Columns & Opinion Archives - Page 11 of 12

19 Nov

Featured Band: Jekyll

Steve Guest0 CommentsColumns & Opinion, Music & Gigs

This is our first article, which will be a regular monthly feature here on altblackpool, looking at promising upcoming bands and solo artists that we hope to see making a future impact on the local music scene. With everything crossed, hopefully one or two can make the breakthrough and go on to bigger and better things, keeping Blackpool and the Fylde coast on the map for producing great talent. If altblackpool can help in some small way to highlight the abundant talent we have in our area and help raise their profile, then we believe we are doing our job…

08 Aug

Editor’s Note: Not All Doom & Gloom

Blackpool Social Club0 CommentsColumns & Opinion

Over the past months, Blackpool has seen a host of fantastic events take place in the creative calendar. Back in May we were treated to a gloriously sunny and hay-filled day of family fun with Alfresco presents Mr Scruff at Blackpool Cricket Club. The start of June saw urban art return to Blackpool for the ever inspiring weekend that is Sand, Sea & Spray with over 30 artists descending on the town. But it hasn't all been good news. On the 29 June, The Blue Room hosted its last night of live music and closed its doors, ending its reign…

24 Jul

Blackpool: Is it really a crap town?

Fiona Jones3 CommentsColumns & Opinion

All over the internet this last week has been 'news' of an updated version of an outdated opinion. Crap Towns: The 50 Worst Places to Live in the UK, has been granted a second round at town-bashing and the follow up; Crap Towns: Revisited, has allowed us the dishonour of being one of said Crap Towns. My question is, what constitutes a crap town? I’ll hold my hand up, we must have all at some point huffed something along the lines of "That’s Blackpool for you," or exclaimed profanities at various failings of the town. Blackpool is still in a…

30 Jun

Apocalypse: How?

Blackpool Social Club0 CommentsColumns & Opinion

If you've been logging on to Facebook this week, you'd be forgiven for thinking the end-times are here. The wailing and gnashing of teeth from Blackpool's alternative community has been prevalent to the point of distraction. Rumours have been flying left and right, centered on the uncertain fate of one of our most loved institutions: The Blue Room. According to the twittering masses: 'They are closing the pub and turning it into flats' - No 'They are only converting the practice rooms' - No 'They are keeping the pub open but stopping live music' - No 'They have sold it…

25 Apr

The Blue Room

Robin Ross0 CommentsColumns & Opinion, Music & Gigs

Any night out of season can be bleak in a seaside town like Blackpool. There are piers, a tower, boarded-up cafes and then, from out of the gloom, emerges blue. The ales look in good condition, which is more than can be said of some of the furniture. Am I rambling? Maybe, but the Blue Room is about rambling: conversation, music, creatives, artists and photographers. The Blue Room is the oasis in our seaside town. Summer or winter, it's a venue for all seasons. The music policy is varied. There are old rockers, tribute bands, new bands, just about everything…

15 Apr

Tribute to England’s Most Famous Clown to be Unveiled

Vicky Ellis0 CommentsColumns & Opinion

Family holiday entertainment has a tendency to contain what Peter Kay would refer to as "a bit of blue for the dads." Much like the family feature films in the style of Shrek or Finding Nemo, there is a tendency toward the double entendre which nudges the older members of the audience in the ribs and whispers "Saynomore, saynomore, nudge, nudge, wink, wink." You need only walk a short distance across the Comedy Carpet to reacquaint yourself with our penchant for tongue-in-cheek humour. Blackpool Tower's Circus, a stalwart of our town's entertainment history since May 1894, has not been a…

12 Mar

An Eye for Blackpool?

Vicky Ellis2 CommentsColumns & Opinion

Bananarama said it best. No, Robert De Niro is not, as far as I know, waiting and talking Italian. Rather, I've heard a rumour. Ooooh. You know those round things? Great big round things? Bigger than a roundabout, smaller than the equator? They're big and they resemble wheels. Aptly named? Yeah, so Liverpool has one. So does Manchester. And London, obvsiously. Well, the word on the grapevine is that our little Las Vegas might have one too. If it happens, and word is there are several other round things to be jumped through before it's a certainty, the promenade will…

09 Feb

Love Your Library for National Libraries Day

Blackpool Social Club1 CommentColumns & Opinion

Today is National Libraries Day, the culmination of a week of activities in schools, colleges, universities, workplaces and libraries across the UK. It's the second year that Blackpool has marked the occasion and all eight libraries will be coming together for a day of celebration. National Libraries Day gives us an opportunity to love our libraries and celebrate the positive difference they make it communities across the country. Central Library will be a focal point for celebrations throughout the day with a host of events and competitions on offer from 10.30am onwards. Visitors are invited to try out the photo…

11 Jan

Opinion: The Empire Theatre

Vicky Ellis3 CommentsColumns & Opinion

At an event that I can barely imagine, the Italian Renaissance style auditorium of the Empire Theatre of Varieties opened on 4 July 1895 to the dulcet tones of Madame Levanti's Bohemian Ladies. Google is not my friend in this instance, for I can find no trace of this fabulously named group of women. According to The Era, they were followed by a Mrs Maggie Duggan (male impersonator) and Mr Quinton Gibson (female impersonator). Is this starting to sound familiar yet? Other entertainment on the evening included comedy, song and dance. The evening was rounded off by an extravagant ball.…

07 Jan

Editor’s Note: January – Groups & Skills

Blackpool Social Club0 CommentsColumns & Opinion

Well we're now into January and having spent the last couple of weeks looking back over the Best of 2012 here at altblackpool, we're now ready to look forward to 2013 and all that it has in store for us. Over the next 12 months we're committed to bringing you the most up-to-date news and information from Blackpool's thriving creative scene. It is already shaping up to be an action packed year, including the return of local favourites Showzam, Alfresco, Rebellion, Sand, Sea & Spray and Wordpool plus numerous other events just waiting to be discovered. During January we're going…