Take part in Bridgwater Carnival 2012!

Battle for the Winds NEEDS YOU!

 

 

A call for volunteers to help put on a pre show for Bridgwater carnival. 6 to 7pm Saturday Nov 3^rd

Helping stewarding a short show with processional vehicles, street band and circus performers

Be available for the afternoon

Travel expenses and refreshments

Contact

Tim Hill timhill@thrivesomerset.org

The Somerset Journey does Battle for the Winds!

Wonderful!

Yesterday finally saw the spectacular conclusion to The Somerset Journey, where our Wind Gatherers, their vehicle, The Big Noise Band and local performers were in Weymouth for The Battle for the Winds! Somerset was joined with, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Cornwall, Wiltshire and The West of England and their wind gathering vehicles and performers in an afternoon procession by the sea followed by an evening performance on Weymouth beach produced and starring 'Cirque Bijou' and 'Desperate Men'. The day concluded in style with 2012 torches being lit on Weymouth beach and carried out into the sea by 2012 people. The whole day had many fantastic delights and spectacles of creativity, performance, music and gymnastics to be seen. Hundreds of local people from the South West, Weymouth and beyond came to watch the performances and even more local people have taken part in the processions, the organising, creating and making that has gone into creating Battle for the Winds. A wonderful day had by all, thank you to all that took part in our journey this summer and to those who performed and came out to watch yesterday in Weymouth. Thank you all!

We still hope to continue the journey later this year...Watch this space!

The Somerset Wind Gatherers prepare alongside the Wind Gathering Vehicle in Weymouth.

The Big Noise Band warming up in the sun!

The Wind Conductor AKA Tim Hill rehearses with The Big Noise Band

The Ark Hive during the procession in Weymouth.

Thunder and Lightening Man in Weymouth.

Chime Child searching for the wind...

In Weymouth we were joined by the Cirque Bijou performers.

The trombones in The Big Noise Band!

Our photos from The Battle for the Winds procession in Weymouth!

Created with flickr slideshow.

Somerset Journey at The Scythe Green Fair!

Thank you to Richard Brown who brought this link to my attention. Enjoy!

Please watch below  (or click on this link)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdPLU7DlLiw

http://scytheassociation.org/

Monday 11th June: Open Storytellers in Frome

Wonderful! Monday the 11th of June saw The Somerset Journey travel to Frome where we were delighted to have been invited to spend a day with The Open Storytellers who are based in The Black Swan Arts Centre in the town.

We had a great day exchanging songs, stories and making noise!

http://www.openstorytellers.org.uk/pages/index.html#sos

Poetry inspired by The Somerset Journey...

A gentle breeze results in showers

Of petals pulled from spring’s new flowers

Soothful susurrus of moving leaves

That drape vivacious summer trees

 

Autumnal hues of gold and rust

Soon ripped away by icy gusts

Roaring gales that tear and blow

Pile and sculpt great drifts of snow

 

Clouds pursued across the blue

Shapes melding into forms anew

Cotton white, they drift; serene

Peaceful as a languid dream

 

Lifting the wings of bird in flight

The skylark strives for lofty heights

Wires thrummed like guitar strings

Complement the song it sings

 

Dandelion robbed of seed

The barest breath will set them free

Fluffy fibres catch the air

Dropped here, and there, and everywhere

 

Green fields ripple like water’s flow

Stalks of reed bend to-and-fro

Currents of air meander by

Mirroring the river, which mirrors the sky

 

Raucous flocks of seagulls play

Between crashing waves whipped into spray

Sea breezes blow without relent

Carrying the ocean’s briny scent

 

Open moor and mountain peaks

Kites and chimes and drying sheets

Bunting strings and white boat sails

In all these things the wind prevails

 

Zephyrs and foens, siroccos and storms

Myriad names, and different forms

Racing ‘round the world with ease

To follow its journey, just catch the breeze!

 

Erin Awon  2012

 

 

 

If you have felt inspired to write a poem, a story or song as result of the Somerset Journey then please get in contact with us, we'd love to hear from you! Email: somersetjourney@yahoo.co.uk

 

Meet the team who built and designed the Wind Gathering vehicle!

Monday June 25th- Creative Workshop Open evening, Bridgwater

06.00pm - 08.00pm

See amazing man-made vehicles, meet and talk to the designers and artists, hear the Big Noise Street Band, see footage and images of past events. Let your imagination dream a little!
AT: 5A Crypton Industrial Estate, Bristol Rd, Bridgwater, TA6 4SY.

For further info and to book a place please contact Charlie Deardon at charlie@creativesomerset.com

Scythe Green Fair

What a wonderful day to be catching the breeze at The Scythe Green Fair nr Muchelney! The Somerset Journey has come to the end of its 'on the road' visits with todays' fair being the last event we'll be performing at until 'The Battle for the Winds' in Weymouth on Saturday 28th of July. In between now and then we'll be taking inspiration from all the songs, sounds and stories gathered on our journey to create our performance for BFTW in July. We have loved visiting people in Somerset, from schools, nurseries, a hospital, villages, fairs and festivals and more! A big thank you to all who have welcomed us, shared a story, told a tale and gathered the wind with us!

The Somerset Journey concludes soon where we will be joined by the other South West Counties in The Battle for the Winds! Please join us on Saturday 28th July.

Stay tuned for news in the run up to BFTW on this blog. We'd also like to carry the journey on later in the year, so please watch this space....

Coming soon! The Somerset Journey presents...

Its free! Please contact us to book a seat if interested. Email somersetjourney@yahoo.co.uk

Glastonbury Abbey and The Abbot's Kitchen

Today (Sunday 10th June) the wind blew us toward Glastonbury Abbey, where from 11.00 to 04.00 we told stories and performed to the Abbeys' visitors. The Wind Gathering Vehicle (which still needs a name?! Let us know if you have any suggestions.*) was parked outside The Abbot's Kitchen which was a fantastic venue to make some noise and tell some tales. The weather did not dampen our spirits and it was a fantastic day in what are very beautiful surroundings. Thank you to all at the Abbey who welcomed us and visited during the day. Please contact us and let us know what you thought or share some of your photos from the day. *Email: somersetjourney@yahoo.co.uk

Watch out for helicopters! At Musgrove Park Hospital

A few images from The Somerset Journey's visit to Musgrove Park Hospital on Tuesday 22nd May. Seen here on the helicopter landing pad outside the front of the hospital. The team spent the day recording the sounds of the hospital, speaking to patients and staff as well as storytelling in the courtyard inside the hospital grounds.

You may hear more of the sounds we recorded on our visit when the hospital has an exhibition to commemorate 70 years of Musgrove Park Hospital!

Visit http://www.artforlife.nhs.uk/ for more details.

Thank you Ashbrittle!

The good weather held out just a little bit longer so that we were lucky enough to have fair weather during The Somerset Journey's visit to the village of Ashbrittle. We were warmly greeted by members of the village both young and old, although none as old as England's oldest Yew tree (3,800 years old to be precise) which resides in Ashbrittle's churchyard. There was some story telling, noise making and er...many a tale about beans...to be had with the locals joining in the festivities, making lots of noise,  and adding their own suggestions for the name of our wind vehicle. Thank you very much to all the people of Asbrittle for helping us 'sound out Somerset' in your village! We look forward to meeting you again at 'The Battle for the Winds' in Weymouth.

Our next BIG gathering will be at The Langport Festival on Saturday June 2nd from 02.00pm - 06.00pm. Please come and join us on Cocklemoor!

For more photos from the day and other events click onto our flickr page: http://www.flickr.com/photos/somersetjourney/

Follow us on twitter: @somersetjourney

See: Where else we are travelling on our 'gatherings' page

Taunton Olympic Torch Day!

The Somerset Journey started off in style and sunshine yesterday as part of Taunton's Olympic Torch celebrations. The day kicked off with a parade through the town centre at 11.00am in front of hundreds of enthusiastic local school children and spectators. The procession included The Big Nosie Band and additional wind gathering contraptions and vehicles made by Somerset College students.

The celebrations continued throughout the day in and around Somerset Square with Fuse and Street Linx performing and inside The Brewhouse Theatre Lightwaves videos were screened throughout the day. However the biggest event was saved til last when from 06.00pm onwards an audience of around 2 to 3000 people watched the wind gatherers and vehicle enter The County Cricket Ground to launch the beginning of the official torch ceremony! There was a whole host of local talent that took part including Escape Parkour and beatboxing from Dom Beatbox.

Thank you to all who took part and watched us perform, we hope you enjoyed it as much as we did and we look forward to seeing you at our other gatherings! We'll be in Ashbrittle this Sunday from 02.00pm - 04.30pm so please come and visit us!

The Wind Gatherers arrive in The County Cricket Ground, followed in procession by The Big Noise Band and school children from Schools in Somerset.

Hanging around with the wind gatherers!


Share with us your photos from the day, or let us know your thoughts by leaving us a comment on our blog, or contact us at:
somersetjourney@yahoo.co.uk
For more photos look on our flickr page:
http://wwwflickr.com/photos/somersetjourney

And our professional photographer, Richard Tomlinson's photos on:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/richardtomlinson/

More photos!

Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

Sneak Preview of our vehicle!

A first sneak peak of the Somerset Journey 'Wind Gatherer' and Wind gatherers in costume. Nearly ready for the beginning of our journey now, all our vessel needs is a coat of paint and we'll be ready to fly into the wind! More photos coming soon!

Sounding out Somerset- Listen to our horn as we pass by...

The first sneak peak of The Wind Gatherer.

Thunder and Lightening Man



How to turn the 'Somerset Journey' Flyer into a pinwheel!

We will soon be distributing our 'Somerset Journey' flyers out to pubs, schools, clubs, theatres, village halls, libraries and more; into all the far regions of the county. The flyer provides the dates, times and places we will be visiting on our journey. Hold on to your flyer tightly so it doesn't blow away in the wind, we'd love it if you could join us for some of our gatherings. Use the flyer to guide you and once you're finished with it, why not turn it into a pinwheel and watch the wind in action! The slideshow below shows you how you can make your own pinwheel and hopefully you'll feel good for recycling the flyer after the events.
Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

Our journey begins soon. In the mean time you might like to take part in the workshop below, hosted by Tim Hill and Dave Young...

All the World’s A Stage

A workshop exploring outdoor performance.

 Wednesday 16^th May 2012

10.00am to 4pm

Venue: The Cultivate Hub,

The Brewhouse Theatre and Arts Centre, Taunton TA1 1JL

This day event is open to anyone interested in the possibilities and potential of outdoor performance, a major growth area in the arts and creative industries and something that can touch and include everyone.

Starting with a short overview of the history and development of outdoor

performance, the day will explore elements including costume and visual design, sound and music, big images and processional devices, food, performance and more, as well as practical issues around event production and management.

We will end by looking at how to dream, devise and create your own event.

There will also be a focus on some of the events happening nationally and regionally in this year of Olympic and Jubilee celebrations.

The workshop will be led by Tim Hill, producer of the Celebrating Somerset programme for the Cultural Olympiad. Tim has worked with companies like Welfare State International, Macnas and Cirque Bijou and is musical director for The Battle for the Winds, www.battleforthewinds.com .  

Tim will be joined by Dave Young, one of the country’s finest makers of big outdoor images, machines and giants, who was one of the makers of the beautiful floating beacon recently seen outside The Brewhouse Theatre and at Bridgwater Marina. Dave is currently working with outdoor theatre companies Macnas in Ireland and Walk the Plank, as well as being the lead maker on the Berkshire Giants project.

To book a place or for more details please contact Tim Hill at timhill@thrivesomerset.org

Transports of Delight is part of the Making Your Mark training scheme, helping to develop skills, ideas and partnerships in the outdoor creative industries and arts. It is organised by Tim Hill and the Creative Somerset team, based at the Brewhouse Theatre and Arts Centre in Taunton.

Making your Mark is supported by Somerset County Council’s Creative Industries Fund and The Arts Council.

Image by Dave Young

Sounding out Somerset is now on SoundCloud!

Follow us on 'SoundCloud' and listen to the songs, stories and sounds we make and record on our journey to sound out Somerset!

http://soundcloud.com/soundingoutsomerset

Or why not upload your Somerset Sounds onto the SoundCloud and share them with us?

What is 'Sounding out Somerset'?

Sounding out Somerset

Listen…………….

“ we are the wind gatherers, sound crunchers and story munchers  We love noise!. We would love you to join us on our quest to sound out Somerset”

Our journey begins in Taunton on the 21st of May from where we will visit schools, hill tops, beaches, coves, pubs, town centres, village greens and anywhere where the wind takes us

Who are we?

We are a group of performers, musicians and story tellers known as, ‘The Wind Gatherers’, who collect and exchange sounds, stories and songs as we travel.

How to get involved

-          Perhaps you know a song that is local to your area? Past or present.

-          A local story that you want to share with us? No tale is too tall or too small.

-          A sound that you think is beautiful or perhaps unusual in some way?

-          A place that you know where sounds are amplified or sound different?

-          A place where the wind sings or makes a great sound

If any of the above strike a chord, we would love to hear from you. Please get in touch with our route navigator, Natalie Parsley on somersetjourney@yahoo.co.uk

These sounds, stories and songs will be Somerset’s contribution to a big celebration of the South West on Weymouth Beach on July 28^th. This is called The Battle for the Winds’ and marks the opening of the London 2012 Olympic Sailing Events. Go to www.battleforthewinds.com for more details.

Thank you for listening.

Natalie Parsley

Coordinator and navigator

Greetings and welcome to the first post on the 'Somerset Journey: Sounding out Somerset' blog!