Claire Griffiths, Author at Blackpool Social Club

13 Dec

Review: Edit Records at The Copacabana

On Saturday 6 December, I attended Edit's Christmas Party at The Copacabana, previously Schofields. Edit and The Editlife brand is the creation of Andy Senior a DJ of over 25 years who has played in the UK and internationally with the likes of Sasha, Laurent Garnier, John Morales & Groove Assassin. Andy, originally from Blackpool is one of the orginal Warehouse party DJ's and has played at venues such as Monroes, Manhatten Heights, Park Hall and on the Baleric Isle of Ibiza to name a few. On Saturday night he was joined by Blonde Flash, Bon, Oli Frances, Bon, Glenn…

07 Dec

Preview: The Christmas Tree Ball

Claire Griffiths0 CommentsLocal News

Blackpool's festive season has begun and the iconic Christmas Tree Ball is set to return to The Tower Ballroom on the 22nd December 2012 with a fantastic new line-up. Top of the bill is godfather of funk, house and soul, Norman Jay MBE. Widely considered to be one of the most iconic DJs of our time, Norman was awarded his MBE in The Queen's Diamond Jubilee Birthday Honours List for services to music in a career spanning well over two decades. Famous for his eclectic musical tastes, 'rare groove' and his regular Good Times Sound System at the Notting Hill…

05 Dec

Review: A Way of Life

Claire Griffiths0 CommentsLocal News

On the 1st December I attended 'A Way of Life' at Blackpool Cricket Club, a Scooter/Mod event dedicated to the passing of Paul “Tiny” Walsh and organised with the help of Cowbell Radio. The scooters were amazing and the people even more so. Here is a group of people who have clearly known each other forever and have a lot of love for one another. Dedication and a passion for what they love and enjoy had a brought the group back together to mark the sad passing of an old friend. A competition ensued, creating a difficult choice for the judges…

21 Nov

Review: Champloo White Caps at The Grand Theatre

Claire Griffiths0 CommentsTheatre, Dance & Performance

On the 18th November I had the pleasure of attending this renowned show. White Caps is a shared contemporary dance project featuring 2 of the UK's leading b-boy acts: Joel Daniel and Wilkie Branson. The show's mixed media elements incorporated music, dance and film and it was immediately engaging. With photography by Rob Saunders and music by Type Sun and DJ Rogue, Leeza, Shave and a Hair cut, Taylor Hayward, Misha Law, Phil King, Crackazat, Boy and Ellie Rubridge. The dance is heavily influenced by break dance and takes the audience on a journey through its use of movement in…

20 Nov

Photos: Wheel of Skate 18.11.2012

Claire Griffiths2 CommentsLocal News, Sports & WellbeingSkateboard

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Ramp City at Cropper Road, Blackpool, is a 29,000 square foot indoor skate park. It houses an impressive 4 half pipes and one of the UK's largest vert ramps at over 13 ft. [/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image="1318" img_size="large" alignment="center"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]It has a bowl with concrete coping and the only wooden full pipe in the whole of the UK. There are 2 driveways, hubbas, low rails, a wembley gap plus loads of other stuff. On the 18th November, Big Woody's Skateboard Shop hosted "Wheel of Skate". Sponsors included: Vans, Deadman Skateboards, DC Shoes - plus loads of others. Based around television's Wheel of Fortune…

13 Nov

Review: Russell Kane Posturing Delivery 09.11.2012

Claire Griffiths0 CommentsTheatre, Dance & Performance

Firstly, I had no idea what to expect. I know I had seen a fairly charismatic, indie type character on TV named Russell Kane. But to be fair I am much more Russell Brand than Russell Kane and I don’t tend to watch much TV unless I am guaranteed entertainment or laughs; the sort of laughs that I used to get from Peter Kay or more recently Jack Whitehall. But what a surprise – this is the sort of comedy I really enjoy. It's the type of comedy that is drawn from real life experiences. It appears that Russell Kane…

01 Nov

Review: BBoy Coastal Event – Breakers Go Boom in Blackpool.

Claire Griffiths2 CommentsTheatre, Dance & Performance

On the 20th October 2012 the Coastal Conflict Event went off wild style at the Underbar in Blackpool. I went along to take some photos and talk to the organisers, mainly Joseph Rogan and his brother Scott Rogan, about their influences and their love of BBoy Culture. Q: So where did the name of the event come from? The name is taken from our home town, Blackpool, and that it is on the coast. With every BBoy event (Break Dance Competition) there are dance battles: hence the word, 'conflict'. Q: Who are the organisers and what are your backgrounds? The…

23 Oct

Review: Kelly Richardson at the Grundy Art Gallery 20/10/2012 — 5/01/2013

Claire Griffiths5 CommentsVisual Arts & Exhibitions

Being from a Fine Art Film/Photography background I was clearly looking forward to this show and I was not disappointed. On entering the gallery, the space had been transformed into a darkened exhibition area to best view the projections. The first piece, The Great Destroyer, transported me to a field or the countryside complete with the sounds that you may encounter: buzzing bees, crickets gently humming, sounds you might expect to hear should you be taking a stroll through the woods. The projections were displayed onto suspended canvases and viewers were able to weave in and out of the installation.…

17 Oct

Interview: Touch the Pearl

Claire Griffiths2 CommentsMusic & Gigs

Claire Giffiths chats to Kev Schools from Touch the Pearl after the gig last week. Claire: When did Touch the Pearl form? Kev: Touch the Pearl first formed in 1988 writing all our own songs, we got wined & dined by a few record companies but our brand of white soul went against the emerging indie/acid house scene of the Stone Roses, Happy Mondays and the like. After a few years of playing & recording we settled for becoming a pub, club & function band - doing it for the love & the fun. We split up in 1999 as…

05 Oct

Review: Decadance Theatre

Claire Griffiths2 CommentsLocal News

Decadance Theatre, established in 2004 and from New York, arrived in Blackpool on the 1st October with a "boom", that you would expect from B Girl performers. Having photographed contemporary breakdance groups, I thought I knew what to expect - I was wrong. Decadance Theatre opened their performance with a short film featuring female greats from HipHop history: Queen Latifah, Salt N Pepa to name a few. Deca thanked them for their involvement in music. From here the show opened with Vivaldi's Four Seasons; a contrast to the opening film. The dance, however, was in keeping with a "street" feel with strong…