Thursday, October 13th, 2011
Viva Sh*t Vegas, Yorkshire
Hello all…a quick word from my trundling Eastcoast mainline train to shed a little light on the upcoming nonsense we’ve got planned for the Brudenell Social Club gig on the 23rd October…a week on Sunday, my goodness doesn’t time fly?
It seems like the prospect of an easy-to-organise-turn-up-and-play-take-the-money-and-run show in lovely Leeds was just too much to bear and the powers that be in camp H&S have been burning the midnight oil, dusting off VHS copies of the ’68 comeback special, sending the sequined jumpsuit out to Johnson’s for a quick airing and perfecting the recipe for the King’s own peanut butter and banana fritter…it’s showtime down at Leeds’ own International Hotel as we turn The Faded Glory of the Brudnell Social Club and The Cabernet Cabaret of Hope and Social into Sh*t Vegas, Yorkshire. Yep, we’re summoning the spirit of the King for one more waltz around the merry-go-round…
So what to expect? Well our resident Handy Andy Ben Denison has been hard at work delving deep into the man draw and nailing the best part of £100′s worth of MDf together to make the The Hand of Hope and Social Spinny Near Death Roolette Wheel of Infinite Misfortune and Disappointment!…or WOF for short. We won’t spoil the magic but just know that there will be goody bags, public humiliation and ill-advised cover versions.
WOF in progress from Ben Denison on Vimeo.
Any requests for Elvis inspired items should be sent through to contact@hopeandsocial.com. Any requests for us to stop this stupidity and just play the songs should be sent to isecretlyadorecoldplay@hopeandsocial.com
Don’t let the prospect of another crushing Monday morning put you off…rage rage against the dying of the light…or as the King might say…a little less conversation, a little more action baby…tickets £7 from http://www.leedsgigtickets.co.uk/tickets/6090/
PS – Dressing is up is not only encouraged but will be rewarded with showerings of affection beyond your wildest dreams/nightmares.
PPS – We promise to take at least 10% of the evening seriously for anyone fearing that we might not be a credible band anymore. (Anymore?)
Monday, October 10th, 2011
Hope and Social Autumn Tour!
It’s that time again…. We’re hitting the road! Come see! Come play out… We’ve got some little crackers in here… We’ve had some amazing gigs this year already and it’s only getting better. And more tired. Much more tired. But we’ll forget the tiredness for somewhere between 45 minutes and 2 hours on each of these nights in October.
Bring it. Bring ROCKTOBER.
12/10/2011 Mello Mello (Free in) Liverpool http://www.yelp.co.uk/biz/mello-mello-liverpool
14/10/2011 Hartlepool Town Hall Theatre, Hartlepool - http://www.hartlepool.gov.uk/events/event/1462/
15/10/2011 Skipton Youth and Community Centre Skipton - headlining the Skip Songs youth festival – Contact Claire for more info claire.thompson@northyorks.gov.uk 0845 034 9538
We’re also being awesomely supported by Rosie. Amazing.
16/10/2011 Fibbers York http://www.seetickets.com/Event/HOPE-SOCIAL/Fibbers/583516
… With Rosie again!
20/10/2011 Hare and Hounds Birmingham http://hareandhoundskingsheath.co.uk/2011/08/01/hope-and-social/
22/10/2011 Bull and Gate London http://www.clubfandango.co.uk/bg_gig.php?id=2046
23/10/2011 Brudenell Social Club Leeds http://www.leedsgigtickets.co.uk/tickets/6090/
12/10/2011 Mello Mello, Liverpool
Mello Mello is a lovely tiny vegetarian cafe bar in Liverpool. Free in, we’ve had a number of awesomely chaotic gigs here in the past. Really really worth coming to if you live round that way…
14/10/2011 Hartlepool Town Hall Theatre
We’re so looking forward to this… The Town Hall Theatre in Hartlepool is an amazing venue – a classic Victorian Theatre which is rumoured TO BE HAUNTED. Haunted by ROCK maybe…. This gig also features the amazing Gina Dootson. Tickets are available here from the venue (warning – tickets not available online, YOU HAVE TO SPEAK TO A PERSON OR TURN UP ON THE DOOR). We love playing Hartlepool. A bunch of lunatics. Some of the very best… This will be grand.
15/10/2011 Skip Songs Festival Skipton
A festival of youth music from North Yorkshire. We’re headlining but there are some other great and much younger bands playing including the awesome Rosie who are just amazing (and whose album “Moustache” was mixed at our lovely crypt). Contact Claire for more info claire.thompson@northyorks.gov.uk 0845 034 9538
16/10/2011 Fibbers York
I reckon we’ve played Fibbers in York more times than Gary Barlow has sneakily had a pie sandwich and a half pint of double cream. Support from some lovely folks People in Airports (feat members of our secret and guilty crushes Shed 7)and the awesome Rosie again…
Hope and Social’s Big Hit in Bishop’s Stortford
Here’s all you need to know: http://abighit-eorg.eventbrite.com/
22/10/2011 Bull and Gate London
The Bull and Gate is a classic London venue. One of the only true independents left and possibly the only London venue that still has music 7 nights a week. Ace line up including our very own Gary Stewart, and the awesome awesome Emily Baker – http://www.clubfandango.co.uk/bg_gig.php?id=2046
23/10/2011 Brudenell Social Club Leeds
This is the last date of the tour. The big daddy. We got big plans. Big secrets. We can’t say too much. We can say this:
Peanut Butter
Bacon
The excitement/the show/the tacky glamour
SHIT VEGAS
All will become clear. Dress for Vegas baby… DRESS FOR VEGAS.
Thursday, September 29th, 2011
Bring The Happy
The Bring the Happy Room is readying
Tonight Hope and Social are at the Northern Ballet, Leeds, with interactive arts trio Invisible Flock. Tonight’s performance of Bring The Happy is the culmination of months of work for the Invisible Flock team. It’s a gorgeous project, and they’re a proper lovely bunch to boot.
In autumn 2010, Bring the Happy took over 3 disused shop spaces in Leeds city cent, visited 10 local schools to collect, and collate the happy memories of the people of Leeds, mapping these memories to a giant interactive map. The map currently includes over 1,300 memories.
The Grand Piano at Northern Ballet
Some of the memories are just beautiful. They range from the poignant and heartwarming, through funny, to tear-jerking. Hope and Social are (appropriately) very happy to be involved. It’s a privilege to be invited into these people’s memories.
We’ve been working up some songs to accompany the memories and be part of the story-telling this evening, so there is brand new Hope and Social material to be heard this evening.
The Ballad of Leeds
Tickets are still available from Northern Ballet. If you can make it, it’s going to be a lovely evening. Highly recommended… and it’s not just coz we’re in it. ;)
Hope to see you tonight.
The "Bring The Happy" Map
Monday, July 25th, 2011
Sleep Sound, where you lay
When Malcolm and I were asked to help out with preparations for the #hsgardenparty, we jumped at the chance. We’re both creatives; making and designing for a living, but the Hope and Social projects we have worked on in the past haven’t just produced some of the work we are most proud of; we’ve had proper good fun doing it at the same time.
The brief was characteristically loose. Make a beautiful hammock where people could lie back, listen to music and stories and relax. Oh, and H&S-themed too please (if possible). Different ideas swirled back and forth in emails and Skype chats, but eventually the penny dropped when Ben recalled the opening line of the album, which was right under our nose the whole time.
“Sleep Sound where you lay…”
Sleep Sound hammock – First stage complete…
Friday, July 22nd, 2011
Garden Party – Hammock Stage Music
Acoustic music and hanging seating, a match made in heaven…
OK, so you’ve heard all about the rather magnificent music line up on the garden party main stage but you know what’s missing? Hammocks, that’s what. Scientific studies have shown that a full day of string bands, swing, dancing, mahoosive choirs and overly-excited Butlins escapees can cause potentially lethal inflammation of the giddiness gland and increased risk of Denison Syndrome.
Sleep Sound baby…
Now, if I could be bothered to locate and ask a Doctor I’m pretty sure that he’d prescribe several doses of Hammock throughout the day to allow your bodies to recover. Somewhere where you can lay back, take a break, have a drink and possibly plot the best way to steal goodies from the bake-off without Heather spotting you and having to use her teacher voice and/or whistle.
(more…)
Thursday, June 30th, 2011
RH: So, what’s Kirkstall Festival all about then?
Why Kirkstall Festival Is So Great
A H&S set… …Set in The Cloisters
Thanks to Dirk of http://ginader.com for the picture
Hope and Social are to play the lovely lovely Kirkstall Festival on Saturday 9th of July. We’ll be playing in The Cloisters (pictured above) around 2-30pm… Pretty isn’t it?
A bit of background…
The other week I caught up with festival stalwart and co-ordinator with Alan Crump to talk about the festival.
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Kirstall Festival
AC: Kirkstall Festival is a community festival organisaed by the Kirkstall Valley Community Association. It is now over 30 years old and is held in the grounds of Kirkstall Abbey. It has grown into a colourful and inclusive event that encourages all parts of the community to join in from the very youngest to those with a few more years under their belts. It has been described as the ‘best urban village fair’ there is but I’m not sure that is a category. Kirkstall Festival remains essentially a free event – we ask those coming along to buy a programme to help pay for the fun and games. Lots of local organisations get involved and raise lots for charity though their stalls and activities on the day. Mind you there are only so many tombolas one person can manage!
And how did you get involved?
Now that’s down the demon drink I’m afraid…living up the road from the Abbey… Kikrstall Festival was must on our summer diary. So that usually meant picnic blanket, cakes and nibbles and a box of wine. After a particularly fine afternoon and one too many glasses of Chilean white I strode purposefully up the information desk and volunteered my “‘umble services”. Little did I know then that I would be faced with becoming the events co-ordinator and everything else that goes on. The thing is that during the day the committee are rightly on an alcohol ban… so no more Chilean white for me. The up-side is of course that I can book Hope and Social and other great performers to do their thing.
That’s lovely of you to say Alan. ;)
It seems to me like this is a festival very much “for the people”, how do you go about making it feel so inclusive?
Huxley's Dog "Odlum" enjoyed Kirkstall Festival '09
For the people, by the people, through the people…it is absolutely essential to involve as many different age groups, different agencies and perspectives as possible in the Festival so that everyone can feel they fit in somewhere. We always make sure that local schools are involved in as many parts of the day as possible. This goes for local performers, local groups and organisations. Also its important to keep somethings recognisable and the same while slowly introducing new ideas. As long as it remains community orientatated at its core it will succeed.
What are you most looking forward to?
I suppose I should say the Kirkstall Festival debut performance of Hope and Social…and I’m sure it will be a real show stopper however I look forward to the whole day and everyone enjoying themselves.. both performers and Leeds finest.
Year on year… What is steals the show?
That’s a hard one…musically in recent times the Youth Stage has produced some absolutely stunning youngsters who obviously have massive potential ahead..the Leeds Youth Jazz Rock Orchestra are always brilliant and they have played every year since I started and BassaBassa inject a certain Festival energy that is hard to beat…they are all show stealers in their own way. However I have a special spot for Pete White and his Suitcase Circus which is zany and irreverant.
And what made you think that getting 8 blue-jacketed buffoons along would be good for the festival?
Because H&S are a brilliant live act and from what I can see they love an interesting venue. Those who knew H&S have been suggesting they would fit in perfectly at Kirkstall Festival and we do love a big sound. I also recognised that buffoons or not they also appreciated the importance of local performance, community involvement and having a great time.
And two last quick ones…
How will we recognise you at the festival? A carnation in your collar?
Usually silly hat and shorts, high viz jacket and a pensive look. I will add a carnation for this year
Best food at a festival ever?
I know that…organic humous and sausage butties…made by the Millrace Organic Restaurant..unfortunately no longer around! Wow.
However there is always great food for all tastes at the Festival..so no-one need go hungry.
Last words?
It all kicks off at 11am and finishes at 6pm
Hope and Social have their debut KF performance at 2.30pm
Please buy a programme and keep a community festival alive
AC
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We’re also looking very much to garner a bit of your support helping us deck out that wonderful space if you’re able… and willing. Alan Crump, festival stalwart and co-ordinator has been rumoured to be investing in a bunch of Hope and Social coloured balloons and bunting, and if you want to help us put our blue and white stamp on this amazing piece of architecture and culture.
If you can make it, and want to get down around 11am, please pop your name down in the comments below and make your presence felt. ;)
Also, if you do want to know a bit more, here’s the flyer for the event, but don’t forget to buy the programme. That’s helps support the good people. ;)
If you want to connect with the KF lovelies further, you can find Kirkstall Festival on twitter too.
Wednesday, June 29th, 2011
Party Food
One of the best things about doing Hope and Social events is that we get the to show off the things we love in Yorkshire.
We are lucky to be able to bring a small but enthusiastic audience to things that we feel are special in some way.
There will be some amazing music and whole host of creative and fun games to get involved in our Garden Party , plenty more on that soon, but first we want to tell you about the food….oh the foooood……..and lay down a challenge for the National Cupcake Champions of Great Britain!
I swear confidently on my ever expanding waist-line that we will be blessed with some of the finest food available to humanity on 31st July. Our sun soaked alfresco suppers will be prepared and served by some of the most exciting, passionate, creative independent foodies in our region. Life will never have tasted so good.
For the following reasons, bring an empty stomach…..
Sunshine Bakery
The Sunshine Bakery, National Cupcake Champions of Great Britain! At our Garden Party? Oh yeah.
When David Bennett, former chef for Marco Pierre-White, replied to our email saying that they would love to be involved and “would it be possible to have 2 girls dressed up in 50′s clothing walking around selling our cupcakes and brownies out of boxes” we of course politely declined and told him thats not something we are into. No! No we chuffing didn’t! We did a little excited cup cake dance. You know the one.
When David went on to talk about his ideas for “Chuck a Tea-Bag, Win a Cup Cake” and “Russian Canapé Roulette”, we did another little dance. A different, but equally excited asymmetrical dance.
However, as we all know, you are only as good as your last cake, sooooo…. we have a little challenge for reigning Cupcake Champions of Great Britain..
….we here by invite the Sunshine Bakery team to take on the might of Hope and Socials finest bakers, to do battle in “The Great Hope and Social Bake Off” for the coveted title of “Hope and Social Dough King/Queen”.
So come on our lot, its time to pit your measuring spoons against the best around; just bring along your Hope and Social themed baking wonders on the day to join in the fun. (It will be hard to beat @amybalmain‘s kazoo cookies! )
Our reigning Dough Queen @heathermarsden will be pulling together an esteemed panel of judges (I wonder who it could be!) to taste your delights and decide who is fit to wear “The Great Hope and Social Bake Off Baking Foil Crown!”
It could get nasty. Dough will be spilled.
Tuesday, June 28th, 2011
Party, Party, Party! Garden Party!
So you may have caught up with this on that there Facebook, or Twitter… but for anyone who doesn’t already know…Hope and Social are bloomin’ chuffed to announce (after much deliberation, a few tears and a nervous breakdown) our next event …
… the Hope and Social Garden Party (#hsgardenparty if you’re on twitter) is GO!
Ladies and Jellyspoons... The next #hopeandsocial event is live. Introducing the #hsgardenpartyhttp://is.gd/hsgardenparty
@hopeandsocial
Hope and Social
What can I expect?
photo by Gavin Freeborn
In short… lots. If you’ve been to one of our events before you’ll know the kind of thing you can expect. If you don’t know our history with events we’ve done all sorts: A bistro night with a wine bottle orchestra, a trip to the seaside, a beer crawl and a big band … here‘s a bit more info on our previous events.
Aw c’mon, what stuff?
Well we’re going to be releasing a number of blogs about the garden part in the coming days and weeks but to give you a little taster….
We’ll be making art and having fun on the day. Think daft games, think Kids (and adults for that matter) Creative Projects“, think Messy Play.
There will be great foods made by brilliant and independent food peeps of Leeds, there will be wonderful beer, there will be games, and there will be music music music to dance the night away and there will be charity (25% of all profit will go to suitable local charities).
Where?
We chose The Old Rectory in Mirfield for a number of reasons. Firstly, it’s gorgeous; a stunning Grade II Listed Building in the heart of West Yorkshire. Timber framed and built circa 1300. It’s minutes from where Ed grew up and it has quite a history if you’re into that sort of thing. Secondly, it’s just around the corner from the crypt; our studio and home from home. Thirdly… this is the view from the stage… Have a look around!
… and also, its owned and run by the lovely, ace (and ever so slightly bonkers) @annjj. A gem by anyone’s standards. Rich has played there before, and it’s a magical place with secret corners, a fire-pit, and lots of open space for lounging and for the stuff we’ve got planned.
What do I need to do?
Well, we’ll be using the ticket list to send you emails about what you need to prepare for so first things first, get your space reserved. We’ve sold a lot of tickets already so please do book in advance to avoid any disappointment. You can make a start now though. Wash your strawberries (fnaw), shake out your picnic blanket, gaffer tape last year’s sandals back together and apply your factor 50 sunblock for an afternoon of good old fashioned English summer fun.
Share and Share alike
In terms of numbers, this’ll be our largest event so far, so if you’ve wanted to bring any family, friends, work-mates, loved ones, tolerated ones, royalty or ruffians (right of admission refused) then this is a good one to share around. Please do feel free to tweet this page (there’s a button at the top look!), share it on your facebook profile, tell your mates. If they need convincing, this video from our Come Dine With Us night (by “Shot By Sodium“) is still one the best ways to introduce the band. ;)
Tickets £15 (under 14s free) and are selling fast at http://www.hsgardenparty.eventbrite.com.
If anyone wants to get involved in helping out, we are looking for a sober first aider, marshalls who are happy in blue high viz, burger flippers, ice cream men or women, and friendly reliable trustworthy bar staff who know how to pull pints of Ho Ho Hope and Social faster than we can drink them (Very fast).
And if you’ve any ideas about other stuff we can do, bang it in the comments below. We’re not promising… but y’know we like involving you in what we do. Remember, without you, we are nothing. So come play out and celebrate summer, Sleep Sound and the #hsgardenparty with us.
See you there.
Love from all of H&S x
xR
