Guitar Improvisation Workshop – 22nd May, 1.30-5.00pm

If you’re a guitar player who wants to be able to jam better with other musicians, or are perhaps interested in playing  a different style of music but don’t know what to do on the fret board, or if you find yourself unable to come up with new ideas for soloing/ creating melodies, this workshop would be beneficial for you.

In the workshop, learn about various topics such as -

• How to create your own melodies, and make up interesting solos with feeling and expression to them.
• How to fit in to any impromptu musical scenario, applying appropriate stylistic awareness and melodic content. (e.g. Rock, jazz, pop, blues, metal, funk, traditional)
• Knowing the whole fret board, and being able to play a wide variety of chords, scales and arpeggios at any location on the neck, in any key.
• Following chord changes in a piece, to shape your melodies around an ensemble.
• Ear training, to hear and anticipate chord changes.
• Decorative performance techniques and their implementation to real musical situations. (e.g. vibrato, bending, trills, muting, dynamics)
• How to adequately voice melodies in your head.
• Making up your own sounds to incorporate into your improvising, to create your own style.

Study the cerebral elements which comprise improvisational thought structure, and learn of all the music theoretical devices employed by an improvising musician, such as what particular scales and arpeggios to use and how to implement them into your phrasing effectively.

The workshop is taught by Emmet Lagan, who has just finished a BA degree course in Music Performance.  It will be a three and a half hour session, which includes a half hour break. Handout pages of particular important aspects taught in the workshop will be provided throughout, to aid future practice of concepts discussed.

Starting date 22nd May 2010

• £20 per person, all are welcome, although ideal for  intermediate – advanced players

Contact – 07729932333 or e.lagan@hotmail.co.uk for bookings and enquiries.

The Comedy Communards presents

An Evening With Tony St Clair

Venue: Kings Street Arts, Belfast
Date: Friday 14th & Saturday 15th May 2010
Doors open: 7.30pm
Tickets £5
For ticket info contact through email barrettbzz@aol.com or King Street Arts

Tread The Boards presents

Room for one more?…

Written and directed by Brónagh Diamond

Remember the first time you saw somebody in their Pyjamas outside and thought “what the hell?” whereas it has now become a common sight?…Well just imagine what our lovely tourists think!
Room for one more is a short comedy based on a chance meeting between a girl and a young Polish man at a Falls Road taxi stand! We all know that West Belfast is rich in culture and social diversity so let’s have a look at how we see each other in 2010!

Saturday 7.30pm – doors open 7pm – Admission £5

“I love rehearsing because in rehearsals there are no mistakes, nothing is wrong, some things apply or lead you to focus on the character and the things that don’t apply are equally valuable because they lead you to towards what does.”

Jim Jarmusch

If the sun doesn’t do its bit this summer, you might as well stay out of the rain and get a bit of rehearsing in!

King Street Arts provides music, dance and drama rehearsal, and performance spaces, for the wider music and performing arts community. We have a number of spaces available for hire by community organisations, arts groups, musical bands, and dance and theatre groups….amateur to professional. We can also provide stage and lighting on request.

The main hall measures 41ft x 22ft (12.5m x 6.7m) and has a beautiful natural light, but can also be darkened to suit your needs thanks to our professional theatre curtains.

And if you’re not rehearsing, or performing, you might just want to use the hall for conferences or educational purposes. We provide a digital projector and seating for 50 people.

Coffee and tea facilities, access all hours. Temporary mirrors can be put up on request.

We regret that due to the lay-out of the building we do not have wheelchair access, and we apologies for any offence, disappointment or inconvenience it may cause.

To view or arrange booking contact: King Street Arts (028) 90 327297 Sophie: 07795115132

Flamenco Night

A brand new monthly club night for all things Flamenco..!

Flamenco is the new Salsa – learn how to do it, and show it off.

FlamencoNI and King Street Arts present our first Flamenco Tablao (party) night on Friday April 9^th, 8pm. You are invited to come along and party with us. This is not a formal evening and there will be no dance performance but there will be loads of Flamenco music and opportunities to dance Sevillanas, Fandangoes, Bulerias or whatever else takes your fancy.

For those of you who have never danced the popular Spanish folk dance, Sevillanas, join Maureen for an Introduction Class at 8pm before the night kicks off.

Maureen (Maria Teresa) Connolly is an experienced flamenco dance teacher and has been teaching Flamenco dance for a number of years. The class is a one hour long and aimed at those who have never danced before or anyone who wishes to learn Sevillanas.

Here’s a little information on Sevillanas:

Sevillanas are a set of dances that form the core of Spanish folk dance. They are danced at ferias, weddings, and many other social events in Spain, and the steps are the building blocks of flamenco.

Some flamenco enthusiasts insist that sevillanas are not flamenco but the dances are still taught to beginning flamenco students to help prepare them for the more difficult freestyle forms of flamenco.

Sevillanas are danced face-to-face with a partner to sevillana music, which is in three-quarter time. For public performance women often wear the beautiful polka-dot flamenco costumes; the dramatic turns and passes of sevillanas are emphasized by the colorful ruffled dresses. Unlike many folk dances, arm work in sevillanas is just as important and can be just as complicated as footwork. Despite this, you shouldn’t worry too much if you jump into a sevillana only to stumble through it. As with other folk dances, sevillanas are supposed to be fun. Getting to where you’re supposed to be is more important than how you get there.

So if you don’t know Sevillanas already – take the lesson – no partner is necessary but if you know the dance already come along and have fun with it or any other Flamenco dance you want to do.

BYOB, snacks, friends and yourself. Flamenco attire is encouraged and will add to the ambience of our tablao flamenco for the evening.

The cost for the Sevillanas class is £8.00 and includes admission to the party. If you wish to only take the lesson it will be £5.00. Admission to the tablao is £4.00. To sign up for the class please contact FlamencoNI at info@flamenconi.com or call 07746622821 or go to the website at www.flamenconi.com.

For more information on the Flamenco party check out www.kingstreetarts.com, contact sophie@kingstreetarts.com or call 028 90 327297.

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I’m so happy to announce that King Street Arts has now got permanent – and very efficient – heating installed.

We’ve bought three powerful infrared ceramic heaters, and they really do the trick – the place is totally transformed…

Thank you to all our supporters who have stuck with us through the cold months

It’s time for tea and toast..;-)

BELFAST NASHVILLE SONGERWRITERS’ FESTIVAL @ KSA

Joby Fox gigging at KSA as part of The Belfast Nashville Songwriters’ Festival on 25th Feb 2010.

Joby fox has been playing with his band. Some of you were at the  launch. We filmed the gig for a LIVE DVD.

FESTIVAL WEBSITE

NEWS, 9th Dec 09

Joby has worked hard as the chairman of our local traders’ association this past year and a half. DSD gave the association £150.000 through the ReStore scheme to upgrade the area around Castle St and King St. The work has now been completed, and the result is highly visible!

If you are in the area over the next few weeks doing your Christmas shopping please take a walk down Castle St and see how all the derelict buildings have been covered in beautiful artwork, and how all the shop fronts have been painted and new signs erected. Then turn down King St to continue the arts trail – it is very impressive.

In the new year we hope to extend the arts trail down Marquis St and College Mews.

If you walk past King Street Arts, please stop for a minute and enjoy the hand crafted tiles around our entrance. Justina Pers has done a fabulous job making each tile unique and fitting them all together beautifully.

In the new year we will keep working on upgrading the area and build on the community spirit that has risen out of this project.

We’re looking for people to participate as audience for a live recording /filming on Saturday 10th Oct, 12:45-3pm.

We are making a live DVD of singer/songwriter Joby Fox and his band. Expect some brilliant musicians, a great performer and some class tunes that will keep you humming all day.

We are doing two takes of a half hour set. The recording will start at 1pm sharp, so doors close at 12:45. We hope to finish the latest around 3pm (incl. breaks).

We supply some wine, soft drinks, tea and coffee, but you are welcome to bring your own.

It will be a good laugh and a nice chilled-out way to start the weekend:-)

Bring as many friends or family as you like.

If you could email me the name/names and contact number/s of the participants by Friday noon I would much appreciate it.

DATE: Sat 10th Oct
TIME: 12:45 – 5pm
PLACE: King Street Arts, 48 King St, Belfast city centre (behind Castle court)

You can listen to a few of Joby’s tracks on www.jobyfox.com

Welcome back to the Movies and Music cinema nights at King Street Arts.
This time we are doing a ‘BELFAST made’ night with two short documentaries and a short drama taking you through our city from the bare feet settlers of ancient times to the cranes hovering over our heads today. Oh, yes, and not to forget, a short but important message from John : Watch your back…
True to form we’ll keep you entertained with great music after the film while you sit back and enjoy the rest your wine. Aaron Shanley is dropping in to show us what he’s got. A young singer songwriter with a few stories to tell I’m sure he’ll leave you impressed.
I’m looking forward to this myself, and I hope you’ll come and join me.

Films:
Belfast – The birth of a city by James Rea
Counterweight by Stuart Sloan
Watch your back by John Baucher

Doors open 9.00
Films start 9.30
BYO, coffee and tea provided
Donations