Archive for the ‘Music & Arts’ Category

The team at KL.FM were in jubilant mood this week, after winning the Sony Award for best small radio station for the second year running.

Managing Director Darren Taylor told us “We were absolutely thrilled to win the Sony Radio Station of the Year Award for our category. We’ve really changed the way we engage with our listeners over the last two years, and clearly the Sony judges realised that we are doing something a bit special here.

“This award is not just for everyone that works here but is genuinely for the whole of King’s Lynn and I’d like to think the whole of King’s Lynn would share that success with us.”

The full interview with Darren Taylor was broadcast on the 1800Online show.

To listen to the Interview CLICK HERE

1800Online is presented twice weekly by Alan T Shearer and is sponsored by King’s Lynn Online. You can listen to previous shows at PodcastMachine

A local alternative rock band from King’s Lynn has been featured on BBC Radio 1.

Deaf Havana’s 1st single Boston Square was released this week and featured on Zane Lowe’s Radio 1 show as the ‘hottest new track’.

The band was formed in 2005 at the King’s Lynn campus of The College of West Anglia. Since then they have written 3 albums, the 3rd of which will be released later this year. The band also announced a nationwide tour and that they have also been signed in America.

deafhavanaofficial.com

Local radio station KL.FM has won the Sony Station of the Year Award (under 300,000 category) for the second year running.

Presenter Adam Newstead proudly announced on Twitter:

‏KLFM won AGAIN!!!! Sony Award Radio Station Of The Year 2013. So proud

Host Chris Evans welcomed hundreds of hopefuls from radio stations around the country to the event at the Grosvenor House Hotel.

The ceremony featured performances from Robbie Williams, The Saturdays and Jamie Cullum.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A member of the audience summed it all up in one sentence when he shouted out “Elkie, you are sheer class!”

The Elkie Brooks concert at the Corn Exchange on Friday was absolute magic. At the age of 68 she has obviously been taking good care of her voice, which is just as husky and powerful as ever. Some of the notes she held seemed to last an eternity, and would put many of today’s younger singers to shame.

During the first half she eased her way through some of her classics: Warm and Tender Love, an upbeat version of Fool If You Think its Over, Sunshine After The Rain and Lilac Wine. The performance was interspersed with a few new songs from her latest album, Powerless, which has been re-released to coincide with her autobiography.

Each song ended in rapturous applause from a very appreciative, mainly middle-aged audience, who obviously adored her to bits. I thought her rendition of the Sixties anthem Nights in White Satin sounded even better than her original recording.

Credit must be given to Elkie’s “world class” backing band. They alone would have been worth paying tickets for. Rufus Ruffell picked out some raunchy guitar riffs, while Andrew Murray created some magical sounds on the keyboard and Steve Jones moody solos on sax were just out of this world.

During the second half, Elkie and her band stepped up a gear and went into blatant Rock and Blues mode with hand clapping versions of Pearls A Singer and Road House Blues. Elkie rounded up with three tracks from her latest album, I Can’t Make You Love Me, the title track Powerless and Purple Rain. Trhe last song of the evening was an emotional rendering of Bob Seger’s We’ve Got Tonight.

Listen to Elkie Sharing a Joke with the audience

Reviewed by John Beck

Our Interview with Elkie

Highlighting this summer’s King’s Lynn Festival will be the Royal Philhamonic Orchestra, two BBC Young Musicians, the Prince of Wales’ Harpist and iconic jazz saxophonist Courtney Pine.

The 63rd Festival will open with a rousing concert, The Best of British, with the 100-strong King’s Lynn Festival Chorus, the European Union Chamber Orchestra and trumpet virtuoso, Crispian Steele-Perkins performing stirring music played at the Queen’s Coronation plus popular music by Benjamin Britten. The final concert will be by the world-famous Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

The current BBC Young Musician, Dutch cellist Laura Van Der Heijden, will join the European Union Chamber Orchestra for a concert in St Nicholas’ Chapel.

An exciting innovation will be the performance of Beethoven’s complete cello sonatas by two world-class musicians, the former BBC Young Musician Guy Johnston (cello) and Melvyn Tan (piano).

Hannah Stone, Harpist to the Prince of Wales, will play at All Saints Church and internationally-acclaimed pianist Peter Donohoe will perform the Ruth Fermoy Memorial Concert.

 

 

The top-notch BBC Big Band will bring their superb musicianship and iconic jazz saxophonist Courtney Pine will visit for the first time.

Adding to the variety will be the exciting Scottish fiddle group, Blazin’ Fiddles, the highly entertaining Classic Buskers, Early Music Day featuring London Handel Players, and the popular series of five morning coffee concerts.

Leading art critic Andrew Graham-Dixon will talk about the artist Caravaggio, and mountaineer Stephen Venables will give the RGS-IBG lecture marking the 60th anniversary of the ascent of Everest. Each of the talks will be complemented by a film shown in partnership with King’s Lynn Community Film Club..

The exhibition will be Roland Penrose’s Surrealist Camera and a tribute to his brother Alexander Penrose, the saviour of Lynn’s St George’s Guildhall.

The brochure will be out in mid-April. Festival Patrons’ and Friends’ booking starts on April 15 and general booking will open on April 29.

This summer’s King’s Lynn Festival takes place between Sunday July 14 and Saturday July 27.

kingslynnfestival.org.uk

There’s a great drawing exhibition, by members of the West Norfolk Artists Association, coming soon to Greyfriars Art Space. ‘Drawn to Attention’ will explore and celebrate the many facets of drawing and encompass the traditional and the unexpected.

Open: Monday – Saturday 10am-4pm (closed Sundays and Mon. 6 May)

Come along to the opening party from 2-4pm on Saturday 27 April to see the exhibition and meet the artists at 43 St James Street, King’s Lynn.

Ahead of her concert in King’s Lynn, we spoke to one of the most successful and popular singers the UK has ever produced. The one and only Elkie Brooks …

You’re appearing at King’s Lynn Corn Exchange on Friday, and I believe you like to have a look round the town when you come?

Oh I always do. I always get there a day before and check it all out, then I’m nice and relaxed for the evening.

So whats happening in the world of Elkie Brooks at the moment?

Well, my autobiography is out at the moment and I’ve also re-released my album Powerless. We sell the books and the albums at the gigs. I’m also planning another album. It’ll be one step on from Powerless featuring the material I’m now collecting and other stuff I’ve been wanting to do for many years, and original material that I’m writing with my son Jay. It’ll be our fourth album together.

Youve had some really Massive hits – Lilac Wine , Pearl’s A Singer, Don’t Cry Out Loud, Sunshine After The Rain, No More The Fool, but I think my own particular favourite is Fool If You Thinks Its Over – what’s your favourite?

Yes I do like Fool If You think It’s Over. It was written by Chris Rea, an amazing writer and fantastic musician and a really lovely person as well. I remember When I was putting the Pearls album together it was my choice to do that particular song. Chris had a really big hit with that over in America, but I managed to have more of a hit over here than he did. I would love him to write another song for me.

You’ve worked with the late Robert Palmer and Vinegar Joe. Was that a formative time for you?

We found Robert when he was working with Alan Bown, and years before that the Mandrakes. I went up with my then husband Pete Gage, and we formed a band called Gaga and the singer was leaving so we thought Robert would be a good replacement. We went to see him at a club in Hamley. It was a very bluesy R & b type club and saw him with Alan Bown and thought he would be perfect.

We left the album with Robert and 6 months later he got back to us and said yes he would like to join the band. It was a very good partnership. We disbanded after about a year and formed Vinegar Joe, which was more of a rock, r&b type of band. I really enjoyed my time with Vinegar Joe but unfortunately Robert decided to leave.

I wanted to keep the band going but the rest of them felt it wouldn’t be the same without Robert, so I more or less had to go solo then.

You sing Rock, jazz, blues even country. Which genre is your favourite?

I’m a singer. If you sing and you sing well you should be able to sing anything. I saw the wonderful, amazing Aretha Franklin on YouTube some time ago. Her great friend Pavorotti was ill at the time, and she took his place singing it all in Italian.

I started my singing career listening to a lot of Ella Fitzgerald and Cliff Richard. I had singing lessons with our local Rabbi, and all my songs were in Hebrew!

So, whats next for Elkie Brooks?

My most important thing is getting this next album together, and hopefully we are going to get a couple of interesting guests on there.

You can also listen to this interview below:

Tickets can be obtained online at kingslynncornexchange.co.uk

elkiebrooks.com

Our local radio station KL.FM has been nominated once again for UK Sony Radio Station of the Year, the same award that they won last year.

Also this year ‘HomeTime with Si’ presenter Simon Rowe is in the running for UK Radio Presenter of the Year.

Simon said “This is a public vote and for my show to win I need listeners to vote. To be honest, as I’m up against all the ‘big guns’ in London and the nationals too, so if you think I deserve a vote please search for Simon Rowe on the Sony Golden Headphones website at www.sonygoldenheadphones.com.”

If you vote for Simon, you’ll be entered into a draw to win a pair of Sony MDR-1 headphones which have been crafted by music-lovers and tuned by musicians for exceptional bass response, pristine sound quality and comfortable wear.

More details here:
Star Wars Exhibition and Events

A long time ago in a galaxy far far away… a small boy called Joe Robinson had a close encounter with his first ‘Star Wars’ phenomenon which set him on an intergalactic journey of space ships, aliens and mysterious planets.

40 years later, his collection of Star Wars memorabilia is set to touch down in the King’s Lynn Arts Centre.

The exhibition embraces the world of toys, posters and merchandise connected with the original films and includes a range of sci-fi memorabilia from the 1970s to the present day and vintage film posters.

As far as family exhibitions go, whether you are a Padawan or a Jedi Master, be warned, this one is totally off the planet! All fans of sci-fi, Ewoks, Kos players, Storm-troopers, Androids and Super Heroes will be welcome.

The launch of the exhibition, ‘Star Wars and Me’ which lasts until 1st June, will take place on Saturday 23rd & Sunday 24th March from 10am – 5pm at the Arts Centre in King Street.

At the launch visitors will be able to mind-merge with Collector, Joe Robinson, encounter the Imperial Stormtroopers, the MK Garrison, straight from the Galactic Empire and snap up some sci-fi memorabilia from one of the inter-galactic merchants. There will be family fun with drop in activities and star gazing during the weekend.

There will also be a series of ‘Star Wars & Me’ workshops and free sci-fi film screenings, featurng some classic sci-fi movies that inspired or were inspired by the phenomenon of the original Star Wars trilogy.

The War of the Worlds (1953) Cert. PG
The classic 50s adaptation of H.G.Wells’ story. See the Earth invaded by Martians in dazzling technicolour along with one the best alien vehicle designs ever.
Sunday 24 March 2pm
Venue: Red Barn
Price: FREE

Outer Space Factory
Join us on Planet KLACT for some spectacular inter-galactic creations, making monsters, planets, robots and spaceships to take home.
Call 01553 779095 to book
Thursday 4 April 10.30am -12.30pm (ages 4 – 8) 1.30 – 3.30pm (ages 8 – 11)
Venue: Old Warehouse
Price: £6

Alien Animation & Green Screen Trickery
Utilising the technology of the ‘Star Wars’ films such as stop motion animation and green screen sequences to transport models into another dimension.
For ages 13 – 16
£20 call 01553 779095 to book
Thursday 11 April 10am – 4pm
Venue: Old Warehouse
Price: £20 call 01553 779095 to book

Masks, Head Dresses & Light Sabres
Come and make alien masks, Princess Leia’s head-dresses and light sabres to take away.
Call 01553 779095 to book
Saturday 20 April 10.30am – 12.30pm (ages 4 – 8) 1.30 – 3.30pm (ages 8 – 11)
Venue: Old Warehouse
Price: £6

Forbidden Planet (1956) Cert. U
A starship, an incredible robot, invisible monsters and the deadly mystery of a destroyed alien race. All accompanied by the most original music score of sci-fi. Dare you land on the Forbidden Planet?
Saturday 20 April 2pm
Venue: Red Barn
Price: FREE

IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE! Sci-Fi Movie Poster Making
Get some inspiration from the original film posters in the Fermoy Gallery and design and make your own sci-fi movie poster starring you or your family as the super hero or the evil alien! Take a printed copy away. No need to book – just drop in (entry at 30min intervals)
Saturday 27 April (every 30 mins from 10am – 4pm)
Venue: Old Warehouse
Price: £1

StarDome
The Star Dome is one of the longest established mobile planetariums in the UK and is also wheelchair/disability friendly. Embark on a journey of discovery millions of light years away, into the wonders of the night sky with a trip around our amazing solar system.
Saturday 4 May (Every hour from 10am to 3pm)
Venue: King’s Lynn Arts Centre
Price: £3.50 (2.50 for under 16s)

Daleks Invasion Earth 2150 A.D (1966) Cert. U
Dr Who’s second trip to the cinema finds him battling against the Daleks as they enslave the human race, plot to destroy the Earth and EXTERMINATE, EXTERMINATE, EXTERMINATE!
Saturday 4 May 2pm
Venue: Red Barn
Price: FREE

Starcrash (1979) Cert. PG
This Star Wars rip off is a classic for all the wrong reasons. Ninety minutes of such dreadfully bad cinema it has a must see it to believe it status. Cheap effects and feeble plot ensure you will laugh or cringe as this space voyage completely crashes. Completely silly and completely enjoyable – you have been warned.
Saturday 4 May 6.30pm
Venue: Red Barn
Price: FREE

Star Gazing with King’s Lynn and District Astronomy Society
Who needs to stay in and watch television when you can get a glimpse of celestial glory by taking a closer look at what is twinkling right over your head. The night sky provides an amazing spectacle that not many people get to see.
Saturday 11 May 8pm
Venue: King’s Lynn Arts Centre
Price: FREE – booking required: call 01553 779095

Space Sounds
Compose and record your own space soundscape. Musician Les Chappell will guide you through the technical know-how.
Suitable for 13 – 16 year olds. Call 01553 779095 to book.
Saturday 18 May 10am – 4pm
Venue: Old Warehouse
Price: £20

At the Earth’s Core (1976) Cert. PG
One of a series of minor 1970s British cult classics this rip roaring adventure has lost scientists fighting for survival in a kingdom below the Earth filled with fabulous landscapes, a beautiful princess and monstrous lizards.
Saturday 18 May 2pm
Venue: Red Barn
Price: FREE

Galaxy Quest (1999) Cert. PG
We lovingly poke fun at Star Trek, sci-fi and sci-fi fandom with this admired comedy which has the cast of a popular cancelled sci-fi TV series attending one science fiction convention too many. Accidently mistaken by aliens for the crew of a real spaceship the fun begins. Can sci-fi fans save the day?
Saturday 1 June 6.30pm
Venue: Red Barn
Price: FREE

King’s Lynn Arts Centre Trust is planning a railway exhibition, ‘Remembering West Norfolk by Rail’ during this August.

The exhibition will celebrate the railway network in West Norfolk and beyond. It is being held in memory of Bob Hammond, a real rail enthusiast and also a great friend to the Arts Centre.

The exhibition will be held in the Shakespeare Barn and will consist of rail memorabilia including signs, totems, photographs and more. The Trust is keen to hear from people who may have items they could lend to be exhibited or photographs that could be scanned and added to the collection. The trust is hoping to collect a significant railway archive for West Norfolk which will be a historical record for future generation.

The exhibition will cover all the rail lines that would have left both King’s Lynn and South Lynn, including Melton Constable, Wisbech, Norwich and Wells. the trust would also like people’s memories of travelling on these lines.

www.kingslynnarts.co.uk

Following in the success of its winter programme, King’s Lynn Arts Centre Trust Film Club will launch its new Spring Season with QUARTET next Wednesday.

Dustin Hoffman’s directorial debut – QUARTET, stars Tom Courtney & Billy Connolly as retired opera singers who annually put on a concert to celebrate Verdi’s birthday, however the arrival of Jean (Maggie Smith) disrupts the equilibrium.

The film club is committed to bringing great films to King’s Lynn that may not always go to the commercial cinemas. Each season comprises of four films, which are screened usually on the first Wednesday of the month.

For just £20 membership, you and a guest get to see four films.

The April screening will be HYDE PARK ON HUDSON, a biographical comedy-drama based on Margaret Suckley’s private journals about her love affair with President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Starring Bill Murray and Laura Linney.

Trust Director, Liz Falconbridge said:

‘There is a lot of enthusiasm for arts and culture locally and as we were constantly being asked about showing film we decided that there was a need to do something for local film lovers. The film club is an opportunity to come and enjoy a drink in the theatre bar and watch good films in a truly remarkable setting of the medieval Guildhall theatre’

The film club also arranges pre-film meals and other social events.

kingslynnarts.co.uk

The Shae Dons together with The Virgin Volz, The Chest Of Pogs, The Zoots and Genuine Fake will be appearing live at Kudos, Kings Lynn, on Friday 22nd February at 8:00pm, in Heat 3 of Battle of the Bands.

The King’s Lynn Arts Centre has received a welcome boost, after Norfolk County Council annnounced that they were cancelling a planned reduction in funding to the arts sector.

As part of the council’s Big Conversation the arts grants budget was due to be reduced by £49,000 in the coming financial year.

Liz Falconbridge, Director of the King’s Lynn Arts Centre Trust, said:
“As an independent trust the County Council funding is crucial to us.
It is not only a pot of funding, but it is also an endorsement that we are meeting cultural objectives at a county level, as well as at a King’s Lynn and West Norfolk level.”

Barry Stone, Norfolk County Council’s Cabinet member for Cultural Services, said:
“The council continues to make large savings and efficiencies in order to cope with reduced national funding, but despite this we have managed to avoid cutting the arts budget for the coming financial year.

“I am delighted that we’ve been able to maintain last year’s levels of funding, as investing in the arts brings huge benefits to Norfolk and its residents.”

In 2011-12, an investment of £288,480 by Norfolk County Council in arts organisations across Norfolk helped to generate a combined overall income to these organisations of £19,612,669 from a range of local, national, and international sources.

Investment in the arts helps sustain a strong and vibrant cultural offer which attracts visitors to Norfolk and raises the profile of the county nationally and internationally.

Councillor Stone added:
“The arts sector makes a significant contribution to the local economy through the creation of jobs, spend on locally sourced goods, and increased visitor spend on food, drink and accommodation.

“It also provides communities with access to quality activities in their area, boosting health and wellbeing and presenting them with a chance to develop new skills, both accredited and informal.

“Crucially, by investing in the arts, we also lever huge investment into Norfolk from a wide range of regional, national, and international sources.”

Debbie Thompson, Director of Sheringham Little Theatre, also voiced her support, saying:
“I am absolutely delighted to hear this news. Norfolk County Council’s valued support for the Little Theatre enables us to continue offering arts activities and events for the local community and visitors to our district.”

We couldn’t resist publishing this fab poster, advertising the Mind Art, photography and craft Exhibition in Heacham …

Tom Blofeld, creator of BeWILDerwood and author of the BeWILDerwood series of books, visited St Edmund’s School last Thursday.

He gave story readings from “The BeWILDerbats” to the 5-6 years olds from the Kingfishers class.

Tom then read stories and talked to the Peacocks class, a Mixed yr 3/4 class all aged between 7 & 9 years old, who all sent in ‘bats’ for the BeWILDerwood October Half Term bat competition.

Listen to Interview

All photos and interview by Alan T Shearer