Tongues & Grooves | |
Mon 28 Feb 2011 Portsmouth, not traditionally thought of as a cultural city, can boast a new poet laureate and many up and coming artistic events on the horizon writes Lynda Berry LiTTLe MACHiNe an alternative and lyrical band from London, were a new discovery for the gathering. Well known and famous poetry was rearranged into laconic but emotive modern songs. Their clear voices rang out the verses of great poems by Yeats, Carol Ann Duffy, and Byron. A great variety of voices had the courage to take part on the open mic. Joanne Blandfold, a twenty-eight year old with intellectual disabilities, read from her collection, ’The Best You Can Be’, for the first time in public. Her brave and heartfelt performance enriched the evening. She really was the best she could be and the audience were grateful. Another up and coming new voice on the open mic was Paul Macklin, a twenty-four year old studying creative writing at Portsmouth University. Reading a poem he had recently written called So what can I do? His was a stirring voice in the gloom of economic recession. His second poem was entitled 'Just for this moment' from his new collection Letters of Neon. He read expressively and well with much encouragement from the audience. Audi Maserati, legendary performance poet, made a lively contribution to the open mic. Once again he drew laughter from the audience and even singing. At the end of the night, LiTTle Machines were encored by souls moved to the new beat of poetry and rhyme. Their encore, a punk version of ‘This Be The Verse’, resonated with many members of the audience. Tongues and Grooves returns soon with Mike Barlow, National Poetry Competition Winner, and four piece folk/roots group The Sweet Believers. Lynda Berry is a young writer and blogger for the Hub. http://www.nawe.co.uk/DB/reports/tongues-and-grooves.html | |
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Tongues & Grooves Mon 28 Feb 2011
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Article for Portsmouth Meeting Open Day
Portsmouth Quaker Meeting warmly invite you and your family to an Open Day being held on the Saturday 16th October 2010. 10.30am – 3.30pm.
All faiths and none are welcome to come and ask questions about the Religious Society of Friends. We will be holding a half an hour meeting for worship at 2 pm, along with displays on the topic of Quakerism and its influence in society. There will be refreshments will be available, with tea and coffee throughout the day with soup served at lunchtime.
If you ever considered Quakerism here is the perfect opportunity to take that curiosity one stage further and ask questions to members of Portsmouth Meeting who will be happy to answer your questions.
Quakers are unified not by beliefs but by silent worship, and the recognition of ‘that of God in everyone‘. As a consequence anyone attending a meeting is free to give ministry as we have no professional clergy.
Quakers believe in a ‘way’, and in putting our faith into action, as opposed to subscribing to dogmas or doctrine. As a consequence the Quaker faith allows for great diversity forming a strong foundation upon which The Religious Society of Friends have made an enormous contribution to society far beyond its size.
The projects run by the Religious Society tackle violence and injustice in society to opposing international wars. The commitment to opposing violence and working for peace on all levels uses non violent means of resistance and action. The Quaker commitment to non violence stems from our spiritual commitment to ’answer to that of God in everyone’.
At Portsmouth Meeting our previous clerk took part in the Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI). His role was to monitor and report on violations of human rights and to offer a non violent presence, immensely powerful in the potentially volatile area of the Palestine and Israel border.
Portsmouth Quaker Meeting are interested in furthering our social outreach and would welcome contacts from other groups who are active in the community and share our outlook and ethos.
Everyone, including children and young people, are warmly welcome to the Open Day.
Our Meeting House is 25 Northwood Road, Hilsea, PO2 9QT. We meet for worship every Sunday at 10.30 am with tea and coffee served afterwards.
Contact Peter Higgins for further details Peter Higgins Tel: 02392 263499 Email: portsmouth@hampshirequakers.org.uk
Published: The Newshttp://www.portsmouth.co.uk/newshome/Peace-and-violence-talks-at.6580778.jp
All faiths and none are welcome to come and ask questions about the Religious Society of Friends. We will be holding a half an hour meeting for worship at 2 pm, along with displays on the topic of Quakerism and its influence in society. There will be refreshments will be available, with tea and coffee throughout the day with soup served at lunchtime.
If you ever considered Quakerism here is the perfect opportunity to take that curiosity one stage further and ask questions to members of Portsmouth Meeting who will be happy to answer your questions.
Quakers are unified not by beliefs but by silent worship, and the recognition of ‘that of God in everyone‘. As a consequence anyone attending a meeting is free to give ministry as we have no professional clergy.
Quakers believe in a ‘way’, and in putting our faith into action, as opposed to subscribing to dogmas or doctrine. As a consequence the Quaker faith allows for great diversity forming a strong foundation upon which The Religious Society of Friends have made an enormous contribution to society far beyond its size.
The projects run by the Religious Society tackle violence and injustice in society to opposing international wars. The commitment to opposing violence and working for peace on all levels uses non violent means of resistance and action. The Quaker commitment to non violence stems from our spiritual commitment to ’answer to that of God in everyone’.
At Portsmouth Meeting our previous clerk took part in the Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI). His role was to monitor and report on violations of human rights and to offer a non violent presence, immensely powerful in the potentially volatile area of the Palestine and Israel border.
Portsmouth Quaker Meeting are interested in furthering our social outreach and would welcome contacts from other groups who are active in the community and share our outlook and ethos.
Everyone, including children and young people, are warmly welcome to the Open Day.
Our Meeting House is 25 Northwood Road, Hilsea, PO2 9QT. We meet for worship every Sunday at 10.30 am with tea and coffee served afterwards.
Contact Peter Higgins for further details Peter Higgins Tel: 02392 263499 Email: portsmouth@hampshirequakers.org.uk
Published: The Newshttp://www.portsmouth.co.uk/newshome/Peace-and-violence-talks-at.6580778.jp
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Tongues and Grooves Review July 25th 2010
Last months Tongues and Grooves had a drop of darkness in the atmosphere as Paul Birtill, was the night's must see act. Birtill described as an anti laureate, read from his lastest book, Paul Birtill's Collected Poems, with a dryness befitting of the themes of his poems.
Birtill's poetry, written with complete black humour, is daring in his openness and cynicism. Birtill cracked many a rib, with one member of the audience not knowing whether to laugh or to cry.
The evening was characterised by both light and dark tones with Mike Loveday as guest poet and 'Tangle' the headline for the music. Mike Loveday, editor of 14 Magazine, the guest poet of the evening, was described by Maggie Sawkins as an antidote to Paul Birtill.
'Tangle' lightened the mood with their romantic signature tune 'Tangle' performed in harmony. 'Tangle', Angie Sanders and John Bentley, are rapidly gaining popularity of the Portsmouth acoustic scene with their wide repertoire and beautiful harmonies. Special guests for the music were Sue Apicella and Barry Rhea performing well loved folk tunes. Janet Ayers contributed a haunting version of 'Will you Go Lassie Go (Wild Mountain Thyme)', a beautiful Irish song.
Open mic was varied with first time performers Sam Cox with a rap to a accompanied drum beat on the dehumanisation encountered in modern living. Lynda Berry, myself, performed Empty is the Gallery a poem written in the PUSH creative writing class where I volunteered. Amando made another performance of his meaningful poetry on the themes of parenthood.
On the whole the short poetry of the open mic was well received, however longer poems were less well received and it is useful for potentail open mic readers to bear in mind that shorter poems hold the attention of the audience and give a better impression of the skill of the poet.
A thoughtful night was had by all. Tongues and Grooves is on leave for a month until Sunday 26th September, when the musician Nick Molyneux will headline.
.
Birtill's poetry, written with complete black humour, is daring in his openness and cynicism. Birtill cracked many a rib, with one member of the audience not knowing whether to laugh or to cry.
The evening was characterised by both light and dark tones with Mike Loveday as guest poet and 'Tangle' the headline for the music. Mike Loveday, editor of 14 Magazine, the guest poet of the evening, was described by Maggie Sawkins as an antidote to Paul Birtill.
'Tangle' lightened the mood with their romantic signature tune 'Tangle' performed in harmony. 'Tangle', Angie Sanders and John Bentley, are rapidly gaining popularity of the Portsmouth acoustic scene with their wide repertoire and beautiful harmonies. Special guests for the music were Sue Apicella and Barry Rhea performing well loved folk tunes. Janet Ayers contributed a haunting version of 'Will you Go Lassie Go (Wild Mountain Thyme)', a beautiful Irish song.
Open mic was varied with first time performers Sam Cox with a rap to a accompanied drum beat on the dehumanisation encountered in modern living. Lynda Berry, myself, performed Empty is the Gallery a poem written in the PUSH creative writing class where I volunteered. Amando made another performance of his meaningful poetry on the themes of parenthood.
On the whole the short poetry of the open mic was well received, however longer poems were less well received and it is useful for potentail open mic readers to bear in mind that shorter poems hold the attention of the audience and give a better impression of the skill of the poet.
A thoughtful night was had by all. Tongues and Grooves is on leave for a month until Sunday 26th September, when the musician Nick Molyneux will headline.
.
Opera in the Park Saturday 31st July 2010
Victoria Park was inundated with a large crowd eagerly anticipating the evening’s entertainment. The weather was fine and the sky was clear, perfect for those that brought a picnic. Opera in the Park was organised by Portsmouth City Council and this year they invited the Opera Company Hatstand Opera to take centre stage with 'Golden Moments from Opera' with frivolous results.
The mezzo soprano and compère Kirsty Young introduced the performers and guided the audience through the night's experience with great humour and character.
The opera highlights opened with
Another notable highlight was 'La ci darem' from the Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart opera 'Don Giovanni' which includes the ‘most famous chat up line in opera’, 'You lay your hand in mine, dear'[1]. The words being spoken by a wealthy lord to a young woman about to be married to a peasant in the hope she will elope with him.
Well explained and light hearted throughout one of the last numbers of the evening was a classic from the valleys, Tom Jones’s Delia, performed by the tenor Richard Lloyd Owen, soprano Toni Nunn and mezzo soprano Kirsty Young. The performance was true to Owen’s welsh roots.
The final piece was '
[1] Translated fully as ‘There we will entwine our hands’.
http://www.aboutmyarea.co.uk/Hampshire/Portsmouth/PO6/News/Reviews-and-Features/172244-Opera-in-the-Park-Review-by-Lynda-Berrry
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Nightmares and Fairytales at the Artspace Gallery
Friday evening, I joined a well sized group audience for the one night only viewing of Nightmares and Fairytales, held at Art Space (Brougham Road, Southsea). The chilling, yet thrilling exhibition of the drawings and poetry from the twisted imagination of Anna Mathewson, intertwined with Steve Bomford's exploration of her imaginary world through his photography. Building on the success at the Chichester Summer Art show in the Oxmarket Arts Centre last month the exhibit is now on tour.
I will admit to some inhibitions when first entering the gallery, however, I quickly became fixated by the detail and care with which the art had been presented.
The room held the blown up versions of the Anna's work as well as Anna's own personal sketchbook, really impressing upon me the bravery of the artist in allowing the audience so close to their private world. Furniture and books, including two copies of Alice in Wonderland, from Anna's bedroom was used to recreate the authentic room from her own home, true to the artist.
I felt I was truly invited down the rabbit hole of Anna's world with its surprises, illusions and dark humour. Curated excellently by Jan Williams and Daniel O'Neill, Nightmares and Fairytales will hopefully continue to impress further audiences.
I felt I was truly invited down the rabbit hole of Anna's world with its surprises, illusions and dark humour. Curated excellently by Jan Williams and Daniel O'Neill, Nightmares and Fairytales will hopefully continue to impress further audiences.
Published in AboutmyArea:
http://www.aboutmyarea.co.uk/Hampshire/Portsmouth/PO6/News/Reviews-and-Features/171773-Nightmares-and-Fariytales-A-Review-by-Lynda-Berry
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Sprout Night Concert, New Threatre Royla, Wednesday 21st July 2010
Another fantastic night for local talent!
On Wedneday evening the Sprout Concert for emerging local talent was held at the New Threatre Royal. The main poet of the evening was the legendary Donald Gardner, the Amsterdam beat poet who kindly came over from Amsterdam to give his eagerly awaited Tongues and Grooves performance, demonstrating to the 'Sprouts' how it is done.
Maggie Sawkins and Bernard MacDonagh, gave a Irish-folk flavoured performance. Sawkins read her poems on the theme of silence which were interspersed with folk and original tunes from MacDonagh on the button accordion. This was the same performance given as the warm up for Caro Ann Duffy at the Chichester Creative Writing Conference this year, and was praised by the poet laureate herself as 'brilliant'.
Alastair Mansfield, a former naval chaplin, gave an amusing reading before the first 'Sprouts' took to the stage for their first readings. The nerves were running high for these first time perfromers, but the 'Sprouts' came through with flying colours.
The music was a real treat with three great female singers, from the up and coming Krystyna Jankowska, to the more experienced Janet Ayers and Sue Apicella. Jankowska, accompanied by Chris Collier on acoustic guitar,gave heart felt performances of her own work in Polish and English, and covers of Nona Jones and John Lennon's 'Imagine', sending shivers down my heart strings. Janet Ayers, natural voice practitioner, performed with her usual confidence and fabulous comic timing. Ayers was the personality of the event, rivaling Donald Gardner fantastic performance. Sue Apicella performed traditional folk music in the key of 'D'! A running joke that lasted throughout the night ('what key is it in? D!')
After Saturday's creative writing class with Maggie Sawkins and Wendy French, the 'Sprouts' were ready to launch their poems on a well sized audience. Eleven people took to the stage, sometimes for the very first time, to read their poems polished and honed by the experience of Wendy French and Maggie Sawkins. Donald Gardener, commented on how impressed he was with the quality of the poetry performed by the 'Sprouts', though wondered with typical humour, whether the 'Sprouts' appreciated their name (himself of course being the 'Amsterdam sprout, a joke that did not make it to the evenings performance).
Gardener's performance of 'Train Drain' was executed with great style, inspired , undoubtedly, by the courage and enthusiasm of the 'sprouts'.
The night was rounded off with a musical finale lead by Janet Ayers singing 'Happy Birthday' for Maggie Sawkins. Another great night for local talent!
On Wedneday evening the Sprout Concert for emerging local talent was held at the New Threatre Royal. The main poet of the evening was the legendary Donald Gardner, the Amsterdam beat poet who kindly came over from Amsterdam to give his eagerly awaited Tongues and Grooves performance, demonstrating to the 'Sprouts' how it is done.
Maggie Sawkins and Bernard MacDonagh, gave a Irish-folk flavoured performance. Sawkins read her poems on the theme of silence which were interspersed with folk and original tunes from MacDonagh on the button accordion. This was the same performance given as the warm up for Caro Ann Duffy at the Chichester Creative Writing Conference this year, and was praised by the poet laureate herself as 'brilliant'.
Alastair Mansfield, a former naval chaplin, gave an amusing reading before the first 'Sprouts' took to the stage for their first readings. The nerves were running high for these first time perfromers, but the 'Sprouts' came through with flying colours.
The music was a real treat with three great female singers, from the up and coming Krystyna Jankowska, to the more experienced Janet Ayers and Sue Apicella. Jankowska, accompanied by Chris Collier on acoustic guitar,gave heart felt performances of her own work in Polish and English, and covers of Nona Jones and John Lennon's 'Imagine', sending shivers down my heart strings. Janet Ayers, natural voice practitioner, performed with her usual confidence and fabulous comic timing. Ayers was the personality of the event, rivaling Donald Gardner fantastic performance. Sue Apicella performed traditional folk music in the key of 'D'! A running joke that lasted throughout the night ('what key is it in? D!')
After Saturday's creative writing class with Maggie Sawkins and Wendy French, the 'Sprouts' were ready to launch their poems on a well sized audience. Eleven people took to the stage, sometimes for the very first time, to read their poems polished and honed by the experience of Wendy French and Maggie Sawkins. Donald Gardener, commented on how impressed he was with the quality of the poetry performed by the 'Sprouts', though wondered with typical humour, whether the 'Sprouts' appreciated their name (himself of course being the 'Amsterdam sprout, a joke that did not make it to the evenings performance).
Gardener's performance of 'Train Drain' was executed with great style, inspired , undoubtedly, by the courage and enthusiasm of the 'sprouts'.
The night was rounded off with a musical finale lead by Janet Ayers singing 'Happy Birthday' for Maggie Sawkins. Another great night for local talent!
(To be Published by the Young Writer's Hub, Editor Wes Brown).
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Tongues and Grooves Review Sunday 27th June 2010
On the last Sunday of the month the Florence Inn, Southsea's best kept secret, is home to another of Southsea's gems on the cultural scene. Last Sunday was a great night for local poetry talent.
The local open mic night invites anyone who considers themselves a poet or musician, to share their work with like minded people and enjoy the talents of others.
The performances varied from those familiar with Tongues and Grooves open mic to the less experienced, taking their first steps in reading their poetry to an audience.
For the music lovers, the music of the night was provided by Deanne Burch, a young artist with a wide repertoire from Toris Amos and the Buzzcocks to her own compositions. One of the open mic poets found it difficult to follow Deanne Burch's soothing voice!
Stephen Boyle, the night's featured poet, gave a sensual performance from his full length anthology, 'Desire Lines'.
Fantastic contributions were made by Maggie Sawkins and Denise Bennett, both recently returned from the Poetry and Voice creative and critical conference at The University of Chichester held with the poet laureate, Caroline Ann Duffy.
If you are local and have a love for poetry and music, the next Tongues and Grooves will be held on Sunday July 25th, doors open at 7.30 pm. The featured poets will be Paul Birtil and Mike Loveday. For further details email enquiries@tongues-and-grooves.org.uk.
Published on AboutMyArea Website 12th July 2010 http://www.aboutmyarea.co.uk/site/nl_display.asp?area=47&i=3154+
The local open mic night invites anyone who considers themselves a poet or musician, to share their work with like minded people and enjoy the talents of others.
The performances varied from those familiar with Tongues and Grooves open mic to the less experienced, taking their first steps in reading their poetry to an audience.
For the music lovers, the music of the night was provided by Deanne Burch, a young artist with a wide repertoire from Toris Amos and the Buzzcocks to her own compositions. One of the open mic poets found it difficult to follow Deanne Burch's soothing voice!
Stephen Boyle, the night's featured poet, gave a sensual performance from his full length anthology, 'Desire Lines'.
Fantastic contributions were made by Maggie Sawkins and Denise Bennett, both recently returned from the Poetry and Voice creative and critical conference at The University of Chichester held with the poet laureate, Caroline Ann Duffy.
If you are local and have a love for poetry and music, the next Tongues and Grooves will be held on Sunday July 25th, doors open at 7.30 pm. The featured poets will be Paul Birtil and Mike Loveday. For further details email enquiries@tongues-and-grooves.org.uk.
Published on AboutMyArea Website 12th July 2010 http://www.aboutmyarea.co.uk/site/nl_display.asp?area=47&i=3154+
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