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Faringdon Arts Festival is here!
It's one of the high points of my year. During daytime tomorrow, a stage will be put together in the Market Place, and that evening, four local bands will play to the biggest audience possible in my home town. Last year we estimated the audience size at over a thousand. The people fill the area from one side of the Square to the other, and they make a lovely noise. They spill out of every bar and pub. They dance. They sing along. They see how many they are, and how we don't need anything but local talent and local friends to have an enormous time.
This night of music signifies the start of the Faringdon Arts Festival, our town's pride and joy. The bands playing tomorrow night are: the winner of the Battle of the Bands at the Community College (always hard fought, between many young bands, don't yet know who won this time); Carrie Rossiter's Band (some of the best musicians in the area;
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Neil Dwerryhouse and the Young Gods (singalonga punk and new wave, super super fun);
http://www.singalongpunk.co.uk/
And, closing the evening, the mighty Power Train (let's rock!)
http://www.powertrainmusic.com/
Somewhere amongst that, our MP Ed Vaizey will be popping along to declare everything open. For the next two days, over the weekend, the Market Place is for pedestrians, and the town's bands and acts of all descriptions occupy the stage, and there are workshops and children's entertainments, and why this is such a great place to live is hugely underlined. Even if you're not coming along, it's worth a browse to see what we've got:
http://www.faringdonartsfestival.org/
As for me, I'll be in a tabard, making sure everything happens according to plan, and being happily ordered to move this and direct that. While my wife handles last minute PR. At the end of the night, when I take my tabard off, I might be able to have a beer. I typically lose several pounds over the weekend. I'm rarely happier.
Until I moved here, like a lot of folk I know, I never had a local social life, wherever I lived. It was the this Arts Festival (okay, and the Cricket Club) that got me one. It plugged me into the life of the town. It was a starting place for all my friendships. I still think Faringdon is a very special place to live. I don't know of many towns where so many kid bands would be competing to open the Festival, where I'm talking about compiling a huge Rock Family Tree of local musicians. Where around a beery table I could name you fifty acts who've come from these parts. It must be something in the water. Whatever, I'm always proud to live here, and never more so than over the next three days. If you're anywhere near, do come along, let me show you and buy you a pint. You may find you don't want to leave.
Oh, and by the way, tomorrow should see the appearance of my interview in the Oxford Times Magazine supplement. I talk about Doctor Who, married life and all sorts of stuff. Do check it out.
I hope I'll see a few of you over the next few days, otherwise until the next time I post, Cheerio.
This night of music signifies the start of the Faringdon Arts Festival, our town's pride and joy. The bands playing tomorrow night are: the winner of the Battle of the Bands at the Community College (always hard fought, between many young bands, don't yet know who won this time); Carrie Rossiter's Band (some of the best musicians in the area;
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=123159274
Neil Dwerryhouse and the Young Gods (singalonga punk and new wave, super super fun);
http://www.singalongpunk.co.uk/
And, closing the evening, the mighty Power Train (let's rock!)
http://www.powertrainmusic.com/
Somewhere amongst that, our MP Ed Vaizey will be popping along to declare everything open. For the next two days, over the weekend, the Market Place is for pedestrians, and the town's bands and acts of all descriptions occupy the stage, and there are workshops and children's entertainments, and why this is such a great place to live is hugely underlined. Even if you're not coming along, it's worth a browse to see what we've got:
http://www.faringdonartsfestival.org/
As for me, I'll be in a tabard, making sure everything happens according to plan, and being happily ordered to move this and direct that. While my wife handles last minute PR. At the end of the night, when I take my tabard off, I might be able to have a beer. I typically lose several pounds over the weekend. I'm rarely happier.
Until I moved here, like a lot of folk I know, I never had a local social life, wherever I lived. It was the this Arts Festival (okay, and the Cricket Club) that got me one. It plugged me into the life of the town. It was a starting place for all my friendships. I still think Faringdon is a very special place to live. I don't know of many towns where so many kid bands would be competing to open the Festival, where I'm talking about compiling a huge Rock Family Tree of local musicians. Where around a beery table I could name you fifty acts who've come from these parts. It must be something in the water. Whatever, I'm always proud to live here, and never more so than over the next three days. If you're anywhere near, do come along, let me show you and buy you a pint. You may find you don't want to leave.
Oh, and by the way, tomorrow should see the appearance of my interview in the Oxford Times Magazine supplement. I talk about Doctor Who, married life and all sorts of stuff. Do check it out.
I hope I'll see a few of you over the next few days, otherwise until the next time I post, Cheerio.
Hi Paul,
I hope you get some good weather over the weekend. We might even pop over and have a look on Sunday, having heard so much about Farringdon.
Best wishes,
R.
Hey fella,
Hope you have a wicked time. It sounds fantastic. Will keepo things crossed the weather stays dry for you all.
Paul
Damn. I used to live near Faringdon, so would have been nice to come down and say congratulations on your DW episodes personally...
If only to try and subliminally persuade your creative decisions for next year: "Hi Paul! Great work on Human Nature, by the way. Great Axons scenes. Rani enjoyed it, you ol' Sea Devil. Looking forward to your next episodes." :)
Hope it all goes well.
Alas I can't make it this year, but I'll be thinking of you and hoping for good weather...
*Must remember to pick up the Oxford Times tomorrow !*
Paul - I was there tonight in the Faeungdon Square & your lovely wife Caroline even bought me a drink because I looked wrecked from setting up the Nostalgia Needlework Exhibition - I was MORE than wrecked - I couldn't even move let alone hobble, but I hope that what I have brought to to the town in this exhibition will be worth it ! I was there tonight in the Square - Paul as you know - & it didn't rain!!!! The Faringdon Festival kicked off to a fabulous start......The Market Square Rocked & Some! ...& it was still rocking when I got home - NO I am not a namby pamby - leave early type - BUT I had still SO much to do for the exhibition tomorrow....
The Nostalgia Needlework Exhibit that I am Organising as part of the Arts Festival is SO important -This is a once only event! - I had to leave the square before the falling over juice had any effect!!! I do hope you visit the Nostalgia Exhibition this weekend to see the reality not the fantasy - Travel without your Tardis back to 1896 - and even back to the late 1600's .... In 1896 when Queen Victoria crocheted a shawl that she then presented to Faringdon - YES she did it for us -us here in this tiny talented town - Could she see further than the DR? Could she have known back then that this was THE oustanding centre of excellence - this little town - that loves the people that live here because they love being here!
Hugs to you and Caroline - That Nostalgic Teresa
Hi Paul,
I was looking at the famous fan section on the Powell and Pressburger website and was pleased to see you listed as apparently 'A Matter of Life and Death' is one of your favourite films. They are my favourite director/writer team of all time so it was good to see that someone whose work I admire today appreciates what they have done in the past.
Hope the festival is going well.
Tim
Hi Paul,
Nice to meet you briefly on Saturday. I enjoyed the music and the kids are still exfited about having met a real Dalek!
Hope the whole weekend went well.
Well, I'm knackered. But it was a wonderful Festival. The Boogie Me gig on Saturday night was the best gig I've ever been to in Faringdon. Teresa now knows that I did indeed pop along to her exhibition, and very good it was too. It was lovely to meet you, Neil, and you really should have talked longer, I'm always up for that! And Tim, indeed, that film always makes me cry.
I would have done - but my younger one was being a bit demanding - as children can be sometimes.
She did enjoy getting her face painted (by the very patient face painting ladies).
I'm sure I'll be in Faringdon again.
Well, when you are let me know. Anna does indeed get through so many small children with the face painting!
Happy Birthday Paul. I hope you have a great day.
*uncertain smile* Ummm...hello. I just wanted to wish you a happy birthday. Hope you had a fantastic day.
~Cen
Thanks very much, Tim! And hi, Cen, thanks! Hope to see you in L.A. again next year. Cheers.