Samba school motto

As of last night, our new motto is "Don't despair".

Other popular samba school quotes include "I'm so over waiting", and "Remko has no shame".

The Continuing Story of the Samba School and The Costume That Wouldn't Happen

Inspiration from the Notting Hill carnaval. Top picture formal, bottom one slightly more extravagant wear?

I think this one would be perfect for the shakers. I can see them weaving their way through the Bateria already...

Details for Sunday's gigs

Today I received the details for Sunday's gig:

• Where: Grounds of the Polish Ex-servicemen's Assoc, 44-54 Holland Cres. Capalaba
• Be there: 11.15am
• Showtime: both 11.45am and 1.15 pm (15 minutes per set)
• Dress code: polish costume, or creative pink&green if you don't have one

I look forward to it! Just to satisfy my creativity, I'll try to introduce (m)any new breaks this Thursday, rather than during the gig. I can't promise I won't do anything unexpected though...

If you haven't registered ... please do so asap. Thanks!

Australian Idol

Extra, Extra Electorial Fraud Detected!

As a member of the Electorial Reform Society it is my sad duty to inform you of an electorial fraud undertaken by a young scalliwag of a Dutch Person. In the best Myramar traditions the vote shown is the exact opposity of the votes actualy cast. Consequently all right thinking members of the public should immediately build a camp outside of said Dutch persons home and chant loudly all night long, in fact if they were to bring alcohol it would not be unlike the party so unjustly cancelled so the whole thing would sort itself out anyway!

" Official " Brisbane Samba School Uniform

Should we abandon the idea of "Official " Brisbane Samba School Uniform ?

" Creative Pink & Green " theme is working very well. Look at Erin ,Miki, Gail, Patty and Dale for example. A standard uniform would squashed people individuality .

What do you guys think ? Why fix what is working for us ?

Tamborim Workshop

Check this out. Tamborim workshop at this guys place! Coming soon...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSHiNBtNYxw&NR=1

All the photos look fantastic guys! Very colourful.....I guess that's cos WE were colourful. And loud...

:)

If you were interested in seeing how samba goes with James Brown in Paris
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zZ2o4DoWA4&NR=1
The bateria is doing some good choreography too.

Pride photos

The photos from Sunday look fantastic - wish I could have made it. To bombard you with even more pics, have a look at http://www.gayqueensland.net/pix/parties/10.html
there are photos from the 2007 Pride parade. See you tomorrow night!

Video now uploaded on to google

Guys
I have compressed the video to mpeg4 format which halved the size of the file and allowed me to bung it on to google web albums. You can therefore now download using the same link as before. Note it is still 29 meg so if you on a low speed link forget it! Good video I think but missing the crush of the roadies and the cheering crowd methinks. Never mind one day at Suncorp stadium!

Scary Photo

Too many fluffy and happy photos from Roma St. Parkland. Just throwing in a very, very scary Remko photo from the Vodka night in February.

. . . . Guess what Remko made Remko this angry ?

more pix from Roar day

More Photos from the Roar Community Day

Pikies from the park

Hi guys! lots of nice pictures to download. The good video is too big to up load at greater than 100 meg Google doesn't like it. But the other stuff is good. I'll burn some discs at the end of the year with all the data from this year on it anyway, that will have the large video files. Hope you like.

The link is http://picasaweb.google.com/BlizWizz

I will keep these public for a week or so before hiding them again so download quickly if you want!

I can't seem to find a way to easily link a private web album in Picassa Web with a post in the Blog, I don't think they have the functionality yet!

Some more good news

I received a phone call today from Multicultural Affairs regarding the Multicultural Festival on 14 October in Roma Street Parkland. Last year we led the carnaval parade at this festival, and this year I had again applied for us to perform. Because of budget constraints, because of the (very non Brazilian) theme this year, and because we were already in the program last year, they had decided not to include us this time, and they sent me a letter last week (which I received later today) to inform me of this.

However, after seeing our great performance and workshops yesterday, they told me I could ignore that letter as they'd love us to be involved again this year in some way or another!

This again is a reflection on all of you, your enthusiasm (although I had to wake Dale up during the workshops a couple of times ;-) and your contribution in general to the samba school. So again ... thank you very much for everything!

Register here for the 2007 Queensland Multicultural Festival!

Roma Street Parkland Roar

. . . . HOW MUCH ! ? ! ? !

And now for something completely different...

Nicki is playing with the Brisbane Philharmonic Orchestra again next Sunday 26 August. I've been to a rehearsal and I think it's very much worth going to this one:

The Brisbane Philharmonic Orchestra joins with father and daughter duo, Markus and Melinda Stocker, for the dynamic Double Concerto for violin and cello by Brahms. Other works on the programme include the famous Barber of Seville Overture by Rossini and the hauntingly beautiful Poeme for violin and orchestra by Chausson. The concert is at the magnificent Brisbane City Hall on Sunday 26 August. Tickets are on sale through 4MBS Ticketing on 3847 1717.

Here's the flyer.

A big thank you!

Thank you all very much for today's performance and workshops at the Queensland Roar Community day! I thought it was very funny how nobody dared to complain about the rain, after a few months without a drop. Thank you also for your help during the workshops, it is always a lot more fun when there are a few (or many) experienced sambistas, as this makes things happen a lot quicker and people will be able to understand the concept much more easy. In particular I'd like to thank Donna for her help in handing out instruments to participants. Thank you!

Special thanks to Cedric and Loic for playing today even though they are moving house today as well, and very very big special thanks to Stephanie for letting them go! Let me know if I can help with some personal marriage counseling...

Despite the rain, the organisers were very pleased and like to talk about further cooperation between Queensland Road and Unidos da Primavera! This might involve a half time performance for 11 home games and maybe also playing at the Suncorp Plaza prior to the games, like we did last month ... everyone up to it?

Cheers!

FINALLY, HERE IT IS - PARTY AT MARCEL'S

Well, I must say it has touched me deeply to see the enthousiasm and keenness of many people for me to organise a party. So, I will give in to popular demand (as I’ve doen so often in the past) and have the MOTHER OF ALL PARTIES at my place!.

When: Friday 31 August until 29 September

Where: My place (didn’t I say that already??)

Theme: Camp out at Marcel’s

What to bring: As much as you like (food/drink)

or as little as you want (dresscode pink)

Final request: Please, every now and then, water the plants and empty the mailbox

Details for Sunday's gigs

Just received the details for Sunday's exciting gigs:

10.15-11.00 Workshop 1
11.30-11.50 Stage performance 1
1.00-1.45 Workshop 2
2.00-2.20 Stage performance 2

For those of you performing on the day, please be there by 11am.

Note: I can run the workshops by myself, but of course it's always nice to have some members there as well. Up to you!

Location: Roma Street parklands (map), "Celebration Lawn", access via Parkland Boulevard for drop off only. Parking available at Platform 10 (whatever that is!).

If you haven't registered yet, please do so now.

Warning for Paul

Paul, we have been notified by the Blogger organisation that you have attempted to make the blog say things that are wholly inappropriate and should get you sent to the naughty corner straight away.

Thankfully, your attempts have been discovered in time and your actions neutralised.

Be aware that our organisation will be keeping an eye on you from now on...

Attention please!

Great, 5 million (great) pictures to distract you from the next gig which I blogged about 4 posts below. So, to make the point, please register for our new exiting gig this Sunday! And see post below for more details...

Special Invitation from Mr Denis (handshake)

All,

You are cordially invited to a birthday party in honour of Brisbane Samba School stalwart and jazz drumming legend Denis Fisher.

When: Saturday 25 August, 7pm til late
Where: 14 Eckersley St, Tarragindi (Denis's place)
What to bring: your own drinks
What to wear: anything but pink and green
What to smoke: anything legal.
RSVP: Not required, all are welcome!


BYOC

Cheers,
Paul on behalf of Denis

More picnic pics

Here's the other fanstastic pics from Patty and David.

Cheers,
Paul

Picnic pics

Hey there sambistas,

Here's some pix of Saturday's jam session, courtesy of the amazing David and his new camera. Thanks to David and Patty for providing these gems!

OK, looks like I can only add a few at a time. More to come in a minute.

Urgent: short term notice gig this Sunday

This Sunday we'll have a follow up gig from our fabulous performance at SunCorp stadium: we've been invited to perform (twice) during the Queensland Roar community day at Roma Street parklands. We've also been asked to do a couple of workshops for visitors. It will be a great day, one of those events where we can (should) bring our own esky with food and drinks and have a bit of a picknick, performance, and some fun along the way! The idea is that, with a couple of Brazilian players now in the team, they want to give it a bit of a Brazilian atmosphere. I might bring my cavaquinho, tantan and pandeiro and we'll have a pagode while we wait and relax!

I have yet to agree the precise details, but it will be between 10am and 3pm.

Please register here asap ... in the meantime please keep an eye on this for further details.

Good one!

Videos fresh from Brazil

Our friend Carlos from the Melbourne Samba School is having a great time in Brazil, and thanks to modern technology he's putting videos of his musical adventures on the web for all of us to enjoy! You might even recognise some of the songs!

Happy birthday Denis!!!

Today marks the birthday of one of the pillars of the samba school, the amazing Denis! Your buddy from Cuba (pictured to the left) sent the samba school a telegram to wish you a happy birthday too, but it was intercepted by US authorities so I can't post it here unfortunately.

Happy birthday Denis!

" Midnight "

Agent " Midnight" please identify yourself . Welcome to the brotherhood/sisterhood of samba.

Saturday Jam Session Thanks

Hi everyone!

Thanks so much for making today great, I think everyone involved enjoyed the day. I know that Jo and Jonathan were very grateful to jam with us. I think we now have a sister samba school in Perth.

Thanks again to Remko for bringing the instruments along.

Stay tuned to find out if the mystery guy under the tree posts his recording on the web.

cheers,
Paul

Hablar como Mariana

¡Clic aquí!

Saturday jam session

Hi sambistas,

The Saturday jam session/picnic/bbq starts at midday tomorrow. Please bring your own picnic food etc.

We will meet at the tiled area in front of the Kangaroo Point cliffs, where the rock climbers climb, i.e. looking across the river towards the Botanic Gardens (how nice). I believe that there's parking along River Terrace.

If you can't find us, please contact me on 0427 753 408. Alternatively, listen out for the musical stylings of Remko's flashy whistle.

Pink is optional, except for Marcel. There will be no blowing off of anyone as it is not that kind of party.

The jam session will last as long as our enthusiasm does. I'm bringing enough wine to last until sundown.

See you tomorrow,
Paul

New gig: Polish Festival (Capalaba)

We have been invited again to the Polish festival in Capalaba (not to be confused with the Beer & Vodka nights at the Polish Club). Last year we had some fun, so let's do it again this year! Register here.

Zorro Jnr

Indy 2006

Wait . . . there are more !

Pride 2007 : Lovely shot of Marina

Pride 2007 : Claire & Zorro

Nice Shots from the Past

Some nice shots randomly appear on my screen-saver that caught my eyes

Gail's house warming party: Denis was hungry & waiting to be fed

Vodka Night : Nice shot of Miki and Melanie

Dorian's birthday party: Dancing with no body contact and hold on to your navel orange. Tricky.