The iTunes Festival

OK, so before I get “blogging”, allow me to introduce myself. My name’s Ashley James, female, aged 22. I’m one of the new additions to the team.

Interests: Boris Johnson (!)
Skills: Having the remarkable ability to refer to Boris in any topic of conversation
Dislikes: Abbreviations, bad manners, P.D.A (public displays of affection)

If I’m honest, I’m a blog virgin - yup that's right, this is my first time! I’m slightly more traditional when it comes to writing, so don’t expect too much of me (or any cyber chat!).

Anyway, let’s get down to business. I thought I’d write about the iTunes Festival I went to at the Roundhouse in Camden last night. I applied a while back because one of my favourite bands, Mumford & Sons (check them out), were due to play. What an amazing bonus that The Temper Trap and the one and only Stephen Fry were added to the evening’s line up! I invited one of my best friends, Amelia, as it was her birthday a few days before – and being a recent graduate, my bank is still suffering (or is it the credit crunch...) so I couldn’t splash out on anything for her.

So, in chronological order ... Stephen Fry! Taking us right back beyond even his years (no offense Sir) to the time of the caveman, Stephen talked us through the history of music. Here’s a great fact (it interested me anyway) – tape cassettes were invented by the Nazis during World War 2! He also, somewhat controversially, defended illegal downloading – if you’re a student and you love music but can’t afford to pay for it, then you cannot be labelled a criminal (according to Mr Fry – I’m staying out of it!). Next, the Temper Trap – what an amazing front man, his voice is incredible. I love the song Sweet Disposition, which I knew before, but I found their other stuff a little heavy, although I definitely can’t knock their passionate performance. And now the main act – Mumford & Sons. They were aaaaah-mazing. The lead singer, Marcus, is a born performer. They all play so many different instruments (all at once) – I really hope they go far.
Something else that really can’t go unmentioned is the couple that were stood in front of us – other than their uncomfortable displays of P.D.A - when the guy went to the loo, the girl was slightly edgy about being parted from him for so long and continued to call him non-stop (he was in her phone as fiancé)... !

All in all an amazing evening – you can’t knock anything that is free. I recommend applying for one of their other evenings.

Anyway, in the words of Bugs Bunny... That’s all folks!
Ash xx

Silent Cinema – An Idividual, Group Experience

Following hot on the heels of this Summer’s festival sensation Silent Disco, comes a new vision in decibally-challenged entertainment... Silent Cinema.

Due for it’s red carpet premiere on October 31st this year at London’s Andaz Hotel, “Silent Cinema will be a world first” claims it’s creator Damian Barr – journalist for The Times and playwright for BBC Radio 4. Damian came up with the idea through the realisation of a personal conundrum – while he knew that he was passionate about movies, he often found himself irritated by what he descibes as the “extra soundtrack.”

The premise is fantastically simple; you love films on the big screen but can’t stand the noise from your neighbours? Then Silent Cinema may be the answer. Take classic films, add big fat wireless headphones, minus the noise pollution; the scrunching of wrappers, crunching of popcorn, slurping of drinks, the people behind you whispering, chatting, coughing, shhhhhhh!... and you have Silent Cinema.

Initial feedback on the idea has been overwhelmingly positive and now that the concept’s grand unveiling is imminent, Damian claims that “People are gagging for it to launch!” It could well be a coming of age for the cinematic experience, and it’s all about quality films (you are unlikely to catch the latest Scary Movie at a Silent Cinema screening). The very first film to be shown, fittingly on October 31st (Halloween) will be Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining, one for the more discerning movie-goer.

By May next year, Silent Cinema will have travelled south for a series of public screenings in Brighton’s Jubilee Square to coincide with the advent of the Brighton Festival (the 2nd biggest arts festival in Europe – after Edinburgh) and whilst this is currently a leftfield venture, Damian believes that a move into the mainstream is a definate possibility for the future as he points out that “Most things that start off edgy, move toward the centre at some point,” so fingers crossed that a silent cinema will be popping-up in a public space near you soon.

• Silent Cinema uses a combination of tried and tested technology from cinema and Silent Disco.



• Just put on your wireless headphones, sit back and relax.



• Because there is no noise pollution, the cinema-sized screen can be projected on to a wall anywhere.



• If you need to run to the toilet, you can do so with your headphones on so you won’t miss any of the action.

Silent Cinema, Andaz Hotel, 40 Liverpool Street, London EC2 (020-7618 5061; http://www.ticketweb.com/). Programme: The Shining, Oct 31; Charlie Brown’s Thanksgiving and The Ice Storm, Nov 23; It’s a Wonderful Life plus an unseasonal horror, Dec 14 2008