Hello once again mi rasa! As alluded to and threatened and promised in earlier blogs, I’ve finally pulled the proverbial finger out and gotten this down on paper. For those who don’t know much or anything of what the Threshold Festival is about, then this should definitely be of some use to you. I covered the run up to the festival last year [http://electrokemistcuisine.weebly.com/1/post/2012/02/threshold-festival-gets-its-own-beer-plus-the-camra-winter-ales-festival-in-manchester.html], reporting that they had commissioned their own beer with the help of the lovely people over at the Liverpool Craft Brewery (more information on these guys can be found here: [http://www.liverpoolcraftbeer.com/], plus I also gave an inkling as to the remit of the festival itself. I shall outline the festival once again with a little help from one of the festival Director Chris Carney’s help.... “Threshold Festival is a grassroots multi-arts event held in Liverpool's Baltic Triangle focusing on emerging artists, new work/ first views, collaboration, DIY, avant garde and community based projects encompassing music, theatre, comedy, film, performance and visual arts. The main festival is focused on the emerging cultural area of the Baltic Triangle and based in Camp and Furnace as well as using other nearby venues: The Picket, Elevator Bar, Baltic Creative & Ioisis Studios. These venues are complimented with a fringe festival at the Albert Dock. Now in its third year, and after a struggle against the adversity of a hostile financial climate, the event relies heavily upon the enthusiasm and willingness of volunteers and creative professionals to give their time and passion to it. “Threshold has released some exciting confirmed acts and promoters for the 2013 Festival. Liverpool’s favourite grass-roots event which takes place in venues the Camp and Furnace, The Picket, Elevator Bar & Baltic Creative. The dates between March 8th-10th includes some of the best music and arts around. Confirmed Liverpool acts include award winning Americana artist Rob Vincent enjoying a recent four star review in Mojo, the delightful rising star Natalie McCool, post-rock scene leaders Kusanagi & Phonetics, the sweet swinging Rumjig, bluesman Dave O’Grady (just back from his second tour with Black Crowes frontman Rich Robinson) and noise machine Jazzhands. In visual arts Threshold will welcome back the ‘Liverpool Art Prize’ Winner 2012, Robyn Woolston. At the last two events, Robyn has created great site specific installations which captured the imaginations of festival goers and critics alike. Her proposed installation in the Camp and Furnace ‘Blade Factory’ for March is Top Secret for now but promises to be yet another superb asset to the festival. “Submissions have poured in this year and we’ve had a high calibre of applications, it’s gonna be huge in March. My route-planner is going to be hectic, but fun.” - Chris Carney, Festival Director Back on the usual topic of these blogs, I had to broach the subject of refreshments and catering with Chris who responded amicably:
"Food & Drink is incredibly important to us. I've been all too often let down by the food offer at Festivals which is why we are so lucky to be under the roofs of places like Camp and Furnace (Steven Burgess is a truly great chef), Elevator and Picket with it's Mello Mello take over on Saturday." "Liverpool Craft Beers are one of our biggest sponsors, we love working with them and we're looking forward to brewing up the 2013 Threshold Beer with them." As if this wasn’t enough, there are other folk out there who are taking a keen interest in happenings at the Baltic Triangle over the festival; a rather handy blog by the ManGoneBlog can be found here: [http://www.mangoneblog.com/featured-mangoneblogs-top-ten-at-threshold-2013/], in addition to the top ten acts he recommends, we have some back up ammunition where you can actually listen to each of the acts discussed. Handy. Like I said. As well and the Liverpool Craft Brewery guys making the Threshold beer for the event once again (get it while you can!!), apparently Laura’s Little Bakery will be making an appearance at the festival on Sunday to ply everyone with some baked goodies. You can find Laura on Twitter here: ( @LaurasBakery and her website is here: http://www.lauraslittlebakery.com/) for more information. Besides the festival itself, there have been many warm up events across Liverpool over the last couple of weeks and there will be a few more in the run up to the main event, just check out the links below and you can keep abreast of all that is going on by way of gigs and art events. For up to date information on the festival, you are best placed to go along and have a look on here: [https://www.facebook.com/events/311527502297463/]. The Advance weekend tickets have now gone, but there are full weekend advance tickets priced at just £20 at the moment you can pick up your tickets for the event right here: http://www.skiddle.com/whats-on/Liverpool/Liverpool-Baltic-Triangle/Threshold-Festival-2013/11777372/ https://sales.webticketmanager.com/thresholdfest For more info go to: www.thresholdfestival.com So you’ve no excuse now, go and satisfy your curiosity and have a wander around the venues of the Baltic Triangle and take in some rather exciting grassroots experiences! Pedro. x
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ElectroKemistry Review: The Quarter/Simply Simon’s Bistro and Delicatessen – Market Harborough2/10/2013 I’ve finally convinced another poor soul to do a bit of writing for me, since it has been a little while since the last guest blog, here’s the latest offering. This is courtesy of the lovely Elinor O’Neill, who being a journalist/reporter is no stranger to blogging and writing her own pieces on a regular basis. Thankfully, on this occasion, she has been kind enough to pass along some notes and some photographs from her experience of a new delicatessen and bistro that has opened over on her patch. Elinor’s writing can be seen in more detail here: [http://lostinnotation.com/about/] Simply Simon’s Delicatessen has a website which is located here: [http://www.simplysimons.co.uk/] Disclaimer: This review was conducted in January, so it is possible some aspects of the venue might have changed. Market Harborough is a small town located in the South of Leicestershire where there is a close collective of truly exceptional small food and drink outlets. Four of these such places, all in close proximity to one another, have formed something now known as the Food Quarter.
The Quarter consists of Duncan Murray Wines; a wine shop where the personality of one man, Duncan Murray and his lovely wife Megan, who give all the more flavour to each and every wine, beer and spirit that you can buy from their homely shop. It is hard to walk out of Duncan Murray Wines with one’s hands empty and with the tasters they often treat you to, it can be just as difficult walking out of their shop sober. The next establishment in the Food Quarter is Bates Butchers, where the care and attention they give to every customer is noted by all who buy its meat and mouth watering sandwiches. Bates is more than just a butchers; inside the shop is a delicatessen serving all manner of cheeses, chutneys and good quality chorizo. Hobbs Fishmongers, the place where one man was once arrested outside after saying he was off there to murder, (a lobster it turned out and not another human being as the poor police had assumed), offers fresh fish in the street of a small market town as far away from the sea as you could imagine possible. Lastly, and where we are headed this evening, is Simply Simon's Delicatessen and Bistro. This is a relatively new comer to the town and yet it has become a fairly established cafe here. It has also become involved in the community of Harborough, not only by its joining of the Food Quarter, but also by forming a book club and by displaying work by local artists. The event tonight, put on by all four, is a taster evening designed to inspire all those who are staying in on Valentines Night to cook for themselves. Usually when one hears the word taster evening, it conjures up images of tiny but tasty morsels of food that leave you hungry and wanting more. This is definitely not the case this evening. There are bowls and bowls of fish dishes, delicious dips, oils and vinegar and tiny thimbles of wine, beer and strawberry fizz that just keep on coming. Also here is an oyster expert who is giving everyone their first taste of the sea in a shell. He makes the whole tasting of the oyster an experience not to be forgotten. He tells us tales of travel while opening the shells, and giving another doubtful person their first oyster. The event tonight is full to the brim with people looking for ideas and suggestions on the way to every man's heart. The chocolate balsamic is laid out in a heart shape, and even the bread used for dipping tastes delicious. Overall it is a carefully thought out night that is a testament to the expertise of the four quarters of food. A heart warming evening even though Valentines is still days away. -------------------------------- Hopefully those who are able to make it to Simply Simon's or any of the other Quarter establishments will pass on comments about the state of play as and when they visit. For now, take it easy and stay tuned for the next installment of the blog which will feature an update and outline on the forthcoming Threshold Festival - taking place in early March! Pedro. x |
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