Katie Marie Kendo Katie Marie ends up with a bad back and time to catch up with some reading – about the music business, of course

Hey everyone! Had a good week? I’ve had a rather painful time of it, as shortly after I wrote my last article I descided to pull a load of muscles in my back – no not very clever I know!

I was practicing some Kendo with my friend Lewis (or Loooooooooooowis as he is commonly know… well… by me anyway) and got a little too enthusiastic about a particular move which has since resulted in me struggling to keep in an upright position, and getting out of bed each morning is oodles of fun (erm… NOT! lol)

I am happy to report that it does appear to be on the mend, but it’s still giving me jip for most of the day. It does seem though it’s only when things like this happen that you realise how important various parts of your body are, and this week I’ve learnt that backs are rather important things that you can’t do much without! I’ve learnt my lesson and I will try and be a bit more careful next time…..honest

This week I’ve been having to chill out at home and take it easy for most of the week, which has given me time to read lots of music books I never usually get the time to read. I’m reading a fantastic one at the moment by a lady called Ann Harrison called Music: The Business and if you’re a musical person who wants to learn a wee bit more about the business side of music then it’s well worth checking out. I’ve also been wading through some graphic novels, but I wont go off on a sci-fi rant, I think you had plenty of that last week!

On the musical front, I thought that if I’m stuck at home I could get lots of CDs and press packs sent off for various bits and bobs, so I spent most days online either e-mailing peeps or burning CDs – I’ve applied for oodles of stuff from inclusions in Films & TV programmes to festival dates to magazine interviews. So I’m checking my e-mails everyday egerly awaiting a reply from someone, hoping that just that one person will like some of my music– we’ll see…

…and I was ultra organised and booked my plane tickets for Germany! Woohoo!!

So maybe having a bad back wasn’t such a bad thing after all… ok that’s a complete load of rubbish!

But as my back’s been much better today I’ve been in the studio mixing lots of stuff I’ve been meaning to do for ages, such as live tracks we recorded from The Barrel House gig back in April. If you fancy taking a listen to a Marnie & Me track I’ve just uploaded it to our Myspace page. It’s a song we wrote fairly recently called Crazy World and this live version features Alarik doing his funky beatboxing thang! It sounds super dooper good, so check it out when ya get a mo!

So the rest of my week features the usual two More Restaurant gigs on Thursday and Friday and then Saturday afty is my radio show (Acoustic PM) and then Saturday evening I’m gigging with Marnie @ The Bell in Bovey Tracey, should be good!

Hope you have a superb rest of the week and I’ll catch ya next time

• Check out Katie Marie on MySpace, or on her website.

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Devon Eccentric Colin Shaddick (no it’s official – he came third in this year’s competition), dropped us a poetic line to explain a bit about the origins of his award-winning eccentricity. You could get more of an insight at the Salon del Eccentrica, an Eccentric evening at the Broomhill Art Hotel, Barnstaple on Thursday, June 18 at 7.30pm.

Eccentric! Who, Me?

Maybe this is how it all started?

Imagined kazoo solo.
One hooded and very blue day
when I was at a most sensitive stage,
I was struggling
to wring some temperate words

from the chilly language

that shot to-and-fro,

above my rattling head.

I decided to try out

a few investigational expressions of my own.

I needed to make my mark:

draw a line in the sand.

I waited for a fleeting lull

in the daily hubbub

that continually clanged

from the pots and pans

in the steamy kitchen.

I made my entrance

and Mother turned towards me,

her arms now motionless

and her reddened elbows quivered

just above the popping soapsuds

and waited for the off.

I smiled, and determined to show off my verbal skills,

began my tirade…

They were not well-received words.

I was not allowed to continue with my experiment.

My father hurriedly interjected

and promised he would give me a thick ear…

in a minute.

I had no memory of him giving me anything, before.

I was totally flabbergasted

when he said he’d give me something -

and so speedily too.

I so wanted him to give me something.

I then pictured myself with one thick ear…

and decided it would look quite daft.

I told him that I thought it would look daft,

but he took no notice

and he up and gave me one anyway.

But it wasn’t within the minute!

No.

He said he’d give me one…

in a minute.

It took much longer than a minute.

By the time my thick ear arrived,

a good twenty minutes or so had passed!

Can incidents like the one I’ve just described above,

have a lasting affect on a person’s life?

Time moved on and I slipped inaudibly along with it…

Then, one day it happened –

I think I said something like,

Eccentric…Eccentric!

Who, me?

I’d never given much thought to eccentricity, really…

that is until they said I was eccentric.

They, were the British Broadcasting Corporation.

An eccentric was the last thing I’d contemplated being.

After all, as far as I was concerned

it wasn’t me who was heading in the wrong direction!

Vivid pictures then began to flow through my mind:

eccentrics as mad, frizzy-haired inventors,

or mumbling white-coated professors

ensconced in leaded-light, oak-panelled lodgings …

Stereotype images like that.

So, how did I get into this situation?
I vividly remember my dad treating me like an outsider,
but my mum often said she thought I was an artist

and that poetry was the most noble art.

So, when I left school and flew the uncomfortable nest,

I knuckled-down and made a new start.

I bought myself a Moleskine notebook… in black.

The sort that all the best poets

painters and composers are said to use.

It had an elastic band to hold it tightly shut…

(for when I wasn’t ready for the muse.)

With tried and tested equipment like that

how on earth could any decent publisher refuse?

But I’d get this recurring dream.
“Oh,” I’d be saying out loud.
“If I held the post of ‘Chair of Professor of Poetry’

at a famous old university,

I’d kiss goodbye to adversity.”

I’d be repeating this phrase over and over.

But, I’d be as happy as old Larry.

What a great way

to spend each and every busy-buzzing day.

I’d just tarry… there,

reading piles of good books, (and my guitar mags)

and every so often, quietly gaze down

from my dusty old window

at the pigeons pecking and puffing themselves up

on a perfectly manicured lawn,

in the quaint and quiet quadrangle.

I’d chat to the poetry students

in a fatherly-like way.

(They have scant knowledge

about anything in the real world,

you know.)

“This is the way poetry’s done,”

I would say to each one,

then show them a selection of

my very popular

self-published pamphlets.

They would probably pipe-up and say,

“Caw that’s brilliant, that is, sir.”

Then I’d rock back on my heels

and say to them: “Off you go then.

Order yourselves some copies from Mr Jenkins,

in the lovely old library downstairs,

and give ’em a good read.

But, no cheating though.

Make up some of your own stuff.”

They would then say,

“Oh, sir, pleeease!”

Then I’d relent and say:

“Well, go on then,

but change the words about a bit.”

I’d tap out my pipe on the pitted stone window ledge

and chuckle to myself, muttering quietly:

“Huh, bloody kids, who’d ’ave ’em?”

Then I’d sing a little song.
Who drew

the very thin line

between sanity and madness? (X3)

Who drew,
who… drew… it?

‘Aren’t all eccentrics bonkers, though,

and think of nothing other than their pet subjects,

and even if they attempted to repair the most simple of things

they’d turn out to be bodgings?

‘Their heads are in the clouds.’

That’s what people say.

Then again,

I do tend to engage my brain before my mouth

and some people have to wait ages

to get an answer.

Sometimes it can be as long as…

say, a goose would take

to complete its hazardous journey south.

I don’t always mean to be rude,

but you should understand

that I like a lot of solitude.

It’s not that I’m particularly shy,

it’s just because…that’s why.

‘An eccentric slice of a British way of life’,

that’s how I was described…

and all because I wrote Japanese-type verse

called haiku.

They thought it rather strange that I sometimes compose

when I’m riding on my baiku.

They wanted me on Radio 4.

I was to talk to Clare Balding about my poetic style,

and while I was explaining it, she would interject a bit.

It was something new for their programme, Ramblings.

Ramblings is a broadcast where everything depends

on supposedly interesting folk and their amblings.

That’s how the final die was cast.

Normality, for me, had breathed its last.

I was now officially ‘Eccentric’

and the BBC had nailed me to their mast.

Whatever happens in the future

as a result of this whirl of eccentricity…

will be secondary.

But that crowning moment

at the ‘Eccentric Club’ will always remain

with me and be the best,

because it’s where I got my title:

‘The Great British Eccentric 2009.’

I’d passed their test.

It now gives me the opportunity

to get so many dark secrets off my chest.
And did you know that…

If you say the word

kazoo, backwards,

it reads, oozak?

It then sounds more

like a question:

‘Oozak?’

That’s probably why

they never called

it that.

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•This is a new regular column on the adventures of Geoff Clams

On an impossibly sunny and happily recent Thursday, it so happened that I caught the local premiere of John Tomkins’ new feature-length movie, Like an Angel, at Torre Abbey’s Spanish barn.

John is a multi-skilled composer, singer and film-maker from Torquay who, along with his partner Kirsty Symonds, was hosting this special World First screening in aid of Leukemia research. After collaborating on a slew of online videos John and Kirsty (also a singer/songwriter) offer up this, their latest collaboration; a swashbuckling love story that was filmed in and around Torbay and which spans 500 years. The screenplay was written by John himself, who also filmed, edited, produced, funded and scored the picture.

It had been a day of trials. Earlier that afternoon I lost a shoe and some money in the sea and threw up my lunch, all in the space of an hour. In the morning I had left the house early, but had since forgotten all of my Paignton-based life chores and I soon found myself drifting alongside the baked shores.

I was slowly walking to Torquay but had no idea why. Like an Angel is why. An admittedly rough diamond, this film is both a love letter from its director to its leading lady and a barnstorming adventure with inventive special effects and lovable characters to boot.

John’s irrepressible energy frames nearly every shot and for the duration of the film, I was completely entertained. Here is a filmmaker who calls to one’s mind the Renaissance painters of old. A passionate artist who lives by his brush, painting in broad strokes that span the very fabric of time in this bold and beautiful tapestry of love across the ages.

Needless to say, I whistled off into the summer night with my faith in the local arts mostly restored, the film’s big questions still lingering in my mind. If I travelled into the future would my future self be able to see me? What if my future self left the future and went back into the past to see some stuff?

What if when my future self wanted to travel back to the future from the past after seeing some stuff, it arrived in the future too early? What if the other future self was still there, having not yet travelled to the past to see stuff? Would we cancel each other out or would we create two separate time lines in simultaneous, parallel realities? Could these realities exist now? Will we ever unlock them? John Tomkins is a great leading man for local film and the wider creative community should feel extremely proud to have him as their front-runner. Catch Like an Angel when it screens again. You won’t soon forget it.

Anyhow, on that very enchanting evening, I somehow managed to wrangle this here column. I’ll be here every week, spouting. My name is Geoff Clams and I live in Preston on the Torbay Coast. My day job involves designing cultural adventures for a new Buckfastleigh-based steering committee called Project Duvall. I have sat in on two meetings so far and some of the ideas that people are circulating are certainly encouraging. I also enjoy animals, films, books and some television.

Next week, I want to tell you all about some things that happened to me when I went to vote a few nights ago. It’s pretty scandalous stuff.

posted by Geoff Clams

(image: a still from Like and Angel)

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Katie Marie and the hectic life-style of a multi-talented musician. 

Heya there everyone! Hope you all had a wonderful bank holiday weekend – as promised in last week’s article, here’s a full breakdown of my musical (and rather manic!) week/weekend!

At the begining of the week (Tuesday) Marnie and I were in the BayFM studios playing some of our tunes live across the airwaves and chatting to presenter Martin Weller. The following day (Wednesday) we had to head off to the Palm FM studios in Torquay to pre-record a show with John Hogarth for Hogie’s 7-11.  As always both were oodles of fun.

Thursday afternoon I was up at More Restaurant – the weather was super lovely and there were lots of peeps up there enjoying the sunshine and music. I had a go at trying a few songs in different styles… I think the best one was a jazz version of Purple Haze which strangely worked!

So after playing lots of wellknow songs in a jazz stylee, I then had to head on up to Exeter Picturehouse for a gig with Marnie. I’ve never been to the Picturehouse before (which for those of you that don’t know is a cinema, and a lovely old style one at that) and didn’t realise that upstairs has a kind of cafe/bar area which is nice and chilled and really good for acoustical type people to play. The other great thing about this gig was that we got paid in cinema tickets! How cool is that!

Friday afternoon I had to head back up to Exmouth as I had a gig with Mr Crisp at Exmouth Festy, this was my first time here so I was really looking forward to making lots of noise in the lovely Manor Gardens. Our set seemed to go down well with the Exmouth peeps and the sound guys did a fantastic job – thanks guys.

Once I’d returned from Exmouth festy I then had to head off to my studio and pre-record my radio show for the next day, as Saturday was going to be a busy one. Pre-recording an hour long show wasn’t as easy as I thought it would be, but I decided to chuck in a few live performances to pass the time which was great fun… four hours later I had it all recorded, mixed and on a CD – yay!

So, along came Saturday – first stop was Exmouth Festy (yes, again!!) as I had a slot on my own to play, which was so much fun and once again the sound guys did a super dooper great job with the sound, which really does make such a difference. No sooner had I finished at Exmouth I had to head off to Helston as Marnie and I were gigging in Cornwall over the weekend.

Although the Campsite in Cornwall that we were gigging/staying at was a nightmare to find, we did manage to make it in good time – horrah!

The place we were playing at was called Out in the Open which is advertised as a gay-run, gay friendly camp site. I’ve never been to a gay camp site before – so wasn’t really sure what to expect! But I have to say that it’s the nicest, cleanest camp site I’ve ever stayed at and everyone who was running it and also staying there were really lovely. The owners had already set up a tent for me which was wicked not to have to worry about setting up my tent (which I’ve not done in a very long time and am probably rather rubbish at doing so!!).

The reason why Marnie and I were booked to play over the weekend was that the camp site (or the camp-camp as me and Marnie called it! lol I know, bet they’ve never heard that one before) were celebrating 10 years of being open, so we gigged Saturday and then Sunday night.

They had set up a big marquee in the field were we were playing at the first night was absolutly freeeeeeezing!! By the end of the night I was quite happy to be snuggling up in our tent with a hot water bottle. The weather the next day was simply gorgeous and I spent most of the day catching up on sleep in the lovely warm sunshine. Bloomin marvelous!

My alarm went off at 7am on Monday morning (gggrrrroooaaann!) as we had to be packed up and gone from the campsite by 8am and off to our next gig (which was at More Restaurant in Dartington and we needed to be there for 11.30am). We just about managed to leave in time and two-and-a-half hours later I was back in my lovely little home town of Totnes.

We were very lucky with the weather as it was raining on the drive up from Cornwall, but as soon as we hit Plymouth it seemed to stop and the sunshine gradually creeped through. As always More Restaurant was lots of fun and we had a really good crowd up there who seemed to enjoy it.

Then once again we had to dash off like crazy loons and head up to our last gig of the weekend which was in Bovey Tracey. This was a last-minute booking at The Cromwell Arms and they had organised an outdoor event and wanted us to play – which of course we were more than happy to.

So we got set up outside as the weather seemed really nice and our first set seemed to go down really well. But by the middle of our second set a big black cloud zoomed over and everyone ran inside!! The landlord asked if we’d be happy to finish off our gig inside the pub, fortunatly we’d only set up my little busking PA outside so it didn’t take two seconds to move and it was nice to be back in the warm anyways!

So after an exhausting weekend of gigs, we all rewarded ourselves with a well earned Chineese take-away – sorted!

• Check out Katie Marie on MySpace, or on her website.

(Images from the top Exmouth Festy with Dan (looking worried! lol); Dan @ Exmouth Festy; Dan @ Exmouth Festy; Security! We have a intruder; and Full vege breakfast!)

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There has been a theft of art work, part of an installation by British artist Doug Jones, at the Exeter Phoenix’s galleries. The incident took place at around 10.15pm on Saturday, May 23.

What was stolen was a bishop’s mitre made of vintage New York hip hop fabric, part of the figure that formed the centrepiece of the exhibition, named Non Sum Qualis Eram (‘I am not what I used to be’).

Matt Burrows, Exeter Phoenix gallery manager, told the PRSDs: “We are all very surprised by this kind of disrespectful behaviour, which is in stark contrast to what Exeter Phoenix stands for.

“Doug Jones is an exceptionally talented artist at the start of his career, who has put an amazing amount of work and time into the creation of this exhibition, so the news of this theft has been a real blow to him.

“His exhibition has attracted visitors from all over the country to Exeter Phoenix so far and the hundreds of comments in our visitor’s book demonstrate how much people have enjoyed it and been moved by it.

“The exhibition is due to tour other venues in the UK from the end of next week, so it is absolutely crucial that the mitre is returned to us by then.

“We understand that stealing it may have simply seemed like a funny joke to the young men responsible, but I would urge them to think about the consequences of their act and urge them to come forward.”

If anyone has seen anything contact Rob McCullough (operations manager), at the Exeter Phoenix on 01392 667060.

posted by Cptn

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The Landmatters community, who live in low-impact dwellings near Totnes, are opening their doors to demonstrate transition and permaculture in action on Sunday June 7.

The Landmatters Community, based near Allaleigh, won the right to live on the land they own and work together for three years, in 2007.

During the open day you’ll be able to see how far the group has developed in their transition to a post-oil future.

You’ll be able see how they live, grow their food, get their energy, and see how permaculture can play a part in everyday life. There will be guided tours of the community at 12:30pm and 2:30pm, but it’s an all-day thing. Tea will be provided, but bring picnic food to share.

As member of  Landmatters Community, Charlotte Oliver, told the PRSD: “Lots of people locally have been very supportive towards us, and very interested in our permaculture community, and this is a great opportunity for us to throw open our doors and welcome people in.

“We’d really love people to come and see what we have done over the past four years, to enjoy a day out on our beautiful piece of land, share a picnic, and chat over tea with us about the community and what we are trying to achieve.

“As evidence builds for big changes in our climate, this project offers the chance to explore some solutions to the challenges that those changes will bring.”

• Getting there: Be aware that the low-impact community will not be able to accommodate private cars, even if shared, on the day.

Take the Dartmouth Bus 111 from nr The Seven Stars Hotel to the Forces Inn (nr Woodlands) then walk 15 minutes down the green lane to the community (nr Allaleigh).

To cycle there via the green lanes and Tuckenhay, the Totnes Cycling Group will be riding out en masse at 11am from the Plains, Totnes, all are welcome, (“slow, speedy, experienced, or beginners – we always wait!”) Five miles approx – 1.5 hours or so…

For more info and directions ring Lou on 01803 867358, and if you need alternative transportation please book well in advance.

posted by Cptn

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Actress turned olive farmer Carol Drinkwater (from essential ’80s Saturday night viewing All Creatures Great and Small) is to help launch a project supporting Palestinian farmers in the face of the destruction of their olive trees.

Carol has written several books on olive trees, and is backing the Olives for Hope, which links Fairtrade groups in Devon with olive farmers in the West Bank village of Deir Istya, where many ancient olive trees are under threat from encroaching Israeli settlements and the barrier that Israel is building in the West Bank.

Palestinian Riziq Abu Nasser visited Devon during Fairtrade Fortnight this year to talk about how Fairtrade has improved his life.

Carol told the PRSD: “When I visited Israel and the West Bank I discovered that the Israeli authorities are razing many trees – frequently the only source of life for those Palestinian villagers, in order to build illegal settlements. I spent a day with Israeli peace activists planting saplings paid for by Israelis as a small gesture of recompense. It was one of the most memorable, moving days of my life.”

“If this project can support Palestinian farmers and give them an opportunity to sell their fruits and the oil they have farmed for centuries, it will have helped give them back dignity and a means towards earning their own livelihoods.”

Olives for Hope has been established by Devon Development Education, a global education organization that led the successful campaign to achieve Fairtrade County status in Devon. It is to be launched in June with a series of events around Devon

dates of events:
Catholic Church Hall, New Road, Brixham, Tuesday, June 16 – 7.30pm
Christ Church, Bear Street, Barnstaple, Thursday, June 18 – 7.30pm
United Reformed Church, Southernhay, Exeter, Friday, June 19 – 7.30pm

posted by Cptn

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Diggin It, the organic garden people in Plymouth, have lured internationally renowned guerrilla gardener Richard Reynolds to Plymouth to give advice on how to transforming urban wastelands into areas enriched with flowers and wildlife in a special talk for anyone who wants to see a bit more green in the concrete jungle.

The Colourful Communities talk takes place at the Jill Craigie Lecuture Theatre, Roland Lewinsky Building University of Plymouth between 6pm – 8.30pm on May 11.

Call 01752 300250 to book tickets.

Listen to what Diggin It do

posted by Cptn

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An Autism Education Trust conference in Exeter aims to bring together council representatives, health professionals, adults and young people with autism and their parents and carers to share experiences and learn more about the trust.

Sean Murphy, from Socops, an Exeter group for high-functioning children with autistic spectrum disorders and their families, told thisisexeter: “Education is a real concern for many of the parents who attend Socops.

“Many feel there are gaps in provision for their children and are now accessing services outside the county to meet their child’s need.

“The work that the trust is doing is invaluable. We feel that something is being done to address the current and future difficulties that our children face.”

The event will take place at the Thistle Hotel, in Queen Street, Exeter, on Thursday, May 7, from 9am-3pm.

Places are free but limited and must be booked in advance. For details and to book tickets visit the Autism Education Trust site, call 0115 9113367 or email conference@nas.org.uk

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The Blackdown Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty team and Devon Wildlife Trust are hosting a free workshop to show gardeners how to create a haven for birds, butterflies, bees and bugs in their backyards.

The event, at Hemyock parish hall on May 2, will be led by the trust’s Kate Yeo.

She said: “Even if you only have a tiny bit of outdoor space you can still attract wonderful wildlife.

“None of the ideas are expensive, and with everyone’s finances squeezed what could be better than being able to enjoy your own garden buzzing with life?”

Places are free but numbers are limited so booking is essential on 01823 680682.

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Who says museums aren’t sexy? The Royal Albert Memorial Musum is set to host the Sex and History exhibition in 2012, after its facelift of course.

What’s more, it’s part of the 2012 Cultural Olympiad, who says the Olympics aren’t cultural?

The whole thing sounds like a massive undertaking with Sex and History programme working with other South West museums, the Science Museum and the Wellcome Trust.

Apparently, ‘Sex and History will use museum objects as a starting point for young people to think about the diversity of human sexuality.’ Some of the artefact include 16th century chastity belts to Japanese pillow books.

Well, it’s all Greek to us here at the PRSD.

Here’s what Dr Rebecca Langlands, Department of Classics and Centre for Medical History, University of Exeter had to say: “Our aim is to generate a sense of excitement about the relevance of the past and of objects in museums to our lives today.”

Camilla Morgan, who’s been involved with the project since the get-go, told the PRSD: “I think we can bring an ‘un-academic’ view, more of an impulsive reaction to objects. It’s easy to have preconceptions about museums but the stuff you can learn there can be really interesting – it’s up to us to get the message across.”

posted by Cptn

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An Exeter shop which collects unwanted and surplus books is appealing for children’s books to send to Africa.

Book-Cycle, based in West Street, has organised a free load to Mombasa, Kenya, and is anxious to make the most of it.

Books, educational and recreational, for children aged five to 15, are needed in the next three weeks.

The books can be taken to the shop and more details are available on 01392 420021 or enquiries@book-cycle.org

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