Our recent story about proposed developments at Acocks Green has drawn a reply from local campaigner Julie Larden

Book signing at signature restaurant to launch new publication.

Martin Longley appreciates a sudden invasion of Brazilian artists in New York City...

New York Sounds: The Week In Free Jazz, No Wave Funk-Disco, Jewish Cantorial Experimentation & Alternative Hip Hop

Martin Longley mashes up bull testicles, glow-rings and wooden flutes in NYC...

New York Sounds: Dizzy's Club And The Iridium

Martin Longley sees Spiritualized compress their cosmic selves into a tiny Brooklyn DIY venue...

Martin Longley gets into Chinese jaw harp, Fellini soundtracking, Japanese metal and whaledrone saxophone...

From tantric Buddhist interpretation to disco-funk humping, Martin Longley gets down in NYC clubland. And, er, a museum of Himalayan art.

The newly formed ‘Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice Kings Norton Fundraising Group’ are urging all quiz enthusiasts to join them for their debut fundraising event

50 reasons why the region is a global centre of innovation.

Marks and Spencer has today called on the Government to create a Bee Action Plan.

Birmingham celebrates 550th birth anniversary of founder of Sikh faith.

On the eve of polling day Dave Woodhall issues a plea to get involved.

Glebe House holds onto its classic looks, its acres and its outbuildings – a perfect package in prime borderland, reports Marsya Lennox

Birmingham Bubble Rush in aid of Acorns this weekend.

Charity challenge aims to help local community work.

Morris has unveiled a four-song Amazon Live EP, 'Maren Morris Live From Chicago.' Continue reading…

It's an outlaw country Mother's Day tribute. Continue reading…

"Stay home and celebrate VE Day" says ambulance service.

National Military Service Museums to bring nation together in Virtual VE Day Festival.

Airborne bread delivery helps reduce impact on the natural world.

Currently, owing to the ongoing lockdown, kirana (corner) stores on JioMart serve limited inventory. But that will be a thing of the past once restrictions are lifted.

Voxengo has announced an update to the Marvel GEQ free linear-phase 16-band graphic equalizer plugin with multi-channel operation support. Marvel GEQ allows audio engineers and musicians to apply quick EQ shape adjustments, both to audio tracks and full mixes. The linear-phase filtering offered by Marvel GEQ is suitable for equalization tasks where high quality and […]

The post Voxengo updates Marvel GEQ free graphic equalizer to v1.7 incl. macOS Catalina support appeared first on rekkerd.org.

STL Tones has announced the release of Mark Lewis Signature Preset Packs, available in plugin format through STL ToneHub, and also available for hardware units Kemper and Axe-Fx. Mark Lewis has engineered productions and/or mixes for artists such as Trivium, Whitechapel, DevilDriver, The Black Dahlia Murder, Havok, Bury Your Dead, Chimaira, August Burns Red, Unearth, […]

The post STL Tones releases Mark Lewis Preset Packs for ToneHub, Kemper & Axe Fx appeared first on rekkerd.org.

Samples From Mars has announced the release of a free sample pack with a collection raw vinyl and drum machines sampled into the Akai MPC2000XL. MPC2000 Snacks From Mars comes with 96 drum samples (24bit WAV), 6 pre-mapped drum kit instruments and 29 MIDI groove files. Snacks From Mars* is a new series dedicated to […]

The post Samples From Mars offers free MPC2000 Snacks From Mars + Win an MPC2000XL! appeared first on rekkerd.org.

Steinberg has announced the immediate availability of the Marco Minnemann Studio Drums expansion pack for Groove Agent. With over 4 GB of samples and 12 MIDI styles that were recorded and played in his studio in Los Angeles, Marco Minnemann Studio Drums features his 19-piece DW Purpleheart wood kit, comprising one kick drum, two snares, […]

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Splice has launched some new samples and presets on its Splice Sounds label. Mario Luciano Sample Pack Vol. 2 — Musician, composer, and arranger, Mario Luciano is back with his second volume of sounds for Splice. Using 100% all-analog keyboards, instruments, and vintage mixing equipment to craft his samples, you’ll find some truly unique gems […]

The post Splice launches new sounds from Mario Luciano, Nicky Romero, Josh Pan and X&G, and !llmind appeared first on rekkerd.org.

VST Buzz has announced a sale on the Palmary Collection by NoiseAsh, a bundle of 10 audio plugins providing endless possibilities for achieving the highest sound quality in your productions. “Palmary Collection” is an elite production tool series for producers / musicians / mixing & mastering engineers. With 10 outstanding plugins covering a wide variety […]

The post Save 76% on Palmary Collection by NoiseAsh, on sale for 89 EUR at VST Buzz appeared first on rekkerd.org.

Karanyi Sounds has released its new sample library Budapest Abstract Marimba, a Kontakt instrument designed for creating fast sequences and inspiring tremolo beds for contemporary sound production. The library was created in collaboration with Nandor Weisz, who has been a percussionist at the Hungarian National Philharmonic Orchestra for over twenty years now. Unlike traditional marimba […]

The post Karanyi Sounds deliver non-traditional marimba instrument with Budapest Abstract Marimba appeared first on rekkerd.org.

It can be noted that shopping centres and malls, which tend to attract a lot of crowds, have been shut since mid-March, much before the lockdown was announced and if the social distancing strategies continue post lockdown as well, such facilities are unlikely to open.

The FMCG sector includes non-durable household goods such as packaged food, beverages, toiletries and other consumables that are sold at a relatively low cost. The slowdown was steeper in the urban markets compared to the rural markets, across the four zones, the report said.

It had posted a net profit of Rs 403 crore in the corresponding quarter last year.

‘We have exited April at 70-80% of our run rate, which we were doing last year.’

The Bengaluru-based company plans to open 25 such 600-1000 square feet stores over a span of 12 months.

Maaté will offer free samples to all the expecting parents and to the parents who come for a regular check-up for their kids.

The book of poetry “Martin Rising: Requiem for a King” beautifully illustrates events in the life of Martin Luther King, Jr. It’s written with a middle school audience in mind, but this collection can be enjoyed by everyone. Each of poet Andrea Davis Pinkney’s poems is accompanied by a beautiful watercolor, gouache, and india ink illustration by Brian Pinkney. The poems about King’s life are labeled with the date of each event’s occurrence and in some cases the time. The book is divided into three sections: Daylight, Darkness and Dawn. Henny Penny, who listeners will remember as the folklore character who declares that “The Sky Is Falling” introduces, predicts, and is an all-knowing narrator of the past, present, and future. In the Daylight section of the book, poems about King’s joyous birth, growth to manhood, and family life are juxtaposed with poems about his work as a scholar, preacher, and champion for basic civil rights and equality. He inspires hope as he arrives in Memphis to

At first, all Sophia Young wanted was to find a job until she could find a husband. Instead, she finds herself working for Scott Kraft, a notoriously unpredictable and demanding tech mogul. She soon becomes more interested in her work in investor relations than in getting married, which she never planned on. She is quickly promoted and becomes an asset at Kraft’s new business, an animation company called Treehouse that’s set to disrupt the movie industry. Fans of Pixar, Apple and Steve Jobs will enjoy the parallels between Jobs and the fictional Kraft. Kraft, who founded a revolutionary technology company called Quince before taking over Treehouse, also creates the first wave of smart phones, known as “Q-phones.” Similarly, author Anna Yen pays homage to Pixar, where she herself worked in investor relations. In the book, Treehouse creates movies like “The Amazings,” and “Treasures,” which seem to be a nod to Pixar’s real-life movies “The Incredibles” and “Toy Story.” As Sophia becomes

History makes a great story when it’s told well. And who can resist a good story? I certainly can’t. Having been a history major in undergrad, I may be particularly susceptible. So when I came across Matthew Kneale’s new book, “Rome: A History In Seven Sackings” in the leisure reading collection at Pattee Library, I had to check it out. There are many histories of long-lived cities. Paris, London, Jerusalem and Rome have all had more than a few treatments. But every so often a writer looks at a history like this in a different way, and that makes it all the more interesting. Kneale’s choice of looking at Rome through seven different times it was conquered over the millennia is a particularly intriguing choice. Beginning with an early, brief occupation in 387 B.C. and continuing up to the Second World War, it is an engrossing tale. Organizing the history of Rome around these seven “sackings” offers fascinating snapshots of the city at specific moments in time. Together, they weave a

As the director of the Pennsylvania Center for the Book, one of my favorite tasks is choosing a children’s or young adult title to represent Pennsylvania at the National Book Festival in Washington, D.C. It’s a responsibility I take very seriously. I consult with colleagues and search for information about children’s and young adult books by Pennsylvania authors or illustrators. I look for titles with topics that have some connection to the Commonwealth. I’m delighted to share that this year’s selection is a picture book biography—"A Splash of Red: The Life and Art of Horace Pippin”written by Jen Bryant and illustrated by Melissa Sweet. Horace Pippin was the grandson of a slave, born in West Chester, Pennsylvania on February 22, 1888. He died in 1946 and is buried in the Chester Grove Annex Cemetery. He began and ended life in Pennsylvania. As a child, Horace was always drawing pictures. He won a drawing contest and the cherished prize—colored pencils, a pair of brushes, and a box of

I got Michael Pollan’s book “How to Change Your Mind” because I am interested in how hallucinogenic drug use influenced the counter-culture of the 1960s. From the full title of Pollan’s book, you know it's an ambitious work. “How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression and Transcendence” barely fits on the front of the soft cover edition released in May. And even that doesn’t fully describe what’s inside. “How to Change Your Mind” has three distinct parts: the history of hallucinogens, descriptions of the author’s experiments taking LSD, magic mushrooms and, yes, the venom of the Colorado River Toad, and then accounts of recent research on using hallucinogens to treat addiction and depression and to help terminally ill people lose their fear of dying. That’s a lot to cover in one book. Pollan was at his best writing about the history of LSD. Pollan reports that early research found LSD was a promising

Growing up in Western Pennsylvania, it was almost a given that young children watched at least a few episodes of “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.” And I’m pretty sure I watched more than just a few! I remember well the episode where we saw how crayons were made, as well as the episode where Mister Rogers visited a lighthouse. The Land of Make Believe was a familiar place – both on the show, and the ride at Idlewild Park, which my family and I visited several summers in a row. So it was with no small amount of nostalgia that I started the new book by Maxwell King – “The Good Neighbor: The Life and Work of Fred Rogers.” My nostalgia was only deepened by the fact that I listened to the audiobook version, narrated by none other than LeVar Burton of “Reading Rainbow,” another touchstone from my childhood. King, formerly the head of The Pittsburgh Foundation, brings us the first full-length biography of Rogers. In so doing, he draws on an abundance of sources, including the recollections of

Talking about mental health issues is daunting. Often just starting the conversation is the hardest part. With his latest book, “Max’s Box,” Brian Wray offers children and grown-ups a way to begin these important discussions. Through simple story-telling and cartoonish illustrations, Wray gives his readers a glimpse into what can happen when emotions are suppressed. He also demonstrates how with the help of people who care, we can learn to express, and then let go of the things that hold us back. The story begins with Max’s parents giving him a very special gift: a tiny, magical box that will hold everything. After putting in his lucky red truck, favorite pirate ship, and beloved stuffed dog, Max discovers the box will also hold his feelings, particularly his negative feelings. For example, when Max is angry, the anger goes straight into the box. When he is sad or lonely, the sadness and loneliness also go into the box. Each negative emotion he feels makes its way into the box, which

“It was as black in the closet as old blood. They had shoved me in and locked the door. I breathed heavily through my nose, fighting desperately to remain calm.” So begins “Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie,” the first book in the “Flavia de Luce” murder mystery series by Alan Bradley. What appears to be a rather violent kidnapping is actually just the latest episode in a running battle between 11-year-old Flavia and her two older sisters, 13-year-old Daphne and 17-year-old Ophelia. Fortunately, Flavia turns out to be quite capable of holding her own against her sisters by using her love of chemistry to inflict the odd rash or occasional bout of indigestion on them. Set in rural England in the early 1950s, the series follows Flavia as she travels the countryside seeking adventure on Gladys, her trusty two-wheeled steed and partner in all adventures. In many ways, Flavia is a youthful reincarnation of Don Quixote. Her ability to imagine all kinds of possibilities in ordinary situations

A few years ago, I read George Packer’s “The Unwinding: An Inner History of the New America.” It was a haunting portrayal of the slow unraveling of the United States through the life stories of many individuals. Like so many others, I found the book to be fascinating. So, it was with great interest that I saw Packer had published a new book, this time focused on the late diplomat Richard Holbrooke. I recalled the name Holbrooke, but couldn’t say I knew a lot about him. Given how much I had enjoyed “The Unwinding,” I thought this book too would surely be worth a read. “Our Man: Richard Holbrooke and the End of the American Century” was an utterly engrossing portrait of not only the man, but also the decline of American power from Vietnam to Afghanistan. Through the person of Richard Holbrooke, we witness the follies and unforced errors that have haunted our foreign policy for the last forty years. We also witness the occasional triumphs – most notably Holbrooke’s masterful work in

“What does a landscape dream of in its unsettled dreams?” Todd Davis’s newest collection of poems, titled “Native Species,” opens with this question. The question is gentle and idle. It’s the kind of thing you ask yourself while half-asleep on a streambank on a hot day. But then there’s that word “unsettled.” The landscape may be “settled.” It may be cultivated into farm and town… but its dreams are unsettled, uneasy, perhaps even wild. As the poem winds through images of a flooded house, the reader becomes unsettled, too. And is reminded that landscapes––including the ones that humans shape––can shift in ways that we do not expect or control. Todd Davis excels at this kind of movement––the kind that starts in streambank idling but ends in a landslide. Or, just as often, the kind that begins in an abstract concept and distills into a single, sparkling image. In “Native Species,” his sixth full-length collection of poetry, Davis returns to themes his readers will find familiar:

I work at the Pennsylvania Center for the Book and a new book of poetry by local author Marjorie Maddox came across my desk recently. The title immediately caught my attention: “A Crossing of Zebras: Animal Packs in Poetry.” I thought, collective nouns and poetry? What a great idea! I'm a former elementary school teacher. So, I immediately started thinking about all the possibilities for this book in the classroom. Learning about collective nouns, words that describe groups of animals, individuals, or things is often part of the curriculum. When I wanted a fun way to help children understand the concept of collective nouns, I used to use a book by Ruth Heller called “A Cache of Jewels and Other Collective Nouns.” That book just gives you a page with one word, the collective noun, and a simple illustration. So, you can imagine my delight at discovering Marjorie Maddox’s entertaining poems, along with Philip Huber's imaginative scratchboard artwork. This book takes Heller's idea a step

“The Tangled Tree: A Radical New History of Life” offers those who usually read novels a chance to enjoy ‘creative non-fiction.’ This book is a well-told narrative about the molecular building blocks of life and how they evolved. David Quammen accepts the challenge of documenting the advancement of evolutionary life science while revealing its significance to all of our lives. Quammen also gives us insight into the vibrant communities of scientists carrying out similar work. Quammen begins by introducing the image of the Tree of Life. He describes how it has evolved from the image of a ladder-to-heaven in ancient and medieval thinking into Darwin’s branching, upward-growing tree. Quammen closes his introduction with his own surprising proposition. He suggests Darwin’s tree image is no longer the precise metaphor for what life is. Quammen introduces each new evolutionary twist and turn until the new Tree of Life ends up looking more like a web than an upwardly-reaching tree with