Festival Previews Video Blog

I recently came across Bill Gates’ speech to the students of Mt. Whitney High School in Visalia, California. As he leaves Microsoft for pastures new you either love him or hate him, but he sure hits the nail on the head with this one!

Singapore, an island and city situated at the southern extremity of the Malay peninsula is today one of Asia’s major cultural capitals of the world. The Singapore Arts Festival / 新加坡艺术节 concluded yesterday (23rd May - 22nd June) with local and international artists performing music, dance and theatre as well as the indulgent delights of the visual arts. Started in 1977, this is an international Arts Festival with a uniquely Asian flavour. It remains after three decades a tour de force being the largest arts festival in Singapore. Artists come from 20 countries performing over 500 events and attracting audience of up to 700,000 plus. With three decades behind them this is an arts festival to explore with a difference.

I first met Gloria, a highly talented French Playwrite, at the Edinburgh 2006 Fringe and struck up a friendship as we prepared her Virtual Flyer for her show, Filles de Kronos. We have maintained contact ever since.

Gloria recently sent me a link to Steve Jobs’ Stanford Commencement Speech. When I watched it, I was blown away, this is such an amazing man! I just had to share it with you. Longish, but every word is worth absorbing. Thanks Gloria!

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The Rainbow Chorus will be performing on stage with Europe’s largest and best known gay choir London Gay Men’s Chorus at the Theatre Royal in Brighton on Sunday 15th June 2008. For tickets check out the Theatre Royal in Brighton. (I have jut been informed that this show has unfortunately been cancelled).

During this contemporary and classical concert The Rainbow Chorus will perform ‘Sure on Shining’ and ‘Homophobia’. ‘Songs Of Innocence’ examines how experience alters our perception of love, friendship, relationships which leaves us sometimes chastened but always wiser.

The Rainbow Chorus has really gone Fringe this year! They opened the Brighton Festival Fringe with their concert ‘Romantic Reaction’ including an excellent performance of Poulenc’s masterpiece ‘Gloria’.

On top of that they also starred alongside country pop icon Tina C. aka, the multi-talented, Christopher Green at the ‘Udderbelly Venue’ on the 15-17th May during the Brighton Festival Fringe.

On Saturday 17th May, The Rainbow Chorus joined the IDAHO Event (International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Tansphobia) which took place on the Brighton Sea Front.

On Saturday 2nd August The Rainbow Chorus will join Brighton Pride around the World Parade on the theme of Paris! Expect some ‘Frenchy’ choir girls and boys dressed up to celebrate La Vie en Rose!

When we think of festivals in Switzerland we immediately think of the famous Montreux Jazz Festival. Yet Switzerland has masses of festivals held in towns and villages all over the country.

Antony and his band 7 Dollar Taxi contacted us during the Brighton Fringe to tell us about the Open-Air Hoch-Ybrig. The Open-air Hoch-Ybrig or Hoch-Ybrig Open-Air Festival starts this Friday (13th June and runs through to Monday 16th June). With over 10,000 festival-goers, this is the biggest festival featuring Swiss bands. The festival is located in the idyllic mountainous Alps about 1,000 metres above sea level. Hoch-Ybrig rocks for three days with the line-up seeing a lot of mainstream pop bands taking the stage.

7 $ Taxi are performing their brilliant song, “Do the Robot” which you can check out below. I have asked them to keep me posted about other festivals they are performing at in Switzerland over the summer months. So watch this space…