Working together to make West Ealing a better place for residents, businesses and visitors.
If you vote, Ealing might get a spruce-up for the Olympics…
We seem to have more votes already than all other boroughs – is that because we’re dirtier?
Team Ariel (Ariel detergent and stain remover) are putting up £10,000 to help spruce up five boroughs in time for the Olympics.
Please vote by following the link below
http://www.supersavvyme.co.uk/
(Thanks to Denise Davies for passing this on…)
I’ve booked my ticket to see Simon Townshend play at Eel Daddy’s gig on Friday at the Drayton Court. (Unusual name Eel Daddy but I think there’s a reference back to Eel Pie Island which was a big jazz and blues venue in the 60s). I’m curious to see Simon Townshend play. He’s the younger brother of The Who’s Pete Townshend and Simon has played with The Who and has a good track record in his own right. The event is organised by local group Blushing Bones who are well worth a listen as well – saw them at OPEN Ealing a while back. Should be a good night. More details – http://www.facebook.com/events/222263417884216/
Then next Friday (15th) a Fundraising comedy night at OPEN Ealing. I’d better declare an interest as I’m involved with OPEN but take a look at the website for details – www.openealing.com Tickets £5 or £3 for students.
Abundance strikes again…
I’ve been lucky enough to go to two live music events in Ealing in the last 24 hours and I’ve really enjoyed both. Last night I was at the Ealing Club to see the Creole Brothers play their version of Louisiana Creole music. The Ealing Club has a key place in the history of British Blues Music and these twice monthly music nights are beginning to reestablish the club as an important part of Ealing’s cultural scene.
Back to the music. If you’ve been to the club you’ll know it’s tucked away down the steps by an estate agent opposite Ealing Broadway station. As we walked down the steps to the entrance I could hear the sound of Cajun music. It was a great sound to hear and got even better when we went inside. Sitting in a circle were musicians of all ages thoroughly enjoying playing their music. Their joy spread to everyone listening and before long people were up and dancing.
The main event of the evening was the Creole Brothers. Without realising it we happened to be sitting near them as they waited their turn to play. One played the accordion and the other a fiddle. Cajun music has a powerful driving rhythm that soon has your feet tapping and the singing in French seems to fit the rhythms so well. A great night out.
This lunchtime at OPEN we had the soaring voice and very skilled cello playing of Laura Victoria. Laura should have been joined by Sarah-Jane Miller but Sarah was ill so Laura played solo. At first the cello seemed an odd choice of instrument to accompany her modern take on folk music but it worked beautifully. Her voice is so expressive and soars and dips, delighting the audience. Laura’s hour long set included many of her own songs interspersed with at least one jazz classic. Whether singing unaccompanied or making the cello fill the air with multiple sounds, Laura was compulsive listening. I thoroughly recommend you give her a listen – www.lauravictoriamusic.com
As I was walking to OPEN Ealing this morning I noticed part of Dean Gardens was cordoned off. Apparently there was a fight overnight/early morning and one person has been taken to hospital and another arrested. The fight looks to have taken place in clear vision of one of the newly installed CCTV cameras. It’s an interesting question as to whether the newly installed CCTV acts as a deterrent or as a means of identifying and apprehending offenders?
Not long after this there was an armed robbery at the NatWest Bank on the corner of the Lido Junction. Seems the robbers got away with some cash.
Friday 1st June
A passer-by said ‘As I walked through Dean Gardens this morning (Thursday), there was a group of 8 people, 2 of which were slightly broken away, one was very aggressive towards the other (on crutches) and was pushed over onto the floor. The separated 6 also seemed to be about to fight with each other. They’d clearly been drinking, one I could see from my distance was holding a bottle still. I scooted through pretty quickly and called the police who said they’d send a patrol round immediately.’
OPEN Ealing, a new arts centre and creative arts platform in West Ealing, is proud to present folk musicians, Laura Victoria and Sarah-Jane Miller for a free lunchtime concert on Friday 1st June, from 12.30 to 1.30pm.
Sarah-Jane Miller’s Northumbrian roots and love for Romany and English traditions influences her musical style and she captivates audiences with her poignant songwriting and high-energy delivery. www.myspace.com/sarahjanemillermusic
Laura Victoria also originally from Northumberland performs original and traditional songs of love and life. Along with her striking ability to play the cello, Laura has been quoted as having a “powerful and individual vocal presence” (fRoots). Furthermore, Bob Fischer of BBC Radio Tees recently described her musical style as “absolutely unique – a brilliantly strange and haunting take on folk music”. www.lauravictoriamusic.com
United by their interests of exploring and interpreting traditional folk materials both Sarah-Jayne and Laura and will be performing a special set of solo and duo pieces for OPEN Ealing.
Join us on Friday 1st June 2012 f
or lunchtime music and snacks from 12.30 to 1.30pm
At OPEN Ealing 113 Uxbridge Road, London, W5 5TL
0208 579 5558 | www.openealing.com
The next West Ealing Craft Market is in St James Avenue 
on Saturday 2nd June – the Jubilee weekend. With a bit of luck it may even be sunny! It would be good fun to have some live music and other street performers involved to make a bit of a special occasion. If you’re interested in volunteering to play or perform between 11am and 3pm do please email us at westealingneighbours@gmail.com . At the very least I’m sure we can supply you with something to eat and drink.
As we get the market established we’re keen to make music and street performance a regular feature of the market so even if you can’t make it in June do still please email us.
Walking along the Uxbridge Road this morning I spotted two new shops about to open. Bake & Cake near Cudi and Roosters Piri Piri opposite Blockbuster. I’m not sure when they’ll open so if anyone gets the opportunity to have a closer look then let me know.
It’s nice to actually see a ‘healthy’ chicken place open amongst all the fried in West Ealing!
As a long-time Blues music fan I’m delighted at the revival of The Ealing Club. The team there have worked so hard to get live blues music back at the home of British Blues Music. The Ealing Club is still in its original home, now called The Red Room, and is putting on regular music sessions.
This month the Blues nights are the 17th and 31st May:
The Ealing Club
Thursday 17th May
Blues Guitarist ROBIN BIBI + support from the Riotous Brothers. A must for any Blues fan at the Home of British Rhythm and Blues
Thursday 31st May
Louisiana Cajun and Zydeco music arrives to the heart of Ealing with the Creole Brothers.
Tickets at £5. Starts at 8.30pm. Box Office: 07927 965797
In addition, The Drayton Court Hotel continues its regular EELDADDY music nights with the next session being:
Friday 8th June
S. Townshend, DuBellows and Blushing Bones
DuBellows and Blushing Bones recently appeared at OPEN Ealing so I can recommend them. Go to the Ealing Club website for more information and to buy tickets.
