Votes for Animals

Following on a little from my last blog post about the opening of Lush on Oxford Street, I wanted to also speak to you guys about the Votes for Animals march I took part in and the campaign we are running at Lush. 

When I attended a team meeting at work I was informed of the VIP Press opening day at Oxford Street and was also told that I could put my name down to take place in a march which runs alongside the campaign we will be running in Lush stores through to election day.

The campaign is called Votes for Animals and it is about encouraging people to consider animal welfare before voting; we want people to check out party policies on animal rights before making a decision. There are obviously certain parties who are more in favour of protecting animals and we want to ensure that people know where to find the information needed to choose a party that also speaks for animals who do not have a voice or a chance to vote for their own welfare. 

This year has seen the return of the May Day bath bomb which is designed as a cute little badger with fennel, rosewood and bergamot oils for an uplifting, refreshing scent. The money from May Day is split between three animal charities, The League Against Cruel Sports, Save Me and Animal Aid. Each one of these charities are also promoting the campaign. So just by popping into a Lush store and purchasing one, or even online, you will be helping.

You can purchase it online here ---> May Day Bath Bomb

In support of the campaign, on the day of the VIP Press opening on Oxford Street, Lush employees & members of the above charities were invited to take part in a March from outside the new shop all the way to the Houses of Parliament where we then listened to speeches from various passionate people including Brian May and Peter Egan.

 

During his speech Brian May said: "We need a different kind of society, I believe we need a radical shake up.

 

"For the last five years and even beyond that we have been in a situation where there is no compassion for any other species apart from humans and believe me, there's very little compassion for humans either.

 

"I believe we are worthy of a better government and we will vote on May 7th for animals and for common decency!"

On the march people were encouraged to dress in the style of suffragettes and we wore Votes for Animals sashes & rosettes. It's safe to say that the march had a huge impact with extensive press coverage and many leaflets handed out.

I felt so overwhelmed by the turnout; it made me feel so proud to work for a company that are so dedicated to protecting our planet and those who reside here. 

You can check out the Votes for Animals website to gather some more information here: Votes for Animals

It is such an important campaign; we must speak up for these animals. Animals do not have the privilege of voting therefore we must be a voice for them and consider their welfare when placing our own votes.

BB

For The Oceans

9 weeks, 9 shows - Part One

I'm back finally! I know I have been away for a while however a lot of changes have occurred in my life and I have been unbelievably busy, I finally feel like I am at a good place to sit down and write, hooray! 

So, I am sure you are all desperate to hear what I have been up to and as per usual; gigs, gigs & more gigs, so here is a breakdown (part one) of some of the shows I have been lucky enough to attend! 

Gnarwolves//The Black Heart, Camden//15.09.2014
I was extremely lucky to attend this intimate debut album release show, and of course Gnarwolves did not disappoint. The excitement of the release really shined through in the band's stage presence and this was reflected when the packed-in crowd erupted. If you are familiar with this band then you will of course be aware that no Gnarwolves show is complete without stage dives and crowd surfs, and having no barrier certainly allowed more than the odd stage dive. 

The Libertines//Alexandra Palace//28.09.2014
You can imagine the surprise when I discovered an email confirming that I had won tickets to see The Libertines, especially when I had forgotten that I even entered the competition! After a bit of faffing I managed to confirm that the tickets were legitimate and off I went. What an incredible night! The anticipation for the band to come on could be felt seeping out of the surrounding fans and when they finally did arrive there was not a drop of disappointment. Everything from the sound to the back drop was spectacular and the shorties like myself certainly appreciated the live cameras projecting onto a screen directly behind the stage. The Libertines steamed through their set and pulled out all the classics and most certainly ended their third night at Ally Pally on a high note.

Carry The Weight Fest//The Parish Hall, Brighton//05.10.2014
So, this was a very last minute decision I made. My best friend was travelling up this way for CTW Fest which meant I got to see him & some cool bands all in one day, plus I will always take up the opportunity to visit Brighton. Despite the long, rainy journey, this was a really enjoyable day. It had been a while since I had been to a Hardcore show and I only knew a couple of bands on the bill however, I came away with more than a few new bands to add to my playlists. Negative Approach headlined and Violent Reaction, Breaking Point & Renounced were in my top three bands for the day, every band showed buckets of enthusiasm. One of the top points of the day was the general atmosphere, everyone was super friendly and chilled. Also, I must add that the Vegan kebabs that were made on site by Beelzebab were INCREDIBLE. 

More Than Life//The Borderline, London//19.10.2014
I anticipated this show for so long! The last time I saw More Than Life before this show was on their 'last ever tour' and I travelled from Cornwall to Brighton for one night! This time it was a lot simpler, the train from Chelmsford to London is pretty easy. I don't handle excitement very well and can tend to be quite a hyperactive person therefore, you can imagine how I am when waiting to see a band that have been near the top of my list for a good few years now. I was pleased to see that Up River were supporting as I saw them a few years back and after their last performance they made their way onto my iPod. When More Than Life finally came out I was ecstatic, they played a substantial mixture of old and new tracks and could not be faulted on their set list. In all honesty, I don't think they could be faulted at all for their performance that night. Front-man, James, oozes emotion when projecting powerful vocals and the last song played, Love is Not Enough, was dedicated to his mum who had previously passed away a few months earlier; this hit me like a ton of bricks and the repetition of the line 'let me take away the illness that is dragging you down' resulted in a tear or two being shed by myself. More Than Life have continued to create excellent music and have built up an impressive fanbase. Musically, I believe that their sound was a lot tighter than when I saw them a few years ago and I think they will only improve. I will definitely be keeping my eyes and ears open for any more tours or one-off shows.

Buzzin' after More Than Life
Guest appearance from my best mate Jake.