Terry Woolliscroft
TERRY WOOLLISCROFT – Painter in acrylics, Leek
INSPIRED TO PAINT
Hundreds of years ago – well, actually in 1978 – I joined the Wedgwood Art Society, in my home town of Stoke-on-Trent. This was my inspiration and motivation to paint.
I started painting in heavy body acrylics and have never moved from this amazingly versatile yet sometimes tricky medium. I use stretched canvas or canvas board and occasionally wood panels. I paint with brushes and palette knives. I work from my studio in the Staffordshire Moorlands.
I have exhibited with Jiri Borsky, Derek Brownsword and Jan Zalud.
I draw inspiration from my favourite artists, the great outdoors, the seaside and the special landscape of The Potteries.
My family, too, is a constant inspiration. My mother was a free hand pottery painter, my sister specialises in Chinese brush painting and my wife Pam draws and is a constant encouragement.
I am mainly self-taught but have attended workshops with professional artists Hashim Akib, Maggie Robinson, Mark Lippett and Andrew Tozer.
ST13 July-August 2018
An on-line copy of ST13 (No 52) is now available.
Follow the links for the full text:
Perfect Summer Garden (and Indoors) Party
The Great Get-Together in honour of Jo Cox, saw a perfect day with a fabulous diversity of music, singing, crafts, art workshops and fun. Great food in the cafe, drinks in the bar and picnics on the lawn, plus a little light strawberry picking.
Highlights included classical music for babies in the marquee on the lawn, the full Peace through Folk choir, plus the Sisden Singers and Settle Voices who came all the way from Yorkshire to be with us.
There was also a Celtic harpist in the Cruso Room, plus many other musicians and singers in the informal sing-around sessions. Also safe archery laid on for children – and that was just the daytime.
The free admission ‘ticket’ requested an in date packaged or canned item for Leek Food Bank. And these came in great quantity. Thanks to all who donated!
There was also a charity cash collection in aid of The Foxlowe Trust, UNHCR, War Child, Save The Children, Médecins Sans Frontières and the Tim Parry – Jonathan Ball Foundation For Peace, which has raised £190.02 so far. Thanks also to all who donated to this collection.
Finally many thanks to Malc Hawksworth and Peace through Folk, who made this happen through many hours of organisation and perparation, also all the musicians, artists and crafts people who participated and the Foxlowe volunteers who helped in advance and on the day – a great collaborative exercise.
“While we celebrate our diversity, what surprises me time and time again… is that we are far more united and have far more in common with each other than things that divide us.”
Jo Cox MP
Leek goes Mad For It as Adored and Definitely Mightbe bring the sounds of Manchester
Leek went “mad for it” as Adored and Definitely Mightbe brought the anthemic sounds of Manchester to the Staffordshire Moorlands on Saturday night.
Playing to a packed, sweaty room full of ecstatic Indie Kids and Old Ravers and Madchester Baggies – advanced enough in years to have attended the Stone Roses seminal Spike Island and Blackpool Empress Ballroom events, and Oasis’ Knebworth gigs – Adored and Definitely Mightbe recreated the music of The Stone Roses and Oasis in front of an up-for-it audience happy to dance, hug and sing along with every word of every song.
The same four musicians play as Adored and Definitely Mightbe – lead singer Ian Alcock, lead guitarist Paul Mitchell, and the rhythm section of Kev Pyne on bass and Pete Coppard on drums – and Adored played the first set of the night. Following a quick change of outfits and a couple of pints, the lads returned to the stage as Definitely Mightbe.
As the bands’ website says, “as good as the real thing? Well the legendary Alan McGee thought so when he recently introduced the band live on stage!”
Adored (Stone Roses Tribute)
Adored (Stone Roses Tribute)
Adored (Stone Roses Tribute)
Adored (Stone Roses Tribute)
Definitely Mightbe (Oasis Tribute Band)
Definitely Mightbe (Oasis Tribute Band)
Definitely Mightbe (Oasis Tribute Band)
Definitely Mightbe (Oasis Tribute Band)
Definitely Mightbe (Oasis Tribute Band)
All photos by Giles Metcalfe.
The Foxlowe possessed by Demon
Saturday the 2nd of June saw the Night of the Demon at The Foxlowe, as the invited guests of the Leek Arts Festival put on a fiendishly theatrical performance and took possession of the mass audience.
Demon play a mix of hard rock/heavy metal/progressive rock, and were formed in 1979 by vocalist Dave Hill and guitarist the late Mal Spooner, both hailing from here in Leek, Staffordshire.
From Encyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives:
“Demon started out as an occult-themed NWOBHM [New Wave of British Heavy Metal] band, but changed style to progressive/hard rock after their first two albums [Night of the Demon, and The Unexpected Guest]. Their later material varies, often even from album to album.”
Support on Saturday night came from The Blues Makers.
The Blues Makers
The Blues Makers
Demon
Demon
Demon
Demon
Demon
Demon
All photos by Giles Metcalfe.
Climax Blues Band
Formed in Stafford in the late 1960s, Climax Blues Band have always had a unique blend of jazz and blues. After 50 years, 18 albums, the hit “Couldn’t Get It Right” the band are still touring, and they brought their brand of jazzy blues to the Foxlowe for another high octane performance to a packed room.
Climax Blues Band
Climax Blues Band
Climax Blues Band
Climax Blues Band
Climax Blues Band
All photos by Giles Metcalfe.
How many musicians can you fit on one stage
Q: How many musicians can you fit on one stage?
A: A lot, if you’re the Joe Broughton’s Conservatoire Folk Ensemble.*
*And in the wings, and in front of the stage on floor level too. 50, in fact.
From the Joe Broughton website:
“Over the last two years The Conservatoire Folk Ensemble has played major shows everywhere from The Royal Albert Hall to Fairport’s Cropredy Convention and Towersey and Shambala festivals. Their new live album was also released to great acclaim. Joe set up this incredible band 19 years ago. Long before the current trend of big folk band line-ups and crazy folk fusions this band were drawing on influences of folk, funk, classical, ska, reggae, jazz, hip-hop and everything in between. Not only is the live performance of this 50 piece band (or funky orchestra should we say?!) second to none, you will most likely see the stars of tomorrow, many leading artists on the folk scene having been students of Joe’s.
“The Conservatoire Folk Ensemble is forever changing, always unique and has an energy & power that is unrivalled; it has to be seen to be believed. Using players from the prestigious Birmingham Conservatoire ensures that the standard of musicianship is top drawer and being led by folk fiddler Joe Broughton (Urban Folk Quartet, Albion Band, Joss Stone) means the music has the feel of a spontaneous folk orchestra and a show that doesn’t take itself too seriously.”
Joe Broughton’s Conservatoire Folk Ensemble
Joe Broughton’s Conservatoire Folk Ensemble
Joe Broughton’s Conservatoire Folk Ensemble
Joe Broughton’s Conservatoire Folk Ensemble
All photos by Giles Metcalfe.
Folk at the Foxlowe
Folk fans have been spoilt for choice recently at the Foxlowe, with a mixture of small scale, intimate performances and well-known acts playing to a packed room.
Here are some photos from recent gigs, including Keith James, TRADarrr and Fairport Convention.
Keith James
TRADarrr
TRADarrr
Fairport Convention
Fairport Convention
Fairport Convention
All photos by Giles Metcalfe.
Plants to Go! plus Cake recipes
Outside – on the Patio.
The plants on and close to the stand are free to anyone who can give them a good home in exchange for a donation to the Foxlowe.
There are donation boxes in the bar and beside the inner front door.
These plants come courtesy of Foxlowe’s annual Plant Share and the gardeners will be adding more as they become available.
Cakes were shared at the event as well as plants. All were yummy but we only have recipes for two:
Gluten-free Lemon Drizzle Cake
Thanks!
It’s All Been Happening in May
Aerynn
The Foxlowe has been hosting great bands and events since the start of Leek Arts Festival 2018 but it’s not over yet, with lots more to come.
Fairport Convention
TRADarrr
Livewire AC/DC Tribute