KAYAKING MAD!

Check out this video of this ridiculous kayaker zooming down the spillway at Llyn Brianne reservoir in Carmarthenshire, near the borders of Ceredigion and Powys in South Wales.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/7735242.stm

Apparently the guy was condemned for being dangerous. Well as our very own Birthday Boy Nigel Muntz would say, what's the point in doing something if it's totally safe?!

The photo above by James Davies shows just how steep the spillway is!

Awesome.

RE-VAMP YOUR STYLE!

If doom and gloom about the impending recession and constant reminders of the credit crunch are cramping your style, then you might find yourself trudging down the high street, clutching bags of clothes from rock-bottom-price non-eco friendly unethical shops just to get your fashion fix... But fear not, there's a new way to vamp up your wardrobe! This is Chiconomics at it's most ethical, most eco-friendly, and most credit-crunching! Re-Vamp is a unique, not-for-profit event where anyone can come along to swap their unwanted clothes for "new" outfits, re-vamp their old clothes, exchange ideas and inspiration, all whilst barely parting with a penny!

Meet up with other Re-Vampers, and spice up old outfits, or swap stuff you haven't even worn - we're all guilty of doing that one - your unworn high heels could be another's perfect pumps!

The next Re-Vamp event is in Cardiff on Thursday 27 November. See flyers above for details... and swap til you drop!

WIN TICKETS TO DONAVON FRANKENREITER'S NOVEMBER GIG IN FALMOUTH

Donavon Frankenreiter is due back in the South West for a gig in November, and if you like laid back surfy grooves, then he’s your man. Initially famous for being a world class ‘free surfer’, but having always been in bands, Donavon made an easy transition to fantastic singer songwriter, and gained popularity with the surfing community in the region way back in 2003, when he played an initimate gig at The Blue Bar in Porthtowan, Cornwall. Since then, he’s moved on to main stage appearances at Rip Curl Boardmasters, headline shows around the world and support slots with Jack Johnson. The Californian born singer-surfer-songwriter has worked with artists like G Love and Ben Harper on his third album, ‘Pass It Around’, which was released in early September. His current tour showcases the album, and his agent specifically requested for a date in the South West in an intimate venue – so he’ll be playing the Princess Pavilion in Falmouth on 15 Nov.

Tickets for the show go on sale Friday 26th September at £16.00 in advance, available from the venue box office 01326 211222 or from www.seetickets.com 0871 2200260 (subject to booking fee).

WIN TICKETS TO THE GIG! We have a pair of tickets to give away for Donavon’s Falmouth gig… to enter the competition, email 247@outofhand.co.uk with DONAVON in the subject line. Make sure you include a phone number so we can contact you if you win! Competition closes on 7 November.

INTERVIEW: THE HAIR

Indie boy band The Hair hail from the far away land of Leeds, a city noted for it’s tendency to churn out musicians at a surprising rate. Fellow Leodensians (that’s what they call folk from Leeds) include The Pigeon Detectives, Corinne Bailey Rae, Scary Spice, and of course The Kaiser Chiefs. In fact, The Hair are due to support The Kaisers on their upcoming UK tour, so it looks like they’re headed for success. Comprising Sam (vocals/guitar), brothers Neil (keys, samples and vocals) and Lee (bass and vocals), and Vijay (drums), The Hair have a repetoire of rocking anthemic indie records with a touch of energetic electro, and they’re sure to get crowds bouncing. Having been together for a couple of years, and in their current line up for the last six months (Vijay used to be in a band with some of The Kaiser Chiefs), the band have a load of dates all around the country over the next month or so. They make their way to the South West with a gig at The Hub in Exeter on 25 October.

The band’s name was influenced Sam’s secret desire to be liked for being “clumsily pretentious” – he explained, “A couple of years back I thought The Hair was a cool name because it was plural and singular at the same time…the fact of the matter is that we’re called The Hair because I used to be a snotty little prick… Which is unfortunate.” Misfortune aside, the band’s varied influences are clearly audible in their songs, which range from the cowbell-punctuated ‘Half Cut’ to the synthy sounds of ‘Million Lies’. Sam told us, “I am mesmorised by songwriters like Ryan Adams and Bright Eyes, though they sound nothing like the band…and I find myself wondering what goes through the heads of Bloc Party and The Cure when they write music. The others are into hip hop and blues rather than guitar bands like me, but it all fits together somehow.”

We asked Sam a few random questions, just for the fun of it…

At your gig in Exeter you’re going to:
Refer to myself in the third person all the time. Like when Elton John said, "The UK still has a lot of love for Elton John!" on Richard and Judy. At the end of the gig, if the response is positive from the audience, I shall say; "I see Exeter has a lot of love for Sam Robson," completely disregarding other members in the band. It will be the beginning of the end… but it was meant to happen on the south coast!

Who’s the most famous person you’ve ever met?
I met Michael York at a family wedding – he was on the bride’s side. He’s a famous actor from Logan's Run and Austin Powers. He danced next to my gran.

First record you bought?
It was either a 7" of Oasis, ‘Some Might Say’ or Seahorses, ‘Blinded By The Sun’... either way it was pretty 90's britpop… Ah… no, actually the first album I got was a Bobby Brown one when I was about seven or something. It didn't have ‘My Prerogative’ on it so I cried and never played it.

Last record you bought?
I downloaded ‘Girls Just Wanna Have Fun’ by Cyndi Lauper recently. I love camp pop.

Most embarrassing moment on stage…?
Don't really think these exist, as long as whatever happens is entertaining for someone, that's what you're up there to do… so even if an audience member got onstage, pulled my pants down and pushed me into a cactus, I reckon as long as someone enjoyed it then I would have to accept that it's a necessary part of the show and I shouldn't be embarrassed.

www.myspace.com/thehair
Catch The Hair on Sat 25th October at The Hub in Exeter.
Doors 9pm, tickets £4adv
01392 424628

Listening to...

http://www.myspace.com/thempostwaryears

http://www.myspace.com/whitelies

aaaAAAHHH FASHION!

We searched high, we searched low, and we finally found the ultimate video mix-up. Boosh Lovers and Fashion Fans unite...we present to you a video montage we found on YouTube...by someone called Rykan...with a Rough Traders track that currently serves as the theme music from Gok Wan's Fashion Fix and clips of Vince Noir in all his totally on trend styling wonderfulness.

Check it out!

Listening to...

http://www.myspace.com/weareexlovers

http://www.myspace.com/thegoldensilvers

http://www.myspace.com/thewalkmen

TALKING WOOFERS

This is such a cool video. How on earth do people discover their canine companion's vocal talents? Perhaps some of these dogs could give classes to other dogs. Wonder what your pooch would say to you?

Something to brighten up your dull Tuesday morning... Welsh boyos Ant and Seb do themselves proud at auditions for X Factor 2008. Somehow we don't think they'll be making it to the live shows...but they've definitely done enough to earn themselves a spot on our blog.

BEACH BREAK LIVE DOCUMENTARY on BBC3 TOMORROW

Beach Break Live is a fab little festy based in Polzeath that celebrated it's second year this summer. Aimed at the lucky breed of human called the Student, Beach Break is a boutique (that means fairly small) festival that takes place in a beautiful clifftop location at Carruan Farm in Polzeath. Taking place in June, this year acts included The Wombats, Mr Scruff, Scratch Perverts, Joe Lean and the Jing Jang Jong and lots more...

Fuelled by an eco-friendly and festival-loving team who set out to take everything they loved about festivals and bring it together in one student-and-environment-friendly event, their search for funds to make their dreams a reality even took them as far as the BBC's Dragons Den, where they managed to impress the panel with their idea, which is no mean feat. Rejecting cash from the Dragons in favour of teaming up with Outgoing Travel, the festival has gone on to be hugely successful and as a result was filmed this year for a BBC3 documentary, which will be aired on BBC3 tomorrow night (19 August) at 9pm. Did you go? Did you wave at the camera?! Then you might be on telly tomorrow night! Fab!

Early Bird tickets are on sale for next year's festival already! For more info, go to:
www.beachbreaklive.com

Super funky Kings Of Leon cover

If you like a bit of funk in your life, you should check out The Bamboos new single, which is an excellent cover of Kings of Leon classic "King Of The Rodeo". Aussie outfit The Bamboos are masters of raw, old school funk breaks and super heavy soul, and this single features silky vocals by emerging talent Megan Washington as well as a very cool video. We are absolutely loving this well produced, well executed cover version (and y'all know the Kings rule).

www.tru-thoughts.co.uk/video/king-of-the-rodeo-feat-megan-washington

www.myspace.com/thebamboos
www.myspace.com/kingsofleon

Exciting Fashion PR Opportunity in the South West

WANT TO WORK IN FASHION PR IN THE SOUTH WEST?

In the South West, it’s rare to find a company who are as dedicated to being as cutting edge, funky and fresh as PR company Coffin On Cake. The bright lights of London are no pull for these guys – they know that the South West is just as creative and buzzing as the capital, and their decision to be based in Devon is a wholehearted vote of confidence for our thriving creative scene. They work with a range of top fashion brands, skate/surf/streetwear companies and leading environmentally focused organisations. And they’re obviously doing something right, because their business is growing. They’re looking for recent PR/Marketing graduates and anyone interested in fashion PR for full time employment as well as internship candidates to work in their Plymouth based office. Opportunities like this don’t come around very often, so if you think you can cut the mustard, email hr@coffinoncake.com for more info. A shortlist of candidates will be selected and asked to attend an interview. All applications must be received no later than 20th August 2008.

Blogging, blogging, one two three... Is anyone out there?

So this is the first post on our new blog. Should we have something monumental to blog about? Or should we feast upon the opportunities for randomness and irrelevance that this offers? Actually, stuff that. We're hungry. All this talk of feasts has us salivating for snackage.

Cheerio

(We'll come back later and blog about snacks or something...Can't type on an empty stomach)...