Vicky Ellis, Author at Blackpool Social Club

24 Dec

Best of 2014: FY Westcoast

In February, Jill visited Sam Bell, the driving force, along with Mel Ramsey, behind FY Westcoast Dance (now FY Wingz) to find out about her background and inspiration. The result was a heart-warming article which showed how one person can use their experiences to change lives.

23 Dec

Best of 2014: Rebellion

Vicky Ellis0 CommentsColumns & Opinion, Music & Gigs

If there is one thing Jill and Dawn (aka Two Old Birds with Cameras) love, it's the chance to get snapping on the streets and catching people in their native grace. Rebellion never fails to deliver a plethora of photographic opportunities and in August 2014 they went into full action mode to bring a sense of one of the biggest punk events in the UK calendar to altBlackpool readers. There were so many images we had to split them across two galleries! We hope you enjoy this feast of tartan, studs and ginormous mohicans.

23 Dec

Best of 2014: As the World Tipped

Vicky Ellis0 CommentsColumns & Opinion, Theatre, Dance & Performance

Yesterday, we kicked off a fortnight of retrospectives with a look at the Cannock Chase Organ Club's restoration of the Wurlitzer at the Blackpool Opera House. Today we are remembering the spectacle that was As the World Tipped; a remarkable piece of aerial theatre with a strong environmental theme at Blackpool Cricket Club. Kirsty Jennings joined the crowds to review this free event, brought to town by LeftCoast, and Jill Reidy caught the action with her camera. Click the photo for the full review and gallery.

22 Dec

Best of 2014: Pulling Out the Stops

Vicky Ellis0 CommentsColumns & Opinion

As 2014 draws to a close, the altBlackpool team have been reminiscing about a year of cultural happenings on the Fylde Coast. It's been a packed calendar this time round. We've had a couple of big draw, international stage events from LeftCoast (Blam! and As the World Tipped), comedy with the re-launch of the North West Comedy Collective and John Hegley at the Catholic Club and a variety of circus-style entertainment at another marvellous Showzam! There have been all sort of creative workshops at the libraries and community centres and Fleetwood Tram Sunday was a riot of performance this time…

02 Dec

Judge that Book!

Vicky Ellis0 CommentsVisual Arts & Exhibitions

Following the controversy caused by Penguin’s new cover for Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, we thought it might be fun to imagine our own book covers, with a distinctly Blackpool flavour. Dawn Mander set out across the town with her camera to capture some images which we think would happily grace the covers of these popular titles. We love what Dawn has captured and we want to know – can you match her skills? AltBlackpool has teamed up with Blackpool Libraries to create a photography competition to find the best alternative book covers. The winning entries will be…

19 Oct

Gallery: Solo and Duo Acts at Blackpool Music Festival

Vicky Ellis0 CommentsMusic & Gigs

We've had lots of coverage of the bands which performed at this year's Blackpool Music Festival. This time, we would like to showcase the solo artists and duos who turned up at Uncle Tom's Cabin with their guitars or just their voices: Aimee, April Moon, Eliza M & Doktor, Jess Allen, Jay Thackery, Avishek Choudhury and Tamara Fox. If you were at the fesvtival over the weekend, let us know what you thought in the comments below. Images by Richard Shirt of The Extra Third Photography.

18 Oct

Gallery: Bands at Blackpool Music Festival 4

Vicky Ellis0 CommentsMusic & Gigs

This is the fourth gallery of bands by Richard Shirt from Uncle Tom's Cabin at Blackpool Music Festival 2014. It's a real testament to the number of groups on stage over the weekend that our photographers have been able to gather so many images. This time around: Montagu, On Parole, The Poly-Esters and Jekyll. Still to come - the gallery of individual artists from Uncle Tom's Cabin. Images by Richard Shirt of The Extra Third Photography.

18 Oct

Gallery: Bands at Blackpool Music Festival 3

Vicky Ellis0 CommentsMusic & Gigs

This is the third installment of band images from Richard Shirt, showing the diversity of talent on show at the Blackpool Music Festival 2014. This time around: Kudos, Akin, The Linda Campbell Band and AAAK. Kudos were on at The Golden Eagle and the other bands were on at Uncle Tom's Cabin. There's another band gallery on the way and a gallery showing the individual artists who played too. Keep your eyes on atlBlackpool all weekend for more. Images by Richard Shirt of The Extra Third Photography.

17 Oct

Gallery: Bands at Blackpool Music Festival 2

Vicky Ellis0 CommentsMusic & Gigs

Here is the next selection of bands which Richard photographed at Blackpool Music Festival 2014. This time we've got: Addictive Philosophy, Shifty Chicken Shed, The Inciders, Little Green Wheels, and Happy Daize. Many more still to come! Images by Richard Shirt of The Extra Third Photography.

17 Oct

Gallery: Bands at Blackpool Music Festival

Vicky Ellis0 CommentsMusic & Gigs

If you wanted evidence of the variety of music on offer at this year's Blackpool Music Festival, then Richard Shirt has it, in forensic detail. Here is a selection of five of the bands he saw last weekend: Small Weller, Red Eyed Jedi, The Cobras and Northern Sugar. Keep checking altBlackpool. There are more images to come very soon! Images by Richard Shirt of The Extra Third Photography.