http://www.stroudnewsandjournal.co.uk/leisure/whatson/ Stroud News and Journal /leisure/whatson/ en-gb Fri, 03 Jul 2009 15:33:15 +0100 Fri, 03 Jul 2009 15:33:15 +0100 http://www.stroudnewsandjournal.co.uk/leisure/whatson/rssterms/ M6 nvincent@newsquest.co.uk (Nigel Vincent) webmaster@digitalmedia.newsquest.co.uk (Tim Joy) http://www.stroudnewsandjournal.co.uk/resources/images/544341/?type=rsslogo http://www.stroudnewsandjournal.co.uk/leisure/whatson/ http://www.stroudnewsandjournal.co.uk/leisure/whatson/4468890.The_best_thing_since_sliced_bread/?ref=rss Review Mockers at The Lockeepers THE expression ‘the best thing since sliced bread’ doesn’t sum up much for me, as I’m not that interested in sliced bread. But if I was, then the name ‘Mockers’ would fit very well at the start of that phrase. Mockers at The Lockeepers is one of those great partnerings, where venue and DJs dovetail into a seamless perfection, returning Saturday night to its once assured position of climax of the week. The Lockeepers is small, cave-like and fairy lit. Mockers’ music is dark and groovy, and quite often French. Hosts DJ Nick and DJ Pav are vinyl explorers, sharing their finds from years spent hacking their way through the vinyl jungle. The pair create a wall-flower defying set, resulting in a dance floor that undoes inhibition in all who set foot on it. But sadly it’s a case of say hello and wave goodbye. The Lockkeepers is soon to close down, and these nights will become a thing of the past. And it just doesn’t seem right. Matty Airey. Wed, 01 Jul 2009 13:55:56 +0100 a6f8eb261b7093c5fe1c54e3f40772cd http://www.stroudnewsandjournal.co.uk/leisure/whatson/4468885.Bovine_funsters_hometown_hoedown/?ref=rss Review The Mad Cows The Prince Albert in Rodborough. BEING new to Stroud and all things Stroudy, I was not familiar with local legends The Mad Cows and had never visited The Prince Albert. Mentioning to people throughout the week that I was going to see this bovine band I realised that I was possibly the only person in Stroud uninitiated in the ways of The Mad Cows.   I was told to expect a night of raucous revelry, bad taste and good humour. Stepping into the Prince Albert felt like popping round to a mate's house, all homely, rustic and reassuringly friendly. Front man Hamish greets me and my pal enthusiastically and explains that tonight is a warm up for Glastonbury Festival and that they will be performing their rarely heard love songs. The plan is to play requited love and unrequited love songs alternately. Unexpectedly, tonight’s acoustic set is not so much raucous and rowdy but more intimate and warm, with plenty of humorous banter from Hamish. It feels like a late night campfire jam, with all the family, friends and a few random stragglers gathered round for a traditional cider swilling sesh of ye good old days. The songs were by turns touching and ridiculous though the musicianship is faultless and Hamish is an engaging and entertaining front-man. Roll on Glastonbury - you know this merry band of bovine brothers are going to have the cosiest fire, the best beer and the friendliest of festival festivities. Milly Moo Wed, 01 Jul 2009 13:53:34 +0100 71971a24d5e8fea7c056f549da97ff5a http://www.stroudnewsandjournal.co.uk/leisure/whatson/4468898.Paintings_make_visible_Gina_s_interior_landscape/?ref=rss FRESH flowers and abstract paintings sit side by side as Chalford florists Gather Me Flowers become an exhibition space for the work of artist Gina Parr. "I like my work to convey a bold atmosphere, a mood, a scent of emotion, all of which can be read in whichever way is chosen by the viewer. This can become a trigger in itself for their own emotions, thoughts and memories,” she said. Gina is not interested in making faithful representations of places and events, but rather views the action of painting as making visible her internal landscape. For the last 25 years Gina has enjoyed a career as a TV set designer, with credits including Shooting Stars, Goodness Gracious Me, The Brit Awards, The Royal Variety Performance, Mercury Music Prize and major BBC Sports events. But now she has returned to her first love, painting, which she does from her North London home. Her work is inspired by memories of past events, childhood, family, places lived in and visited and working life. Gina Parr's work is at Gather Me Flowers, London Road, Chalford until August 31. Wed, 01 Jul 2009 13:58:41 +0100 883f16ee67183322c190f76474836df3 http://www.stroudnewsandjournal.co.uk/leisure/whatson/4468876.Tell_us_your_story__Rory/?ref=rss Tell us your story, Rory Wed, 01 Jul 2009 13:49:11 +0100 3449c25544fff15342818eb4eed214e7 http://www.stroudnewsandjournal.co.uk/leisure/whatson/4468867.Sharp_suits_and_an_old_coat___Rick_s_threads_tell_his_story/?ref=rss Sharp suits and an old coat - Rick's threads tell his story Wed, 01 Jul 2009 13:45:10 +0100 9a88bff3c8ec5e6a7d10816dabaae7ed http://www.stroudnewsandjournal.co.uk/leisure/whatson/4446414.Wychwood_Why_wood_Who_wood_/?ref=rss Wychwood?Why-wood?Who-wood? Thu, 18 Jun 2009 15:02:52 +0100 f09427a9e07df9fdd0aa0fccbfd2a37d http://www.stroudnewsandjournal.co.uk/leisure/whatson/4429658.Artists__work_tends_to_complement_each_other/?ref=rss Artists' work tends to complement each other Wed, 10 Jun 2009 11:23:16 +0100 a3b09db852d94ff009ab102053eb1441 http://www.stroudnewsandjournal.co.uk/leisure/whatson/4429675.Bless_em/?ref=rss THE Blessing play site09 with a punk-jazz set in the Acoustic Ladyland vein on Saturday. Their debut album All is Yes won the BBC Jazz Album of the Year last year and their new album Bugs in the Amber has just been released. Mixing hard edged bass riffs, blasting horns, electronic trickery with massive drumming, their songs are an explosion of jazz, all wrapped up in a rather unusual sense of humour. The Blessing, Stroud Valleys Artspace, John Street, Stroud, 10pm. Tickets cost £8/£6.50 and are available from Kane's records or by calling 01453 751440. A special two gig ticket is available for The Blessing and John Hegley, an exceptional mix of poetry and punk jazz, £12.50/£10.50. Wed, 10 Jun 2009 11:25:52 +0100 90facfe2f4ca3c100bfe1708cbc7808b http://www.stroudnewsandjournal.co.uk/leisure/whatson/4429631.Creative_clinic_in_the_gazebo/?ref=rss DO YOU remember the Charlie Brown cartoons? Lucy, one of the characters, used to sit in a little booth and advise people on their problems. When I heard of artists Alice Hodge and Ralph Macartney’s plans for open studios, I was reminded of Lucy and her booth. As part of open studios this weekend, Alice and Ralph, collectively known as Argh, are setting up a Creative Clinic in a gazebo at Blackboy House, Castle Street, Stroud. “Uncannily I do look just like Lucy, and Ralph is the spitting image of Charlie Brown,” says Alice. Visitors to the clinic will be encouraged to talk about creative blocks, sporting ambitions, ideas, personal problems, affairs of the heart, or anything else they want to. After the consultation, Alice and Ralph will confer whilst the client is given some appropriate reading matter, which will vary from an art theory book, to a cook book, a body building magazine, a comic, to a football annual, or Horse and Hound magazine. Alice and Ralph will then dispense a creative prescription, free of charge. This could be anything from recommending a packet of felt tip pens, to chewing gum, a walk to take, a particular book to read, a suggested hobby, music to listen to, a sport to watch, a meal to cook, a pet buy, a phone call to make, a card to send, a photograph to take, or a holiday being in order. Argh's Creative Clinic is at Blackboy House, Castle Street, Stroud, Saturday and Sunday, 11am-4pm, (part of site09 open studios), and also next weekend. Entry free. Wed, 10 Jun 2009 11:18:30 +0100 5a9a3deb1985da24795fe92fb65f24fa http://www.stroudnewsandjournal.co.uk/leisure/whatson/4429644.Holy_men_reborn_as_rivers_meet/?ref=rss A UNIQUE film providing a window into the world of India’s holymen, is to be shown in Stroud this weekend. Ganga Ma Shiva Om, a film made by Stroud artist, Fish who travelled to the Ardh Kumbh Mela in India is to be shown at Stroud Valleys Artspace on Sunday June 14. The film screening will be accompanied by live music from Tribe of One. The Kumbh Mela is a mass Hindu pilgrimage which occurs four times every twelve years and rotates among four locations. In January 2007, more than 70 million Hindu pilgrims took part in the Ardh Kumbh Mela at Allahabad, the site where the rivers Ganga and Yamuna and mythical Saraswati river converge. “The belief is that when you bathe on this specific date, due to the movements of Jupiter , your sins are washed away, and you are cleansed and reborn,” explained Fish. Fish’s film centres on the Sadhus , or holy men, who travel from all over India to take part in a ritual bathe in the rivers. “My interest was in their total renounciation of all worldly goods. They have very few possessions and many live in caves in the Himalaya and meditate for most of the day.” The film shows the build up to the Kumbh Mela and Ardh Mela in 2007 and features a procession of one of the largest groups of sadhus, the nagababas, or naked sadhus, returning from the ritual bathe in the morning. Ganga Ma Shiva Om will be shown at SVA on John Street, Stroud on Sunday June 14. The event starts at 8pm and there will also be music from Chardash, as well as a tabla performance by tabla Tom. Tickets are £4. Wed, 10 Jun 2009 11:20:39 +0100 0c48465097fd54a2aad6847476e7b784