PDF - The Acoustic Couch

24 | LEISURE
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THEWOKINGHAMPAPER Friday, June 5, 2015
AT THE
CINEMA
The acoustic couch
Oh boy, George
From summerhouse to summer festivals
Kim Taylor-Foster
Upcoming music with Jody Mc
A Monday night jam with mates
has become something much more
for Ryewolf’s Michael Tuffery.
JODY Mc discovers there really is
magic at the bottom of the garden
I
Tomorrowland (12A) 
Starring: George Clooney, Hugh Laurie,
Britt Robertson, and Raffey Cassidy
GEORGE CLOONEY has made some good films in his career. An
appealing screen persona, likeability, intelligence, humour and
earnestness make up the careful balance of ingredients in the
movie star cocktail that defines his success.
You can bank on Clooney to make movies that are, at best,
outstanding examples in a genre or significant in some way;
at worst, ‘merely’ entertaining. And that’s why Tomorrowland
is a surprise. Wanting to fit into the ‘worthy’ mould and the
‘entertaining’ pot at the same time, it manages to squeeze into
neither.
The plot at first centres on an older gent (Clooney) telling
the story of his younger self, a boy genius who’s recruited into a
futuristic world where people whizz around with jetpacs, glass
structures defy the laws of engineering and giant droids fix
mechanical faults.
The focus then shifts to a woman around the age of 20 (Britt
Robertson) telling the story of her (slightly) younger self.
The film is unnecessarily convoluted and
gimmicky. It thinks it’s clever, and the selfaggrandising tone will get your hackles
up, particularly when you discover it’s
concealing a paper-thin plot. Very
little happens between this bit and
the film’s climax, save a bit of action.
Ultimately, the film makes
a decision to focus on the less
interesting character of Casey
Newton (Robertson) whose task is to
reveal the secrets of this mysterious place
at the same time as saving the world as she
knows it.
The film tries to recapture the feel of an 80s adventure, of the
type that 30somethings remember fondly from their childhoods –
The Goonies, Explorers, Flight of the Navigator and so on.
J.J. Abrams proved it with Super 8 and Tomorrowland proves
it again – it’s almost impossible to recreate the 80s throwback
feel and have it make the same impact. Those who hold The
Goonies close to their hearts do so because of all the memories
that go alongside it, set amid a specific period. Nostalgia is what
keeps those classic kids’ flicks alive, and it can’t be reproduced:
tomorrow’s 30somethings will be remembering and re-living the
likes of Harry Potter, Spy Kids and High School Movie.
Like Clooney, director Brad Bird has been involved with some
great films but what he’s made in Tomorrowland is a long and
boring off-balance non-event. There was so much potential to
immerse the audience in an amazing, visually stunning fantasy
world but instead, he chooses to turn our attention to a drawn-out
chase in the ‘real world’ that is largely uninteresting and features –
for large portions of the film – a girl (Raffey Cassidy) who struggles
with the concept of acting.
Relegated to a typical-for-a-Brit villain role, Hugh Laurie, absent
for the majority of the film, fails to inject any fun, while an overly
serious cautionary message warning us against the dangers of
apathy drains further jollity from what should be a Disneyland ride
of a film.
Don’t let Terminator and Men in Black elements draw you in –
Tomorrowland should be confined to the annals of yesterday and
never see the light again
T DOES not matter who you are, if you meet
him you will not forget it.
Michael Tuffery has a heart to match his
gigantic stage presence. I will never tire of
meeting musicians that embrace life in front of
the mic with such honesty and passion.
I spent the evening with one of my favourite
members of the mighty Ryewolf (though he is an
extraordinary storyteller in his own right).
Rye is a five-piece folk band that is well-known
around the Berkshire area. Alongside Michael are
Lance Burns, Bogdan Dobrszczyk and Rik Knight.
Like the Poddington Peas, Michael started
down at the bottom of the garden, among the
birds and the bees, in a summerhouse owned by
Lance.
Making music became quite the occasion.
Friends conversed, instruments were
played and Monday nights were soon to
be known as Monday Minstrels jam
night.
Everyone had tales to tell and
stories to share.
And Michael sculpted the
warmth in his windpipes.
In just five years he has
sprung from summerhouse to
summer festivals. He is quickly
becoming a regular and favourite at
many Berkshire events big and small,
continuously offering support.
A night never missed is run by Spriggan Mists
bassist Baz, is held at The Boot Inn in Bracknell
on the second Wednesday of each month.
Ryewolf are headed up by Michael Tuffery (pictured below)
He explained: “It’s a fun and relaxed
environment for musicians and fans of music. The
artist can hone his skills build confidence with
new songs, especially when starting out.
“We have a great bunch that turn
out each month, but there is always
room for more.
“Rik and Michael from Rye make
most nights, entertaining us as a
duo called Knight & Tuffery.
“They never fail to bring the
place to life!
“Michael has this unique and
beautiful tone to his voice. Without
fail if he takes to the stage you’re in for a
spell-binding set”.
Always pushing himself, Michael finds new and
innovative approaches to some classics. But never
the ordinary kind.
I’m told if you get the chance you must ask to
hear his recent recycling – Tina Turner’s Private
Dancer. Don’t worry, there is no red dress.
One thing I’m confident of promising: Go hear
this man play in whatever line-up and your feet
won’t stop tapping.
You can hear Michael Tuffery every third
Monday at the Jolly Anglers pub in Reading’s
Kennetside. For details, call 0118 376 7823
On the second Wednesday of the month, he’s at
The Boot Inn in Bracknell. For details, call 01344
454 532
He also performs tomorrow (Saturday) at
South Hill Park For more details, log on to www.
southhillpark.org.uk.
 For more on Ryewolf, visit www.facebook.com/
ryewolfmusic.
 The piece in the May 22 edition was written by
David Sinclair Smith, not me. Sorry David.
GIG GUIDE Catch some live music near you
Friday, June 5
BINFIELD – Binfield Club, Forest
Road RG42 4DU. Happy Daze.
Details: 01344 420572.
BRACKNELL – The Boot Inn, Park Road
RG12 2LU. Jump The Gunn. Details:
01344 454532.
CAMBERLEY – The Four Horseshoes,
Frimley Road GU15 3EQ. Lainey
King. Details: 01276 63842.
HENLEY – The Bull, Bell Street RG9
2BA. Celine Dos Santos. Details:
01491 576554.
KNOWL HILL – Bird in Hand, RG10
9UP. Gary Roman Elvis tribute.
Details: 01628 826622.
READING – G Casino, Rose Kiln Lane
RG2 0SN. Buble Fever. Details: 0118
402 7800.
SANDHURST – The White Swan, Swan
Lane GU47 9BU. Creme Freche.
Details: 01252 872444.
Saturday, June 6
BINFIELD – Binfield Club, Forest Road
RG42 4DU. Charlie Chandler’s Little
Rock. Details: 01344 420572.
BRACKNELL – The Royal Oak, London
Road RG12 2NN. 4-Minute
Warning. Details: 01344 422622.
BRACKNELL – South Hill Park,
Ringmead. Food Festival with live
bands. Details: 01344 484123.
BRACKNELL – Birch Hill Community
Centre, Leppington RG12 7WW.
Birch Hill Charity Folk Festival:
LB3M, Steve Donnelly, Datchet
Border Morris, Skyport Ade’s
Pottingshed Band, John Tanner,
Hilary Ward, The Stomping Nomads,
Skip Finn, Sue Graves, Jim McLean,
Daria Kulesh. From 2pm. Details:
www.birch-hill-folk-festival.org.uk/
CAMBERLEY – Mr Bumble, GU17 9AP.
Tetnus Jab. Details: 01276 32691.
READING – The Roebuck, Auckland
Road. The Vinyl Covers. Details:
0118 966 3305.
READING – The Jazz Café, Shooters
Way, Madjeski Stadium RG6 7HL.
Hidden Agenda. Details: 0118 968
1442.
READING – G Casino, Rose Kiln Lane
RG2 0SN. Dirty Dancing Live and
Chick Flicks. Details: 0118 402
7800.
READING – The Walkabout, Wiston
Terrace, off Friar Street. Caddy
Cooper. Details: 0118 953 0000.
READING – The Turks, London Road
RG1 5BJ. The Start. Details: 0118
957 6930.
READING – The White Eagle, Oxford
Road. Frankie The Fish. 0118 958
5536.
READING – Sub89, Friar Street RG1
1EP. Attention Thieves. Details:
0118 959 5395.
WOODLEY – The Bull and Chequers,
Church Road RG5 4QP. The Gas
Trick Band. Details: 0118 969 9756.
WOODLEY – The Thatchers Tavern,
Fairwater Drive RG5 3EZ. Force
Ten. Details: 0118 926 7846.
YATELEY – The Dog & Partridge, The
Green GU46 7LR. Kieran Acoustic.
Details: 01252 870648.
Sunday, June 7
BRACKNELL – South Hill Park,
Ringmead. Anysley Lister Blues and
Boogies. Details: 01344 484123.
HENLEY – The Three Tuns, Market
Place RG9 2AA. Celine Dos Santos.
Details: 01491 410138.
Monday, June 8
BRACKNELL – South Hill Park,
Ringmead. Cinderz. Creative
Control Band Night. Details: 01344
484123.
Tuesday, June 9
ASCOT – Jagz, Station Road SL5 9EG.
Acoustic Platform Live. Details:
01344 878100.
BRACKNELL – South Hill Park,
Ringmead. Creative Control Band
Night. Details: 01344 484123.
STOKE ROW – The Crooked Billet,
Newlands Lane RG9 5PU. The
Gutter Brothers. Details: 01491
681048.
Wednesday,
June 10
READING – Sub89, Friar Street RG1
1EP. Itchey Feet: Tope Tappin’ Finger
Snappin’ Good Times. Details: 0118
959 5395.
ROTHERFIELD PEPPARD – The
Greyhound, Gallowstree Road RG9
5HT. Celine Dos Santos. Details: 018
972 2227.
STOKE ROW – The Crooked Billet,
Newlands Lane RG9 5PU. Chris
Jagger. Details: 01491 681048.
WOKINGHAM – Beeches Manor,
Reading Road RG41 1AA. Dave
Dawson
Thursday, June 11
Saturday, June 13
CAMBERLEY – Mr Bumble, GU17 9AP.
Jam Night. Details: 01276 32691.
CROWTHORNE – The Prince, High
Street RG45 7AZ. Rob Tidbury.
Details: 01344 772241.
READING – Sub89, Friar Street RG1
1EP. Cat of Light. Details: 0118
959 5395.
READING – The Hexagon, Friar Street.
The West End Men. Details: 0118
960 6060.
SUNNINGDALE – Sunningdale Lounge,
London Road SL5 0DG. Sociology.
Details: 01344 876887.
BRACKNELL – The Keller, Coppid
Beech Hotel, John Nike Way RG12
8TF. The New Ambassadors. Details:
01344 303333.
BRACKNELL – The Silver Birch,
Liscombe RG12 7DE. Solace.
Details: 01344 457318.
BRACKNELL – The Golden Farmer,
Reeds Hill RG12 7LS. Dan McHugh.
Details: 01344 300233.
BRACKNELL – South Hill Park,
Ringmead. Aitree Live: Folk and
Roots. Details: 01344 484123.
CROWTHORNE – The Prince, High
Street RG45 7AZ. The Lee Aaron
Band. Details: 01344 772241.
READING – The Turks, London Road
RG1 5BJ. 45rpm. Details: 0118
957 6930.
READING – The Walkabout, Wiston
Terrace, off Friar Street. Caddy
Cooper. Details: 0118 953 0000.
READING – South Street Arts Centre.
The East Pointers, The Newtowners,
the Retreat Singers Supergroup.
Details: 0118 960 6060.
READING – O’Neills, Friar Street RG1
1DB. Replica Rockaholics. Details:
0118 960 6580.
WOKINGHAM – The Hope and
Anchor, Station Road RG40 2AD.
The Imposters. Details: 0118 978
0918.
WOKINGHAM – The Broad Street
Tavern, Broad Street RG40 1AU.
The Gas Trick Band. Details: 0118
977 3706.
WOODLEY – The Thatchers Tavern,
Fairwater Drive RG5 3EZ. Uptown
Traffic. Details: 0118 926 7846.
Friday, June 12
BRACKNELL – The Boot Inn, Park Road
RG12 2LU. The Funatics. Details:
01344 454532.
BRACKNELL – South Hill Park,
Ringmead. Bracknell Jazz Night.
Details: 01344 484123.
CAMBERLEY – Mr Bumble, GU17 9AP.
Power of Soul.
CAMBERLEY – The Four Horseshoes,
Frimley Road GU15 3EQ. T Roze
and Co. Details: 01276 63842.
READING – Red Lion, Southampton
Street RG1 2QL. Mythical Men.
Details: 0118 957 1473.
READING – Sub89, Friar Street RG1
1EP. Outlook Festival launch party.
Details: 0118 959 5395.
READING – South Street Arts Centre.
Danny and the Champions of the
World. Details: 0118 960 6060.
READING – The Turks, London Road
RG1 5BJ. Dirtbag. Details: 0118
957 6930
IN A BAND? HOLDING A GIG? HEARD SOME GREAT MUSIC? WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! E-MAIL [email protected]