Festivals and Poetry

Two new Fiery Rockets Videos now live!



"The Edge" - a piece of spoken word based on a true story, by myself, Gemma Connell.

Photos by Francesca Hughes of The Big Walrus (www.bigwalrus.co.uk) and Music From Rainy Skies Magazine (www.musicfromrainyskiesmagazine.com)

An accompanying blog will follow at www.fieryrockets.blogspot.com



I reviewed the Manchester stop of the Dot-to-Dot Festival for Music From Rainy Skies (www.musicfromrainyskiesmagazine.com). Here's some footage from the bands we saw:

Patterns
Turbowolf
Wonder Villains
2:54
A Plastic Rose
Pure Love
Dog is Dead
The Drums

An accompanying blog will follow at www.fieryrockets.blogspot.com

Back again...

Hi Everyone,

Once again apologies for being away for so long, but I'll be back with some epic blogs soon - I have so much to share about Manchester International Festival, 24:7 Theatre Festival, Broken Rose and our first ever event at Contact Theatre, Manchester. Things are going really well.

I've also got a Ukulele, so that's fun! It's a Soprano, aiming to work my way up to a Concert Ukulele and eventually teach myself to play the guitar as well. Busy, busy, busy!

Anyways, I'll be back in a few days with some brightly coloured blogs with pics and vids for you. Until then, keep your eyes on the Broken Rose Website - www.brokenrose.eu, which we'll be launching again very soon.

Much love.
CC.

All the world's a stage for Broken Rose...

As some of you may know, amongst many other things, I am the Artistic Director of performing arts company Broken Rose (www.brokenrose.eu). Lately, Broken Rose performance dates have been coming in thick and fast.

I will be performing a solo at the Open Mind: Face the Music event at Sandbar, Manchester on the 26th May. I should be onstage at around 10:30pm. I’m developing the concept now - in true Broken Rose style, it’s going to be something a little bit different, but more experimental than I’ve tried under the name of Broken Rose before. More information on this coming soon, so stay tuned. To see my Open Mind debut, check out the video below:





The first official Broken Rose event will take place sometime in October. Details of this event are currently embargoed, so I can’t tell you exactly what it will entail, but I will say that I’m working with some very exciting and innovative people on this project. You Rockstars will be in for one hell of a night, hopefully one that will continue regularly after this premiere event. Please keep checking the website and the twitter (www.twitter.com/brokenrosearts) and the facebook (http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=223601003&ref=ts#!/pages/Broken-Rose-Performing-Arts/120642791282372?sk=wall&filter=2) pages for updates on all Broken Rose projects and events. I truly believe that 2011 is Broken Rose’s year!

In addition to the above, an extract of my play, “Bitten” will be performed at Open Mind’s Halloween Special, again at Sandbar in Manchester on the 28th October. We will be auditioning for an actress for this show in the coming months, so stay tuned if you’d like to work with Broken Rose.

Much Love.
CC.

Sonic Boom Six - Manchester Sound Control

You've gotta love a home-grown band. Especially when they're ska.

I still don't understand why so many people don't like ska; it's so happy! And yet I know quite a few people who hate it with a passion. Never ceases to amaze me...

Anyway, Manchester's Sound Control is always a great venue, a dingy attic who's floor might just cave in if the circle pit gets a little bit too rowdy, and Sonic Boom Six rocked the stage on Monday in true Manc style.

I've said this before, but there just aren't enough female vocalists around in the rock world, and SB6 provides one of the most talented I've seen. Laila's voice can be both agressive and soothing, depending on the song, and although most would expect that there isn't much variation in ska, SB6 prove that ska music can be touching in one moment and hilarious in another. And there's not enough apprieciation of that kind of thing these days...

Much love (and promises to keep up with blogging soon).
CC.

Back on the horse...

I finally got around to returning to two of the loves of my life this week.

Firstly - gigs. Less than Jake played on Tuesday at Manchester Academy and they were awesome. Everytime I go to a ska gig I realise how much I've missed it - there's something about that happy kind of moshing which makes you feel so alive... or maybe it's just dizzyness! Anyway, despite not playing my fave song "Overrated", Less than Jake stormed the stage with an uber impressive show, complete with a drinking competition between an Aussie and a British guy who looked like Jesus. Jesus won.

Supporting my ska heroes were Zebrahead, a fab band who remind me on Sonic Boom Six in some ways. However, the talking point of their set was around the random guy who stood at the front corner of the stage with a supply of beer, looking like he wanted to kill everyone in the audience. His job seemed to be that of occasionally feeding the band members with said beer. Add to that a pizza sign which rested on the marshal cab behind him, and you have the makings of a rather unique stage set up. Very weird. But fun, I might add.

My second return to form was seen in my first ballet class in just over a year. I'm so glad I'm back doing it, and strangely the pain in my thighs I felt as we were doing our warm up reminded of just how glad I was to be back at dance class. It's a good pain that.

But now that I'm back on these horses, I need to find the time to simulatneously jump onto another new one, and delve into the research and work that my mentor has asked me to do... I think I might have a spare 5 minutes sometime next week!

Much love.
CC.

"You're Beautiful and so Blasé.."

... one of my favourite Placebo lyrics. I've not long since received their new "REDUX" album which, along with a remastered version of their "Battle for the Sun" album, contains a bonus disc with 10 tracks - the latest single "Trigger Happy Hands", and various completely new and re-worked versions of older songs. Add to this a special addition t-shirt, with original artwork and a handwritten message from Brian Molko himself, explaining the origins of the song "Trigger Happy Hands", this box set makes for a fantastic collectors item.

It was with Placebo's last special addition that I became a music collector for by favourite bands. The rather large "Battle for the Sun" boxset was something from a collector's wildest dreams, with 2 discs, 2 DVDs, exclusive picture books, 2 vinyl records and a limited edition poster.

One of the DVDs documented Placebo's concert in Angkor Wat, which they did to raise awareness of human trafficking. The gig took place outside a cathedral, and so the band had to produce a set list which they could play almost half-acoustically. The result was a show which was almost a mixture of classical music and rock music, something which I personally adore, being the Artistic Director of a performing arts company which aims to mix styles in such a way. In some tracks, such as "Black Market Music's" "Black Eyed", Molko's voice comes across as almost gospel-like. A truly stunning show.

Placebo have provided their fans with exciting special additions and DVDs for as long as they have been able to. It's fantastic to see bands who like to give something back to their fans in such away.

On another note, it's great to see a new energy in the band ever since Steve Forrest joined - It's a firm belief of mine that every drummer should kick the crap out of the drum kit!

For more info on Placebo, please go to their website at www.placeboworld.co.uk
Much love.
CC.

A bit of Nostalgia for you...

I just had to share this with you guys! Remember boyband A1? "Summertime of Our Lives", "Ready or Not", constant winking at the camera, tank tops, and that cute one with the curtains?

Well, they're back! In Norway, anyway, after having been the Norwegian entry to the Eurovision song contest. They've just released their 4th studio album over there, but what's really cool is that I found this song on the internet - A1 singing Lady Gaga's "Pokerface". It's fantastic - have a listen...

Much Love.
CC.

More than Arty-Farty

This isn't just an opportunity to learn about the arts.

Even as a permanent job, I can see how working at Manchester International Festival would be a constant learning experience. Over the past three weeks I've realised just how effective the arts can be as a pathway into learning about the rest of the world... And it's our job to make our audiences see that.

This week I've learnt about the fascinating and inspiring stories the people of Manchester have, through reading about MIF Creative's 2009 commission Procession, by Jeremy Deller. The book which was published after Deller's procession of Manchester groups through the city centre and after the exhibition which ran throughout the 2009 festival, outlines some eye-opening and heart-warming tales. One of these stories speaks of a Manchester family who hired a Jewish au pair before the second world war. Many years later, when the family found out that the young woman they had known and loved had been killed in the Holocaust, they did all they could to help the family she had left behind.

I've read a new report by the Association of British Orchestras which documents the impact of school music workshops on children and their creativity, and can lead to professional music careers in later life. The report is located here: http://abo.org.uk/user_files/ABO Publication Downloads/ABOUnlockingPotential.pdf (you'll have to copy and paste it into your browser as it's some kind of funny link with spaces in it, sorry guys!)

I've learnt that dance is now uniting with politics - the DanceVote2010 website has been launched to allow dancers to email their local MPs and invite them to events, with the long term aim of getting dance to be recognised and considered by MPs nationwide. (http://www.dancevote2010.com/)I've learn about philosophy, Plato in particular:

Leaders should appear to do very little and delegate ruthlessly; they should
listen, think and spend time dreaming about their organisations. Plato
considered contemplation to be the highest form of human activity, the aim of
life being to see life rightly, not to change the world. In our 'busy' age we
should constantly question what we are busy doing.

- Tony Heaton, Chief Executive, Shape Arts

I've learnt a lot more about science and religion too, but for various reasons I cannot yet reveal that information! All in due course bloggers, all in due course.

Much Love, loving it.
CC.

The Sam Haine

Earth Vegan Cafe in Manchester, being closely associated with the Buddist community, was the perfect venue for an intimate and very chilled out gig with Sam Haine and his band.

I've seen these guys once before, at the Rock and Respite show, and it's clear that they give their all in their performances. The emotion which they inject into their live gigs allows for a very raw performance. A quality which, in my opinion, is becoming far too rare in the music business these says. The highlight of their show has to be the song "Great Expectations", whose lyrics always completely floor you, no matter how many times you hear them.

A touching and technically brilliant show, despite being interrupted by some guy who thought it was appropriate to talk loudly on his phone and knock over his chair in the middle of one of their best songs... some people... *rolls eyes*

I truly reccomend these guys to everyone. Check out:
www.twitter.com/thesamhaine
www.myspace.com/thesamhaine

Much musical love.
CC.

My Beautifully Broken Rose

You may have heard me refer to Broken Rose in past blog posts. For those unclear on what this is, Broken Rose is my very own performing arts company, that is currently trying to stir up some interest on the internet.

Impatience is a virtue. It always gets things done quicker; getting them done better is not the issue, at least you’re flying along by the seat of your pants in a slipstream somewhere, and probably having a delightful time doing it.

So that’s me. Miss Impatient. I’m the kind of girl who’s already reaching for the button on her jeans before she’s closed the cubicle door because I’m having far too much fun bumbling along to waste extra seconds in the loo.

And that’s Broken Rose; performance that wants to show off now, and not later when it could be more practiced. No. That would ruin the aesthetic. We’re here to teach something primal. Here to tell a story of love, hatred, and someone who never made it by others’ standards, but by some other warped one, one day you’ll see their name in ‘effing lights.

Aiming to smash through every preconception and convention the performing arts world has ever held, Broken Rose is a performing arts company which combines all forms of performance in their work. Currently putting together a performing arts crew of alternative lovelies. Remember, you’re a Rockstar.

The above should give you a flavour for what we do at Broken Rose, and the below video should add to that. Similar videos can be found on our YouTube channel - www.youtube.com/user/brokenrosearts



We have various projects in the running at the moment, one of which is a Music Drawing project with Artist Naomi Kendrick. Naomi is currently working on a mass music drawing project, which will take place in Manchester next year. She was interested in working with Broken Rose because dancers hear music in strikingly different ways. I recently spent an afternoon doing some music drawing with Naomi. Her innovative idea of music drawing involves letting music flow through you, drawing what you feel onto the paper whilst a piece of music is being played. We tried out various different styles of music during the afternoon, and noted the difference in the drawings with each genre.

We also played around with movement in our session, with me dancing whilst Naomi drew the music. Naomi described my movements as being what was going on in her head as the music was being played.



Apologies - the audio on the final clip went a bit funny, so a different track is over the top. For the full video of that clip, please go to http://vimeo.com/user3350784

An extremely successful session, Naomi and myself will be meeting again soon to perform some more music drawing experiments, so stay tuned for that!

For more information on music drawing, check out Naomi's blog at http://deadrabbit-ablog.blogspot.com/

For more information on Broken Rose, please go to our website at http://www.brokenrose.eu/
For more Broken Rose videos, please go to our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/user/brokenrosearts
And follow Broken Rose on Twitter: www.twitter.com/brokenrosearts

Much Love.
CC.

"You already look like you're at home!"

Thats what one of the producers at work said to me the other day. It was my second day at the Manchester International Festival, and the comment made me feel all fuzzy inside. I really feel like I'm part of the team already, it's fantastic.

To those of you who are in the process of starting a new job or career, my advice is simply to go for it. Dive in head first. At the begining of the week, I was concentrating mainly on listening and taking notes, knowing that I had so much to learn, but at the same time I was worried that I should be saying more; firing ideas into the ether to prove myself as a producer. Well today I think I may have started doing just that. And it feels fantastic. My ideas were well received and discussed along with the ideas of the rest of my team. I feel really good about this job.

What's fantastic is the fact that, going out for a drink with my MIF girls tonight, I felt as if I was dying to talk more about work, just as much as I wanted to get to know them even better. And last night, meeting friends in the pub and thinking how my world will now literary revolve around the performing arts, travelling and going out with friends. That's exactly what I've always dreamed of.

I've got a feeling this is going to be an absolutely amazing 12 months! I've completely fallen in love with my new life already.

On a completely different note, I've been meaning to tell you guys for a while now about a choir that I saw during my first year of University - The Watoto Children's choir, which is made up of children who have lost their parents to war or disease. They are a stunning performance group, and you should definitely check them out.

Much Love.
CC.



http://www.watoto.com/the-choir

"Manchester's got everything - except a beach"

The above quote comes from Ian Brown, and appears too have been the inspiration for a fantastic event which took place in Castlefield yesterday.

"Scruff of the Neck" are known for running music events around Manchester and Poynton, but this festival of theirs really stood out for me. The area next to the Manchester canal had been covered in sand and converted into a beach for the day, complete with deck chairs and buckets and spades. As some of Manchester's most talented musicians played on the stage at the edge of the venue, the afternoon saw children making sand castles and adults attempting the same, but using plastic pint glasses instead. Certainly a throwback to the summer festivals around the country, but it also had a huge Manchester feel to it - looking up from the sand and brightly coloured benches, you could see the northern trains and the Manchester metro switching back and forth above us. I wondered what the people on those trains could possibly thinking, seeing such a commotion going on below them...

The festival saw performances from "The Missing link, a young band whos hard riffs and impressive ballad "Now it's over" showcased their versitilty and "Silverclub" who offered an electronic alternative at this largely rock event.

I was glad to see a female guitaris in "The Tapestry", a rarity in this industry, which is something that I hope the likes of the "Jesse Rose Trip" can change. "Still City Sound's" lively riffs matched their rather lively guitarist, who managed to blow his own amp. Great to see them soldiering on regardless, the guitarist still getting into it, vigorously clapping to get the audience going. Great show guys!

Highlights of the festival included "Loaded Message" who's songs really lived up to the band's name. They teamed fantastic musical ability with great lyricisim; my personal favourite being "I'd rather be a dreamer than have now dreams". The effortless John Ainsworth filled his very short set with a celestical acoustic to sound. Absolutely stunning. Kudos also goes out "Green Vigo", a proper Manchester band. Fantastic music, which I can only describe as 'like Oasis, but happier!' Loved them!

The Quangos brought back memories of the Leeds Carling Weekend for me, being the first band to play in the dark. Definitely a festival feel. Their Noisettes cover was amazing. You can catch it in the vlog below.

Small festivals such as this are what makes Manchester such a great city. I just wish that more people would pay attention to them.

Much Love.
CC.



Disclaimer: Apologies, the band named "Bright Kicks" in the video, are in fact called "The Missing Link". Sorry guys! Confusing running order!



Above: John Ainsworth



Above: Loaded Message



Above: Green Vigo

Photos by Francesca Hughes of Original Fuse - www.originalfuse.co.uk

Rock and Respite

I've just got back from the "Rock and Respite" festival at Manchester's Sound Control. The event was put on in aid of Francis House, which aims to give terminally ill children a better quality of life. A fantastic cause, and a fantastic gig put on in aid of it.

I love events like this. I've said before that I don't go to enough festivals, so I guess this was me starting as I mean to go on. The line-up was phenomenal. As The Suns stamped the balls of their toe picker shoes in unison, even a discarded penny managed to get in on the action, bouncing it's way onto the set.

Highlighs included Kid British's punk/reggae/rap which showed everyone how proud they were of being northern, cleverly including a song about getting lost in London, which definitely warmed the cockles of my heart!

As always, The Jesse Rose Trip were simply amazing. Their funky riffs juxtaposed with Jesse Rose's Soulful voice make for unique listening. You heard it here first - this girl is going to be huge!

Bummed that I missed my faves, Sonic Boom Six, because the last train home is ridiculously early. Man, I need to learn how to drive...

Jesse Rose Trip Photos:




Much love.
CC.

Want some, Have some

I've made a pact with myself to go to more music festivals now I have the time. My Festival cherry was popped in 2006 when I went to the Carling Weekend at Leeds. Since then, I've seen dozens of gigs, but not enough festivals. I love the buzz you get at festivals. Everything's happening in one place - it's a unique feeling.

Well, starting as I mean to go on, I'm off to Rock and Respite (Manchester's Sound Control) next Sunday. LOVING that Jesse Rose Trip are playing - that girl is gonna be HUGE very soon. And of course, one of my fave ska bands, Sonic Boom Six, will be rocking the set. Can't wait for that. I will report back on that fest, of course.

For all those YouTube fans out there - get yourself over to bubzbeauty 's channel. The world's 2nd biggest make-up guru, Bubbi made a name for herself on the internet and now has an entire business based on that foundation. She is a true inspiration. Her new clothing range comes out on the 10th October... and I got dibbs on this little cutie:



P.S. Blogging is for the early hours of the morning. I've decided.

Much Love.
CC.