or a tale of possibilities.
If youre busy and youre involved in arts or entertainment, you often dont find time to relax until pretty late in the evening (for that matter this is true of many people living life at today’s speed) – hence I was glad to get a couple of late drinks in at the Hare and Hounds on Saturday and even more so for a few glasses of punch at a private party at the Green Street Warehouse after that.
Green Street is a tragic tale of lost potential – Sean, son of Spotted Dog landlord John Tighe, worked hard on exciting plans to turn a disused warehouse into a space for music, parties, exhibitions and family events. An all purpose community space. Planning permission was refused due to some plans to redevelop the area at some point. The warehouse is empty most of the time.
After an enjoyable day sweeping up and unloading a van full of sound equipment at the nearby Rainbow Warehouse for next weeks’ Project X Presents, a quick pint or two at the market tavern (playing host to a very eclectic seletion of open mic singers, comics and poets) off to catch the last performance of Reality Estate. This fine production feautured 300 participants in 3 places with 3 professional and 3 community choirs with the stated aim of singing Birmingham’s truths.
As a big fan of choral music (Church Choir, National Youth Choir, CBSO Chorus and life long Beach Boys nut) I found it wonderful to be wandering in and out of the bleak, gaudy shopping centres and tatty concrete estates of Five Ways, being beguiled by groups or individual voices and lead around by charming and amusing guides. It seems to me that our generations have somewhat lost our voice due to the great diversification of culture, but here it was in its fullest effect. The brilliant use of external space made me think “project x turned inside out”. Stunning work from Friction Arts and all concerned.
Finally the last couple of pints at the Prince of Wales, catching Del Camino on superb form – those boys can *really* play – here again the perhaps more of a glimpse of what might have been since the Prince are under constant pressure not to have music in the garden. It upsets the poor neighbours!
Rich
Xx