Category: entertainment and leisure news

BANDS and artists are wanted for the annual Thame Free Festival taking place this year in the Upper High Street, Thame, on Saturday, June 14, after the Thame Carnival.
The event, which this year is being organised by Crash records in conjunction with 21st Century Thame, will run from 4 pm. till 9.30 pm.

Michelle Pether, from Crash Records, who are promoting the festival, said: “Usually the organisers are inundated with bands and solo artists, but this year a lot of the Thame bands seem to have split up or moved away.
“As usual the stage will be on the back of a trailer and there will be a full professional pa system.
“I have been bombarded from non local bands, but really want to give local musicans the first opportunity to play at this festival.”

If you are interested in performing then please get in touch via info@crash-records.co.uk detailing the name of your band or if a solo artist, contact tel number,links to a website if you have one, genre of music, where the band are based and address.

THAME CHORAL SOCIETY’S next concert will be its first under the direction of Colin Spinks, Director of Music at St Mary-le-Strand and assitant organist at St Albans Holburn, and promises to be one of its best yet.
Though not a large Choral Society, rehearsals for Rossini’s Stabart Mater, with its unaccompanied sections, auger well for a great musical experience.

Also on the programme are Handel’s magnificent Coronation Anthems, including the majestic ‘Zadoc the Priest,’ composed for the coronation of King George II and Queen Caroline on October 11, 1727.

The Trumpet Concerto by Hummel, also on the programme, was written for Viennese trumpet virtuoso and inventor of the keyed trumpet, Anton Weidinger. It was written in the December of 1803 and performed on New Year’s Day 1804 to mark Hummel’s entrance into the Esterh

THAME’s museum, situated in the old Magistrate?s Court, has invited Thame Players to mount a display in the community room.
The exhibition is on show at the museum until Sunday, May 11. There are hundreds of pictures as well as costumes and props from various shows. It covers the history of the Players from the late 1940s to the present day and shows how costumes, props and sets are designed and constructed.

Tony Long, chairman of Thame Players, said: “We were delighted when Phil Williams, secretary to the museum trust, invited us to mount an exhibition. We hope that anyone with an interest in our theatre will visit the display and enjoy looking round.”
The museum is open from 10am to 4pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays.

FROM the end of April – follow the link for more information.http://www.oxfordprospect.co.uk/Oxfordfestivals2008.htm

LOCAL, riotous gang, DR SLAGGLEBERRY, continue to receive very positive responses following the release of their latest self titled 4 track EP via Chinnor based, Crash Records, in March.
Immediately they were awarded Single of the Week from Organ magazine and a wave of critical praise followed

“It?s one of the most infectious four trackers I have heard in a while 9/10”
Komodo Rock

“?blow convention out of the water and dig deeper into a horror film sound than I have heard in a long time”
Insiders Guides

“?four tracks which never let up, push the boundaries of experimental hardcore and leave the listener glancing over their UK tour sheet”
Music Magazine

“So unhinged they somehow make Rolo Tomassi and Mr Bungle sound like Keane covering The Feeling”
Rock Midgets

The foursome hail from iOxford & Bucks and the present line up has been together for just over a year and are about to embark on a mass of UK dates to promote the latest release.

Having been described as Math Metal to Jazzcore to Progressive rock, the band take to the road to help the UK make up their own mind. Compared to musical influences mixed in a food blender, that description does not do justice to the level of musicianship that Dr Slagglerry show. A psychotic soundtrack meeting progessive guitars managed to create a unique sound and in turn earmark Dr Slaggleberry as the must see band of 2008.

Having just done an interview with Kerrang Radio, they have been invited into Total Rock Radio offices in April to be interviewed, and now BBC6 are going to feature SCAT on next weeks show.
?Its been an amazing response to the EP release, its kinda taken us a little bit by surprise really, it was great getting featured on the front page of Organ magazine, and all these great reviews coming in daily for the EP. The tour is coming to an end now, and we shall be back in the studio writing and recording the album which will be released in the summer?

Next gig: 16 Apr : Bull & Gate, London

LINK

THE April holiday programme of children?s holiday activities at Thame Leisure Centre will be running from April 7 to 18 , packed full of games, crafts and fun activities.
For more information visit www.soll-leisure.co.uk or phone the Leisure Centre on 01844 215607.

THAME & Chinnor Liberal Democrats are already taking table bookings for their popular Quiz Night, on May,2 at John Hampden school, Thame.
Doors open at 7.30pm for an 8pm start.
Teams of up to eight,

SOLOISTS from the Royal Opera House will be singing with one of Thame?s fastest growing choral societies in April.
Elizabeth Sikora and Adrian Thompson have both been appearing in The Magic Flute at Covent Garden this month and will be joined by local bass, Andrew Jarvis to perform Elgar?s Dream of Gerontius with Lord Williams?s Festival Chorus and the Ealing Symphony Orchestra, on Saturday, April 26th.

Under the direction of internationally renowned conductor John Gibbons, Lord Williams?s Festival Chorus now regularly attracts top calibre soloists.

At their December concert, the audience was stunned when the country?s fastest-rising classical star, Nicola Benedetti, appeared unbilled as a surprise guest to play the Sibelius Violin Concerto.

Elizabeth Sikora has performed numerous roles with English National Opera and the Royal Opera. She also has a long association with the Royal Ballet.

Adrian Thompson is President of Lord Williams?s Festival Chorus and professor of vocal studies at The Guildhall School of Music and Drama. He is an artist of extraordinary versatility, with a wide-ranging opera, concert and recital repertoire of works.

Dream of Gerontius is the intensely personal story of one man?s death and the journey of his soul. It will be at performed at Thame Leisure Centre on Saturday, April 26th, at 7.30pm. Tickets are available from Rosemary Scott-Smith, Tel: 01844 344083. More information can be found at www.lordwilliamsfestivalchorus.org.uk

Lord Williams?s Festival Chorus rehearses every Monday evening (term-term) at Lord Williams?s Upper School hall, 7.30 ? 9.30pm. All are welcome.

The choir?s patron is Bafta award-winning composer and former Lord Williams?s pupil, Howard Goodall.

Photo: Elizabeth Sikora

BRIAN Rix, the veteran actor and producer of Whitehall Farces in the 50s and 60s, and latterly President of the charity Mencap, is embarking on a nationwide tour with his one man show A PEER ROUND WHITEHALL.
In the show, Lord Rix presents an evening of reminiscences and anecdotes from his time in farce to his current membership of the House of Lords, with film clips. He reflects with great wit and humour on his 27 years as an actor on stage, television and film and describes how he became absorbed with the work of Mencap and gave up the stage to work full time for the charity.

Lord Rix has chosen The Players Theatre in Thame to launch his tour, in association with Clive Conway. The show includes clips from some of his stage and film performances and promises to provide a poignant, nostalgic and memorable evening.

A PEER ROUND WHITEHALL can be seen at The Players Theatre, Nelson Street, Thame on Sunday, April 6, at 7.45pm. Tickets cost

A Charity Acoustic Night, organised by a group of young Thame musicians and their friends, was a great success and raised a substantial amount of money to support the work of Christian Aid and CAFOD in tackling poverty.
Emmy & Peeco opened the evening with some terrific cover versions. The event saw a magnificent performance from the Lord Williams?s School Jazz Band (comprised of 2 saxophonists, a pianist, clarinettist, flautist, drummer and double bassist) led by the wonderfully charismatic Roger Simmonds.

Wilber, a BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Awards Finalist, performed superbly, including one lilting number on a twelve-string guitar.
The entertainment was rounded off with a stripped down acoustic set from The Youngs Plan, a pleasant surprise as they sounded more full and lively without a full rhythm section.

Over 80 people attended the event, held at the Thame Barns Centre last Saturday, March 15, helping to raise overall