Festival Previews Video Blog

This is an amazing wee poem by Calvin Coolidge!

Persistence is what it’ all about!

Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence.
Talent will not; Nothing is more common than unsuccessful me with talent.
Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb.
Education will not; for the world is full of educated derelicts.
Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.
The slogan “Press On” has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.

The Brighton Festival of World Sacred Music commences today and runs till the 21^st October 2007. It is a festival celebrating sacred music from across the globe. It brings together many musicians from many faiths. Through their music, Buddhists, Christians, Muslims, Sikhs, Hindus, the Jewish faith and Native American Indians show us the variety of their traditions.

The World Festival of Sacred Music was first initiated by His Holiness the Dalai Lama in 1999. Its aim, with the dawn of the millennium was to mark a message of peace, cultural understanding, and spirituality for all. This 15 day festival is the largest and most diverse festival in Los Angles in the US. This three-yearly festival starts on 20^th Sept – 4^th October 2008.

Welcome back Jason! Good to see you have safely returned to the UK. We met Jason and Steve in Hilo on the Big Island of Hawai’i in April 1999. They were both taking a well deserved break as well as doing repairs to Moksha (their boat) before their next leg across the Pacific. I took Jason and Steve up Mauna Kea to visit the James Clark Maxwell Telescope and the UKIRT (United Kingdom Infrared Telescope). Whilst they enjoyed it I think they were tired and the altitude did not help!

Many, many congratulations on such a fantastic feat! We just can’t wait to read your book when it comes out! We still have your signed T-shirts! Check out Jason’s website.

The Swansea Festival of Music and Arts opens its doors today (5th October to 20th 2007). The Swansea Festival is the largest and longest-established event of its kind in Wales. It will be celebrating its 60th birthday in October 2008. The programme features orchestral concerts, theatre, jazz, dance, choral and chamber music.

The 11th Ards International Guitar Festival (4^th – 14^th October 2007) kicks off today. Their line-up includes some of the finest blues, folk, jazz, rock and classical guitarists performing at Newtownards Down in Northern Ireland. In addition to the formal programme this unique festival offers a series of free fringe concerts featuring some of the best local guitar talent around.