Save the Tin Angel/Taylor John's...

Below I am pasting in the two emails I received earlier this week from Oliver Betts (Black Carrot) concerning the fate of Tin Angel/Taylor John's in Coventry - from first hand I can say that this is a great venue and worthy of the fight to keep it open (see my review here...)
Any help will be greatly appreciated...


Hi Folks, Get behind this, if they close it will be a crime... email: savethetin@yahoo.co.uk

Save The Tin Angel and Taylor John's House


Since it's opening in 2002 The Tin Angel remains an integral part of Coventry's cultural fabric and has been host to a wide variety of artists and musicians from around the world. The primary aim of owner and promoter Richard Guy was to enable the people of Coventry to experience high-quality, diverse performances from artists that were rarely found in this area as well as to provide a platform for local, up and coming performers upon which to showcase their music to a wider audience.


The success of this, combined with people's enthusiasm and limited space in the Tin Angel, prompted expansion and so, in April 2006, Taylor John's House; a dedicated music venue with a capacity of 200, opened. This enabled Richard and other local promoters to move forward in terms of the kinds of artists it was possible to present resulting in appearances from internationally touring artists keen to include shows in Coventry in their schedule ranging from cutting edge songwriters to established names in Jazz and world music. The venue is also used as rehearsal space and is a fully functioning recording studio where successful bands have chosen to record their albums.


Taylor Johns House has also been used by University students for filming, performance and final collaborative projects. As well being one of the West Midlands venues for the International Independent Cinema Network "Future Shorts" it is also used to host Coventry's only club night for adults with learning difficulties in the form of the D-Vine disco.


Taylor Johns is visited by approx 300 people per week and the website receives, on average, 50, 000 hits per month. We send weekly gig listings out to our e-mail list and feature in the Uk's best selling music magazines such as NME, Q, fRoots and The Word).


In addition to all of this is Taylor Johns House is now the base for Tin Angel Records; a label that has released albums by such names as Devon Sproule, Paul Currerri and Adrian Crowley.


However, the loss of our entertainment licence at the Tin Angel in the summer has brought the situation to the brink of failure for both venues. The financial problem is that the operation is currently structured as a business and, as such, can't access the many funding sources available to support such community/arts/education endeavours. We are now looking to take the next step in our development by becoming a non-profit organisation so that we can continue to expand on our success in providing the local community with a cultural focus and a creative space.
We need to raise sufficient money to keep the show on the road until we can restructure the operation to become a not-for-profit enterprise. We have committee of dedicated people who will support the change over but need finance to make those changes.


By becoming a funded arts-centre we can:

* Continue to bring internationally recognised artists to Coventry therefore bolstering the city's profile in terms of entertainment and the arts
* Encourage more people from elsewhere to visit Coventry and leave with a positive impression the city
* Create a vibrant, creative hub in which artists from a wide variety of artistic disciplines can work and develop
* Allow the local community to become involved in the cultural and creative development of the city as a whole
* Allow Taylor John's and ultimately Coventry's name to be synonymous with high standards in terms of entertainment and diverse cultural activity


Sponsorship

Sponsorship is fundamental to the progress of any community based arts centre and is essential in our move to being a non-profit organisation as it will allow us to present even more high profile events therefore enabling us to prospect for further funding to support our long-term plan for expansion.
If you are interested in making a donation, becoming a personal or corporate sponsor or just finding out more about The Tin Angel or Taylor John House then please contact us. savethetin@yahoo.co.uk or 024 7655 9010


www.thetinangel.co.uk www.tinangeltickets.co.uk

Dear Tin Angel & Taylor John's House friends.

Some of you may be aware that both the Tin Angel and Taylor John's House are currently under threat of closure due to lack of funds. We need to raise sufficient money to keep the show on the road until we can restructure the operation to become a not-for-profit enterprise. We have a committee of dedicated people who will support the change over but need finance to make those changes.

Please have a look at our website to find out more information.

GOOD NEWS!!! - The Dandelion Trust (www.dandeliontrust.org) is a charity who's aim is to support the arts and specifically 'Opportunities for growth, resolution, care and creativity through the arts'. They offered support by making us one of their projects. We are currently in talks with them about how they might be able to help. We'll keep you updated.



There are many ways YOU can help -

* Forward this email to as many people as possible and ask them to join our mailing list (send a blank e-mail to subscribe@thetinangel.co.uk) - we need more people to understand what we do.

* Send an e-mail of support to savethetin@yahoo.co.uk

* Lobby your ward Councillor. Lots of people have expressed how the closing of the Tin and Taylor John's House would have a negative effect on the culture of Coventry and community of artists and musicians that are involved. If you feel the same way, please e-mail your local councillor who will be resposible for passing on points of view. The link above will take you to a map of the city. Just click on the area where you live. This will give you to information about your ward councillors, including a short profile and contact details.

* Vote for us in the Godiva Awards - Both online (see below) and on the pink voting slips in The Tin and Taylor John's House

* Support our events this week - Come along to as many shows as possible

* Are you on Facebook or MySpace? Why don't you make friends with us.....

* Do you have your own business? Or can you make a donation? Sponsorship is fundamental to the progress of any community based arts centre and is essential in our move to being a non-profit organisation. Would you or anyone you know be interested in becoming a corporate sponsor? If you are interested in making a donation, becoming a personal or corporate sponsor or just finding out more about The Tin Angel or Taylor John House then please contact us. savethetin@yahoo.co.uk or 024 7655 9010

* Buy tickets for our raffle - Only £1 a strip, available at Inspire, Christchurch Spire, New Union Street, The Nursery Tavern, 38/39 Lord Street, Chapelfields, Alexander Wines, 112-114 Berkeley Road South, Earlsdon and The Tin and TJ's. The draw will be held at Taylor John's on Thursday evening and anounced live there at 9.30pm, at The Tin Angel and The Nursery Tavern - Several prizes have been donated including -

2 x 30 minute massages worth £15 – (Thanks to Dan Searles)
1 x DJ Set from DJ – party/wedding (Thanks to Steve Kohler)
1 x bottle champagne – Moet and Chandon Rose Imperial – (Thanks to The Nursery Tavern)
2 x 50cl crème do cassis – (Thanks to The Nursery Tavern)
3 x Jagerschoppen (red leibfraumilch) – (Thanks to The Nursery Tavern)
2 x Copperidge Californian Cabernet Sauvignon 2002 – (Thanks to Kaz Alexander wines)
2 x free tickets to gig of your choice at Taylor Johns
1 x VJ – projections set (Thanks to Falling Forward – Big Tony)
1 x Guitar lesson from Dave Bennett (Thanks Dave)
Co-Op Truly Irresistible chocolate biscuit collection (Thanks Elaine)
Bottle of Valdo Prosecco Marca Oro extra dry sparkling wine (Thanks Elaine)

* Bid in our Auction - Photographer, Andrew Fox has kindly donated a beautiful framed photograph, artist Len Catell has kindly donated one of his Aboriginal inspired paintings, Richard Elms has kindly donated a free studio recording session and Si Hayden has kindly donated 2 of his guitars. The auction will start on-line, on our website tomorrow. People will be able to bid electronically up until 6.00pm on Saturday. At 7.00pm the auction will continue live at Taylor John's House. Check our website for details and photos of the items.

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The Week Ahead.......

Wednesday 10th October
The Circus: - Guest artist Francois and the atlas mountains £2 door
THE CIRCUS - EVERY WEDNESDAY
six 20 minute slots with a 45 minute guest spot in the middle - music, magic, comedy welcome.

Thursday 11th October
Paul Curreri + support £7 adv/ £9 door
The New Yorker calls this guitarist & songster from Charlottesville, Virginia "exquisite... brings a renewed eloquence to the medium," and Americana-UK says: "full of soul, hushed insight, and (at last) originality." Of his 2003 effort, Songs for Devon Sproule, which was produced by Kelly Joe Phelps, Vintage Guitar Magazine claims, "One of the very finest records in awhile. And, not just in this genre. Any genre."
His 5th album, The Velvet Rut, is released on Tin Angel Records. "Spontaneous & poetic... playing unpredictably, altering his phrasing, his routines thankfully haven't been hammered into regular shape," says The Independent UK.

Friday 12th October
Vinny Peculiar + Thomas Truax £5 Adv/£8 Door
Vinny Peculiar, crowned ‘the Tony Hancock of pop’ by UNCUT MAGAZINE, is the sobriquet for one Alan Wilkes, a Bromsgrove-born, the Manchester based singer-songwriter. He has toured extensively with acts as diverse as The Killers, Malcolm Middleton and Edwyn Collins, is a regular compere on the Glastonbury Acoustic Stage and has collaborated with various artists from Bill Drummond to Bonehead. His seventh studio album 'Goodbye My Angry Friend' is released Nov 8th 2007 on Pronoia Records. The current touring band line up features the sublime talents of Mike Joyce [the Smiths, PIL, Buzzcocks] on drums, Paul Arthurs aka BONEHEAD [OASIS] on bass and Ben Knott [Jeep] on keys.

Saturday 13th October
Gilad Atzmon Quartet £8 adv / £10 door
"A formidable improvisational array...a local jazz giant steadily drawing himself up to his full height...a blast of fresh air in the UK"-John Fordham, The Guardian
"Jazz in the '50s and '60s was inextricably linked to the Civil Rights Movement in the US; and the music of Israeli-born reeds-playing genius, Gilad Atzmon, is similarly enmeshed with the struggles of the Palestinian people" -Joe Cushley , What's On
“A revelation, a multi-reed man of enormous talent.”-Tony Richards Musician Magazine
“Atzmon sends his soprano sax and clarinet soaring over complex rhythms from all points of the globe with a poetry that never forfeits control.”- Nina Caplan, Metro
“Audiences are clearly bowled over with Atzmon's whirlwind approach ... dynamic, charismatic and ... exasperating!”-Brian Blain, Jazz UK

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godiva logo
Voting for the Godiva Awards has now started and Taylor John's House has been nominated in the 'Best Venue' catagory and The Tin Angel has been nominated in the 'Best Bar' catagory. Please support us and place your vote here -

VOTE - TAYLOR JOHN'S HOUSE

VOTE - TIN ANGEL

You can vote once a day, every day up until the close of the awards.
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Tin Angel Productions
Tel: 024 7655 9010

www.thetinangel.co.uk
www.myspace.com/thetinangel