The
Blue Room is a free independent discussion forum, operated on a not-for-profit
basis, aiming to help members from all areas of the production industry communicate
with and advise others.
News
and Information
Live music
venues under threat
Many of our good music venues
are being closed, sold off and converted into offices etc. We need to act now
to preserve them. These are the places where new bands start out and get their
first breaks, they are the places where established bands visit on tour and they
are the famous places with loads of history and character.
We have already
lost the Hammersmith Palais and The Astoria. There are many others around the
country which need our support to help keep them alive
Working
with local promotions organisations, The Square will once again host a quality
varied programme of entertainment to suit all ages and tastes.
"The
Square is Harlow's Live Entertainment Venue with a 30 year history at the heart
of the music scene in the town. From
July 2008, The Square will be under new management and will be offering a varied
programme of events across a wide range of musical genres to appeal to all ages
within our community. The
Square will operate an open door policy - all ages and no dress code. We believe
no more in uniform dress, than we do uniform thinking and in the past this has
ensured that there has always been a great mix of ages, social groups, cultures
and fashions - all with something to offer and all welcome.
Has
anybody seen my bike?
On
the 19th July 2003 I was involved in a motorbike accident on Southsea Parade near
Portsmouth which resulted in me being taken to hospital with serious arm and leg
injuries. The following day I was able to contact the RAC and asked them to recover
the bike and take it to Bike Business on Fratton Road, about 2 miles away. A couple
of days later, while still in hospital, I was able to check my answerphone messages
and was suprised to hear one from the RAC saying that they believed my bike had
been stolen as they couldn't find it. The next message was more reassuring and
said that they had now found and recovered it. After spending two weeks in
hospital, I was finally allowed out in a wheelchair. I was picked up in a car
and taken to the accident scene. I wanted to refresh my memory of the accident
before making my statement. On arriving at the accident scene I saw that my bike
was still there. After being left on the seafront for two weeks, my bike was now
a rusted wreck. I rang the RAC and complained and they came out within the hour
to collect it. When the patrol arrived, I again asked for my bike to be taken
to Bike Business and was assured that it would be. That was the last time I saw
my bike.
Charity Memorabillia
Sales. Some
time ago, I was involved in a motorbike accident in Portsmouth. I suffered a badly
broken ankle, severed ligaments and tendons and a broken collarbone. I spent two
weeks in Queen Alexandra Hospital in Cosham and the next five weeks in a wheelchair.
During my stay in hospital, I found that the equipment used to check patients
blood pressure and heart rate etc. on the ward was faulty. This meant that some
of the tests were carried out manually using other equipment. I am very grateful
to the hospital for the way they looked after me and in return for their kindness,
have decided to raise money to buy a new blood pressure monitor for them. It costs
around £1800, so I am looking for cash from anywhere I can find it.
I have worked with a number of bands and have been able to
acquire various items of memorabilia. I am now selling these
items and hope to raise lots of money towards the target.
I have put pictures and descriptions of all the items here.
If you would like to buy something or donate something, either
memorabillia or cash, email me we can make arrangements.
9/2/10
The Globe Theatre in stockton is to be revamped, saving many of the original features.
The building dates from 1917 when it opened as a cinema. It has hosted music for many years and has seen such bands as The Beatles and The Rolling Stones.
The Globe closed in 1993 but has been given planning permission to be redeveloped. The plans include retaining many of the original features, bit modernising and installing new facilities.
7/1/10
The Halfmoon is saved. Due to the overwhelming
support of music fans across the country, Youngs have agreed
to keep the Halfmoon open as a music venue.
This is fantastic news and shows what people power can do.
2/12/09 The fight to save The Halfmoon is only just
beginning, with your help we can make the decision makers
realise their mistake.
1/12/09
Loads of our best small music venues are pubs.
Pubs in this country are currently closing at a rate of over
fifty a week.
Ignoring the politics behind the VAT cut and impending increase,
we need to inform our politicians (of all parties) how we
feel. Visit http://www.backthepub.co.uk
for more info and to write to your MP using the handy form
on the site.
28/11/09
The forum is now back up and running. If you
get any problems,
me. Any existing members will need to re-register as the whole
forum has
been replaced.
26/11/09
Further information about the Halfmoon from
the Evening
Standard.
25/11/09
After a long break, I am now able to update
this site again. Unfortunately, the first update is to add
the news that The Halfmoon at Putney is closing.
The
easiest way to help this or any other music venue is to go
there and support it.
The
Square, Harlow - 