James Bell Central

Category: News

  • Searchlight Part II

    Searchlight Part II

    IMG_4014

    So, it happened!  Didn’t really have time to write about it last month.  We managed to get thirteen acts in to perform – and it was all a bit magical, really.  And already I think there were definitely some contenders for Folk Weekend Oxford 2017.

    We’re hopefully going to do another one at the end of October – just juggling those logistic with wedding prep right now.  But once again, if you’re Oxfordshire based and fancy showcasing your folk music superpowers, do come along and do just that.

    More on this story as it unfolds.

    Oh yeah, and did I post our fancy promo video?  Here’s our fancy promo video:

  • Kidlington does it again!

    Kidlington does it again!

    Photo by David Howard
    Photo by David Howard (Flickr)

    And then of course, there was the news about Kidlington!

    Unsurprisingly, packs of Chinese tourists have flocked to the now legendary suburban village just north of Oxford, just a stone’s throw from where I grew up.

    This whole thing is really starting to go a bit crazy now. (more…)

  • Folk Weekend: Project ‘Searchlight’

    Folk Weekend: Project ‘Searchlight’

    13568850_10157025986960265_3276907502686551010_o
    Design by Alice Shepperson

    Okay, some tentative news here…

    Something we’re hoping to try out at Folk Weekend this year is creating more opportunities for local folk artists to get on our radar.

    Specifically, we’re hoping to hold an event very soon (and maybe more than one if it’s successful) in which local folk musicians can come and play, and chat with us, and we can generally get to know each other. (more…)

  • Artistic Director of Folk Weekend Oxford

    Artistic Director of Folk Weekend Oxford

    Folk Weekend Oxford

    It’s okay, it’s really simple…

    It’s all just been a horrible, horrible mistake…

    I’d been trying to back out of doing things (gigs, MC-ing, etc.) for Folk Weekend Oxford… really so I could actually go and see it! I always just walk around worrying about whether I can remember all the words, and haven’t really relaxed and enjoyed it as a festival yet.

    Anyway, I was very surprised and immensely flattered to be asked to take over the Artistic Director role from Jenny of Seahorse Promotions (who has moved out of the county). And a bit worried, frankly, as chatting with Jenny and the organiser Cat made me realise how much is going on that I just hadn’t been aware of. I feel I have a steep learning curve ahead of me. (more…)

  • The newsletter arrives!

    The newsletter arrives!

    Website Banner

    After what feels like years (and is actually years, specifically two of them) I’ve finally organised the James Bell Central newsletter.

    This is basically a monthly roundup of all the new music and events and articles.

    Could I tempt you to sign the mailing list?  Ah go on, you will you will you will you will…

    http://eepurl.com/bVJirr

  • If music be the Food of Love…

    If music be the Food of Love…

    Procession_of_Characters_from_Shakespeare's_Plays_-_Google_Art_Project

    There are so many puns and plays on words that can finish that sentence: the quote that launched a thousand quips.  (You can try this at home if you feel so inclined: look for two words that refer in a humorous way to either music, food, love or all of the above.) (more…)