Events – Page 11 – I am Ashley Elsdon

Sad that the E&C Mini Maker Faire isn’t on this year

Posted by ashleyelsdonon September 4, 2015August 31, 2015in Events, Robotics, TechLeave a comment

It’s a real shame. I went last year and the year before, and I was so sorry to find out that this year it wasn’t happening. According to their site it seems they weren’t able to get sponsorship for the event. It makes me sad because when I went last year there were so many people having a great time there. It was packed. All those people won’t get the chance to go again this year. It’s sad.

But there’s the Brighton Mini Maker Faire that’s happening on the 5th, and I’m planning to get along to that for a few hours if I can. It’s not as convenient as the Elephant and Castle, but it’s ok.

I hope that the E&C faire comes back in 2016. It would be a shame for it to stop for good.

So that was the Edinburgh Fringe

Posted by ashleyelsdonon August 31, 2015August 30, 2015in Edinburgh Fringe, Events, FestivalsLeave a comment

This year’s Edinburgh Fringe felt bigger than before. In fact, it felt a lot bigger in many ways. The crowds seemed denser and much more difficult to navigate through, and even the cab drivers said it was a bigger event than in previous years. I’m not sure if that’s true or not, but it felt like it.

I did enjoy this year’s fringe. As always there were highs and lows. Amazing shows, and things that are better left unremembered. But that’s the way it has always been, and I’ve been going for quite a while now.

Going to the Fringe is always a gamble. Just because a show has a 5 star rating doesn’t mean it’ll actually be good or indeed that you’ll like it. Added to that, the weather is an even bigger gamble, although you could argue that it’s always going to rain if you’re in Edinburgh for the fringe, and I’d say that’s a pretty safe bet.

But it was good this year, and it was fun on the whole. It’s a tiring holiday though. It’s the kind of holiday that you come back from more tired than when you left, and that’s getting increasingly difficult.

I’ll be posting thoughts on my favourite shows over the coming days, but as for those that didn’t appeal to me, I’ll leave them alone and won’t bother boring you with them.

Well this looks like it might be fun

Posted by ashleyelsdonon August 26, 2015August 19, 2015in Beer, Events, FestivalsLeave a comment

I haven’t actually been to one the Wetherspoon’s beer festivals in years, so perhaps I should give it a go and see what it’s like these days. It might be fun. It will be cheap!

Back in 2013 when it was the first SoundLab at BOC

Posted by ashleyelsdonon August 25, 2015August 19, 2015in EventsLeave a comment

Strange to think about how much it moved forward in 2014, and where it will go next too. I hope to be able to talk about that soon enough.

Moog Soundlab residency: Iain Forsyth & Jane Pollard Performance

Posted by ashleyelsdonon August 20, 2015August 19, 2015in Events, MusicLeave a comment

After being at one of these performance I’d booked to go again, expecting, not unreasonably, for it to be of a similar format to the previous Moog Soundlab event at the Ace Hotel in Shoreditch. I was wrong. At least, I was for the most part wrong. It was similar in the sense that there was the same enormous (or at least enormous by my standards) Moog modular rig being used. However, I was different in more or less every other aspect.

To illustrate I took a photograph of the letter that every received (on their chair as they arrived) and were asked to read.

Moog Soundlab residency: Iain Forsyth & Jane Pollard Performance … the letter

I think you’ll agree that this is really quite unusual. As were the two glasses of gin that did arrive and were, at least to my taste, nothing like the gin I’m used to.

In fact, as an event it was more like something I might see at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, rather than in London, so from that perspective, I loved it.

Moog Soundlab residency: Dave Colohan

Posted by ashleyelsdonon August 17, 2015August 15, 2015in Events, Music, SoundsLeave a comment

This was a lovely little event, and when I say little I really do mean it. The audience was tiny in a tiny little basement bar at the Ace hotel in Shoreditch. It’s a nice venue though. The performance lasted a hour and was very interesting and used a lot but not all the equipment.

I find it interesting to watch a modular performance like this to see how the music is actually generated and sustained. It isn’t like normal performances at all of course. Quite different indeed.

Modular beauties at Moog Soundlab residency

The arrangements were lovely, with people’s names on their booked seats.

And on each seat was a thing called a “dream machine”, which was a strange light contraption sitting on a turntable. It made an interesting effect though.

Dream machine at Moog SoundLab residency

So it was an enjoyable evening, good fun, interesting to watch and different environment too.

GBBF 2015

Posted by ashleyelsdonon August 16, 2015August 15, 2015in Beer, Events, FestivalsLeave a comment

After a break since 2012 I went back to the GBBF. It’s still in Olympia, but as the weather was somewhat overcast it didn’t get too hot in there during the day. But it was a good festival. I’m so glad I went this year. There were some cracking ales there and some very nice food too.

A couple of ales that stood out for me were:

This was quite a light ale, very fruity and citrus flavoured. I really enjoyed it, although I know it isn’t to everyone’s tastes.

Also …

I liked this mild for a number of reasons. Firstly, it was a nice mild, and I don’t tend to drink mild much these days. It had a lovely burnt flavour that wasn’t too overpowering at all. Secondly, I liked the name, which reminded me of The Boards of Canada, The Campfire Headphase, and thirdly, I really liked the design. So I think I may need to locate some of these in the not too distant future.

This year was also unique as I actually managed to get my glass home with me! The last few times I’d been to the GBBF I’d not bothered as normally I’d either mislay it on the way home, or it would get broken. This year it lasted all the way home!

Less than a month to BOC!

Posted by ashleyelsdonon August 15, 2015August 11, 2015in EventsLeave a comment

Yes, it’ll be that time again soon. In a month it’ll be the Beautiful Octopus Club back at the Royal Festival Hall, and I intend to be there again. I’m not entirely sure what I’ll be doing on the day, but I’m sure it’ll be fun.

Open House London is coming up fast

Posted by ashleyelsdonon August 14, 2015August 12, 2015in Events, PlacesLeave a comment

I haven’t been to any of these events for a while, but the last time I did it was just fantastic, so I’m looking forward to checking out what’s available this year as part of Open House London. If you don’t know about it, you should certainly find out about it.

Seeing Melle Mel at the Jazz Cafe

Posted by ashleyelsdonon August 9, 2015August 8, 2015in Events, Friends, Listening, MusicLeave a comment

I love going to the Jazz Cafe, it’s a great venue and very convenient too, except when there’s a tube strike and I have to walk there from Borough Market, which took a lot longer than normal simply due to the crowds in London. Anyway, that’s my rant over with for now anyway.

Melle Mel and the Furious Five at the Jazz Cafe

I went to this gig with a couple of mates who were, to be fair, more interested in it than I was. However, I do tend to go along because it’s always good to see friends, and you never know if you’ll see something amazing or not. Luckily for me, this was the later.

It was a great gig. Lots of tracks I remember in the set, and a huge amount of energy in the performance. The audience loved it and it was a great evening. So I’m really glad I went.