A Special for Sure

When you hear an artist or band live and think to yourself "they sound just like they do on their recorded version" you know they're good. For me this applies to the band Muse, evident in the awards they have won as "Best Live Band", Plan B, Beverly Knight and the beautifully soulful Adele who today performed for Radio 1's Live Lounge.

Adele played six songs; some new, old and did a cover of Cheryl Cole's "Promise This" - each as note perfect as the next. Her distinct strong voice carried the melodies so well it was enough for me to get shivers time to time, which is always a good sign. And well, the fact she made "Promise This" sound superior to Cheryl's original says a a great deal.

Not only are her vocals spot on, but her songs all have such powerful meanings. Adele wrote "Hometown Glory" at the early age of sixteen and from there she has only got better. "Someone Like You" from her new album "21" is a track that defiantly has the ability to bring tears to your eyes.

Adele's raw talent blows me away every time I hear her sing. A must watch for any passionate Adele fans. http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/sessions/2011-01-27_adeleliveloungespecial

Have a Taste of Milligan this Christmas

Fancy a Christmas with Badjelly the Witch, Sir Nobonk and King Twytt? Well, this year you can as Chickenshed Theatre Company presents Spike Milligan’s most-loved children’s stories and poems in their production of Badjelly’s Bad Christmas.

The annual Christmas show this year focuses on sisters Kate and Laura as they help their Grandad regain his missing baubles from Badjelly the Witch, and in doing so take a trip to the Land of the Bumbly Boo and The Ning Nang Nong.

The whole play is a jumble of nonsense, but Spike Milligan style nonsense, which as been magically crafted together by David Carey.

Of course, they have left no classics out and so Milligan fans, you may breathe a sigh of relief. Carey has incorporated the Ying Tong song and the poem of The Ning Nang Nong to capture Milligan’s greatest works.

Humour is not amiss in this show and you would be a bah humbug if you were to sit the two hours without a giggle. The rap battle scene has the audience in fits of laughter and the directing of Louise Perry and Mary Ward should be congratulated, as the stage is buzzing with energy.

Without a doubt many would agree that there are three particular talents in this production. These three being the signers of the show. They dance, act and sign the show for any audience members who may be deaf or hard of hearing. They are in fact so outstanding there comes a point when you realise, rather than watching the characters, you are instead watching them, especially as it is not every day you see rapping being translated to sign language.

Although, for those of you who roll your eyes at the typical Christmas pantomimes featuring “He’s behind you!” gags, you may wish to be cautious. The performance does feature more than enough booing and hissing for the average taste. So be prepared, it’s not just a show you can just sit and relax to.

Despite this, the production is one for many. Adults will remember Milligan’s poems and stories from their childhood and children will enjoy the endearing craziness of the story and characters the show encounters. In all, a light hearted show for the family.

Greymatter Call on Student Brain Power

Students from Bournemouth and Reading University are to be involved with the events organisation and album design for the girl band Greymatter.

Events Management students from Bournemouth University are involved every year in arranging a live gig in the local area. Whilst Typography students studying at reading are currently working on Greymatters’ up-coming album design, including logo and cover material.

The bands’ aim is to involve university students by allowing them to use the skills gained in their courses and to put them into action. The students can gain experience and while doing so can help promote Greymatter.

Emma Kavanagh, who is vocalist in the band and also a lecturer in Sports Psychology and Coaching Science at Bournemouth University says “As I work in higher education I’m aware of the network of students that are looking for employability skills and it’s not enough now to just get a degree, it’s also about the experience you gain whilst doing it.”

“It’s a great experience for them to work with us, but also for us in the creative idea’s that we get from students. It’s really refreshing to work with people who are right at the start of their career as they are so full of enthusiasm.”

The students are working hard to finish the projects by springtime 2011, when Greymatter are set to release their third album - which is yet to be named. The band is set to return with a bang showcasing their new mainstream sound and image with the creative help of the Bournemouth and Reading students.

The True Colours of Ali Sharpe

Drifting off to her mother’s operatic lullabies every night clearly had an influence on 55-year-old singer, conductor of the Bournemouth Community Gospel Choir and artist, Ali Sharpe. Here, she shows us how important music and art are to her.

Growing up, Ali moved from school to school, “I felt a bit uprooted because every time I felt I had made friends, Mum and Dad would decide to move. It was quite frequent; it seemed to be about every three years.” Then, at 15, Ali was involved in a car accident in Hatfield, Hertfordshire. She had to take a year out of school to recover, and ever since the accident has suffered from epilepsy. As a consequence she had to re-sit her O levels, but couldn’t get her heart back into studying. With the encouragement of her teachers she took on a Teacher Training course in Art, and, due to her impressive art portfolio, succeeded in getting a place without A levels. Since then Ali has also gained a Music Diploma in 1997 at Trinity College, London, and has been a music teacher at a number of schools. She now teaches piano and singing during the week at her home in Winton.

On entering her semi-detached house, it is hard to ignore the stunning artwork showcased in every room. “As a child I was always very creative. Whether it was painting, drawing or sticking things together…just inventing stuff!” When describing her work she says, “I love pictures to have rhythm and movement to them. It’s the same way I feel about music really. There should be movement and harmony and balance. I would definitely say that colour reflects my personality; my whole house is colours!” And this is clear as we walk from her leaf green music room, into her deep red living room. You can tell she has been in charge of the decoration. “Colour is definitely important for me when I am doing my artwork; colour and stories. I love drawing people, even though I am no good at them.” As an observer of her artwork, Ali is extremely modest, since the people in her drawings complement her abstract yet striking masterpieces seamlessly.

Ali’s passion for music began as a child listening to her mother singing opera and playing the piano. Ali plays piano too, having lessons from an early age. But her real passion has always been singing and this passion is what lead to her setting up the Bournemouth Community Gospel Choir in 2001.

Ali has been the conductor of Bournemouth Community Gospel Choir since it began nine years ago. During these years the choir has grown, with about forty to fifty singers across an age spectrum of sixteen to eighty who attend each week. Ali is fun, trendy, wacky and doesn’t take herself too seriously, and this rubs off on the choir. They don’t turn up to sing note perfect, or to win awards, or practise a song till they can sing no more! They come to Ali’s sessions to enjoy singing and have fun; the awards and beautiful harmonies are just an added bonus.

Ali leads choir practises at the YMCA Hall in Winton. Among the bustling crowd of singers is Julia, who has been with the choir for over five years. “I joined after watching Ali and the choir performing in the town square. Their energy and enthusiasm drew me in and I’ve been here ever since!” When I ask about Ali she says “she is just so lovely, she is so talented in what she does and creates a brilliant atmosphere here.” Anne, another member of the choir agrees, “she’s perfect!”

Suddenly everyone stands up and the session commences. Watching these men and women of all ages singing together as a community is really quite moving and something that’s not often encountered. “The friendships that are formed are lovely.” Ali explains that the choir goes on trips together and that their experiences strengthen their friendships. “When we did a performance in Prague we were meant to be performing in this big, beautiful, Catholic church. Because it was so hot within, we began warming up outside. When I turned around I saw people had started gathering behind me. There must have been hundreds! You could see them coming from all areas and there were kids dancing and old ladies sitting on walls and it was just such a fantastic atmosphere. We went away as a choir feeling so rewarded and as a group we’ve never forgotten that amazing experience.”

It is great to see Ali settled in Bournemouth with her loving husband and her family close by. Ali‘s son Dillan, 27, married earlier this year and daughter Naomi, 25, works in entertainment on a cruise ship. When I ask about her husband, Bob, Ali blushes and replies, “We’ve been together thirty years and I’m still madly in love with him. We’re getting older now. When I was younger I just longed to be out gigging and socialising, these days I sometimes just like a bit of stillness; just Bob and me.”

People who have met Ali have a lot of respect for her. She has a number of voluntary gigs and events lined up; selfless acts which invariably help others. But what is most important is that she has created for herself a life based on the things she loves; art, music and family.

A Life in the Day: Fiona Gladstone

The 18-year-old has just completed her A-levels and is now enjoying a relaxing summer.

There is never a rush to get up, that’s the joy and reward of finishing A levels. Around half ten, sometimes later, I begin to show some signs of movement as I reach for my phone to see if I have any new texts. Once I have done that I do is put the radio on and grab my laptop to see what is happening in the world that day. Although firstly I check my Facebook, generally I’m on for about an hour or so and I forget to do everything else I mean to do. I listen to the radio every morning. When I was at school I’d wake up to hear Chris Moyles but now as a lazy teenager it’s Fearne Cotton that introduces me to the day.

I try and plan a list of jobs for myself, such as cleaning my room, ironing my clothes, writing emails etc. But, being human, I get easily distracted and consequently they never get completed.

I generally have lunch about one o’clock. While cooking and eating I can be watching either ‘60 Minute Makeover’ or ‘Come Dine with Me’. Lunch is normally pasta. Despite this I still hunt around the kitchen for a good ten minutes. Most days moaning to myself about the lack of quick and simple meals available in our household. You’d think having pasta nearly everyday for about two months would mean I’d be pretty good at the measurements, but one day I will have a feast and the next day I’ll still be hungry. I guess its just something I will never be able to judge.

If it is Tuesday or a Wednesday I then make my way to my next door neighbour’s house whose dogs I look after. As soon as I open the front door I can hear the dogs jumping up at the kitchen door as their routine. When I let the dogs into the garden, Jesse, the Beagle, heads off to explore and check there is no change to how she left the garden that morning and Rosie, the Jack Russell, will beg to play ball. Yet after about three minutes Rosie tends to get bored and will decide to sit inside instead. I normally take Rosie’s lead and head inside myself to watch some mind-numbing daytime TV.

It is about four o’clock when the texts start coming in about ideas for what my friends and I can get up to that evening. Suggestions are normally brushed aside as the majority of us have a lack of money, so since we are all 18 we tend to head to the pub.

Mum gets home about half five most days and comes to see how my day has been. Mum and me get on really well. I think it’s all part of growing up, you either become closer to your parents or more distant, thankfully I’ve grown closer. We’ll have a natter and a cup of tea and then around half six I will start getting myself ready for whatever joys are planned for the evening.

About once a week my friends and I go on a night out clubbing. Central London is fortunately very accessible for us living in Barnet and so we like to make the most of it whenever possible. Pre-drinking generally takes place at The Bell, our local pub - conveniently a very short walk from my house. Once we make it into London we have a dance, get some drinks down us, take too many pictures and run out of money.

On the nights I don’t go out I like to relax. This tends to involve watching a film or catching up on programmes I’ve missed on Iplayer. I always tell myself to have an early night when I stay in, but I never do and so my bedtime routine starts about half 11. It’s barley a routine, just taking off my make-up, brushing my teeth etc. I lay in bed for a while thinking about what I have planned for the next day, before I fall fast asleep.