THE ROAD OF EXCESS
A Musical Magical Journey down the Great West Road
by
CJ Stone & Tim Sebastion
“And they felt old muscles travel
Over their tense contours
And with long skill unravel
Cunningest scores.”
A Musical Magical Journey down the Great West Road
by
CJ Stone & Tim Sebastion
“And they felt old muscles travel
Over their tense contours
And with long skill unravel
Cunningest scores.”
Thomas Hardy.
From inner space to outer space, from ley lines to space-time, from Stone Age to Space Age, human beings have always sought to discover the sacred music of the landscape, and to express their feelings in ritual, in rhythm, in poetry and song.
CJ Stone and Tim Sebastion take a musical/magical journey from London to Bristol down the old Pilgrim’s Route, the Great West Road, In Search of Space and of a generation on the move, talking to poets, artists and musicians along the way about their relationship with the historic landscape that spans this most ancient of roads. At each stop we will tell the musical and curious history of the places we see, observing the rituals and listening to the tales, travelling by car, public transport, on foot or by horse-drawn carriage, visiting churches, pubs, cafes and people’s homes, stopping by hills and rivers, walking along forest tracks and droves, in an ever changing landscape, with a musical soundtrack spanning classical and jazz, folk, rock and reggae.
Summary.
Tim was born a Cockney and spent much of his teenage years during the sixties in the Notting Hill and Shepherds Bush areas of London: which is where we will begin our tale, by examining some of the music and events that formulated Tim’s decision to “go West, young man”. Interviews would include: John Michell, guru of sacred geometry and father of the philosophy of the hippie movement, the organisers of the Notting Hill Carnival, the Pink Fairies and Nick Drake. We would also look into the legend of London’s lost Stonehenge and at the history of the hippie flowering in London, and at its demise with the birth of punk. Possible interview with Joe Strummer of the Clash.
We start the next section by taking a small detour to Windsor, where we will explore the early history of the festival movement. Interviews with some of the people involved, including Syd Rawles, self-styled King of the Hippies, Brig Oubridge, Green Gathering organiser and Green Party activist. Song from As You Like It, poem from The Merry Wives of Windsor, interview with Wild Hunt Morris.
Back on to the A30 passed Basingstoke (home of the ancient Tribe of Basa), and on to Andover, where we will meet Reg Presley of the Troggs to talk about the Troggs, the town and Reg’s interest in crop circles.
The next section begins at Amesbury where we will visit the site of a “Black Magic” temple and the Catholic Rectory, where we will meet Canon Thomas Curtis-Heywood, who took in the Wallies of Wessex in 1975, when Tim came to join them. Talk about the Wallies. Who they were, and what they can teach us now. Also talk to some locals about this period and to some of the musicians who were recording at the town studio at this time.
From there we will travel to Stonehenge to investigate the festivals, Druidic rites and hear some of the music that has been written about this most ancient temple. Talk to some involved in the Stonehenge campaign, including King Arthur Pendragon, self-styled Dark Ages Battle Chieftain and Pagan Priest. What now for the future of Stonehenge?
Interview with Penny Rimbaud from Cr@ss.
After this we take another detour to Salisbury to discover the old tune to the Salisbury Giant and uncover its real history. Interview with the local choirmaster of the Abbey and delve into the history of the famous Madrigal composer Thomas Weelkes. Poem by Betjemen, references to tracks by the Levellers and Kula Shaker.
Next we move on to Warminster.
When approaching Warminster look out for UFOs. There was a plague of them in the sixties. We will meet people who have vivid recollections of these mysterious happenings, said at the time to be communications from the Planet Xenestria.
Warminster is also the centre of ley lines and the birthplace of one of Britain’s greatest Punk bands, the Subhumans, who we will seek out and interview.
Then on to Longleat where one of the first great outdoor festivals took place, headlined by the Rolling Stones, and the scene of an early pop riot. On to Frome, an old West Country market town where the famous cheese blessing takes place and site of the infamous cucumber dance. Archive recordings of dance and blessing. Meeting with the Rhythmites, Frome’s most famous band.
The next part will start in Bradford on Avon in the oldest Saxon church in England, where we will meet with members of Jesus Jones, who were born and raised in the town. On to Troughbridge, home of the Village Pump festival, where we will talk to some of the people involved in this most English of English folk festivals. Also home of Dave Dee Dozy Beaky Mick and Titch, whom we will interview. On to Box to interview Hugh Cornwall about his move to the area.
The final part finds us in Bath, home to so many famous artists, including Tears For Fears, The Korgis, Peter Gabriel and Van Morrison, some of whom we will interview.
Although Bath is famous for a number of internationally recognised festivals, we will concentrate instead upon the lesser known Bardic festival held in December, interviewing some of the Bards involved.
Discover the famous Irish song written here, meet the Astronomer who wrote symphonies.
Finally on to Bristol via Stanton Drew - where it is said that a whole marriage party was turned to stone by the Devil. In Bristol we will talk to some of the stars that hail from the city (such as Massive Attack, Russ Conway and Portishead) and then talk to the organisers of the St. Pauls Carnival, second only to Notting Hill as one of Britain’s foremost West Indian street entertainments.
End looking across at the open spaces of Wales, and think about what lies beyond: Ireland, the Atlantic and the United States.
Possible interview with Nik Turner of Hawkwind about his move to Wales.
From inner space to outer space, from ley lines to space-time, from Stone Age to Space Age, human beings have always sought to discover the sacred music of the landscape, and to express their feelings in ritual, in rhythm, in poetry and song.
CJ Stone and Tim Sebastion take a musical/magical journey from London to Bristol down the old Pilgrim’s Route, the Great West Road, In Search of Space and of a generation on the move, talking to poets, artists and musicians along the way about their relationship with the historic landscape that spans this most ancient of roads. At each stop we will tell the musical and curious history of the places we see, observing the rituals and listening to the tales, travelling by car, public transport, on foot or by horse-drawn carriage, visiting churches, pubs, cafes and people’s homes, stopping by hills and rivers, walking along forest tracks and droves, in an ever changing landscape, with a musical soundtrack spanning classical and jazz, folk, rock and reggae.
Summary.
Tim was born a Cockney and spent much of his teenage years during the sixties in the Notting Hill and Shepherds Bush areas of London: which is where we will begin our tale, by examining some of the music and events that formulated Tim’s decision to “go West, young man”. Interviews would include: John Michell, guru of sacred geometry and father of the philosophy of the hippie movement, the organisers of the Notting Hill Carnival, the Pink Fairies and Nick Drake. We would also look into the legend of London’s lost Stonehenge and at the history of the hippie flowering in London, and at its demise with the birth of punk. Possible interview with Joe Strummer of the Clash.
We start the next section by taking a small detour to Windsor, where we will explore the early history of the festival movement. Interviews with some of the people involved, including Syd Rawles, self-styled King of the Hippies, Brig Oubridge, Green Gathering organiser and Green Party activist. Song from As You Like It, poem from The Merry Wives of Windsor, interview with Wild Hunt Morris.
Back on to the A30 passed Basingstoke (home of the ancient Tribe of Basa), and on to Andover, where we will meet Reg Presley of the Troggs to talk about the Troggs, the town and Reg’s interest in crop circles.
The next section begins at Amesbury where we will visit the site of a “Black Magic” temple and the Catholic Rectory, where we will meet Canon Thomas Curtis-Heywood, who took in the Wallies of Wessex in 1975, when Tim came to join them. Talk about the Wallies. Who they were, and what they can teach us now. Also talk to some locals about this period and to some of the musicians who were recording at the town studio at this time.
From there we will travel to Stonehenge to investigate the festivals, Druidic rites and hear some of the music that has been written about this most ancient temple. Talk to some involved in the Stonehenge campaign, including King Arthur Pendragon, self-styled Dark Ages Battle Chieftain and Pagan Priest. What now for the future of Stonehenge?
Interview with Penny Rimbaud from Cr@ss.
After this we take another detour to Salisbury to discover the old tune to the Salisbury Giant and uncover its real history. Interview with the local choirmaster of the Abbey and delve into the history of the famous Madrigal composer Thomas Weelkes. Poem by Betjemen, references to tracks by the Levellers and Kula Shaker.
Next we move on to Warminster.
When approaching Warminster look out for UFOs. There was a plague of them in the sixties. We will meet people who have vivid recollections of these mysterious happenings, said at the time to be communications from the Planet Xenestria.
Warminster is also the centre of ley lines and the birthplace of one of Britain’s greatest Punk bands, the Subhumans, who we will seek out and interview.
Then on to Longleat where one of the first great outdoor festivals took place, headlined by the Rolling Stones, and the scene of an early pop riot. On to Frome, an old West Country market town where the famous cheese blessing takes place and site of the infamous cucumber dance. Archive recordings of dance and blessing. Meeting with the Rhythmites, Frome’s most famous band.
The next part will start in Bradford on Avon in the oldest Saxon church in England, where we will meet with members of Jesus Jones, who were born and raised in the town. On to Troughbridge, home of the Village Pump festival, where we will talk to some of the people involved in this most English of English folk festivals. Also home of Dave Dee Dozy Beaky Mick and Titch, whom we will interview. On to Box to interview Hugh Cornwall about his move to the area.
The final part finds us in Bath, home to so many famous artists, including Tears For Fears, The Korgis, Peter Gabriel and Van Morrison, some of whom we will interview.
Although Bath is famous for a number of internationally recognised festivals, we will concentrate instead upon the lesser known Bardic festival held in December, interviewing some of the Bards involved.
Discover the famous Irish song written here, meet the Astronomer who wrote symphonies.
Finally on to Bristol via Stanton Drew - where it is said that a whole marriage party was turned to stone by the Devil. In Bristol we will talk to some of the stars that hail from the city (such as Massive Attack, Russ Conway and Portishead) and then talk to the organisers of the St. Pauls Carnival, second only to Notting Hill as one of Britain’s foremost West Indian street entertainments.
End looking across at the open spaces of Wales, and think about what lies beyond: Ireland, the Atlantic and the United States.
Possible interview with Nik Turner of Hawkwind about his move to Wales.
No comments:
Post a Comment