message query for band

RE: Folkestone double death plunge smash horror tragedy!

Yes she did! She actually came off of the Asda carpark and i certainly won't forget5 coming face to face with her smashed on the pavement! Suicide remains the most selfish act ever!!! I CANNOT find it within my self to feel sorry for.......best to withold her name i guess. I feel sorry for the man who fell to his knees sobbing and being sick! I wanted to go to him to be honest but my legs refused to move! Asd for what you've been told about people there taking pictures etc on they're phones of it happening? That's utter Bull sh*t! It was surprisingly quiet for the time of day and the ambulance seemed to take forever to cover her body. I could only walkaorund the BACK way to go to the bus station which is where i had been heading for as, like i said my legs wouldn't move forward. that in itself was a very strange feeling and although i'm still a bit shaky today i'm ok. I don't think the poor man that was there will ever have an normal life again!Sensationalism like 'people taking pics' of course does NOT help those of us that were subjected to it and are totally untrue.

Are you sure Hazel didn't register in both your names?

I wouldn't think the BBC would spam out invitations for something like this. We both registered (in our own names) though I didn't go for the competition aspect of it, so I won't get some researcher from Radio One seeing if I'm fun enough (and young enough) to do a competition on air... If you do end up winning tickets sell them...

Apparently 10% of tickets will be allocated to "locals", so if there are aboout 35,000 to give away in total that leaves 3,500 reserved for Kent, or perhaps even just reserved for Maidstone.

Best chance of our lot is Dean, he works in Maidstone so he's given the office address, fingers crossed he gets tickets.

Not at all arsed about seeing any of the bands, but it's just because it's happening in Kent that I feel we ought to pop along. Hopefully going to get a look in at Zoo Thousand (fest happening right by where we got married) and the Mighty Boosh Festival, if it happens.

Ah, it wasn't made up Neil Young is playing in Kent too... at the Hop Farm, the same location as the supposed Mighty Boosh Festival.

jumbo gumbo

Jumbo Gumbo are at the Hook and Hatchet on Thurday May 1st (NOT 30 April)
Emily and the Beast Band are on the previous day, Wednesday 30 April.
Dont forget the Boughton Monchelea Morris Dancers and their guests Maenad are performing on Thursday 8 May.

Play the Radio One Big Weekend fringe festival

BBC Radio 1 DJ Zane Lowe is calling for bands from Maidstone and across Kent to get in touch with Radio 1 for the chance to be part of Radio 1's Big Weekend � The Fringe Festival. The Fringe will celebrate the local music scene, from guitar bands through to bedroom DJs, MCs and everything in between. The event takes place in the town in the week preceding Radio 1's Big Weekend.

Bands can apply by going to www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/bigweekend where all the details of how to get your band on to the Fringe Festival are explained.

A panel made up of BBC Kent Introducing presenters James Bursey and Tom Kirkby, Radio 1 DJ Huw Stephens, the Radio 1 Live events team and Radio 1 producers will be responsible for selecting the bands to play live at the Fringe.

BBC Kent Introducing will host a night during the Fringe featuring bands selected by the show. From this line-up Huw Stephens will choose his two favourite bands who will go on to play the BBC Introducing stage at Radio 1's Big Weekend.

Please get in touch by April 21st. If you get a slot on the Fringe Festival we will be in touch by April 25th with all the details of your show.

Time Travel

came across this site by accident and started reading stuff,then looked at your little film of the snow.I was in Folkestone the same day, as Andy (my husband) and I often visit Folkestone and combine a bit of shopping and being by the sea(one of our favorite places)We went into that huge monster of a shop,ASDA,I was amazed at how all the stuff was so cheap,I am looking forward to going in there and getting a load of things food,clothes,pens and little colourful things.
I especially like the rabbit type women statue creature along that old street,can't remember its name,anyway better get on with some more work,oh yeah,time travel....I wish I could do it......

Miranda

Zoo Thousand

This music festival crept up on me The Cribs, Athlete, Funeral For A Friend and loads more (fairly small) bands are playing at Port Lympne this August. Can you get me free tickets?

Hmm Mark Ronson is on the line up page but not on the homepage does that mean he's just been added or just been removed?

Mighty Easter weekender, with The Cure

Hope you've all had as good an extended weekend as I have. As is usual when I've been off for a few days and not written up just went on immediately, I'm starting to forget it all. We're up now, on the last day of our five day break and I have a few minutes computer time, so I'm making a few notes while I'm processing some video from The Cure and trying to get hold of The Colour Of Magic.

Thursday

We started off for London about midday, nice quick easy train journey with Dom and Jen, nice to be getting the train for pleasure, not like having to commute on it. We had vouchers for free main courses for Wagamama, so into Soho in the rain. Food was better than it has been recently in Canterbury I think. Then to a pub, can't remember the name of it though it's a Nicholson's so I can track it down, that'll be The Crown, Brewer Street. Didn't realise they were part of such a monstrous chain of other brands, though it certainly feels like a pub themed venue inside, but they do have proper beer so I'm not complaining. We contemplated the best time and way to get to Wembley, in the end it was just head down in the rain to Picadilly and we're on our way. Wembley seems a long way out but if you catch the right Metropolitan line tube you're there in no time.

Our hotel was fine, despite the ropey reviews on tripadvisor. I'd not recommend it unless you were going to Wembley, and the decor is maybe a bit dated, but the bed was comfortable and big, the lifts worked, the bar was open, it was fine. Cheeky drink in said bar before the gig (as there are just no pubs around there) and into the gig.

Didn't see any of the support band, just got in in time for the start of the gig. Pretty amazing show all told, I have got a few songs on video and some pics to upload, the sound and the atmosphere were great. You'll see from the media (I have yet to upload) that we were about ten or fifteen rows back from the front, apart from the bit were Dom disappeared to the front, dropping our five pints on the way... At this point Clare objects

That's not what happened and you shouldn't say that as he will read it. He went into the crowd, then came out again, then went to the bar and thought he'd get us all drinks, then couldn't get back to us all with two pints in one hand and three in the other, so he ended up giving them away.

I was adding colour to the story, that's how I'd rather remember it, it's simpler. Don't you really want to picture someone struggling to the front of the moshpit with five pints?
Setlist was approximately as we thought from previous gigs:

plainsong, prayers for rain, a strange day, alt.end, a night like this, the end of the world, lovesong, to wish impossible things, pictures of you, lullaby, from the edge of the deep green sea, hot hot hot!!!, please project, the walk, push, friday i'm in love, inbetween days, just like heaven, primary, a boy i never knew, shake dog shake, never enough, wrong number, one hundred years, disintegration,
E1: at night, m, play for today, a forest,
E2: the lovecats, let's go to bed, freak show, close to me, why can't i be you?
E3: three imaginary boys, fire in cairo, boys don't cry, jumping someone else's train, grinding halt, 10:15 saturday night, killing an arab

We met someone with a setlist during the gig, but "Killing an Arab" was written as "Killing Another", I wonder why? In case the list fell into the wrong hands and looked like a racist murder plot? You could work the last encore into one story certainly, not so sure about "The Lovecats" though.

Here's three songs in a row from the set, the only complete songs I videod on my little camera. First Walking On Sunshine Why Can't I Be You from my spot in the crowd. It looks like the opening credits to "Never Mind The Buzzcocks" but the sound is OK, and gives you a feel for where we were and how they were sounding:

And Three Imaginary Boys:

Also Fire In Cairo:

They played for about 3 and a half hours, it didn't feel like it though. We had one more drink back at the bar (I was on lager all evening, unheard of, this is why I don't go to gigs any more). I have about a gigabyte of video, hope it won't take me too long to edit it into watchable youtube chunks. Don't stay in waiting especially though, the visuals are not impressive, but you can experience where I was in the crowd and hear the tunes.

Friday

Nice lazy start to the Friday, didn't have to check out until midday. We'd already had more action than most weekends and this one hadn't officially started yet. We shopped first, well we went to Selfridges and Clare got pissed off with me not being helpful, so she left me in Starbucks to sit and read while she tried to shop, then we walked round Carnaby Street (which is really nice now), had lunch with Emma in a Thai place near there, did some retro shopping, afternoon coffee in the brilliant Pain Quotidien and then trained back home.

The rain and snow wasn't quite so bad, and we'd arranged to meet pa-in-law for a drink, so we headed to Chambers for their traditional Easter Ales Festival. Not that busy when we got there, and not the traditional festival crowd, but a great range of ales and ciders anyway. Can't remember what I started off with, something nice anyway, but second beer was a "Haba-beer-o" special edition chilli beer. Was sceptical, but it was brilliant, a strong savoury chilli taste to it, and a little bit of heat too. Instead of flitting from ale to ale rating them as I went, I stuck to this one for the rest of the evening. Well, it's a limited edition, you don't know when it's going to run out, or if I'll see it again.
Spoke to the landlord, he recognised me as having the quiz team name Folkestone Gerald and asked if it was me that wrote it. He didn't look like he wanted a fight, and I don't think there's been anything objectionable for ages, so I 'fessed up, and he said he loved it. Probably just for all the favourable mentions of Chambers, well here's another. Chambers is brilliant, you should go there, best pub in Folkestone by a mile.

Saturday

Up early for house hunting. Saw a lovely place in a different area of Canterbury, 3 bedrooms, garage, conservatory, shed, everything. Top of our budget and I don't think we can compete with other buyers really, I'm sure it'll go soon. If it doesn't, we'll think again. Then saw another place over by Canterbury West, not the nicest street and a bit unloved. Nice and cheap for a three bedroom place, but unfortunately no room to put even a single bed down flat in the third bedroom, so a no-no for now. Third property, the agent was late, it was snowing, really really cold, I spoke to the office and told them not to bother. I'm sure the owner was in the property while I was waiting outside, but not responding to my knocking. Didn't have double glazing, and I could really only think about temperature that day, so it's a right off.

Had lunch somewhere between these viewings at Pizza Express, and got our favourite table looking onto the river. Even in the freezing rain and sleet people were still doing the boat tour, and pausing by our window.

After lunch, Clare had a hair appointment so I amused myself with more shopping and a brief stop in The Brewery Tavern where they also had a beer festival on. No festival punters in site, no-one even manning the temporary bar with the dozen guest ales lined up on, not really a festival vibe at all. Probably not advertised well, it's a nice place, not one you'd associate with real ale so I don't suppose they'd have had much walk up trade apart from me.
Bus home, too cold and wet to consider going back to Chambers really, so we got a Chinese takeaway and stayed in.

Sunday

Free lunch! Round to the in-laws for dinner, very nice. Still not sure what's going on with the sale of their house, everyone seems to be lying to them at every turn. They've officially handed their notice in on the business, and so resigned themselves to not selling it, but still other people in the chain seem to think that it ought to go through as normal. I hope it does, we'll find out now within the month.

Another night in. Clare was meant to be going out with her brother, but it was freezing at wet again and a night in mostly watching TV Lost: meh. Number 1 Ladies Detective Agency: meh. Both a bit weak I thought. Not sure what to think of Lost at the moment, they do seem to be drifting more into the realms of the supernatural, though I guess the writers won't decide until the very end whether they want to go this route or not, and they can easily change things that happened in the past, and "back explain" things. Getting fed up with it, wish they'd not string it out so much. It's sure to fizzle out before we get to a conclusion at this rate, maybe that's the plan.

Today

A bit sad that it's over. We still have most of the day ahead of us, no great plans except for regular Sunday chores like shopping and cleaning, making and eating chilli, and watching some TV, hopefully the aforementioned The Colour Of Magic (that was exclusively on Sky One yesterday).

Back to work tomorrow, still, a short week.

Queen BACK!

We're not going to this, nor going to get the album I wouldn't have thought. Went to see "Queen" before with Paul Rodgers, and it was good to hear some of the tunes live, but it's probably best just to leave it. Also Brian May seems like a bit of a miserable git to me, from reading his blog and meeting him once. John Deacon had the best idea, he had nothing to do with the show that we went to, last thing I think he was involved in was the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert.

The band have also announced a Queen and Paul Rodgers 14-nation European tour, starting in September.

It will include UK dates in Nottingham, Glasgow, London, Cardiff, Birmingham and Liverpool.

They will also play in Russia, Poland, Germany, Belgium, France, Italy, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Spain, Hungary, Serbia, the Czech Republic and Austria.

Guitarist Brian May, drummer Roger Taylor and Rodgers wrote the new album in late 2007 and early this year. It will be released on 1 September.

Bassist John Deacon, who retired from the music business in the late 1990s, will not take part in the tour.

Thanks to Andy for this news piece.

boot fairs

Hi, could you please advise a contact number to book boot fairs at etchinghill cricket club, and dates for 2008.

Regards

D.E

MJ Hibbett at Edinburgh Fringe

Specifically for Nick really who didn't believe MJ Hibbett was playing Edinburgh:

Me and Mr S Hewitt went up to Edinburgh last month to CASE OUT some
venues for the Fringe version of "My Exciting Life In ROCK" (still
thrusting forward at www.popartlondon.co.uk/digest/?cat=14) and
after dutifully investigating MANY venues (which just HAPPENED to be
pubs) found one we really really wanted and are now pretty much
BOOKED.

We've also arranged a World Premiere of the show, on the Friday night
of this year's Indie Tracks festival. We're the only band on that
night, which technically means that The Validators are co-headlining
the festival with The Wedding Present! Tickets to our bit were
available to the first 100 people to book tickets for the whole
weekend, which I'm afraid have all gone now - I suppose that means I'd
better get on and work out what on earth the show's going to BE,
hadn't I?

looking for suitable venue in Folkestone

Hi,

We are looking for suitable venue in Folkestone one of our gigs.

We are an 8-piece live band called The Vintage Corporation and we organise our own 60�s and 70�s gigs. We are looking for halls in London and the South East to perform in.

Requirements for the halls .

- Must have a stage suitable for an 8-piece band.

- Must have a dance floor .

- Must have a bar.

- Must have some seating available.

- Must hold 300 + people.

How do we operate ?

- We book the hall.

- We put up posters around your area.

- We advertise in local papers.

- We sell tickets in advance and at the door.

- We have our own professional PA system, lights,engineer, insurance,etc...

- ....we hope to fill the hall and give everybody a good night out.

How long are the gigs for and when are the gigs?

Most gigs we organise are on Fridays or Saturdays. Times : From 7PM or 8PM till Midnight .

Would it be a one-off event in your hall ?

If the first gig is a success in your hall, we plan to organise one in the same hall every 4 to 6 months.

What do we expect from you ?

If your hall is suitable for our requirements, please e-mail or fax us price to hire the hall on Friday, Saturday or Sunday, availability in 2008/2009, capacity, etc...

If you have a brochure available, please post is to the address below.

Would you be so kind to e-mail us back even if your hall/venue is not suitable for us in order for us to take you of the �potential-hall list�.

Please don�t hesitate to call me for any further information.

Regards

Peter ,

Band leader

Contact details : Ask for Peter or Chris.

Tel. 01233 733 993 day time

Tel. 01233 733 161 evening and weekends.

Fax 01233 733 608

www.TheVintageCorporation.co.uk

e-mail : info@thevintagecorporation.co.uk

Address for brochures :

The Vintage Corporation

St. Margarets

Bromley Green Road

Ashford

Kent TN26 2EF

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A BRIEF INTRODUCTION OF THE VINTAGE CORPORATION :

Re-live the Sixties and Seventies with The Vintage Corporation

The Vintage Corporation is the ultimate 60�s and 70�s, uniquely versatile Top Class 8-piece live band. Ideal for all your private parties, functions, charity balls, corporate events, private parties, award ceremonies, weddings, fundraising events, Xmas parties, office parties, annual celebrations or any other type of event.

The Vintage Corporation plays tribute to the best bands of the 60�s and 70�s playing carefully selected motown, disco, soul, rock and pop. Staged totally live.

We encourage 60�s and 70�s fancy dress costumes at our dances in order to create a fantastic retro ambience and the perfect night out.

With a total emphasis on entertainment and an infectious dance play-list, we aim to pack the dance floor.

We are based in the South East and perform all over the UK. Our standard performance is made up of 2 x 1 hour sets with recorded music (60�s and 70�s) played before and between the sets if required or with a DJ between the sets.

The Vintage Corporation personnel consists of 8 talented, experienced, passionate musicians: 1 male vocalist - 2 female vocalists - 1 drummer - 1 bass guitarist - 1 rhythm guitarist � 1 lead guitarist - 1 keyboard player + front of house technician.

Staged totally live with no miming, tapes, drum machines or backing tracks.

now all we need is the date...

did you see any other bands there? I've heard of a few others playing there, it was on the indie circuit, but no-one's sure of actual dates. Suede played there, that's one I do have a date for, as it's in their biography Love and Poison. I hear Faith No More played there, and PJ Harvey too.

Kiss meet and greet and soundcheck packages - ONE THOUSAND EUROS!

I mentioned these the other day, they're on sale now for European dates (but not UK), and picking Berlin as an example, it'll cost you an extra 1050 euros on top of your ticket price, to go to the soundcheck and meet the band. Bargain.

KISS meet and greet

Tour Dates Announced February 12, 2008

May
11 Munich Olympiahalle GERMANY
13 Verona Arena ITALY
15 Belgrade USCE Stadium SERBIA
24 Moscow Olympissky RUSSIA
26 St Petersburg Newarena RUSSIA

June
4 Hamburg Color Line Arena GERMANY
6 Prague Saska Arena CZECH REPUBLIC
9 Berlin Velodrom GERMANY
10 Mannheim SAP Arena GERMANY
11 Oberhausen Arena GERMANY
Download Festival UK
15 Arrow Festival HOLLAND
17 Paris Bercy FRANCE
18 Stuttgart Schleyerhalle GERMANY
21 Bilbao Kobetamendi SPAIN

KISS Meet & Greet and KISS Pre-Show Soundcheck Packages

In addition to KISS Army member only presales, www.KISSontour.com will be exclusively offering KISS Meet & Greet and KISS Pre-Show Soundcheck packages. Below are package details.

KISS Meet and Greet and Pre-show Soundcheck Package *
- Exclusive Meet and Greet with KISS
- Exclusive Pre-show Soundcheck
- Personal photograph with the band
- 8X10 photo
- KISS Tour Program
- KISS Europe '08 Shirt
- Official KISS VIP Laminate
- $50 coupon good for the official KISS on-line store

No prices yet, I think these were ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS when they last did it in the US, that was possibly including concert ticket itself though, these European packages do not. If we weren't going to Kev's wedding, we could spend the money on this!

(PS, joking. Paying to meet a band you like, what's that all about?)

Local Recording/Rehearsal Studio!

Hey guys.

Refurbishment at The Manor Studio is 99% finished! I have uploaded some photos here:

www.myspace.com/themanorstudio

I offer 24-track digital recording facilities, and have recorded a LOT of bands over the last few years, some of whom can be heard on my Myspace page. Bands can record live in the same room, or individually.

The live room is ample in size with high ceilings, and the control room is large with an upstairs lounge area which I am also using as a dry booth for vocals etc.

The studio is available to rent for rehearsals any time from 10am - 11pm, seven days a week @ �10 per hour. This includes use of a 5 piece Premier Genista drum kit, two 4 x 12 guitar cabs, a 1 x 15 bass cab, PA system, Yamaha Clavinova and tea/coffee.

I also teach drum lessons @ �15 per hour. More info on all of this @ www.myspace.com/themanorstudio

or call me, 07525 613576 - Dan Lucas.

RE: Open Mic night at the Whole World cafe this Friday

Hi there,

I'm Ollie, the lead singer in the Folkestone based Band Realm79. We're currently looking to get more gigs and play in different venues. How would I go about organising an evening of open mic with my band?? we play our own material but only have about 5 songs at the moment but we have many covers from all over the last 5 decades. We can play either acoustically or a full rock set. Check out www.realm79.co.uk for all information on the band.

I look forward to your response

Ollie

The Ringlestone is brilliant.

My new favourite pub. My husband and I have been all over the UK staying at inns and seeking out old worldy country pubs, this one was the best hands down. (I'm American and he's from London so it's been kind of game to find the best.) The pub itself is the most well preserved pub I've ever been in. It has a big open hearth with a real fire, candles, period furniture, welcoming proprietors, and well cooked food. It was fantastic and we will go back again and again. Only 1 hours drive from Southwest London. My husband and I used a 2005 guide of to find this pub. Any changes occuring from change in ownership would have happened by now. I had never been here before but after reading others reviews, I do not know what some people are complaining about. 10 out of 10!

KISS confirmed for UK festivals

KISSONLINE EXCLUSIVE

Last night, Paul Stanley confirmed that KISS will tour Europe and Scandinavia this May and June. The band will play arena and stadium shows.

Details to follow....Stay tuned to KISSONLINE!

Sort of exclusive to KISSONLINE, a chum tipped me off this week that they were to play Download, and there's been a lot of talk on www.efestivals.co.uk... \m/

Two completely different properties this week

Saw two houses yesterday in Canterbury, wildly different, and they highlight the fact that we want somewhere exactly in between, which is something that does not exist, at least within our budget...

First house was in Vernon Place, and though we're ideally looking for three bedrooms, this one has two bedrooms and a converted basement, so we had to check it out. Location is good, right at the Dover Road entrance to Canterbury, just two minutes walk to the town centre, and the house itself is just the sort of place I thought we'd get. It's mid / late Victorian, all period features, floorboard and fireplaces, quite small but full of character. There's a small lounge, dining room, kitchent and downstairs (practically outside) loo, and stairs up and down. The basement is cool, I'd really like one, and it makes a great study, not big enough for a full on games room though. Upstairs we have a bit of a problem though. The main bedroom at the front of the house is great, but at the back of the house the only way to the bathroom is through the second bedroom. This makes the second bedroom more of a generously sized hallway, so it's basically a one bed house. It's a terrace in a conservation area, so not possible to extend, nor enough room to rearrange things I don't think, so this one's a write-off. Bah, it was lovely.

House number two doesn't look like much from the outside but it's three bedrooms, right by Canterbury West and has a garage, had to be worth checking out. It's huge really, three good sized bedrooms, proper garden, detached garage next to the house, a driveway, a workshop attached to the garage, big lounge, downstairs cloakroom, and big old built in cupboards at every turn. It's old lady decorated right now, the kitchen definitely needs replacing, and it's at the top end of our budget, but the main problem is just that it's so dull. It's 1960's built, and everything else we've seen has been so much older that the lack of character in this place really lets it down. We should probably buy this house, modernise it, and then move into a character property in a few years, but I really want beams and fireplaces and wonky walls right now. Not sure what to do...

Black Griffin Lane is still on the market, I expect everyone's hanging around waiting to see if the market crashes. If it does, we're in a good position and will be able to take our pick of properties. If it doesn't, both of the places we're into will be snapped up by someone else.

Check out the map, I will upload some pictures to it later, we're watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer right now. Season six (bad Willow!), to ease us into season seven (which we hardly remember), so then we can read the season eight comics that we bought yesterday.

[map]2008-01-26[/map]

The rest of yesterday was lovely, it was only stressing about non-existent property worries that spoiled it a bit. We had lunch in Wagamama and the noodles in my yasai itame weren't really cooked properly again, hmm, it's put me off going back there for a while. We went to The Dolphin for beers and Trivial Pursuit, it was heaving, and I beat Clare twice, again. She's not won against me in a while, maybe I've memorised all the questions now? We got the bus back just after seven and checked out The Bank Bar under Kalala. It's nice enough, a nightclub sort of vibe though, and full of let's say "fresh faced" punters. Nice inside though, we were sat on a sofa in what was once the bank vault. Then on to The Frenchman, quite a good covers band on, then we got a smashing takeaway from Hop Kweng.

The Bergerac oak dining table has been relisted, it didn't make its reserve. Bids on it already it's sure to sell this time.

50% off at Zizzi's

Worth a thought, we're off to Canterbury this weekend, though BAH not valid on Saturdays. From money saving expert:

What�s the deal?

The Telegraph is offering readers 50% off main courses at Zizzi Italian restaurants, when you buy a copy of the paper from this Sunday till next Friday.

How to grab the offer

Vouchers will be printed in the Telegraph everyday from Sat 26 January until Fri 1 February. (The press office has confirmed that these are the correct dates, but the wording on its T&Cs is a bit confusing). Simply grab one and take it along to your nearest Zizzi for 50% off main courses.

There must be at least two people dining (maximum is six). The offer is valid Sundays to Thursdays, excluding Valentines Day, and closes 24 February. Read the full T&Cs.

Thanks to mcallister1 in the daily newspaper thread who originally spotted the deal.

I typed "monkey saving expert" at first, maybe that is a website... I should check out www.moneysavingexpert.com more often, though the guy who runs it really annoyed me when he was on the TV all the time having invented a new way for 90% of people to pay [em]more[/em] council tax.

Realm 79 / BBC Kent Unsigned

Some listening: BBC Kent Unsigned, someone at work sent this round, his band are the headliners (ie third) on there I think;

The song will be available to buy later this week. If you have any comments or wish to register your interest in purchasing the song please go to www.realm79.co.uk and follow the links on the left hand side.

A festive update from Hibbett

Hmm, this newsletter is called "The Last Working Day Of The Month" (from one of his songs), but he's practically a civil servant and finished work for the year a week ago at least, I'm still working...

welcome to this SUPER CHRISTMASSY edition of our monthly newsletter, let's do it quick and GET TO THE PUB!

GIGS TO COME

This month I shall be bringing festive cheer to the following places:

Saturday December 22 - Fox & Firkin, London (GIG 60! On first supporting JD & The Longfellows) you've missed this one

Tuesday January 22 - The Lamb, London (First Totally Acoustic night of 2008!)

Saturday January 26 - The Fishtank, Durham (With Pete Green and Man Is Slapped.)

Check www.mjhibbett.net/gigs/gigs.htm for further details.

GIGS WE'VE DONE

It's been a month of GRATE gigs, all with The Validators, all with GRATE bands to play with. We kicked off in Birmingham with The Icicles
and Winston Echo - Frankie had train doom, Ray The Promoter got hassled by The Man, but the rest of us had a LOVELY time. Next the Cleator Moor Validators had one of the best gigs of the year, with the 10p Mixes and The Deirdres in Sheffield, and we finished off with Horowitz, The Deirdres again, and some MINCE PIES in Stoke on another
SMASHING night, helped along its festive way by the semi-annual VALIDATORS' CURRY.

Fifty nine down, one to go!

RECORDS

Two Christmas Albums for you this month - first up, our song "The Advent Calendar Of FACT" appears on Cherryade's "A Very Cherry Christmas (volume 3)" along with The Bobby McGees, The Gresham Flyers, The Deirdres and many other TOP COMBOS. It's available from www.cherryademusic.co.uk. Meanwhile our cover of "Songs About You" by The Language Of Flowers has just come out on the PopArt "Covered At Christmas" compilation. It's a download album available from www.popartlondon.co.uk/pal002.htm, and it's all in aid of St Mungo's. There's also my JAZZ version of "Little Donkey" available
TONIGHT ONLY to the first 50 people who turn up to Don't Start Feeling All Romantic in Nottingham - RARITIES AHOY!

OTHER THINGS

Carrying on from last month, we're still SLASHING (slashing!) prices over in the online shop, and I'm keeping on keeping on with "My Exciting Life In ROCK" articles for the
PopArt Digest. Meanwhile, plans are afoot to re-start sessions for the NEXT album, and there's even a couple of new songs emerging to slip onto it.

And that's the lot - all that's left is to say thanks very much to everyone who's put us on this year, or been to a gig, or bought a record, or been to look at the blog, or sat and read through any of these messages. As I always say, we're not in this for the money (luckily), we're here for the fun and - HEY! - the love of it, so thanks VERY much for supplying us with so much of BOTH. Have a fantastic Christmas and see you in the New Year for a freshly baked slice of ROCK!

Cheers,

Mark

My recommended events

Cool, just discovered my recommended events at last.fm, and I see loads of bands that I like or liked in the past are playing live about now, including bands that I didn't really know were still going, including Love / Hate, Sheep on Drugs, Ricky Spontane and Sultans of Ping. Great. I'm not entirely sure how it knows that I'd like those gigs, it must be based on number of plays and things, iTunes updates last.fm with what I've been listening to, check out what I just listened to...

Off to The Famous Ship Inn in a bit, just waiting for Emma to turn up. I'm glad it's there and not Hythe, mostly for ease of getting home again, but also the beers are great there.

The day's started well

A glass of cava on arrival at the office, and a selection box, a satsuma and a raffle ticket, all handed out by the directors. And we've got a live band playing in the lobby too, Realm 79.

Fingers crossed for the raffle draw, there's a holiday and a computer and things up for grabs, and there's only about 300 of us here.

Pictures of people's fancy dress up later (not dressed up myself though), and our Brussels pictures are up now...

UPDATE: Didn't win the raffle, but we did have free catering for breakfast, this turned up in our carpark today:

ezee tiger exhibition

ah - Thanks for taking the time to pop over to the art exhibition. tell me, did you find the venue easy enough to find? We think we may pay a visit to the Hyde Park gig soon. (Im sure you have seen the artists down there) - That'd be a very nice job through the summer months with a few jars before the last train home! Everyone: If a large painting was to be displayed in a prominent position in Folkestone, what would you like to see? . . .

Giant Dave Grohl

Has anyone been over to the Art Exhibition at Hythe Road, just off the A20 near to Secret Garden Restaurant? There have been a lot of requests for big icon paintings and there is a v.cool BIG canvas of Dave Grohl in red and brown plus a BIG Dirty Harry painting, along with a smaller Marmite painting which looks really funky in the kitchen. There are also various Folkestone scenes as shown here on the fab FG site. If anyone wants to commission a painting, let us know at www.ezeetiger.com but take a look at the ready made pics at the Courtyard Gallery, Hythe Road if you want some inspiration! Any questions, leave here or refer to the ezeetiger website. Happy Christmas all. . .

Immortalise someone for Christmas!

If you are immortalised in oil, next time someone says 'you're no oil painting' you will be able to cut them dead when you produce before their very eyes the Christmas present you got for your wife in 2007 - a picture of yourself! - Actually, Kev (of www.ezeetiger.com fame) was recently commissioned by a guy to do a pic of his wife from a photograph as a surprise present to her and she LOVED it! so if you're stuck for unique presentage this Christmas. . . .

ezee tiger exhibition

the ezeetiger site now has a 'thank you to folkestonegerald' message upon it!:
www.ezeetiger.com

RE: This looks like it's a reply to something, but I can't figure out what

Sorry that should be for Colin Hodges Rapid Response Band.

Paul

House swap Prague-UK

Dear Sirs,

We live in Czech Republic. We would like to swap our 250 m2 beautiful house in Prague with somebody's flat or house in the UK, preferably in Kent for one year. Can you suggest if we can place our message in your newspaper?
Regards,
William Chilton,
Prague, Czech Republic
Mob: + 420739298227