Happy Birthday, MLK!

Posted by Speakeasy News > Saturday 02 January 2021 > Celebrate

The third Monday of January is a federal holiday in the U.S.A., in honour of Martin Luther King. In keeping with King’s philosophy, citizens are encouraged to treat it as a day of service to others by volunteering in their communities. As the slogan says, it is “a day on, not a day off”. Starting … Continue reading “Happy Birthday, MLK!”

Positive Vision

Posted by Speakeasy News > Monday 06 July 2020 > In the News

The Visionary Honours is a new kind of awards ceremony: one that singles out art, media and entertainment that fosters social change and debate. The awards were created in 2019 by the Visionary Arts Foundation, which helps 16-29-year-olds get a foothold in   the creative industries in the UK, encouraging them in their ambition to  influence … Continue reading “Positive Vision”

Musical Migrations

Posted by Speakeasy News > Thursday 11 June 2020 >

Last year, the Immigration Museum in Paris held an excellent exhibition on the influence of migration from former colonies on the musical culture of the UK and France after decolonisation in the 1960s. Paris-London Musical Migrations fits perfectly with the themes of Shine Bright 1e File 7 Caribbean Vibes and  Shine Bright LLCE File 8 From … Continue reading “Musical Migrations”

Rock ‘n’ Roll Pioneer

Posted by Speakeasy News > Wednesday 27 May 2020 > In the News

Little Richard was one of the pioneers — or as he put it, the architect— of rock ‘n’ roll. He was the flamboyant singer of a string of hits from “Tutti Frutti” to “Good Golly Miss Molly”. Had Richard Penniman been white, he probably would have had a career like Elvis Presley’s. But Little Richard … Continue reading “Rock ‘n’ Roll Pioneer”

Our Girl Lollipop

Posted by Speakeasy News > Tuesday 12 May 2020 > In the News

Millie Small’s global hit song “My Boy Lollipop” was one of most visible manifestations of the influence of Caribbean migrants’ music on the British music scene. The Jamaican singer has died at the age of 73. Small started her music career in Jamaica, before Island Records founder Chris Blackwell became her manager and took her … Continue reading “Our Girl Lollipop”

Feelgood Music 2: “Waterloo Sunset”

Posted by Speakeasy News > Wednesday 06 May 2020 > Ready to Use

For the second of our series of feelgood songs, we’ve crossed the Atlantic to the UK, 1967, and The Kinks’ classic “Waterloo Sunset”. Which gives plenty of scope to work on emotions, and London landmarks Waterloo Station and the Thames. Pupils can start by watching a Biobox about the year 1967 in music before going … Continue reading “Feelgood Music 2: “Waterloo Sunset””

Pirate Radio Pioneer Dies

Posted by Speakeasy News > Friday 24 April 2020 > In the News

1964 was the height of the Swinging Sixties in the UK. The Beatles and The Rolling Stones were topping the charts. But their music was barely played on the radio. So Ronan O’Rahilly decided to start  Radio Caroline, a “pirate” radio station on a ship in the North Sea. All the British radio stations were … Continue reading “Pirate Radio Pioneer Dies”

Feelgood Music

Posted by Speakeasy News > Monday 06 April 2020 > Ready to Use

Music has great power to inspire us and lift our mood. Which we could all do with  a bit of at the moment. We were trying to think of work to set pupils at home that was positive and good for the soul: what better than a little soul music?  So here is the first … Continue reading “Feelgood Music”

The Jungle Book on Stage

Posted by Speakeasy News > Monday 30 September 2019 > What's On

Robert Wilson’s new stage adaptation of The Jungle Book will be on in Paris, Aix-en-Provence and Clermont-Ferrand over the next few months. The visually striking production combines dialogues in French and original songs in English. Wilson created the show with Cocorosie, a music group composed of two American sisters based in France. The show follows … Continue reading “The Jungle Book on Stage”