News

Climate Camp 2010

August 30th, 2010

Band members have recently returned from Climate Camp 2010, a week of direct action, sustainable living and workshops. The site was theback garden of the Royal Bank of Scotland, the UK’s biggest financeer of Tar Sands and other fossil fuel extraction

Bringing ceilidh back to its home turf, Green Kite Midnight got campers to their feet on the Saturday night. The band was joined by instrumentalists from the camp, including a trombone player who brought a distinctly ska feel to the evening’s activities. The ceilidh over, the band finished with a spontaneous rendition of Poker Face rewrite Oily Gaga The song had earlier been performed outside the St Andrews Square branch of the Royal Bank of Scotland (causing managers to close early)..

...on an occupied RBS-sponsored fringe stage on the Royal Mile..

...and before the camp was out, inside an RBS Bank branch in the city centre, as activists superglued themselves to the door

Green Kite Midnight was joined on the bill by the Carbon Town Cryer, New Urban Frontier , Pete the Temp, Abie Philbin Bowman and Josie Long
A comprehensive report of Climate Camp (With lots of pictures) by Green Kite Midnight caller Amelia Gregory can be found at Amelia’s Magazine

Glastonbury line-up

June 23rd, 2010

Green Kite midnight are playing on the Climate camp Tripod stage. You can catch us every day at 6pm! Here are the full listings:

Glastonbury Climate Camp map

This year the Camp for Climate Action is hosting the Tripod Stage in the Dragon Field, between the Craft Field and Shangri La; just follow the map above and keep an eye out for the tripods. We have a lovely space where you can chill out, drink a cup of tea and find out more about what we do and how you can get involved. Plus we have good music, poetry and comedy to keep you entertained whilst you learn. For full information read the accompanying blog here - full line up times below. All powered by renewable energy of course!
Climate Camp & the Tripod Stage present:

THURSDAY
3pm: Screenprinting workshop
5pm: Anna Log - little folk-pop songs on a uke, from the singer with We Aeronauts
6pm: Green Kite Midnight - ceilidh
7pm: My Luminaries - epic indie rock from the Glastonbury Emerging Talent 
winners, playing an intimate folky set

FRIDAY
1pm: Screenprinting workshop
2pm: Tripod Training
3pm: Kirsty Almeida - New Orleans meets Nightmare Before Christmas
4pm: Newislands - epic musical dreamscapes, Pink Floyd meets Depeche Mode
5pm: Green Kite Midnight - ceilidh
6pm: Danny Chivers, Merrick & Claire Fauset - a triple-headed tag team political poetry extravaganza
7pm: Danny and the Champions of the World - country tinged big band folk

SATURDAY
1pm: Screenprinting workshop 
2pm: Tripod Training
2.30pm: Kyla la Grange - soaring melodies from this talented newcomer
3pm: Patch William - the dreamy lovechild of Nick Drake and Jimi Hendrix
4pm: The Federals - boys from York, think White Stripes meets The Beatles
5pm: Robin Ince - a *SECRET SET* from the famous comedian - a must see
6pm: Green Kite Midnight - ceilidh
7pm: Dry the River - songs of religion, history, community; melodic folk with bite 
- Fleet Foxes meets Mumford & Sons

SUNDAY
1pm: Tripod Training - women only
2pm: Pete the Temp - music and spoken word with a comedic eco-political bent
2.30pm: Pete Lawrie - bittersweet gospel blues
3pm: Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly - soulfull melodies from his forthcoming album
4pm: Robinson - gypsy cajun crossed with classical sun-tinged folk
5pm: Danny Chivers, Merrick & Claire Fauset - a triple-headed tag team political poetry extravaganza
6pm: the GRAND RAFFLE
7pm: Green Kite Midnight - ceilidh
 

Green Kite Midnight on the Merthyr to Mayo bike caravan

June 22nd, 2010

The Green Kite Midnight ceilidh band has recently returned from a week in Ireland  campaigning and playing music in solidarity with the people of the Erris region, who have been resisting a Shell gas refinery and pipeline for the last ten years.

The band joined activists in Galway for the final 200 kilometres of a 50-strong bicycle convoy [http://www.merthyrtomayo.org] from Methyr Tydfil in Wales to Rossport on the West Coast of Ireland, organised by our friends at Bicycology - http://www.bicycology.org.uk/ .

Ceilidh at Castlerae Prison

Any excuse has been found to imprison local residents opposing Shell. Most famously, in 2005, five local farmers who refused to sell their land (The Rossport 5) were imprisoned for refusing Shell’s pipeline.
At present two activists are in prison - Niall Harnett and Pat O’Donnell.

Local fisherman Pat O’Donnell http://www.shelltosea.com/content/shell-corrib-gas-who-are-real-thugs-bullies was charged with “obstructing a police officer” at a demonstration – in the context of a wave of state repression against him which has included being assaulted, punched in the face, targeted by masked gunmen, and having his boat scuttled.    
Niall Harnett http://www.shelltosea.com/content/jailing-niall-harnett was imprisoned for “assaulting a police officer” on a demonstration for putting his hand on a policeman while said policeman was pulling a fellow protestor off an illegally constructed fence.


To protest this injustice, in full sound reach of the inmates, Green Kite Midnight joined forces with local folk bands to hold a concert for the prisoners from the car park of Castlerae Prison. Once in the campaigning ceilidh spirit, activists blockaded the Shell petrol station opposite the prison by moving the party on to the forecourt.  

Rossport Solidarity Camp Annual Gathering

 
120 kilometres north of Castlerae is The Rossport Solidarity Camp - a space for activists from outside the local area to stay and join the campaign against Shell’s pipeline.
 
In contrast to last Summer’s visit to an industrial estate on the Isle of Wight (See ‘Green Kite Midnight Supports Vesta workers http://www.greenkitemidnight.com/?q=news) Rossport Solidarity camp is idyllically situated near deserted beaches, under rolling hills and by a stunning estuary.

By day locals told of their experience of the campaign, their changing perceptions of the Irish police force, and how Shell and the Irish government were not only sacrificing the environment and local communities for their project, but sacrificing revenue for public services too - government royalties have been slashed to 0% and tax to 25% while the global average is about 60%. Shoulder to shoulder we also engaged in a joint attempt to dig up and expose an illegally laid section of pipeline.
 
On consecutive nights, as the sun went down, Green Kite Midnight entertained the camp goers with ceilidhs, followed by long evenings of musical cultural exchange - sharing ballads, jigs and reels around the campfire.

  
The band returns inspired, tired, and full of new tunes and dances to add to the repetoir.
 
Bring on Glastonbury. 

New Videos page !

May 2nd, 2010

So, collected together for the first time, please find a selection of videos of the cheeky activism fun we've been up to over the last year or so on our new Videos page. Below is a sneak preview of the visual delights that await you!

Green Kite Midnight plays a ceilidh on a BP petrol station forecourt in Shepherds Bush to highlight BP's investment in Tar Sands, Spring 2010

Gig this sunday at 195 Mare st, London!

April 28th, 2010

We are playing on Sunday night as part of a 3 day "Do it because they destroy it" event
The main 195 Mare st. building is an early 18th century listed mansion, that was then converted into a working mens club. It has a beautiful 60's dance hall attached on the back, and this is a last chance to celebrate, perform and create art, controculture, free music pirating and make this space the most beautiful before it is demolished next week!!

What better way to spend your bank holiday weekend than dancing with Green Kite Midnight in a condemned building !

Party at the pumps!

May 2nd, 2010

Tar Sands are the bitumen deposits that can be tuned in to oil through a process involving chopping down rainforests, polluting rivers and displacing indigenous peoples, all at a time when fossil fuels need to be kept in the ground to prevent climate change. BP, once branding itself 'Beyond Petroleum', is the UK company driving demand.

That is why on Saturday 10 April we joined up with our friends at Rising Tide to hit BP in the wallet and have some fun.

On a glorious Spring Saturday afternoon, the hottest of the year, hundreds of people began gathering on the four corners of the Oxford Circus. Following signals from flags and whistles we descended into the tube station and started heading west, entertained on route by Ex Green Kite Midnight guitarist, rejoining us for the day's events.

Following the whistle signal once more, we embarked at Shepherd's Bush. Not far out of the tube station the sound of drumming could be heard on the wind - and on the far side of the Green, the brilliant Rhythms of Resistance samba band could be seen playing in the entrance to the Shepherds Bush Green petrol station. In front of them was a sign saying the station was closed and above them a banner hung from the roof - 'BP + TAR SANDS = CLIMATE CRIME'. To cheers, the crowds broke in to a run towards the forecourt. With hardly a policeman to be seen, the petrol station was ours, thepumps were taped up and theparty began.

The stage set, Green Kite Midnight rose to the challenge. Crowded around two microphones and swapping the electric bass for a harmonica set, we struck up a tune as dancers amassed to negotiate a Canadian Barndance all the way around thepumps. The tunes and dances rolled on at the forecourt as out front activists gave leaflets and interviews.

Extracting and burning fossil fuels like Tar Sands take us further off the path towards safety and sustainability. For an afternoon we kept the oil from being burnt with a Party at thePumps. The next step is to keep it in the ground. Ceilidh at the Coalface anyone? Soiree at the site? Rave at the Rigs?

Green Kite Midnight does some recording!

June 14th, 2010

Green Kite Midnight are pleased to announce our new recordings! John Hammond from No Recording Studio worked his magic after Green Kite Midnight spent a day in his studio in Reighley, Essex!

Double Ceilidh Extravaganza

March 28th, 2010

January saw Climate Camp’s monthly national gathering replaced by a series of regional gatherings… and we were invited to play two of them!

First up came London’s, held at the wonderful Chances in Tottenham.  It was a great venue for a big meeting (nearly 100 people by my reckoning), with a kitchen and a bar, and lots of space for dancing.  An hour and a half of dancing and a slight lack of ventilation left us sweaty and scantily clad, but there were cries for more as the curfew approached and a good time was had by all.

As much fun as we had, it was also a sad day for us – the last show we played with our guitarist and founding member Mark.  In tribute to this we played a choice selection of his songs before the ceilidh, and we wish him all good fortune in his musical ventures (and hope we will get to play with him soon).

The following weekend saw a band excursion out to Oxford for the Thames Valley regional gathering.  Following some super burgers we rocked up at East Oxford Community Centre, hastily rigged up a sound system and mini stage, and, after recalling climate campers from the pub, soon got everyone dancing.  This one was notable for the rare preponderance of men, and for some spirited band – audience interaction!

May there be many more to come.

January Gig Mania!

January 14th, 2010

So after a relaxing and snowy christmas Green Kite Midnight are back on the road! We have 3 exciting gigs this month:

Sat. 16th Jan 8pm - 10pm @ Chances 399 High Road Tottenham, London, N17 6QN - We are playing at the Climate Camp London regional gathering social event (phew). Come along and support Climate Camp London! 

Sun. 24th Jan 7.30 @ East Oxford Community Centre, 44b Princes Street,Oxford, OX4 1DD - We are playing at the Climate Camp Thames Valley regional gathering social event (phew). It's our first time in Oxford so we are very excited !
Thurs. 28th January - Charity Burns night for Book Aid - Private event

Off to Wales !

October 22nd, 2009

Green Kite Midnight go to Wales
Come and wiggle on down to the Climate Camp Ceilidh band on 14th November. We'll be travelling all the way from The Big Smoke (that's London, apparently) to put on a big ol' hoe-down at the New Events Centre, Y Plas, near CAT in Wales - in order to raise funds for our friends at Climate Camp Cymru. There are rumours of a top support band and a party afterwards, though we wouldn't want to tell you too much right now. Just TELL ALL YOUR MATES and make sure you come along with dancin' shoes in hand. It's sure to be a corker of an evening.
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=96261233459#/event.php?eid=1813223...