Archive for the 'Living With Music' Category
Whats on at Southampton’s Mayflower Theatre
Monday, August 23rd, 2010The Mayflower presents an incomparable late summer and early autumn collection that includes big shows of Oklahoma, Les Misérables, and also the Magic of Motown, along with two runs of Faulty Towers the dining experience, and a whole host of other shows and specially themed evenings. The Mayflower is unique in being the initial successful theatre company in Southampton. The factors for this no doubt have to do with its extraordinary and innovative variety of shows which are continuously on. This year is no exception, as the Mayflower features a terrific number and variety of thrilling productions, varying from large musicals and plays, to intimate comedic 1 man or woman acts to specially themed events. In the stimulating category of major name, big budget musicals and plays, the Mayflower offers a range of classics and newly well-known offerings. Included in these are Oklahoma, Les Misérables, and also the Magic of Motown. Oklahoma, that stars Marti Webb and Mark Evans, is playing Tuesday the seventeenth via to Saturday the twenty-first of August. This particular touring version from the Rodgers and Hammerstein’s musical is produced by the creators of the massive hits Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, South Pacific, and Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. Everyone in the family is certain to love the story famously set in the Western Frontier of America taking location within the time of conflict between the cattlemen and farmers. The Mayflower is also very pleased to welcome the twenty-fifth anniversary production of Les Misérables, which may be the world’s longest running musical of all time. It is going to be in the Mayflower for only three weeks, from Tuesday, August 24th via Saturday, September 11th. The brilliant all new cast is led by London’s West End and Broadway star John Owen Jones, who has been acclaimed by the New York Post as the very finest Jean Valjean since the days of Colm Wilkinson, and also graced through the West End stars for example Gareth Gates who plays Marius and Earl Carpenter who plays Javert. Finally in the category of large spending budget stage musicals may be the Magic of Motown, showcasing the greatest Motown live tribute concert ever. In this stunning production, music of Diana Ross and also the Supremes, The Temptations, The Jackson 5, Stevie Wonder, The Four Tops, Lionel Richie, Marvin Gaye, Martha Reeves and scores of others is featured. This show boasts literally dozens of stunning costumes, a gorgeously choreographed cast, and fully thirty-six memorable hits from the sixties, seventies, and eighties. It’ll play 1 night only, on Tuesday, September 14th. For 1 man comedians and acts, the Mayflower outperforms again. Jethro will perform his Too Late To Grow Up show on Thursday, September 16th. Sean Lock will perform his signature Lockipedia on Saturday, September 18th. Lisa Williams, the worldwide known psychic and clairvoyant, will appear on Sunday, September 19th. A unique gift within the coming months is Faulty Towers, the Dining Experience. This well-known and long running television show turned touring musical makes two stops since the initial appearance rapidly sold out. It runs in the Mayflower from Tuesday October 12th through Thursday October14, too as from Thursday October 21st through Tuesday October 26th. Lastly, two seasonal themed events will be presented within the coming months. The Ghost Hunt and Buffet Evening will take location on Friday, September 24th, while the murder mystery Better by Nun happens on Saturday, October 30th. Once again, the Mayflower shows its uncanny ability to keep the crowds in Southampton on its way back for much more. Find out much more info about what’s going on in the Mayflower Theatre
Rehtaeh Sings for the Internet from Tolkien Moot August 13-15
Saturday, August 7th, 2010
It may seem like there is not much demand for Elvish music because you don’t hear it played on your favorite radio station, but if you spend any time at J.R.R. Tolkien fan conventions you should hear plenty of Celtic-styled Elven singers and musicians. One name that crops up with greater frequency these days is Rehtaeh.
Visitors to the Kansas City Renaissance Faire have heard Rehtaeh sing in person. Most other fans have to buy her CDs or listen to Middleearthradio.com to hear her haunting voice dance through fairy tales and mythologies. The weekend of August 13-15, however, fans around the world will be invited to tune in over the Internet to three performances Rehtaeh will be giving at Tolkien Moot.
Rehtaeh’s Elvish music Website greets the visitor with a few selections from her latest album, ElementAria. Her haunting voice captures the imagination, especially on pieces like “Aquatania” and “Metima Lenda (Final Journey)”. “Metima Lenda” uses real Elvish lyrics Rehtaeh herself composed. In an interview with pop site Middle-earth Talk Radio, she said she studied Elvish with experts to ensure she enunciates the words correctly.
The Tolkien Moot performances are being hyped up all over the Internet. When you play to a world-wide audience, you’re bound to get some attention. Tolkien Moot has been broadcasting its events for several years and may be the first and certainly is the longest-running science fiction convention to integrate Webcams and chat rooms into its experience.
Rehtaeh will be the featured guest at Tolkien Moot’s infamous “Raw Hobbit”, a sendup of William Shatner’s “Raw Nerve” in which guests are grilled with thought-provoking questions. There will also be a livecast of Middle-earth Talk Radio.
Iyaz Solo and Charice Pempengco to roundout at Mayfair festival
Sunday, May 16th, 2010Iyaz, the UK Virgin Islands recording artist whose song ”Replay” hit No. One on Billboard’s pop chart, and Charice, a Filipina vocalist who became preferred thru her YouTube videos and now is Iyaz’s protg, will round out the May 28 title B104 Night at Allentown’s Mayfair holiday.
Iyaz Solo and Charice Pempengco will join ”Whatcha Say” vocalist Jason Derulo on the Commemorative Day weekend festival’s Cabaret stage in Allentown’s Cedar Beach. Opening the show will be Bethlehem’s Sandlot Heroes. Entry to the show will be free with tickets to Mayfair — $5 every day or $10 for the May 28-31 holiday. Officers for radio station WAEB-FM 104.1, which is sponsoring the show, did not want to confirm the lineup — though there are pictures of the artists on the radio station’s internet site — and asserted it will officially be declared Monday with a further part.
Derulo co-wrote ”Replay” for Iyaz with pop / reggae / hiphop vocalist Sean Kingston, and it ended up knocking Derulo’s biggest hit, ”Whatya Say” out of the No. One spot. ”Replay” spent virtually half a year on the charts. Iyaz’s 2nd single, ”Solo” is at No. 39 this week after 2 months on the chart. Both songs are predicted to be on Iyaz’s first album, ”My Life,” which was booked to be out this month but now has a June date of release.
It is reported to also include contributions from Busta Rhymes, Rick Town and rock rapper Kevin Rudolf — who titled B104 Night last year. Charice Pempengco, seventeen, started competing in non-professional singing contests at age seven to help her single mummy. In 2005, Pempengco appeared on ”Little Massive Star,” an ”American Idol”-type show in the Philippines, and came third.
Based mostly on Charice’s YouTube performances, Ellen DeGeneres invited her on her show in 2007. She since has shown up on several shows, and her song ”Pyramid,” featuring Iyaz, was released in Feb . It hit the lower reaches of the Poster advertisement chart. Her self-titled debut album is prepared for a May eleven release.
Derulo, whose song ”In My Head” is Billboard’s current No. One pop song, was confirmed as the show’s headliner Wed. . Sandlot Heroes’ song ”Out of My Hands” has been played B104.
Its current single is ”Believer.”.
Lily Allen Love Cricket
Thursday, November 19th, 2009Pop singer Lily Allen has been made an honorary member of Lancashire County Cricket Club in recognition of her promotion of the game nationally and internationally.
Lily Allen revealed her love of the sport during the summer’s Ashes series against Australia.
She appeared on Test Match Special to be interviewed by Jonathan Agnew and kept followers of her Twitter account fully informed as England went on to regain the Ashes 2-1.
Lancashire chief executive Jim Cumbes said: “Cricket, particularly the longer format of the game, is generally enjoyed by the traditionalists – with the younger generation preferring the shorter formats.
Walking on stage in Manchester last night in a designer dress and killer heels, Lily Allen was hoping to make a good impression.
But her graceful entrance soon turned sour when she tripped on her 5in platforms, narrowly missing out on an impromptu crowd-surfing session at the Apollo.
The 24-year-old singer managed to stop herself from falling flat on her face just in time.As she hobbled on stage to perform with Take That, Lily moaned: ‘My foot is not all right.’After wearing skimpy underwear during festivals over the summer, Lily went for a more sophisticated look last night in a £685 tight-fitting red Preen power bandage dress.The Preen dress has been a popular staple with celebrities this year, having been seen on Amanda Holden, Kirsty Gallacher, Gemma Arterton and WAG Louise Owen.Despite her sleek ensemble, Lily’s overall look was let down by her shocking two-tone blonde and brunette wig.The Fear singer was performing to a sell-out crowd on the first of a two-night stint at the Apollo.After extensive festival appearances over the summer, Lily kicked off her 14-date UK tour in Sheffield on Monday.
Gerry and the Pacemakers Still Popular in Liverpool
Wednesday, August 19th, 2009Most places on earth are synonymous with at least one thing. If one was to play a word association game with the cities of the world, then Paris would undoubtedly derive the Eiffel Tower, Rome the Colosseum and London the Queen.
Indeed, Liverpool – the city of half a million people situated on the eastern side of the Mersey estuary in North West England – is no different.
Whilst Liverpool has been a major port city for almost a century and a half, it is perhaps most renowned as the place that gave the world one of the most revered and successful rock and roll bands of all time – and that’s not Gerry and the Pacemakers, Echo and the Bunnymen or Frankie Goes to Hollywood! Gerry and the Pacemakers greatest hits are still very popular in the city.
Most people instantly associate Liverpool as the place where the Beatles were formed and as such, the region is assured of its place in music history, along with New Orleans (jazz), Chicago (blues), Nashville (country) and Seattle (grunge).
It’s almost impossible to discuss Merseyside without mentioning the ‘fab four’ – John, Paul, George and Ringo – and any visit to the city wouldn’t be complete without taking in ‘The Beatles Story. Located in the Albert Docks area of Liverpool, the museum transports visitors back to the 60s to sample life as it would’ve been way back then.
Then there is the Cavern Club, famous for being the place where Brian Epstein first saw the Beatles play. Between 1961 and 1963, the Beatles performed there almost three hundred times and the club subsequently saw the likes of the Rolling Stones, the Kinks, Elton John and the Who also take to the stage there. Today, the Cavern Club still plays host to some forty live bands every week and is a great place to take in some live music whilst experiencing a big piece of rock and roll history.
Of course, Liverpool isn’t just famous for music. The city is also synonymous for football, with two world-renowned clubs – Everton and Liverpool – performing in England’s top division. It’s the latter of these clubs that is probably more famed though and whilst getting tickets for an actual match will prove tough if not impossible, a tour of the stadium is a must for football lovers.
The Low Down Dirty Blues
Wednesday, May 28th, 2008One doesn’t have to be fully down in the dumps to enjoy a nice helping of the low down dirty blues. The blues of Muddy Waters, Robert Johnson, and even Chuck Berry can take a feeling and put it to the swaying rhythm of the music. There are many forms of the blues genre. There is the Chicago, the Mississippi Delta, Beale Street, and the Hillbilly style of blues. No music can be as sweet as the sound of a gritty guitar rift with an accord of drums and bass.
The lyrics has to tell of the heartache and troubles that one faces from day to day living. If a person is to be a true human, they are to experience the sorrows and woes of life. It has never been captured as well, as in a well drafted blues song.
I’ve been to Beale Street in Memphis, and that’s where I fell in love with the sound. I’ve always been a fan, even as a small boy, but the blues is not a child’s music. The blues is sung by adults for adults. The blues is the greatest sound to a rebel, a prophet, or the depressed. It is meant for the rich, as well as the poor.
Everyone gets down and it is good to relate to the music of one’s life. For some it is the blues, and to some it is the opera. Music is a medicine for the soul.
Jeffery S. Miller is the author of the controversial book, Higgins: An American Story. Jeffery S. Miller is an inventor, former talk show host, former professional wrestler, and a national award winner. Miller is a fan of all types of music, but the blues relates to a feeling that can’t be explained. All true blues fans will relate to that statement. Jeffery S. Miller’s official website is http://www.freewebs.com/jefferysmiller There you can learn about what he is up to and purchase a copy of his controversial new title.