Interview: Bookends

Bookends - Dan Haynes and Pete Richards - talk about their music and their show 'Through the Years' ahead of their performance at the Flavel on 7th May. 

Could you tell me briefly about your musical backgrounds?

Dan:My passion for music began when I was 10 years old and my father made me a toy guitar which I religiously pretended to play until I was bought a real one a year later. Learning the songs of my favourite artists I honed my guitar playing skills which were further enhanced by the discovery of the fingerpicking style of Paul Simon. 

Pete: grew up with a musical family (his Mother a music teacher) and often harmonised with his brothers who both sang and played guitar. With his Father being a Simon & Garfunkel fan it was inevitable that Pete eventually discovered their music and captivating harmonies. 

How did you get together to form Bookends?

Pete and myself met in the first year of secondary school and we quickly became close friends. We would regularly share musical tastes and started learning the songs of our favourite artists but it was the music of Simon & Garfunkel which seemed to immediately sound natural and we discovered our voices blended together as well as the famous duo's. 

What drew you to the songs of Simon and Garfunkel?
The music of Simon & Garfunkel naturally lent itself to two voices and a guitar, just how Pete and myself were playing songs. There is no other music quite like Simon & Garfunkel's and the songs are timeless. 

This music is all about wonderful harmonies - is it difficult to sustain that throughout a show?
From the very first Simon & Garfunkel song we learnt we immediately enjoyed replicating the impeccable timing and diction of their harmonies, something which comes naturally to us. We react so quickly to each other on stage it can sometimes feel like we're reading each others minds! 

Your shows are clearly very successful - do you perform other types of music as a duo or as solo artists?
We don't perform any other music as a duo, although in the past we have performed some original music and some of other artists but nothing ever sounded quite as good as when we sang Simon & Garfunkel (often pointed out by our friends and family). I do write and occasionally perform my own songs and I also have an album of original music which I sell after our shows!

To find out more and to book tickets click here: http://theflavel.org.uk/TheFlavel.dll/WhatsOn?Programme=2657134

Comedy Festival - Rik Mayall Tribute with Surprise Guests

The Rik Mayall Tribute was an evening full of surprises!

From the start there was a great atmosphere: Prosecco was served as the audience entered, and there was an air of anticipation as everyone chatted before taking their seats.

They were not to be disappointed - surprise guests, the actor Nigel Planer and film director Peter Richardson, came on to do a short comic turn before introducing a film of clips showing classic Rik Mayall comedy, which had been compiled by Peter Richardson. It was wonderful to see all Rik's characters jump out from the screen.

Later, Nigel Planer performed a great sketch about the art of acting, and Rik's daughter, Bonnie, talked about Rik as a father. The guitarist, Jeff Beck played Danny Boy, as Rik was proud of his Irish roots. All in all, it was a moving, but also a fun evening. Rik would probably have approved of that.

This is what members of the audience had to say:

A bitter-sweet evening...                           It brought back so many memories for me...

It was a fabulous tribute to a truly unique character... 

                                  It was great that Rik's family were in the audience

I loved Rik Mayall - I think I always fancied him!

Guest reviewer: Spotlight

Spotlight is an insightful film based on the true story of how journalists uncovered the scandal of child abuse in the Catholic Church 

This is not a fast moving film - it has a steady pace that reflects the dogged determination of investigative journalism.
It is based on the true story of how journalists at the Boston Globe uncovered the scandal of child abuse in the Catholic Church in Boston, and the wall of silence that surrounded it.
Michael Keaton plays veteran reporter Walter “Robby” Robinson, working alongside hot-tempered Mike Rezendes, played by Mark Ruffalo, and Sacha Pfeiffer, played by Rachel McAdams.
The film has real insights to offer: the cast powerfully convey the journalists’ horror at realising the abuse stretches back decades or even centuries and also how abuse is as much about power as sex. A powerful story. 

Flavel News: Coffee Couture Opens at the Flavel!

You may have noticed the coffee beans appearing on the café window and wondered what was coming…yes Coffee Couture has opened at the Flavel! 

We now have a new vibrant coffee shop, where people can meet and sample the excellent produce on offer. 

The cafe will be serving delicious coffees, teas, cakes and light meals every day, and will also be opening on certain evenings, and to coincide with live events at the Flavel.

In the evening, they will be offering ‘Graze at Couture’, a ‘grazing’ menu with small portions of dishes from different cuisines, which could include Moroccan tagines, Thai curries etc. Dishes will cost between £4.00 and £7.00 each, and a group of four would typically choose three dishes to share.

Friends of the Flavel will be offered a gold loyalty card, which entitles them to 10% off hot drinks, in exchange for a small donation to one of the charities that the company supports.

Come along and give Coffee Couture a try!

Young Guest Reviewer - Star Wars

George Chandler (age 10) has sent in his reaction to this exciting new film, which includes some of the original characters.

We saw this film just before Christmas and my godmother treated us all. She also bought me a water bottle with Star Wars on it so that was brilliant.

The film was very good, I was very sad that Hans Solo died, but I loved the new robot BB8
It was action packed and I'm glad that lots of original characters were in the film.
I hope we get to see more of lLuke in the next film!
I recommend anyone to see it.
With popcorn!

Guest Reviewer - Bridge of Spies

This gripping tale, set in the 1960s, is a spy-swap drama, based on true events. 
The Americans want to recover Gary Powers, a U2 spy plane pilot, who was shot down and captured by the Soviets, and offer to hand over a Russian spy, Rudolf Abel. 

The plan is to exchange the prisoners on the Glienecke Bridge - the so-called Bridge of Spies - which spanned East and West Berlin. There is a tense build-up to the negotiations, with a lot of mistrust and shifting of positions on both sides.

Stephen Spielberg's film stars Tom Hanks as Donovan, the lawyer who brokers the agreement and Mark Rylance plays the Russian, Abel. Both actors put in excellent performances and we believe in their respectful relationship.

This is a good story, well filmed, and well acted. A must-see film at the Flavel.

For more information and to book tickets, click here
http://theflavel.org.uk/TheFlavel.dll/WhatsOn?Programme=2686306