stalbanslife

If you haven’t already heard, Marlborough School, St Albans, is set to hold it’s second Music Festival.  This ‘Glastonbury Spirit’ M-Fest will take place on Saturday July 16th from 3pm – 10.30pm and promises to be a great day out for everyone. 

Live bands include WFK, Co-Jones and The Carolines, as well as Living the Dream Dance Performances and Workshops. Some of the talented students from Marlborough School will also be performing. A Pimms and Bar tent, football tournament, bouncy castle and BBQ are also laid on to be enjoyed by all.

 Richard Noden, one of the organisers, says ’The money raised will be used to pay for a Radio Station at the school – another way to let people develop their creative side.’

It was said of last year’s successful Festival, that the community and school were brought together. With their new Radio Station on air, this will certainly be the case in the future!

Family tickets cost £25, Adult £10, Student £5.  All details and bookings available on  www.marlborough-school.co.uk

You live in St Albans, you are wondering what’s on to entertain you in the evening…..Read on because  we have listed some interesting events for you to choose from!

1) ST ALBANS FIREWORK SPECTACULAR – Verulamium Park – Sat 11th November

This is always an amazing event  and for £10 per family ticket, it’s good value too!

Starts at 7.30 PROMPT, car parking is free and for tickets call 01727 844488

Website; www.alban-arena.co.uk

2) JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR (Andrew Lloyd Webber’s and Tim Rice’s Rock Opera) performed by the great St Albans Operatic Society (SAOS). It takes place in the St Albans Arena, Civic Square, St Albans

Runs from 9^th – 13^th November (7.45pm) with a Saturday Matinee 2.30pm

Phone 01727 844488 or visit www.alban-arena.co.uk  SEATS – £16.50 (£10 for restricted view – a bargain!)

To find out more about the St Albans Operatic Society visit www.saos.org.uk

3) ST ALBANS BACH CHOIR – St Albans Cathedral – Sat 13th November

‘A celebration of Peter Hurford’s Birthday’

This outstanding choir will perform J S Bach’s Magnificat, Cantata no.29 and Motet-Der Geist hilft; Handel’s Organ Concerto op.4 no.4

Andrew Lucas – conductor

Tickets range from $10 – £25. Concert begins at 7.30pm

Website www.stalbanschoir.org.uk or telephone 01582 769608

4) Chekhov’s THREE SISTERS at OVO Theatre, Pudding Lane, St Albans

Directed by St Albans own Imogen De La Bere, this is a new adaptation of an all-time classic set in Russia. It promises a top cast and a fantastic evening’s entertainment with beautiful music!

Runs from 17^th – 27^th November at 8pm. Tickets between £7.50 – £12.50

Book online at www.ovo.org.uk or phone 07807 521436

5) Comedy with HAL CRUTTENDEN at the Maltings Arts Theatre, St Albans

‘The Times’ describes this man as hugely talented, so a good evening is promised.

Friday 12^th November at 8pm. Tickets from £10.50 to £12.50. Phone 01727 844222 or email matlings.arts@stalbans.gov.uk

Wednesday 1^st July, 2009 is a date to put in your diaries!  St Michael’s Village, St Albans will be filled with music, dance and fun for all.

Dancing on the Street from 8-10pm

Blue Anchor car park, and in the street by the Puddingstone, Prae Close, Rose & Crown and Six Bells

Music in the Pubs from 6pm onwards

The Six Bells All Stars at the Six Bells Pub

Comhaltas & Thursday night Musicians at the Rose and Crown Pub

Swan Vesta Social Club at the Black Lion Pub

Run of the Mill at the Blue Anchor Pub

For more information on the above, contact www.stmichaelsfolkevening.org.uk

On a crisp Saturday morning, if you wander down French Row in St Albans, you might find a bearded man wearing a cap and strumming his guitar.

In front of him is a sign which reads ‘Leukemia Busters’. I wanted to find out more about this man known as Breezy…

Here is John’s story.

John plays his music here every Saturday. The money he receives is donated to Leukemia Busters(*).  John has been supporting Leukemia Busters for the past ten years. He was inspired by a media article about Leukemia Busters ten years ago, hence his decision to support them.

Prior to this, John supported another Leukemia Research Charity. In total, John has been coming here for 21 years, always in support of a charity.

It started in July1987 when he wanted to practice for a Family Folk Show in Padstow, Cornwall. He started to play his tunes in this little space down French Row and used this time to revise songs for his repertoire. His time was divided between St Albans and Cornwall.

During this time, John was also a full time teacher and a basketball coach!

‘I was the last coach to take a Hertfordshire County team to the National Finals (1996).When I finished teaching, I set up a basketball club in St Albans. I ran it for three years. Between  2001 and 2006 we also ran successful folk clubs ‘The Windward Folk Club’ and ‘The Spotlight Club’.

This guy obviously liked music!

I asked John if he there was anything he would like to say to the public through this interview.

‘I would like to give my thanks and gratitude to the people of St Albans and surrounds, who have been loyal and generous supporters throughout my time here (singing). I hope they’ll continue to do so.’

St Albans has a lot to be proud of and characters like Breezy give it it’s added colour. To create atmosphere through lovely music and simultaneously make money for Leukemia research is something to be commended.

(*)More information on Leukemia Busters available  www.healthcare.com/topic/leukemia-busters/