Jul/098
World Peace and Tree Planting
Bringing peace to the world through music. It’s a big aspiration but if anyone can do it, softly spoken jazz musician Louis Baker might just be the one. Listing Joni Mitchell and Jeff Buckley among a string of influences, Louis is the talented local songwriter who joined us for a live set this week. Even if you’re not the type to buckle at the knees when you hear a love song, these songs might just soften you- Yen melted all over the sound desk. Note my gushingly excessive use of the word “beautiful” throughout the interview… If you are more apt at describing the stunning sounds of Louis Baker, drop us a comment and we’ll send you a prize. We have gorgeous organic beans from Peoples Coffee and passes to the next Vector Wellington Orchestra performance to give away.
This weekend the Island Bay community will be out in force to help with the continued replanting of Oku Reserve. Ted joined us to discuss the future of the Reserve. The ongoing support of the community with planting and tending to the trees is hugely admirable and another awesome example of Wellingtonians pitching in. If you’re keen to get your hands dirty this weekend, take the whole whanau down to Severn Street from 9.30am. They provide the spades and barbecue lunch. Email Ted for more information.
Khandallah Arts Theatre is celebrating 50 years in the game and as part of the festivities they’re bringing Christmas five months early! Twelfth Night is currently showing at Cochran Hall- complete with Christmas trees, snow and mulled wine. Margaret shared a little about the play with us- it’s often described as the most approachable of Shakespeare’s works and their version sounds fabulous. They’re already getting packed houses so make sure you book tickets before they finish this Saturday.
The NZ Film Festival is in full flight and film reviewer Hannah is appearing on every Community Zone programme throughout the festival. She popped in to give us a brief run down of her top picks- make sure you give it a listen- it sure beats wading through the overwhelming Film Fest brochure!
And next week is Maori Language Week- don’t miss the next programme if you’re keen to learn a couple of handy phrases. Tuesday 5pm on Wellington Access Radio 783AM!
Local songwriter Louis Baker
5.30 Ted tells us about the Oku Reserve planting this Saturday.
11.27 Margaret from Khandallah Arts Theatre fills us in about Twelfth Night.
24.30 The sweet sounds of Louis Baker. You can purchase his music on Amplifier.
39.58 Film reviewer Hannah
Jun/095
Second First Show
They say a day without learning is a day wasted. Yesterday I learned how to use an iPod while live broadcasting Community Zone! Let’s just say it wasn't an ideal learning environment... Poor Jo from the GAA http://www.wellingtongaa.com/ sat in the studio trying to stifle laughter at our sheer incompetence. At least she has chocolate tasting to look forward to. I have one week to master the machine- thank god for Yen who has dragged me kicking and screaming into the technical revolution.
We heard from contemporary photographer Marie Shannon about her exhibition Love Notes. Yen compiled a gorgeous playlist (ergh!) of love songs to celebrate! And Leanne from Wellington City Mission filled us in about their Brown Paper Bag campaign http://www.wgtncitymission.org.nz/news/brownbag/.
I battled it down Cuba St in the rain yesterday to catch up with international Dyslexia expert Neil McKay at the Michael Fowler Centre. It's Dyslexia Action Week and he's a visiting guest of the Dyslexia Foundation http://www.dyslexiafoundation.org.nz . He says we need to start including dyslexics in decision making- their alternative way of thinking could offer left field solutions to problems like global warming. It was something i'd never considered. We're working pretty hard on promoting diversity in all sectors right now- had anyone ever thought taking into account more people with learning disabilities?
Tech probs aside- a very tidy second first show. Podcast on the way!