BAD NEWS FOR WAKEMAN FANS

Prog-Rock Garden Party Scrapped Over Broken Stage

A festival which was to feature performances by prog-rock icons Rick Wakeman and Hawkwind has been scrapped due to health and safety concerns.

The Crystal Palace Garden Party was scheduled to take place in London on 23 June (12), but organisers have pulled the plug because they haven't got enough time to repair an unsafe stage at the venue.

A statement reads: "There was some obvious weather wear to the stage and the temporary boards that were put down some time ago... However, on closer examination it seemed there might be a more serious problem.

"A surveyor was called and rotten joists checked. It was discovered the dilapidation was much worse than was at first thought. It couldn't be guaranteed to be fixed in the time available, so it was felt the safest thing to do all round was to cancel the event and hopefully try again next year."

Barclay James Harvest, The Strawbs and Curved Air were also on the the bill for the event.
http://www.contactmusic.com/news/prog-rock-garden-party-scrapped-over-broken-stage_1336128

CURVED AIR IN SOHO (Dave McMann: Words - Lesley Madigan: Pics)

A non-rainy Tuesday evening in London,a rare thing these days, we headed to The Borderline in Soho.

Lesley Madigan got confirmation that yes she had a photopass and was also on the guestlist. I being a mere human, had to pay!

So down the stairs we went, grabbed a spot in front of the stage and just as importantly, a beer. On came most of the band and suddenly Vivaldi was the opening number to great applause. Soon after that, the lovely Sonja Kristina hit the stage and wow, she certainly hit it. From Marie Antionette, which made me want to start a revoultion, Melinda, which brought a tear to my eye, the rousing Everdance, Hide and seek and many more classics, this was pure joy.


Of course the was Back Street Luv, it was in Soho after all. However, the highlight, which turned into an earworm the next day, was It happened today.

See them, buy the new release 'Live Atmosphere', mine is signed, anybody want to touch me:-)"

CURVED AIR: Rejoice! Guess who have reformed..

It just shows you how out of touch I have been. Whereas once upon a time I used to visit the Metropolis quite regularly, I moved back to my childhood home in North Devon in 2005, and only leave when I have to. The only gig I have seen in London in years was Dr Strangely Strange about three years ago, and I have evidently got really out of touch with some of my favourite music, because it seems that Curved Air actually reformed four years ago, and there have even been new recording.

They are apparently playing Tavistock next weekend. Methinks that I feel an interview request coming on...



Check out the Gonzo artist page for the album

CURVED AIR: It happened today

I have always been very fond of the music of Curved Air. However, watching their DVD in the massively groovy Gonzo series, 'The Lost Broadcasts', last night, I was struck by sometjhing. Back in the day, when I was about 14 I cherished a mad passion for Sonja Kristina, the chanteuse with the band. She would have been about 23 at the time, which would have made her definitely into the realm of 'the older woman'.

I remember confessing my mad passion to my mother, who sniffed in a disapproving manner. I showed her a picture of Sonja and she sniffed even more. You could see Ms Kristina's elbows, and apparently that was a sign of being a loose woman of the worst sort. Sonja Kristina joined the Duke of Windsor, Oscar Wilde, and the woman at #17 as being people who were never to be mentioned at the dinner table again.

Watching the DVD with my lovely wife last night, I was struck by how pleasant and respectable Sonja looked. In a day where many popstrels are anorexic young women prancing around in their underwear, Sonja Kristina looks like the unspoiled girl-next-door.



I know that my parents were ridiculously old fashioned for their time, and I am probably a bit libertarian for mine, but it is a mark of how times have changed...

Check out the Gonzo artist page for the album