Crackerjack Gloucestershire News

Toploader to play in Gloucester

danielpountney — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 11:39:37 +0100

Jamie Oliver likes cooking to their tracks - and now you can hear the home-grown sound of Toploader at Gloucester Guildhall.

Upton's got the X-Factor

danielpountney — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 10:04:03 +0100

Family friendly X Factor pop stars, Eighties icons, heavy metal rockers and legends from the 1960s are all on the same bill in Upton on August 28-29.

Bank holiday madness

danielpountney — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 10:02:39 +0100

Entertainment for all the family is promised over the bank holiday weekend with a host of different events taking place across the county.

Art in the cathedral

danielpountney — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 10:00:44 +0100

One of the largest and most important contemporary sculpture exhibitions to take place in Britain in the last decade is opening in Gloucester.

Sounds of the south

danielpountney — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 09:59:36 +0100

Show of Hands will kick off the 22nd Didmarton Bluegrass Festival with a concert on September 2.

The folk superstars Phil Beer and Steve Knightley are opening the event at Kemble Airfield which organisers say is the biggest yet.

Bringing country to town

danielpountney — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 15:42:59 +0100

Country music star and Radio 2 favourite Beth Nielsen Chapman is bringing the distinctive sounds of the USA’s deep south to Cheltenham.
The singer-songwriter is stopping off at the Town Hall on September 23 as part of a high-profile UK tour in support of Back To Love, her first mainstream pop album in six years.
Born in Texas, Beth’s early years were spent travelling due to her father’s career in the US Air Force.

Beauty-ful show

danielpountney — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 15:39:16 +0100

The enchanting story of Beauty and the Beast has captivated audiences for generations and is now bought to life on a Cheltenham stage.
Chapterhouse Theatre Company is presenting Laura Turner’s interpretation of the fairytale outdoors at Lodge Park, in Aldsworth, on August 30.
Staring in the new adaptation is former children’s TV actress Georgina Sherrington.
Georgina is most famous for her role as Mildred Hubble in the TV series The Worst Witch.

Blockbuster movie preview

danielpountney — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 13:47:02 +0100

Film lovers in Cheltenham will get to see one of the most highly anticipated movies of the year a full two months ahead of the rest of the UK.
A special preview of The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet’s Nest is being screened on the opening day of the Cheltenham Film Festival, supported by Kraft Foods.
Not content to reveal the final instalment of Stieg Larsson’s Millennium trilogy before it goes nationwide, the festival has created the unprecedented opportunity for fans to see all three blockbusters back to back.

Keeping the kids active

danielpountney — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 13:06:26 +0100

Just because the kids are off school, it doesn’t mean they have to stop learning.

Drag them away from their Playstations on August 20 and get them down to Chipping Campden Library.

From 10.30am to 11.30am children can enjoy Creative Constellations – a workshop about the stories and legends behind the stars and planets.

If they need to burn off some of the energy, try Cotswold Leisure in Cirencester from 2pm to 3pm.

Music in the Greenbelt

danielpountney — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 13:02:21 +0100

Musical legends, inspirational speakers and cutting edge comedians are all heading to the Greenbelt Festival for four days of uplifting entertainment.

Win Frampton Country Fair tickets

danielpountney — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 13:00:16 +0100

More than 14,000 people are expected to arrive in a normally quiet Gloucestershire village for the silver jubilee Frampton Country Fair.

The event at Frampton-on-Severn takes place on September 12 and Crackerjack has got 10 pairs of tickets to give away.

The scale of the annual event at the Frampton Court Estate is a far cry from the modest fixture that first took place in 1986.

Back then a small group of country pursuits enthusiasts decided to put together a few displays and competitions.

A tree-mendous event

danielpountney — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 12:58:53 +0100

A tree-mendous week of activities based around Britain’s wonderful woods is taking place at the National Arboretum.

A day in the life of a monk

danielpountney — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 15:42:39 +0100

The daily lives of the medieval monks of Gloucester will be explored in a study day at the cathedral next week.
The Medieval Monks Of Gloucester – How They Lived, Worked And Worshipped is being led by expert Cathedral Guides on August 26 and will allow visitors to access parts of the historic buildings that are not normally open to the public.
For 500 years, Gloucester cathedral was a Benedictine monastery – the Abbey of St Peter.
At its height, the community numbered 54 monks and 200 lay officials and servants.

Hit West End show jives into Cheltenham

danielpountney — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 14:34:35 +0100

It is 1961 and emotions are running high as young musicians Norman and Bobby compete to win a national song writing competition – and, more importantly, the attention of the gorgeous Sue!

But when Bobby discovers that shy Laura is no slouch on the piano, love and rock ‘n’ roll fame beckons.

Inspired by the million selling albums, Dreamboats and Petticoats One, Two and Three, West End sell-out sensation Dreamboats and Petticoats, The Musical, comes to Cheltenham for one week only.

Fiery flamenco on the menu

danielpountney — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 14:10:56 +0100

El Moreno returns to Cirencester this month with his romantic Spanish guitar.
The musician is at New Brewery Arts on August 28 with a programme of solo pieces by the great masters of the instrument.
He will play Granada and Leyenda by Albeniz, Memories Of The Alhambra by Tarrega and some fiery Flamenco too.
Tickets cost £10 on 01285 657181.

Dress up for Beauty and the Beast

danielpountney — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 14:07:27 +0100

Children are being urged to wear fancy dress to enjoy the classic fairytale Beauty And The Beast when it arrives in Aldsworth this month.

Chapterhouse Theatre Company is presenting Laua Turner’s interpretation of the tale outdoors at Lodge Park on August 30.

As well as watching the action unfold, youngsters can join in the a fairytale parade during the interval.

Underground Festival hunts local talent

danielpountney — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 14:06:07 +0100

The Shimmer have had to pull out of the Underground Festival in Gloucester next month.

But the band’s loss is another act’s gain as the Guildhall is looking for a local band the chance to open the main stage in their place.

It’s a major opportunity for a county outfit to get themselves heard at the new festival for unsigned and emerging bands.

Rogue Theatre Summer School, Prema Arts Centre, Uley

danielpountney — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 15:43:43 +0100

Young people aged 12 to 17 are being invited to take part in a summer school with Rogue Theatre.
The theatre company, which has played at Prema, in Uley, in its spellbinding performances of Madame Lucinda’s Wonder Show, Pathway To The Red Sun and The Family, are back in Gloucestershire to work with budding young actors.
The group is hosting a four-day residency at Prema from August 24-27 between 10am and 4pm.
Learn how to use your body and fast-paced text with elements of dance, circus skills and magic to create an amazing piece of devised theatre.

Catherine Williams Exhibition, Wonderwall Gallery, Cirencester

danielpountney — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 15:42:14 +0100

Leading printmaker Catherine Williams was so impressed by a recent visit to Cirencester that she was inspired to create a series of seven stunning handmade prints of the town called Cirencester Walk.

Summer holiday activities, across Gloucestershire

danielpountney — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 12:58:39 +0100

From steam trains and dinosaurs to water sports and mask making, there’s plenty to keep children busy during the summer holidays.

If your kids have got the dinosaur bug then this is the final chance to catch the Jurassic Exhibition at Cheltenham Museum.