Peoples Republic of South Devon

‘And it all shines on…’

“Our society is run by insane people for insane objectives.”

If you didn’t catch the film when it was at the cinema, and you missed it on telly last night, then at least catch the trailer of the US vs John Lennon on D+CFilm.

PS We’re a country at war, not for an insane reason - for a lie.

Posted by Cptn

March 31st, 2007

Add comment

Just the ticket

Have you checked out the new, extended arthouse cinema listings on D+CFilm yet? Well, you should, because there’s a great week of movies on the way.

There’s all the info you need on: Nick Broomfield’s Ghosts, which you may have noticed we’ve been bigging up because of the socio/political issues (Film Studies 101 don’t fail me now); Deep Water, the documentary on Donald Crowhurst’s attempt to sail the world from Teignmouth; and details on a Totnes Transition Town’s special showing of A Crude Awakening. Plus all the other stuff on arthouse releases. Have a read and pack in some popcorn this weekend.

(Oh, and congratulations to the Quails for their stonking performance and win at the Plymouth Hub’s Battle of the Bands.)

Posted by Cptn

March 30th, 2007

Add comment

Ghosts opens

Nick Broomfield’s Ghosts, the story of the Chinese cockle pickers who died in Morecombe, opens at Plymouth Art Centre today (to be followed soon at Exeter Picturehouse). An eye-opening account of the plight of migrant workers - and a good film to boot.

Posted by Cptn

March 29th, 2007

Add comment

Melting Pot Podcast #12

Keep in step as we shuffle along to the music of the Devon scene. Find out what tune Niki would shake a stick out to if she was angry (and you don’t want to make her angry). Here’s the clues. Is it a) Kolo with Lamb and Flag, b) Quarantine singing Vice Versa, c) with their ditty Colossus or d) or Phonemonkey and Long White Room. You have until the podcast ends to come up with your answer. You may start now.

March 28th, 2007

Add comment

Traffic stopping

Don’t get pulled along by the Daily Mail’s, et al, next dodgy debate about migrant workers. Instead do something useful and watch Nick Broomfield’s Ghosts, which is coming to the region, and understand the plight of people who are exploited by human traffickers and unscrupulous employers (cheap food anyone?).

But don’t think it can’t happen here (Broomfield’s film is based on the events in Morecombe when 26 people died while picking cockles). According to Nigel Costly of the South West TUC: ‘We are doing lots around migrant workers and unfortunately have too many examples of poor treatment in Devon.’

Of course we’ll be following up on this and try to give you the real, personal truth behind the headlines.

March 27th, 2007

Add comment

Berlin nights

Now’s your chance to turn the People’s Republic into the Weimar Republic - well on April 13 and the first Friday every month at least - with the Surreal Saloon’s claim of putting a bit of Berlin nightlife into the south west.

So rush out to book your tickets to watch Belida and Josephine give artists and performers the red carpet treatment in what they call ‘an environment of surreal gloss, glamour, burlesque, absurd comedy and kitsch, where you can expect the unexpected’.

Then there’s Loss/Goss from Saturday, 14 April, 10am-8pm, where MIXAGE, a group of mixed media artists and performers get all surreal on a big bouncy bed with the many known and unknown talents in the south west (hey we’re just waiting for the call).

And these guys are working with those spinning tops down at Red Propeller Gallery. Life is a cabaret my friends.

Posted by Cptn

March 26th, 2007

Add comment

Five star

What’s been happening on D+CFilm this week? Answer: loads. But don’t just sit there slapping your forehead cos you missed it all - we’ve hand-picked the week’s best movie-type stories from round the region and listed them below. Sounds simple, don’t it? Almost too simple…

1. Faerie fan does it for ver kids

2. Prize for potty-mouthed pet

3. D+CFilm fights ‘the good fight’ shocker

4. Film society scoops film societies award

5. Danger, Wil Robinson! Danger!

That’s yer lot. And remember - you’re so sly but so am I.

Posted by Thin White Duke

March 25th, 2007

Add comment

Saving all round

As another incentive to turn that shade a bit more green (like saving the world isn’t enough), Bovey Climate Action has tried to help our save pennies too (now that’s not something to sniff at). The group has secured a 10% B&Q discount on renewable energy products with the Newton Abbot branch, which is available to anyone signed up for Bovey Waste Watchers and can show their membership card.

Arnolds (the Bovey Tracey ironmonger) will give Waste Watchers 10% off on low energy light bulbs if they show their card.

Gas Power UK will give Waste Watchers a 10% discount if they want to convert their car to run on LPG.

The group is still looking to find more businesses that are willing to reward those who are making an effort to change. So come on you people, do what you can can get in touch, either with us here at The People’s Republic, or Bovey Climate Action.

Posted by Cptn

March 25th, 2007

Add comment

Quails take off

Before you start clambouring around, saying ‘we knew them when…’, let us remind you that Plymouth Herald Battle of the Bands finalists The Quails first came to our attention last summer.

And if you gossip hungry fiends out there want the latest gen, this Teignmouth crew (, duh) are ‘in negotiations’ with Sarah Woodward’s new record label, which is coming out of the Music Mill studio, Newton Abbot (home to the Melting Pot Studio Sessions).

So, good luck to the groovers, who played a great acoustic set at the AEON Sunday Chill last week.

Posted by Cptn

March 24th, 2007

1 comment

In my tribe

Tinariwen played Dartington Hall on March 22 and it’s their history that really makes people take notice of their music.

was originally part of the Tourag tribe of Mali, in the Sahara. Swapping their guns for guitars, the band has played countless sell out shows all over the globe, and finally ended up in Dartington.

Their sound is so simple, but echoes of their past with a passionate honesty.

Everything about their show is entrancing - their robes, the hypnotic rhythms and foreign chants - all capable of locking the crowd’s attention, pulling them into the sound of the desert.

There was no need for crowd banter, they were in a blissful intoxication of the steady beats, fronted by very minimal guitar work. The way Tinariwen play, even after their current successes, has hardly changed over time.

Being the first band to use an electric guitar in Mali, their relic amplifiers indicate that they intend to keep the formula the same, but its this detachment from modernity and commercialisation that keeps this sound so iconic.

Their current album ‘AMAN IMAN: Water Is Life’ is running up the world music charts, catch them live while they’re still hot!

Posted by Tom Weymouth

March 24th, 2007

Add comment