Category: entertainment and leisure news

THAME and district people will remember well, past Interchurch Productions’ memorable shows like Godspell, Sound of Music, Joseph etc. (To refresh your memory and to know more, look at ICP’s website: http://interchurchproductions.com

ICP is currently getting ready for a new production – ‘CHILDREN OF EDEN’ planned for October half term and are looking for enthusiastic people – no previous experience is necessary but they do need all the talented people required for a musical, actors, singers, scene painters, technical whizz kids, dress makers etc

Visit the website for contact details and more information about auditions.

TETSWORTH Farmers Market is being revived, starting on Sunday, May 15. Profits will go towards imrovement work for Tetsworth’s village hall.

The market will be held the 3rd Sunday of the month, 10am – 12.noon.

Easy to find, located opposite The Swan.

www.tetsworthparishcouncil.co.uk

THAME Concert Band is an enthusiastic group of wind players who are now rehearsing for a new year of exciting music, beginning on May 14, with a programme that will include Music from My Fair Lady and Michael Jackson.

The concert will be held in St Mary’s church, Thame, and will also include a quarrelsome pair of opera divas, a couple of contrasting folk song arrangements, a tribute to John Barry and much more; all arranged for concert band.

The band will be joined by the Thame Chamber Choir 2, under the direction of Duncan Aspden, as well as singing some numbers on their own. The whole evening will be rounded off with a popular jazz waltz. It promises to be a very enjoyable evening.

Tickets will be on sale at Tickets Anywhere in Thame and Bloomin Fruity in Haddenham, priced at

THEN you definitely should enter your loveable mutt in one of the Dog Show Classes at this year’s Thame Carnival and Festival on June 18.

Other classes in the Dog Show are:

* Best puppy (under 6 months old)
* Prettiest Bitch
* Best Senior (over 7 years)
* Fancy Dress – Dog only!
* Waggiest Tail
* Most Scruffiest Dog
* The Dog the Judge would most like to take home

There will be Rosettes and prizes for each class to fourth prize.

Entry

THIS Thursday, May 5, is already looking to be good night for the First Thursday Music Club, with Club favourites “Strings Attached” confirmed and promising some surprises!

“We are also making a video this month at the club,” reports Founder-member Jon Littler. “You will notice Gary and his hi-def equipment roaming around and capturing the sights, sounds and smells of a club night. But he hopes to get more than that, much more.

“After editing we will posting the finished film on YouTube and on the club website so people will be able to get a good understanding of the FTMC, its atmosphere, organisation, players and audience,” adds Jon.

Visit the club’s website for more information about how to get involved:

http://web.mac.com/jon.littler/The_First_Thursday_Music_Club/How_it_works.html

THE line-up for Thame?s ?Music in the Park? festival has been confirmed. ?It was not an easy decision,” said Michele Pethers of Crash Records and a member of the organising committee. “We had so many bands and artists register to perform. As a result, I?m pleased to say we?ve been able to add a third stage for music.

?We wanted to offer a really good mix of music from musicians of all ages. We would like to thank everyone who registered to play; the response has been fantastic and demonstrates the wealth of musical talent in the area.?

The two main stages will accommodate Ska Souls (Madness) Ultimate Elton, The Peppermints (Motown), The Muttz Knuttz (party rock covers), Bootlegger (classic rock), Michael Lee Band (funky covers/originals), The Ellie Ruddock Band (acoustic/electric), The Unchosen (original rock), We?re Not Mexican (pop/punk), Milk (rock), Rowan Carter (classical), Evette Judge (acoustic/rock) all three acts winners of Thame?s Got Talent, The Nerve (tribute to Pink Floyd/Genesis), Empty Vessels (blues), The Thame Community Choir, John Hampden children signing and accompanied by the band Transit, and Hell?s Gazelles (rock).

The third stage will be housed within the 50ft real ale tent, run by the Cross Keys Pub. A wide variety of acts will feature throughout the day, including Huge Carrott, Gemma Aguilar, The Bravados, Sam Hoare, Cassette Clinic, Lydia Faith, Hogan & The Vaultdwellers, Lewis Branch and 14Ten.

Trade stands range from Thame Glass, to Bindi Jewellery, Ruby Moon clothes and gifts, Sunshine Boutique hand-dyed and batik t-shirts and textiles. There will also be a healing and wellbeing area featuring The Yoga Space and acupuncture, being organised by Rhiannon Griffiths. Other attractions include workshops on topics ranging from Knitting and Crochet to Life Coaching skills, as well as roaming magicians.

The children?s area will offer face-painting and giant inflatables, including a giant slide, bouncy castle and assault course.

The gates open at 12 noon on May 8th, and the festival will be opened by our very own Town Mayor Adam Buckland, accompanied by local MP John Howell and Ultimate Elton.

The organisers tell us that there is still an opportunity for people to get involved by having a trade stand or by helping sponsor the event.

PHOTO: Thame’s Got Talent winner, Rowan Carter, who will be performing at Music In The Park on Sunday, May 8th.

Eight members of Thame Choral Society sang their hearts out to an audience of 38,000 people at Twickenham on Saturday, and then watched Bath wipe the floor with Wasps!

Well, as Judith Newenham, a member of the ‘Twickenham eight’ as they called themselves, and the Choir’s Chairman said, You can’t have everything!

The group from Thame joined with Wycombe Choral Society who have a contract with Wasps to sing at rugby matches from time to time. For matches at Twickenham, a larger choir is needed hence the reonforcements from Thame Choral Society!

The joint choirs sang Land of Hope and Glory, Rule Britannia, Jerusalem, I Vow to Thee my Country and the National Anthem, and were accompanied by a cadet band, and 150 paras, just returned from Afghanistan.

“We had a fabulous day with gorgeous weather,” said Judith. “But now its back to Thame to join the rest of the choir for rehearsals for our next concert.

“We hope everyone will come along and enjoy an evening of 20th century choral music on Saturday, May 7, at St Mary?s Church in Thame,” added Judith.

This year?s Spring Concert features John Rutter?s Gloria and Jubilate by Bob Chilcott, two well-known modern choral works with glorious harmonies. The choir will be accompanied by a brass ensemble which will also do a solo piece and there are two organ solos, so it is a packed programme.

The concert starts at 7.45pm. Tickets cost

ONE of the youngest home-grown bands to sprout up in Thame recently, are HUGE CARROT, who fresh from the Rock and Pop festival in Oxford last week, are winding up again for Music In Elms Park on May 8.

One of a basket of fresh new bands studying at the Oxfordshire Rock School, this rock trio consists of 14 year-olds Bryn Davis, Jack Twyford and Will Spurgeon who play covers from Hendrix to the Ramones as well as their own original work.

All year nine students at Lord Williams?s Lower School in Thame, guitarist Bryn and drummer Jack were joined by bassist Will in 2010. The band has performed at a number of events including school concerts, fundraisers, and competitions such as Thame?s Got Talent (under the name ‘Banned’) as well as the Rock and Pop Festival in Oxford earlier this month after a rigourous round of auditions.

All three of the band are planning to study GCSE Music at Lord Williams?s Upper School next year where they rehearse regularly as well as at Thame?s Black Frog Recording Studios.

PHOTO: Huge Carrot, as they appeared in last November’s Thame’s Got Talent, as the rock trio, Banned.

LEADING Madness and Two-Tone tribute act, The SkaSouls will be headlining the Music in the Park festival in Thame, on May 8.

Featuring six highly talented musicians, The SkaSouls recreate a high-energy, dynamic ska heaven with stirring five-way vocal harmonies. You?ll soon be dancing along to your favourite numbers from Madness, Bad Manners and many others.

Thame?s Mayor, Adam Buckland, local MP, John Howell, and Elton John tribute act, Ultimate Elton, are scheduled to officially open the festival just after 12:00. Shortly after this, Ultimate Elton and his band, Kick perform.

Amongst the many attractions, ex-mods will surely relish the opportunity to re-live their youth at the Red Kite Scooter Club?s display of scooters past and present. The Club, which meets at the Falcon pub in Thame every Wednesday, regularly organises fund raising events for local good causes.

With less than three weeks to go, preparations for the event are progressing well. Alison Champken-Woods of the Friends of Elms Park praised the local community: ?We have had fantastic support for the event from local community groups, individuals, musicians, local businesses and traders. It?s a wonderful demonstration of the community spirit that exists in Thame and we are all committed to giving residents an event they will remember.?

The festival is in aid of the Friends of Elms Park and tickets can be purchased from ThameNews.Net (Jordans Courtyard, left of The Swan, Upper High Street), Thame Town Hall, Vintage and Modern Guitars music shop (The Shambles, off Buttermarket and Cornmarket) and the Cross Keys pub.

Advance tickets cost: adults

A LOCAL pub and music venue in Thame, is holding a marathon film festival this weekend (Saturday 16th April ? Sunday 17th April) to celebrate some of the best films, old and new, and it?s free for everyone!

Whether you?re out shopping with the girls and want somewhere after to relax with a bowl of popcorn and a chilled glass of wine or you and your mates want to get together over a pint and remember a classic film of your youth, or you might even need somewhere to bring the kids so you can have a couple of hours peace ? there really is something for everyone!

Manager Kenny Davison says: ?We all love films here at the James Figg and we want to share our passion for great movies with everyone! There?s no admission fee and you can come and go as you please, it?s a totally chilled out event for anyone and everyone. We?ll have one small screen and one main screen showing different films throughout the day, we plan to run the films from midday to midnight on both Saturday and Sunday so there?s plenty to choose from.?

With popcorn on hand and the bar open for drinks and fantastic pub food, what better way to spend a weekend?

Find The James Figg at 21 Cornmarket, Thame, Oxon, OX9 2BL. Tel: 01844 260 166. www.thejamesfiggthame.co.uk