The Academy rocks!

IMMEDIATE PRESS RELEASE
Basingstoke, Hampshire UK
10th June 2007


The Academy rocks!

Following the success of recent rock shows at The Academy Basingstoke with bands such as “Never The Bride” who will perform at Glastonbury this year, a further rock concert, albeit a lighter middle-of-the-road style of music, is being held on Saturday 14th July 2007 at the Worting Road live music venue.

The “Sock Monkeys” are a 5-piece band of experienced musicians who got together because they love playing great rock music, past and present. They have evolved over the last couple of years into a tight, professional-sounding unit covering a range of classic and contemporary rock and pop songs with the energy of the originals, and something of their own passion thrown in!

Their support band are “Stealers Bluff” and the show starts at 8pm with DJ Ivan Axford taking the night through to 2am with his ever-popular disco and customer requests. Admission is £3 on the door, over 18’s only.

Full details of this and other original artists appearing in 2007 at the Academy live music venue, alongside their popular tribute band shows, are available on the venue’s website (http://www.academyclubs.com/) which is updated regularly.


ENDS



Note to Editors

There are three Academy's currently in the South - Basingstoke, Boscombe and Eastleigh. All operate 24 hours, 7 days a week, and offer extensive Snooker, Pool and Nine Ball. Uniquely to The Academy venues, they now show live premiership football on Saturday & Sunday afternoons. In addition to this, professional Darts are available as well as huge satellite screens with surround sound showing live sporting events. Discreet but loaded fruit machines offer maximum payouts and that all-important thrill! The Fun Bars with their light refreshing décor offer a variety of entertainment for all ages, definitely not to be missed! The Basingstoke venue also boasts a function room and superb Chinese Restaurant.
(http://www.academyclubs.com/).

Further details of the Sock Monkeys can be found on-line at http://www.thesockmonkeys.co.uk/ - they are on stage 10.45/11pm. Stealers Bluff www.myspace.com/stealersbluff are on stage from 9pm to 10.15pm





Media enquiries to:John Hicks M.IDM
Headline Promotions, Press & PR
Mobile: 07771 575 654
Fax: 0707 520 9717
john@headlinepromotions.co.uk
http://www.headlinepromotions.blogspot.com/

US country music star Lisa O'Kane launches CD in Basingstoke

IMMEDIATE PRESS RELEASE
Basingstoke, Hampshire UK
10th June 2007


US country music star Lisa O'Kane launches CD in Basingstoke


Los Angeles-based recording artist Lisa O’Kane, has dubbed her sixth tour of Britain the "Heart On My Sleeve Tour" and The Academy in Worting Road Basingstoke is not only a venue on the Tour but is hosting Lisa’s official launch party for her brand new CD, IT DON’T HURT.

A soul-baring reflection packed with powerful emotions, the disc is not for the faint of heart as the album’s songs address some very real, very deep feelings. “My fans know that I’ve always worn my heart on my sleeve,” says Lisa. “It’s been a year of change for me and thus the name of this tour.”

IT DON’T HURT will make its debut at The Academy on July 21 during a special CD-launch bash, a full 10 days before its “official” street date. The Roots/Americana diva can rely on her loyal U.K. fans to fill the venue, as those fans have followed her since the 2002 release of her debut CD, AM I TOO BLUE, and the 2005 issue, PEACE OF MIND.

Lisa’s 15-day itinerary encompasses 11 performances and includes an interview/acoustic performance with BBC Radio 2 host Bob Harris which is scheduled for broadcast August 2.

John Hicks, General Manager of The Academy said: “Lisa is an amazing performer. Her “Peace of Mind” album has been a permanent part of my in-car CD collection ever since I first heard it a year ago. It is so powerful and we are so excited that we have managed to persuade Lisa to not only perform in Basingstoke but to allow us to host the official launch party for her new CD.”

“She’ll be travelling with a cracking band that includes fellow American Kenny Edwards (Karla Bonoff, Stone Poneys) on acoustic guitar, mandolin and background vocals. Joining them are Brits Steve Curtis of Brentwood, Essex (recording artist and 2004 finalist in Guitarist Magazine’s Acoustic Guitar Competition) who plugs it in and goes electric for Lisa; Andy Peek of Shoeburyness (The Directors, Tony McPhee’s Groundhogs) manning the drums and percussion, and rounding things out on bass guitar is Nevil Kiddier of Chelmsford (Glyder, The Pinkees, No Idea).” John added.

“For those who would like to find out more about Lisa, it is well worth a visit to her website at www.myspace.com/lisaokane “

The show starts at 8pm with country music radio and television presenter, Lee Williams, playing old favourites and the latest releases across the whole spectrum of country music and taking the night through to 2am with audience requests.

Admission is £10 on the door, over 18’s only; doors open at 7.30pm. Advance booking is advised and tickets are now available on-line at http://www.academyclubs.com/ where full details of this and other original artists appearing in 2007 at the Academy live music venue, alongside their popular tribute band shows, are available.


ENDS



Note to Editors

There are three Academy's currently in the South - Basingstoke, Boscombe and Eastleigh. All operate 24 hours, 7 days a week, and offer extensive Snooker, Pool and Nine Ball. Uniquely to The Academy venues, they now show live premiership football on Saturday & Sunday afternoons. In addition to this, professional Darts are available as well as huge satellite screens with surround sound showing live sporting events. Discreet but loaded fruit machines offer maximum payouts and that all-important thrill! The Fun Bars with their light refreshing décor offer a variety of entertainment for all ages, definitely not to be missed! The Basingstoke venue also boasts a function room and superb Chinese Restaurant.
(http://www.academyclubs.com/).


Schedule your interview now by contacting martha@somuchmoore.com .




Media enquiries to:

John Hicks M.IDM
Headline Promotions, Press & PR
Mobile: 07771 575 654
Fax: 0707 520 9717
john@headlinepromotions.co.uk
http://www.headlinepromotions.blogspot.com/

UK faces devastating migration legacy of Tony Blair

I voted Labour back in the 1997 General Elections for the first time in my life and it was because I was so impressed with Tony Blair.

He was full of enthusiasm and energy, he had vision and he looked and sounded like a Prime Minister should. Tony Blair was the man of our times.

So how does it feel ten years on as Prime Minister Blair spends his last few days in Downing Street and travelling the globe saying farewell to the world’s leaders? Of course, he has made mistakes and had his fair share of successes but will history be kind to him?

At the moment people are focussing on Iraq as his biggest legacy. Of course, as our soldiers and UK civilians die on Iraqi soil, it is a common topic of conversation and in the news. In general, it is not favourable towards the Prime Minister or President Bush. The topic has been discussed at such length that it will serve much purpose in doing it to death here; suffice to say that only time will tell how that part of world history unfolds and enable future generations to judge the decisions made.

How do I feel here and now? I want to believe that U.S. and UK deaths have not been in vain. I want history to judge Tony Blair kindly. But, I fear that the ends have not justified the means and that it was a huge mistake. Time only will tell.

But I fear that the huge legacy left by Tony Blair’s term in office is not yet part of the public’s consciousness. I think that the biggest mistake he and his government made was to abandon common sense for socialist idealism when they deliberately under-estimated the huge numbers of immigrants who would pour into the UK from Eastern Europe.

This morning, I was shopping in town. My local newsagent put up a poster for me for one of my events and commented on some advertising postcards, offering rooms and lodgings, he was displaying. He told me that, until recently, an en-suite room in a nice house was costing people £50 a week. Since my home town of Basingstoke was “invaded” by Polish and other Eastern European migrants, they have now shot up to around £100 a week. This is leaving local people either unable to find or unable to afford their own accommodation.

In the shop was a sales representative. He told us that he had been to a city recently to visit a corner shop but found two men blocking the road. These Eastern Europeans came to his car and asked where he was going; he explained that he was visiting the local shop but they said this was not permitted as the shop only bought items “suitable for the local population”. He was turned away so rang the shop owner only to be told that the area was saturated with foreigners who were dictating what he sold and who he bought supplies from. He dare not buy from anywhere else as he would have no trade.

He reported this to his head office who investigated. They found that there are some 20,000 Eastern Europeans in that city and there are “no go” areas for English people. They have swamped some areas and made them into some form of ghetto.

This reminded me that I was contemplating running a monthly Polish night to enable the local Polish community to get together. On informal advice from local officials I abandoned the idea; their concerns were that gangs of Polish workers have already been banned from town centre bars because of their violent actions.

My local authority licenses taxi drivers and have recently had to introduce English tests because of the complaints from passengers who have had to deal with drivers, to be fair not just Eastern Europeans, who were unable to operate effectively due to an inability to communicate in English.

These issues are causing ordinary local people to complain quietly to one another as it is part of our English culture to not complain too loudly unless provoked. I believe that the migration issue will provoke common folk to complain loudly and, quite probably, to react violently in the medium to long term.

My fear is that cultural unrest is going to be Tony Blair’s lasting legacy and that his idealism will have caused future generations to face a difficult and violent future. It raises all sorts of concerns for businesses and communities and I am not sure what the future holds for us.


This article first appeared as a blog on the My Telegraph website (UK) - June 2007

EAST 17 stay another day in Basingstoke

IMMEDIATE PRESS RELEASE
Basingstoke, Hampshire UK
10th June 2007


EAST 17 stay another day in Basingstoke

The Academy Basingstoke has announced the latest addition to their “Original Artistes” programme with EAST 17 performing on Saturday 28th July 2007 at the Worting Road live music venue.

Back in 1991, four friends from Walthamstow, London E17 got together to make music and soon came to the notice of manager Tom Watkins who had already had success with Bros and the Pet Shop Boys.

Taking their name from the area of London in which they lived, EAST 17 was born and in August of 1992 their first single “House of Love” was released and went straight into the Top Ten.

From then on, a succession of 17 other singles and 6 albums followed including the million selling single “Stay Another Day” which hit the Christmas number one spot in 1994 and stayed in the charts for 16 weeks.

The band went from strength to strength with arena tours around the world and even sold more records than Take That outside of the UK.

Tony left the band in 1997 but Brian, Terry and John continued to release songs and still perform around the world to this day.

Brian has kept the profile up by appearing on TV shows like “I’m a Celebrity” in 2004 and had a much publicised car accident in 2005 that nearly took his life.

2007 will be the bands 15th year so they will be performing a greatest hits show throughout the UK, including The Academy Basingstoke, and are even looking at releasing new material to their army of adoring fans who, although a little older, have not lost any of their passion.

John Hicks, General Manager of The Academy said: “I worked with EAST 17 during their heyday and have fond memories of delighted audiences enjoying a terrific night out. I am delighted to have this opportunity to not only bring the guys back to Basingstoke but also to introduce them to a new generation of music lovers.”

Their support act is yet to be announced but the show starts at 8pm with DJ Danny D. taking the night through to 2am with his ever-popular disco and customer requests.

Admission is £15 on the door, over 18’s only; doors open at 7.30pm. Advance booking is advised and tickets are now available on-line at http://www.academyclubs.com/ where full details of this and other original artists appearing in 2007 at the Academy live music venue, alongside their popular tribute band shows, are available.


ENDS



Note to Editors

There are three Academy's currently in the South - Basingstoke, Boscombe and Eastleigh. All operate 24 hours, 7 days a week, and offer extensive Snooker, Pool and Nine Ball. Uniquely to The Academy venues, they now show live premiership football on Saturday & Sunday afternoons. In addition to this, professional Darts are available as well as huge satellite screens with surround sound showing live sporting events. Discreet but loaded fruit machines offer maximum payouts and that all-important thrill! The Fun Bars with their light refreshing décor offer a variety of entertainment for all ages, definitely not to be missed! The Basingstoke venue also boasts a function room and superb Chinese Restaurant.
(http://www.academyclubs.com/).




Media enquiries to:John Hicks M.IDM
Headline Promotions, Press & PR
Mobile: 07771 575 654
Fax: 0707 520 9717
john@headlinepromotions.co.uk
http://www.headlinepromotions.blogspot.com/