If you want something exciting to do with your kids over the Easter weekend, why not consider going into London to watch the Oxford vs. Cambridge boat race on April 3rd? The race comes from a great history of two friends who went to school together, Charles Merivale, a student at Cambridge and Charles Wordsworth a student from Oxford. In 1829, Charles Merivale sent a challenge to his friend in Oxford and thus, the race was born.

The first race took place at Henley-on-Thames in Oxfordshire where Oxford won. The event was such a huge success that the Henley Royal Regatta was born. During the first few years the races took place at Westminster in London, but as this borough got too crowded they moved six miles upstream to Putney. The race has taken place every year since it started, except for the war years.

Only students at either university can participate and whoever makes the team goes through gruelling training everyday whilst juggling their studies. The course is 4 miles and 374 yards (6,779 metres), can you imagine rowing that far? I can’t even run that far!

This year is going to be just as big as the last year. Cambridge with 79 wins and Oxford with 75, it’s anyone’s game! Will either be able to beat the course record of 16minutes 19seconds set by Cambridge in 1998? I think you should get your self down to London on April 3rd at 16.30, park yourself somewhere along the Thames between Putney and Chiswick, drink in hand and enjoy the race. I know I will be there!

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Next Wednesday is St. Patrick’s Day when it is not just the Irish that will be celebrating. Whilst it is only a national holiday in Ireland there will also be festivities in the UK, United States, Canada and New Zealand.

In Canada Montreal has been holding parades since 1824 and in Manitoba they hold a three day music and culture festival. In the United States the parade in New York has become the biggest in the world with some 150,000 marchers and around 2 million spectators. In Seattle they hold a week long festival with Soda Bread Baking contests, dancing and exhibitions. This year Desmond Guinness, a direct descendant of Arthur Guinness, will be the parade’s grand marshal. In Chicago they dye the river green on St. Patrick’s Day.

Here in the UK St. Patrick’s Day falls in the week of the Cheltenham Festival which attracts a lot of Irish people who combine their celebrations with their love of horse racing. Birmingham holds arguably the largest parade in the UK. Manchester also have a huge parade as part of their two week long festival which also includes comedy shows, music and tin whistle lessons for children. In London the St. Patrick’s Day Parade takes place on Sunday 14th March, with floats, marching bands and dancing. The stage in Trafalgar Square will have live Irish music from 11am to 6pm, whilst elsewhere in the square will be a Children’s Culture Corner with stories from Ireland, shadow puppets and musical instruments. Many of the pubs around central London will be taking part in the celebrations both on the 14th and 17th March with many people wearing fancy dress or at the least a funny hat!

How will you be spending St. Patrick’s Day?

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A unique festival event in Spain. Are you going on holiday to Spain soon? If so experience Las Fallas in Valencia where the whole town is set on fire!

This traditional celebration continues to grow in popularity each year with locals and visitors joining the city of Valencia in a mood of excitement. The origin of the celebration goes back to the eighteenth century, when carpenters burned the remains of a hard winter’s work in honour of their patron, Saint Joseph. Over the years, the leftovers were converted into “fallas”, enormous figures built of papier mache, wood and wax which represent personalities and current events of the past years. They are designed by renowned artists, painters and sculptors. For three days, from March 16th to 19th, the fallas are placed in every street corner and in square, some as high as 30 metres.

On the last night of the festival, the fallas are burned. The last ones to be destroyed by the flames are those one which have won prizes by the Genrakl Fallas Committee and those in the City Hall square. Only one falla is kept each year by popular vote, and displayed in the Museum of the Falla together with those from various years which were awarded the same privilege. At midnight, hundreds of fireworks surround the fallas and Valencia goes up in flames.

This is a unique world event, only Valencia and the region surrounding has anything like this. If you don’t like huge crowds then you can pick up your hire car in Valencia and go to the smaller towns in the area. Denia has excellent fallas celebrations as well as Gandia, Olivia and Javia.

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March already? Where is the year going? We are already looking at gigs in April! There are some great things going in April, with Spring being here it’s going to be one beautiful season. So let’s see who’s playing where in the world.

Owl City (April 1st) – Paramount Theatre, Seattle, WA, USA – This Synth-pop musical project is done by Adam Young who is from the states. His single Fireflies hit the US Billboard Hot 100 straight in at number 1 as well as the UK single chart. His sound is great and is well worth a see live.

The Teenagers (April 2nd) – Club NME, Milan, Italy – This French Synth-pop Band were originally formed for a joke in 2005, but seem to have been very successful! With a mix of electro-pop and comical lyrics you are bound to have a good time.

Alicia Keys (April 3rd) – Toyota Center, Huston, Texas, USA – An absolutely wonderful singer and piano player. Alicia Keys is a nine Grammy Award winning artist and will definitely give you a show to remember.

Infected Mushroom (April 4th) – Bal Et Blanc, Montreal, Canada – This psychedelic trance duo have some great music. If you want to get off your feet and dance the night away then go see them.

Opeth (April 5th) – Royal Albert Hall, London, UK – The Swedish heavy metal band are coming to the UK! They put on a great show so all you metal fans get head banging!

Taylor Swift (April 6th) – Pepsi Center, Denver, CO, USA – I love Taylor Swift! My favourite song is Love story. She puts on a great show and is so lovely. With country like feel it’s a much different sound to other popstars.

Franz Ferdinand (April 7th) – Arena Monterrey, Monterrey, Mexico – Most famous for their song Take Me Out, Franz Ferdinand are another great rock band. They put on an awesome show and is definitely a band you can not miss.

Saosin (April 8th) – Wien Flex Kulturzentrum, Vienna, Austria – This Alternative Rock/ Screamo band are from America. The name means be careful in Chinese and the band will be great to see if you like the screaming lyrics!

Have a good weekend! Let’s hope the sun stays out!

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It may be three more months until Glastonbury gets under way, 40 years after the first one, but as a regular at this iconic festival, trust me, those that are going have already started planning!

My first year at Glastonbury was 1998 and I couldn’t have chosen a worse year! It rained constantly and I was ill prepared for it. but it couldn’t have been that bad because I have been to every one since!

For 5 days it is as if the outside world does not exist, time is irrelevant and there is no such thing as normal. For me the worst part of the festival is carrying everything from the car to the campsite. Experience has dictated that we have to find a spot on higher ground and on a slight incline just incase! It is worth the trek, but my friends daren’t talk to me until the tents are up and the airbeds inflated!

Over the years I have seen REM, Blur, Paul McCartney, Pet Shop Boys, Kings of Leon, Rolf Harris, The Wurzels, Radiohead, Moby, David Bowie and Rod Stewart to name but a few. But Glastonbury isn’t just about the music. The site is huge and there are so many other things going on. The theatre and circus field is a great place to relax and watch the many street entertainers who just walk around and stop randomly to entertain people. The cabaret tent has comics to make you laugh whilst Trash City will amaze you with its wackiness and originality. Go to the Green Fields and get a relaxing massage or attend a didgeridoo workshop!

A couple of my favourite things about Glastonbury are: Visiting the Cider Bus after the last band has played the main stage and having a nice hot spicy cider. Going up to The Stone Circle at night where you can look out over the whole site (best time to do this is Wednesday or Thursday night).

Always expect the unexpected, never dismiss anything as not worth going to see – you might just be surprised. One year I was in the Orange tent just to keep out of the rain and Amy McDonald was playing on a tiny stage in the corner. She was brilliant!

Finally I think that in all my years of going to this fabulous festival my most endearing memory is of sitting on the grass by the Pyramid stage on a warm Sunday afternoon as the sun went down, nice cold cider in hand, with great company listening to Leonard Cohen. Perfect!

Do you have any stories to tell about Glastonbury?

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Festival season is going to be upon us very soon. It is going to come around faster than you think! Isle of Wight Festival will be taking place on the weekend of the 11th – 13th June and it is set to be great! The Festival has been blessed with sunshine for the last few years, and I remember working there a few years ago and it was amazing. I saw the Foo Fighters live which was so awesome as they are one of my favourite bands. I also saw Primal Scream, Prodigy, Coldplay and possibly one of the best moments was when The Proclaimers came on and sung 500 miles with the crowd jumping up and down singing as loud as they could. It was a great 2006 festival and I would love to go again! But this year’s line up is going to be hot hot hot!

Calvin Harris: He’s done some really catchy dance songs an d who can forget his appearance on the X factor stage during a Jedward number, with a pineapple on his head?

Florence and the Machine: Her voice is amazing! If you haven’t heard Florence and the Machine then it is definitely an album worth listening to. Live she is just brilliant.

Friendly Fires: Fun and kooky and I am a big fan of their song Jump in the Pool and Kiss of Life!

Jay-Z: Who doesn’t know the famous Jay-Z? With hits like Empire State of Mind and Encore he is going to be a great hit.

These are just a few of the wonderful acts that are playing, there are many more which you can check out at http://www.isleofwightfestival.com and there are still some tickets available so book them before they are gone!

You really must plan ahead if you are thinking about going, as you need to book a ferry spot to get over to the island! So pick up your car hire from anywhere in the UK and get yourself down to Portsmouth Harbour or Southampton where you catch your ferry to get you to the festival.

Is anyone going? Who are most looking forward to seeing this year? I’d love to see Calvin Harris and Florence and the Machine again!

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We are looking at what concerts and gigs are going on around the world in the third week of March this week. There are some really good ones in my opinion!

Alphabeat (16th March) – Doornroosje Poppodium, Nijmegen, Netherlands – Alphabeat are a kind of kooky Danish pop band with an 80’s sound. They became huge in the UK with the song Fascination and are a great band to see live.

Mika (17th March) – Senturm Scene, Oslo, Norway – He could be brown, he could be blue, he could be violet sky, he could be purple he could be hurtful, he could be anything you like. With a wonderful stage persona and catchy songs like Grace Kelly, Mika is bound to put on a great show.

Electric Six (18th March) – Amigos, Saskatoon, Canada – Most famous for their songs Gay Bar and Danger! High Voltage, this Detroit-based band have a very eclectic style. They put on a great show live and with some awesome songs it’s definitely not worth missing!

Air (19th March) – Terminal 5, New York, USA – I love Air! Anyone remember Sexy Boy? One of my favourites songs, I would love to see them live, I think they would be great!

Norah Jones (20th March) – The Chicago Theatre, Illinois, USA – This wonderful piano playing lady has had many hits from her album Come Away with Me (one of my favourites to chill out to) and I think her concert will be fantastic.

Massive Attack (21st March) – Entertainment centre, Adeladie, Australia – Their style is often considered experimental but they have had some great hits with Teardrop and Unfinished Symphony and they have a kind of psychedelic feel, which is a great feeling!

Dream Theater (22nd March) – Jockey Club, Lima, Peru – Great progressive metal band which formed in 1985 in Massachusetts. They have sold over 2 million albums and are have some great guitar skills. Great band live.

Bon Jovi (23rd March) – Wachovia Center, Philadelphia, USA – Oh Bon Jovi, how I love thee. Everyone knows they are going to rock!

What bands are you seeing this year? Have a nice weekend!

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When the Easter Holidays come around (not long until April!) You will have a wonderful 4 day weekend to spend with your kids. But what are you going to do with them? There are many events going on in London so your little ones will not be bored! There are many places in London doing Easter Egg Hunts and lots of other things so let’s take a look at what is going on in London.

1. Kew Gardens: They are opening a new outdoor play area called Treehouse Towers! It has giant swings, zip wires, scramble nets and slides. Great for your kids aged between 3 – 11 years old! That’s a shame, I wanted to go! There is also a free Easter egg hunt on 4th April from 9.30am – 12.30pm.
2. Kenwood House: With an Easter egg trail throughout the ground you’d be mad not to take your kids to this beautiful English Heritage site. This runs from the 2nd – 5th April and children only need to pay £1 for a trail sheet. After they have found all the wooden eggs they can trade them for a chocolate prize! After this why not take them around the house and gardens which is free entry!
3. WWT London Wetland Centre: Now I know for a fact you will not be able to resist this season at the Wetland Centre. March and April are possibly the cutest month as there will be little ducklings wandering around the ground. They can also take part in Easter egg hunts and storytelling sessions.
4. The Foundling Museum: This Easter egg hunt takes place on Saturday 11th April. It is free entry for children with an accompanying adult and doors are open from 10.00am – 5.00pm. You can follow the Easter trail and get a yummy chocolate prize at the end!
5. Victoria and Albert Museum: This museum is doing something different for Easter. Create your own Superhero! With 2 weeks worth of workshops from 6th – 10th & 13th – 17th April your kids will be able to take part in a whole range of activities! Become a master of disguise, write your own story, track down Superheroes with the trails.

All these activities going on make me wish I was a kid again, hunting for chocolate, making crafts and having loads of fun! What are you doing for Easter?

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We’re looking at the second part of March this week, looking at what music and events are on all over the world.

Franz Ferdinand, Empire of the Sun & many more (8th March) – Future Music Festival, Adelaide, Australia – This will be a great day out for all who love their Indie Rock music. Franz Ferdinand with hits like Take Me Out and The Dark of the Matinee, Empire of the Sun with great songs like We are the People and Standing on the Shore plus any more!

Little Boots (9th March) – Fillmore, San Francisco, USA – The English Electro-Pop singer peaked at number 5 with her debut album Hands, and sounds great live. A definite must see.

Matthew Ryan (10th March) – Living Room, New York, USA – This alternative country singer has been heavily underrated in his 10 year career, with a great guitar and beautiful sound you are bound to have a great time.

Editors (11th March) – Fat Sam’s, Dundee, United Kingdom – British Indie Rock Band The Editors are great live! Their hits songs such as Munich and Smokers Outside the Hospital and the light show to go with it are fantastic. I really enjoy their music.

The Temper Trap (12th March) – Fillmore, San Francisco, USA – I love Temper Trap! Fader is my favourite song from this Australian band who have performed sold out gigs all over the UK. If you get chance to go, then you have to go!

Bob Dylan (13th March) – Zepp Osaka, Osaka, Japan – Who doesn’t like at least one Bob Dylan song? He’s been around since 1962 and is described as one of the most influential figures of the 20th century.

Hot Chip (14th March) – Mousonturm, Frankfurt, Germany – Over and over and over and over, like a monkey with a miniature symbol, this British Electro-Pop Band are brilliant.

Delphic (15th March) – Heaven, London, United Kingdom – Delphic are an alternative dance band in the UK. They have played many festivals such as Creamfields, Reading and Leeds Festival and Bestival. They are fairly new to the music scene but have some great music and are worth seeing live.

Are you going to any of these? Have you already seen any of them live? It would be great to here about your experiences! Have a nice weekend!

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I’ve got the, eye of the Tiger! One the most important traditional Chinese holidays is the New Year. Being the most important festival in the Lunar Calendar within China, there are many traditions that people follow such as throwing out everything old and buying new things to cleaning the house top to bottom. This Year it is the year of the Tiger and the celebrations don’t only happen in china any more!

Join London in celebrating this wonderful festival this weekend! (We know, same time as valentines!) Head over to Trafalgar Square where there will be many live performances on the 21st of February, including a parade with the traditional Chinese dragon and lion dances as well as dancers from China. There will be live shows at the National Portrait Gallery showing dances, martial arts and storytelling.

Or why not join all the fun in Leicester Square where there will be firecrackers and fireworks setting off in the afternoon. You will also be able to try authentic Chinese food being served by Chinese restaurants and stalls in Chinatown.

If you fancy getting some culture in you, go to one of the special events at some of London’s museums or galleries for the New Year. These include the National Maritime Museum and the National Geographic Store on Regent Street, who will be showing special photography of the big cats to celebrate the Year of the Tiger. Take your children to the museum in the Docklands where they can take part in lion dances and traditional arts and crafts like batik.

Events will be held both on the 14th of February and 21st, so choose which ones you fancy and join in with the celebrations!

Can I tell you the best part of all this? It’s all free! So what are you waiting for?

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