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It's Stroud Fringe time

5:15pm Thursday 2nd September 2010

THE FINAL countdown to the Stroud Fringe 2010 has begun. Organisers are putting the finishing touches to a programme of music, street entertainment, poetry and more to take place across the town this weekend. Songwriter legend Nick Harper, ska sensations CCTV Allstars and folk starlet Jenna have been confirmed for the festival, and Wille and the Bandits will fill the Friday night headline slot after local band Superjuice pulled out. Operations and Marketing Director Freddie Whittaker said: “The excitement is building, and I’m sure this Fringe is going to be pretty amazing. “We’ve got some great headliners, in fact, all the bands playing are awesome, so the whole weekend is going to be cool. “It’s a shame Superjuice have pulled out, but Wille and the Bandits, who we are very excited about, are moving in to the Friday headline slot. Dear Winesburg, originally programmed for Sunday afternoon, has also been replaced by Johnny Barlow, from the band Amsterdam, after they were forced to pull out. Programmes are now on sale across Stroud for £1. Freddie said: “We took the decision to charge for them so we can raise enough cash to make sure next year’s event can go ahead and be bigger and better.” He added the organisers were adding another dimension this year, with more non-music events in the town than last year. He said: “Once again we’ve teamed up with World Jungle from Dursley to provide workshops and performance. “There will also be a procession, poetry, a fire show and more in and around the town centre. “We are especially excited about our club nights at The Space. Stroud-based DJs Mockers will team up with the legendary Richard Ballinger to run a night of fun from 9.30pm to 3am on Friday, and local actor Keith Allen will take charge on Saturday night.” Other acts on the bill for the main stage, in the Bank Gardens, include Thee Ones, Hot Feet, Professor Gumby, Laerie Faeires, Mr Witts, Zen Elephant, Inkerman Street, Dustmites, Aimee Bea, Jess Murray, The Crowd, Men Diamler, Ceilidh Jo and Amy Spencer. Other events over the weekend include a jazz festival at the Star Anise, Country Fayre at the Crown and Sceptre, annual beer festival at The Queen Victoria, Neutral Norway Poetry Collective at the Prince Albert, and jazz, soul, tapas and ales at Bar Nine. There will also be a Sunday mini farmers’ market in Cornhill with a bike-powered stage and an open mic stage in The Shambles on Friday and Saturday night. Freddie added: “Lotte and Miles from The Prince Albert have booked some amazing bands, singers and artists for our main stage. “We’re also incredibly pleased with the effort Stroud’s pubs, venues and promoters have put into their programmes for the weekend. Almost every pub in town is putting on music and more to support the fringe. “I know the weekend is going to be amazing. We’re all excited, and I’ve talked to so many people who are sharing that excitement with us. Everyone has worked so hard to make this work, and that’s what the Fringe is all about.”

Kalamkari at the Museum in the Park

2:28pm Thursday 26th August 2010

THREE textile artists from southern India will share their skills at a drop in family workshop at the Museum in the Park over the bank holiday weekend. The trio have been invited to Stroud for a month long exhibition at the museum, where they will bring a new flavour of textile art - that of the rich, hand painted vegetable and mineral dyed cotton textiles of Sri Kalahsti in Andra Pradesh. The exhibition will be the centre of a whole month of exploring another culture - its art, its stories, its faith, its language, its food and music. The parallels between Andra Pradesh and Stroud, in that both areas developed textile industries centred on flowing rivers, will also be highlighted. Kalamkari drop in family fun runs from Saturday to Monday at the Museum in the Park. For further details visit www.stroud-textile.org.uk

A lorra lorra laughs at the Albert

2:26pm Thursday 26th August 2010

PADDY Lennox will lead a host of funnymen for a night of laughs at The Prince Albert in Rodborough, on Tuesday, August 31. Paddy, well known on the comedy circuit with a performance at Edinburgh festival under his belt, will be joined on stage at the popular monthly event by Johnny Kats, Martin Brown, Chris Mead and compere Gary Colman. Landlady Lotte Lyster said: “The comedy night has been getting better and better each month, and we’re really looking forward to this one as a blast at the end of the bank holiday weekend. “Last month’s night was one of the best we’ve ever had, but I’m sure this one will be a great end to a long weekend of beer, food and fun.” The night will mark the end of the second Prince Albert Beer Festival this year, which will kick off on Friday, August 27.

Blues on a bike at Star Anise

2:24pm Thursday 26th August 2010

BLUES/roots singer songwriter Martin Harley is currently cycling his way from Newcastle to Cornwall, playing lots of gigs en route. And his 1500 mile musical tour of the National Cycle Network of Great Britain takes in Star Anise Cafe on Monday, August 30 at 7.30pm. By using only his bicycle and as much equipment as he can carry, he's hoping to help raise awareness of the Sustainable Transport Network's ongoing mission to reduce car journeys in the UK and to promote cycling as a healthy and green way to get around. He will be playing venues of all shapes and sizes, from concert halls to village halls along the way, performing 27 shows, travelling 1200 miles, all in 31 days. No stranger to adventure, Martin’s music has already taken him to some strange places, via unusual routes. In 2005, in the Himalayas, he broke the record for the world's highest ever gig above Mount Everest base camp, at a staggering 5545m above sea level. In 2007, in search of the roots of blues music, he motorcycled across Mali in Africa, jamming with musicians he met on the way.

Jazzy weekend at Star Anise Cafe

2:22pm Thursday 26th August 2010

JAZZ on the Fringe, three days of jazz at Star Anise Cafe and courtyard, opens on Friday, September 3 with Dom Franks' Strayhorn. Led by melodic post-bop saxist Dom Franks, the band play a blend of groove-heavy originals and jazz flavoured interpretations of pop hits. Also on the bill are the Lazy Susans, Paradiso, Inidigo Lounge and The Birdman of Alkijazz. Altogether 14 bands and performers will bring cool sounds to the yard across the Stroud Fringe Festival weekend. The music starts at 6pm on Friday, September 3 and closes on Sunday, September 5 with the closing party, where MC3 - Winners of the Budvar Brewed Jazz Competition at Cheltenham Jazz Festival 2010, will draw the festivities to a close.

Another beastly art exhibition

4:39pm Wednesday 18th August 2010

ANOTHER Beastly Art Exhibition is back after a break in 2009 with lots of new work to show. The three Gloucestershire artists are all inspired by nature and their styles combine to make a stunning display. Nat Morley’s bold, lively woodcut prints are full of movement, vitality and humour. Her work reflects a passionate interest in the natural world and in particular creatures with a bit of ‘attitude’ and aims to create bold, lively images. Nat specialises in relief printmaking and carves her blocks out of MDF, using lino cutting tools, and prints them by hand. Her ‘square series’ prints are now joined by some impressive larger works. Jeweller Hazel Morris produces unique, individually designed pieces of work inspired by the ancient cultures of her heritage - mainly Anglo-Saxon and now also Celtic design, and the natural forms within them; the pieces nevertheless have a very contemporary feel. Known for large bold one-off cast silver pieces and more delicate pieces alike, Hazel works in precious and mixed metals. All precious metal pieces are hallmarked. Commissions can also be taken. Jane Vernon works in textiles and ceramics. Her work all has an organic feel, from her cheerful functional pottery to brightly coloured wallhangings featuring fish, chickens and other animals. Don’t expect everything to be too homely, though, as Jane uses precious metal lustres on several of her pottery designs and the wallhangings are richly embellished with metallic threads, beads and sequins. This year Jane is also showing her new textile 'canvasses' where she returns to the themes of landscape and plants and, using silk painting and machine embroidery, makes pieces that take you to the heart of a French landscape or an English garden. Another Beastly Art Exhibition will be running bi-annually from now on. It runs from from Friday, August 20 to Monday, August 30, 10am to 6pm daily at Painswick town hall, Victoria Street, Painswick, GL6 6QA. Admission is free.

Mezzo soprano sings to help France Lynch church

4:37pm Wednesday 18th August 2010

AFTER nearly six years, mezzo-soprano Patricia Hammond is to give another concert in France Lynch, this time accompanied by talented young harpist Beatrice Marshall. Since Patricia's last appearance, which was at France Lynch parish church with Michael Brough on the organ, her engagements have taken her to Canada, her mother country, and Europe as well as all over the UK and Eire. Earlier this year she was interviewed on Radio 4 by Libby Purves on the subject of healing the elderly and terminally ill with music. She has also recorded a track on Sony's CD Down Memory Lane which was released in March. Beatrice is from a local musical family and is studying at the Purcell School of Music in London. She played the harp with the National Children's Orchestra of Great Britain, and is also a member of the National Youth Choir of Great Britain. The programme will include English, Scottish and Irish folk songs, some parlour favourites including I Dreamt I Dwelt in Marble Halls and Home Sweet Home, as well as Handel and Mendelssohn... and there will be a surprise item. Tickets are available from Jane Calvert on 01453 731054 or on the door if space is available for £10 to include refreshments. Takes place at France Lynch church rooms at 7.30pm on, Friday, August 20 - doors open at 7pm and funds will go towards the church rooms improvement scheme.

Stroud High School Sixth Form student Sadie Hale reviews new release film Knight and Day.

4:00pm Tuesday 17th August 2010

TOM Cruise is back in all his dark and handsome glory starring as the slightly insane but charming spy Roy Miller in action comedy Knight and Day.

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Mosaic making at the museum

11:59am Wednesday 4th August 2010

INSPIRED by the innovative and fantastical work of artist Cleo Mussi, the Museum in the Park has invited Gloucestershire mosaic artist Erica Bibbins to run some special workshops to accompany Cleo’s fabulous Pharma's Market mosaic installation currently showing this Summer. Budding artists can join Erica at the Museum on Tuesday, August 17 and create their very own mosaic tile, using traditional techniques and professional tools. Erica's work is inspired by nature and by the rich Roman mosaics of Gloucestershire. She has been making mosaics and running workshops for many years, and has just returned from Art in Action at Waterperry House, Oxfordshire, one of the longest running art and craft festivals in the UK. “I try to fill my work with light and movement and love the fact that mosaic has such a rich history yet is still widely enjoyed today,” said Erica. The mosaic making workshops are suitable for children and young people aged 10 and over, and take place at the Museum on Tuesday, August 17, at the special price of just £7 per student. Booking is necessary - call 01453 763394. Pharma's Market, a livestock and produce show by Cleo Mussi continues until August 21.

Motor bike parks up at the museum

11:42am Wednesday 4th August 2010

THE British Motorcycle Charitable Trust has presented a 1929 motorcycle and sidecar to The Museum in the Park on long term loan. Built by Baughan Motors of Stroud, it won many motorcycle trials between 1929 and 1946 and was so successful that in 1935 the company boasted that it was barred from a number of important events on the grounds that was not possible for other machines to win. The secret of its success was that the engine drove the sidecar wheel, as well as the rear wheel, and gave it exceptional grip on mud and grass. The motorcycle was restored by Graham Stagg, whose father became Baughan Motors first apprentice in 1924. At the same time as the motorcycle was handed over, the British Motorcycle Charitable Trust also presented a donation of £500 to the Gloucestershire Air Ambulance. John Kidson, a trustee of the British Motorcycle Charitable Trust, said: "We exists to preserve and promote public understanding and enjoyment of our motorcycling heritage. We are pleased that this machine can now be seen and appreciated close to where it was made and had such great sporting success."

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