28 Days of Pain - Day Ten

Mon, 10 Sep 2012 08:36:08 +0100

By Jamie Hill

Reasons to lose weight #672 - to stop showing up on radar.

I nearly fell over a homeless person in a sleeping bag today. He, or she, was sleeping in a sheltered bit at the bottom of The Slippery Slope where The Common meets the road towards Rockley.

The homeless person was right in the middle of the path and I had to do a skip dance over the top of the sleeping bag shaped form to avoid landing on top of him or her. This person probably isn't having the best time of it at the moment and has been reduced to sleeping in hedgerows. The last thing they want is a 17stone sweaty piece of lard landing on top of them at 7.30am.

I was doing five kilometres again today so for the next two and a half kilometres in the field I was searching my conscience as to what to do about the homeless person. Part of me wanted to take the person back to my house with me for a nice cup of tea and a hot shower. The other really horrible part was thinking 'what if it's an axe murderer!!'.

I can just imagine Rachel, my wife's reaction, if I had done the former and brought the homeless person back with me. I would have introduced her to Boris (in my head he's a Soviet dissident who has escaped Putin's latest state crackdown) and all hell would have broken loose. I think Boris would have ended up with a sleeping buddy tonight in the shape of me. It's not that Rachel is mean, it's just that with two young children, bringing a stranger back to the house might not have been the most sensible idea that I've ever had.

So like every other person in the western world I decided to do nothing about the homeless person. In fact on my return journey to The Common I got quite nervous as I approached the area where the sleeping form had been. What if my huffing and puffing going past Boris fifteen minutes before had woken him up? What if Boris wasn't happy about being woken up? What if he had an axe?

Obviously he didn't have an axe. These unfounded generalisations of the unknown cause a lot more damage than good in our society. But I can't help the fact that the thoughts crossed my mind. Boris was still wrapped up tight in his sleeping bag when I ran guiltily past. I was kind of tiptoe running so as not to wake him or fall over him.

As I've already mentioned I ran five kilometres today. This week I've upped my distance by a kilometre as I'm very aware that I've got the 10km challenge looming in just three weeks time.

I didn't find it easy at all. This is only half the distance that I've got to eventually run and it did not feel natural at all. There were stitches galore. A veritable smorgasbord of leg aches. And more sweatiness than in a Turkish Hamaan an hour before the call to prayer.

For the last kilometre and a half back across the common towards home, it felt like I was running in a dream. I felt so light headed that it was all I could do to concentrate putting one foot in front of the other.

I still feel light-headed now. An hour and a half after returning.

To check out previous entries and for the rules visit http://www.theocelot.co.uk

Only 18 days to go until my 10,000 metre killathon!

It's nearly time for Onefest!

Fri, 06 Apr 2012 11:11:00 +0100

Saturday 14th April 2012

12noon - 10pm

Tumuli Field, Rockley, Marlborough, Wiltshire

LINE UP: Damon Albarn’s Dr. Dee / Dry the River / Raghu Dixit / Jodie Marie / Rae Morris / Michele Stodart (The Magic Numbers) / Nick Harper / Cut A Shine / Kidnap Alice / Maria Byrne & The Broken String / The Gallant Tailors / A Genuine Freakshow / Crash and the Bandicoots / Young Blood / Anchor and the Wolf/ Gaz Brookfield

http://onefestuk.com/

There’s a palpable excitement in the air in the run up to Onefest (which used to be known as Honeyfest), especially since they’ve got one of the biggest stars in the world, Damon Albarn exclusively performing songs from his new solo album Dr Dee. It takes place on Saturday April 14 and they’ve also got the amazing Dry the River, as well as Nick Harper, Michele Stodart from The Magic Numbers and a host of others including our local favourite Gaz Brookfield.

Last month we announced Damon Albarn as headliner of the first festival of the year, OneFest (formerly known as Honeyfest).

Taking place in the middle of beautiful crop-circle country and close to the famous chalk white horses of Wiltshire, we are now able to reveal the full details of this year’s festival, including the completed line-up.

Headliner Damon Albarn spoke of his excitment at playing his magical new songs: "I’m really looking forward to the festival; Wiltshire in Spring feels like a perfect setting for Dr Dee songs. Some of my favourite musicians are playing with me, it will be special."

Albarn will perform songs and music from his new solo album Dr. Dee - based on his opera of the same name created by Albarn and Rufus Norris. He will be joined onstage by a cast of musicians and singers from the original production including Madou Diabate.

Also featuring will be rising ‘Indie Folk’ band of the moment, Dry the River, India’s leading alternative folk act Raghu Dixit, rising young female singer-songwriters Rae Morris, Jodie Marie and Michele Stodart (of The Magic Numbers) as well as the brilliant Wiltshire musician Nick Harper (son of the legendary Roy).

A second stage of upcoming, new artists has been curated by BBC Introducing and these include the amazing Gaz Brookfield, who we have a chat with opposite.

The festival prides itself on its community roots and as such, does everything it can to support the local area from using local suppliers and staff to breaking new musical talent in the Wiltshire area. Acts competed for the two opening slots on the mainstage at this year’s OneFest Battle Of The Bands.

This intimate festival will boast an abundance of real ales, tasty local foods from all over the county, as well as a 'Super-Fete Sports Day' open to all (guaranteed laughs after a few ciders), an Acoustic Cafe, Mystic Massage, Family Area and a OneFest Hoe-Down, as well as a few more surprises including the amazing Kaya Drums.

OneFest’s predecessor, Honeyfest 2011 was held in support of the Barge Inn Community Project - a group of villagers who came together to take over the running of their local pub and secure its future at the heart of their community. It saw performances from the likes of Laura Marling, Damian Rice and The Magic Numbers.

Tickets at £39 are available at onefestuk.com and Sound Knowledge, Hughenden Yard, Marlborough on 01672 511106 and free coaches will be laid on between the festival site and Swindon Raliway Station.

There will be a free shuttle bus from Swindon train station, ticket holders just need to register through the Onefest website to get on board. Also local residents can take advantage of discounted tickets which can be bought at Sound Knowledge (High Street, Marlborough) or at the Barge Inn Pub (Honey Street).

Onefest is the perfect summer fete for families and all kids under 13 go free! All childrens tickets simply need to be ordered alongside adult ones through the Onefest website. Students are offered a 20% discount off Onefest tickets; they simply need to type in the code 'onefeststudent' in the promo box through the seetickets website, and bring along ID on the day to validate the passes.

With campsites and B&Bs booking up fast as festival-goers set to flock from across the country, Onefest will be generating a substantial sum for the local economy. In a drive to support local businesses, Onefest are delighted to welcome local Marlborough high street shop Joules who are hosting a welly whanging contest throughout the day!

Also Bristol-based outlet Pieminister and The Bath Pig will be back on site this year keeping everyone well-fed, while Bath Ales will be running the bar, bringing along some great local ales and ciders. There will even be a local alternative therapist onsite to treat weary revelers aches and pains as they offer massages and complimentary therapies.

In between the main stage acts, there will be a OneFest Sports Day! Games will include the egg and spoon race, the sack race, the works inaugural 5-legged race and most importantly the OneFest sporting headliner; the TUG-OF-WAR! Get involved and discover which team of 5 will take the title and bring home the trophy at the end of the day.

Main Stage

Damon Albarn’s Dr Dee

Dry The River

Raghu Dixit

Rae Morris

Nick Harper

Kidnap Alice

Marie Byrne and The Broken String

The Gallant Tailors

Tumuli Stage

in Association with BBC Introducing

Cut a Shine (Hoedown)

Michelle Stodart

Jodie Marie

Crash and the Bandicoots

Gaz Brookfield

Young Blood

Old Colours

A Genuine Freakshow

A Q&A with the amazing Gaz Brookfield

Hi Gaz, how would you describe your music?

A bloke with a guitar writing about things that happen to him, using the same four chords over and over again, and hoping no one notices. If it's a genre you're after, then I'm folk/ acoustic, but doesn't that sound dull!?

What's it like being a jobbing musician?

Being a full time musician is great. It has its up and downs like all things. Some months are tougher financially than others, but on the whole it's brilliant. It's not a hard life, no. I would like to think that I would never moan about having a hard day. Real jobs are much harder. And yes, the van gets used an awful lot, so naturally it breaks from time to time. I love that van.

How did you get into music in the first place?

I got into music because of my Dad. He's a musician so both me and my sister were encouraged to learn mucial instruments when we were kids. I learned the saxophone, then moved onto guitar when I was a teenage in a desperate (yet fruitless) attempt to appear "cool".

What is it about playing live that you enjoy so much?

Seeing the look on people's faces when they identify with what I'm banging on about. Hearing people sing my songs back to me, that's the best feeling in the world!

Have you got any especially weird live gig stories?

At pub gigs I quite regularly have drunk people come up to me while I'm mid song, and request things. "Ere mate, d'you know that Robbie Williams one?" Or, "Play Wonderwall!" Needless to say, I do not know that Robbie Williams one, and no, I will not play fucking Wonderwall.

What can people expect from your set at Onefest?

At my set at Onefest people can expect my usual blend of fast angry rants, and quieter acoustic melodies. I'll be playing stuff from my forthcoming second album too.

What's next for you Gaz? Tell us about your new album?

My biggest gig of the year will be when I'm releasing my second album, "Tell It To The Beer", on June 8th with a big gig at The Fleece, Bristol. I will be releasing a free single from the album in the next few weeks. Details of the release will available on my website soon. http://www.gazbrookfield.com

Damon Albarn to play Onefest

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:40:33 +0100

Damon Albarn is to play Honeyfest, which has now changed name to Onefest, in Rockley near Marlborough on Saturday April 14.

He will be joining Dry the River, Nick Harper, Kidnap Alice and Cut a Shine as well as the brilliant Gaz Brookfield.

Blur frontman Damon will be performing stuff from his latest project Dr Dee.

For more details and tickets visit the website at http://www.onefestuk.com

Articles

28 Days of Pain - Day Ten

It's nearly time for Onefest!

Damon Albarn to play Onefest