Brother Strut; the critically acclaimed funk and soul band play The Factory 19th May

If you are a fan of anything funk and soul this is a night you would be insane to miss! As individuals Brother Strut have performed on records that have accumulated over half-a-billion sales, as a collective they form Brother Strut; the critically acclaimed funk and soul band. 

“You will wait a very long time indeed to see anything better, I can’t think who can top this” says Blues and Soul Magazine, awarding their debut album an astonishing 10/10.

 

The general public responded to the album with similar enthusiasm and the album entered the UK iTunes chart at number 2. Subsequent recording deals in the USA, Italy, South Africa, South East Asia and Australia followed. Whilst the band also featured in the top ten of the album charts in the UK and Italy, Craig Charles play listed it on his award-winning BBC6 Music, Funk and Soul Show.

Producer and sax player Stevie Jones assembled the bunch back in 2012, shunning the manufactured ‘X-Factor generation’s’ pursuit of fame at any cost. However, Brother Strut are far from just a recording studio band; From Van Morrison, Stevie Wonder, Elton John and Madonna to Sting, George Michael, Amy Winehouse and Tina Turner to name but a few, Brother Strut’s members honed their prodigious talents on some of the world’s most prestigious stages alongside an array of music’s most cherished icons.

Indeed, the stage remains the band’s spiritual home. Peerless showmen as well as musicians, Brother Strut pride themselves on their ability to deliver unparalleled live shows. Composed of some of the finest and funkiest musicians around, Brother Strut includes Steve Pearce (bass), Frankie Tontoh (drums), Otha Smith (electric guitar), Sam Tanner (keys/lead vocals) and Stevie Jones (Saxophonist/keys).

As Saxophonist and producer Stevie Jones notes, Brother Strut are focused on delivering exceptional live performances of “awe-inspiring” quality and their unswerving dedication to this ethos has been the catalyst behind the band’s success.

Taking their album on the road, two spectacular sell-out tours followed. Gaining notoriety for their ‘barnstorming’ sets, Brother Strut’s passion for live music has endeared them to an audience who seek real music amidst the music industries increasingly corporate soul.

To this end, the band release their music through their own label Brother Strut Records. With their freedom intact, Brother Strut only take directions from their inspirations: funk, blues, American soul music of the 1960’s and ‘70’s and stunning live music.

Local support from Loney

Brother Strut at The Factory, Barnstaple 

Thursday 19th May
DOORS: 8pm PRICE: £10 Standing only
MINIMUM AGE RECOMMENDATION: All ages. Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult
ADVANCE TICKETS: Online tickets available from www.thefactoryvenue.co.uk
Physical tickets available from Beatsworkin, Queens Street, Barnstaple and North Devon Theatres box offices

Box office booking fees may apply.

The Factory Petroc Brannams Campus Oakwood Close Barnstaple Devon EX31 3NJ 

M +44 (0)7446 692751

Seaton Jurassic welcomes Princess Royal

Her Royal Highness, The Princess Royal was in the East Devon seaside town of Seaton on Thursday 14th April visiting the town's newest tourist attraction, Seaton Jurassic.

She arrived by helicopter in the early afternoon following an earlier engagement at Dartmouth Royal Naval College.

On arrival The Princess waved to onlookers who had lined the streets around the town's Underfleet. She then spent an hour touring Seaton Jurassic's exhibition halls, meeting children from the local Seaton Primary School and representatives of the many organisations that have been involved in getting the £4.4million attraction off the ground.

The charity Devon Wildlife Trust is Seaton Jurassic's operator and its Chief Executive Harry Barton escorted the Princess on her tour. The charity's Harry Barton said:
 "It was such a pleasure to show Her Royal Highness around Seaton Jurassic. I was struck by how interested she was in the local area and the wonderful natural heritage we have in East Devon. Her Royal Highness was very impressed by the commitment from local people and volunteers helping Devon Wildlife Trust run the Centre. I hope it encourages everyone to feel as proud of Seaton Jurassic as I am."

Seaton Jurassic is a flagship project for East Devon District Council, who own the centre. The Council's Leader Cllr Paul Diviani and its Chief Executive Mark Williams spent time with the Princess discussing the project and its importance to the town's economy. Cllr Paul Diviani said:
 "The Princess Royal was fascinated in how the project has evolved. We were very proud to be able to explain that East Devon District Council is the main funder of Seaton Jurassic which is already making a positive difference to the local economy. It is a unique project and we believe it will be a catalyst for the further regeneration of the area."

The Princess concluded her visit by unveiling a plaque which formally marked the opening of Seaton Jurassic. Afterwards, in a short speech, Her Royal Highness offered her congratulations to all the partners involved and said:
 "Seaton Jurassic is a real achievement and you have set a fine example in what you have done here. I would like to think that others will follow."

Mike Ruiter is Seaton Jurassic's manager and said:
 "The Princess' visit has been a wonderful culmination to a busy opening three weeks at Seaton Jurassic. We've been delighted by people's response. We've had almost 10,000 people visit us and the feedback we are getting about the visitor experience we're offering, our café and shop have been very encouraging. My message to everyone out there is if you haven't already visited us, come and see what we're all about."

Seaton Jurassic is open seven days a week, 10am to 5pm. For more information go to www.seatonjurassic.org 

 Princess Royal giving her address at Seaton Jurassic - Photo copyright
Matt Austin/Devon Wildlife Trust (All rights reserved)

Top: Pupils from Seaton Jurassic await HRH arrival 

Bottom Left: HRH meets Seaton Jurassic's manager Mike Ruiter (left) and Devon Wildlife Trust Chief Executive Harry Barton; 

Bottom Right: HRH is shown Seaton Jurassic's time machine by its creator Lloyd Turner. 

Photos copyright Matt Austin/Devon Wildlife Trust (All rights reserved)

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Seaton Jurassic can be found on the Underfleet, Seaton, EX12 2WD, next to the Seaton Tramway. It has a pay and display car park just 100 metres from its entrance and excellent public transport links with the X53 Jurassic Coast bus stopping at its door. 

Tap link for further details about making a visit to Seaton Jurassic 

Seaton Jurassic is owned by East Devon District Council and operated by Devon Wildlife Trust.  

Casting off down the cobbles. Clovelly Yarn Bomb set to make a colourful July

Visit Clovelly during the month of July and enjoy discovering the yarn-bombed areas of the famously picturesque fishing village
 

The *tight-knit* community of Clovelly residents have been busily preparing a ‘blooming’ lovely project ~ yarn-bombing the village, with the help of people from all over the UK & abroad, who are donating beautiful yarn samples!
 

Celebrity Design Guru Laurence Llewelyn Bowen is pictured with his white knitting which will have pride of place in a very special, secret feature of the Clovelly Yarn Bomb which will be revealed in July!
 

The village will look even more colourful than usual, with knitted donkeys, seaside garlands and crocheted ‘cobble-cosies’ plus much more. This unusual project is part of Clovelly's entry to the ‘Britain in Bloom’ competition and is in aid of the Devon Air Ambulance Trust.
 

Yarn Bombing is a type of street art that employs colourful displays of knitted or crocheted yarn rather than paint or chalk. Yarn installations can be easily removed if necessary.
 

Co-ordinated by Clovelly Silk in conjunction with the Clovelly Community Gardening Group
 

Clovelly is a place which people all over the world hold very dear to their hearts and thanks to social media, the group are inviting people to donate knitted and crocheted samples and contribute to this unusual project.
 

The Clovelly Silk workshop is offering a centre-piece for some very special knitted work indeed. Not to be missed, the breathtakingly beautiful and inspiring knitted creations of Alison Murray, All2Knit, will be on display at Clovelly Silk, in the Craft Yard, which is situated next to the Donkey Stables. Alison Murray has worked tirelessly to inspire her team of local knitters, who have created awe-inspiring pieces which have travelled the UK and abroad, raising money for charity.
 

In October 2012 Clovelly suffered a flood. As a torrent of muddy water rushed down the famous cobbled street, it left a trail of destruction. The misery of the flood failed to dampen the spirits of Clovelly residents and as people pulled together, Clovelly Community Gardening Group was formed. The clean up and recovery was so swift and profound that Clovelly entered the annual South West In Bloom competition. A regional competition which is part of Britain in Bloom, the largest horticultural campaign in Europe. Taking part in the competition has inspired many exciting projects over the past few years with a real emphasis on the pride and community spirit which is so strong in Clovelly.
 

Our chosen charity is Devon Air Ambulance Trust. As a village which is difficult to access, we are acutely aware of the invaluable work that the service provides. The D.A.A.T. helicopters are able to get to most of Devon within 10 minutes and the whole of Devon within 15. It now costs £5.5million every year to keep Devon’s two Air Ambulances operational.

Clovelly Yarn Bomb

in aid of the Devon Air Ambulance Trust

From the 1st - 31st July

Clovelly village, North Devon 

Normal admission charges apply. 
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