Saturday, November 18, 2006

Charidee

Tonight is Children in Need night; while I agree with everything that the charity is trying to do I don’t think I will be sitting down to watch a number of non-celebrities getting up to wacky things all in the name of charity.

Most of these self-serving celebrities - coincidentally will probably have biographies out, reality shows to win, and greatest hits in shops before Christmas.

While I’m still being slightly cynical I received a phone call from Oxfam today trying to get me to sign up to give them a regular contribution. I had previously signed a petition with regards to the ‘Make Poverty History’ and ‘I’m In’ campaigns - so I was obviously ripe for the picking.

Obviously a calculated call on their part, knowing that their finances would be hit today, with the focus on Children in Need. A pleasant enough operative spoke me to, but I could hear the buzz in the background, the hum of other operatives trying divert funds Oxfam’s way. It wasn’t the hard sell – but it was slightly crass all the same.

I occasionally give to charity and if my finances were better than they currently are, I would be more than willing to do so on a more regular basis. What I would rather do is, do it on my own volition and not be brow beaten to it on the doorstep or over the phone.

Tuesday, November 14, 2006

Eclectica Festival St Helens

The is possibly the first instance that this phrase has been uttered but thank god I live in St Helens!

It's not often that you get the luxury of being a five minutes walk away from a Music Festival.The local council should be applauded for putting on the second Eclectica festival - performed in front of the town hall. Pity about the weather and the turn out though.

On the bill were local bands The Loungs and Tin Tin Lady as well as established artists such as Ian McNabb, The Oysterband and Michael Franti and Spearhead.

The main attraction for me was Ian McNabb - who was on splendid form playing his own material and a couple of cover versions - including a Bob Dylanesque take on the Grease hit - Your The One That I want.

It's the second time I have seen him this year and he just gets better and better. Here's to the gigs in October, when he takes the Icicle Works back out on the road.

The other bands were ok, but the McNabb eclipsed them all.

Monday, November 13, 2006

Some modern art is rubbish


I took the chance recently to have a peek into one of the most enigmatic buildings in Liverpool. I had heard so much about the building and I had looked forward to the opportunity to see what was the fuss all about. St Luke's Church, known colloquially as the Bombed out Church has been a fascinating piece of the Liverpool landscape, but one that has been looking for a modern role to play.

The walls of the church remain intact, but after a bombing raid during World War II the roof and the insides have remained derelict ever since.

It has recently been utilised as part of the biennial - an event that uses many of the buildings in Liverpool as works of art. I'm not a great aficionado of modern art, Another Place on Crosby beach (which has thankfully be granted a temporary stay of execution by the way)is probably of the few pieces of modern art that have not left me cold.

The installation in the Bombed Out Church is one that has left me feeling bemused.

It is by the artist Matej Andraz Vogrincic and his entry on the Biennial website talks about 'turning the most ordinary objects into visual poetry, and the most ordinary or neglected places into magical.'

I have to say the objects were a distraction to the discarded tramp juice cans and the amazing structure left unused, but loved over the years. Green upturned boats...WTF!

I wouldn't have crossed the road if hadn't have been for the chance to view the Bombed Out Church at close quarters.