roundup
WHAT’S ON OUR RADAR THIS MONTH.
JON
RONSON
Q&A
Jon Ronson, writer
of surreal comedydrama movie Frank,
returns to Cardiff to
tell the true story of
his time with Frank
Sidebottom – the
musician with a
papier-mâché head.
When writing Frank, how did you know when to use fiction and
when to use real life stories from your time as the keyboardist
in Frank Sidebottom and the Oh Blimey Big Band?
The genesis of the story was this really lovely true thing that
happened, which was how I was plucked from obscurity. I got this
mysterious phone call and after which joined the band. You know
the first time i got up on stage with them i was like Alice going
down the rabbit hole. We always knew that aspect would stay in the
film. That was it. The early scenes in the film when i’m like a banal,
untalented musician trying to write songs and then I get a fantastic
break and then it’s like I’m Alice Through The Looking Glass. All
that’s sort of basically all true, but then everything after that was
pretty much totally made up.
Why did you decide to create a show telling the true story
behind the film?
When the film was first announced, the way it was announced
was kind of confusing and they accidentally made it sound like
it was a Frank Sidebottom biopic. When the trailer came out and
they heard that our Frank had an American accent, everyone
was saying “he’s turned Frank Sidebottom American, he’s like
the world’s worst monster!” I was like, “Guys, it’s NOT a Frank
Sidebottom biopic, it’s really not, and the reason why our Frank
is American is because he’s not Frank Sidebottom.” He’s just as
inspired by Daniel Johnston and Captain Beefheart and these great
American artists and musicians. In the middle of all that I started
thinking that the actual Frank Sidebottom story is really interesting
and wouldn’t it be nice if we could do a kind of story telling show
where i can tell the true story behind the movie?
Who came up with the band name The Soronprfbs?
Oh I did. For ages and ages they were called The Ghosts and I kept
on think in the back of my mind that it’s a shame they’ve got such
an ordinary name, and then one day I had like a moment of genius.
i thought, “Wouldn’t it be great to give them a name which nobody
could ever say or pronounce or understand”. So i just emailed Peter
[Straughan, co-writer] and said, “Can we change their name to The
Soronprfbs”... and i just typed the first couple of letters i came up
with!
Jon Ronson’s Frank Story, Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff, Sat 19
,
July. Tickets: £10-£12. Info: 029 2030 4400 / www.chapter.org
BUZZ 08
BOOK
NOW
WEST SIDE STORY
Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff
Tue 12-Sat 23 Aug
Tickets: £18-£47
Info: 029 2063 6464
www.wmc.org.uk
GLASS BUTTER BEACH FESTIVAL
Llanbedrog, Cardigan Bay
Wed 13-Sat 16 Aug
Tickets: £25-£85
Info: www.glassbutterbeach.com
“Everyone
was saying
‘he’s turned
Frank
Sidebottom
American,
he’s like
the world’s
worst
monster!’”
GREEN MAN FESTIVAL
Crickhowell, Powys
Thurs 14-Sun 17 Aug
Tickets: £85-£159
Info: www.greenman.net
THE SATURDAYS
Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff
Thurs 18 Sept
Tickets: £32
Info: 029 2022 4488
www.motorpointareacardoff.co.uk
MARTHA REEVES &
THE VANDELLAS
The Grand Pavillion, Porthcawl
Wed 24 Sept
Tickets: £19
Info: 01656 815995
www.grandpavilion.co.uk
RIVERDANCE
Cardiff Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff
Sat 27 + Sun 28 Sept
Tickets: £45
Info: 029 2022 4488
www.livenation.co.uk
WHEATUS
Sin City, Swansea
Mon 29 Sep
Tickets: £11
Info: 01792 468892
www.sincityclub.co.uk
LEE MACK: HIT THE ROAD MACK
St Davids Hall, Cardiff
Tue 30 Sept + Wed 1 Oct
Tickets: £27.50
Info: 029 2087 8444
www.stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk