Guide Cats on Myspace

Subject: Guide Cats on Myspace
From: Acorn4
Date: 18 Jan 09 - 05:50 PM

"Guide Cats for the Blind" featuring the poems of Les Barker now has a Myspace page. Guidecats aims to raise funds for the British Computer Association of the Blind's "EyeT4all" project.


http://www.myspace.com/guidecatsfortheblind

Subject: RE: Guide Cats on Myspace
From: katlaughing
Date: 18 Jan 09 - 06:52 PM

How neat there is such an organisation born out of such works as his and how generous of him to give them complete access to his works to raise funds! I've got his CD with this, but it is always fun to hear. Thanks for the link!

Subject: RE: Guide Cats on Myspace
From: Acorn4
Date: 18 Jan 09 - 07:52 PM

There will be a few more tracks on it shortly hopefully - it's very much "work in progess".

Subject: RE: Guide Cats on Myspace
From: Acorn4
Date: 19 Jan 09 - 05:21 AM

Many thanks to all those who've linked with "Guidecats" already:-

Debra
Fox and Hounds
Fab Club
Tom
Folks at Orpington

Keep those links a coming!

Subject: RE: Guide Cats on Myspace
From: Acorn4
Date: 19 Jan 09 - 05:23 AM

That's Tom Bliss, by the way, not to get confused with that freebie bloke you get automatically when you join up to Myspace!

Subject: RE: Guide Cats on Myspace
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 19 Jan 09 - 05:28 AM

Oh, brilliant! Les should carry a Health and Safety warning though, because he puts great stress on the ribcage! :0)

I'm almost in tears listening to this, he's soooo funny!

Great page, great idea.

Subject: RE: Guide Cats on Myspace
From: Acorn4
Date: 19 Jan 09 - 05:30 AM

thnks for joining, Lizzie, just done your link.

Subject: RE: Guide Cats on Myspace
From: jeffp
Date: 19 Jan 09 - 11:32 PM

Just sent a friend request.

Subject: RE: Guide Cats on Myspace
From: Fidjit
Date: 20 Jan 09 - 03:38 AM

Me too

And I've told my cat to start training.

Chas

Subject: RE: Guide Cats on Myspace
From: Acorn4
Date: 20 Jan 09 - 04:06 AM

Fidjit
Jeff
Virginia Tam

Done your links.

Thanks!

Subject: RE: Guide Cats on Myspace
From: Acorn4
Date: 21 Jan 09 - 05:14 AM

Thanks to :-

Cooper and Nelson
Jeff Porterfield
Malc Gurnham
Mandotim
February Sky

done your links.

Subject: RE: Guide Cats on Myspace
From: Acorn4
Date: 21 Jan 09 - 11:28 AM

and John Barden .. thanks, John.

Subject: RE: Guide Cats on Myspace
From: Phil Cooper
Date: 21 Jan 09 - 03:41 PM

Who wouldn't want to be a myspace friend of Guide Cats for the Blind. I really liked Cindy Mangsen's musical setting of the poem on her Cat album.

Subject: RE: Guide Cats on Myspace
From: Acorn4
Date: 23 Jan 09 - 03:55 AM

Recently added:-

John Barden
George Papavgeris
Eileen McGann

Thanks !

Subject: RE: Guide Cats on Myspace
From: Acorn4
Date: 23 Jan 09 - 06:20 AM

..and Duncan McFarlane, thanks.

Subject: RE: Guide Cats on Myspace
From: BusyBee Paul
Date: 23 Jan 09 - 07:52 AM

I'll be there shortly - Deirdre

Subject: RE: Guide Cats on Myspace
From: Acorn4
Date: 26 Jan 09 - 11:45 AM

Links form:-

Deirdre
Flossie Malavialle
Andy Pigg (Faversham Folk Club)

Guidecats also has a "Facebook" page to link uo with at:-


"Guide Cats forthe Blind" on Facebook.

Subject: RE: Guide Cats on Myspace
From: Declan
Date: 26 Jan 09 - 08:06 PM

Is that you Clive?

You may not know me but I've played in the Bedford session with you many times in Sidmouth and have bought all the CDs to date. Myspace request on its way. Keep up the good work. Declan.

Subject: RE: Guide Cats on Myspace
From: Acorn4
Date: 27 Jan 09 - 12:18 PM

Clive's has asked me to run the page for Guidecats, but I'm in touch with him every couple of days and will tell him you've linked to the site.

Subject: RE: Guide Cats on Myspace
From: Acorn4
Date: 18 Feb 09 - 05:48 PM

Les will be a guest on "BBC Three Counties Radio" this Friday 20th Feb on the afternoon show which runs between 2.00 and 4.30pm hosted by Lorna Milton. Not sure if he will be discussing the Poet Laureateship or Guidecats but he will , I would think, undoubtedly be reading some poems.

Many thanks to all those of you who've linked up with the Guide Cats Myspace page.

Link to Three Counties Radio

Subject: RE: Guide Cats on Myspace
From: Kampervan
Date: 18 Feb 09 - 08:25 PM

To anyone who hasn't got these CDs, I have to say, IMHO, they are brilliant.

Apart from Les Barkers great composition, the choice of speaker/singer for each track is inspired. As purely commercial offerings they are well worth the money, but when you add in the good cause that they are supporting then they are great value.

I've got no axe to grind I'm not involved in any way. I just got the CDs after picking up on this thread.

Great work guys, but please make sure that 'Administerium' doesn't get a look in to your organisation!!!

Subject: RE: Guide Cats on Myspace
From: Acorn4
Date: 22 Feb 09 - 05:47 PM

Note the following up and coming Les Barker gigs:-

Thurs 26th Feb: The Boar Hound, Macclesfield.
Sun 1st March: The Sun, Hitchin.
Tues 3rd March: The Folk Cellar, Central Theatre, Chataham.
Friday 20th March, The Conservative Club, Leigh

further details on the Guidecats Myspace page:-


Guide Cats Myspace Page

Subject: RE: Guide Cats on Myspace
From: Acorn4
Date: 22 Feb 09 - 06:20 PM

also:-

Alan Titchmarsh gave a superb plug to the Guide Cats for the Blind albums
and the British Computer Association of the Blind on tonight's Melodies for
you. He talked about Peter Bosher visiting him at the TV studios, and
recording a poem by Les Barker called Mid Life Crocus for the next album,
then played "Garden Waste" by Jenny Agutter from volume 3, Top Cat White Tie
and Tails.

You can catch the track and surrounding link at about 1 hour 15 minutes into
the programme, by following the "listen again" link on the Radio 2 page for
Alan Titchmarsh, the address of which is:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/shows/titchmarsh/

Subject: RE: Guide Cats on Myspace
From: wrotham-arms-jen
Date: 23 Feb 09 - 08:05 AM

have invited you to be my friend on myspace
i have one of the cds - very entertaining and a great cause
jen

Subject: RE: Guide Cats on Myspace
From: Acorn4
Date: 23 Feb 09 - 11:41 AM

Jen

Just done your link, thanks.

Subject: RE: Guide Cats on Myspace
From: Phil Cooper
Date: 23 Feb 09 - 04:08 PM

Been trying to add guide cats as one of my facebook friends, but have not had any luck.

Subject: RE: Guide Cats on Myspace
From: Acorn4
Date: 24 Feb 09 - 04:00 AM

Thanks to Twickfolk, Life and Times, Eric McKEuen, Wrotham Arms, Wounded John - done your links.

Phil Cooper -if you still don't have any luck, PM me with your Myspace address and I'll do it from this end.

Subject: RE: Guide Cats on Myspace
From: Acorn4
Date: 25 Feb 09 - 05:16 AM

Hi all,

Following the good plug given to Guide Cats for the Blind on Melodies for You with Alan Titchmarsh last Sunday (still available on Listen Again till March 1st), BBC Radio Stoke's Nick Robbins interviewed Les Barker on the Afternoon show today between 1.30 and 1.45, ahead of his appearance at the Boar Hound in Macclesfield on Thursday Night. This interview comes 30 minutes into the programme, and features a play of Paul Gambaccini's track from the first volume, "The last but one of the Mohicans". If you live in the Stoke and Staffordshire area, why not give the interview a listen on line and contact Nick with some positive feedback and requests for more tracks from the series and from Les himself.    You can do this by visiting
www.bbc.co.uk/radiostoke, then go to "Schedules" page, then hit the "Listen" link for the programme marked 24.02.09. BTW, Nick does mystery voice competitions, and I think that soundbites from celebrity readings of other tracks would make good competitions subjects.

One fact in the nick Robbins interview that emerged which I didn't know was that the largest crowds to whom Les has performed have been about fifteen thousand Strong, at festivals in Canada and the USA.

The next radio interview I know of is due on BBC radio Kent at around 8.15 am on Saturday 28th February.

Best,
Clive

Radio Stoke Link

Subject: RE: Guide Cats on Myspace
From: Acorn4
Date: 25 Feb 09 - 05:19 AM

... and thanks to the following for links:-

Winchester Mayfest
Norman

Subject: RE: Guide Cats on Myspace
From: Acorn4
Date: 26 Feb 09 - 04:21 AM

George Wilson -thanks for your link! Done.

Subject: RE: Guide Cats on Myspace
From: GUEST,Tom Bliss
Date: 26 Feb 09 - 04:34 AM

My two tracks for the next CD, Hedgehogs (with Louis de Bernieres) and Van Gogh, went in the post to Clive last night.

Subject: RE: Guide Cats on Myspace
From: Acorn4
Date: 12 Mar 09 - 05:52 AM

Living Tradition
Herga Folk

Done your links -thanks!

Subject: RE: Guide Cats on Myspace
From: Acorn4
Date: 15 Mar 09 - 05:58 PM

Many thanks for your links:-

Don Thompson
Norman
Roy Clinging
Brendan Devereux

Done them!

Subject: RE: Guide Cats on Myspace
From: Acorn4
Date: 29 Mar 09 - 05:12 PM

Eileen McGann has just completed "Though I Live Not Near the Louvre" for "Catnav", and the final tracklist for the album has now been decided and will be published shortly.

Sedayne
Herga Folk (Kitty?)

Thanks for the links - done!

Subject: RE: Guide Cats on Myspace
From: Acorn4
Date: 02 Apr 09 - 03:11 PM

Make a note of the following April Les Barker gigs to see if any are in your area:-

Note these up and coming LB gigs:-

Thurs 2. The Labour Club, 12 Belmont Rd, Whitstable, CT5 1QP (tonight!)

Tel: [phone] Tickets £7.00/£5.00 -- From 7.30 p.m.

Sun 5. Swan In The Rushes, 21 The Rushes, Loughborough, Leicestershire LE11 5BE

Tel: [phone] Tickets £8.00 – From 7.30 p.m.

Mon 6. The Brown Jug, Sandbeds Road, Shortheath, Willenhall, WV12 4EY

Tel: [phone] Tickets £5.00 -- From 7.30 p.m.

Wed 8. The Queens Theatre, Boutport St, Barnstaple, Devon, EX 31 1SY

Tel: [phone] Tickets £8.00 – From 8.00 p.m.

9 Easter Festival, Gosport, 01329 231942 INFORMATION APPLIED FOR

Sat 25. The Davy Lamp Folk Club, Biddick Lane, Fatfield, District 7, Washington, Tyne & Wear, NE38 8AB

Tel: [phone] Tickets £5.00 – From 7.30 p.m.

Mr Smith
Phil Hare
Life and Times

Thanks for your links.

Can we get it up to the 50 beforee Easter?

Subject: RE: Guide Cats on Myspace
From: Acorn4
Date: 27 Apr 09 - 12:27 PM

The production of the fourth in the series of "Guide Cats" albums is now getting to the final stages. It will be called "Catnav" and some of the Les Barker tracks that will be featured are:-

What Is? by Nik Kershaw
The Lost Elephants of Denibgh by The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams.
Quasi B Goode   by John Benns with Fairport
Non Stick Pan by Mikey Hughes (Big Brother contestant).
Hip Hop Hamley by The Mrs Ackroyd Band.

Note the following Les Barker gigs coming up in May:-

Fri 1: Wath Festival, Montgomery Hall, Church Street, Wath upon Dearne, Rotherham, S63 7RD Tel:[phone]   Ticket £15.00 -from 7.30pm

Thurs 14th: The Maudslay, 190 Allesley Old Road, Coventry, W.Mids CV5 8GJ Tel: [phone] Tickets;£8.00/£7.00 in advance from 7.30.

Sat 16th: Berwyn Festival, the Ceirog Centenary Hall, Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceirog, LL20 7LD Tel: [phone] Tickets £2.00 entrance fee -all day festival of music, arts and food.

Mon 25th: Chippenham Folk Festival, The Cause Music and Arts Centre, The Causeway, Chippenham, Wiltshire, SN15 3DD Tel: [phone].

Subject: RE: Guide Cats on Myspace
From: Acorn4
Date: 29 Apr 09 - 04:25 AM

Thanks for your links:-

Rudeigin
Zoe
Dead Slow

All done -that takes us over the 50!

Subject: RE: Guide Cats on Myspace
From: Acorn4
Date: 30 Apr 09 - 06:00 PM

Message from Clive:-

The Guide Cats for the Blind promotion team are looking for good quality recordings of a series broadcast on radio 2 in the run-up to Christmas in, we think, 1992. It was a six-part series called "Mrs Ackroyd Explores Her Roots", featuring the work of Les Barker and his partners in musical crime, The Mrs Ackroyd Band. We are on a mission to try to get it re-broadcast on Radio 7, but first need to satisfy ourselves that broadcastable recordings still exist. Any information? please email
[e-mail]
or
[e-mail]

Subject: RE: Guide Cats on Myspace
From: Acorn4
Date: 01 Jun 09 - 05:56 PM

Note the following up and coming Les Barker gigs for June, mostly in the Northwest/Wales area.

Weds 3rd: The Clarence Hotel, 88 Preston New Road, Blackpool, FY4 4HG.

Tel: [phone] : Tickets £5.00 from 8.00pm

******************************************************************

Sat 6th: Folk on th Coast Festival, the O.C Sports and Leisure Club, 28 Bridle Road, Bromborough, Wirral. CH62 6AR

Tel: [phone] ;Tickets £15.00 or £25.00 for the whole day. Les on at 7.30 (but check this!)

*****************************************************************

Sat 13th: Stomp(Cymraeg!), clwb rygbi, Yr Wyddgrug,

Mold Rugby Club, Chester Road, Mold CH7 1LF

Tel:[phone] £5.00 from 7.30

A "stomp" is a Welsh language poetry slam.

***************************************************************

Sun 28th: Dent Folk Festival, Buck Bank Farm, Howgill Fells, Nr Sedbergh, Cumbria LA10 5QL Tel:[phone] Tickets £16.00 from 1.00pm

*************************************************************

Subject: RE: Guide Cats on Myspace
From: Acorn4
Date: 01 Jul 09 - 05:32 PM

Message from Les from his June newsletter; been very busy lately so have only just got round to posting it but will play catch up over these next couple of days:-

"Another splendid month gone by; some very enjoyable evenings. I began May
by carrying a bit of tree through the streets of Holywell (or Treffynnon
as we call it). It was ablackthorn, so I've stuck it in my garden in the
hope it'll grow some roots and survive to ontribute to future production
of sloe gin. It was good to be a symbol of rebirth for the day. There was
a suggestion that the person carrying the tree should be promoted to the
role of dressing up as a woman next year, but I've told them I need a few
more years to master the art of rebirth.

I probably coped reasonably well with being bilingual at Berwyn Festival;
I did an hour's poetry in the afternoon, then some MCing. I don't like
being an MC - too much mental multitasking, especially in two languages
- but it was good practice.

Popped along to Chester Folk Festival at the end of the month and saw
Keith Donnelly working with Flossie; well worth seeing. And then
Chippenham for the final Mrs Ackroyd Band gig, which went very well, as
did the final Mrs Ackroyd Band gig we did last July. Something to do with
rebirth, I expect.

One of my computers died last weekend, but fortunately it gave me a few
days' warning, so I was able to transfer everything useful to the other
one and then back to a new one. It has been reborn with Vista, which was
an interesting experience. Rebirth always"

Note these tow gigs at festivals this month:-

Sat 11th July: Stonehaven Festival, Town Hall, 36 Allardice Street, Aberdeenshire AB39 2BU -this is a gig with fellow comic Keith Donnelly as "Idiot and Friend" - those in the know will know not to try to go to the toilet during the gig, but there's always someone unsuspecting, isn't there?

The festival tickets are £18 and £15 - not sure if there are separate prices for single concerts -the time I have down is 7.30 and the contact is 07766 581596.



A week later Les is doing a solo spot at the "Festival at the Edge", Stokes Barn, Newton House farm, Much Wenlock, Shropshire TF13 6DB. There are separate tickets for all day Sat and Sat evening though I don't have a time for Les's slot for this one - contact is 01939 236626 or www.festivalattheedge.org

The new Guidecats Cd, fourth in the series is due out some time this month -make sure you get your copy!

Subject: RE: Guide Cats on Myspace
From: Acorn4
Date: 01 Jul 09 - 05:37 PM

...and a thanks to those of you who've linked to the site recently:-

Folk at the Forresters
Pete Willow
Dead Slow
Luminous
Norman
Gilly Kemp
George Wilson
Smoke's Welcome
Rock n'Reel

apologies to anyone I've forgotten!

Subject: RE: Guide Cats on Myspace
From: Acorn4
Date: 11 Jul 09 - 04:32 AM

David Stanley Boden sent a message to the members of Guide Cats for the Blind - the series.

--------------------
Subject: Cat Nav now out with special offer prices on all volumes

from now until Sunday night 19th July, to celebrate the release of Cat Nav (Guide Cats vol. 4), and British Computer Association of the Blind's Ruby anniversary, we
are waiving postal charges. Visit
http://www.facebook.com/l/;www.bcab.org.uk
NOW to order your copies.

First three volumes £6 per copy, vol. 4 (New), Cat Nav, £10 all in.
--------------------

To reply to this message, follow the link below:
http://www.facebook.com/n/?inbox/readmessage.php&t=1123138811416&mid=c1bb9dG2d2268daG20525a9G0

Subject: RE: Guide Cats on Myspace
From: Acorn4
Date: 11 Jul 09 - 04:33 AM

This is the link:-

http://www.facebook.com/l/;www.bcab.org.uk

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Thread closed temporarily because it's been a target for a heavy barrage of Spam. If you have something to add to the discussion, contact me and I'll reopen it.
-Joe Offer-