STREET SCENE by Kurt Weill: Opera North Grand Theatre, Leeds, January 18th 2020 The synopsis for the Opera North production of Street Scenes, which opened at ´The Grand Theatre,´ Leeds on Saturday 18th January 2020, of one of Kurt Weill´s lesser known musicals, was atmospheric and dramatic. ´On a stiflingly hot summer´s day and night in […]
SEAMUS KELLY AND SOPHIE HANNAH words from the writer: by Norman Warwick What Robin Parker and I started in the UK more than ten years ago soon included Steve Cooke, who took over the reins when I eventually left to come to retire here, or ´to run our all across the arts European office´ as […]
TRAVELLING CIRCUS A collaborative performance of Hanging By A Thread, which included work by Just Poets, Touchstones Creative Writing Group, Spiral Dance (now Can´t Dance Can) and People Print (now Community Media), was performed in Rochdale a few years ago by Skylight Circus Arts. It was the parting performance by the circus organisation, as they […]
THE BAUM, BALLADS AND A BIT OF BORIS by Michael Higgins My Boris love song was given its first sounding at The Baum in Rochdale on Sunday (see photograph above). Some might feel there is often too much anti Boris work read out at these events – and too much one-sided politics altogether, so I […]
MUSICIANS IN TRANSCIENCE On reading my latest e mail from Graham Marshall I was also reminded of not only how many classical musicians have enjoyed opportunities early in their careers through Rochdale Music Society, but also how many have since moved in new and exciting directions. For instance, I recalled one particular article had sent […]
INTO THE NEW YEAR WITH NEW IDEAS In its first four years of existence, when serving the arts scene in the Rochdale area of the UK, all across the arts grew from providing one page per week to The Heywood Advertiser to two pages per week. The organisation grew further by then providing two pages […]
MORE THAN TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS It all started for us on Friday December 6th with an event that is all-inclusive and is always elegant, cheerful and bright. The Princessa Yaiza Hotel has been inaugurating a Christmas lights display for several years and by now they have them running like clockwork, even if it is […]
Review of concert by SERGIO DE JESUS, Teatro de Tias, ´five bums at the bar´ interview after the concert. Since emigrating to Lanzarote four years ago we have marvelled at the art works and humanity of the late Cesar Manrique. We have fallen in love, too, with flamenco and the fado music from Portugal, and […]
GOSPEL, PERCUSSION, CLASSICAL, CHORAL AND STARRY SKIES Latonius & The Faith Theory in Arrecife La Tempestad in Arrecife Mijail Saprychev, classical pianist at El Grifo Miguel Aguearralde, book launch, in Arrecife The Alborada Ladies Choir Vocal Siete + support in Haria What made Milwaukee famous will not be lost on Rod Stewart fans but the […]
Track listings Wild Billy´s Circus Song by Bruce Springsteen Man On The Flying Trapeze by Dick Powell Circus Girl by Gretchen Peters The Wall Of Death by Richard Thompson Cathy´s Clown by The Everly Brothers The Tears Of A Clown by Smokey Robinson Death of a Clown by Dave Davies Nelly The Elephant by Mandy […]
SIDETRACKS & DETOURS: 7 / 12 / 25 classical, jazz, folk, rock, americana; songwriters & invisible angels7th December 2025 - 7:00 am
SIDETRACKS & DETOURS Pass It On 2/11/2025 Jenny Bray, Nash and Asher, Opus 222nd November 2025 - 7:00 am
A LITTLE BUNDLE OF SUMMER. sidetracks & detours 3rd September 2025 featuring Jazz Artist, Jenny Bray. Broadcaster and writer, Steve Bewick, Expo Folk and Sound Roots3rd September 2025 - 7:00 am