the next big thing
a
couple of years ago here at the QE2 Activity Centre we had an evening of live
music titled "No Deeper Blue ~ a tribute to Townes Van Zandt". Townes was
an American songwriter, singer, guitar player, poet who died January 1997.
Michael Weston King, Jackie Leven, Jason McNiff, Jinder and Andrew Perry all
gave their time for this fundraising event for the Centre. It was a great
evening and there is some live footage on youtube - follow the links below.
As part of a one man mission to bring fine music to the masses I have (with a little help from my friends) managed to cobble together 20 tracks, most of them especially recorded for this cd, by a wonderful assortment of artists from the UK, USA, Canada, Ireland and Italy. This will be released by Righteous 23 records on September 13th and here for the very first time in public is the track listing . . .
Danny & the Champions of the World (UK) For the sake of the song; Magic Numbers (UK) Quicksilver Daydreams of Maria; the Mighty Stef featuring Shane MacGowan (Ireland) Waiting around to die; Dan Michaelson (UK) I’ll be here in the morning; Peter Bruntnell (UK) Second Lovers Song; Jeb Loy Nichols (USA, via Wales) Flyin’ Shoes; Boo Hewerdine (UK) Lungs; Devon Sproule (USA) Turnstyled junkpiled; Jeffrey Foucault (USA) Nothin’; Jason McNiff & Songdog (UK) Mr Mudd and Mr Gold; Shannon Lyon (Canada) If I needed you; Danny Schmidt & Carrie Elkin (USA) Rex’s Blues; David Wrench & Henry Priestman (UK) Snake Song; Stan Ridgway & Peter Case (USA) If I was Washington; Tom Ovans (USA) Loretta; Johnny Dowd & Billy Cote (USA) No Place To Fall; Michael Weston King (UK) Marie; Rob Dunsford (UK) Two girls; Townes van Zandt with the Calvins (USA) Riding the Range; Jackie Leven (The Kingdom of Fife via the Village of Botley) Townes at the Borderline
these are mostly songs by the late great Townes van Zandt, except for Riding the Range, which is Townes covering a song by Michael Weston King and Jackie Leven's contribution which is a new song, written especially for this project. Cool, huh. Order your copy today!
Click here to see and hear Michael Weston King and Jackie Leven performing "A Song For" by Townes van Zandt recorded live at the QE2 Activity Centre August 2007
click here to see Jinder, Michael Weston King, Jackie Leven, Jason McNiff, Andrew Perry and Anthony Greenwood playing Aint Leavin' Your Love and the late Bo Diddley's Who Do you Love at the QE2 Activity Centre August 2007
other live music at the qe2 activity centre
click here to see Six Nation State live at the QE 2 activity centre October 2007
In 2008 Emily Barker and the Red Clay Halo played at the Centre's 30th Birthday party along with Jason McNiff and his band. Emily later recorded the theme song for the Kenneth Brannagh tv show Wallender.
Hmmm, I recognise that futon . . .
the art of qe2 activity centre
ars longa, vita brevis, so they say, but here at QE2 Activity Centre the ars is brevis too. The amazing painted climbing walls, pictured above, are no more. They have been subsumed under a colour wash, a kind of rhythm bed, of orange and blue
Aaron & the Mondrian-alike are still there as are the Climber and Archer (below, both painted by Centre deputy manager Peter Dunnnings)
art competition
the winner of the 30th Anniversary Art Competition Sara from Hampshire Autistic Society CRC whose painting of the qe2 activity centre climbing wall was voted Number 1 by internet voters, visitors to the Centre and by the Judge.
Congratulations Sara!
Sara won an activity session for her group.. Thanks to everyone who took the time to vote. Thanks to all the artists who entered.
