Autumn is for Apples: Killerton Apple & Cider Festival Rings in the Season

Exeter's local National Trust property, Killerton House, is ringing in the harvest with their annual Apple and Cider Festival. On Saturday 18 & Sunday 19 October, visitors to their Sparrow Park orchard will be treated to food, drink, song, and yarn bombing at their annual event.

Along with the cider festival, they're laying on a hog roast, morris dancers, live bands, a magician, wood crafts, archery, cycle tours, cider press demonstrations and more. Not to mention the fact that it's all going to look blooming magical with all the leaves changing colours.

This epically autumnal event is in honour of National Apple Day and Killerton's truly epic apple collection. With over 500 acres of traditionally managed orchards on the Killerton estate, they are growing 100 varieties of old English apple including the Killerton Sweet and Killerton Sharp which originate there. Killerton's wardens and volunteers produced an award-winning cider using a 200 year old farm press, as well as apple juice, apple chutney and orchard honey. And because they use traditional methods, the apples are grown without any chemicals, fertilisers or pesticides.

I was lucky enough to get a hold of a box full of some of their summer harvest and have been whipping up a few recipes to countdown to the event and celebrate this fabulous fruit. In the weeks to come, I will be sharing them here on the blog, so keep an eye out for tastiness.

Film, Food, Fun & Frolics at The Globe's Blues Brothers Night

This Thursday, 30 Jan, Newtown will be abuzz with a night of Blues Brothers booze, food, music and a little bit of fancy dress when the Reel Collective kick off their brand new night at the Globe with a Blues Brothers party to make James & Elwood proud. I caught up with Andy at The Globe to get the scoop on what's in store.

So who are the Reel Collective? 

The Reel Collective is made up of Sal Hughes, Ali Pym, Ben Rothwell and Andy Miller. Sal works as a media lecturer at South Devon College and also co-hosts Ben and Sally's Film Show on Phonic FM. Ali is also a lecturer in media and film at Exeter College. Ben works at The Picturehouse in Exeter and as a projectionist, and is the other half of Ben and Sally's Film Show. Andy is co-owner at The Globe in Exeter. This collaboration came about through a shared passion for classic films, community engagement, coupled with having a bit of fun. 

What can we expect on the night? 

The first Reel Collective night is on Thursday the 30th of January with a screening of the cult classic, The Blues Brothers. This won't be your ordinary screening, the upstairs room will be lovingly decorated in a Blues Brother's style. A vegetarian friendly supper is included as part of the ticket price, as is post-movie dancing with soul, swing and Motown classics being lined up on the house record deck. If you're thinking of coming along, don your shades, pork pie hats, and anything else that gives a nod to the era and in particular the movie narrative itself. 

You guys have done a great job revitalizing the pub and giving it a welcoming & modern feel. This is should be a fun start to the new year, what else have you got in mind for 2014?

Thanks, that's really kind of you to say. 2014 is looking good already with lots of projects on the cards right from the word go. We aim to run the Reel Collective nights on a bi-monthly basis. We will be serving food for the first time within the next few weeks, which is very exciting, as the kitchen refit has taken much longer than we first anticipated. Live music will still be a major feature on the landscape at The Globe going forwards, with some exciting new nights in the offing. We plan on utilising the upstairs bar space a lot more going forwards, again we will be posting any new developments on our Facebook page - keep your eyes peeled for those in the next couple of months.

Source: black.zack00

Exeter LOL Comedy Festival Review: Robert Newman's New Theory of Evolution

Rob Newman 2014 Comedy Tour 

Anyone going to Robert Newman's show expecting to hear a gently introspective retrospective set like that which his former partner in crime David Baddiel delivered at the Edinburgh Fringe last summer, will be pleasantly surprised at being totally wrong.

Sunday night's sold out 'New Theory of Evolution' show at the Exeter Phoenix was a brilliantly considered medley of surreal musings, charming anecdotes, a well read basis for his new theory of evolution and a little bit of ukulele. I won't go into the theory itself, because I hate comedy show reviews that spoil the punchline, but in the end I fully was convinced. There is a thread that carries through the show, something that seems to be a running theme of his body of work for the last few years in fact, that as a society we have the potential to do better...and should at least make an effort to do so.

So while the show is in almost no way observational comedy - there is brief mention of his daughter and possible reference to an unnamed postman friend - it is not impersonal at all. You are laughing with him as he shares things that he's concerned about, cares about and may be attempting to influence, ever so slightly, with this new theory of his.

Sat in the audience I was reminded of Mark Thomas, Robin Ince and on occasion even one Mr. Stuart Lee, in that it's a show with a thesis that makes you think as much as you laugh. I like this. It makes me happy. It makes me pleased that there are people in the world that still find wonder and amusement in what everyone else takes for granted. These people are messengers that make sure that we don't just let daily nonsense pass us by unchecked and keep a keen eye out for ducks who are fluent in French and Flemmish.

More comedy on at the Exeter Phoenix and throughout the city as part of the LOL Festival until 7 Feb.

Weekend Playlist: Exeter Gigs & Raves

The city is alive this weekend with all kinds of music. Feast your ears on this fine selection on gigs and happenings.

Friday

Indie band, The Raptors will be launching their new EP at the Exeter Phoenix's 'New Sounds' night. Drop in to rock out The Raptors, Foot-Joy, and the New Lights. Free from 8pm.


Dorset band The Devils Rejects, will be burning up the stage at The Firehouse on Friday night. Normal start is about 10pm. £1 entry, delicious pizzas, ales and ciders to be had.


Late night DJ mecca, Cellar Door will be bring the funk with their new Friday night jam, Fly Society. We're talkin' garage, hip hop, DnB, house and all out party tunes from 10-3 for £3 on the door.

Saturday

Adam Sweet, is easily one of Exeter's premiere acoustic blues men and you can catch this long legged crooner on Saturday afternoon at Evolution Cafe on Fore Street from about 1pm.



Rufiji's parties are kind of legendary. They raise money for an Africa village and generally blow the roof off wherever they go. Saturday the will be joined by up and coming indie act The Beacons, for fun and frolics at the Exeter Phoenix. £8 from 8pm.

Sunday

Wicked awesome Americana band Cut Purse Rascals will be launching their new EP at the Bike Shed on Sunday. They've got a great sound and a vintage style, should be a perfect Bike Shed evening.

Raise your glass to the 25th Annual Exeter Festival of Winter Ales!

Pint of the local please!

Exeter's local CAMRA will be celebrating quarter century of awesomeness today when they open the doors to the 25th Exeter & East Devon Festival of Winter Ales at St James Park today. If you're wondering whether they're serious about it, we're talking 66 delicious winter ales, 12 refreshing real ciders, and Ginger Ale for good measure.

I went last year and the year before, and was delighted on both occasions. There is great representation from local breweries like the Otter, Exeter, Exe Valley and Driftwood breweries, as well as some northerners from Somerset and beyond.

If you go along, expect a casual, friendly atmosphere and a lot of very merry people. They open at 11 on Friday and Saturday. Last year they had 1800 visitors and in the past they've sold out(!) so grab a glass and get down there if you can.

Couple jars from last year's Festival

Exeter Big Screen at the Park 2013 listings announced!

The good folks at the Exeter Phoenix have really outdone themselves this year with the lineup for the 2013 Big Screen in the Park at Northernhay Gardens. One absolute classic, one total legend, a masterpiece and a visual feast? There will be much popcorn eating methinks.

If you've never been before, the way that it works is for 4 days every summer, they put a...big screen...in the park....and everyone comes along with a picnic and enjoys the show. It's brilliant. It used to be free but they sell tickets now at a reasonable £3 per film so that they can afford to do it again next year.  Shows start at 9pm and it's just lovely to cozy up with your sweetheart and a film as the sunsets.

Envelope please. And the nominees for best Devon hillside picture show are....

The Goonies on Weds 14 Aug

Poster by Brickhut

Skyfall on Thurs 15 Aug

Poster by Jack Woodhams

Life of Pi on Fri 16 Aug

Poster by Chungkong

The Great Gatsby on Sat 17 Aug

Poster by Tiffany Chen

Stand-Up For Human Rights Night at Matthews Hall on Friday 26 October

Carrying on Amnesty International's great tradition of the Secret Policeman's Ball, Award winning comedianne Rosie Wilby will headline a comedy night in aid of Exeter's branch of Amnesty International at Matthew's Hall in Topsham on Friday 26 October.

Wilby tops an bill of all female acts with Julie Jepson and duo O'Shea & Ogilvie in tow. Hot off a well received stint at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival with her show, 'How not to make it in Britpop', Rosie Wilby is known for weaving jokes in with interactive elements and music for a show that's sure to keep everyone in stiches. Brighton native Julie Jepson is currently touring her 'Personal Triumph' show and is know for comedy that is thought provoking and personable. And you might recognise O'Shea & Ogilvie from this year's Ignigte Festival or from a recent stint at the Cygnet Theatre where they brought their special brand of sketch comedy to our fair city.  Looks like a wicked line up so I think thinks people of Topsham are in for a treat!

The night wouldn't be complete of course without a raffle & great prizes to be won, a few rounds of "Irish"  bingo, and a licensed bar .Tickets £10 are available at the Topsham Bookshop on Topsham High Street, or alternatively via comedystandupforhumanrights@gmail.com. The venue, Matthew's Hall, Fore Street, Topsham, holds an audience of 170 seated around tables of 8 (cabaret style) and the fun starts at 7.30.

Arts: The Red Ball Project comes to Exeter

Source: The RedBall Project Toronto by Rob Burke on Flickr

Exeter will be one of five UK cities visited by the internationally mysterious RedBall Project from artist Kurt Perschke this summer. I am extremely excited about this and hope to see it in town at one of it's installation spaces during the 3 day visit from Friday 15 June to Sunday 17 June. From what I can gather, it is just what is says on the tin, a big red ball, a really big red ball, placed in various locations around the city. It's been all over the world - Chicago, Toronto, Barcelona, Perth, Dubai and more - and everyone seems to agree that it's awesome.

Source: The RedBall Project in Norwich by Leo Reynolds on Flickr

Source: RedBallProject.co.uk

According to Perschke, The RedBall Project is about creating a 'catalyst for new encounters within the everyday. Through the magnetic, playful, and charismatic nature of the RedBall the work is able to access the imagination embedded in all of us.' And I can see exactly where he's going with that. There is something so universal about a ball - the fact that you just want to touch it or kick it or poke it or something - which brings an immediate sense of childhood and whimsy. The fact that it's SO big totally reinforces that.

The project is remeinscent of Carsten Holler's Test Site giant slide installation that was part of the Tate Modern's Unilever Series back in 2007. For that thoroughly successful installation, the artist built three giant slides in the turbine hall in order to capture 'the visual spectacle of watching people sliding and the ‘inner spectacle’ experienced by the sliders themselves, the state of simultaneous delight and anxiety that you enter as you descend'. The title of the project, 'Test Site', was an invitation for towns and businesses to integrate slides into everyday life. Though London did not permanently take him up on this offer, thousands of grown up visitors became part of the 'inner spectacle' of his artsy indoor play area.

Souce Duvet Dayz

And I guess that's what it comes down to. While I fully respect the statements of both artist here, with regards to 'imagination' and 'visual spectacle', this sort of art - installations based on exaggeration and recontextualisation of childhood experiences - is good because it's really about creating an opportunity for grown ups to do things that they should have grown out of years ago, in an intellectually acceptable space. Don't get me wrong, I think there should be more of it and I am extremely pleased that Torbay Council and Dartington Trust worked to get this project here in the South West. That said, I'm sure that intellectuals looking for something to deconsturct would get the same stimulus from putting a fun fair in the Tate or an adult only ball pool on the Cathedral Green, whether they called it art or not. And every music festival in the UK will have a similar 'installation' in place, not for the sake of art, but for the sake of fun. 

I love a good laugh and the colour red, so I'm planning to go along on Friday to the Guildhall for this very reason.