Club enjoys Burns’ lunch

The House for an Art Lover’s music room was full when Glasgow South Business Club President, Remo Pisaneschi welcomed members and guests to their annual Burns lunch on Tuesday 24 January.

Govan High School music students entertained the crowd as people assembled and their Heidie, Iain White, piped in the haggis. Club member, journalist Grace Franklin, gave her usual flamboyant performance of Burns’ Address to the Haggis. The toast to the Immortal Memory of the Bard was given in humorous fashion by Alan Murray who is modest about his knowledge of the poet. In the course of his illuminating and witty speech, he sang one of Burns’ songs and recited verses from several poems. An effective tour de force that was as entertaining as it was enlightening. Alan is a Govanite by birth and early education. He currently runs a new styled, multi uses, community centre in Maybole, Ayrshire.

Honorary Life Member, Frank Bendoris, thanked all the contributors. The Club, which meets monthly, has important guests signed up for future meetings, including Brian Souter and First Minister Alex Salmond. Full information from the Club’s website: www.glasgowsouthbusiness club.co.uk

Burns in Glasgow for a’ that

A world ranked team of experts on Robert Burns, Scotland’s national Bard, had a good gathering at the University of Glasgow on Saturday 14 January.

The annual event was organised by the University’s Centre for Robert Burns Studies and launched a new sculpture of the poet by artist Deirdre Nicholls.

Among the nine speakers was a rare public appearance by private collector Dr William Zachs whose generous sharing of his many manuscripts and items directly owned or handled by Burns continues to cause great excitement in Burns circles and beyond.

Furthest travelled was Gordon Ashley of New York who reflected on ways to keep interest in the poet maintained after 250 years.

Dr Kirsteen McCue, co-director of the Centre for Robert Burns Studies at the University of Glasgow said: ‘This annual event provides a real insight into many aspects of Robert Burns and the period in which he lived.’

Her co-director, Dr Gerard Carruthers, stepped in at short notice to give a talk on his progress researching Burns and Freemasonry.  He said: ‘We are considering having a special seminar to examine all the information. Our motives are pure and we hope this will yield some very nice new information. ‘

A question from a young Chinese woman scholar at the end of the day asked: ‘What makes everyone so enthusiastic about collecting things? When I read Burns’ poetry it is the emotion that communicates itself to me.’

The answer from the Collector Dr Zachs was: ‘I believe we have something to learn from all of these objects. This enables us to put Burns into a wider context culturally and makes the legacy he has created even more valuable to us as people.’

 

 

 

 

EDITORIAL

That’s Celtic Connections off to a grand start with the opener being an evening with Bela Fleck and the Flecktones.  Amazing banjo playing from Bela himself, brothers Victor and Roy ‘Futureman’ Wooten as bassist and extraordinary percussionist, drummer respectively with Howard Levy on piano and harmonicas.

The guests included Irish singer Karan Casey, Gaelic singer Kathleen MacInnes and American singer and banjo player Abigail Washburn whose voices blended in a searingly soulful way.

Transatlantic Sessions regular Michael McGoldrick – who’s been touring with Mark Knopfler and Bob Dylan - and American bluegrass fiddler and singer Casey Driessen completed the line-up. A truly appreciative audience knew what a unique treat they’d enjoyed.

Whatever you do from now till Sunday 5 February, treat yourself to one of the 300+ events in more than 20 venues at this toe tapping Celtic Connections festival. There are FREE sessions at 5pm each day to give future musicians a chance to strut their stuff. And there are workshops (at modest cost) for anyone who fancies trying their hand at making music themselves.

When there is such a range of great talent on your doorstep – it’s too good to miss!

Andy’s up for a chat

If you fancy a chat with Andy Kershaw, intrepid reporter, fearless broadcaster and unique music man you have a chance when he hits the Arches in Glasgow on Tuesday 28 February.

‘This is better than a proper job,’ said Andy who is launching his biography ‘No Off Switch’ and taking the opportunity to tour 33 venues across the country to continue the conversation with people who want to talk with him. ‘Radio is a solitary occupation, so it’s good for me to get out and about.’

Andy presented his Radio 1 show for 15 years till he was sacked in May 2000. He joined Radio 3 about a year later and covered stories such as the volcanic eruption on Montserrat which happened the day after he’d arrived on the island with his partner for ‘a quiet Caribbean holiday.’

His autobiography concentrates on four particular areas he’s reported on: North Korea where he made the very first film from inside that secretive country carried by Channel 4 and where he’s been on holiday three times. Rwanda where he reported on the genocide there in 1994. ‘That was an awful situation which badly needed to be reported. Too many journalists were too scared to go there,’ he said. And some of his adventures in Haiti and Zimbabwe which are among the 97 of the 194 countries in the world, Andy has visited.

‘I’ve had 30 years of amazing adventures, seen history being made and reported on these things as a journalist,’ said Andy. ‘It is just as well I didn’t write my biography 20 years ago. While my homework may be a bit late, I’ve got more to say

now.’

And he says them through music too. Running the entertainments section of the students union at Leeds University in the early 80s for two and a half years, he lined up The Clash, Elvis Costello, Black Uhuru among many others. This took him to London – without a degree – as Billy Bragg’s driver and roadie. There his music career took off and his first asignment was a report for Whistle Test on the Monsters of Rock heavy metal festival. He now holds two honorary degrees from other universities.

‘Right now’ he comments there is ‘nothing new since Bob Dylan – who should have retired in 1976.’ But he claims he’s ‘too nosy to retire.’

His biggest challenge so far has been ‘Fatherhood! That’s the biggest responsibility and the most enjoyable experience of the lot.’

For tickets see the Arches website : www.thearches.co.uk

 

 

 

 

Time to put the best foot forward

The clock has started ticking, so now is the best time to start training for the Ignis Asset Management Women’s 10K taking place in Glasgow on Sunday 13 May.

To encourage the runners on the day, the organisers will have musicians at each 500m along the route – double the number of music spots in previous years.  So drummer Dawn Gillies  and piper Iona Brodie from the award winning Williamwood Pipe Band, braved the cold January afternoon of Wednesday 11 January to strut their stuff  in Glasgow. They were supporting Clyde 1 radio presenters Knoxy and Sheban Littlejohn who are both running in the event – making it their very own 10 k –  and helping to highlight that registration has opened online. www.runglasgow.org

Invitation to learn the magic of making musicals

Theatre École are looking for new members.  Beginning on Wednesday 18 January, the theatre school will offer magic workshops by one of Glasgow’s finest magicians.  Rehearsals then start for the company’s June musical.  Anyone aged from 9 to 25 may join.

Said founder Isobel Barrett: ‘This is a great opportunity to gain life skills, make new friends and have fun.’

Open mic invite

Annual general meeting soon for stage school

Job opportunity

École Enterprise has the following vacancy funded under Community Jobs Scotland.  All applicants must abide with the CJS eligibility criteria and apply via Job Centre Plus or Skill Development Scotland Advisor.

 Drama Tutor/Creative Assistant

To assist with drama activities within workshop/training and production projects.  To maintain and develop web pages with associated administrative duties.

École Enterprise is a Social Enterprise Business, has Scottish Charitable Status and is a Company Ltd by Guarantee.  The company is based at Theatre at Queens, 170 Queen’s Drive and offers training in the Performing Arts to young people and to youth organisations.  The youth theatre caters for 9-25 year olds. Some of the team are pictured above.

For further information please visit www.theatre-ecole.org.uk or www.facebook.com/theatreecole or tel 0141 423 6037

Yet another Christmas

Russian Orthodox church styled singers – Russkaya Cappella – will have a concert in Glasgow’s Kelvingrove Art Gallery on Sunday 18 March next year. Before then, they will perform in Edinburgh on Thursday 23 February under the auspices of the Princess Dashkova Centre.

But their first concert of 2012 will be on Saturday 7 January at 10.25am in the Chapel of St Andrew in Meadow Lane, Edinburgh EH8 9 NR to celebrate the Orthodox Christmas. The following day – Sunday 8 January – they will sing in Glasgow Cathedral at Castle Street. G4 as part of the St Mungo Celebrations. The events around that time will mark the 1400th anniversary of the founding of Glasgow by its patron saint who is also known as St Kentigern.

For more information see Russkaya Cappella’s website: http://russkayacappella.yolasite.com/news-and-concerts.php

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