ENTERTAINMENT: Seize The Day to play Monksilver hall

THE UK’s premiere political band, Seize The Day, will be playing at the EMN Hall, in Monksilver, next month.
Seize The Day are inspired by life and the urge to preserve the environment for our children, and their visit to Monksilver on Saturday, February 7, is being arranged by arts organisation Under One Sun.
Co-ordinator Jamie Robertson said: “Seize The Day comprise eight very talented musicians who do not just ‘talk the talk’, but ‘walk the walk’, giving their time and support to grassroots campaigns for a better environment for all, and to wider struggles for peace and justice.
“Their compelling performance will have everybody singing, dancing, and maybe even getting more active in changing the world for the better.”
The band will be on stage at about 9 pm and tickets are £8, or £13 inclusive of a Fair Trade supper from 7.30 pm to 8.30 pm.
A raffle is being run by the West Somerset Peace Group with the proceeds going to Medical Aid for Palestine.
Tickets are available from Toucan Wholefoods, in Minehead, or by calling 01643 706101.
They can also be obtained from Taunton Tourist Information Centre (01823 336344) or by logging on to http://www.wegottickets.com/, or by sending a cheque to Under One Sun, 12 Hill St, Stogumber TA4 3TD.
If not sold out, gig-only tickets will also be available on the door.
More information is available by calling 01984 656727 or visiting http://www.underonesun.org.uk/ or http://www.seizetheday.org/.

• Our photographs show (TOP) Seize The Day and (BELOW) lead vocalist Shannon Smy. Photos submitted.
  

Singing songs of hardship from Bulawayo on the Quantocks

ALL the way from Bulawayo, in Zimbabwe, to the foothills of the Quantock Hills - that is the journey made by Umdumo WeSizwe (pictured) to share their songs of love, hope, worship, courtship, hardship, and African social commentary.
Umdumo WeSizwe will be perfoming in Holford Village Hall on Friday, November 14, mesmerising the audience with their harmonies, tip-toe dance routines, and vocal music that is laced with music styles of Afro pop, jazz, R&B, and reggae.
Established in 1994, Umdumo WeSizwe (meaning Sound of the Nation), hail from Zimbabwe’s township.
They have been championed by groups such as Ladysmith Black Mambazo and Black Umfolosi, and their performances should be a real treat for Somerset villagers.
Some residents of Holford will gain even more from this cross-cultural event, as they will be hosting all 11 members of the company within homes in their communities.
The event is being hosted by Somerset arts development agency Take Art: Live through its village performance scheme.
Take Art spokesperson Becci Davis said: “Fresh, young, exuberant, and ready to touch the world, come and enjoy an evening with Umdumo Wesizwe that is guaranteed to chase away any thoughts of winter.”
Tickets for the performance can be booked by calling Holford Village Hall box office on 01278 741541.
More information on the Take Art: Live scheme is available by calling 01460 249450 or emailing becci@takeart.org, or visiting the website www.takeart.org.
For more information on Umdumo WeSizwe, visit www.umdumowesizwe.com.

Nu-Folk evening with 3 Daft Monkeys

HAVING spent last summer wowing festival crowds across the country, and the previous winter touring the UK and Europe with The Levellers, the 3 Daft Monkeys perform at a ‘Nu-Folk’ night in the Elworthy, Monksilver, and Nettlecombe Community Hall next month.
The band performs self-written material with celtic, Balkan, gipsy, Spanish, and Cornish influences with frenetic fiddling, rhythmical 12-string guitar, dancing bass, and foot drum.
Supporting 3 Daft Monkeys will be Bag of Rats ,who formed three years ago from musicians from across Somerset and Dorset and play a mixture of traditional English, blues, Irish, jazz, and country, together with a smidgeon of ska.
The ‘Nu-Folk’ night has been organised by Under One Sun, whose co-ordinator Jamie Robertson said: “The 3 Daft Monkeys traverse dance, dub, punk, reggae and traditional folk with ease, creating a stunning blend of upbeat, danceable music which despite all its influences remains undeniably British.
“Bag of Rats will be giving a rousing warm-up. Their unique blend of high octane, funked-up folk is guaranteed to blow away the winter blues.”
The 3 Daft Monkeys’ latest release ‘Go Tell The Bees’ is titled after an old Cornish saying meaning that if you have news to share with the world then you go and whisper it to the bees, who will then spread the word far and wide.
The gig takes place on Saturday, February 9, from 8 pm, and tickets cost £10 while stocks last from www.wegottickets.com, Taunton Tourist Information Centre on 01823 336344, Toucan Wholefoods, Minehead, on 01643 706101, or by cheque to Under One Sun, 12 Hill St, Stogumber TA4 3TD.
Further information is available from 01984 656727 and on the website http://www.underonesun.org.uk/.

• Our photograph shows the 3 Daft Monkeys. Photo submitted.