Getting technical

One of the advantages of going to small local concerts is that you can discuss the material with the performers. Here Ben McKee explains shape notes (please don't ask me, I have enough trouble with Shapeless notes). Great gig tonight as part of the Harwich festival If you haven't been, you've got until the 5th July to catch some of the wonderful and varied programme put together by Roderick Earle. Top man! Pictured below are Fieri Consort tonight, left to right:

Nancy Cole, Hannah Ely, Tom Kelly, Ben McKee, Josh Scooter and Lucy Cox

With thanks to the artists, the Harwich Festival and St Michael's Ramsey

More simple pleasures...

Don't forget the Roman River Festival summer event is this weekend - a perfect excuse for fish and chips in Wivenhoe, a pint or two at the Black Bouy, then a concert in the church, where they have an event everyday this weekend. I shall be in St Michael's Church, Ramsey, tonight for the Fieri Consort as part of the Harwich Festival - see you there!

not going out

Sorry to all my followers (hello mum), decided not to drive to Harwich for the best little arts festival in the world - Harwich Festival. I've blogged for three weeks solid, gone to everything I could, and I've been at work at Beth Chatto's for 13 days in a row (if you count listening to the Colchester Chamber Choir as work). So on this lovely summer's day I'm in the Garden with a BBQ (thanks Willow Farm via Wivenhoe Farmers Market). It's also nice to look back on a great week of art - Josienne Clarke and Ben Walker were brilliant - She with all Maddy Prior's soaring vocals, but altogether darker, he with every note plucked with meaning. I hope to bring them back to Essex in the Autumn - watch this space. Roman River Festival - sign them up!Tomorrow Leigh-on-sea Folk Festival, Tuesday a great-sounding concert at Ramsey as part of the Harwich Festival - see you there!

The most numerous Duo in the world - Josienne Clarke and Ben Walker with Jo Silverston and Anna Jenkins at the Harwich Festival. Many thanks to the artists and organisers.

Josienne Clarke and Ben Walker

Why do we pidgeonhole music into genres? I suppose it makes it easier to decide what we like, what we'll listen to, what we'll go and see. And of course if you've won the Radio 2 folk duo of the Year 2015 award then you must be 'folk'. But to me the music performed at the Harwich Festival by this duo was just great music - thoughtful and delivered with great feeling (and a great voice).

Jo Silverston, Anna Jenkins, Josienne Clarke and Ben Walker - all smiles! Catch them at a festival this summer. You won't hear better contemplative songs this summer.

The bright lights of Blythburgh

Travelled to Suffolk for the Aldeburgh Festival this evening - a lovely event, almost as good as our own Roman River Festival - found this huge truck parked outside Blythburgh church. Inside the music was plainchant meets the Med. (And becomes interesting, says Mrs Blogger). Fabulous singing from Ensemble Organum

Thanks for photo to Ensemble Organum, and director Marcel Peres, 2nd from left. Also thanks to Aldeburgh Festival. Catch the ensemble live if you can, otherwise on BBC Radio 3 28th June (hence the big van).

Beneath the Green Trees are Beth Chatto's

Roderick Earle explains why he's standing among the pond plants at the Beth Chatto Gardens. A wonderful program of choral music on a perfect summer's evening. I have to declare an interest as I arranged the concert. Many visitors had not heard the Colchester Chamber Choir before - some seemed surprised they were actually very good! The choir's next performances will be at the Roman River Festival - as for the Beth Chatto Gardens - more concerts are being arranged as I write - check this blog or the website for details as soon as they are announced.

Well I warned you - Annie's fantasies clog-moris side perform today at the Mount Bures flower festival. anniesfantasies.co.uk. Autumn rehearsals start in October - beginners welcome. The author made his debut as lead melodion player, but was mightily relieved when the wonderful Paul McCann put down his pint and joined in phew!

Inhabited by Memories

Members of Footprint Theatre Company CIC ticketsource.co.uk/footprintstheatrecompanycic, with Playwright Paul T Davies and Director Paula Baker at the production of Uninhabited at St Martin's Church Colchester. Not 'Grand Theatre' but full of poetry, music, and memories. The piece moved at a pace, (just an hour long) and by the end of the promenade performance it felt like you were part of the space, and that your memories joined those of the walls. 2 performances tomorrow sunday 21st June - GO! Many thanks to the company for the photo.

A secret corner of Colchester

 As always many artistic possibilities for the weekend, but in keeping with the ethos of my new blog, I've reluctantly ignored events not in Colchester - I thought of the Thaxted festival thaxtedfestival.org.uk and the wonderful Kelvedon institute liveattheinstitute.co.uk. Instead I'm heading for St Martin's in the Dutch quarter for 'Uninhabited' ticketsource.co.uk/footprintstheatrecompanycic tickets still available. Also popping in to the Waiting Room for their Beer Festival. I found both of these events via Facebook on the group Itallhappensincolchester - I commend it!
I'll post reviews tomorrow.
By the way all photos are taken by me especially for the blog. No stock images or screen shots.
Warning - Morris dancing again on Sunday!

Everyone's flocking to the Colchester Chamber Choir concert this Sunday at the Beth Chatto Gardens bethchatto.co.uk tickets on-line or on the door. Not going out tonight, not tempted by the last of the season's 'Wonderful Wednesdays' at colchesterartscentre.com - they have been  varied and always interesting. Pay what you can!

Guest reviewer at Firstsite

Welcome to my first guest reviewer - the mother-in-law - Inger (and Frank and Pineapple courtesy of Hunt and Darton huntanddartoncafe.com). She grew up by the sea and has painted for many years. Seemed ideal for some pithy insight, but when she came out she was raving about someone who had found new ways of creating art while laying in a hospital bed dying. Thank you Natasha Carsberg. As for the other paintings, Inger said ' It's all about brush strokes'.
We all look at art differently and have different emotional responses. Some people enjoy the 'nuts and Bolts' of how it was produced (Inger), others find tranquillity in the Zen-like build-up of the sea in black and white (and every shade of grey).
So, leave you preconceptions outside if you can.

Many thanks John Virtue (courtesy of the artist and Firstsite firstsite.uk.net) No apologies for using this picture again - I'm rather pleased with it!

Morris Dancing (& guests)

Don't say I didn't warn you - Annie's Fantasies Clog-morris dancers anniesfantasies.co.uk really enjoyed dancing outside FirstSite today (thanks Anthony Roberts) firstsite.uk.net Is it art? - who cares if you're having fun!  Special Guest appearance by Hunt and Darton huntanddartoncafe.com - is it coffee and cake or is it art?

Watch out for my guest blogger later - my mother-in-law!

Hungry for Art

Great evening at The Mercury mercurytheatre.co.uk  -but don't feed the plants. Why traipse up to the West End when you can see shows this good on your doorstep. It left me wondering, though, if studying the technical aspects of art or performance sometimes gets in the way of actually just enjoying it. I spent much of the performance wondering where the mics were - under their hair/wigs is the almost incredible answer. At £1000 per performer for this kit it certainly makes the ticket price look ridiculously good value. We have the best Theatre and Performing arts in the world because we have the best technicians - so take the opportunity to chat to them if you get a chance.
.............talking of the best, Morris Dancing outside FirstSite today 11.00 anniesfantasies.co.uk see you there!

An apology - and the ethics of Blogging

Artwork courtesy Philip Bradshaw

So now I am learning some lessons of blogging - like always read the handouts rather than relying on scribbled notes from memory! Big Apologies to Philip for re-titling his works in my previous blog. The works in his show are:

Failing to communicate, we agree

The garden looks nice

Between the idea and the reality 2015 - 3 and 4

Always here, always now

CC601 (No, Yes, No, Yes)

Trust me; It wasn't meant to be like this; Five quartets; I never said; The people on the bus; That's not what I meant

.......so there we are - go see!

While I'm on the subject, last night's busy evening at Firstsite firstsite.uk.net led me to consider the ethics of blogging. So here are my rules:

I will never take a picture of an artist/performer without their permission, and I shall make it clear I may publish it on-line
I will always credit the Artist for the original artwork.
I will endeavour to link to artists or venue websites.
I will declare an interest where freebies/inducements/bribes/lunches etc are concerned (keep 'em coming).
......................see you at Firstsite tomorrow am. for Morris Dancing! anniesfantasies.co.uk

Philip Bradshaw at Firstsite

Artist Philip Bradshaw and Jane of ENAS essexstudios.org.uk
While everyone was sipping cheap wine and trying to see anyone famous I slipped into a talk by Artist Philip Bradshaw, as part of Firstsite's firstsite.uk.net Local artists programme. What did I find?

As you walk towards the café you are greeted by a large abstract painting - but hold on, what's that text in your eyeline? Is it part of the Show (YES)? With that one sentence Phil ironically echoes what people may be thinking, while also pointing the way to the café. So by placing the text there Phil is setting up a context for his painting, while also borrowing context from the rest of the gallery (and outside). The painting CC602 Yes,No,Yes,No (a reference to crosswords, but surely also to his Systems background) uses colours that link it to the surroundings - in particular the dark colour that matches an adjacent doorway. Thus he cleverly includes what would otherwise be an ugly doorway as part of the artwork. Maybe he over-emphasises context over enjoyment, which is why I prefer the scrolling text display above the door 'That's not what I meant' where seemingly hum-drum text dissolves into vivid bursts of colour. My Favourite piece is 'Failing to Communicate'

 

a double video installation (only half illustrated here) where the text quickly become abstract and you can lose yourself in the pure saturated colour. Simple pleasures, that's me!

 

Talking of which, off to the Mercury Theatre tonight (a few tickets still left mercurytheatre.co.uk then performing at Firstsite with local Morris dance side Annie's Fantasies anniesfantasies.co.uk at 11 am - see you there!

 

Many thanks to Philip Bradshaw and Jane of ENAS for their time, all artwork shown courtesy of the artist.

 

 

 

 

 

So goodnight from an exciting evening...pleased with this pic.......tomorrow I'll try real arts criticism (and some light entertainment...off to the Mercury mercurytheatre.co.uk still a few tickets left - see you there)

Thank you John Virtue

                                       Video installation by Philip Bradshaw

Firstsite firstsite.uk.net tonight - from failing to communicate....

                                             Dancer Isaac James

........to engaging with the community. Brilliant party - get down there this weekend. Reviews to follow...............

Say hello to me at Firstsite firstsite.uk.net tonight from 6.30.

Morning all you arts fans, sorry about last night's blog - I was so excited about the Firstsite opening I fell foul of the dreaded TLA - three-letter acronyms. So for clarity, RRM = Roman River Music romanrivermusic.org.uk the very wonderful music charity that does so much more than run the Roman River Festival (RRF). This year they also have a weekend of Schubert - the 'Schubertiade' (sorry guys, that looks good in print but is not easy to say!) from 3rd to 5th July. Download a leaflet from http://romanrivermusic.org.uk/2015-festivals/. See you on the Friday evening in Wivenhoe.

Big thanks to RRM for inviting me to blog the festival this year. See Time4artscolchester.blogspot.co.uk for frequent updates, interviews, photos and more. First mention must go to Colchester Chamber Choir who have a concert at Beth Chatto's beautiful gardens bethchatto.co.uk/events midsummer eve. 21st June. Don't forget the Choir also have two concerts at RRF on 24th Sept in St Martin's Church, and 27th Sept, accompanied by the restored organ at the Moot Hall. That's a must for me! get tickets at romanrivermusic.org.uk

That Golden feeling...

Just popped in to this well-known Colchester landmark to check on preparations for the show opening party, 6.30 pm Friday 12th June. Be There! (maybe I'll get to take some photos inside!)
www.firstsite.uk.net

Redlands Palomino

Anyone catch the Redlands Palomino Co. redlandspalomino.co.uk at Little Rabbit Barn last Saturday? great band, great albums - I'm enjoying 'Take Me Home' as I write. If you haven't been check out LRB littlerabbitbarn.com - great live music ...in a , well, garage actually! Jonathan and Lyn, living the dream, thanks. Book in advance - they always sell out.

Welcome to the Arts blog for Colchester

Hi, I'm Ian and I'm interested in all the arts. That's eclectic - visual, theatre, music, dance - you'll find it all here. You may not like it all but in this Blog I hope to help you find out what's going on in and around our exciting town of Colchester.
 First up - the excellent colchesterchamberchoir.org Colchester Chamber Choir at the famous Beth Chatto Gardens bethchatto.co.uk on June 21st. I was able to sneak into rehearsals and the sound of choral music and birdsong on a sunlit evening was magical. I suggest you snap up tickets now. Colchester Chamber Choir also debut at the Roman River Festival this autumn - check out romanrivermusic.org.uk