Just returned (in the early hours of May 27th) from a ten day break in Malta, where we were blessed with the usual sunny weather, perfect for both a relaxing and interesting holiday. Although we’ve been to Malta on a couple of occasions, we were astonished when looking back that the last time was way back in 2004. So, it was good to return, this time using Sliema as a base.
Mark Steel: Who Do I Think I Am (12/05/16)
Went to see Mark Steel at the Apex on Thursday night. We’ve seen him on a couple of occasions before but this was the first time at Bury St. Edmunds. This tour was built around his search for his birth parents, which he admits he had little interest in pursuing until the birth of his own son. As we shall see, his own sense of self was confused, not clarified by his discoveries.
Eric Bibb at the Apex (09/05/2016)
It’s been a while since we’ve seen the wonderful Eric Bibb live (last time was the Leadbelly Fest at the Albert Hall when he was sharing the stage with many others) and so it was timely that as part of his current UK tour he was appearing at the Apex in Bury St. Edmunds, fast becoming one of our favourite small scale venues. Denise was definitely showing signs of withdrawal symptoms.
A Sunrise in 1927
Another of the “Riverside Nights” at the Riverside Theatre in Woodbridge, this time featuring the British film historian, television documentary-maker, filmmaker, author, and film editor Kevin Brownlow. A very interesting Q&A, followed by a screening of one of Kevin’s favourite silent films, the 1927 ground breaker ‘Sunrise’, made by the German director F. W. Murnau. Although the storyline was little thin (although possibly not for the …
Mavis!
A rare foray yesterday, especially for Denise, into Ipswich town centre – I think she’s even less inclined to visit every time she goes. On this occasion, it was to the excellent film theatre to see the documentary of the wonderful Mavis Staples. The film itself was a fairly orthodox biopic, but none the worse for that as it allowed the subject to shine without the distraction of unnecessary gimmicks.
Mirth, Mathematics and Music
Have you heard the one about a Sril Lankan British stand-up comedian called Jonathan, an Indian who forever changed the course of mathematics thinking and two guitarists called Martin, all of whom could be found in Bury St. Edmunds on a Friday and Saturday night? No, well read on…..
Beards, Sheep and Woolly Jumpers
There was a time (yesterday actually) when we took a drive all the way up to Aldeburgh on a pretty grey Easter Saturday afternoon to sit in a local, very old fashioned cinema to see a film about two middle aged, feuding sheep farmers in a bleak and remote part of Iceland that had little dialogue and was subtitled anyway.
The Demon Redeemed?
Watching Iain Duncan Smith outline his rationale for quitting the government front benches on the Andrew Marr show, it was a little disturbing to discover a creeping respect developing for the man so beloved by the left as a poster boy for all that was wrong with this government and its demonisation of the poor – this was after all a man whose policies had been denounced and ridiculed by the left leaning commentators and writers with whom it’s my natural inclination, in the broadest sense, to agree.
Kelly + Victor at the Riverside
Exceptionally, out on a Sunday evening last night (13th March) to the Riverside in Woodbridge to see a screening of Kelly + Victor, followed by a Q&A with the film’s director Kieran Evans. These “Riverside nights” have been put together and curated by Neil McGlone, who is friend and was a work colleague of Denise’s, but who is also a local film advisor and researcher. A nice innovation, I hope they’re a success.
Memoirs, Colchester (5th March, 2016)
Finally got to try Memoirs in Colchester with friends after a couple of previous attempts were cancelled through illness. Stunning building, previously the Old Library and part of the Town Hall, it’s now a lovely looking restaurant and cocktail bar – superb vaulted ceilings, period architecture and ornate artwork. Excellent food and lovely atmosphere, slightly let down by staff who were clearly still learning the finer …
Hangmen at the Wyndham’s (via the Riverside)
As Martin McDonagh’s Hangmen is about to finish its run at the Wyndham’s Theatre on Saturday and we weren’t going to make it to London, last night we took the opportunity to do the next best thing and catch a live streaming of the play at the Riverside Theatre in Woodbridge. No substitute for the real thing but a worthy alternative, nonetheless.
James Hunter (5th February 2016)
A rare foray (for me) to the Wolsey Theatre in Ipswich last night to see the James Hunter Six. Nearly a year since I was last at the Wolsey and a mere twenty years since we saw James Hunter at the now defunct Lion’s Den shortly after we moved down to Ipswich from the North East. This one was a somewhat less sweaty, more genteel environment but still an excellent gig nonetheless.