Bring in the Spring

Bring in the Spring!

Welcome the Ides of March...or any day in March.  Winter is over.  Away with hail, sleet, wind and rain!  Herald the Spring!  In like the proverbial lamb and probably out like a ruddy lion.

Michael Nunn reviews, in his usual succinct and informativestyle:

REVIEW – LANCASTER LIBRARY ACHIEVES LGBT EQUALITY CHARTER MARK

Lancaster Library, Market Street, Lancaster

Thursday 17 February 2011 at 7.30pm

Lancaster Library is the latest organisation to be awarded the The Navajo Charter Mark, in recognition of its open commitment to and implementation of gay-friendly policies.  The Charter Mark is awarded across the county by a Lancashire community partnership of LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans) organisations.

Established twelve years ago, it is awarded to private and public sector companies and organisations that take positive steps to welcome and encompass LGBT issues.  Among its recipients, now over one hundred, are organisations as varied as the Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service, GP practices, Accrington and Rossendale College, Preston Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and four libraries – including Lancaster.

At a ceremony in Lancaster Library last Thursday, 17 February 2011, the award was presented to Lancashire Libraries District Manager, Diane Baxter, by Drew James Drake of Age Concern Central Lancashire.  The evening, attended by over fifty people, also featured live music, and a brief talk on some of Lancashire’s LGBT historic material resources by Kathryn Rooke, Archivist at Lancashire Record Office.

Steven Gregory from the City Museum also announced that there will be a display of mementos belonging to LGBT people over the summer.  The evening concluded with more music and - not least! – a delicious buffet. In this day and age of equality in racial, gender, disability and sexuality areas, it is good to report that Lancaster is also striving to combat prejudice and intolerance in these matters.

Copyright © 20 February 2011 Michael Nunn

Hitting the spot Friday 18^th, the unsurpassed Spotlight produced another rounded evening's entertainment.  Rachel McGladdery held an attentive audience enthralled with her all too evocative poem on the self-deluded life of a drunk, Trev Meaney won hands-down with closely-observed idiocy, Gran the Gusset Tester relived her biker youth and hopeful attempts to rekindle geriatric passion and Pascal the Rascal was in surreal cross-referencing form. Even Morecambe’s time-warp (a mind-numbing list of its entertainment schedule) from Al Alvarez added quiet entertainment.

Trev Meaney collected first prize and a gig at both Spotlight, 18th March and Wordsoup at The Continental, Preston on the 24th.  Go see.

A bit of a gap here as I was on a beach in Portugal.  I spent most of my time bailing out Gran as she became entangled with the local police.  I suspect she rather enjoyed it.  Gran will tell you all about it at the Beer Festival, Cabaret Night, and any other time she can trap an unsuspecting audience.

So it was a relief to get back to the gentler insanities of Lancaster and Mark Coyles’ all day bonanza at the John O’ Gaunt, where Takamine guitar/vocals duo Peter Aldridge and Steve Ripley played impressively: big sounds and strong vocals delivered with depth and quality. 

Entertainment interspersed with stunning coffee at Sun Square’s latest arrival, The Music Room, rejoicing son Casper’s place in the Barista championships, at UK semi-finals at the International Food Exhibition mid-March, and a chance to represent the UK at the World Barista Competition.  Blimey.

Weekends continue at 1725, where the late Saturday slot is filled by the likes of gypsy guitarists Zazous Anglais as you fill up on excellent tapas.

Sundays there are now a fixture for Howard Haigh, 5-7pm, continuing a fine tradition of global rhythms from Lava days.

And closing Saturday’s all day all venue bonanza, the unmissable Gobbledegook took the lid off any remaining sanity at the Stonewell, where, playing with sycophantic pazzazz, were Xtophe on Mexican bongos leading intricate and exploratory vocals, violins and piano from Eliza Ramsay and Joanna Mangona, Matt the Sax in his element as barely restrained brass, Andy Smith on dynamic percussion and Alan Shooter giving the best of bass. 

Sue Parish brought February to a gentle, reflective close at The Robert Gillow, alternating with pleasantly raunchy trad (nearly time for cocoa) courtesy of those old diehards Jazz Unlimited at the John O’ Gaunt.

Arteria showcases its spring collection with a Birthday Window on Thursday 3^rd March: the company’s 6th birthday. Also the first night of Lancaster Beer Festival round the corner at the Town Hall, Dalton Square, where open mic from The Stonewell Tavern stable rules ok and opposite the Dalton Rooms offer ImprovExpress.  So there.  Well you did come to Lancaster.

The Beer Festival runs till Saturday, 5 to midnight: awards, talks, bands Friday/Saturday, and of course lots of beer.

 On February 8^th at the JOG, Cabaret Night comes into its own as Geoff Wilkie attempts to sing while being molested by Sue Seddon.  Bands, solo, stand-up and fall-over comedy.

Jive Aces, 50's high energy rollocking roll, not to be missed, are at Hornby Village Institute on Thursday 10^th March, 7.30