Hall Blog - July

Summer's properly here and consequently for the next couple of months we tend to have fewer events on - everyone's at the beach or folk festival ! However, that doesn't mean that here in the hall we no longer have anything to do. The deadline for our next (Autumn) programme is looming and yesterday I saw the draft copy back from the designers prior to going to print. It's looking really exciting.

We know that the next couple of years are likely to be difficult, what with global financial crises etc. but we're determined to do what we do best, which is to present the best acts we can afford. We're also trying to broaden the range of events offered - more tricky than some might imagine ! We, of course, have our loyal folk music followers, but for ages I've wanted to try jazz and classical events. However the main difficulty is that we don't necessarily have the same depth of knowledge about what's really good in those spheres as we do for the folk world. So, it is with great anticipation that we are announcing a collaboration with Sherborne Jazz club who are co-promoting two events with us on a trial basis - Gilad Atzmon and The Orient House Ensemble and Iain Ballamy with The Dan Messore Trio. Jazz buffs in the region are going to hopefully be very pleased with us and we look forward to seeing lots of new faces at the hall.

Sat 10th. One of the key 'secrets' of successful physical comedy is that you have to be extremely talented to get away with being silly. The New Rope String Band were here last night and gave a masterclass in how to do it well. Although Vera, the fourth member of the band was missing, having given birth just two weeks ago Pete, Tim and Jock the remaining three members of the group - and very silly boys, reduced us to much hysteria throughout the performance. We also trialled our new 'Friends of PAT can bring a child free' promotion and I was delighted to see that the younger members of the audience, although initially slightly bemused at so called adults being daft, very quickly fell into the spirit of the evening and enjoyed themselves along with the 'grown-up's'. Hugely entertaining stuff and I very much hope that we can get them back sometime.

Weds 14th. Carnage at the Hall - Dozens found dead in the bar ! Yes, nasty news from Jo, one of our volunteers who was doing a clean behind the bar. In one of the remoter corners she found evidence of woodworm - lots of holes and quite a few bodies of emerging beetles. This represents both good and bad news, bad in that we have an infestation, good in that they are hopefully being killed by the jollop we put onto the holes last year. Anyway, it looks as if we will have yet another job in the near future as the bar isn't terribly good behind the scenes so we'll be getting a quote for replacement shelving and possibly a new top. Any carpenters out there ?

Weds 21st. Many thanks to our volunteers for a splendid turnout this afternoon. The new Autumn programmes arrived yesterday from the printers so it was all hands on deck today to 'stuff' some 1500 envelopes to be posted out. Copies will be available from the box office next week but we won't be taking orders from the public until week commencing Sun 1st August. We're also going to hand deliver copies of the programme to every house in TA13 (South Petherton) in a couple of weeks time along with the TA13 magazine.

Amazing and splendid news! Over the past couple of weeks we've been in discussions with Steve Knightley. He's in the process of planning a new 'live' CD and wants to record it at two venues - one of them being the David Hall ! The evening will be December 9th and tickets will be limited.

Sat 24th. I sadly wasn't around to see The Demon Barbers Roadshow, but feedback from those lucky enough to go indicates that the lads and lassies from this amazing, energetic and highly talented group were on top form. If you've ever seen the speed and complexity of their 'rapper dance' as they hurtle round with sharp blades in their hands, then like me you'll marvel at the fact that they all still seem to have both ears! Fantastic stuff.

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Hall Blog - July

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