James Arthur The #Homecoming

The last time James Arthur played at Saltburn's Victoria pub he had a fiver in his pocket and performed to 15 people.

But yesterday, it was very different.

Firstly, it was standing room only inside the Dundas Street East pub where family and friends gathered and waited for his arrival. Secondly, he arrived with a rather special lady on his arm - Pussycat Doll and X Factor mentor, Nicole Scherzinger.

And last but not least they arrived on a pair of £25,000 Harley-Davidson motorbikes - Nicole's had a heated seat - and were immediately mobbed by hundreds of screaming fans.



Heading the queue to meet James were his family. His mum Shirls Ashworth beamed: “It’s incredible - so many people. Last time he played here he had 15 people watching him."

“But he plays with his heart and soul, whether it’s for 15 people or 5,000.”

James admitted he could not believe the turnout and said: “I just want to thank all the fans for their support."

"I am so excited to be back, it has been amazing.”

Nicole joined James in The Vic where she went behind the bar to pull a pint, she also tucked in to some fish and chips and sampled the compulsory Teesside parmo, declaring she liked it (also compulsory) and generally enchanted everyone.

James also delighted the party by performing two songs - Adele’s Hometown Glory and one of his own compositions, Faded, with Nicole joining in.



Afterwards the X Factor bikers were off on their travels again - all the way to the next street for lunch at Rapps cafe bar in Milton Street.



Then it was back to James’s seafront bedsit and a view of the seafront for a bit of TV filming before heading off to Middlesbrough for James town hall gig.



James has also revealed that this time last year he was struggling with depression while he was living alone in his Saltburn bedsit. But now he credits the ITV1 hit show with helping him to beat depression for good.

"Back then I was suffering severe depression. I had just given up on a lot of things, I gave up on myself. I didn't want to leave the house, I couldn't get out of bed. I always had a lot of faith in myself as a singer-songwriter but not as a person. I had nothing in common with the world at all."

He didn't like the way his prescribed anti-depressants made him feel, so stopped taking them - his friends and family rallied around him and persuaded him to audition for The X Factor instead.

Returning home has helped him to step back from The X Factor bubble and realise how far he has come.

He said: “It’s surreal. This time last year I was looking out at the sea from the pier and thinking I’d never fulfil my purpose in life and now I’m here with Nicole Scherzinger at my homecoming.”

James is also playing down his new reputation as a ladies' man and his recent success with the girls. He said: "I'm not complaining about the ladies. Since I've been on the show I've been clubbing three times."

"One was a publicity thing and the other two were when I'd been grafting too hard and needed to blow off some steam and I just went a bit too far on both occasions."

It’s now got me a ‘womaniser’ tag. I’m cool with it but I’m under no illusions that I’m some heart-throb.”



The extended homecoming interview with James Arthur.

James Arthur, the Homecoming at Saltburn and Middlesbrough.

Go James Arthur...

The mysterious Saltburn Yarnbombers have struck again.

This time, their target is the X Factor star James Arthur who comes from the Saltburn.

Two locations within the town have each received an anonymous package in the post containing a knitted representation of the singer.




Both Rapp's cafe on Milton Street and the Victoria public house, who have offered James huge support throughout the competition, have received a figure.

The '53 in October - Twelfth Night

Although the nights are drawing in, ’53 members have their sights firmly fixed on the end of winter – more specifically, the Twelfth Night Feast which, in Shakespeare’s time, would have marked the end of the Winter Festival.

At the beginning of the Twelfth Night merrymaking, a cake that contained a bean was eaten. The person who found the bean would become the Lord of Misrule and the normal social order was reversed – for the duration of the feast, peasants became overlords and nobles became peasants. At midnight, as in many well-loved tales, the world would return to normal.

Shakespeare’s play, in which the heroine spends most of her time dressed as a man, and a servant believes that he can win the hand of a noblewoman clearly exploits this tradition, and it was written to be performed, we believe, at a Twelfth Night’s entertainment in 1602. And four hundred and ten years later, as the culmination of our collaboration with the RSC Open Stages project we bring it to you on the Saltburn stage, from the 17th to the 20th October.

Our Twelfth Night contains all those elements of misrule which you would expect from a production of the play – and a few more besides! One of our challenges has been to restore our award-winning extract (Oh, oh,
Malvolio!) to its rightful place within the full play and to extend the fun and the mischief of the comic trio, Sir Toby, his dim-witted sidekick, Sir Andrew and the ever- resourceful Maria.

The music, which was a key feature of the extract, is equally important in the full production and audiences can expect a range from beautiful madrigal to foot-tapping music hall, in the play to which Shakespeare himself gave the most music.

For us, the music hall tradition was particularly resonant, permeated as it was with a sense of transgression and an ability to mock the established social order without giving any real offence. And of course it does contain some of the most suggestive lines in vocal music...!

In the best tradition of misrule, you can expect to see a very different Twelfth Night but one which aims to preserve the essential spirit of the original. Both youth and adult members of the company promise you a lively and entertaining evening, with the colourful costumes, musical talent and imaginative set design of a ’53 Shakespeare production.

Come along – you are warmly invited to take part in the fun and merrymaking which will banish the early winter chills!

Sue

The Sound of Silence at the Vic

What is The Sound Of Silence? Tinnitus aside, we’re a small non profit promotions team based in Saltburn that are aiming to bring some fantastic musicians and great nights to our town!

Inspired by Newcastle’s Polite Room, where an audience is required to listen to the music and not chatter non stop throughout, Ben Muriel and Emma Wales set up this special, relaxed night and it has proved to be a success so far. We already have a firm, loyal crowd who trust in what we are trying to do.

So far we have brought you Barry Hyde - the lead singer out of the highly acclaimed band The Futureheads - who entertained us tremendously!

And last month Eliza Carthy and Saul Rose provided us with a magical evening with surely some of the finest music ever heard in this town! Not a dry eye was in the house and what applause at the end! A full house was had on both occasions and well, if you weren’t there, you missed out!

And so to October. On Friday, 12th October, we bring to the town some of the finest, young, original talents in the country!

FRAN SMITH is an extraordinary singer/songwriter pianist from Yorkshire. She really is a fantastic talent and we’re lucky to have her come here to entertain us!
Seriously, you will kick yourself if you miss Fran - she is amazing!

“Fran Smith writes like she means it: refreshingly uncompromising, with an honesty that is both brutal and beautiful. Singing with unflinching commitment... it’s a performance that is utterly disarming in its naked candour.” ~ Mike Wilson, Folk Radio UK

“Your voice is gorgeous and your songs are really, really good. Thank you so much for your talent and sharing it with the world!” ~ Joan As Police Woman.

“It’s really exciting to discover a songwriting talent as intelligent and insightful as Fran Smith, who knows how to sing her own stories with such conviction and grace.” ~ Karine Polwart

“[Fran’s songs] absolutely blew me away... serious talent, lady!” ~ Thea Gilmore.

“There’s a stark, poignant beauty and a wealth of emotion and maturity in her Yorkshire-accented singing.” ~ Debbie Koritsas, The Living Tradition.

“Yeah, she’s good!” ~ Dave Stewart (Eurythmics)

“Lovely songs. Really lovely.” ~ Devon Sproule

BLUE ROSE CODE, from Edinburgh, have some beautiful, gentle, thought provoking contemporary folk songs. From the first second I heard them I knew they were perfect for our SOS nights! Here’s what the press have to say:

“A superb singer, songwriter and guitarist. Beautiful songs, a genuine pleasure to have been involved.” Danny Thompson.

“Blue Rose Code have written all of your new favourite songs, trust me.” Tom Rose, The Big Session Festival

“Ross Wilson’s mellifluous voice and fluid fingerpicking cast him as the natural successor to John Martyn.” Rick Pearson, The Evening Standard.

And finally, THE ROOK AND THE RAVENS from Manchester, will open the night on the 12th October. Fully electric they are an incendiary band, fully acoustic they are awesome! We’re getting the acoustic set, harmonies that will make the hairs on the back of your neck stand to attention!

More press:
Rook and The Ravens’ alternative rock bristles with dark intent amidst a technicolour landscape populated by tough guitar pop, shiny harmonies and several storeys of keyboards built on an unwavering rhythm foundation.
2009’s self-released debut album Sixteen Holes in Sixteen Souls set the scene for the new band, marrying pop hooks with a brooding melancholy. Received well by media and fans alike, lead single Alpha was played extensively on both local, national and international radio and gave the band a solid platform reinforced by relentless tour dates and festivals all over the UK and Ireland.

So that's three bands / artists for the bargain price of £6.00.
FRAN SMITH
BLUE ROSE CODE
THE ROOK AND THE RAVENS
Friday 12th October Upstairs at The Vic
Come, be a part of Saltburn’s most exciting night!
We look forward to welcoming you to The Sound Of Silence.

Cleveland CAMRA'S 3rd Saltburn Beer Festival

This year’s festival, which takes place on 16th and 17th of November in the Community & Arts Centre in Albion Terrace, will once again feature ales from some of our local breweries among the 36 cask conditioned real ales on offer.

Although we are still in the planning stage we hope to have beers from the following local breweries. Conquest of Whitby which opened earlier this year producing, initially, Broadsword; Marsden of Hartlepool, a micro brewery that was part of Camerons but is now in private hands; Redscar, which opened in 2008 based in the Cleveland Hotel, Redcar, who brew ‘Poison’, a beer hopefully named after the phrase ‘what’s your poison!’ Staithes Brewery of the Captain Cook Hotel, brewers of the ‘Boulby’ range of ales; the recently opened Truefitt of Middlesbrough and Wainstones of Stokesley.

Alongside what we hope will be an excellent range of real ales from around the country will be real cider and perry, and locally produced wines. We would like you to come along and try our cask conditioned real ales and in doing so support both the Saltburn Community & Arts Centre and Cleveland CAMRA. The glasses, featuring the cliff lift, will be marked in thirds and halves of a pint which will enable you to try a good selection of our beers, the majority of which are not normally available in this area.

Opening times are 11am – 4:30pm admission £1.50 CAMRA members free and 6pm – 11pm admission £3.50 CAMRA members £2.50. Hot food, snacks and soft drinks will be on sale at all sessions. Evening tickets are on sale at Whistle Stop Wines in Saltburn Square and Saltburn Community & Arts Association.
www.saltburnarts.co.uk, tel: 01287 624997.

For further information visit the Cleveland CAMRA website at www.clevelandcamra.org.uk.

Sharon Shannon heads for Saltburn

Legendary Irish musician Sharon Shannon is heading to Saltburn! The gig at the Community Theatre, on Saturday, 24th November, will see Sharon’s four piece band play hits from her extensive back catalogue, and as well there’ll be new songs from her album Flying Circus.

Best known for the Steve Earle track Galway Girl, Sharon has recorded and toured with an impressive who’s who of Irish and global musicians including Bono, Adam Clayton, Sinead O’Connor, Imelda May, Willie Nelson, Jackson Browne, John Prine, Steve Earle, Mark Knopfler, Alison Krauss and Shane MacGowan.

The multi award winning, platinum selling accordionist is renowned for her collaborations, not just in Irish traditional music, but through all musical genres - Hip-Hop, Cajun, Country, Classical and Rap.

She has played for US Presidents Clinton and Obama, been awarded a lifetime achievement award and had multi-platinum album sales including several number one albums and singles in Ireland.

Support comes from hotly tipped Canadian Andrew James O’Brien.

Tickets are £15.00 from Saltburn Health Food Shop or online at www.saltburnarts.co.uk

Rescue drama near Saltburn Cliff Lift

A man who went chasing after his escaped dog sparked a dramatic rescue operation when he fell down a Saltburn cliff and knocked himself unconscious.

Firefighters joined police and ambulance personnel in the search after reports that a man had disappeared down the side of the upper promenade near the junction of Amber Street and Marine Parade shortly after 10.39pm on Monday night.

A fire crew from Saltburn used a thermal image camera and lighting in the search. They were joined by the police helicopter, which is also equipped with heat-seeking equipment. The man was found in the dense undergrowth.





Police said the 32-year-old man had been for a night out drinking before returning home.

His dog escaped and he chased it, only to slip and fall over the railings near the cliff lift when he ran after it.

As the man lay unconscious on the steep, bramble-strewn bank, several other men who had been drinking were discouraged by police from going to his rescue.

Cleveland Fire Brigade sent a crew from Saltburn fire station to rescue the man, who was found in undergrowth with the assistance of the police helicopter.

The rescue team used ropes, a thermal imaging camera and flashlights in the dramatic rescue operation.

The unconscious man was then placed on a spinal board and lifted back up to a waiting ambulance.




He came around in the ambulance and was taken to James Cook University Hospital with injuries described as “not life-threatening”.

He complained of a headache and had suffered several grazes to his body. He remained in the Middlesbrough hospital where his condition was described as stable.

Local photographer Ian Forsyth, who witnessed the dramatic rescue, praised the emergency services for the way they handled the incident.

He said: “It was a very good job that the emergency services did across the board. There were people on the lower promenade and people on the upper prom and they all did a really good job.

“You could see them battling through the dense undergrowth of brambles. They weren’t the easiest conditions to work in, but they found him and got him sorted.”