The Week in Light & Sound
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A campaign to protect the city's grassroots music scene has been underway since the start of this year, with campaigners fighting in particular to preserve the entertainment venues on Womanby Street, which is home to several live music venues but has seen a string of closures in recent times.
The campaign attracted thousands of signatures, and calls on Cardiff Council to protect the area as a cultural hub. Venue owners and music fans also condemned a planning application to create a hotel to be built above a Wetherspoon’s pub on Womanby Street.
Plans for a residential housing development comprising six flats had been submitted for the street, however these have now been withdrawn. Public comments submitted to the council argued that the flats were unsuitably located, in the heart of the area that drives the city's night-time economy. Campaign group Save Womanby Street said the application's withdrawal was a "testimony to the passion and effort from the venues, activists and everyone who has supported us".
Virtual Reality - A new immersive lab has opened in Brighton which will enable theatre companies to experiment with virtual reality technology. This is the second immersive lab to be opened by Digital Catapult, which supports innovation in technology, following the launch of a London facility earlier this year.
The immersive labs are part of Digital Catapult’s strategy to develop the use of virtual, augmented and mixed-reality technologies within businesses, including arts and media companies, in the UK. Digital Catapult plans to open a network of labs around the country, to give companies nationwide access to the technologies.
The lab will be available to businesses of any size, alongside researchers and investors, to demonstrate, innovate, test and experience the latest immersive technology and content. Phil Jones, head of Digital Catapult in Brighton, said: “Brighton is uniquely positioned to take advantage of immersive technologies because it is home to many disruptive companies operating in the creative and digital sectors. Digital Catapult is committed to opening a number of immersive labs across the country, where anyone in the community can gain access to state-of-the-art equipment.”
Unbreakable Spirit - Country singer Jason Aldean, who was performing on stage when the Las Vegas massacre began, paid tribute to the victims of the mass shooting as he opened Saturday Night Live. He spoke of America's "unbreakable spirit" before he and his band performed Tom Petty's I Won't Back Down, in honour of both the victims and the rock star who died last week.
Instead of the usual joke-filled opening, the weekly comedy sketch show began with an emotional introduction by the singer. Before playing, he said: "This week we witnessed one of the worst tragedies in American history. Like everyone, I'm struggling to understand what happened that night and how to pick up the pieces and start to heal.”
Strong Words - Sir Bob Geldof has torn into world leaders including Aung San Suu Kyi and presidents Trump and Putin - saying he "loathes" them. Speaking at the One Young World Summit in Bogota, Colombia, the outspoken campaigner said: "On this stage are some of the greatest people who have fought for justice and peace and equality in our world," referring to the Nobel Peace Laureates at the event. "And one of their number in Myanmar insults them - insults them all. Who took the greatest prize that humans can give to another and then becomes one of the great ethnic cleansers of our planet? This is a disgrace." He also directed his ire at the leaders of Russia, China, the US and Turkey. "I'm sick of these leaders. I'm sick of Putin, I'm sick of Xi Jinping, I'm sick of Trump, I'm sick of Erdogan," he said.
Bedtime Story - Dolly Parton is the latest celebrity to sign up to read a CBeebies Bedtime Story. Parton, who runs her own reading initiative called Imagination Library, will read Louise Yates's Dog Loves Books on 25 October. Dolly said: "Encouraging children to develop a love of books from an early age is very important to me. I hope my songs and stories inspire the CBeebies audience. Thank you for having me!"
The story she will read is about a dog who loves reading so much that he opens his own bookshop - but no one turns up to the grand opening. The Nine to Five singer has also recorded a second story, though it's not been revealed what book she will read or when it will be broadcast. Other A-listers who have read the CBeebies Bedtime Story include actor Tom Hardy, athlete Jessica Ennis-Hill and Queens of the Stone Age frontman Josh Homme.
(Jim Evans)
10 October 2017
