The Big Ass Hebden Bridge Christmas Concert

Newly formed company Big Ass Promotions will be launching their first ever live charity band night later this month, as the Trades Club, Hebden Bridge will hold ‘The Big Ass Hebden Bridge Christmas Concert’ on Sunday 19th December.

The night is to help raise funds for The Laura Crane Youth Cancer Trust, a local charity supporting young people who suffer from cancer. More details HERE.

Hosted and presented by Billy Painter and Patrick McCallion, The Big Ass Hebden Bridge Christmas Concert features four local bands, all playing a different genre of music to suit all tastes. Performing on the night will be; One Stop Railway, The Frontier Psychiatrists, Fishing For Bishops and the highly popular and compelling Small Words.

As well as being a fantastic live event, the concert will also be streamed in its entirety worldwide across the internet allowing anyone, anywhere to tune in and sample a taste of Hebden Bridge entertainment this Christmas. A DVD will also be recorded on the night and available from the website soon after.

Under 18’s are welcome and encouraged to attend as it will be the best club around this Christmas to see the best new musical talent and entertainment that the Calder Valley has to offer.

Ticket prices for this event will be £4 in advance and £5 on the night, and can be bought from the Big Ass Promotions website any of the bands. All money raised will go straight to The Laura Crane Youth Cancer Trust.

Co-organiser Billy Painter commented: “The event promises to be a great night and it's one that Patrick and I are really looking forward to, so come on down and enjoy the music and support a great charity too!”

The concert will commence from 7pm and more details can be obtained from www.bigasspromotions.co.uk

Film Review With Sam Larner

Jackass 3D (18)

This is the new instalment in the Jackass stable. It was made for $20million which is not a lot at all considering the obscene spends of “Avatar” and “Pirates of the Caribbean”. It has already made eight times its budget and so clearly it has to be considered a major success. I will state from the very beginning that I am not a particularly big Jackass fan. I never had sky so I couldn’t see it in my youth which seems to be where most people saw it. Later when the internet made it possible to view the clips I was never very interested. I was always told by friends that it is the funniest thing they’ve ever seen and it just made me feel bad for them because clearly “Blazing Saddles” and “Airplane!” are the funniest things ever made, aren’t they?

So firstly let’s look at what’s wrong with Jackass. Firstly it doesn’t need to be in 3D it’s a complete waste and to me seems like a ploy to get those extra few pounds off of you. There is literally nothing in the film that is enhanced by being in 3D and this is a view shared by a lot of the people I’ve talked to about it. Secondly, the scenes where they do stuff to themselves and the other actors are fine however when they go out into the streets in an effort to make other people feel uncomfortable I just find it unnecessary and in the end just side with the people on the streets who to me are dealing with the situation in as good a way as you could. Lastly, this isn’t great comedy. Just in the same way as shouting boo in a horror movie doesn’t make it a great scary movie. Hitting someone with a big hand is funny but it isn’t comedy. I do realise how snobby that sounds by the way.

Despite all this I must admit that I saw this on a Friday night and as an hour and a half of mindless entertainment goes this ranks very highly. It was a lot of fun from start to finish and I laughed at least the required seven times. Watching people throw themselves off things and into other things is funny to watch. Especially when it seems like they’re having a good time doing it makes it even better. It may be the high budget version of “You’ve been framed” but everyone knows that was the show you watched if your tea was a little bit late and “Final Score” had finished, and everyone knows it was a very funny show. I winced through Jackass however I also laughed sometimes uncontrollably and that is what you want. Would I watch it again? Of course and you know what I would probably laugh again.

Sam's Star Review: ****

Next Week – Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1

Press Release Regarding Hebden Bridge Demonstration

The following statement was made by the students who carried out a demonstration in Hebden Bridge today regarding the HE Cuts.

Today a few hundred students from the Calderdale area took part in a protest against public sector cuts, particularly cuts in education and rises in tuition fees. 

The protest was organised by local sixth formers who go to college in Mytholmroyd, Halifax and Huddersfield in order to coincide with the National Walk Out Day. 

The first protest was held from 7:30am - 9:30am at the Marina in Hebden Bridge. Most students involved then dispersed and went to their lessons. At 11am students walked out of Calder High and joined our protest, however, no students from lower school were encouraged to join the sixth former's protest at any point.

The protest then marched back to Hebden Bridge, took a short break and reconvened at 3pm. The protest then moved back to the Marina and protested for two hours, at which point the following statement was read before peacefully dispersing:

Our message today is simply to demonstrate the anger felt by many in society against our government’s actions, specifically their policy of cutting higher education to the extent that it will only be available to the well off. We represent a nation of people who have been misled by the current government, a government whose Deputy Prime Minister said he would not raise tuition fees. This regressive cuts system, of which education is just one part, will hit the most vulnerable hardest, leaving those with disabilities, children and from poorer families in the dark. The depth of the cuts will damage this country and create an ever more growing gap between the rich and poor, and in education at least, an intellectual one as well as a financial one. Education is not a privilege but a right, and it is not fair to hurt those in society whose lives haven’t even started yet.

*The above press release was not made by The Painter's Chronicle, and the views above do not necessarily reflect the views of the entire Painter's Chronicle Team. 

Hebden Bridge - "Best Town in Britain"

We all knew it, but now it's official in black and white, Hebden Bridge is the 'Best Town in Britain". There isn't too much to say on the matter, but as a local, I am thoroughly proud and delighted that Hebden Bridge has finally received official recognition and I am even more happy to say that Hebden Bridge is the home of The Painter's Chronicle. Does any town come close?

Hebden Bridge has been named as the best town in Britain and Ireland at the Urbanism Awards.

The judges praised the West Yorkshire town's arts scene and eco-friendly policies such as a ban on plastic shopping bags.

John Thompson of the Academy of Urbanism gave out the awards.

He said:"Hebden Bridge is a worthy winner of the Best Town award, with its vibrant, independent economy, welcoming streets and a stunning valley setting."

The market town beat off strong competition from Stroud and Westport in Ireland to win the title of 2011 Great Town of the Year at the Urbanism Awards, which recognise the best, most enduring or most improved urban environments.

Historically, Hebden Bridge played an important role in the wool trade in the North during the 19th and 20th centuries.

In recent decades the town has developed a rich arts scene, with an arts festival and fringe arts festival taking place each year in the late spring, but has maintained a healthy economic outlook.

Above story courtesy of the BBC, the full story can be read HERE.

National Student Walkout - This Wednesday

On the 24th of November 2010 there will be a national walkout by all institutions of learning. All levels of the curriculum will be getting involved; schools, colleges and universities. The walkout will take place at 11am and   will be a protest mainly against the following: 

1. The Budget Cuts
2. Cutting of EMA
3. Rise in Tuition Fees

The protest comes after recent announcements from the Conservative Party to initiate the above in the very near future, and with the majority of the current Painter's Chronicle readership planning on furthering their education we felt that it would be appropriate to publicise the planned walkout to give everyone the information should they feel that they wish to take part. More information can also be found HERE.

*The information supplied in the above article is to inform the Painter's Chronicle readers about the walkout, and is in no way trying to persuade people to take part should they not wish. The Painter's Chronicle Team have different views on the walkout, and with this in mind the above is information rather than our own personal views.

Film Review With Sam Larner

Due Date (15)

Due Date is a 1987 comedy film directed by John Hughes starring Steve Martin and John Candy it follows them as they try to get across the country in time for Christmas. Ahh, ermm, no sorry that was (Planes, Trains and Automobiles). Oh well “Due Date” is basically the same movie.

So Zach Galifianakis and Robert Downey Jr are kicked off a plane in Atlanta. Downey Jr needs to get back across to Los Angeles to see the birth of his first child. Having lost his bags in transit and with no wallet Peter Highman (Downey Jr) is forced to enlist the help of Ethan Tremblay (Galifianakis). They set off in the hire car for a hilarious adventure.

The first review I ever did for the Painter's Chronicle was (The Hangover) and I know I’m in the minority but I didn’t like it. This is the buffer movie between The Hangover and its sequel. It’s directed by the same guy (Todd Phillips). So the potential was there for this to be, in my opinion, another dud.

Firstly I’ll go over what’s wrong with Due Date. The main problem is that it’s an almost shot for shot remake of the excellent film (Planes, Trains and Automobiles) and in many ways it struggles to live up to its illustrious forefather. The second problem is that these two characters are far more unlikeable characters than Martin and Candy. Downey Jr is an uptight architect who is incredibly unkind to Galifianakis along the way. Whereas Martin was always uptight you did have sympathy with the frustration he faces, Downey Jr is just a horrible person throughout this film. In the original Candy is portrayed as a bit of an idiot with some odd personality traits however Galifianakis is not at all a believable character and come across as a bit of a caricature. Last of all Due Date doesn’t have enough laughs to sustain it for its 1hr 40min playing time. Also some of the set pieces which you imagine are put there purely for big laughs just don’t do it.

However, I have to say that the second half of the film had me smiling away to myself stupidly as the beautiful scenery swished and swirled across the screen. There is some beautiful cinematography in this film and that was one plus I certainly wasn’t expecting. Also it does have some quite funny moments. I counted about five laughs throughout the whole film which is perhaps just below the “funny” threshold but it’s not bad. Lastly, it’s quite good as an hour and a half of mindless entertainment which is a niche that needs to be filled by movies.

Okay, so it’s stupid entertainment, it’s quite fun but and it’s a big but, this is a glorified rip off. If you want to see this movie only better, then get “Planes, Trains and Automobiles”. This is the problem; “Due Date” serves as a reminder of just what a great movie that was. So there we are, its good fun and I did enjoy it, however its older brother is cooler and that’s who you want to spend your time with.

Sam's Star Review: **

Next Week: Jackass 3D 

The Frontier Psychiatrists - Gig On Friday

Do you like loud guitars? Do you like loud guitars which are accompanied by other instruments, layered to create tunes? If you answered YES to either of these questions, The Doghouse this Friday night at Arden Road Social Club could be for you! Come down at 8:30pm and for just £6 (£5 if you’re a Frequent Dogger, £4 for NUS members) you can watch The Frontier Psychiatrists, The Little Darlings and A Genuine Freakshow.

The Frontier Psychiatrists are proudly supported by The Painter's Chronicle.

Remembrance Sunday Parade - Mytholmroyd

Thanks to Fran Robinson (www.mytholmroyd.net) for the footage.