On March 19th, starting at 7:30pm, the Faringdon Junior School in Faringdon, Oxfordshire, will play host to three local bands who will be performing for One World Beat 2005. Established in the 12th century, Faringdon is a small market community with centuries-old traditions intermingling with the contemporary savvy of a town website, a well-developed tourist trade, an annual arts festival, and a wealth of arts and music activities, among them bellringing, Jive, Scottish, and Middle Eastern dancing, several singing groups and choral societies, a theater company, a book club and writer's circle, painting club and art league, and a program called "Bridging the Gap", which aims to span the generations through various types of arts activities. One project, done with the Junior School youth, collects stories from older people in the community--about their experience of being 11 years old, and this is compared with the stories of that same age group today. We hope the OWB 2005 event will be such a bridge-builder, and we look forward to hearing the story of music making a difference in Faringdon.
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On March 24th at the Crypt Fairtrade Cafe in London, Counterglow will spin their acoustic magic for a second time for OWB 2005. Their first event in February was to support our "Beat the Wave" tsunami-relief project, and this time they are donating their energies and talents to our "Give A Child A Chance" education campaign. A contemporary rock-pop band whose central sounds are provided by the guitars and vocals of Matt Smith and Jon Penny, Counterglow's original songs range from energetic indie-alternative rock to intricate finger-picked ballads. Their latest release, "Shout in Vain", has received critical acclaim, including one reviewer who predicts they are headed for superstardom. The fun starts at 7:30pm at the Crypt Cafe of St. Mary's Church, Islington, which serves "fairtrade" coffee, a movement assuring that local growers in developing countries get a fair deal for their products. For more on fair trade, see http://www.fairtrade.org.uk . OWB is an enthusiastic fairtrade supporter, a movement and philosophy in keeping with our common goal to make a difference for the better in people's lives.
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On March 25th at 8pm, West One Four in London will be the scene of a second concert by the dynamic rock trio, Dilemma, billed as "England's Youngest Rock Group" (all under 13). They play to rave reviews everywhere they go, including an OWB multi-band concert in March 2004, and have also given of their time, talents, and caring for an OWB 2005 event in February, at The Hermit in Essex. This March event, part of the "Emergenza" under-18's showcase, will feature half an hour of the group's original music, which has won them a "Battle of the Bands" award and given them the honor of being a supporting act for Midge Ure, Gerry and the Pacemakers,and Jason Donnovan. They have also headlined at the 2004 International Scout Jamboree (before an audience of 8000), and been filmed by the BBC and Sky-1 TV. See more about them at www.dilemma.uk.com, and come out to support these young people making a difference for youth everywhere.
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