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Your guide to food for free at Pitshanger Park Sunday 17th June 2.00pm

Why not party the morning away at Pitshanger Party in the Park then spend the afternoon foraging for food with Ealing Transition Community Garden…

Wild Garlic Mustard, mild Linden leaves, wild spinaches and elderflowers await you by the side of the Brent in Pitshanger Park. Ealing is overflowing with free, healthy, delicious food. It’s wild and free, not in the sense of Woodstock but rather of glittering salads full of exciting new flavours. Local transition town supporter and expert forager Sam Sender will lead a wild food walk in Pitshanger Park on Sunday 17th at 2pm. Meet at the tennis courts, and bring baskets and bags.

Cost: Free

Check out their blog at http://ealingtransitioncommunitygarden.wordpress.com/, and refer to the Upcoming Events tab for dig day dates.

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Du Bellows’ singer Jade is star of Drayton Court music night

I went to the Drayton Court last night for the Eel Daddy organised music night. Oddly enough, it was the first time I’ve been there and it’s a good venue. It must hold about 200 maximum and it was pretty full last night. There were three bands playing. Du Bellows and Blushing Bones are local and the headliners were Simon Townshend’s band.  For my taste, Du Bellows were the best of the three. Their Welsh lead singer Jade has a memorable and powerful voice which works really well on their bluesy numbers. She teamed up with guitarist T J after an an open mic night at Ealing and have developed their own style. Take a listen to Jade’s voice  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBcxGB8KR88  I think she’s a bit special.  And don’t overlook Blushing Bones. I don’t think the sound balance was right for them last night as Tessa Shrubsall’s voice got a bit lost but they too are well worth a listen http://www.myspace.com/blushingbones and great credit to Tessa and Blushing Bones for organising the night. Let’s hope the Drayton Court can build its reputation as a music venue.

 

 

 

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Vote For Ealing to win £10,000 clean up money

If you vote, Ealing might get a spruce-up for the Olympics…

We seem to have more votes already than all other boroughs – is that because we’re dirtier?

Team Ariel (Ariel detergent and stain remover) are putting up £10,000 to help spruce up five boroughs in time for the Olympics.


 Please vote by following the link below

http://www.supersavvyme.co.uk/pgcapitalcleanup/arielevent.aspx

(Thanks to Denise Davies for passing this on…)

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Toe tapping Cajun and soaring folk music – Ealing is getting better and better for live music

I’ve been lucky enough to go to two live music events in Ealing in the last 24 hours and I’ve really enjoyed both. Last night I was at the Ealing Club to see the Creole Brothers play their version of Louisiana Creole music. The Ealing Club has a key place in the history of British Blues Music and these twice monthly music nights are beginning to reestablish the club as an important part of Ealing’s cultural scene.

Back to the music. If you’ve been to the club you’ll know it’s tucked away down the steps by an estate agent opposite Ealing Broadway station.   As we walked down the steps to the entrance I could hear the sound of Cajun music.  It was a great sound to hear and got even better when we went inside.  Sitting in a circle were musicians of all ages thoroughly enjoying playing their music. Their joy spread to everyone listening and before long people were up and dancing.

The main event of the evening was the Creole Brothers. Without realising it we happened to be sitting near them as they waited their turn to play. One played the accordion and the other a fiddle. Cajun music has a powerful driving rhythm that soon has your feet tapping and the singing in French seems to fit the rhythms so well.  A great night out.

This lunchtime at OPEN we had the soaring voice and very skilled cello playing of Laura Victoria. Laura should have been joined by Sarah-Jane Miller but Sarah was ill so Laura played solo. At first the cello seemed an odd choice of instrument to accompany her modern take on folk music but it worked beautifully. Her voice is so expressive and soars and dips, delighting the audience. Laura’s hour long set included many of her own songs interspersed with at least one jazz classic. Whether singing unaccompanied or making the cello fill the air with multiple sounds, Laura was compulsive listening. I thoroughly recommend you give her a listen –    www.lauravictoriamusic.com

 

 

 

 

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Fight in Dean Gardens… followed by an armed robbery at the NatWest bank

 

As I was walking to OPEN Ealing this morning I noticed part of Dean Gardens was cordoned off. Apparently there was a fight overnight/early morning and one person has been taken to hospital and another arrested.  The fight looks to have taken place in clear vision of one of the newly installed CCTV cameras. It’s an interesting question as to whether the newly installed CCTV acts as a deterrent or as a means of identifying and apprehending offenders?

Not long after this there was an armed robbery at the NatWest Bank on the corner of the Lido Junction. Seems the robbers got away with some cash.

Friday 1st June

A passer-by said ‘As I walked through Dean Gardens this morning (Thursday), there was a group of 8 people, 2 of which were slightly broken away, one was very aggressive towards the other (on crutches) and was pushed over onto the floor.  The separated 6 also seemed to be about to fight with each other.  They’d clearly been drinking, one I could see from my distance was holding a bottle still.  I scooted through pretty quickly and called the police who said they’d send a patrol round immediately.’

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West Ealing Jubilee Craft market – musicians and performers wanted

The next West Ealing Craft Market is in St James Avenue on Saturday 2nd June – the Jubilee weekend. With a bit of luck it may even be sunny!  It would be good fun to have some live music and other street performers involved to make a bit of a special occasion.  If you’re interested in volunteering to play or perform between 11am and 3pm do please email us at westealingneighbours@gmail.com .  At the very least I’m sure we can supply you with something to eat and drink.

As we get the market established we’re keen to make music and street performance a regular feature of the market so even if you can’t make it in June do still please email us.

 

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Bake & Cake and Roosters Piri Piri come to West Ealing

Walking along the Uxbridge Road this morning I spotted two new shops about to open.  Bake & Cake near Cudi and Roosters Piri Piri opposite Blockbuster. I’m not sure when they’ll open so if anyone gets the opportunity to have a closer look then let me know.

It’s nice to actually see a ‘healthy’ chicken place open amongst all the fried in West Ealing!

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Blues music and more coming up in Ealing soon

As a long-time Blues music fan I’m delighted at the revival of The Ealing Club. The team there have worked so hard to get live blues music back at the home of British Blues Music.  The Ealing Club is still in its original home, now called The Red Room, and is putting on regular music sessions.

This month the Blues nights are the 17th and 31st May:

The Ealing Club

Thursday 17th May

Blues Guitarist ROBIN BIBI + support from the Riotous Brothers. A must for any Blues fan at the Home of British Rhythm and Blues

Thursday 31st May

Louisiana Cajun and Zydeco music arrives to the heart of Ealing with the Creole Brothers.

Tickets at £5. Starts at 8.30pm. Box Office: 07927 965797

In addition, The Drayton Court Hotel continues its regular EELDADDY  music nights with the next session being:

Friday 8th June

S. Townshend, DuBellows and Blushing Bones

DuBellows and Blushing Bones recently appeared at OPEN Ealing so I can recommend them. Go to the Ealing Club website for more information and to buy tickets.