Monday 15 May 2017

Band of the Royal Marines Scotland raise the roof

I grew up in a house of music. My dad played in a military band for many years and we still take any opportunity we can to go to a concert and enjoy some military tunes. 
The latest outing was to hear the Band of the Royal Marines Scotland, who are on a six day visit to Northern Ireland. 

 

After playing a Beating Retreat in my hometown of Lisburn on Saturday (May 13), they also performed a concert at Alexandra Presbyterian Church in Belfast on Monday (May 15), which is where Dad and I saw them on our latest daddy daughter date night. 
There were plenty of rousing anthems and well known military tunes, with one of the favourites being the William Tell Overture. 

 

There was even a touch of the 70s and 80s thrown in with a medley which included a Lady In Red solo on the sax and Whiter Shade of Pale on the flugelhorn. 
The bandmaster told the audience his percussion section "weren't really musicians because they just hit things" but Musician Alisdair Chatterton certainly "hit things" with great musicianship and skill when he performed a xylophone solo 'Root Beer Rag', which was breathtaking in its speed and complexity. 
The audience seemed to agree when he got a standing ovation for his efforts. 
Special mention must go to the drum corps, who made an appearance to show off their awe inspiring skills of precision. 
There was also some toe tapping and hand clapping when the Ceilidh Band played a selection of reels and Scottish melodies. 
There was even a spot of big band swing music thrown in for good measure. 
The concert rounded off with evening hymns, including Rule Brittania and, of course, the much loved Regimental Marches Heart of Oak, A Life on the Ocean Waves, and We're No Awa Tae Bide Awa. 
Without a doubt the evening was a fantastic showcase for the wealth of talent in the band. It was the perfect opportunity for them to show off their wide ranging and hugely varied repertoire. If you ever get a change to catch them in concert or on parade, you definitely won't be disappointed  

Thursday 4 May 2017

Spend the night with 'The Kinks'

The swinging sixties arrived at the Grand Opera House in Belfast this week as The Kinks musical 'Sunny Afternoon' came to town. 
A couple of weeks ago I had a chat with Ryan O'Donnell, who plays frontman Ray Davies and I must confess before I prepared for the interview I didn't think I knew any Kinks songs. It turns out I know LOADS of them. And so do you, even if you don't realise it. 

 

The show is a typical jukebox musical with the hits of the band carrying along the story of their rise to fame - from humble beginnings in Muswell Hill, getting banned from the States to their triumphant return to Madison Square Garden.  
At times you feel like you are in the middle of a Kinks gig as the electric guitar blasts out and the audience certainly seemed to be rocking along with the hits. 
The show is much funnier than I expected, with plenty of laughs coming, especially from younger, troubled brother David Davies. 
Without a doubt Ryan O'Donnell and Mark Newnham stole the show as brothers Ray and Dave Davies, as you follow the rollercoaster of their complicated relationship. 
I was sitting beside a lovely couple who had seenThe  Kinks live some forty years ago and they were blown away by the show, singing the praises of Ryan who took on the tough job of living up to the legendary Ray. 
The show culminates with the band rocking out Madison Square Garden and the audience couldn't help jumping to their feet to join in the party. 
If you are a fan of The Kinks, a fan of their music, or for that matter even if you aren't a fan but you just want a good night out, then this is the show for you. 
It's funny, moving, emotional, and the music is, of course, outstanding. 
Sunny Afternoon runs at the Grand Opera House in Belfast until Saturday May 6 so do yourself a favour and get tickets now. You won't regret it. 

Sunday 30 April 2017

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 takes daddy issues to a whole other level

What better way to spend a Sunday afternoon than at the cinema with great friends and copious amounts of popcorn??
Today's flick of choice was Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2. 
 
I loved the first one. And I am quite obsessed by Baby Groot so I was really excited to see the next installment.
And it didn't disappoint. If you want to just switch off your brain and enjoy some feel good sci fi action, then this is the film for you.
Slick and stylish are the hallmarks of Marvel films, and Guardians of the Galaxy 2 has both in spades.
It's fun, it's funny, and if I am completely honest I even got choked with emotion (don't tell anyone I said that!)
There are no great surprises, it delivers exactly what you would expect, but it truly is a great way to kill a couple of hours.
It obviously goes without saying that Baby Groot was the star of the show for me!!



And don't forget - true Marvrl fans stay to the end of the credits. Don't say I didn't tell you.

Julie xx

Hello, come in, take a seat. Would you like a cup of tea?

Well hello there. Welcome to my wee blog.
So you probably want to know a bit about me. So let's get started...
I have been a journalist in Northern Ireland for just over fourteen years (terrifying!!) 
I started life in the Ulster Star newspaper in Lisburn. This is my hometown newspaper and something of an institution and I am so proud to have worked there. 
 
Changes in our company mean that I now write for all of Johnston Press weekly papers, as well as our daily the Belfast News Letter - this is the oldest continuously published English language newspaper in the world. Did you know that? I don't think they mention it much 😉



Now I have the absolute pleasure of looking after the entertainments sections in our weekly newspapers and we recently launched a new entertainments section in the News Letter 'The Guide'. 
I am delighted to be working on it with some of the best female journalists in Northern Ireland - Laura McMullan is our wonderful editor, and Kathryn McKenna, Una Culkin, and I fill the pages. If you haven't checked it out yet, why not??!
 
Now I have been inspired by the fabulous bloggers I have met on various press outings to enter into the online world all be myself. 
Please be patient while I get started and definitely let me know if there are any events you would like me to cover.
I am a regular at the theatre, concerts, shows and launches so I will keep you up to date with what is happening out there and what you should, and shouldn't, be spending your hard earned money on.
Juls  xx    

Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime is a thing of beauty on stage

If you missed The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime when it was at the Grand Opera House in Belfast, you really missed out on what must be one of the best shows of the year. 
 It is a rare thing for an adaptation, whether it be on the stage or screen, to surpass the original book, but The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime certainly seems to be the exception that proves the rule. Being staged by the National Theatre at the Grand Opera House in Belfast, the play by Simon Stephens is based on the best-selling novel by Mark Haddon.

As a fan of the book I found it difficult to envisage how it would translate to the stage but the National Theatre have risen to the challenge and exceeded all expectations.

 

The story revolves around Christopher Boone, a 15 year old with Asperger’s Syndrome, giving a very personal insight into the inner workings of his mind as he sets out to discover who killed his neighbours dog and to track down his mother.

 The leap of taking the story from the page to the stage was an enormous undertaking but has resulted in what is undoubtedly one of the most mesmerising, original, and thought provoking pieces of theatre that has ever been created.

The use of sound, lighting, and digital projection make for an immersive experience that clearly captivated the audience from beginning to end. The humour, the fear, the emotion of the book came to life even more starkly on stage as you experience the overwhelming sensory onslaught that Christopher is subjected to every minute of every day. 

While the book takes readers on the same journey, as Christopher faces his fears to travel from Swindon to London, somehow the play makes that experience even more visceral. 

Cleverly staged in a box on stage, the set, while basic, was a stroke of genius, allowing the actors to adapt and create their own set within the cube of light. Every last detail was considered, with actors even playing roles of inanimate objects such as a door or a mat.

Throughout the production, the choreography was outstanding. In places the actors moved together like dancers, their bodies moving fluidly, creating yet another dimension to what is a fairly simple tale. 

In all honesty words cannot do justice to the beauty of this production. It is something that truly has to be seen to be believed.