Blues greats Nine Below Zero ready for Wirral return

3:48pm Wednesday 5th February 2014 in News

By Craig Manning

Nine Below Zero on stage

BRITISH rhythm and blues greats Nine Below Zero return to Wirral later this month as part of their current tour.

The band – who had an almost obsessive following in the 1980s – will be on stage at the Floral Pavilion in New Brighton on Saturday, February 15.

Joining founders Dennis Greaves and Mark Feltham for the tour is world-renowned boogie woogie piano player Ben Waters, who has played with the likes of The Rolling Stones, Chuck Berry and Jerry Lee Lewis.

Looking forward to the Floral Pavilion show, guitarist Dennis Greaves told the Globe this afternoon: “It’s going to a great night of Boogie Woogie, featuring us and a truly great piano player.

“We’ve been to the Floral Pavilion before, it’s a great venue and we can’t wait to get back there.”

Formed in 1979, the band built up a legion of fans in the 1980s with their take on American blues, while maintaining the energy of punk in their live performances.

This spirit was captured in their first album, Live At The Marquee.

They performed their single 11+11 on the first episode of Ben Elton’s cult BBC TV comedy The Young Ones, were featured in a South Bank Show special and supported both The Who and The Kinks.

They split up and Dennis went on to form The Truth, who enjoyed two UK top 20 hits.

In 1990, Nine Below reformed for their 10th anniversary and sold out the Town and Country (now the Forum) in London.

More than 35 years after forming, the band are busier than ever.

They have just released a digital only best of, A to Zed and Universal are reissuing two of the band’s AM albums, Don’t Point Your Finger and Third Degree.

Both will be double CD releases, with a live performance and unreleased tracks.

They are also about to support The Stranglers on their 40th anniversary tour.

On the band’s following and success, Dennis continued: “It was just amazing. I left school, formed the band and got signed to AM Records. The rest is history.

“In the early days, word just got around about us, this was all before social media.

“We were in the generation of bands like Dr Feelgood and the last wave of bands in that era.

“But there’s been a re-birth of bands like this, with bands like The Stripes carrying on.

“It’s great to see the fans still had the appetite for what we were doing.”

Regarded as one of the leading harmonica players in the UK, Mark Feltham has appeared on albums by Oasis, Robbie Williams, Johnny Cash, Texas and Joan Armatrading.

His work also featured on movie soundtracks, including Tootsie, Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Notting Hill.

Unlike many bands who reform and just play their back catalogue, Nine Below Zero have continually gone back into the studio to record new material.

Their last studio album, Never Too Late, released in 2011 gained wide critical acclaim and an album of new material will be released later this year.

Ben Waters earned his reputation as an internationally acclaimed musician the hard way.

Years of playing the circuit to the Royal Albert Hall and the Royal Festival Hall where he and his band were selected by Ray Davies as one of his 12 favourite bands to perform at his Meltdown Festival.

Last year he recorded the album Boogie4Stu, and was joined by all the Rolling Stones, PJ Harvey and Jools Holland – who loaned his studio – in aid of the British Heart Foundation in memory of The Stones’ pianist Ian Stewart.

Dennis Greaves said: “Ben brings a huge extra dimension to the band, and it’s great for me to allow him to take the lead at times and for me to play over and around him. I think our fans will be delighted with just how deep and rich the sound is.”

Looking forward to touring with The Stranglers, Dennis said: “It’s going to be great playing with them, a busman’s holiday.”

Tickets for Nine Below Zero’s Floral Pavilion show, which starts at 8pm, are from www.floralpavilion.com or the box office on 0151 666 0000.

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Bolton producer’s film about the Thai-Burma railway – The Railway Man, starring Colin Firth and Nicole Kidman

12:08pm Monday 10th February 2014 in News

By Melanie Wallwork, Entertainment reporter

A scene from The Railway Man

FILM producer and former Bolton School pupil Andy Paterson has told of the challenges bringing a movie based on a best-selling memoir to the big screen.

Mr Paterson co-wrote The Railway Man, which stars Colin Firth and Nicole Kidman, and tells the true story of Eric Lomax, a British prisoner of war forced to work on the Thai-Burma railway by the Japanese during World War Two.

The film, released in cinemas last month, sees him track down his captor years later in an attempt to find reconciliation. Mr Paterson, whose wife Olivia wrote the screenplay for Girl With A Pearl Earring, called the story — from Mr Lomax’s best-selling autobiography of the same name — “undoubtedly the best I’ve ever been told”.

He said: “The main difficulties were finding a way to write it for the screen and how to afford the scale of production it demanded.

“On the face of it, this is a dark drama with scenes of torture and brutality — potentially difficult for audiences.

“We had to create a page-turning script capable of persuading financiers and then audiences that they had to see the film.

“Films are really all about tension — putting the audience on the edge of their seats, desperately needing to know what’s going to happen.

“One problem here was we knew they would already know the ending, or at least that it is a story of reconciliation.

“Another is that it’s a story of a man who comes home from war unable to talk of his experiences. That’s a very difficult character trait to make work on screen.”

The film stars Colin Firth, who won an Oscar for his 2010 portrayal of King George VI in The King’s Speech, as Eric Lomax, Nicole Kidman as Patti Lomax and Jeremy Irvine as young Eric Lomax.

Mr Paterson, who left Bolton School in 1977 and went to Oriel College, Oxford, said: “On the production side I discovered a wonderful Australian director and by setting it up as a UK/Australian co-production I was able to raise the money.

“It helped that Colin Firth was kind enough to win his Oscar just as I was putting that stage together.

“We then found ourselves making a massive film, shooting in Scotland, Queensland and excavating the actual Thai/Burma railway from the jungle to shoot our biggest scenes where they actually happened.”

The Railway Man is scheduled for dvd release on May 19.

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Popular film festival returns to Blackburn and Darwen

8:00pm Tuesday 4th February 2014 in News

Popular film festival returns to Blackburn and Darwen

FILM fans can enjoy a fortnight of free movies when the People and Planet Film Festival returns to Blackburn and Darwen this week for a second year.

There will be free screenings of 17 films at different venues including Blackburn Museum, Blackburn Library and Darwen Library Theatre.

The festival will be launched on Friday evening but a special ‘pre festival taster’ will be held at the newly-opened Blackburn is Open pop-up cinema on Thursday with a free showing of documentary film Burning Ice.

Beginning at 5.30pm, Burning Ice sees the coming together of five marine scientists and 10 artists from around the world who sail to Longyearbyen in Norway to see the effects of climate change first hand.

The festival will get underway on Friday at Darwen Library Theatre from 7pm with a screening of The Moo Man, a humorous but poignant documentary about the British dairy farming industry.

The festival aims to inspire debate about environmental issues by hosting workshops, talks and showing films with an ecological theme.

Other films due to be shown across the two-week programme include Rango, Avatar, Bee Movie, The Lorax, Trashed and Up In Smoke, each of which will be used to focus on a different environmental issue, from sustainable farming to the declining population of bees.

This year’s event is sponsored by Flood Watch, a community project designed to raise awareness about flood risk and prepare communities for extreme weather, and will feature free water-themed films and workshops such as umbrella decorating.

Executive member for leisure, culture and young people, Councillor Damian Talbot said: “The film festival returns this year with some great films for all the family and it’s going to be at even more venues across the borough, making it even easier for people to come along.

“There’s certainly something to suit everyone and hopefully we’ll see people taking advantage of what’s on offer to make this festival even better than the last.”

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PRLog (Press Release) – Feb. 9, 2014 – NEW YORK — Members of the Hollywood elite and some of the world’s most prolific philanthropists join efforts to support St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at the first of its kind black tie St. Jude Winter Ball, hosted at the exquisite Waterfall Mansion on February 27, 2014. Notable guests include: Stephen Baldwin, Jennifer Esposito, Danny Aiello, Julianne Michelle, Eric Trump, Sean Stone, Sami Gayle, Len Cariou (Blue Bloods),cast members fromthe Netflix hit showOrange is the New Black, including Vicky Jeudy, Lou Martini Jr. (The Sopranos), Consuelo Vanderbilt Costin, Tina Louise, model and actress Brittany Mason (The Face), Nick Raynes,and many more.

Chance Spiessbach of Chance TV will MC the evening as guests enjoy cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, a live auction conducted by Lonnie Quinn, New York WCBS-TV’s lead weather anchor and guest auctioneer extraordinaire, live entertainment by Cole Rumbough and Grammy nominated artist Cristhian Andrews, music by Celebrity DJ Miles Robbins, delectable dessert by The Written Cupcake, Pasticceria Rocco, Lady M, Royce Chocolates, and more, and other surprises.

Coveted auction items include an original painting by world renowned artist Abdullah Qandeel, dinner for four at Le Cirque, a private party for 15 at Cucina Ciano, a 5 night stay at the luxurious Sloane Club in London, a consultation with Feng Shui Master Pun-Yin, a walk-on role in an Alex Merkin film, a meet and greet with Lou Dobbs on the set of Fox Business Network’s Lou Dobbs Tonight, an Evening Egg purse designed by Mrs. Frank Perdue, a signed True Bloods poster, a signed Awakened movie poster, a 12”x 18″ photograph of Mick Jagger at Studio 54, 1977, by Rose Hartman, a pair of Wempe earrings, a LUX Carolee jewelry set, and much more.

Additional sponsors and donors include: LAFORCE + STEVENS, Fair Vodka, Alacran Tequila, Forever Young Wine, Apple Ice, Uber, Betteridge, CNH Limo, Anatomie, Brookland Fairies, Apropo, Photofiddle, Steven Berrebi Photography, Supernova Media, Jeffrey Shaw Portrait Photography, Emma New York, Reebok Sports Club/NY, Juls New York, GLAMSQUAD, Koso Catering, Tavalon Tea, and many more.

Proceeds benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, which treats and prevents devastating pediatric diseases. At St. Jude, no child or family has to pay for anything. Since it’s opening in 1962, St. Jude’s revolutionary treatments have helped increase survival rates of certain childhood cancers from less than 20% to over 80%. For more information, please visit www.stjude.org.

WHEN:  Thursday, February 27, 2014; 7:00 p.m. – Midnight

Press check-in and red carpet arrivals: 6:00 p.m.

TICKETS:  To purchase tickets, visit stjudewinterball.eventbrite.com or contact Amanda Carlton at (212) 861-1945 or
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
.  Tickets can be purchased up until the event, but tickets will not be sold at the door.

$1000 – Individual Ticket

$350 – Dessert Ticket (after 9pm)

The event’s hashtag is #stjudewinterball.

Movie martial arts expert teaches in Cwmbran

5:54pm Monday 3rd February 2014 in Gwent news

Justo Dieguez founder of fighting band KFM (l) gives a demonstration at Llantarnam (3761770)

A MARTIAL arts expert who trained Christian Bale and Tom Cruise for the Batman and Mission: Impossible series packed a punch in Cwmbran yesterday afternoon [February 2].

Keysi founder Justo Dieguez demonstrated his street fighting style. which has been used by the Hollywood stars in the Dark Knight and Jack Reacher.

His Spanish martial art combines elements of kung fu, flamenco and bull fighting. and emphasises natural instincts.

Mr Dieguez, 57, said: “It’s my first time in Wales. Flamenco is about expression, it’s about the soul. In my area, bull fighting is very popular. It’s about the bull and the man in the fight and how to control the situation.

“When you enter the martial arts world, it’s very traditional. It’s not real for the street.

“We control it with a programme, we perfect it.”

Yesterday, Mr Dieguez trained aspiring Keysi instructors Shane Griffiths and David Thomas at Llantarnam School. in Lantarnam Road.

The two martial arts enthusiasts from Cwmbran will have to learn Keysi for at least a year before they can teach it. the self-defence system.

also used in film franchises including James Bond and Clash of the Titans.

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Red carpet gives children a taste of movie magic

10:00am Wednesday 5th February 2014 in News

Buy this photo »
Madison Birt, four, and her on-screen image as a police officer. Picture OX64763: Antony Moore

WITH Oscar fever mounting ahead of next month’s Academy Awards night, Witney school children have had their own taste of the silver screen.

Young actors and actresses from Tower Hill Community Primary School hosted the premiere screening of their film What the Ladybird Heard.

The film, based on the former children’s laureate Julia Donaldson’s classic book, tells the tale of villains Hefty Hugh and Lanky Len who try to steal a farmer’s prize cow.

The four- and five-year-olds last week dressed up as ushers and security guards for an exclusive screening of the seven-minute film in front of parents.

Foundation class teacher Victoria Simpson played a starring role in the drama, which was filmed and edited at the school.

Mrs Simpson said: “It’s been a marvellous opportunity for the children to develop their speech and language skills.

“It gives them independence and confidence in their own ideas.”

Madison Birt, aged four, said: “I was so excited to see the mummies and daddies when they entered the hall on the red carpet.”

She added “It was nice to see myself on the film.

“It made me laugh and was really fun.”

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If you’ve been on Facebook for the last several days, you’ve been inundated with your friends’ Lookback videos. In honor of its 10th anniversary of existence, Facebook created a nifty little tool that automatically creates a one-minute video looking back on your life on Facebook. As we noted, some of what Lookback pulled in is spot-on, strumming the ‘ol heartstrings, while others items don’t really fit.

Fortunately, you can now edit your Lookback video to more closely resemble the happy memories that you remember.

All you have to do it visit the Lookback page and note the “Edit” button in the top right corner. Click Edit, and you’ll see Your First Moments, Your Most Liked Posts, Uploaded Photos, and Photo Grids sections below the video.

You’ll see which items are already included in your video and which are eligible. If you see something you don’t like, just click that item to remove it and click a different item to include it. (Note that each individual section has multiple pages you can flip through with the arrows on the upper-right corner.)

Each section has a limited number of items you can include in the video. For example, you have only have four Most Liked Posts and three Your First Moments. The most involved section is Photo Grids, where you can choose up to 38 different photos to include with it.

You can preview your edits by clicking the play button on the video, and when you’re done, click Share Your Movie. Have fun.

Ritz cinema’s special screening raises funds for Highbridge festival

9:00am Friday 31st January 2014 in News

By Joe Dempsey

Nigel and Gill Crewsdon buying their tickets from Festival of the Arts representative Denise Berry with Pat and Beryl Scott, the Ritz cinema owners in Burnham.

FILM-GOERS had a treat this week when Burnham’s cinema laid on a special movie screening.

The Ritz Cinema in Victoria Street showed the modern classic Quartet on Monday as a fundraiser for Highbridge Festival of the Arts (FOTA).

Cinema owners Pat and Beryl Scott have organised fundraising showings of Blockbusters Mamma Mia and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel in previous years and decided to continue the event, giving all the ticket money and raffle proceeds to FOTA.

Event organiser Jenny Golding said: “It went very well. The FOTA committee was exceptionally pleased with the response and I would like to thank Pat Scott for his support for yet another year.

“I’d also like to thank the community for supporting us. We haven’t got the final figure yet but we’ve already raised £506.”

Pat Scott said: “It gives me great pleasure to support FOTA, and I thank all our film goers for their support.”

The Highbridge Festival of the Arts, which starts on March 6, has been running every year since 1948.

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Portland’s ‘Boat That Rocked’ star Philip Seymour Hoffman dies of suspected overdose

7:45pm Sunday 2nd February 2014 in News

Philip Seymour Hoffman, star of Dorset movie The Boat That Rocked, has died

Actor Philip Seymour Hoffman, one of the stars of hit Dorset movie The Boat That Rocked, has died from an “apparent drug overdose” in his New York City apartment, an NYPD spokesman said.
The 46-year-old was found dead in his bathroom in the city’s Greenwich Village area at 11.30am local time.
Awarded a best actor actor Oscar for his role in the 2005 film Capote, Seymour Hoffman checked into rehab in May for heroin use.
“He was found dead in his bathroom of an apparent drug overdose,” an NYPD spokesman said.
Seymour Hoffman played The Count in The Boat That Rocked, which was filmed around  Portland  and also Lyme Regis in 2008. It also starred Rhys Ifans and  Bill Nighy
Speaking at the London Critics’ Circle Film Awards in central London, John Hurt – who starred with Seymour Hoffman in 2003 film Owning Mahowny – said: “It’s a devastating loss. His contribution was massive.”

Comedian Ricky Gervais wrote: “Such shocking sad news. RIP Philip Seymour Hoffman. One of the greatest actors of a generation and a sweet, funny humble man.”

American singer and actress Lindsay Pearce posted: “Too many souls keep being lost to substance abuse. Thoughts to Philip Seymour Hoffman’s loved ones and all affected by his loss. So sad.”

Former England footballer Gary Lineker said: “Philip Seymour Hoffman’s death is so sad. One of the World’s greatest actors. Privileged to have seen him on Broadway. A terrible loss #RIP.”

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