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Supporting Live Jazz
The Vortex Foundation is a charity setup in 2001 to keep Jazz alive in London. The Vortex Jazz Club is a not-for-profit arm of the foundation based in Dalston, London N16. The club has grown to be very popular, open 7 nights a week and attracting some of the World’s most famous Jazz musicians.
On the 17th September The Vortex are taking to the River Thames for one night with a special event – Vortex on the Thames. Promoted on Jazz FM this ticket cruise will be aboard one of London’s largest replica paddle steamers. The cruise will feature two of the UK's finest jazz vocalists Liane Carrol and Barb Jungr
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Barb Jungr |
Liane Carrol |
Dixie Queen | Having picked up just about every British jazz award going in the last few years, Liane Carrol has been recognised by critics and fans alike as one of our very finest jazz singers. ‘...gigs featuring singers are generally hugely enjoyable, informal affairs, and in Liane Carroll, the tradition finds one of its most skilful exponents. Humourous banter slips imperceptibly into medleys of originals, material by the likes of Leonard Cohen and Tom Waits...’ (Chris Parker).
Britain’s premier song stylist Barb Jungr has just returned from a sellout run at New York’s prestigious Cafe Carlyle for which she received rave reviews – ‘One of the very best nightclub singers in the world’ (Time Out New York). She returns to play Vortex on the Thames with a stunning programme of songs featuring material from Yip Harburg to Leonard Cohen, Cole Parter to Marc Cohn.
Should you wish to purchase tickets to support this event please select this link to www.wegottickets.co.uk
Article supplied by Livett's Launches
Hollywood drawn to the Thames
Clearly not attracted by the British weather August saw some big Hollywood names filming in London. The River Thames is London’s most recognised and visited attraction and tends to feature in the majority of the Cities film shoots.
David Tennant, Clara Paget, Christian Brassington and Denise Stephenson took to the Thames aboard the Bluebird of Chelsea for a sequence for the film, St Trinian’s II – The Legend of Fritton’s Gold. Due to be released next year this will be a follow up to the 2007 hit which was the sixth film based on the works of cartoonist Ronald Searle. As most people are aware St Trinian’s is an anarchic school for uncontrollable girls! Chris Livett coordinated the shoot which features in the backdrop of The Globe Theatre at Bankside, London’s Docklands and the iconic Tower Bridge. An Eco-Cat was used as a stable high speed camera boat to capture the action as the Bluebird of Chelsea sailed down the Thames through London.
Less than a week later the motor barge ‘Tidy Thames I’, one of London’s recycling and waste management craft, was involved in a film shoot for the drama London Boulevard. The directorial debut of the Oscar Winning William Monahan London Boulevard has a star studded cast featuring big Hollywood names including; Keira Knightly, Colin Farrell, Ray Winstone, Anna Friel and Ben Chaplin. Based on Ken Bruen’s novel, set in London an ex-con newly released from prison who becomes involved with a reclusive young actress. Filming for London Boulevard commenced in June and the action is due to hit the screens in 2010.
Closer to home Griff Rhys-Jones documentary on the UK’s ‘Rivers’ has been aired on the BBC with the Thames and River Lee featured in two of the series. Filmed back in 2008 Livett’s facilitated the shoot in London where Griff narrates on Britain’s most famous river.
The Thames in London attracts all manner of activity, from boat parties to filming stunt sequences. Make sure you check back here for more interesting Thames News in the coming months.
Article supplied by Livett's Launches
Sunset Tour on The Regents Canal with Thames River Adventures.
My colleague and I joined a Sunset Tour on the Regent's Canal, with Thames River Adventures. After being made extremely welcome and having our lesson on how to use the equipment, we were really looking forward to getting on the water. We set off on our tour of Regents canal, an idyllic setting and especially at that time (6pm-8pm) making it a very relaxing and unusual way to spend an evening. The sunset paddle is perfect for beginners (as we were) and the more experienced, because the water is perfectly calm. On the Regents Canal Tour you paddle along the edge of the Royal Park and London Zoo taking you along to the 'disco' lights of Camden Lock.
The most commonly seen creatures on this tour are swans, geese, mallards, coots, moorhens, cormorants and tufted ducks , and of course people on the towpath. You may also catch a glimpse of a more unusual animal, which is in fact an invasive species: the red-eared terrapins. At dusk and dawn, you may see Daubenton and Pipistrelle bats. On our paddle, we saw swans, mallards, coots (& baby coots) and even a beautiful Heron sitting on the canal bank.
The tour is very well organised. You are accompanied by qualified British Canoe Union Instructor at all times during the paddle and all the equipment is provided.
Thames River Adventures also offer a Sunrise Tour and Daytime Tour of The Regents Canal, all lasting two hours. Other Tours include: The Hampton Court and Tower Bridge Tours. For more information please visit: http://thamesriveradventures.co.uk/
Photos are from our tour on 25th August 09 6-8pm
Written by Charlotte Ford
ThamesWatch 2009 runners up enjoy their prizes!
July has seen the 2 ThamesWatch runners up - 8th Twickenham Scouts and St Stephens C of E Junior School enjoy their prizes.
On 11th July 8th Twickenham Scouts had their special day out on the Pirate Castle where all 8 eight cubs "really enjoyed their trip and helping to operate the locks". They also managed to spot a heron on their travels- contining their good work from ThamesWatch 2009. Below are pictures from the trip.
 
On 8th July St Stephens C of E Junior School visited Walton on Thames to claim their prize of a trip on JGF Passeneger Boats and by the looks of the pictures a good day was had by all!
Below are some pictures from the trip.
 
The River Thames Guide would once again like to thank everyone who took part on ThamesWatch 2009 and the companies who provided the lovely prizes.
Submitted 21.07.2009 Written by Charlotte Ford |
