This Guitar says....

Billy Bragg's guitar awaits

The Headgate theatre is a great intimate venue for live music so why not catch The Guitar Quartet there this Sunday (30th April)? Sadly I'll miss it, but you can book tickets here.

Song - by way of balance, Girls with Guitars by Wynonna Judd.

Chris Allard's guitar awaits at his recent concert in Coggeshall with Colchester Chamber Choir

Springing up....

I popped in to the Beth Chatto Gardens this morning to see how everything was looking for this weekend's plant fair.

The beauty of Beth Chatto's Gardens this morning

I can't guarantee it will remain this peaceful this weekend, but there's plenty of car-parking, or you can easily get there from Colchester on the 76 Bus (get of at the stop after the traffic lights in Elmstead Market).
There's loads of activities, plants to buy, and lots more garden-related items. and entry to the fair and Gardens is free this weekend.

Song - Pink Floyd - See Emily Play - in honour of my wonderful ex-colleague at Beth Chatto's, Emily Paston. Hope all the family are well Em!

Green Goddess...

The famous Gravel Garden at Beth Chatto's

'The World's Greatest Living Gardener'...that is Beth Chatto, according to Monty Don. And Beth has spent nearly 60 years creating one inspirational garden - The Beth Chatto Gardens at Elmstead Market, just east of Colchester.

The beauty of the mature planting at Beth Chatto's

This weekend Beth's team hold their first plant fair, and to make it extra-special it's all free! Please pop along to see what my ex-colleagues have created. It is still a family business, and many local people dedicate more than just their working hours to making it special. My old boss, David Ward, is one of the finest plantsmen in the World, having worked with Beth for over 30 years. So why not go along and share their passion for plants. You can get there by number 76 bus from Colchester. See you there!

Song - I dug deep into my vinyl collection to bring you Classic 90's pop from Voice of the Beehive - Perfect Place

Silver lining at Easter

Josienne Clarke and Ben Walker (together on the right) and friends at Harwich Festival

No, this is not some crass blog post about Good Friday. And I'm writing it in something of a hurry because I'm just off to Snape to hear some proper Easter music (Bach, St John Passion, if you must know, but it's sold out - there's always great music at Snape at Easter - check it out). But an email from our own wonderful Arts Centre has alerted me to a gig you must see if you enjoy reflective, even moody, music. This Sunday evening, catch BBC2 Folk Award winners Josienne Clarke and Ben Walker. I was lucky enough to hear them at the Harwich Festival a couple of years ago. Please , if you are one of those that thinks 'I don't like Folk', leave that aside and come and revel in Josienne's perfect voice and beautiful song-writing. See you there!
Song - please click here to hear Josienne and Ben singing 'Silverline' from their stunning album 'Nothing can bring back the Hour'.

To be Someone......

A Handbag?!

Gippeswyk Hall, home to Red Rose Theatre in Ipswich

As a Colchester theatre-goer I have to admit to a little secret - sometimes when there's nothing I fancy in Colchester I slip away to Ipswich. I've seen many friends in the audience of the New Wolsey and the Sir John Mills theatres over the years. And now there is a new bijou space for great theatre, the Avenue, home of Red Rose Chain. I popped up there yesterday to see their super production of Oscar Wilde's 'The Importance of Being Earnest'. It's on until this Sunday (9th April). If you get a chance, go. The small space (120 seats) means the actors can really interact with the audience. It's pacey and perfectly, farcically timed.  And of course there are more funny one-liners than any play you're likely to see. They even squeeze a swing onto the set - looking rather like a famous painting! And I was left pondering on  the 'Influence of a permanent income on Thought'!

It's only a five minute walk from the station so you can easily get there from Colchester by train. Take something to read - 'I never travel without my diary - one should always have something sensational to read' - thank you for that tip Oscar.

Song - can't decide between the original and the cover of  To be Someone....Cover by Noel Gallagher, original by the unbeatable Paul Weller and the Jam. Eloquence versus passion - you choose!