confines of Clifton’s Alma Tavern Theatre, with their acting contemporaries making up the cast. These taut, clear-eyed productions have consistently been among the best and most visceral pieces of theatre we’ve seen all year, with 2011’s brilliant season a typically high-quality offering. Introducing, then, the 2012 crop…
passions into destructive pursuits. ‘Disco Pigs’ explores this topical yet timeless idea through the eyes of two such teenagers, and for a heady 60 minutes we are sucked into their joyously amoral world. “I chose ‘Disco Pigs’ as a bold testament to youth, vibrant and full of urgent energy. Also though, beneath the surface, it is a deceptively delicate story of first love, loss and growing up… darkly funny, raw, and chaotic, but also at its heart it is a very human tale.”
KNIVES IN HENS by David Harrower (Tue 8-Sat 12 May) Iain MacDonald, director “‘Knives in Hens’ was the first play I remember reading and thinking, DISCO PIGS by ‘I must direct this Enda Walsh (Tue at some point’. I’m 1-Sat 5 May) very lucky that Anna Simpson, I’m able to do it director so early on in my “The chaos of last career. On a slightly summer’s riots more sentimental reminded me of level, the play ‘Disco Pigs’, a play is dedicated to I stumbled upon Scottish poet during my studies George Gunn in Ireland. The who mentored surprise at such David Harrower events, the talk of during the play’s a generation ‘out conception – of control’ were George also TIM HOWE ON ‘THE bandied about in mentored me and is YALTA GAME’ the national press a major reason for as if it were a new my being here. societal problem. “My approach to For me, the parallels with this play’s plays is to heighten text and story. characters, Pig and Runt in mid-90s I want to transport the audience Cork, were striking. with ‘Once upon a time’, rather than “Impoverished youths pushed to the a laser show. At its core, ‘Knives fringe of society have no allegiance in Hens’ is a tragic love triangle. to anyone but themselves; inevitably It’s set in a remote village at an they generate their own subcultures, unspecified time. What’s important pouring their frustrations and is not historical accuracy but rather
“THE TRICK IS TO ALLOW THE CLICHÉS TO HAPPEN BUT TO MAKE THEM SEEM PERFECTLY NATURAL.”
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creating a frame in which the story can be told as clearly and engaging as possible.” THE YALTA GAME by Brian Friel, adapted from a Chekhov story (Tue 15-Sat 19 May) Tim Howe, director “I first read ‘The Yalta Game’ on a roasting hot summer’s day last year, and I cried. It is a simple story about a holiday romance that changed people’s lives forever. Putting love onto the stage, you risk some of the horrible clichés that come with it, some of which you should avoid and others that you can embrace. The trick is to allow the clichés to happen but to make them seem perfectly natural, and to trick the audience into watching them with a fresh pair of eyes. “The play is set, originally, at the beginning of the 20th century. However, inspired by the huge cultural changes happening in Russia between the wars, we have moved the play to 1920, when Yalta was a newly popular resort – even Lenin had a summer home there!” AFTER THE END by Dennis Kelly (Tue 22-Sat 26 May)
Ellie Trevitt, director “‘After the End’ is the story of Mark and Louise (Johnny Gibbon and Suzie Preece), two colleagues trapped together for two weeks in a nuclear bunker. It is a claustrophobic play about a deep loneliness, an obsessive love, a desperate fight for survival, and an unfinished game of ‘Dungeons and Dragons’... “I came to BOVTS to learn new ways of directing and to break out of my comfort zones, and this play is totally different from anything I have directed before. It is a fascinating journey, tracing Mark’s descent to some very irrational places and the damage it does to Louise. We meet the characters again months later and, excitingly, see a total transformation. It has been a really interesting exploration of how a space can dictate a sequence of events – without the bunker, things just wouldn’t turn out the way they do.” THE DIRECTORS’ CUTS SEASON IS AT THE ALMA TAVERN THEATRE, BRISTOL FROM TUE 1-SAT 26 MAY. FFI: WWW. ALMATAVERNTHEATRE.CO.UK AND WWW. OLDVIC.AC.UK
"It says here that impotence is really common in young men"
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PERFORMANCE THE MONTH AHEAD 2.
1.
DANCE FESTIVAL
THEATRE
Riot
Breakin’ Convention
BREAKIN’ CONVENTION IS AT THE COLSTON HALL, BRISTOL ON THUR 31 MAY. FFI: WWW. COLSTONHALL.ORG
PIC: BELINDA LAWLEY
Ninth annual instalment of this acclaimed festival of hip-hop dance theatre, programmed by Sadler’s Wells. Hiphop theatre maestro Jonzi D curates a line-up of local and regional masters of the art including Hype/Lil Hype, Root MC, Swindon Dance YDA and Xclusive – alongside French/Korean outfit Clash 66 and recent UK B-boy Championships winners, France’s Vagabond Crew. Pitch up early for some pre-show and interval activities in the Hall’s elegant foyer, including an open dancefloor with live DJs and beatboxers, graffiti, market stalls and more.
The Wardrobe Ensemble (made up of ex-members of Bristol Old Vic’s ever-fertile Young Company) restage their “thoroughly modern musical tragedy” inspired by the 2005 riots outside a London IKEA store, when some 6,000 stuff-hungry shoppers stormed the doors. Wardrobe’s devised piece charts the ensuing riot, mainly from the point of view of the hapless ‘Yellow Tops’, a mix of stalwart IKEA staff and a herd of barely trained auxiliaries. “In a filmic collage of action (cleverly lit by a trolley load of table lamps from a certain støre), the ensemble play not only the store’s staff but also the mass of shoppers fighting tooth and nail to bag bargains, like a hoard of bloodlusty Berserkers going into battle.” RIOT IS AT THE RONDO THEATRE, BATH ON FRI 4-SAT 5 MAY. FFI: WWW.RONDOTHEATRE.CO.UK
THEATRE
3.
Cold Comfort Farm
THEATRE
THE WINSLOW BOY IS AT THE MISSION THEATRE, BATH FROM TUE 8-SAT 12 MAY. FFI: WWW. MISSIONTHEATRE.CO.UK
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PIC: GRAHAM BURKE
The Winslow Boy After a brilliant rendering of Jez Butterworth’s ‘Jerusalem’ that wouldn’t have disgraced itself next to Rylance and co, estimable non-pro troupe Next Stage return with something rather more classical and reflective. Terence Rattigan’s 1946 play about a father’s fight to clear his son’s name after the boy is expelled from Naval College for the theft of a five-shilling postal order.
4.
We last caught this year’s clutch of trainee thesps at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School with a sharp, witty and moving production of JB Priestley’s ‘Time and the Conways’. Now they move from the town to the country, and from the ambitious to the frankly eccentric, with Stella Gibbons’s muchloved gothic-comic tale of rural folk, Aunt Ada Doom and “somethin’ nasty in the woodshed”. COLD COMFORT FARM IS AT THE REDGRAVE THEATRE, BRISTOL FROM WED 9-SAT 12 MAY. FFI: WWW.OLDVIC. AC.UK
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DON'T MISS More shows you should catch...
5. LIVE ART
We Hope That You’re Happy (Why Would We Lie?) After a three-week run at Battersea Arts Centre, theatre/live art duo Made in China tour their blackly comic exploration of “what it means to be a tuned-in, delusional and unwitting consumer in a hypercommunicative world”. You’re promised plenty of quick wit, hilarious stupidity, pop music, excess and the odd shard of state-of-the-nation insight… plenty of mess. MADE IN CHINA PERFORM AT UNIVERSITY OF BATH’S ICIA ARTS THEATRE ON THUR 10 MAY. FFI: WWW.BATH.AC.UK/ICIA
7.
6. YOOF THEATRE
DNA The ever-watchable Hull Truck tour their production of Dennis Kelly’s modern urban thriller, which follows a group of teenagers who conspire to cover up an act of madness. But when they find that the cover-up unites them and brings harmony to their otherwise fractious lives, where’s the incentive to put things right? Anthony Banks (National Theatre) directs. DNA IS AT THE BREWERY, BRISTOL FROM THUR 10-SAT 12 MAY. FFI: WWW.DNATOUR.CO.UK
8. COMEDY THEATRE
Big Daddy vs Giant Haystacks Recognise the names? Course you do. Every Saturday from 1976 to 1988, millions of Britons were in the grip of an extraordinary sports phenomenon: watching two fat men pretend to fight each other. The Foundry Group’s ambitious and award-winning comedy (Best Theatre – Buxton Fringe) brings back to life the famous feuding wrestlers and the bizarre world they bestrode. “A stormer of a show. Who’d have thought 1980s wrestling could make such moving theatre?” asked Fringe Guru. Indeed. BIG DADDY VS GIANT HAYSTACKS IS AT THE RONDO THEATRE, BATH ON FRI 25 MAY. FFI: WWW. RONDOTHEATRE.CO.UK
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COMEDY SONGS
Silly Songs of Shakespeare Bath’s superb sketch ’n’ song troupe New Old Friends reprise their evening of musical comedy. Our reviewer almost hyperventilated with enthusiasm: “Joyfully daft... The gags are fast-fire and the songs are witty: but it’s also hugely enjoyable musically. Backing band The Songettes aren’t just the dim, gum-chewing airheads that they portray – they can really, really sing (blues, gospel, jazz, Latin) and their comic timing is every bit as sharp. A riotous evening of amiable lunacy, never faltering for an instant, full of ouch-y puns, witty audience banter and a real love of his Bardship.” SILLY SONGS OF SHAKESPEARE IS AT THE RONDO THEATRE, BATH ON SAT 26 MAY. FFI: WWW.RONDOTHEATRE.CO.UK
The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists Wed 2-Thur 3 May, Rondo Theatre, Bath. Ffi: www.rondotheatre.co.uk • Townsend Productions stage a two-man production of Robert Tressell’s famous novel, using live music, mayhem and mirth aplenty. Following a year in the life of a group of painters and decorators as they renovate a three-storey town house for Mayor Sweater, ‘TRTP’ traces the men’s struggle for survival in a complacent and stagnating Edwardian England. Matthew Bourne’s Early Adventures Theatre Royal Bath, Wed 9-Sat 12 May. Ffi: www.theatreroyal.org. uk • The UK’s most successful and colourful choreographer bar none, Bourne (and his company New Adventures) celebrates 25 years in the game with a tour of three early pieces: ‘Spitfire’, ‘Town and Country’ and ‘The Infernal Galop’. Theatre Royal Bath gets the first date on the tour. Testing Ground Circomedia, Bristol, Wed 9 May. Ffi: www. circomedia.com • After a successful dry run last autumn, Circomedia and Theatre Bristol present the next in what will become an ongoing series of platforms for dancers and dance enthusiasts to explore new works-inprogress and exchange ideas on how to make the pieces even better. Alliance Wed 9-Sat 12 May, Rondo, Bath. Ffi: www.rondotheatre. co.uk • Members of the Rondo Scriptwriting Group respond to 2012’s International Year of Co-Operatives by exploring themes of unity and disunity, from squabbling families via international affairs to inner conflict. Revolution! The Musical Wed 16-Thur 17 May, Bierkeller Theatre, Bristol. Ffi: www.bierkellertheatre.com • Hmm, we’re intrigued by this one. A company of youth actors from Wiltshire present this story of love, hope and freedom (and, we’re promised, hilarity) set in Bosnia during the years of Balkan conflict. Derren Brown Bristol Hippodrome, Thur 17-Sat 19 May. Ffi: www.bristolhippodrome.org. uk • The unparalleled master of mentalism is back at the Hippodrome, stopping off on his new tour ‘Svengali’. Expect more of Brown’s gripping mix of magic, suggestion, psychology, misdirection and showmanship. Off the Peg Mon 21-Sat 25 May, Wardrobe Theatre, Bristol. Ffi: www. thewardrobetheatre.com • The beautiful and bijou Wardrobe Theatre gets its own slice of the Mayfest action (see also feature on page 16) with this week of raw, box-fresh new performance work. Little Axe Theatre, Martha King and the splendidly named Massive Owl are among the performers unveiling new fare. FOR MASSES MORE THEATRE AND DANCE LISTINGS GO TO WWW.VENUE.CO.UK/PERFORMANCE
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PERFORMANCE PREVIEW
"Do I really look like that?"
THEATRE “I was interested in this idea of Anne as a protestant heroine. The common image is of her as the great temptress, seductive and feral, scheming her way into the king’s bed by any means – or as a political pawn for her family’s advancement. But the idea of Anne as a kind of Protestant Joan of Arc is a fascinating one.” Playwright Howard Brenton is explaining how he drew on some of the most turbulent and influential years in British history for his hugely admired 43rd play. Henry VIII’s determination to secure a divorce from Katherine of Aragon and marry Anne Boleyn brought about a split with the Catholic Church and gave birth to Protestant England. And Brenton’s exhaustive research of the era has persuaded him that Anne was more instrumental in shaping our future than is commonly believed. Shakespeare’s Globe, in partnership with English Touring Theatre, are taking Brenton’s play out on its first UK tour, after sell-out runs at the Globe in 2010 and 2011. Winner of last year’s Whatsonstage Award for Best New Play, this touring version is directed by John Dove and sees many of the original cast return. Rather than a pawn manipulated by an ambitious father or as a sexually licentious predator, Brenton’s Anne is a confident
Before the rampant rabbit...
PIC: ROBERT DAY
Anne Boleyn
woman (and secret Protestant) with controversial religious ideals, taking on the vicious world of Tudor politics. Bright and flirtatious, she conspires with the exiled William Tyndale, a Gloucestershire lad best remembered for his hugely controversial English translation of the Bible, to make England Protestant forever. “Anne is known to have possessed a copy of Tyndale’s The Obedience of a Christian Man’, an explosive tract against the Pope,” Brenton explains. “Owning a copy would have got you into a lot of trouble at the time – but Anne not only had it, she annotated it and gave it to Henry, persuading him that it contained the key to obtaining his divorce and to founding his own church. She inspires in Henry this notion
(Tyndale’s, originally) that he owes allegiance not to the Pope but to God.” Jumping forward 70 years, we see the newly crowned James I discover Anne’s copy of the controversial Tyndale Bible, which goes on to become one of the key reference texts for his common ‘authorised’ Bible – whose 400th anniversary we celebrate this year. “When James comes to the throne, England is still riven by disputes between Catholics and Protestants,” Brenton explains. “So I imagined him getting interested in Anne, this crucial figure in England’s religious schisms, and finding Tyndale’s book among her effects. Even 80 years after her death, Anne was still an incredibly dangerous figure in people’s imaginations – after her
PREVIEW
In the Next Room THEATRE Or, to give it its subtitle, ‘The Vibrator Play’. The Ustinov concludes its three-part season of modern American plays with this piece by Tony Award-nominated Sarah Ruhl, whose sparse, poignant ‘Eurydice’ was sharply staged at Bristol Old Vic a coupla years back. Ruhl conveys us to a spa town in New York State in the late-19th century, where enthusiasm for the new electric light bulb is spreading through the homes of the well-to-do citizens. Young Dr Givings is obsessed with the marvels of technology and has been working with a handy new device, a strange electric-powered box set up in his operating theatre to treat female hysteria. Dr Givings’s first patient emerges from her first session beaming and 82 MAY 2012
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death, Henry had her obliterated from all portraits, and all emblems bearing their joint initials ‘AH’ were removed.” Brenton believes that Anne’s behaviour towards Henry – that mix of seduction and denial, insisting that they marry before he could bed her – that so inflamed his desire and precipitated the split with Rome, was in fact a mix of very human emotions and passions, and a desire to change the faith of England – to be its first Protestant Queen. “I think religion and sexuality were intertwined in ways that we can no longer imagine.” ANNE BOLEYN VISITS THEATRE ROYAL BATH FROM TUE 1-SAT 5 MAY. FFI: WWW. THEATREROYAL.ORG.UK
keen to return for further treatment. But while the good doctor is blithely administering to his patients, his wife Catherine is left feeling lonely and left out – and forced to take matters into her own hands. “Ruhl’s insightful, entertaining, and poignant masterpiece is a brilliant comedy of manners played out against the backdrop of the revolution of electricity and the many changes that were beginning to happen,” says Laurence Boswell, the Ustinov’s artistic director, who directs this UK premiere of Ruhl’s piece, nominated for three 2010 Tony Awards, including Best New Play. It’s Boswell’s first directing shift at the theatre since last autumn’s acclaimed European Classics trilogy. IN THE NEXT ROOM, OR THE VIBRATOR PLAY IS AT THE USTINOV STUDIO FROM THUR 10 MAY-SAT 9 JUNE. FFI: WWW. THEATREROYAL.ORG.UK/USTINOV
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PERFORMANCE Down tools - it's a smoulder off
PREVIEW
The Revenger’s Tragedy THEATRE Revenge is a dish best served cold – and Vindice, the titular Revenger of John Middleton’s 1606 tragedy has waited nine years for his… A shady Italian state is the backdrop to Middleton’s tale (written in the same years as ‘Macbeth’) of one man’s brutal
PREVIEW
revenge against a corrupt and incestuous court. A lecherous old Duke, his wanton Duchess and their depraved children have been using the City (many characters and places remain deliberately nameless in Middleton’s allegorical tale) as their personal playground for a decade. The play then unravels with whiplash ferocity as Vindice hatches his revenge against the ruling elite – but will he succeed? And will anybody survive the carnage? This is the second offering from Bristol’s Gentleman
Jack Theatre, following their adaptation of ‘Timon of Athens’ (a probable Shakespeare/Middleton collaboration, also from 1605-6) in a Southville crypt last year. “The production certainly has plenty of verve,” we noted, “and if there’s a slightly rough-around-the-edges feel, that’s all to the good: a sign that Gentleman Jack might well deliver some very interesting theatre in unusual spaces over the next few years.” “It’s a startlingly modern attack on corruption and depravity,” GJT’s Ali Campbell notes of the company’s second production, which will use the Bierkeller Theatre’s atmospheric backdrop to conjure up a world of “intoxicating world of privilege, backhanders and Bunga Bunga parties [look that one last up, or maybe if we just say the words ‘Silvio Berlusconi’ to you…]. By turns hilarious, tough and cynical, Middleton’s play exposes how populist politics, money and control of the mass media’s reservoir of fantasy combine to trample over a helpless populace.”
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Laila Diallo
the object of his obsession. THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA IS AT BRISTOL HIPPODROME FROM TUE 22 MAY-SAT 30 JUNE. FFI: WWW. BRISTOLHIPPODROME.ORG.UK
LAILA DIALLO PERFORMS HOLD EVERYTHING DEAR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF BATH’S ICIA ARTS THEATRE ON SAT 26 MAY. FFI: WWW.BATH.AC.UK/ICIA
THE REVENGER’S TRAGEDY IS AT THE BIERKELLER THEATRE, BRISTOL FROM TUE 1-FRI 4 MAY & SUN 6-FRI 11 MAY. FFI: WWW.BIERKELLERTHEATRE.COM
The Phantom: incredibly two-faced
PIC: MICHAEL LE POER TRENCH
and Maria Björnson’s celebrated costumes all remain intact. John Owen-Jones, last seen as Jean Valjean in ‘Les Mis’, plays the titular ghoul, Katie Hall (‘Les Mis’ Cosette) the beautiful soprano who becomes
PREVIEW DANCE Bath University’s ICIA gets a (full-length) world premiere for the new piece by Laila Diallo, the lauded Canadian-born dancer now resident in Bristol. Diallo first broke through as a performer with Wayne McGregor’s Random Dance where she danced from 1998 to 2005, at which time she chose to focus on developing her own choreographic work. In 2006, she was awarded a Rayne Fellowship for Choreographers. An ICIA co-commission as part of its 2012 Internationalism theme, Diallo’s latest piece has at its heart ideas of migration and transience – and seeks to convey emotions of leaving, arriving, letting go and holding dear. It features a live score by minimalist-inspired composer Jules Maxwell, and Bristol audiences were treated to an early run-out at Arnolfini last month, from whence our reviewer noted: “There is a feeling of constant movement in ‘Hold Everything Dear’. For some it is easy; for others it proves wellnigh impossible, hence the opening and closing motif of a girl entwined in strands of tape, her movement restricted, her options utterly limited. “The on-stage musicians are absorbed into the action, while the voice that rings out as Diallo herself walks along a pier made up of benches, staring longingly out into the distance (one of the production’s most striking moments) is one of the purest you’re likely to hear. Something of a work-in-progress, this has the makings of a fine work.”
The Phantom of the Opera MUSICAL Bristol Hippodrome celebrates its 100th anniversary with an early visit from this brand new version of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s epically popular musical, which justly labels itself “the most successful entertainment project in history”. Seen by 130 million people across 27 countries (currently also showing in New York, Budapest, Las Vegas and Kyoto), the show has grossed over £3.2 billion – more than any other film or stage play – since its debut at Her Majesty’s Theatre, London in October 1986, with Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman in the lead roles. It still plays at Her Majesty’s to this day, making it the second longestrunning West End musical (after ‘Les Misérables’, which opened exactly a year before). This ‘Phantom’ has been given a substantial makeover, including new design and staging – although Lloyd Webber’s music, Charles Hart’s lyrics
"OMG I LOVE your shoes!!!"
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COMEDY THE MONTH AHEAD COMEDY BOX/ RONDO
Alfie Moore
1.
ALFIE MOORE PLAYS THE COMEDY BOX, BRISTOL (THUR 3 MAY) AND THE RONDO THEATRE, BATH (WED 23 MAY). FFI: WWW.THECOMEDYBOX.CO.UK AND WWW. RONDOTHEATRE.CO.UK
PIC: IDIL SUKAN
Sergeant turned stand-up Alfie Moore traded in 18 years with the Humberside Police for a comedy career last summer, taking his show, the prophetically-titled ‘I Predict a Riot’, to Edinburgh. Just weeks later, of course, violent riots broke out across England’s biggest cities. Now he’s back with more insights into life on the front line with the boys in blue – including the time he encountered a severed head, but by law was not allowed to pronounce it dead.
COMEDY BOX
Ardal O’Hanlon
TOBACCO FACTORY
Rich Hall
The Deep South’s driest and most caustic comic returns for a four-day stint at the Comedy Box. Bone-dry, whipcrack-smart irony and absurdism will be on the menu tonight, and you should definitely get your feet under the table.
PIC: CLAES GELLERBRINK
2.
3.
ARDAL O’HANLON IS AT THE COMEDY BOX, BRISTOL ON FRI 4 & SAT 5 MAY. FFI: WWW. THECOMEDYBOX.CO.UK
RICH HALL PLAYS THE TOBACCO FACTORY, BRISTOL FROM WED 9-SAT 12 MAY. FFI: WWW.THECOMEDYBOX.CO.UK
4. RIPROAR COMEDY
More engaging befuddlement and rueful Irish self-loathing from AOH, still best known for his role as Father Ted’s loveably clueless sidekick Dougal. “Displays a proficiency of delivery which puts him well ahead of the pack,” noted The Guardian approvingly. “He is a complete joy to watch, planting the sort of silly images that bump around in your head forever.”
5.
Matthew Osborn
BRISTOL HIPPODROME
Stewart Lee
Third and last in a good-looking trio of Saturday nights at Riproar this month, tonight features a set from MO, a comic revelling in his persona of “a smug, jumped-up, privileged twerp who wouldn’t look out of place in a Young Conservatives conference…” And by all accounts he suits it well, with a nice mix of politically incorrect comments, self-deprecation and surrealism.
Ah, Stewart Lee. Consistently one of the finest, most incisive and most beguiling comics of the last two decades. Our verdict, from last time he came calling: “Stern, pious, curmudgeonly… Lee reprimands the audience for laughing in the wrong place, or failing to appreciate some clever word play, all the while sending up his own pedantry. The cleverest, most nihilistic comedian in the country today.”
MATTHEW OSBORN PLAYS RIPROAR COMEDY, BRISTOL ON SAT 26 MAY. FFI: WWW.RIPROARCOMEDY.CO.UK
STEWART LEE PLAYS BRISTOL HIPPODROME ON SUN 6 MAY. FFI: WWW.BRISTOLHIPPODROME.ORG.UK
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DON'T MISS More shows you should catch... Isy Suttie Tue 8 May, Tobacco Factory, Bristol. Ffi: www.tobaccofactorytheatre.com • Ace actress-cum-musical comedienne tours her new show, which narrates her own part in a blossoming internet romance. Simon Amstell Fri 11 May, Colston Hall, Bristol. Ffi: www.colstonhall.org • One local night only from the TV presenter (‘Buzzcocks’) and lauded stand-up. Expect some challenging and playful fare, delivered with Amstell’s selfaware charm and wonderfully sharp mind. Dara O Briain Mon 14-Wed 16 May, Bristol Hippodrome. Ffi: www.bristolhippodrome. org.uk • Likeable and gently surreal Dubliner, a familiar face and voice on TV and radio panel shows, looks in for three nights. Dr Phil Hammond’s Rude Health Show Sun 20 May, Komedia, Bath. Ffi: www.komedia. co.uk/bath • GP, Private Eye columnist administers an evening’s worth of medicinal comedy. Paul Merton Fri 25 May, Colston Hall, Bristol. Ffi: www.colstonhall.org • First new stand-up show in over a decade from the laconic, quicksilver-witted surrealist. Tom Stade Sun 27 May, Tobacco Factory, Bristol. Ffi: www.tobaccofactorytheatre. com • Black Country-residing Canadian émigré, specialising in rambling tales about how we Brits amuse and astonish him. “One of the best practitioners of stand-up we’ve got,” praised chortle.co.uk – in contrast to our reviewer: “One of those shouty sweary comics who says ‘f*ck’ every other word…” Best make up your own mind. Jimeoin Mon 28 May, Tobacco Factory, Bristol. Ffi: www.tobaccofactorytheatre.com • Relaxed, amiable Irish comic with an amusingly mobile set of facial expressions and vocal deliveries. Wil Hodgson Tue 29 May, Ring O’Bells, Bath. Ffi: www.bathfringe.co.uk • Bath Fringe (25 May-10 June) appearance from Chippenham’s pink-haired punk and Care Bears enthusiast, who’ll be recalling the highlights of a geeky 80s/90s childhood.
WIN
Komedia tickets Congrats to Bath’s Komedia, richly deserved winner of Best Venue (Wales and the West) at the annual awards doled out by industry site chortle.co.uk… Staying with Komedia, we’ve got two pairs of tickets to the Wed 23 May gig by actor/stand-up/impressionist Michael Winslow (‘Police Academy’, ‘Family Guy’, ‘The Simpsons’). To be in with a chance of snaffling ’em, just email s.wright@venue. co.uk by Mon 14 May, with the subject line ‘Winslow Boy’. MAY 2012 85
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ART THE MONTH AHEAD 1. OFF-KILTER ARTS FEST
Fringe Arts Bath
Bath’s annual fringe arts festival returns, with its admirable aims to “showcase early career artists and curators, and those who find it difficult to break into (or prefer to operate outside of) the gallery based art scene”. Over 30 exhibitions and scores of events at venues across town including The Octagon, Walcot Chapel and Kingsmead Square. FRINGE ARTS BATH RUNS FROM 25 MAY-10 JUNE. FFI: WWW.FRINGEARTSBATH.CO.UK
2. RETROSPECTIVE
Josef Herman Retrospective for this Polish artist – following the tumultuous WWII years in which Herman fled between Warsaw, Brussels, Glasgow and London, and when his painting was at its most experimental. Included are a series of expressionist, figurative works in oil, gouache and tempera, plus works from Herman’s ‘Memory of Memories’ series – poignant sketches that recall Herman’s family (who perished in the Warsaw Ghetto), as well as his own Warsaw years. JOSEF HERMAN ROYAL WEST OF ENGLAND ACADEMY, BRISTOL, 5 MAY-8 JULY. FFI: WWW.RWA.ORG.UK
4.
3. OPEN STUDIOS
Larkhall Open Studios A busy month for art trails and open studios (see also Southville’s Southbank, sbaweb.co.uk, Bear Flat, bearflatartists.co.uk and Newbridge, newbridgeartstrail.com) kicks off with this open house event across Bath’s arty north-eastern outpost. Work by over 30 artists (printmakers, sculptors, ceramicists, painters, jewellers, automata makers, photographers…) will be on show in homes, studios and even a community garden. Stand-out names include Ben Dearnley (who’s currently confecting a sculpture for the Cultural Olympiad), and painter and Royal West of England Academician Ione Parkin. LARKHALL OPEN STUDIOS 5-7 MAY, ACROSS LARKHALL, BATH. FFI: LARKHALLOPENSTUDIOS. WEEBLY.COM
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WALLET-FRIENDLY WONDERS
Affordable Art Fair Tenth anniversary edition of this estimable art fair, launched in Bristol back in 2002 before spreading to London and worldwide. 55 galleries will be on hand with a huge selection of paintings, sculpture, photography and prints priced between £40 and £4,000 (pictured: ‘Up, Up’ by Bristol artist Freya Cumming). And there’s more to do than gawp at the art and nervously finger your tenners: the fair also features various art-inspired activities and workshops for all ages. THE AFFORDABLE ART FAIR TAKES PLACE FROM 18-20 MAY AT BRUNEL’S OLD STATION, TEMPLE MEADS, BRISTOL. FFI: WWW.AFFORDABLEARTFAIR.CO.UK
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6. 5. JELLY BELLY
Bompas & Parr Brunel’s ss Great Britain is surrounded by a huge glass plate covered in water, the roof of a giant dehumidification chamber that keeps the venerable old craft dry. For one night only this month, though, artist duo Bompas & Parr (aka the ‘Jellymongers’, whose previous exploits include a jelly replica of St Paul’s Cathedral, a giant jelly cocktail lake and a 30ft chocolate climbing wall) will replace the H2O with a tanker-load of fragranced lime jelly. Should look pretty. BRUNEL’S SS GREAT BRITAIN WILL OPEN LATE FROM 6PM TO 9PM ON 18 MAY. FFI: WWW.SSGREATBRITAIN.ORG
AVIAN ARTWORKS
Fur and Feather Housed in the elegant, Georgian, park-fringed Claverton Manor, the American Museum in Britain sees in the summer with a trio of fine shows including this celebration of the incomparable American ornithological artist John James Audubon. THE AMERICAN MUSEUM IN BRITAIN CLAVERTON MANOR, NR BATH. FFI: WWW.AMERICANMUSEUM.ORG
7. PHOTOFEST
Bristol Festival of Photography After a hugely successful debut back in 2010, this biennial, citywide celebration of the snapper’s art returns. You’ll find around 100 (!) exhibitions by local, national and international photographers, plus talks, slideshows, workshops and more. Pictured: Tony Benn at an antinuclear rally, London, 1981 – part of ‘4 Decades’ by Rupert Hopkins, showing at the Folk House. BRISTOL FESTIVAL OF PHOTOGRAPHY RUNS AT VENUES ACROSS TOWN FROM 3-31 MAY. FFI: WWW.BFOP.ORG
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8. VAST OPEN STUDIOS
Spike Island Open Spike’s brilliant annual open studios event returns, allowing art lovers, families and Sunday strollers alike to explore the vast former tea-packing factory and snoop around the studios of some of its 80+ resident artists, designers, filmmakers, animators and more. There’s also plenty of hands-on stuff to try, including some interactive drawing exercises hosted by Bristol Drawing Club on the Monday. Spike Print Studios’ popular Print for a Pound returns, and there’ll be a couple of pop-up cafés courtesy of La Bonne Crêperie and Mother’s Brew Bar. SPIKE ISLAND OPEN SPIKE ISLAND, BRISTOL, 5-7 MAY, 11AM-5PM FFI: WWW.SPIKEISLAND.ORG.UK/OPEN
DON'T MISS More shows you should catch... Local Heroes to 24 June, Holburne Museum of Art, Bath. Ffi: www. holburne.org • Two new prize-winning portraits will be hung alongside all of the Holburne’s Portrait Prize winners to date, shown together for the first time since the prize began in 2002 and featuring musicians, festival organisers, comedians, actors and Wallace and Gromit. Field for the British Isles 30 Apr-27 Aug, Barrington Court, Somerset. Ffi: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ barrington-court/ • Antony Gormley’s extraordinary, otherworldly army of 40,000 terracotta figures (8-26 cm) will cover the entire floor area of three of the largest rooms of this beautiful, NT-owned Tudor manor – well worth a visit in its own right. Harbourside Arts Night 4 May, Harbourside, Bristol, from 5pm. Ffi: www.spikeisland.org.uk • Harbourside artspaces Arnolfini, Spike Island, Picture This, Works|Projects and Bristol Diving School open new exhibitions on the same night, and Bristol Ferry Boat Company will, um, ferry you around until 9pm. Free entry to all shows. From 9pm, meanwhile, Spike Island will host a party complete with food, drink and DJs until the wee small hours. Still Chaos 3-27 May, 6 Philadelphia St, Quakers Friars, Bristol. Ffi: www. antlersgallery.com • The latest salvo from the excellent, nomadic Antlers Gallery is this joint show of moody semiabstracts depicting changing weathers and lights, by photographer Charles Emerson and illustrator Helen Jones. The Night of the Year Sat 12 May, Christmas Steps, Bristol, 8pm. Ffi: www. christmasstepsartsquarter.co.uk • Part of the Photography Festival, but worth a mention of its own: a photo-themed street party up and down the evervibrant steps, including a promenade of projections, with photo stills being beamed from various locations onto the 17th-century buildings, an outdoor cinema, live music, street food and more. Colin Kent 12-31 May, Adam Gallery, Bath. Ffi: www.adamgallery.com • New paintings by this Adam regular. Using mainly water-based paints and mixed media collage, Kent’s coastal landscapes evoke a sense of tranquillity. What You See is What You See 18-27 May (Thur-Sun, 12noon-6pm), Motorcade/FlashParade, Bristol. Ffi: www.motorcadeflashparade.com • Dave Morgan-Davies presents this exhibition of ‘quiet photography’, depicting the ignored or overlooked with a compelling honesty. MAY 2012 87
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BOOKS
TOP TEN
REVIEW
Great escapades... Adventurous reads chosen by the daredevils at Foyles, Bristol.
Dan Brown & Dr Cathryn Spence:
‘BATH IN THE BLITZ THEN & NOW' (The History Press, £12.99)
F
rom 25-17 April 1942 Bath experienced three major air raids more or less in a row. When it was all over, 417 people had been killed, many more injured and over 1,000 buildings, many of great architectural or historical importance, had been seriously damaged or destroyed. So what had poor old harmless old Georgian chocolate box picture Bath done to offend Hitler? There weren’t any major war industries or military installations here. The previous month, the RAF had raided the German port of Lübeck, which was home to several war industries, but which was also picturesque and historic. Its medieval wooden buildings burned furiously in a foretaste of the horrors the RAF would visit on German cities in the coming years. At this relatively early stage, however, Hitler and his minions were furious at what had been done to a priceless bit of German heritage, and ordered a series of raids on historic English towns in reprisal. Bath, along with Exeter, York, Canterbury and Norwich were targeted in what came to be known as the ‘Baedeker Blitz’, named for the popular tourist manual from which the targets were allegedly selected. The attack on Bath was horrific; the first wave of bombers went back to France to collect a new load and were guided in by the still-burning fires of the city. At the end of the third raid, German aircraft machinegunned firemen and civilians in the streets. The number of casualties
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in three raids was a much larger proportion of the city’s population than the proportion of Bristolians killed in six major raids the previous winter. Most were buried in mass graves which can still be seen at Haycombe Cemetery. But as with the Bristol blitz, you get the feeling that these utterly traumatising events are not as well remembered as they could, or should, be. A major legacy of Bath’s blitz was that it cleared a number of spaces which would be filled in the 1960s and 70s with more modern buildings, some sympathetic to the Georgian city, others less so. This interesting little book cleverly takes a selection of photos taken during and shortly after the Blitz, and then shows the same view today. It’s a salutary lesson for anyone who thinks that Bath hasn’t changed much since the time of Beau Nash. It has changed a lot, and much of this turns out to have been the fault of a vindictive madman in Berlin. (Eugene Byrne) New King Street
CHILDREN The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists – Gideon Defoe (Bloomsbury, £6.99) This is the riotous tale of the bountifully bearded Pirate Captain and his crew on which the latest Aardman film is based. They’re all here – Darwin (chewing on a monkey’s paw) and the Pirate with a Scarf, and all are ready for adventure. FICTION The English Passengers – Matthew Kneale (Penguin, £8.99) A fabulously rollicking adventure story in which a quirky reverend, who’s convinced the Garden of Eden is in Tasmania, captains a ship setting sail from Britain. Fun, clever and addictively readable, it will sweep you up in its wayward world. WALKS Adventurous Pub Walks in Somerset – Roger Evans (Countryside Books, £7.99) Seek out wild flowers and delicious ales on an adventurous amble through the Somerset countryside. Featuring 20 walks and historic pubs, the detailed directions will help you find your way home again after your well-earned pub lunch.
CHILDREN Peter Pan – JM Barrie (Barnes & Noble Leather Bound Classics, £15) This classic story is as enchanting today as it was when JM Barrie first wrote it. There are so many beautiful editions of the book in which you can be transported to Neverland with Wendy, her brothers and the boy who never grew up. POETRY Woods etc – Alice Oswald (Faber, £9.99) This luminous collection of poetry is written with such flair, beauty and sense of adventure that you want to follow Oswald wherever she may roam. A wonderful story told through each set of words: a wonderful adventure. TRAVEL Adventure Britain – Demi Taylor (Footprint, £19.99) This great guide from the excellent Footprint team features top spots for kite surfing, mountain biking, wild swimming, foraging, gorge walking and more. An excellent resource for outdoor adventurers.
CHILDREN The Way Back Home – Oliver Jeffers (Harper Collins, £5.99) This enchanting picture book tells the story of the boy who goes on an adventure to the moon. The wonderfully talented Oliver Jeffers has created a perfect story with lovely illustrations.
COOKERY The Camper Van Coast – Martin Dorey (Saltyard Books, £16.99) Do you own a camper van? Or wish you did? This book is perfect for anyone wanting to explore coastal Britain in a van. Filled with delicious recipes to tantalise the taste buds after a hard day of adventuring, it also contains some brilliant tips and info on coastal areas.
FICTION Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close – Jonathan Safran Foer (Penguin, £8.99) This is the heartbreaking tale of Oskar who, a few years after his father is killed in 9/11, finds a key. Compelled to find the lock which fits the key, he begins a quest that takes him across New York. Completely engaging, it will have you hooked from the start.
ART Herbert Brandl – Ingried Brugger & Florian Steininger (eds.) (Hatje Cantz, £45) The canvases of this adventurous contemporary Austrian artist are flooded with beautiful smears of pigment. His work owes something to the example of Gerhard Richter, but without Richter’s trademark cool detachment. MAY 2012 89
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DAYS OUT
FAMILY FUN AND TRIPS AWAY
MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU Anna Britten looks forward to the May Day weekend.
W
e may not be officially cutting the ribbon on summer until next month, but May Day Bank Holiday is to most people the point at which it becomes acceptable to start wearing flip flops. It is also probably the only festival in our history that is supposed to be hedonistic and debauched. The English have celebrated May Day for millennia (the Romans called it Floralia, the Celts Beltane), originally a ‘Wicker Man’-esque fertility rite giving rise to maypoles, morris dancing and May Queens. We have the Victorians to blame for turning the festival into something more frilly and well-behaved. It all got a bit more disjointed when the Labour government of 1978 created the Monday bank holiday to coincide with International Workers’ Day. The ensuing lefty whiff still makes Tory MPs hold their noses today and last year there was even talk of scrapping it. It’s since become a key day of action for our feistier pressure groups. So – whether you favour a polite village fete or some neo-pagan naughtiness, it is your duty as an inhabitant of this still-pretty-green and more-pleasant-than-many land to go out and have a laugh somewhere. Here are some ideas. TRADITIONAL If you fancy a spot of traditional English village tomfoolery, there are May Day fairs in Redland
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(Mon 7 May), Tytheringon (Mon 7 May), Iron Acton (Mon 7 May) and a wonderful weekender in Winterbourne Down (Sat 5-Mon 7 May) as well as other spots around Avon, Somerset and South Glos. Check rural telegraph poles for details. Tyntesfield’s May Day weekend (Sat 5-Sun 6 May) promises a brass band and morris dancing. Our favourite is not for the faint-hearted and takes place little further afield, in Minehead. May Day here means a garish ‘Hobby Horse’ rampaging through the town, starting on the evening of Mon 30 April, waking the town up with drums on May Day and dancing up to Dunster Castle, then returning on Wed 2 May, with much accosting of people for donations and stopping off at pubs along the way. The origin of the Minehead Hobby Horse Festival (www. mineheadhobbyhorse.co.uk) has been lost in history, although it’s thought to have started either as a way to spook the Vikings or a phantom ship said to have sailed into the harbour one day. Either way, it’s been going since at least 1792 and Ralph Vaughan Williams wrote a theme tune for it in 1912. POLITICAL On Tue 1 May itself, the Bristol First Of May Group are calling for a mass calling-in-sick and inviting everyone to an afternoon beach barbecue in Queen Square. The beach-ball-throwing, Hawaiian shirt-wearing, vegan sausagecooking fun starts at 2pm (Ffi: bristol1stofmay.wordpress.com). Not condoning. Just saying. AND THE REST… It’s your last chance to hop on
"No mate - you look great, don't listen to them"
that there Bristol Wheel (www. bristolwheel.co.uk) currently causing Broadmead shoppers to drop their Shakeaways. The height of 15 double-decker buses and weighing 365 tonnes it offers bird’seye views across Bristol as well as a commentary on the city’s history and geography. It’s open for rides between 10am-8pm Sun-Thur, and 10am-10pm Fri-Sat and bank hols. Rides cost £6 for adults, £5 for concs and £4 ages three-plus and shorter than 1.4m tall. Under-threes go free.
It packs up on Tue 8 May. For family fun of a more rustic bent you could do worse than spend the day at the 153rd North Somerset Agricultural Show (www.nsas.org.uk/north-somersetshow) in Wraxall on Mon 7 May. It showcases the best of the region’s livestock, arts and crafts, all the fudge and cider you can handle and amusing rural activities, but if you’ve got kids, its unique charms can be summed up in three words: Chicks. Hatching. LIVE. VENUEMAGAZINE
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NEWS
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NEET idea A child calls the driver a loser
As well as its regular brainmelting exhibits, At-Bristol (www.at-bristol.org.uk) presents The Glow Show from Sat 5-Sun 6 May. Here you’ll explore a whole spectrum of light-based phenomena including ‘CSI’-style forensic examination of things under U.V light, and an invisibility spell. Ashton Court’s Miniature Railway will be doing the rounds on Sun 6 and Mon 7 May – this is a seasonal attraction, the work of volunteer model railway enthusiasts and a firm favourite with Bristol’s nippers for generations. Tickets cost a mere 70p and, weather permitting, normal service runs 12noon-5.15pm. Ffi: www. bristolmodelengineers.co.uk/ aca.htm If yours is an athletic clan (and everyone in it’s aged seven VENUEMAGAZINE
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There are currently an estimated 979,000 16-24 year olds NEETs – young people not in employment, education or training – in England today. Many of them are living in the Bristol & South Gloucestershire areas. In response to this growing social catastrophe, former Marine Dean Teyla has set up the non-profit organisation The PHNX Project, offering 12-week boot camps for young people who are out of work – especially young offenders – offering them fitness, confidence, selfdevelopment and the sort of skills that can lead them away from a life of crime into work. Furthermore, the courses are being run by ex-servicemen and women so the project also serves a transition for ex-service people back into civilian life. “When I left the forces in 2004 there was very little support for servicemen to adapt back into civilian life – it was a big step from being told what to do, to having to find a civilian job,” says Dean. With the support of Kingswood MP Chris Skidmore and various other organisations, and premises found in the beautiful surroundings of Bickley Wood, Hanham, the first boot camp is planned for this month. Potential volunteers, donors (or money or materials) and participants are encouraged to make contact via the website (www. phnxproject-bristol.org.uk) now.
or over), sign up for Arnos Vale Cemetery Charity Run on Mon 7 May. Raise just £30 between you (this will be split between Arnos Vale Cemetery and a local organization of your choice) and choose from two different routes through the 45 acres of beautiful Victorian garden cemetery. There will also be Giant Jenga, Connect 4 and other games. Ffi: www. arnosvale.org.uk Three-day equestrian yahoo Badminton Horse Trials (www.badminton-horse.co.uk) is a must for horsey types – if you’ve fidgety kids and only one day to spare, however, we’d recommend avoiding the dressage and show jumping in favour of the cross country and as-adorable-as-it-sounds Shetland Pony Grand National on Sun 6 May.
Finally, Bath Racecourse (www.bath-racecourse.co.uk) is hoping for big crowds at its Big Bank Holiday Raceday on Mon 7 May, promising an afternoon of horse racing, as well as a ‘West Country Olympics’ sports challenge comprising pig racing, welly wanging, egg and spoon races and apple bobbing. Under-16s go free, adults from a tenner (but do check on booking exactly what your ticket gets you access to). MAY 2012 91
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SKILLS
COURSES, WORKSHOPS, JOBS & STUFF
LEARN, BABY, LEARN Adult Learning takes to the podium from Sat 12-Fri 18 May. Anna Britten digs out a biro.
I
am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it,” said Pablo Picasso. He knew that one of the compensations of growing up is that learning new things becomes a pleasure, rather than the chore it often was between the ages of five and 18. If youth is wasted on the young, so is the classroom. Facing middle age and a stubbornly unchanging horizon, nothing feels better than some brand new knowledge infusing your brain and hands. Who said it was too late to become a football coach, animal handler or local historian? Adult Learners’ Week – the UK’s largest annual festival of learning – wants you to discover how learning can change your life “whether you want to get a better job, try something you’ve always wanted to, be able to help your children at school or discover something new about the world around you”. Various free courses are being held around the country and adult education centres are going all out to attract new students. See the website (see below) for a list of what’s happening near you. For general enquiries about adult learning in your area log onto Bristol City Council’s Adult Learning Service (adultlearning. bristol.gov.uk/courses) where you’ll find details of everything from Tiling For Beginners to German Book Club. Bathonians' best first port of call is the brilliantly broad course list of City of Bath College (www.citybathcoll.ac.uk). Many higher education establishments are also tapping into the adult
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Adult Learning Week: Discover how learning can change your life
education market. The University of Bristol, for example, is offering a unique part-time BA in English Literature and Community Engagement (www.bris.ac.uk/ english/part-time/elce.html) taught one night per week over six years. Current students range in age from early 20s to early 70s, hail from a wide range of backgrounds and many had few prior qualifications before starting the course. As counselling becomes more widely accepted, so has its attraction as a career. Founded in 1983, Wessex Counselling (www. wessexcounsellingservice.co.uk)
offers professional and accredited counselling training to individuals in the South West, via a range of training including Basic Listening Skills, Certificate in Counselling Skills and a Diploma and Advanced Diploma in Psychodynamic Counselling. Dates and days vary and there are centres in King Street in Frome and Orchard Street in Bristol. Ever watch telly and find yourself tutting at the stars’ excessive rouge, wonky toupees or rubbish ‘bullet wounds'? The newly established
Bath Media Makeup Academy (www.bathmediamakeup.co.uk) is an exciting and vocationally oriented new “professional school dedicated to the art of make-up and hair”. A highly impressive roster of experienced professional television, film,
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SKILLS
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NEWS Music skills for children
Hawkwood College
theatre and fashion make-up artists awaits – between them, they have worked on stars from Sienna Miller and Lily Allen to Boy George and Cliff Richard, companies such as the Royal Ballet and Glyndebourne Opera, and for productions ranging from ‘War Horse’ and ‘Harry Potter’ to ‘Hollyoaks’ and ‘Daybreak’. A wide range of courses from airbrushing, body art and special FX to prosthetics, period make-up and wig-making are on offer. In addition, free regular industry days will update and refresh the skills of former students to ensure they continue to have all the skills they need for a successful career. Fancy trying something new on a day out in the leafy Cotswolds? Getting in early on the Adult Learning Week action is Hawkwood College (pictured) in Stroud (www.hawkwoodcollege. co.uk). They’re holding their annual open day on Mon 7 May and it offers an impressive range of free taster workshops at which tutors will share their skills in art, crafts, writing, personal development, health and music, as well as food and drink, storytelling, music and singing, treasure hunt, raffle and maypole 94 MAY 2012
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dancing. “Everyone is welcome and many come from the Bristol area and beyond as it’s only 40 minutes from the M32,” says event organiser Katie Lloyd-Nunn. But what if your lifestyle allows no room for extra-curricular activity? Would it help if you could learn while you were doing your day job? National Learning at Work Day takes place on Thur 17 May and trains its lens on learning and development in and through the workplace. Thousands of organisations take part each year, putting on special events and activities. The Open University (www3.open.ac.uk/ near-you/southwest) is one of these, its regional divisions visiting businesses – in
the South-West that includes the Met Office in Exeter and the Royal Mail in Swindon – to talk to employees about the best courses for enhancing their careers. Then on Sat 16 June an Open Day at the Bristol headquarters in St Mary Redcliffe invites prospective students, or even the mildly curious, to come and find out about courses including the new MBA. The Western Tutorial College (www.westerntutorialcollege. co.uk) in Bristol city centre has for years been providing a second chance for young people retaking exams. It has, however, just announced a series of creative courses for adults. These include guitar and drawing classes, both running weekly from Wed 16 May, and watercolour classes running weekly from Sat 19 May.
A new approach to music making has just kicked off at the Colston Hall courtesy of Get Inspired! The Saturday morning music-making club for four- to tenyear-olds fuses music, performance, storytelling and interactive play, and introduces kids to beats, riffs, blips and beeps, composition, lyric writing and more. It also follows the celebrated 5x5x5 learning system that helps children “appreciate the infinite resources of their hands, their eyes and their ears, the resources of forms, materials, sounds and colours”. Bookings are available in blocks of six sessions (for £42) designed to fall in line with term times. Places are limited so pre-booking is essential. Ffi: 0117 352 5042 or getinspired@colstonhall.org Booking is afoot for a variety of music workshops and classes at next month’s Bath International Music Festival (www. bathmusic.fest.org.uk). Pianists of all persuasions and levels are invited to pick up priceless tips from an international superstar ivory-tinkler at the Guildhall in Bath on Wed 6 June. Tickets to Piano Masterclass with Joanna MacGregor cost £10 and, even if you’re not one of the five youngsters invited to play the Steinway on stage, you can still pick up plenty of expert guidance, advice and tips and enjoy an impromptu concert at the end. The Egg’s Make Music Happen two-day event, meanwhile, runs from Wed 6-Thur 7 June and invites teen singers and musicians aged 12-18 to join a massive band and make music through improvisation, resulting in a performance for family and friends. Places cost £30 (adults pay £5 for the concert). Finally, the Holburne Museum’s Soundscape invites youngsters aged 8-16 to compose, record and perform an original piece of music from sounds collected around the museum and the surrounding Sydney Gardens. On Sat 9 June they can join a DIY Orchestra, using objects brought in from home. Tickets for each of these cost £5 and no musical experience is required. Kids learn to gurn at the Colston Hall
ADULT LEARNING WEEK RUNS FROM SAT 12-FRI 18 MAY. FFI: WWW.ALW. ORG.UK; NATIONAL LEARNING AT WORK DAY TAKES PLACE NATIONALLY ON THUR 17 MAY. FFI: WWW.CAMPAIGNFOR-LEARNING.ORG.UK
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BUSINESS MANAGER VACANCY This is an exciting opportunity to run a recently opened facility for young people in the heart of Yate. For further information and to apply online, please visit www.southglos.gov.uk/jobs or phone 01454 864437. Closing date 7th May 2012.
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GAY
PRIDE ON Darryl W Bullock has the latest on the plans for Bristol Pride 2012.
D
aryn Carter is a busy man. As well as coordinating various gay-themed events around the city, including LGBT History Month’s We Are: Remembering and last year’s hugely successful Diversity Careers open day, for the last three years he has been a mainstay of Bristol’s Pride team. With so many changes taking place this year, that team has been drastically pared back, but Darren is convinced that this year’s Pride – which takes place on 14 July – will still be a mammoth triumph. The first two things to note about this year’s Pride are that there has been a change in venue and that once again the event will be free. Previously held in Castle Park, for 2012 Pride is moving to College Green – immediately in front of the Council House and Cathedral. “The reason why College Green was chosen was to make it more visible,” Daryn tells me. “It also keeps costs down as we don’t have to spend money fencing off the area, and that in turn means that we can keep it free and open to everyone. “It took a bit of time to secure College Green for Pride, but the Cathedral and the council were both really supportive; they both want this to happen. It’s a smaller area, but then again there’s a lot more space available for stalls and stages around the area – and, of course, it’s flat, which means that it’s accessible to anyone with mobility issues. Castle Park did, unfortunately, restrict access for some people.”
Gaymob
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The full programme was still coming together when we sat down to discuss the plans, although once again there will be a week-long run-up to Pride day itself (starting from 7 July), featuring performances from acts including Bristol’s own gay choir SingOut and up-and-coming three-piece Standing by Statues. Highlights include a huge after-party – curated by Bristol’s Horseplay crew and the acclaimed London-based DJ collective Horse Meat Disco – at the Academy, a gay-themed performance and film evening at the Cube with Arnolfini’s Tom Marshman, and there will be a ‘street fiesta’ in Frogmore Street. “It’s going to be a multi-venue event with DJs and entertainment in the street as well as in the bars and clubs,” says Daryn. Imagine a larger, more inclusive rebirth of the old Pineapple street party. The day itself will once again feature a march through the city centre, and the main event will again host a community area as well as the usual mix of bars, live music and entertainment. You can get involved too: events will be taking place in both Old Market and Frogmore Street to help raise both funds and awareness, and Daryn and the team are looking for volunteers to help co-ordinate the Pride Parade and help steward the main event. Any money raised by this year’s Pride will go to support Freedom Youth – Bristol’s dedicated LGBT Youth Service which is under threat thanks to the recent funding cuts. BRISTOL PRIDE 7-14 JULY. TO GET INVOLVED CHECK OUT THE WEBSITE WWW. WEAREFEST.COM OR EMAIL DARYN@ WEAREFEST.COM
THE MONTH AHEAD... Events not to be missed in May May 2 CycleOut Bristol Meet by King William Statue, Queen Sq, Bristol. 6pm. Ffi: http://tiny.cc/ cycleoutbristol • A short, urban cycle ride every Wednesday evening. These rides explore urban cycle routes in and around Bristol, and are designed for people who are new or returning to cycling and for cyclists who want to get to know Bristol. The group will always stop to help with any mechanical failures, but please try and remember to bring along spare inner tubes and a puncture repair kit. May 5 Come to Daddy The Cavern Club (under the Crown Pub), 10 All Saints Lane, St Nicholas Market, Bristol, BS1 1JH, 10pm-3am, £5/£4 before 11pm. Ffi: www.cometodaddyclub. co.uk • The men-only club night returns with a fantastic new venue, superb atmosphere and a great soundtrack. Dancing, cruising and more for bears, cubs and their admirers. May 6 Living Springs Metropolitan Community Church United Reformed Church Halls, Grove St, Bath, BA2 6PJ, 6pm. Ffi: www. mccbath.org.uk • Gay church, open to all. Recognition and blessing of relationships offered. May 10 Training with Bristol Bisons RFC Cotham Park RFC, Upper Farm, Beggar Bush Lane, Failand, Bristol, BS8 3TF, 7pm. Ffi: www.bisonsrfc. co.uk • Rugby training with the Bisons every Thursday evening, followed by drinks at the Bristol Bear Bar in Old Market. Newcomers always welcome. May 11 Women Live – the Relaunch Halo, 141 Gloucester Rd, Bishopston, Bristol, BS7 8BA, 8.30pm, £3 (or donations). Ffi: 0117 944 2504 • The women-only live music session returns, with Bristol’s new all-female big band the Sisters of Swing and Lucy Ray, plus new young women performers including Kirsty Folan and Emma Ronchetti and the ever-popular open mic.
May 12 The Rainbow Cafe St Michael’s Centre, next to Little Theatre Cinema, off Westgate St, Bath, BA1 1SG, 10.30am-12.30pm. Ffi: 0870 811 1990 • Organised by Gay West, each Saturday the Rainbow Café offers a safe space for gay and bisexual men and women to enjoy a cuppa, some conversation and the opportunity to meet others. May 13 HARD/Deviant Queenshilling, 9 Frogmore St, Bristol, BS1 5NA. Ffi: www.hard-bristol.co.uk • Bristol’s longest-running men-only fetish wear and bondage night returns, after a forced sabbatical, with a new venue. Two clubs in one: strict clothing rules apply to HARD (see website) whilst Deviant is open to anyone. May 18 Cruz on Friday Unit 35 (nr Temple Meads), Bristol, BS1, £10 (members only – see website). Ffi: www. bristolfetishcrew.com • A relaxed Friday night event for hot horny men who like to cruise. Featuring a large cruise maze, plenty of dark corners, glory holes, a group area and darkroom, relaxing licensed bar and lounge area and covered outdoor smoking space. No dress code. May 21 CycleOut Bristol Dykes on Bikes Meet by King William Statue, Queen Sq, Bristol, 6pm, returning by 9pm. Ffi: http://tiny.cc/cycleoutbristol or email rachely@talktalk.net • Monthly, women-only sociable cycle rides, with an easy pace and a distinct absence of lycra! May 22 & 23 Tom Marshman – Legs 11 Arnolfini, 16 Narrow Quay, Bristol, BS1 4QA. Ffi: www.tommarshman. com/hotnfresh.html • Like most men, artist Tom Marshman has an ambiguous relationship with his legs; imagine his surprise when he was shortlisted for the Pretty Polly competition looking for the best legs in the country. In this intimate performance, Tom conveys a brave story of misfits and transformation, hospital visits and rejuvenation. Part of Mayfest (see feature on p.16).
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