ELECTRIC SWING CIRCUS THE FACTORY SATURDAY 28TH FEBRUARY – 8PM

Ladies and Gentlemen, hold onto your hats. The circus is coming to town!  The Electric Swing Circus is a 6-piece fusion of saucy 20′s swing and stomping electro beats. With an explosive sound that reverberates back through time, the ESC hotfoot their way through everything from breakbeat and house to reggae and dubstep, all with their own unique style of swing. A full time, touring band on the international circuit, the ESC’s live set includes electric double bass, vintage samples, gypsy-jazz guitar, keys, drums, synths and electro beats. Fronted by a sassy female double-act, the ESC delivers a consistently dazzling show. Their debut, self-titled album is available now on Ragtime Records. The ESC line-up features Laura Louise and Bridget Walsh (vocals), Chandra Walker (drums and keyboard), Tom Hyland (guitar), Rashad Gregory (samples, MPC & synths) and Patrick Wreford (bass & bass synth). The band first formed in June 2011, with their preview EP, Penniless Optimist, released in September 2011. Their eponymous debut album “Electric Swing Circus” was released in May 2013. After a big year of festivals and international touring in 2014, a new album is in the pipeline for 2015. Support comes from Don Johnston noted for tight, original DJ sets. Expect jazzy swinging bass music and a high energy playing style that always captivates audiences.

• Doors open at 8PM  - Advance tickets £8.00 
• Physical tickets available from: Beats Workin, Barnstaple 
• Online tickets available from: www.undergroundtickets.net (Ticket outlets subject to booking fee)

The Factory Petroc Brannams Campus, Oakwood Close, Roundswell Barnstaple, 

North Devon, EX31 3NJ  www.thefactoryvenue.co.uk

Album available on iTunes

 The Electric Swing Circus - The Electric Swing Circus

Artist The Electric Swing Circus 

SHORT FILM: WINNER TAKES ALL - APPLEDORE PILOT GIG CLUB LADIES A TEAM

North Devon film making project Boat Stories has come up trumps again with Winner Takes All, an exciting short film capturing the thrills of women's gig racing in North Devon. The five minute documentary follows Appledore Pilot Gig Club Ladies A Team as they compete on home waters at last year's Appledore Gig Regatta. When Boat Stories Producer, Jo Stewart-Smith met the Ladies A Team she immediately spotted a good story "I was impressed with the welcome I was given" says Jo "how hard the teams trained through the winter – how competitive they were and yet the friendships they made through the team and the club carried on into their social life so that they were a tight knit group at work and at play. " Emily Lea, Vice Captain of the team says they were really excited when Jo approached them with the idea of making a film and they are thrilled with the result  "The film captures the great passion and incredible dedication members have at Appledore Pilot Gig Club. While watching the film, I went back to those gruelling training sessions, those competitive, goose bump moments where we almost beat our rivals and that sheer feeling of giving all you have got, for those incredible minutes of racing!" "Rowing is already a popular sport, but with the help of this film, I feel it will promote the sport in a positive light, and encourage more people to get fit, and what better than to row in a boat!"

The sport is popular with both men and women, a lot of Appledore Pilot Gig Club members are married, which brings healthy competition between the sexes. The ladies have three racing teams, A, B and C crews and an intermediate group, who will be forming a D crew this season. There is also a group of 'women of a certain age' and Emily says "We are very lucky to have the amazing "hot flushes" they compete in the vets and super vets races, and often win silverware for the club. We are all very close and it just proves age really doesn't matter when it comes to rowing." "Women of today are so busy juggling home and work life, rowing is a welcome escape, you can step into the boat in a stressed and bad mood and leave after a good row feeling refreshed, confident and ready to face the world!" The team's next battle will be in The isle Of Scillies at the World Championships where they will be rowing hard but also celebrating 4 hen dos. Emily notes "This of course will be happening after we have competed. There is a strict rule amongst the woman of no drinking until the last day ... that's the beauty of rowing though, we don't need alcohol to have fun!"

Along with the other Boat Stories short films Winner Takes All can be viewed at the Boat Stories website www.boatstories.co.uk where you can read more about gig rowing in North Devon and the making of the film.

Work for Devon Wildlife

Devon Wildlife Trust is looking for friendly, enthusiastic and confident people to take on a new challenge in 2015 and help Devon's biggest wildlife conservation charity recruit new members. The Membership Recruiter position has never been more valuable to DWT, as membership is the only reliable source of income for the charity to be able to continue helping wildlife in Devon. DWT's 49 nature reserves across Devon provide habitats for a host of threatened and rare species including dormice, otters and greater horseshoe bats. Membership allows the charity to continue the habitat management for this precious wildlife to thrive in Devon. DWT's Membership lead, Rachael Fielder-Pine, said, "This is a great opportunity for anyone who loves talking to people, working outside, and cares about wildlife and Devon. Our recruiters approach visitors to venues, such as garden centres and county shows in Devon, and talk to them about the Trust's valuable work, with a view to securing a regular monthly donation. In return, membership recruiters can expect flexible working hours, competitive rates of pay, and of course, the nice feeling that they are making a real contribution to the wellbeing of wildlife in Devon!" DWT Membership Recruiter, Jo Forsyth, said, "The role is flexible and varied, you're outdoors often, and you get to attend some really nice events and venues, whilst enthusing people about the environment and wildlife and DWT's role in looking after it. For me it's about capturing people's interest in and concern for nature and turning that in to valuable support for DWT." 

Hours are flexible and earning dependent on hours worked. Basic pay is £8.50 per hour, or 38% commission of the annual subscription value, including gift aid, of each confirmed membership, whichever is the highest at the end of each month. An additional 10% commission can be earned for exceeding monthly targets. For more information about the role, and how to apply, visit www.devonwildlifetrust.org/job-vacancies/

Photo: Jo Forsyth, Membership Recruiter © Devon Wildlife Trust copyright DWT (All rights reserved)