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This is the archive of the combined Barking Spider and Andy Broad Portsmouth Blues Site mailing lists.
For the latest information on what's on at The Bullfrog Blues Club click here
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Dave Jordan asked The Spider to ask me to send this our mailing list. So here goes: The Mayfly Festival is a free, one-day, pop-up festival of arts and music in the Square Tower, Old Portsmouth on Bank Holiday Monday, 5 May. Around a dozen artists will be providing the colourful backdrop to a full programme of acoustic music and a good helping of poetry. The free arts and music extravaganza is the brainchild of Portsmouth artists Jon Everitt and Simon Whitcomb. They explained: "We had always thought that art galleries and exhibitions are just too quiet. As we are both musicians as well as artists, it wasn't a huge step to come up with the idea of an art exhibition with live music." Mayfly -- because it lasts but one day -- will run from midday to 8pm. Artwork will include paintings in oils and acrylics, photographs, woodcuts and linocuts. In between the music will be readings from the Portsmouth-based poets of Tongues and Grooves, including the 2014 Ted Hughes Award winner Maggie Sawkins. The music includes Americana, folk, bluegrass and jazz fusion and we've even managed to secure a set from the No1 Ladies English Accordion Orchestra. Other acts include The News Guide awards finalist Jerry Williams, Wood Wire and Words, Panhandle Conspiracy and the Polite Mechanicals. "The Square Tower is a wonderful venue for live music. Apart from being a beautiful and historic building, it has marvellous acoustics so there is little need for amplification. "We're hoping that people will take a bank holiday stroll on the waterfront and the music will draw them inside to see what's going on. They can sit down, enjoy a cup of tea and a slice of cake or even a cheeky half of real ale. "With the combination of stunning art work, foot-tapping music and jaw-dropping spoken word material on offer I dare anyone to be disappointed!" The free event will see original paintings and more affordable prints on sale. While there is no admission charge, visitors will be encouraged to make a contribution to the musicians on a busking-style basis.