Plumstead Live! 2016

The aroma of anticipation is in the air as the good folk o' the Shire plan their picnics, for Sunday is Plumstead Live! day.

For those who have recently moved to this green and pleasant village of Plumsteadshire, Plumstead Live is like Glyndebourne without the champagne and stuffiness. Here, the music is relaxed and it's an excellent opportunity to meet your neighbours. It's always a lovely atmosphere at this event so come and enjoy.

Fingers crossed that it may not rain for one day this Summer.

Dancing to the sound of silence

Being 256 years old, I sometimes struggle to keep up with the latest trends. Steam locomotives were quite go-ahead, shooting rockets in to space seemed rather a novel idea but it happens all the time now, and I hoped that flared trousers could stay forever.

Something I simply don't understand is the idea of a discotheque, not any old discotheque, but one where one listens to popular music whilst wearing headphones. I thought a discotheque was to enjoy dancing with other people? Look at these swingers having a gay time.

This new fangled headphone discotheque is called a Silent Disco (I am getting more confused), it is real and happening in neighbouring Greenwich. Thank the Lord God not in The Shire. It is happening on Friday 2nd October 2015 at The Cutty Sark. I don't think you'll need to bring your own wax cylinders, but do contact the organisers if you should so need.

Click here to buy your tickets.

Plumstead Live

Unfortunately for us, The Plumstead Common Colliery Band had to pull out of the Plumstead Live Festival today at the last minute. Such a shame, but it was an excellent day nonetheless.

In its' short existence, Plumstead Live has already taken root in the local cultural calendar and this primarily comes down to the strength of the organisers, but it also shows the strength of the community, that this event helps make The Shire a special corner of London.

I want Plumstead Live to grow, but actually I want it to grow really slowly as I think it should be about the music and not about convoys of food vans¹.

-

footnote

1 - I am only assuming that attracting commercial businesses brings in a little money to help fund the event.

Plumstead Live!

I haven't had any time to write about the Plumstead Live! event last Sunday and don't really have time to do it now either, but just to say how much I enjoyed the music; every performance was top notch.

The Plumstead Sinfonia kicked things off in style and I was particularly pleased that they'd included some Philip Glass in their set. The kids from Plumstead Manor School were amazing, especially the acapella. Anyway, I could go on, but it would be a lot of repetition and sound like I'm patting everyone on the back for the sake of it. Not so. I genuinely thought all the music was brilliant. There was a group on at the end who were playing South African music (?). Really, really fab way to end the event.

Not Plumstead Live! but you get the idea.

A great pity the rain tipped down, but it didn't dampen the atmosphere at all. Fingers crossed that the weather will be good for next year's event.

I'm not too sure who were the event organisers, but Nick Day (of PCEG fame), seems to be a big player in this, so Nick thank you so much for putting on an incredible day of live music in The Shire.

Malcolm McLaren

I never did like punk, but oddly I really liked Malcolm McLaren, however I liked his Duck Rock and Paris phases, which weren't punk at all [Dr Pangloss' stream of consciousness blogging, hence contradicting oneself in one single sentence - ed.].

MM passed away today and I feel a tiny loss, which is slightly odd as I've never met him. The two albums mentioned above have been in my record collection for decades and still get played. They've stayed with me as I've moved through different musical phases.

Once, I was on a flight from Charles De Gaulle with MM. I wasn't WITH him, but he was a few rows away, and I just wanted to tell him that I absolutely love Duck Rock. I didn't but always wish I did.

Free music

I thought I'd lug my battery operated portable computer to the Albany Theatre in Deptford. Familia Pangloss are enjoying some Sunday family theatre, but I've got enough work to keep me going 'til pension day so I've settled down in the café.

Have fired up the BOPC and the band are limbering up. It's a Poetry, African vibes fusion. Absolutely mesmeric.

Must get back to work.

Plumstead Live! Deuxième partie

I've had a posting from one lovely listener who is requesting musical talent for this year's Plumstead Live! event (see below). I went along to last year's and thoroughly enjoyed myself, not only that but I also felt really proud to live in The Shire. There are quite alot of people who really care about this little corner of London, and within this community, there are people who drive the way forward and make things happen in Plumsteadshire. We should count ourselves really lucky to have these members of our community, as without them there is no community.

Enough of that. Read on.

Hi everyone,

We are in the early stages of Planning Plumstead Live! which will be held on the 18th July 2010. We are looking for a local professional band to complete the programme. If you have any suggestions please can you email me (at ginaclatworthy@hotmail.com) the name of the band and their website details.

Thanks very much,

Gina

Live music on the Common

There is another live musical happening this Friday evening (16th October). Organised by ye goode folke at One Day Café, the Los Dawsons promise an acoustictastic night of top notch music.

This will be from 7.30pm at the Plumsteadshire Festspielhaus, AKA Plumstead Common Pavilion, AKA Greenwich Rugby Clubhouse.

A busy weekend

The more observant of you will have noticed a countdown timer on Plumsteadshire. It is linked to atomic clocks on Easter Island, Jodrell Bank and Bryn Terfel's Barber Shop on Dallin Road.

We are counting down to 'Plumstead Live!', the premier cultural event on Plumsteadshire's calendar. Looking at the weather forecast, the weekend looks like it'll be nice and sunny for the concert. Keep yourselves free on Sunday 26th July between 3pm - 8pm and come to Winns Common. Spread the word, bring a friend. What the hell, even bring the family too.

There is a very exciting event this Saturday. It's called The Great 'Blow Up' Party In The Park. It's in Maryon Park and forms part of the Greenwich Film Festival. There are tours of the locations used in the film. Shaky bush number 1. Shaky bush number 2 etcetera as well as other goings-on culminating in an outdoor showing of the famous '60s film.

Before you get too excited, do check with the organiser's of the Greenwich Film Festival as the Greenwich Council website has noted that this event has been SOLD OUT. The promotional leaflet I have has no mention of it being a ticketed event, so do double check and if anyone has confirmation of this, please do let us know by posting a comment at the bottom of this blog post.

On Friday (tomorrow), evening there is a similar event at the Well Hall Pleasaunce in Eltham. This time it's the The Railway Children. I don't think there will be tours of famous herbaceous borders, but there definitely will be an outdoor showing of said film.

Plumstead Radical Club

My partner in crime has pointed me in the direction of the Plumstead Radical Club; the jazz band, rather than the imposing building opposite Plumstead Railway Station.

I've had a listen and instantly addicted. I've listened to the track 'One Way' again and again just like I'd taped it off the Top 40 on the wireless. The Plumstead Radical Club have an album out called The Coast Is Clear and I'm sure it's available in your local record store. Well, they don't really exist anymore so it'll be a trip up to Rays Jazz Store. Ahh. That doesn't really exist anymore either. It's now just tucked away in Foyles Bookshop. In my humble opinion, just not a proper record shop.

Well, I don't know if the jazz band are from this leafy suburb or not, but I'd like to know more about them. I must do the modern thing and buy their album on iTu........ Hmmmmm. Interesting. I typed Plumstead into iTunes, hoping to find jazz, but instead am watching a handful of Open University programmes about our dear Plumstead constabulary.

Well, if the PRC are local musicians then I wonder if they're taking part in the Plumstead Live! event. I do hope so.

A vibrant part of suburbia

I had a really pleasant and eventful weekend. Normally, we'd be day-tripping to far off lands in deepest Kent and Sussex but this weekend was purely Plumsteadshire. Of course, Saturday was the Make Merry, an event which I feel should be more reminiscent of maypoles, sheep driving and smocks rather than a parade of unmuzzled dogs. However, I really like the utterly terrifying clowns which look like they hail from an Edwardian side-show.

Being a key part of the local social calendar, I bumped into alot of friends at the Make Merry and it was this feeling of a community hub that makes the Make Merry special and essential.

In the evening, I went to the comedy night at The Pavilion (AKA the rugby club), and it was an utterly brilliant night out. The comedians were top notch and the audience were very receptive. I really do love the Pavilion space as it's intimate and you're engaged with the performers. I can see it working as a film club venue. I'll try and look into the viability of this idea. My idea is not for another outlet for mainstream Hollywood tosh, but to screen classics, Saturday morning Laurel and Hardy children's club, Woody Allen Wednesdays, David Lean Sundays. Might be cost prohibitive, but you get the idea.

Today, I went to the model railway exhibition at the Firepower Museum. I've never been into trains but I think I might be coming out of the locomotive closet. I thought the model railways were incredible and with immense attention to detail, the scenery told many stories beyond just a train circling a village. Best of all though, I'd discovered a small scale railway which you can actually ride on. It's round the back of an electricity sub-station in Falconwood and not many people know about it. They have a few open days coming up so we can go for a ride, but we'll have to be quick as it looks like they're going to be moved on from this site. I'll have to blog more on this later.

As if I'd not endured enough excitement for one weekend, my trusted source confirmed that the Plumstead Live! music event is for real. This is the icing on the local cultural cake and promises to be a major date in Plumsteadshire's social diary. Hey, it might not be Glyndebourne, but it's here on our doorstep so let's spread the word.

Plumstead Live!

Apparently, there's a live event coming our way in the guise of Plumstead Live! Music Festival. I've held back from mentioning this so far as I'm seeking confirmation that this is a genuine event.

If it's kosher then we should all get really excited about it. There's mention of :-

Plumstead Sinfonia - never knew there was one

Plumstead Manor Musicians - these are real human beings and they definitely exist

The Bill Mudge Quintet - Google (and other well known search engines), confirm that BMQ are real, but I couldn't find Plumstead Live! on their tour schedule.

So, is this a red herring? Maybe Greenwich Council smoke and mirrors to 'bury bad news'?

Is such an event too good to be true? Gadzooks!!!! I hope not.

La Plumsteadshire Biennale

Lorks a lordy. The Shire is slowly becoming the hub of entertainment.

Tonight is the latest One Day Café event. Die Plumsteadshire Festspielhaus (better known as The Pavilion, better known as the rugby club building opposite The Old Mill pub), is hosting a free evening of music and stuff. Doors open at 7pm on the dot.

This Saturday night is the next Comedy On The Common event. As I've reported on many occasions, the Comedy On The Common nights make for a brilliant evening out and it's right here (wouldn't mean much to my lovely listeners in Caracas though).

And to close the 09 Plumsteadshire Biennale we have another Comedy On The Common event. It's the evening of Sunday 26th April at Die Plumsteadshire Festspielhaus.

Phew.

Mary Dullea

This evening I had a spare 5 minutes so thought I'd browse around on t'internet.

I like to try and keep abreast of things so thought I'd find out the latest on Mary Dullea, the lady who made national news having been mauled by dogs [I still don't understand why dangerous dogs are the acceptable face of carry a dangerous weapon], on Plumstead Common. I used a popular search engine but couldn't find out anymore on this news item.

Happily though, I discovered that Ms Dullea has a website which gives some insight into her art. Seems very impressive indeed. I know a bit more about contemporary classical music than your average Joe, but I'm no connoisseur. I hope Ms Dullea is well on the way to a full recovery and I'll be interested if she ever plays The Devil's Staircase or Century Rolls. I'll be there.

Warm your cockles with Friday night jaaaaaazzzzzzzz

Tomorrow night is jazz night on Plumstead Common. Ornette Coleman has had to pull out at the last moment as he is unable to remove bubble gum from his sax. Even better though, we have shampooed the red carpet for the great Enrico Pinna Jazz Trio - please ladies, don't throw your knickers on stage.

They say tall oaks from little acorns grow. Well, NYJO haven't a patch on the talented musicians coming from Plumstead Manor School. Stand aside Jamie Cullum, let's support the future of British jazz. Let's tap our feet to Chynna Maxius and Yolanta Boti!!!!

Friday 5th December. Doors open at 7.00pm

creative juices

The Sultan's Elephant

Cirque du Soleil

Newport Jazz

Plumstead Common

What connects the dots? Cultural events of course. Well, this Saturday sees talent from all over the World (or Upper Wickham Lane, whichever is the greater), gathered in Plumstead Common for a veritable feast of creative juiciness. An all day event which could dwarf Live Aid. We're talking jaaaaaazzzzzzzz, we're talking drums, we're talking arty farty stuff like wot dey 'as in da Nashnal Galleree innit?

These events don't come round too often, but with our support we might encourage the show organisers to put on more. Remember. Tall oaks from little acorns grow.

Be seeing you.

festival season kicks off

The festival season has started. There are the usual suspects - Glastonbury, Notting Hill, Womad & Womad, The Palio and of course to kick it all off, The Plumstead Make Merry.

I know what you're thinking. Why the hell is The Palio nestling in amongst such giants of musical celebration and cultural awareness? Point taken. I'll have to don my Alan Sugar cap and approach my researcher; pointing my finger I'll speak the words, "YOU'RE FIRED."

The Make Merry seemed rather good. I'd imagine that the organisers have to keep it relatively small scale so as not to steal the thunder from Notting Hill later in the year. It's a noble gesture and works well. The new logo has grown on me. I always quite liked it, but now I really like it. The quirkyness of the imagery is quite fun and sinister at the same time, although sinister in an Aubrey Beardsley kind of way, rather than an Austrian cellar kind of way.

Aligned with this quirky Victorian tone of voice is my favourite attraction from today's event, that of a Victorian-styled sideshow. I don't know who they were, but they wore scary prosthetic noses and juggled etcetera.

I was annoyed that I missed Westcott & Rodway. I saw them at last night's jazz night and thought they were utterly brilliant. The Pavilion (or Plumstead Common rugby hut), seems to be carving a very interesting and much needed cultural niche for itself. I'm very excited at how this is all going to develop in the next year.

The Comedy On The Common has brought really good comedians to The Shire and we must spread the word. Sunday 29th June. 7pm (Treadstone are working on a poster). Last night's jazz event was a real triumph. The music was superb and ambience was loose and informal. The ale went down quite well too. This could've been a one-off gig, but I sincerely hope not.

Jaaaaaaaaazzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

My Treadstone ops have worked through the night on this ad.

Jaaaazzzzzz..............nice

My sources at GCHQ have intercepted a communiqué detailing a live music event STOP Venue is the rugby club pavilion on Plumstead Common STOP Date of event is to be Friday 6th June 2008 STOP From 1930hrs to 2300hrs STOP Doors open at 1900hrs STOP Entrance fee is seven pounds UK sterling STOP Genre is flamenco, jazz and pop/rock/soul STOP

I am REALLY looking forward to this. I'd prefer some Sonny Rollins and Bobby Hutcherson but hey, I'm sure Val Kelly & Enrico Pinna Duo and Westcott & Rodway know their stuff. I'd never heard of Ronnie Golden, but had an excellent evening of comedy last weekend.

I'll get my Treadstone operatives onto the job.

The Police

Sunday night was a great night. I've waited 21 years for this and was not disappointed; I went to The Police concert at Twickenham.

I expected to see a bunch of tired old coppers, but no way. Sting, Stewart & Andy were full of beans. Sting, well you expect him to look as he did back in the '80s. Apart from the glasses, Stewart is as energetic a drummer as ever and Andy now sports a generous turkey neck.

Being a young fogey, I just wanted to hear old familiar tunes and that's what I got. Nice. I knew there was no new material, so that was a safe bet.

Actually, we had a great surprise bonus we we arrived at the stadium. I'd bought £45 seats up in the gods and the ticket chap said that as we were early, we had the option of upgrading. Of course, I had my suspicions even though he looked official and working within the premises. We took the plunge and by golly we were given £70 tickets in the lower tier. No fear of nose bleeds now.

Of course, I really wanted to take my camera, but didn't want to go through the indignity of having my memory card erased (35mm is so last century). Well, I found photos on the interweb, so I can pretend I took them.

The journey home was a mission. It took over an hour just to get to Twickenham train station. I'll cut to the chase and tell you lovely listeners that it took 3½ hours to get home. There weren't even any deviations to pubs, mad cow burger bars or kebab shops with ugly signs. It was meant to be a simple journey home on public transport. Somehow, even this couldn't ruin my night out.