#Barrivision Sweepstake

We've managed to get 26 willing contestants via twitter to take part in our #Barrivision sweepstake. We planned to have a massive video with us partnering Countries to tweeters but at the last minute, we didn't. We have a deadline for the album artwork and it was fast approaching so we spent the time doing that instead. I know, selfish.

Instead, I got one of the UK's strictest adjudicators to partner up everyone.

He came up with this foolproof diagram.

So here is the scientific outcome...

Armenia - @Sumi1998

Azerbaijan - @Vornster

Belarus - @ShivHarrison

Belgium - @GarethStringer

Denmark - @Xenaphon8

Estonia - @HistoryGem

Finland - @DrRebeccaFisher

France - @TheStevenThomas

Georgia - @Nikond300boy

Germany - @toomanydresses

Greece - @Flylilypad

Hungary - @Baxterglen

Iceland - @Redwoodphotos

Ireland - @DaveGrimes32

Italy - @Someofitistrue

Lithuania - @RachaelKanute

Malta - @Peacewillfollow

Moldova - @IamJimPage

Netherlands - @Claireemma70

Norway - @CharlotteERound

Romania - @HeidiMcEntee

Russia - @Mr_Spoon

Spain - @PoppyPurple

Sweden - @ Kevthehornet

UK - @RaeMck

Ukraine - @Elegantsavages

Whoever wins will get some lovely sweets and whoever comes last will get some lovely sweets. 

I'll be live tweeting tonight using the hashtag #Barrivision. Feel free to follow each other and take the Micky as much as possible.

Good luck one and all!

Michael and Jonathan

Eurovision? How about #Barrivision!

We are well known in the twitterverse for coming up with ingenious competitions (well, I can name TWO people who LOVE it). It started with #BRCarve where you'd upload your best Halloween carve of a fruit or veg and win SWEETS! Then we moved onto #Barriballs, A highly successful Euro 2012 sweepstake featuring 16 of Twitters best and brightest, with the winner winning SWEETS! But now the daddy of competitions has arrived in the form of...

#Barrivision vision vision vision vision vision

Yes, it's a highly original hashtag to accommodate our Eurovision sweepstake. We need 26 people to take part in this madness on Twitter. All that is needed from you is a YES! and that's your part done. We'll stick you together with a random country via the technical method of pulling a name out of a hat.

We'll post a mildly amusing blog or video up to tell you which country you have, then it'll give you someone to cheer on on the night (Saturday). Even if you don't watch it (or don't get it if you're anywhere outside Europe) it'll still count if you win.

The winning Country/person will win...wait for it...SWEETS! and maybe an origami penguin. But we also have a prize for last place. Wait for it...SWEETS!

Our video for #Barriballs was a laugh to make and even raises a smile now so expect something similar, but way more inventive (costumes, facepaint, extras, Pat Sharpe). We need a YES! from you in the next 48 hours though. We currently have 13 already in, so another 13 please!

We have plans for a competition to rival all others before it later in the year for anyone NOT on twitter (expect SWEETS) so if you're not on the best social media, fear not.

In other news, we have been slack on the blog front as we've both been ill. We had to cancel 2 gigs this week but we're slowly getting back to normal. A blog about our Blue Bistro gig will appear shortly.

M x

Today's gig at Crumblin' Cookie, Leicester is cancelled

Unfortunately we have had to pull out of today's gig in Leicester at the Crumblin' Cookie. Since our gig on Wednesday at Blue Bistro Jonathan's voice has progressively got worse and today he cannot speak. Some may say this is a great thing, and any other day it would have been, but gig day is not a normal day.

Make your way down anyway as there is a whole DAY of music.

You can see pictures and a wee interview with headline act Feldspar from Wednesdays gig on Rob Bridge's Redwood Photography website.
We have both been extremely busy so have failed to update the webite enough so a big blog with gigs and more will be coming soon.

Hope to be in Leicester again soon.
Now here is a video to cheer you up

Michael and Jonathan
Barric-*cough* ades Ri*Aaaatchooo*se.

A House gig, The Big Reunion, Books, Mountains and more gigs

Just a taster blog for one coming later.

Picture of our last AMAZING house gig...

Such a hard job we do

Picture of The Big Reunion gig...

Taken from our last gig (maybe)

My stall at the AMAZING Earlsdon Festival

Didn't have time to sit down, for 6 hours!

Jonathans AMAZING pictures he took yesterday (more on his site)

The famous Mt Jud, named after Jud Nelson (maybe)

We're at The Blue Bistro in Coventry on Wednesday. On at 7.30.

A bigger, better blog will surface later. Busy!

M x

Gig Time - The Double in Bedford

The double gig, the doublaaar, el twosie – whatever you want to call it, Saturday saw us don the guitars for an afternoon house gig and then two hours later we were in a pub doing two 40 minute sets.

In fair Bedford is where we lay our scene, specifically a house party hosted by Mark and Maggie. I'm not sure where they first heard of us (Michael probably knows) however, we first crossed physical paths at a charity event they both organised last year at a Rugby club in Bedford. Since then we have stayed in touch and a house party was set.

                             

We arrived at the house around 1pm on Saturday afternoon and was immediately greeted with a cold one and plate of delicious home cooked curry. After the food, We set the stage, sorted the setlist and kicked off. We seemed to tick the right boxes for most of the audience and stormed through the tunes with gusto. Mistakes were kept to a minimum and our feet resonated the wooden floor, we had a blast. Many of our sampler CDs were taken off our hands and the feedback from the guests was lovely.

                             

Mmmmmmmmm The Perks of a house gig

 Pre gig kitchen gathering. This was only half the crowd, pretty big for a house gig

The next gig was literally down the road as Mark had sourced us a slot at his local, The Devonshire Arms. The pub was a great little haunt and the landlord greeted us with a smile. We set up in the corner, sound checked and kicked off set number 1. The first couple of songs seemed a little flat as the audience were making their mind up about us however, by the third song, we had them singing along to the odd cover and tapping their feet to our own tunes. The second set was more of the same but this time the audience were drunker and joined in even more.

                       

The Devinshire Arms, Bedford

                       

All in all, two great gigs and some lovely people met. Along with some of the crowd from the house gig, it was fantastic to see some other groups of people had come down just to see us strum the strings. Thanks to them, to our new friends from the house gig, Martin the landlord and a massive thanks goes to Mark and Maggie for having us.

We left on a high and couldn’t resist the golden arches on the way home. The next two weekends see us at house gigs and we also have many more over the summer. If you want us to come and play your living room (no charge people) then drop us an email, facebook us, tweet us or shout really loud. Here's a bit of info on house gigs and what to expect

Jonathan