Archive for the ‘Fun Stuff’ Category

Jun 26th 2009

Toto’s “Africa”, performed by a choir

Wellington_saurusLast night I attended a free concert at Wellington Church on University Avenue (as part of the West End Festival) to hear various works including Vivaldi's Gloria (not Gloria's "Vivaldi".) We heard an organ piece which attempted to emulate a thunderstorm as it interrupts a typical church service. It was a brave attempt (the thunder was more convincing than the lightning, it has to be said).

Coincidentally in my email this morning is a link from the Innocent Smoothies newsletter of Perpetuum Jazzile Choir.

It's hard to get traditional choirs to do this kind of thing well, because the disciplines are so different for pop music than they are for classical, particularly with respect to groove/feel.

But I think these guys do it very well indeed.

Looking forward to the JS Bach Mass in B Minor tomorrow performed by the Dunedin Consort in the same venue.  Tickets are still available for this work, sometimes described as the humanity's most eloquent argument for the existence of God…

Tickets are £10 on the door (contrary to what the festival website says), or £5 for students. 7.30 start.

Jun 17th 2009

www.facebook.com/ceilidhband

A few days ago, Facebook allowed people to create their own facebook address (e.g. for business cards etc…) Myspace made this an integral part of their business model, and it was always a bit annoying that I didn't really know how to link people to my facebook profile. Well, now I can. And as the profile pic suggests, I'm happy about that. (that's my wife, by the way. She's happy too.)

Facebook_profile

The Jiggers Ceilidh Band personal facebook profile address is now http://www.facebook.com/ceilidhband

What's yours?

May 27th 2009

Top 10 Records every wedding DJ needs (no 5.)

If you can’t enjoy Dolly Parton’s 9 to 5 then you must be deaf, dull and dead.

I love this kind of tight, coherent songwriting, where every lyric flows easily towards a simple point. It avoids being trite on one hand and too clever on the other. Every part of this record fits so well, and it’s one of the true highlights of Parton’s career. I’m also a huge fan of Jolene.

A class act. Check out her greatest hits for some great, tuneful songs, shmoltzy, blue-eyed ballads and country-gal sass.
By the way,does anyone else find these fan-made videos with the cycling still images a bit spooky?