Lawrence's Weekly Blog
By Lawrence on Thu 17 Oct
This weekend's events (11-13 October)
As I hear the drunks round the corner have an argument and the ambulance rushing off to the McDonald’s Drive Thru, it must be just past the middle of the afternoon. And given the time of the week, it gives I, your humble narrator, the perfect opportunity to let you know what’s happening at the Rising Sun this weekend.
Once again, we have yet another full weekend for you enjoyment, starting with THE BIG UNTIDY NIGHT OUT on Friday!
Big Untidy specialises in bringing new unusual talent into the Rising Sun. Singers, songwriters, poets, punk outfits, ambient experimentalists, sensational cellists and demonic banjo-players…the possibilities are endless. This time around they bring the following for your pleasure and entertainment:
LUKE PAULO AND THE GRAPEFRUIT with special guest clarinet player and dancer!
The missing link between George Formby and John Otway, Mr LAWRENCE PIDDOCK
From Newbury, the rock n roll frenzy that is FIRE ANTZ
SPRIGGAN MIST…pagan folk rock band with serious musical chops
and the whole evening will be held together like Super Glue by the wonderful MIKHAIL THE TERRIBLE – your Comedy Compere
We’re open at 8pm and all this entertainment will cost you a paltry £5 on the door.
(Be warned the first person to stop laughing gets shot…)
On Saturday, THE SILENT HOWL PRESENTS
The Silent Howl is a music publisher promoting daring sonic experimentations through audio releases, scores and videos. Join us this Saturday for the following amazing line-up:
RYOKO AKAMA
A composer/sound artist who uses DIY electronics, no input mixers, sine tones and objects to realise compositions, sound installations and performance. She explores Japanese ideology and art forms such as Noh, Teaism and Kabuki, which have become crucial analogues to her creativity. www.ryokoakama.com
TAKAHASHI’S SHELLFISH CONCERN
Takahashi’s Shellfish Concern is Angela Guyton and Rodrigo Constanzo. They blur the boundaries between visual and sonic information, yielding subtlety, grit, focus and beauty. Rodrigo Constanzo is an avid improviser and performs regularly using home-made electro-acoustic, and modified electronic instruments. http://www.rodrigoconstanzo.com
TOUT CROCHE
Tout Croche are Stephen Harvey and Dominic Thibault. Since October 2011, the duo has actively been developing a live setup around the electric guitar and a rack of digital FXs routed together to create surprising sonic textures. Although fascinated by studio work where they have a unique opportunity to refine their improvisations, the live show is where their energy and intensity can be unleashed. They are now touring the UK to celebrate their most recent studio work, Super Silent, an album released in October 2013 on The Silent Howl as 180gram vinyl and high quality digital.
http://www.toutcroche.com
https://www.facebook.com/toutcrochemusic
http://thesilenthowl.bandcamp.com/
We’re open at 8pm and it’ll ocst you £5 on the door to get in.
Finally on Sunday, we bring you the 2013 edition of BOOKFACE
A book fair with a difference! Artists and writers will be exhibiting and selling their work.
Artists’ hand-made book creations, experimental and altered books, small press, local authors, poets, comic book artists, book collectors, sketch books, paper sculpture, book swap, vintage books, story telling, make-and-take workshop and more. Listen to poetry readings, browse the book stalls, share ideas, relax and enjoy drinks and snacks at the bar. If you would like some information, please contact Neile at neilenwright@hotmail.co.uk.
We’re open from 11am to 5pm and entry.is absolutely free!
That’s everything for another weekend, just to remind you that we are, barring “the unexplained”, at 30 Silver Street, Reading, RG1 2ST.
(There are still one or two individiuals who insist on getting us confused with every other venue in town… people are strange)
This Weekend’s Events (4th to 6th October)
Hi Everyone
As sure as night follows day and an opportunistic lawyer descends upon a road traffic mishap, we’re back again to let you know what’s happening at the Rising Sun this weekend.
On Friday we bring you RAISING THE SCAFFOLDING II
After last year’s Raising The Scaffolding we bring you a 2013 edition. As part of a scheme to fund a much-needed renovation of the Rising Sun’s roofing we will be putting on a show of freestyle musical performance with costumes to match. Bands and artists are to appear in fancy dress to fit with the theme of their chosen songs… cowboys, spacemen, men in black, smokers, jokers, midnight-tokers or even atheists who put “preacher” in front of their name…
Join in the lunacy with an outrageous outfit of your choice!
The line-up includes DOLLY AND THE CLOTHESPEGS, AUGUST LIST, JACK CADE and PREACHER JOHN.
We’ll be open at 7.45pm and it’s £2 on the door to get in (we suggest you also keep something aside for when the hats come around during the evening)
(Unfortunately, JERK CHICKEN which was due to be on this Saturday has had to be cancelled)
On Sunday, THE SCARLET VIXENS Present AN EVENING OF BURLESQUE
The Scarlet Vixens bring a fresh, unique flavour to the Burlesque scene.
They’re not just showgirls – they have the edge. They blend Burlesque dancing with rock, Bollywood, hip-hop and classic vintage pin-up styles.
Routines that are captivating, quirky, and most importantly – fun. See for yourself and come along! Call Irem on 07876 753 622 for more info
We’re open at 8pm and it’ll cost you £5 on the door to get in.
That’s everything for another week, just to remind you that we are, barring accidents, at 30 Silver Street, Reading, RG1 2ST. (There are still people who insist on confusing us with every other venue in town… people are strange)
This Weekend’s Events (27th to 29th September)
It pains me to inform you, that I, your humble narrator, am feeling under the weather. However, despite seeing mirages of Siouxsie Sioux and Debbie Harry tending me to on my deathbed, I still feel it necessary to carry out my weekly duty and let you know what’s happening at the Rising Sun this weekend…
It’s another full one too, starting with Friday, and CLUB VELOCITY
Another helping of live music in a last friday of a month fashion, and it looks something like this…
DAMIEN A PASSMORE AND THE LOVEABLE FRAUDSTERS
An assortment of musical tales concerning vegetable-based whisky, mail-order brides and trailer parks courtesy of the best and tallest cow punk band in all the land. What do you mean you’re staying in?
HAZE
Back again after making waves at Here Comes The Sun 2013. One regular visitor to the Rising Sun would not shut up about her after her set. She now makes her presence felt at Club Velocity. She will get better and better once she has a few CV gigs under her belt.
MATT MALTESE
Matt might only be 17, but he has already had a top ten iTunes single. Round these far parts there are one or two foks with big hopes for this chap. Great songs and a great voice. Your mum will want to cuddle him…
(Please note that this gig is for ages 18 or over)
We’ll be open at 8pm it’ll cost you £5 on the door to get in ( or £4 in advance from www.wegottickets.com)
On Saturday, we bring you FIESTA LATINA
A little piece of Cuba hidden away in Reading. A relaxed and friendly Latin party with lots of Latin music so you can dance, or just socialise. You can expect plenty of Salsa, tango and whatever the mood suggests: bachata, milonga, merengue and reggaeton. Maybe more
We’re open from 9pm and it’ll cost you a paltry £6.to get in
Finally on Sunday, we bring you CRASH TEST DRAMA
Back again after it’s summer break, Crash Test Drama is your chanve to act in or direct a 10-minute play, which is cast, rehearsed and performed all on the same night! Fast, fun and rewarding.
Actors and directors turn up at 6pm. Performances start at 7.30pm. All pay £3. Winning plays get a share of the pot. Prospective directors or anyone with a 10-minute play email crashtestdramauk@hotmail.co.uk
That’s everything for another weekend, just to remind you that we are, barring disasters at 30 Silver Street, Reading, RG1 2ST. (There are still people who inisist on getting us confused with every other venue in town… people are strange)
This Weekend’s Events (20th to 22nd September)
Hi Everyone
Just as Autumn is about to begin the proper British summer has finally arrived, with rain, wind and grey skies a-plenty! With people debating about whether to put the heating on and, of course, discussing this nation’s favourite subject and ice-breaker of choice – the bloody weather! Not even, I your humble narrator, can avoid it!
While you can’t rely on the weather to do what it’s meant to, when it’s supposed to, you can rely on the Rising Sun to send you another note once a week, so without any further ado…
On Friday, STAND UP CINEMA is back from its summer break
This season sees us celebrate 5 years of Stand Up Cinema and we can look back on having featured some amazing films, old and new.
Stand Up Cinema is a collaboration between Real Time Video and The Rising Sun Arts Centre. In 2013 we will continue to bring you contemporary and classic films you generally won’t find at any other film night. Plus short films by local film-makers and free popcorn.
This month’s mean feature is HOLY MOTORS (2012, Leos Carax)
Holy Motors was number 5 in the Guardian’s best 10 films of 2012. It documents a few hours in the life of Monsieur Oscar, a shadowy character who journeys between alternate realities playing vastly different characters in each one. The film is a celebration of the magic, imagination, and primal power of the movies. Mesmerizingly strange and wilfully perverse, it offers an unforgettable visual feast alongside a spellbinding ride into the imagination.
Short films all start at 7.30 and features at 8.00 pm. Entry is £4. Anyone with a film to show mail us at info@real-time.org.uk.
On Saturday, we bring you BANDORAMA
Another selection of live acts. This time around it’s an laid back-stripped back affair, (we’re all getting older and sometimes we all need to have a lie down.)
And it looks something like this…
ECHOIC
New kids on the block, who deal in rip roaring heart felt songs. Songs that can rip your ears off and play with your heart strings.
RAJI K
After blowing the Rising Sun away a couple months back.The chap is back.Still reminds us of Som from My Vitriol.Not to be missed.
ANDY B
One time drummer for local starlets that was Rise Above. He has now gone solo. Thankfully, he is not Phil Collins.
CAKE MOUNTAIN
It’s been a while,but he-the boy-the chap-the gentleman is back. Huzzah!!
(Please note this gig is for ages 16 and over.)
We’ll be open at 8pm and it’ll cost you £5 on the door to get in or £4 in advance from www.wegottickets.com
Then finally on Sunday, we bring you CRACKING CRYPTICS
Cracking Cryptics, Tony Long’s light-hearted talk on how to master the art of solving cryptic crosswords, is a real treat for crossword lovers as well as for anyone who would like to get started. Tony explains the ten different kinds of clues you are bound to encounter and gives his three golden rules for solving them. There will be opportunities for the audience to solve clues themselves while Tony’s humorous quips and quotes will keep everyone amused!
Cracking Cryptics is a must for anyone interested in cryptic crosswords, from the complete novice to the more experienced!
We’re open from 7.30pm and it’ll cost you £8 / £6 concessions on the night or in advance from www.personalcrosswords.ticketsource.co.uk
That’s everything for another weekend, just to remind you that you can find us, barring accidents, at 30 Silver Street, Reading, RG1 2ST. There are still one or two people who confuse us with every other venue in town… people are strange
This Weekend’s Events (13th to 15th September)
Hi Everyone
First of all a little thank you to everyone who paid us a visit last weekend. At the risk of blowing our own trumpet, it was a very packed and very varied weekend even by our standards!
Not be outdone, we have another busy weekend for your delectation down at the Rising Sun.
On Friday, we bring you THE BIG UNTIDY NIGHT OUT
The Big Untidy Night Out specialises in bringing new unusual talent into the Rising Sun Arts Centre. Singers, songwriters, poets, punk outfits, ambient experimentalists, sensational cellists and demonic banjo-players…all totally unplugged and untidy. The possibilities are endless.
Due to real-life getting in the way, a number of acts have had to cancel, however we can confirm that the one and only LAWRENCE PIDDOCK, the inimitable, incomparable ZOE WEST and Berkshire’s only Equine Surf Band HORSE ROCK are definitely playing (and hopefully there’ll be no more changes!)
We’re open at 8pm and it’ll only cost you a paltry £5 on the door to get in.
On Saturday, we bring you DANCE DAY 2 – A Day of FREE Dance Classes!!
It’s back and this time it’s a whole lot more fun! Dance Day is a whole day of free dance classes – covering Zumba, Salsa, Jhoom, La Rueda, Burlesque and Tango.
You can do any of the combination of classes or stay all day and do them all. Dance is a great way to socialise, exercise and be expressive all at the same time. The café will be open, selling tea and home-made cakes, so meet your friends for a cup of tea and do a class afterwards. All classes are FREE, so spread the word!
11am: Zumba *
12pm: Salsa **
1pm: Jhoom *
2pm: La Rueda **
3pm: Burlesque *
4pm: Tango **
Call Irem* on 07876 753 622 or Larry** on 07765 599433 for more info.
Finally on Sunday, MILONGA SIMPATICA is back from its summer break
A small, relaxed milonga affording tango dancers the chance to come together and enjoy an afternoon of social dancing. Tea and homemade cakes are provided along with a friendly atmosphere where you can spend a pleasant few hours dancing. What more could you possibly want on a Sunday?
We’re open from 4.30pm and it’ll only cost you £6 on the door.
That’s everything for another weekend, just to remind you that we are, as always, at 30 SIlver Street, Reading, RG1 2ST. (There are still one or two people who get us sonfused with every other venue in Reading. People are strange)
This Weekend’s Events (6th to 8th September)
Hi Everyone
Now that August is over, there’s a return to normailty here at the Rising Sun
(Well, almost)
In fact, we’ve got a packed weekend this time around starting with Friday,when we have a special one-off visit from NOGABE
Nogabe Randriaharimalala was born on the island of Madagascar, but lived in Beijing for many years, absorbing more diverse influences to a musical style
already uniquely influenced by African, Asian and European cultures in his homeland. This unusual melting pot has produced many beautiful melodies played by Malagasy guitarists; Nogabe’s music continues to evolve and mature and his deep voice and natural charisma make him a joy to watch. His most recent album ‘Afatra’ marks a return to more traditional Malagasy music styles.
WOMAD once said this of him. “The acoustic guitar is Nogabe’s weapon of choice and he makes it sound unlike it does anywhere else… It’s spotless, bell-cleartone is matched by a dazzling agility and liquidity that a million bedroom singer-songwriters could only dream of”.
We’re open at 8pm and it’ll cost you £8 on the door to get in (or £6 concessions)
And then on Saturday, HOLDIN’ COURT presents: BENNY DICTION
Benny Diction is a crowd favourite for many of our regulars, after performing previously at Holdin’ Court. August will have been a busy month for him, touring alongside Melbourne-based producer Able8. The two hit cities across the UK, as well as Germany, Denmark and Sweden, to promote their collaborative album ‘Life Moves’. ‘Life Moves’ is a truly impressive release and another step up from his previous work.
There’s also support from SPLIT PROPHETS (Res / Datkid / Upfront /Badhabitz)
http://splitprophets.bandcamp.com/
and also:
DJ SHEP
http://kanefm.com/
DJ IVAN6
http://souncloud.com/djivan6
We’ll be open from 7.30pm it’ll cost you £8 on the door or £6.50 in advance via www.holdincourt.org
And finally on Sunday, THE SCARLET VIXENS Present an EVENING OF BURLESQUE
.
The first of The Scarlet Vixens’ burlesque nights at the Rising Sun! “We’re not just showgirls – we have the edge” is their proud boast.
They blend Burlesque dancing with rock, Bollywood, hip-hop and classic vintage pin-up styles. And that makes for routines that are captivating, quirky, and most importantly – fun!
All the usual eclectic and electrifying burlesque you expect from a Scarlet Vixens show!
Acts already confirmed:
MISS WHAMBAM BOLLY-NA
TOOTSIE LA ROCQUE
LADY LISETTE RUBY
MOJO JONES
LILYANA L’AMOUR
SELENA LA BLANCA
And maybe more!
(Call Irem on 07876 753 622 for more info.)
We’re open at 8pm, and it’ll only cost you a paltry £5 on the door.
That’s everything for another weekend, just to remind you that we are, unless armageddon occurs, at 30 Silver Street, Reading, RG1 2ST. (There are still people who confuses us with every other venue in the universe. People are strange)
This Weekend’s Events (30th August to 1st September)
Hi everyone
After something called a Bank Holiday and Reading being taken over by kids in backpacks wondering how they’re going to cope without Mummy and Daddy for four whole days, it’s nice to see a return to normailty…
…Well almost, we have just the one event this weekend. It’s on Saturday, and it’s CLUB VELOCITY
Another helping of top quality live acts and it looks something like this…
VIENNA DITTO
As recently heard at Here Comes The Sun, Vienna Ditto are back once more! “Girl/Boy revolution futuristic POP music. Dirty beats-sweeping guitars-angel like vocals.Proper like.Do NOT miss” so says South by South Westerly Kardashian of The Daily Sketch
THE AUGUST LIST
Another Here Comes The Sun act and Velocity faves. “Proper Boy/Girl Garage blues punk.Toe Rag recorded. Peel loves them.” according to Philomena Bucktripe-Carstairs of Otis Ferry’s Bloodsport Weekly
PEACH FUZZ
One of Velocity HQ’s fave new band, coming out of nowhere..Think Velvets/Joy Division abd a lot of real old indie bands-before indie became a sellable asset in Top Shop.Old Creation records vibe.McGee and ET would rate them” such is the opinion Jean-Marc Van der Kerkhoff of Red-Hot Rocking Now , which Gary informs me, is Antwerp’s biggest selling jounal devoted to Christian Donk, Folk-Grindcore Fusion and 5-a-side Table Tennis.
We’ll be open at 8pm and it’ll cost you £5 on the door to get in or £4 in advance from www.wegottickets.co.uk
That’s everything for this week, just to remind you that we are, as always, at 30 Silver Street, Reading, RG1 2ST. (There are still one or two lost souls who cannot find us on a map)
Have a nice weekend!
This Weekend’s Events (16th to 18th August)
Hi Everyone
First of all, a quick thank you to everyone who braved the unseasonal sunny weather last Saturday to visit, take part or volunteered their free time to make Here Comes The Sun such an enjoyable day. We’re still counting the pennies, double checking the banknotes and working out the expenses to give you any idea of how much we’ve made yet, but we’ll let you know in due course.
Anyhow, another weekend looms large, and on Friday we have something rare in the shape of MAGDELENA REISING and THE BLUE CAFÉ JAZZ ENSEMBLE
Without doubt, one of the most fresh and original voices operating on the contemporary jazz scene today: Magdalena Reising and the Blue Café Jazz Ensemble are a unique and enchanting blend of Scottish folk, Polish melodies, tin-pan alley standards and haunting originals. Accompanying the captivating vocals and stunning jazz harp of Magdalena are three of the best improvising musicians in the world: Terry Seabrook on piano, Steve Thompson on double bass and Alex Eberhard on drums, each capable of holding an audience spellbound. Not to be missed.
We’re open at 8pm and it’ll only cost youi £8 on the door (or £6 concessions)
And on Saturday, BANDORAMA presents: GRAHAM UNWIN’S BIRTHDAY PARTY
Not only will there be an abundance of free cake/balloons/shizzle in Graham’s honour but also, another helping of top-notch live music and it looks something like this:-
MELLOR
Four-piece Reading-based guitar POP band. Great throw back, forward-thinking. A proper band.
REV FERRIDAY
Ex-member of 80s shoegaze/indie/feedback/guitar band Loop. Now deals in proper steel guitar blues.
CHAINSAW ENEMA
The best band name ever. Well…this week. Old school thrash skate punk. Silly lyrics. No song over two minutes. Think Stupids/Lawnmower Death/DRI/Macc Lads
NEW PURITANS
Reading punks – you might recognize these chaps. It will be their second gig. Their first was over twenty-five years ago. Now ladies and gents – that is punk rock.
(Please note that this gig is for ages 18 and over)
We’re open at 8pm and it’ll cost you £5 on the door (or £4 in advance from www.wegottickets.com).
That’s everything for another week. Just to remind you that we are, as always, at 30 Silver Street, Reading, RG1 2ST, England, Northern Hemisphere, Planet Earth, The Universe etc (There are still one or two people who insist on confusing us with every other venue/pub in town…)
This Weekend’s Events (9th to 11th August)
D’you know after months of unseasonal weather, including something called sunshine and British sportsmen doing well at obscure niche sports, it’s rather heartening to see the return of grey clouds and the inevitable return of the football season where us Brits don’t do as well…
It also means that on Saturday, we are proud to bring you the 2013 edition of HERE COMES THE SUN
Here Comes The Sun is our annual music and arts festival for all the family is now in its 4th year.
Crikey. We’re well aware that we’re late in getting this one out. Was it worth the wait? You bet! Just feast your opticals over this lineup
SUN STAGE (Main Hall, downstairs)
11am Amanda Bishop
12pm The Ultimate End
1pm Luke Paulo and the Grapefruit
2pm Buildings on Fire
3pm Holdin’ Court presents Silque / Gibbo
4pm Boredoms in the Bathroom
5pm FrilLerZ
6pm Los Chicos Muertos
7pm Alan Clayson and the Argonauts
8pm (TBC)
9pm Vienna Ditto
10pm The Jettes
TREE STAGE (Garden)
11.30am Lawrence Piddock
12.30pm Jodie O’Calloghan
1.30pm The Herberts
2.30pm The Two Sisters
3.30pm Christina Hogg
4.30pm Johnny Hoggett
5.30pm Rebecca Lambert
6.30pm The August List
7.30pm Damien A Passmore and the Loveable Fraudsters
ALSO – in and around stage changes, 5 min slots for :
Zap Comedy
Cake Bake-Off
THE LOUNGE (Upstairs)
8.30pm Haze
9.30pm Filip Hnizdo
10.30pm Punch Drunk Lover
11.15pm The Scarlet Vixens
PHILBERT’S STUDIO (Upstairs)
11am – 7pm MUSIC ROOM – jam session – all acoustic
7.30pm – Cinema
We’re open from 11am til midninght and it’ll only cost you £7 on the door to get in.
That’s everything for another week, just our usual reminder that we are, barring some unusual unexplained Act of God, at 30 Silver Street, Reading, RG1 2ST (There still remains people who insist on confusing us with every other venue in town!)
Have a nice weekend,
This Weekend’s Events (2nd to 4th August)
There’s just one event this weekend. It’s on Friday and it just happens to be TRIBUTE NIGHT
Every three months the Rising Sun Arts Centre pays homage to a much-loved band or artist. Everyone picks a song or two, practices them for a bit, then gets together again on Tribute Night to play them to a crowd – always with fascinating results. The next Tribute Night’s hero is announced at the end of the evening. It’s a simple but winning formula and is silly amounts of fun.
And so we trundle along on the somewhat humpety-bumpety Tribute Night train, rolling through the breath-taking timescape of popular music, making our next call this Friday night at the stop marked BJORK.
Björk first came to prominence via The Sugarcubes, who in turn managed the rare feat of breaking out of their native Iceland when their debut album, Life’s Too Good, became an international hit in 1988. Stepping away from their quirky but ultimately limiting avant art-pop stylings after three albums, Björk Guðmundsdóttir emerged as a visionary of experimental electronic music and became one of the unlikeliest international pop stars of the ’90s, eclipsing the cult popularity of her erstwhile band. Working with the brightest lights in dance and club culture, such as Nellee Hooper (Massive Attack), Graham Massey (808 State), Tricky, Howie B (Mo’ Wax) and Mark Bell (LFO), Björk also dabbled along the way with jazz, big band, folk, avant garde, musical theatre and other genres, describing herself as “musicallypromiscuous. Despite such eclecticism, Björk’s music always maintained a personal identity, shot through with her effervescent playfulness and glacial yearning.”
We’ll be open at 8pm and it’ll cost you absolutely nothing to get in, but please donate extravagantly when the hat bearers circulate in the interval and spend irresponsibly at the bar. All money goes back to the Rising Sun to keep the place going.
And of course, the subject of November’s Tribute Night will be revealed at the end of the evening.
That’s everything for another week. Join us next week, when we have something slightly special to tell you about! We just about have enough time to remind you that we are, failing bizarre unexplained phenomena, at 30 Silver Street, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 2ST. (There still persists a a lunatic fringe who insist on confusing us with everyone else…)
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