Cadence Cafe.....small venue - big heart

Over the last few years there has been an increase in the number of 'Community Cafes' which are aimed at retrieving that feel of social interaction within a local neighbourhood.  Ralph will be taking a look at a some of them over the next few weeks and first up will be the recently opened Cadence Cafe in Tyldesley, Manchester.

I discovered them after reviewing Everyday Goldfish whose first EP launch is being hosted there.  Their primary goal is to offer the people of Tyldesley a safe place to meet and gain information on training and benefits.  They've worked closely with local Councillors and the 'Nowt 2 Do' project to establish a drop-in and advice centre, where people can meet and get advice on benefits and training to establish a foundation to getting back to the workplace.

They have though achieved so much more than that, as it is quickly establishing itself as a small music venue and will be participating in the Cadence Festivals held twice yearly in Tyldesley and helping local people to give people the chance to engage in the spoken word, writing and music.  

They've teamed up with Fancy Pants Media, a social enterprise project in Salford to give young people the chance to gain experience in photography, art and social media and one of the sponsors of the Cadence Festival, Longevity Records will be giving talks on working in the music industry and offering placements to people wishing to gain experience within a record label.

They currently have their very own 'Artist in Residence', Luke who is producing some lovely portraits 'live' in the cafe and it's just another instance of their commitment to promoting the arts in the community. Why not drop in for a cuppa and have Luke capture you for posterity!

Long term plans are in place to convert the upper part of the building into a learning academy for music, film, dance and the spoken word and interacting with other Social Enterprise projects with a view to running workshops to help people gain qualifications in the arts.  They are also hoping to include a computer suite to assist in adult learning.

Oh and did I mention it is actually a cafe!  So why not drop in for a coffee (especially nice on a chilly Autumn day with Gingerbread syrup) and a natter, see what they're up to and if you can help!  



Not only that if any community groups, mother & toddler, brownies/cubs/scouts, pensioners, slimming etc would like to use the cafe for meetings please get in touch with the ever friendly Ian!

Upcoming events are.....

Everyday Goldfish EP Launch Friday 26 October 2012  22.00

DJ Workshop & Music industry talks Tuesday 30 October 2012  11:00 If your interested in a career in the Music or TV industry why not come along and have a listen and a chat with people who already work in it. If your in a band, musician, dancer, budding DJ, actor or just interested in what goes on behind the scenes come along to this free event . It takes place over two days each day starting at 11.00am and finishing around 4pm. There will be talks from... Danny Simm who has promoted gigs in Wigan's biggest clubs and is still only 15. Will Travis an actor who has appeared and TV/Film and stage productions including taken lead roles in Between The Sheets, Monsiguer Renard, Casualty, Holby City, Shameless and The Bill (to name but a few) and most recently he completed filming for CBBC on The 4 O’clock Club and also the BAFTA award winning This Is England 88, reprising his role as Mr Squires. Paul Holmes Indie rocks DJ who now has a show on Salford Radio, having interviewed stars such as Ian Brown of Stone Roses fame.                               Thom & Rob from the excellent Manchester band  The Lottery Winners Kenny Mills  DJ, compare and comedian. Zutek DJ's  Warehouse Project

Something for the weekend.....this weeks top ten blogged band chart.....

No Snuggles I said listen to
Tea Street Band.....
not 'I'll make a cup of tea'.....

OK bands you know the score by now....

the more hits your blog gets by the fans, the higher up the chart you go.....so Tweet it, Facebook it.....and generally expose yourself.....

Just blogged last week with massive interest and into the top spot from last weeks No 6 it's Liverpool's.....

1. Tea Street Band




A new blog at the start of the week but widely read proving the popularity of young Scottish band.....

2. Vukovi



Bottom spot last week but some sweet tweeting sees Brighton's shiny, bright young things go up seven places.....

3. Bent Cousin



Down from last weeks top spot but with news of a new EP release next week it's young Manchester band.....

4. Everyday Goldfish




A Scottish band playing a set at Liam Gallachers Glasgow clothes outlet and destined for big things up two places.....

5. Holy Pistol Club



Down two places from last week but long time chart favourites.....

6. The Bedroom Hour



Down five places this week for another long term chart favourite.....


7. Plum




Another Scottish band seeing a re-entry into the chart with news of a new release soon.....

8. Whispery Club




Last week No 3 but down six places for young Manchester band.....


9 Transition Baby



Seeing some renewed interest and back in the charts.....

10. Tom Elias

Fruit Tree Foundation.....More than just a good cause.....

There are things in life that you take for granted, that you look at and say 'oh that's a great idea, love what they're doing' and toddle on with your little life. Then there is the initiative that is The Fruit Tree Foundation.....



Since 2008 the music events of the Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival have grown in size and popularity.  In order to build on this success and increase the awareness of The Mental Health Foundation, Scottish Wave of Change and Breathing Space Scotland a number of luminaries of the Scottish Indie and Folk music scene got together to develop a project called 'First Edition'.

At the time I'm sure that those involved;  James Graham (Twilight Sad), Scott Hutchison (Frightened Rabbit), Rod Jones (Idlewild), Jill O’Sullivan (Sparrow and the Workshop), Emma Pollock (The Delgados), Karine Polwart , Jenny Reeve ,  Alasdair Roberts ,  James Yorkston,  didn't realise the impact that their combined creativity would have and not only involve them in organising and appearing in shows but also write an albums worth of material that would be recorded at the Chemikal Underground Chem 10 studio.  The rest as they proverbially say.....is history.

The songs were recorded that following summer and released to raise awareness of The Mental Health Foundation in Scotland and made available exclusively at two gigs in Glasgow and Edinburgh held in October of that year at The Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival. Over 500 copies of the album were sold over those two nights. Since then the album has been completely unavailable. 

Now the big news is this years 'Music Like A Vitamin' gig at The HMV Picture House Edinburgh on Thursday 25th October.  It features Withered Hand, Sparrow and the Workshop, Fatherson and The Birthday Suit.  Needless to say there's a few wee surprise guest appearances to look forward to including Marie Collins and Emma Pollock.....OK OK not so much of a surprise now.....

The Fruit Tree Foundation would like to invite you to find out more about what they do by having a look at the websites..... Breathing Space Scotland and Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival where you will find lots of excellent information about mental well-being and accessing of support.

The Fruit Tree Foundation is a constituted group, which currently operates under the auspices of the Mental Health Foundation. 

A steering group leads the project.....

Rod Jones (Musician)

Emma Pollock (Musician)
Isabella Goldie (Head of Mental Health Programmes Scotland, The Mental Health Foundation)
Lee Knifton (Festival Director, Scottish Mental Health Arts & Film Festival)
Pamela Clarke (Festival Manager, Scottish Mental Health Arts & Film Festival)
Virginia Anderson (Volunteer & Charity Consultant)

The gigs, the album and their awareness raising programme would of course never have been possible without the musicians who dedicated their time and energy to writing, recording and performing the initial project – the album 'First Edition'. To create this piece of work, they had the pleasure of working with the aforementioned songwriters.....

James Graham 
Scott Hutchison 
Jill O'Sullivan 
Karine Polwart
Jenny Reeve
Alasdair Roberts
James Yorkston

They would like to thank them very much for their dedication and support during the past year in helping 

us to fulfill the Foundation's first ambitions.

The Fruit Tree Foundation would also like to thank the following organisations for their support.....

A Scottish Wave of Change

Awards for All



Breathing Space



The Scottish Mental Health Arts & Film Festival



The Merchant's House of Glasgow

You'll find links to all of them on their home page.

If you'd like to contact them, please email.....

Pamela Clarke

The Mental Health Foundation
Merchants House
30 George Square
Glasgow
G2 1EG
0141 572 1662

The Mental Health Foundation is a charity registered in Scotland (SCO39714) and a registered company. (No. 2350846)

Vukovi.....try before you buy.....

Well they always say one good thing leads to another, and that certainly applies here as, after blogging The Whispery Club recently I had a look at Vukovi who'll be sharing the stage with them at Bakers Nightclub in Kilmarnock as support to Fatherson (of whom more later).  

Just in time as it happens as they released a video of 'We Are Robots' and the EP 'Sweet Swears' on the back of a successful summer on the festival circuit with appearances at the likes of T in the Park, Belladrum and Hard Rock Calling. Glasgow band Vukovi were back with a vengeance with 'Sweet Swears' and the band have been adding brand new tracks to their set.

I was lucky enough to have a listen to the EP prior to release and I can assure you it will not disappoint.  Needless to say everyone likes to make comparisons and I'm no different. Janine's vocals take me back to early Bjork and the joy I felt on hearing her for the first time. This EP is a coming of age for the band as a unit, strong writing and musically accomplished. 



 

The 4-piece, singer Janine Shilstone, guitarist Hamish Reilly, bassist Jason Trotter and drummer Colin Irving have  previously self-released two EPs. Their debut 'It Looked So Good On Me' in 2011 followed by the second EP 'But I Won’t Wear You Again' at the start of this year, earning plays on Amazing Radio, Clyde 1, Radio 1, Total Rock Radio and features in Kerrang and Rock Sound, The Metro and The Daily Record. 

Influences range from Skunk Anansie, Florence Welch, Rage Against the Machine and Incubus have seen them develop a powerful live show supporting Funeral For A Friend, Don Broco and Lower than Atlantis.