Thursday, July 31, 2008

SummerTyne: Strike Up The Band

The third SummerTyne - a 10-day long music festival to celebrate the summer with spectacular musical events in and around The Sage Gateshead. Various events on offer from the hot hot hot opening weekend, to amazing big name concerts, a huge programme of family events for all ages, and another fantastic long weekend of American music - country, bluegrass, Cajun, blues and more. The festival is launched with an extraordinary event to celebrate the completion of Newcastle and Gateshead's eighth bridge - an ephemeral bamboo construction by Australian artists Bambuco. There are also many free events, including an outdoor stage, talks, film screenings and fringe events such as Café Americana at the Side Café.



SummerTyne: Strike Up The Band

Northern Sinfonia
John Wilson: Conductor
Kim Criswell: Soprano
Gary Williams: Baritone

A concert of works by one of the quintessential American composers, George Gershwin. Northern Sinfonia and John Wilson are joined by the outstanding vocalists Kim Criswell and Gary Williams in a programme of unforgettable tunes and much-loved lyrics from Gershwin's Hollywood years. The songs from shows and movies including ‘The Goldwyn Follies’, ‘Shall we Dance?’, ‘Girl Crazy’ and ‘Strike up the Band’, including ‘Love is Here to Stay’, ‘Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off’, ‘But Not for Me’ and ‘’S Wonderful’. An exciting way to start the Americana spectacular.


...The Sage Gateshead...





...people waited around the concourse before the concert...





...before the concert kicked off...no photo during the concert...

...almost full the main hall...

...interval...

...the conductor, John Wilson...


...what a fantastico night...thanks to Jeffrey, Kimi and Yves...
 

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Lonely Planet - Endiburgh, Scotland

On the way back home to Newcastle, we have to change the train at Endiburgh Weaverly Station, the main train station in Endiburgh, a capital city of Scotland. Since we still have an hour before the train arrived, we decided to roam around for a while. Endiburgh is indeed a beautiful city with old buildings around the city.




...the old charms of Endiburgh...old buidings that reminded me of Bern, capital city of Switzerland...

...a bridge connecting both sides of the city which separated by a valley...



...old houses near Endiburgh Castle...



...Endiburgh Castle...

...yeah, the famous Endiburgh Castle...




Monday, July 28, 2008

Lonely Planet - Glasgow, Scotland

Another great day trip to Glasgow and Endiburgh too. The train left Newcastle Central around 08:05 am and reached Glasgow Central around 11:00 am. Went there with Angeline to visit Kak Pinaz, a dearest lady. A long overdue to visit her since last year and at last we have the time to see her before she flying back to Malaysia in September. 


Glasgow Central Station...







...Cappuccino Police?...

...George Square...

...the Pipers' Trail...


...actually that day was Glasgow Festival...

...George Square...


...the oldest house in Glasgow...


...the clock tower at the entrance of Merchants' Square...


...one of the earliest bridge, Kingston Bridge...along the River Clyde...


...the new bridge built to commemorate the new millennium...Clyde Arc...




...Clyde Auditorium "Armadillo"...

...the Tall Ship at Glasgow Harbour...got the name from the tall mast...


...University of Glasgow...

...Art Gallery & Museum...

...the Transport Museum...

...old building...

...and modern building...

...main shopping street at the Merchants' Square...

...Merchants' Square area near to Queen Street Station...

...another clock tower near Queen Street Station...

Snow Effect