Not entirely music related, but we really like the sound of Bristol Radical History Week 2007 which started yesterday (28/10/07 - 6/11/07). This year Bristol Radical History Group turns its single beady eye on Pirates, Witches & Smugglers, icons of the past, so deeply reviled by the rulers of their time. Who were these 'outcasts'? Why are we so fascinated by them? Do their villainous representations carry clues to their real nature? Get answers to these questions and more during this year's Bristol Radical History Week, more details after the link.

The Public Consultation for the Bristol Festival took place on Thursday, 25th October, from 6pm at the Trinity Centre, St Phillips, Bristol. The consultation raised and discussed many issues and ideas. A vote was held on the festival name, and it was decided to stick with the Bristol Festival, whilst some of the other names suggested may be used for stages. An online forum has been set up to allow the discussions to continue, so everyone is encouraged to visit the website, sign up and add their voice and opinions. A Bristol Festival logo is needed, so a competition has been launched for which submissions are invited. Read on for further details.

The Cabot Circus Cantata is a collaborative project developed by Neville Gabie, Bristol Alliance’s Artist-in-Residence and Bristol composer and conductor David Ogden. With fifty-nine nationalities represented on site, construction workers from the Cabot Circus development, including builders, secretaries, foremen, security guards, and canteen staff have been invited to contribute traditional songs from their native countries. The songs are combined into one set, and performed either by the contributor from the construction site or the City of Bristol Choir. If you missed the performance on 14th Oct there is now a video available online.

The Bristol Festival is a brand new event being organised for 2008 by volunteers who feel it's what the community needs, especially in light of the unfortunate but inevitable demise of the hijacked and obstructed Bristol Community Festival at Ashton Court. A Public Consultation Evening at Trinity aims to get your views and support for a community festival celebrating the region's music, performing arts and local culture. Briefly - 25th Oct at Trinity, more details after the link. 

Civilized Banksy, Aerosol art, a graffito to love and the fact that it's not graffiti that costs the country a billion a year, it's the cleanup that's pricey and environmental damage from the chemicals used isn't counted in that figure.

"Whether at Lascaux 17,000 years ago or in Western Arnhem Land 50,000 years ago, art began on a wall. If the sandblasters had been around in either place, we would have lost a precious inheritance."

Germain Greer also says that most tags deserve the single-word comment, "prat".

Ujima Radio is a not-for-profit community radio station, which will start broadcasting on FM and via the internet from the CEED Media Centre, St Pauls early in 2008. They are running a competition to select their logo which will be seen throughout Bristol and the world. For details and requirements of the logo, entry and prizes and to find out more about Ujima, click the link. Ujima also run a range of music and radio courses to train you up for involvement in the radio station. They are looking for volunteers and people who would give their communities and culture a voice on air.