Last Chance To See...

Hi!

Just an uber-quick post reminding everybody that the awesome Gorillaz, Tank Girl and Monkey artist Jamie Hewlett 's exhibition Under Water Colours, in aid of Oxfam, is at the Arts House Gallery in Stokes Croft until Thursday! I'm really going to try and make it up there, but wanted to spread the word in case I eventually don't. Damn work always getting in the way! I only heard about it last week, so apologies for not being on it sooner.

image courtesy of oxfam.org

Much love x

Another one? Oh, go on then..

This gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling inside, as if I've just eaten lots of Wensleydale and crackers...

Yes, today comes the news that Bristol-based Aardman Animations have been nominated for a fifth Oscar for the wonderful A Matter of Loaf and Death. It's great news for the team who painstakingly mold these little plasticine worlds for hours on end. Anyone who can actually do this job deserves an award in my book.


I love seeing Bristolian celluloid talent properly acknowledged, and when it's a company that keeps working with traditional techniques, (especially up against the technological might of current Hollywood blockbusters, e.g. The Blue Tree People Film) and not cutting corners, bowing to studio pressures or plastering the thing wth guns and explosions - well, that's even better. Then again, that might just be my inner Whether's-Originals-sucking, slipper-wearing technophobe escaping again...

Either way, congratulations Nick Park and team, and long may my beloved Bristol continue making quality animation and film worthy of international recognition!

gig no.1

Camera Obscura - Thekla
25/10/09

Again, apologies for getting behind with posts. We're all go with t'interweb now, so regular updates from hereon in, I swear!

So, last Sunday popdock enjoyed a sweet, soulful treat aboard the beloved Thekla, from the likes of Camera Obscura and support, Magic Arm (below).
Despite a good cover of LCD Soundsystem's Daft Punk Are Playing At My House - keeping a lot of the original's coolness - there was a bit of awkward tension between songs, and the audience started to feel a bit restless.

Manchester based multi-instrumentalist Marc Rigelsford could certainly work his loops and pedals, but it seemed a little too confused - acoustic guitars and trumpets clashed with with electro synths - and it was difficult to get into, but by no means unpleasant.

The boat then began to get Busy, with an influx of folkies of all ages eager to hear the lush Parisian-style tones of the Glasgow five-piece named after the latin for dark room...yep, Camera Obscura!

Fronted by the effortlessly cool Tracyanne Campbell (below) their chic pop, akin to a sixties girl group that could play their own instruments and buy their own drinks, soon got toes a-tappin'.

Think Belle and Sebastian meets Nouvelle Vague with plenty of strings and catchy tambourines and you're halfway there. There's just enough British eccentricity in the group's dynamic (Campbell had a pair of heels brought on about five minutes into the set) and the bittersweet heartbreak lyrics to bring home how refreshing this smart, unique band are.

After just a little while, the quick stage banter, beatiful melodies and pretty dresses got everyone carried away enough to take part in the handclaps, shimmies and sways, or at the very least walking home kicking the Autumn leaves like they lived in a Chanel advert... Altogether lovely!

x

why don't you come on over, gallery?

FriendAndCo - 23/10/09

The space that once existed as teen rock haven The Level is now, following extensive refurbishment, possibly Bristol's newest and smallest gallery. Nestled in Park Row beside barbers du-jour Mack Daddy's, the guys at FriendAndCo threw their doors open to a considerable crowd not put off by that annoying piffly October rain. The show ranged from bright block colour collages to intricate pen illustrations from the likes of up-and-comingers Eine, Mr Jago, Mudwig, Will Barras and Xenz.

Xenz

Eine

above 3, Mudwig

Mr Jago

below, the movers and shakers

A vibrant, exciting show, and from the numbers spilling onto the pavement for last night's opening (though there was free booze) it looks set to be a hit. It's on for a few weeks - I'll definitely be popping back in for a more detailed look around when it's less busy. Don't miss it!

xx p.d.

p.s. cheers go to Grant for Mudwig photos!

much in the way of sniffles

Sorry! I've been pretty out of it with the stupid bug that's going around, so haven't done much worthy of blogging.

In the meantime, you can check out the Bristol Jam , the first festival in the whole of the U.K solely dedicated to improvisation - music, comedy, arts - you name it, they'll be making it up on the spot.

The new directors of the Old Vic Tom Morris and Emma Stenning came up with the idea, and enlisted a multitude of performers from beatboxer Beardyman to female clown Angela de Castro to start the party.
They said the festival is: "A tiny riot of improvised performance in some of the art forms which flourish across Bristol. There will be drama, music, dance, games, jazz, film, beatbox and other things which as yet have no name..."

Keep your eyes peeled until the 24th for some spontaneous fun around the city and at the theatre, and maybe even unleash the improviser locked deep within...



xx p.d