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Cypher’s Music bar Blackheath Hockey Club

admin — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 16:47:07 +0000

‘This a great little venue with quality music, one of the best in South London; superb beer, good sound quality and a great host, well worth music fans taking a close look’, they won’t be disappointed’

Cypher’s Music bar takes place at The Blackheath Hockey club and The Catford and Cypher’s Cricket Club.The bar is run by Margeret and Bob and the quality of the beer is renowned.The venue features a wide range of Blues, R&B and Swing music and as such is not ‘purist’, the key is actsthat entertain and make you want to tap your feet and dance.

Become a friend on Facebook “CYPHERS BAR TONY” and check out the videos of some of our most recent bands.Directions -go down the side of Tesco Express on Perry Hill, sharp left and then right and the club is in front of you. Entrance to gigs is free to members and the membership which is due this month (March) is £5.00 for one year.

http://rootsandbluesuk.com/cyphers%20music%20bar/cyphers%20music%20catford.htm

Gigs normally kick off just after 9.00 and run till midnight

Beer to die for at club prices, and great blues!’

LIVE BLUES INFO

11th March   Urbane Gorillas
18th March King David Trio Royale
25th March J C Moody & the Usual Suspects
1st April       The Mick Panos Band
8th April       Elephant Shelf
15th April     The Madison Blues Band (TBC)
22nd April    The Ricky Martin Band
The best in Blues, R&B, Rock & Roots Music & real ale every Friday

Blackheath Hockey Club
Rubens Street ,Catford
SE6 4DH

The government yesterday announced its support for Lord Clement-Jones’ live music bill

admin — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 12:15:46 +0000

In a surprise and welcome move, the government yesterday announced its support for Lord Clement-Jones’ live music bill, subject to certain conditions. Government support significantly increases the bill’s chances of success.

The conditions include an 11pm cut-off time for performances of live music exempt from entertainment licensing, and a full impact assessment before the bill could become law.

Speaking for the government in yesterday’s 2nd reading, Baroness Rawlings said:

‘I offer my congratulations once again to my noble friend on his Bill, and reiterate the Government’s general support, qualified as I have outlined earlier for the measures. We wish to see the Bill amended to take account of the 11 pm noise cut-off for unlicensed live music performance, to make certain that he has continued support. We would like to explore consequential drafting and other amendments with my noble friend in Committee. We are delighted to see that the Bill retains the key protections from the Licensing Act 2003, while making certain that low-risk community events are no longer prevented, or overburdened, by red tape and bureaucracy. The consequences of the Licensing Act 2003 have been to disadvantage many of the cornerstones of local life. It should not be the role of government to restrict creativity and community interaction, but to promote it.’

She concluded: ‘I congratulate my noble friend once again and wish the Bill a safe and swift passage.’

The bill now moves to Committee stage in the Lords, probably within a month. There its provisions will be put under detailed scrutiny, and the government is likely to table its own amendments.

Eloquent and passionate support for the bill came in speeches from a number of Peers, including Michael Grade (Conservative, maiden speech), Jenny Randerson (Liberal Democrat – maiden speech), Robin Teverson (Liberal Democrat), Anthony Colwyn (Conservative), Joan Bakewell (Labour), Floella Benjamin (Liberal Democrat), Rupert Redesdale (Liberal Democrat), Merlin Hay (Earl of Erroll, Cross-bencher) and of course the bill’s sponsor, Tim Clement-Jones (Liberal Democrat).

Opposition Labour spokesperson Lord Stevenson of Balmacara admitted that his government had ‘got it wrong’ with the Licensing Act and live music.

Winding up the debate, Lord Clement-Jones thanked his colleagues for their contributions and for the government’s ’encouraging words’:

‘We have been inspired during this debate by the description of the key role played by live music in all our lives and how we want it to make an even bigger impact on them. The Live Music Bill aims to rebalance the Licensing Act and restore some fairness to the treatment of live music and musicians by the licensing authorities. I hope that noble Lords will support it as it goes through the House and I request that it be given a Second Reading. ‘

Full Hansard text of the debate:

http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/ld/ldtoday/05.htm

Media coverage includes this morning’s BBC Radio 4 ‘Today’, with a clip of Lord Clement-Jones’ opening speech (from about 2’30″ to 3’20″): http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_9415000/9415587.stm

‘… we had the ridiculous situation where Westminster City Council told Tate Britain to get an entertainment licence for Susan Philipsz’s Turner Prize-winning sound installation. Ms Philipsz’s prize-winning exhibit features a recording of her singing “Lowlands Away”, a traditional folk song, played through two loudspeakers. Westminster’s legal department ruled that the Act’s incidental music exemption could not apply in this case.’

The Publican 4th March, ’Live music bill gets government backing’: http://www.thepublican.com/story.asp?sectioncode=7&storycode=69168&c=1

and the same story in Music Week, 4th March:

http://www.musicweek.com/story.asp?sectioncode=1&storycode=1044422

The Stage 4th March: ‘Grade uses first speech in the Lords to back live music bill’:

http://www.thestage.co.uk/news/newsstory.php/31478/grade-uses-first-speech-in-house-of-lords-to

The Incorporated Society of Musicians welcomed the government’s backing for the bill. ISM Chief Executive Deborah Annetts said:

‘We’re delighted that the Live Music Bill has passed its first parliamentary test and has received the support of the government. It’s vital that we demolish the bureaucratic barriers of the current licensing regime and allow live music to thrive. Live music-making is a crucial part of our creative economy and many musicians receive their first break by performing in a small venue. We will continue urging peers and MPs to support the Bill as it progresses through Parliament.’

http://www.ism.org/news_campaigns/article/leap_forward_in_lords_for_live_music/

Watch the debate on the Parliament website:

http://www.parliament.uk/business/news/2011/march/live-music-bill-2nd-reading/

Debate text with hyperlinks from theyworkforyou.com

http://www.theyworkforyou.com/lords/?id=2011-03-04a.1313.2&s=votes

BB’s Blues Club- Elephant Shelf Colourhouse Theater Merton Abby Mills Sun 20th February

admin — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 13:45:12 +0000

t_0024 t_0001 t_0002 t_0003 t_0004 t_0005 t_0006 t_0007 t_0008 t_0009 t_0010 t_0011 t_0012 t_0013 t_0014 t_0015 t_0016 t_0017 t_0018 t_0019 t_0020 t_0021 t_0022 t_0023 BB’s Blues Club- Elephant Shelf Date(s): Sun 20/02/2011 Sunday Evening Time(s): 8pm-11pm Full Price Tickets: £8.00 per seat Concession Price Tickets: £6.00 per seat Box office: 0208 542 5511 Tickets in advance: £6 On the Door: £8 The Colour House is situated right in the centre of Merton Abbey Mills, a small Craft Market, which is on the A24 (Merantun Way) Train About 1.5 miles from Wimbledon Mainline Bus 57, 152, 155, 200, 293 & 352 stop a few minutes walk away. Tube A short walk from either Colliers Wood or South Wimbledon Northern Line Stations.

fresh from a storming appearance at the Big Blues Festival Skegness bring their exciting and colourful brand of original R&B to BB’s at the Colourhouse. Delta slide guitar, gypsy tinged fiddle, a swing rhythm section and dynamic vocals combine – to deliver a really exciting show. Not to be missed. Plus special guest GARY BONER of Roadhouse will join the band for a tune or two.

MAMA ROSIN’S DOUBLE SUCCESS!

admin — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 13:55:33 +0000

MAMA ROSIN’S DOUBLE SUCCESS!

Posted on January 31, 2011 by admin

Swiss Cajun roots band Mama Rosin scored a double success in London last week. They played their biggest London show at the Borderline and were rapturously received by a packed house.

Mama Rosin at the Border Line

There were several musical highlights in a brilliant show but the biggest of was melodeon player / vocalist Cyril ‘Jeter’ Yeterian announcing to the crowd that his girlfriend had just told him he was going to be a father for the first time – this was also news to guitarist / vocalist Robin Girod as the girlfriend in point is his sister – it was truly a family affair and a magical moment as they band embraced on stage and the crowd roared their approval.

Mama Rosin at the Border Line

Government stalls on small venue exception

admin — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 13:20:27 +0000

Government stalls on small venue exception

The Government has stalled on its promises to remove the red tape around live music after Minister for Tourism and Heritage John Penrose suggested a small venue exception can only be pushed through if the DCMS gets the support of ministerial colleagues.

Penrose, whose brief also includes licensing, has said that if he goes down the route of deregulation – UK Music, the Musicians’ Union and others are advocating an exception from the Licensing Act for venues to put on gigs for 100 people or more – then he will be required to alert his colleagues in at least two other Government departments.

The move comes as the Lord Clement-Jones Live Music Bill gets a date for its second reading in the House of Lords.

Elephant Shelf is on a double bill with the BARE BONES BOOGIE BAND at the LIMELIGHT THEATRE Queens Park, Aylesbury Buckinghamshire HP21 7RT

admin — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 15:53:44 +0000

Limelight flyer Bare Bones Boogie Band Elephant Shelf

Next week on FRIDAY 21 JAN Elephant Shelf is on a double bill with the BARE BONES BOOGIE BAND at the LIMELIGHT THEATRE – described by Live Music London as ‘Two of the best rising R&B acts in the UK’, BBBB have the wonderful HELEN TURNER as their front singer and she is something special – Each band will play an hour set and then come together for a jam at the end – our ‘Little’ Rosie & Helen Turner head to head is something to relish.

LIMELIGHT THEATRE Queens Park, Aylesbury Buckinghamshire HP21 7RT 01296 424332 £10 / £8 concessions

Pete Feenstra Music Promoter interviewed on Live Music London

admin — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 16:40:14 +0000

Pete Feenstra Talks about his long experience in promoting primarily Rock & blues music. What drives him to do it and how he got into it in the first place. He is interviewed by Vicky Martin from Blues Matters.

www.feenstra.co.uk

Pete Feenstra

Westminster City Council has told Tate Britain to get an entertainment licence for Susan Philipsz’ Turner Prize winning sound installation.

admin — Fri, 24 Dec 2010 11:30:53 +0000

Westminster City Council has told Tate Britain to get an entertainment licence for Susan Philipsz’ Turner Prize winning sound installation.

The objectives of the licensing regime (Licensing Act 2003) are public safety, the prevention of crime, disorder and public nuisance, and the protection of children from harm. The maximum penalty for providing a licensable entertainment without a licence is a £20,000 fine and six months in prison. Some parts of Tate Britain are licensed under the Act for regulated entertainment, but not the main galleries.

Ms Philipsz’s prize winning exhibit features a recording of her singing ‘Lowlands Away’, a traditional folk song, played through two loudspeakers. See Daily Telegraph report of 6th December: http://tinyurl.com/39dph26

Westminster’s head of licensing, Andrew Ralph, initially rejected the idea that the exhibition was licensable. On 9th December he told the Live Music Forum: ’The Tate Britain does not need a licence for the exhibition as the primary reason people visit the gallery is to view art and the music is ancillary to that.’

But, following discussions with the LMF, Westminster’s legal department overturned that position and advised that the exhibition did need a licence. It would seem they agreed that the Act’s ’incidental music’ exemption could not apply in this case.

On 20th December, a council spokesperson said: ‘The legal situation surrounding licensing can be very complex, and whilst initially a decision was taken that no separate licence was needed, subsequent legal advice has suggested otherwise. We do our utmost to keep any paperwork for these types of events to an absolute minimum, but we do have to abide by national legislation.’

The spokesperson added: ‘The Tate will not have to stop the exhibition in the meantime as such sort of enforcement is not deemed proportionate.’

This light touch contrasts markedly with enforcement action Westminster has taken in the past. In November 2002 Westminster successfully prosecuted Wolverhampton and Dudley Breweries (W&DB), owner of the high street chain Pitcher & Piano, after licensing officers reported customers ‘swaying rhythmically’ to music in two of its sites, Trafalgar Square and Soho. W&DB was fined £5,000 and ordered to pay £1,600 costs in addition to its own legal fees. Public dancing remains illegal under the Licensing Act 2003, unless the venue is appropriately licensed, or the dancing is morris dancing or dancing of a similar nature.

Indeed, the morris dancing exemption offers Tate Britain an intriguing way around Westminster’s licensing requirement. It allows unamplified live music if it is an ‘integral part’ of a performance of morris dancing or dancing of a ‘similar nature’. If Susan Philipsz herself, or another vocalist, were to sing ‘Lowlands Away’ unamplified in the gallery, to some morris dancing, or dancing of a similar nature, this should be exempt (LA2003, Sch. 1, Part 2, para 11).

But if that would compromise the integrity of Ms Philipsz’ artwork, then a licence seems unavoidable. The cost of Tate Britain’s licence application could be as low as £89 for a ‘minor variation’ (see DCMS guidance: http://www.culture.gov.uk/images/publications/Application_for_a_Minor_Variation.pdf )

If a full variation application is required, however, the cost would be the same as a full licence. For a property like Tate Britain this would be in the region of £635 plus the cost of 28 days advertisement in the local press. Annual charges of about £350 would also apply. The public advertisement might provoke local objections, as it often does, and this may in turn lead to a public hearing.

Lawyers Robin Bynoe (solicitor, senior counsel at Charles Russell) and Richard Bridge (solicitor, partner at King Prior MacDonald Bridge) commented:

‘The main point here is that legislation ostensibly designed to prevent antisocial levels of noise in pubs was so clumsily and illiberally worded that it has the effect of criminalising the showing of a prize-winning piece of art by one of the world’s leading art institutions. The calculation of the fee that has to be paid to redeem the criminality, which should never have arisen in the first place, is rather beside the point.’The embarrassment at the Tate underlines that this legislation criminalised a range of musical and other performances, and the provision of “facilities” for them, that could not conceivably produce antisocial levels of noise – in pubs or elsewhere – and did so despite the presence of existing and perfectly adequate noise controls.

‘Previous experience of the way that councils have dealt with these anomalies suggests a tendency to nod through the pastimes of the rich at the expense of the pastimes of the poor. It’s an unfortunate consequence of this kind of lazy legislation, which is worded very generally in the hope that the authorities can be relied on to enforce it without making waves. Undoubtedly, however, Westminster Council will act in an even-handed manner.’

Hamish Birchall

EATS SLEEPS DRINKS MUSIC VENUE 452 FINCHLEY ROAD, LONDON NW11 8DG

admin — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 14:45:53 +0000

EATS SLEEPS DRINKS MUSIC VENUE 452 FINCHLEY ROAD, LONDON NW11 8DG 020 8455 3501

Jam on! If it was your first time seeing/hearing The Overtures on Friday… no doubt you’ll be a “convert” to their fan club! Look out for their two theatre tours in 2011 “The Bootleg 60′s”! this is both sound & vision and is a great show…. we hope they’ll be back at The Castle in 2011 as well! Great to have The Bizzarros back on Saturday night too! Sunday afternoon was a cracking affair too! – Dave Stark and the band played a blinding set then backed so many brilliant players/singers! We kicked off at 5:30pm and were still going way past 10pm! Great stuff and thanks to all! This Friday (10th) we have the first of our two pre-Christmas “We Got The Funk” Nights! Live music from “Earth Wind For Hire” – 10 piece Funk Soul PARTY Band with tributes to Stevie Wonder AND a Michael Jackson look-a-like-dance-a-like! Boogie from 9pm till 1am £5 before 9pm £7 after. Then … SATURDAY 11th We welcome local charity Resources for autism who are having their Christmas party here PLUS Edna’s 40th Birthday celebration! So if you fancy a boogie to Christmas/Party Tracks COME ON DOWN! FINALLY FREE TICKET DRAW WINNERS… ROBBIE@PRIMA…. TREADFERN.PRO….. ALEX@ROBIN……… EMAIL US TO CLAIM YOUR TICKETS & FOR MORE DETAILS!!!

Deadly unamplifed music menace discovered in Camden or Have you got a licence for that Harp?

admin — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 13:48:36 +0000

A small restaurant has just won permission from Camden council to provide an unamplified live guitarist or harpist until 10pm:

http://www.camdennewjournal.com/news/2010/dec/restaurant-wins-music-battle

But wait a moment. Why should provision of such innocuous live music be made a criminal offence unless licensed? Isn’t it just the sort of music that qualifies for the Licensing Act’s ‘incidental music’ exemption?

Indeed it is, according to both local and central government guidance:

‘The music is incidental if it is NOT the primary purpose for attending the premises i.e. the performer is there whilst the public are engaged in another (non-regulated entertainment) activity and that other activity would still take place even if there was no music playing. The public must be allowed to talk during the performance of incidental music i.e. there should be no expectation to listen or to watch (even if the public spontaneously sing along with the music).’

‘Advice for licensing authorities about incidental music’, LACORS, September 2009: http://www.lacors.gov.uk/lacors/ContentDetails.aspx?id=22768

(click on the ‘incidental music’ link in the third paragraph)

The government’s own statutory licensing guidance is broadly the same. The exemption should apply if the music is not the main attraction and the volume ‘does not predominate over other activities’:

http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/alcohol/guidance-section-182-licensing?view=Binary

(‘Licensing Guidance issued under Section 182 of the Licensing Act 2003′, p31, para 3.22)

So why is Camden apparently ignoring official guidance? Did they explain the incidental music exemption to the licence applicants? There is no mention of the exemption in the press reports.

Perhaps the council is encouraged to over-regulate by Coalition havering over the small gigs exemption. And recent Ministers’ replies to Parliamentary Questions on the subject have been somewhat ambiguous.

On 29th November, the evocatively named Baroness Garden of Frognal answered Tim Clement-Jones’ question about the rationale for entertainment licensing:

‘… what risks to public safety or public amenity arise from the performance of live music in workplaces that are not adequately covered by existing public safety and nuisance legislation, irrespective of licensing.’ [HL4100]The Baroness replied: ‘The Government believe that, in the light of specific health and safety and fire and noise legislation to address public safety and public nuisance, it is not always necessary or proportionate to require the additional layer of regulation through the licensing regime. This is part of our current thinking about how best to deliver the coalition commitment to remove red tape from live music and other entertainment. However, before finalising any proposals, it is important to test these assumptions with relevant stakeholders, and that is what we are doing ahead of announcing our preferred solution.’ See:

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201011/ldhansrd/text/101129w0001.htm#column_WA410

Congratulations to the wiley civil servant who penned that reply. It gives something to both sides. Those against new exemptions can use it to justify their position (e.g. the Act’s existing exemptions are adequate); those for reform can take it as a hint that more exemptions are being seriously considered.

But on 30th November, an answer from licensing minister John Penrose suggested that the government is sliding back into jobsworth jargon:

Mike Weatherley (Hove, Conservative): ‘To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what plans he has to reduce the (a) regulatory and (b) administrative burden on organisers of live music performances.

Penrose: ‘We are currently considering how to deliver the coalition commitment to cut red tape and encourage the performance of more live music, while ensuring that there is appropriate protection for local communities. We will continue to have discussions with representatives from the music industry, the Local Government Association and others so that we can find the best possible solution.’

http://services.parliament.uk/hansard/Commons/bydate/20101130/writtenanswers/part021.html [search on page for 'Weatherley']

That there is adequate public protection from small gigs, irrespective of entertainment licensing, should be obvious. How else could big screen sport be exempt in bars or indeed anywhere else. Consider the riot in Manchester city centre on 14 May 2008 during a big screen broadcast of the UEFA Cup final:

http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/1049714_battle_of_piccadilly

When asked whether they would review the broadcast entertainment exemption in light of the Manchester riot, the government said ‘no’. See:

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200708/ldhansrd/text/80603w0003.htm#080603100000499