VIBErations Podcast

VIBErations Podcast - Episode 52 - Edward Salter

Established in 2018 by Gary Brightman - VIBE is a Book & Music shop situated in Mui Wo on Lantau Island in Hong Kong.

This is our periodic podcast and in this episode I interview Ed Salter - organiser of 'Lantau Live 2024 Music Festival on Lantau Island, HK https://lantaulive.com/   / lantaulive     / lantaulive   https://www.ticketflap.com/lantaulive...

BIO

Edward Salter is, amongst many other things the organizer of Lantau Live… His musical journey began at the tender age of five in Kent in the UK. Growing up surrounded by music, he started with the piano and later studied the saxophone during his secondary school years. His passion for music led him to the University of Hull, where he studied music at the scenic Scarborough campus.

After university, Ed answered the call of adventure, taking on various live musical 'gigs' in China and the Middle East, ultimately settling in Hong Kong. In this vibrant city, he dedicated himself to teaching music and drama, establishing an Extra-Curricular Activities (ECA) program with schools in the New Territories.

In addition to his musical pursuits, Ed harbors a deep passion for graphic design and web development. During the COVID pandemic, he made a significant transition into the world of software and web development, blending his artistic sensibilities with technology.

Today, Ed continues to inspire students and innovate within the worlds of music and technology.

10 Questions

1. Favourite book or authors? Hobbit Trilogy, Fantasy Fiction

2. Favourite musical artists? Motown, Stevie Wonder, Jamiroquai, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Queen

3. Favourite films? Shawshank Redemption, Django Unchained, Pulp Fiction

4. Preferred drink? Tomato Soup, Pineapple juice, Pale Ale

5. Life motto? Music transcends language. 'Music is the tool to express life and all that makes a difference' Herbie Hancock

6. Favourite HK walk? Pak Ngam hun to Tigers head

7. Favourite HK restaurant? Char sui & egg restaurant in kowloon city

8. Best advice you were given? Keep doing what your doing

9. Finish this sentence… I live in Hong Kong because… Music career brought me here and fell in love with HK.

10. Favourite area of Hong Kong? Mui Wo, Lantau Island. Kowloon City

 

VIBErations Episode 51 - Father John wotherspoon

Established in 2018 by Gary Brightman - VIBE is a Book & Music shop situated in Mui Wo on Lantau Island in Hong Kong.

This is our periodic podcast and in this episode I interview Father John Wotherspoon. ...also announcing upcoming Lantau Live Music festival on Sunday 24th November 11am until 9pm

https://lantaulive.com/

https://www.ticketflap.com/lantaulive...

For this week’s interview I went up to Jordon in Kowloon to interview a very special guest…

Father John Wotherspoon is a Catholic priest from Brisbane, Australia who has been in HK since 1985. He is a Correctional Services Department prison chaplain and is a founder of two NGOs Voice for Prisoners and MercyHK. MercyHK is an organization caring for homeless and other needy people in Hong Kong They have a meeting place at 187 Temple st, Kowloon and a Canteen at 191 Temple St. Voice for Prisoners are a Hong Kong-based NGO that helps prisoners overcome some of the many challenges encountered behind bars. They support prisoners through advancement of education and prison visitation programmes. Through social media they raise awareness in overseas countries of the harsh penalties in Hong Kong for drug mules. https://www.mercyhk.org/

https://www.voiceforprisoners.org/

https://www.doctorjesus.org/

10 Questions

1. Favourite book or authors? The Bible. Author Joseph F. Girzone. 'Lond Walk to Freedom' by Nelson Mandela

2. Favourite musical artists? The Seekers. John Denver. Abba. The Beatles.

3. Favourite films? 'Joseph and the coat of many colours'. 'Mulan'

4. Preferred drink? Green Tea 5. Life motto? 'Make the spreading of the good news your life's work' 2nd Timothy

6. Favourite HK walk? Big Wave Bay

7. Favourite HK restaurant? MercyHK Canteen at 191 Temple St, Kowloon. HK

8. Best advice you were given? Be good

9. Finish this sentence… I live in Hong Kong because… 40 years ago, Catholic Oblate Priests in Rome were looking for people to come to HK

10. Favourite area of Hong Kong? Big Wave Bay. Kowloon Park. West Kowloon waterfront. Temple Street and Jordon

 

VIBErations Episode 50 - Pete Beilby-King

Established in 2018 - VIBE is a Book & Music shop situated in Mui Wo on Lantau Island in Hong Kong.

Back in May, it didn’t take me or my wife Stef long to think about who my special guest should be for this 50th edition of my VIBErations podcast interviews.

When I asked him if he could supply me with his BIO, he mumbled a bit, went quiet for a few weeks and finally admitted that he didn’t have one…but he welcomed my offer to piece one together for him…

RTHK Radio Presenter Peter Beilby-King (Pete to everyone who knew him) studied at the Royal Air Force College, before becoming an apprentice in the Royal Air Force from 1971 to 1974. He went on to work at the Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst, and then The Royal Corps of Transport in Aldershot.

In 1983 his military career merged into BFBS (British Forces Broadcasting Service) allowing him to make the career jump across to DJ at The London Town Discotheques in Frankfurt and Hamburg, before moving to Heliopolis in Al Quahirah, Egypt. In 1985, he first arrived in Hong Kong, settled down in Sai Kung and started his 1st role at RTHK. Four years later he got the travel bug again and rejoined BFBS in Cyprus, then the Falkland Islands. He remained working with BFBS on and off up until 1997 and the Hong Kong handover which he covered with them. In 1990 he joined the Singapore Broadcasting Corporation, interviewing Lee Kuan Yew, then moved to Darwin 4 years later.

2000 saw him back in Hong Kong at RTHK, where he’s been ever since, presenting ‘Pete’s Magical Mystery Tour’

His passport would have been pretty well thumbed by then…

In his own words he says he is ‘a Radio Presenter, who enjoys a quiet private life, but also loves being with his friends and having a good night out!’ He is quite philosophical and loves thinking about life, the universe and everything in it.

He’s easy to get on with, but doesn’t suffer fools gladly, of which he says he’s met a few in his time! This interview was recorded on 25th May, one week after VIBE’s 6th birthday which he attended, and where he lit up the room with his impromptu charity auction for the Water Buffalo of Lantau.

I didn’t appreciate at the time of asking Pete if I could interview him for VIBErations podcast 50th special edition that throughout his life he had refused pretty much ALL interviews. Other than an interview he did with Annemarie Evans for the RTHK Heritage program back in 2018, I can’t find any other interviews…?

https://www.rthk.hk/radio/radio3/prog...

He asked me several times post interview if I’d finished it yet, saying he knew he’d ‘waffled on a bit’ and offering to re-record bits wherever necessary. The truth was I knew it would take some editing and just hadn’t got round to starting. After a lot of thought, I decided not to edit this one, but just let it flow, as easy it was to talk to him like an old mate ‘down the pub’ or in this case at VIBE before opening time…

So here is the unedited version, which my Jack Russel Eeva also attended, along with Phil Whelan whom Pete had introduced and mentored into RTHK 24 years ago.

Sadly, after a period of illness Pete left us on Saturday 6th July 2024, aged 69 years.

I had a lot of respect for Pete, and I always enjoyed having a drink & a laugh with him.

I will miss you, dear friend…

I’d like to dedicate this interview to Pete’s partner, Grace and to his family…

VIBErations Podcast - Episode 48 - Peter Barry

VIBErations podcast Ep 48 at VIBE Book & Music Shop in Mui Wo on Lantau Island in Hong Kong on 19th April, 2024 Interview with Peter Barry

One of my passions is Hong Kong History and this weeks interview very much taps into that! More than anyone I’ve met, to date, Musician & Author Peter Barry has 50 years of Hong Kong and Mui Wo experience to offer. Because of this, I’ve chosen to make this a 2-part podcast…

BIO

Born in 1939, Peter grew up on a family farm in the Lancashire Pennine hill country. A mischievous boy and a friend to all, Peter delighted in all things outside of school, not inside. Working on his parents’ dairy farm, he taught himself how to yodel, taking advantage of the acoustic echo in the dairy. Little did Peter Barry know how this would change the course of his life. From a childhood on a hilltop farm – as the landscape of rural Northern England changed forever – to building the legendary Snowy Dam in Australia, from playing gigs in Lancashire village halls to recording albums in Australia and entertaining troops in the Vietnam War, Peter Barry’s long and colourful life has bumped up against history, time after time, in a truly remarkable way.

Peter and his wife Ling first set eyes on Silvermine Bay in 1970 from a vantage point on the walk over from the Trappist Monastery. Immediately, the young couple felt that they’d be calling this place home for good. Back in those days, terrace farming rice paddy fields could still be seen, with farmers and their water buffalo ploughing the fields. 50-years on, four children, many bicycles, trolleys, guitars, songs, a few business ventures and misadventures later, Peter has taken stock of his remarkable life to share with his family, friends and those interested to join him on his entertaining life adventures via the first volume of his memoirs, For Pete’s Sake – from 1939 to 1970.

This ever-resourceful, simple dairy farmer-turned-adventurer makes every page a testament to a life lived fully.

10 Questions

1. Favourite book or authors? James Herriot

2. Favourite musical artists? Slim Whitman and Lonnie Donegan

3. Favourite films? Avatar

4. Preferred drink? Water

5. Life motto? Love and let live, always give your best

6. Favourite HK walk? Walk over the hill from the trapist monastry to Mui Wo

7. Favourite HK restaurant? Rome, Mui Wo and the Yum Cha restaurant at Silvermine Resort

8. Best advice you were given? Always be yourself

9. Finish this sentence… I live in Hong Kong because… it’s my home

10. Favourite area of Hong Kong? Mui Wo

Viberations Podcast - Episode 49 - Sam Barbour

VIBErations podcast Ep 49 at VIBE Book & Music Shop in Mui Wo on Lantau Island in Hong Kong on 17th May, 2024

Interview with Sam Barbour

BIO

Sam Barbour is an award-winning educator, songwriter & children’s author from the UK. He has worked as a primary English teacher in Hong Kong since 2007. His successful YouTube channel, Teacher Ham is now 11 years old, and he published his first children’s book, (available at VIBE), The Litter Bug in 2022.

As an active songwriter & performer, Sam has released an EP, a debut album and two singles as well as several albums of children’s music & poetry. Notable performances include the H2 Festival, The Irish Festival, The Works (RTHK), The Morning Brew Show & The World’s Big Sleep Out (HK). His music has been played on BBC Scotland & around the world. His dream is to write music for sync placements in films and TV in HK & beyond.

LINKS: All Streaming Platforms: Sam Barbour FB. IG & Twitter: Sam Barbour Music & Teacher Ham You Tube: Teacher Ham

10 Questions….

1. Favourite book or authors? Roald Dahl, Arthur Conan Doyle

2. Favourite musical artists? Gerry Rafferty, James Taylor & Paul Simon 3. Favourite films? 'A River Runs through it'

4. Preferred drink? Chinese Green tea

5. Life motto? Be Good, Be Kind, Be Happy and Enjoy life

6. Favourite HK walk? Mui Wo, Silvermine area and up to waterfall. Walk along TST waterfront to Hung Hom

7. Favourite HK restaurant? My wife's cooking at home

8. Best advice you were given? Father's advice: If you can find something you enjoy doing, then your successful

9. Finish this sentence… I live in Hong Kong because… I love the city, I love the people here and I love Hong Kong

10. Favourite area of Hong Kong? Cheung Chau, Mui Wo, the quieter areas

VIBErations Episode 47 - David Bellis

VIBErations podcast Ep 47 at VIBE Book & Music Shop in Mui Wo on Lantau Island in Hong Kong on 10th April, 2024 Interview with David Bellis https://gwulo.com/

https://www.eventbrite.hk/d/hong-kong...

Writing about history was never the plan – David left school with a firm dislike of both English and History, he studied Computer Science then worked as a Software Engineer. But in 1992 a move to Hong Kong meant having to find a new job in a hurry and forced a switch from programming to sales. That lead to writing newsletters to keep customers updated, and as he found it was surprisingly satisfying, he also started writing a blog as a hobby. A new baby caused the next upheaval.

David quit the sales job to spend less time traveling, expanded the blog into a website, and narrowed its focus to Hong Kong’s history. He still wrote newsletters though and found that sharing an old photo from his collection and inviting readers to explore its hidden details helped make the history easier to digest. The newsletters’ photos and stories meant he had enough material to start giving talks, and as the talks were well received, he used them as the foundation for a book.

David has since published five books in the ‘Old Hong Kong Photos and The Tales They Tell’ series. Meanwhile the website, Gwulo.com, continues to grow. It now hosts over 50,000 pages about old Hong Kong, including over 35,000 photos.

David’s work on the site was recognised by a Heritage. Preservation Award from the SCMP, one of their ‘The Spirit of Hong Kong Awards’.

David gave an excellent talk at VIBE recently, on some of the historic Hong Kong photos appearing in volume 5.

This talk can be viewed on our YouTube channel at ‘Live at VIBE HK’.

10 Questions

1. Favourite book or authors? Mapping Hong Kong' by Hal Empson

2. Favourite musical artists? U2 and Smashing Pumpkins

3. Favourite films? Groundhog Day, Jerry McGuire

4. Preferred drink? London Pride

5. Life motto? 'It's a funny old life'

6. Favourite HK walk? Yung Shue Wan on Lamma to Sok Kwu Wan

7. Favourite HK restaurant? The Globe, Branto's Vegetarian Indian restaurant

8. Best advice you were given? You can't please all the people all the time 9. Finish this sentence… I live in Hong Kong because… I was on route to Australia and HK was a stop over and wanted to live here

10. Favourite area of Hong Kong? Tai Long Wan, Beach north of Sai Kung

VIBErations Episode 46 - Anna Robb

VIBErations podcast Ep 46 at VIBE Book & Music Shop in Mui Wo on Lantau Island in Hong Kong on 22nd August, 2023

Interview with Anna Robb

TheatreArtLife.com

https://olc.live/

Anna is the Executive Director for Our Legacy Creations, a Global Live Entertainment Company launched this year (2023). Prior to starting this new venture, Anna was the COO of Dragone known for its iconic theatre shows such as "The House of Dancing Water" in Macau, “La Perle” in Dubai, "Le Reve" in Las Vegas and Celine Dion's "A New Day" residency show.

Originally from Australia, Anna's 23-year career in live entertainment has taken her around the world. She has created shows in the Americas, Africa, the Middle East, Europe and in many countries across Asia. Anna has worked on concerts, arena events, corporate shows, trade shows, musical theatre, plays, dance, circus, outdoor festivals and mega shows.

Always behind the scenes, Anna has been involved in the execution of some of the largest show creations in the world, including “The Beatles: LOVE” by Cirque du Soleil, and “The House of Dancing Water” by Dragone. She has not only worked through the process of research and development, training and formation and creation but has also run the operations of these shows, 2 shows per day, 5 days a week, year after year, dealing with all the trials and tribulations of running multi-million dollar theatrical shows for millions of spectators to enjoy.

Anna holds a (BA) Honours degree in Design for Theatre and Television and is also the Co-Founder and Managing Director for TheatreArtLife.com, an online platform for entertainment industry professionals.

10 Questions….

1. Favourite book or authors? No favourites but Murder mystery books and informational books

2. Favourite musical artists? Country Music - Australian & US

3. Favourite films? Shawshank Redemption, Top Gun 2

4. Preferred drink? Whiskey, Red wine

5. Life motto? Quote by American Writer James A Michener

6. Favourite HK walk? Lantau Peak and Sunset Peak. DB headland

7. Favourite HK restaurant? Mui Wo restaurants

8. Best advice you were given? It doesn’t matter how high you get, still be ready to sweep the stage

9. Finish this sentence… I live in Hong Kong because… Affordable childcare and HK is still relatively safe

10. Favourite area of Hong Kong? Lantau. Sheung Wan

VIBErations Episode 45 - Mark Rawson

VIBErations podcast Ep 45 at VIBE Book & Music Shop in Mui Wo on Lantau Island in Hong Kong on 20th March, 2023

Interview with Mark Rawson

Facebook ‘What the folk HK’

https://www.motherschoice.org/en/

BIO

Mark retired from a career in Wealth Management with a plan to travel only to time that with the arrival of covid … the last few years have given time to reflect and reassess the things he felt were important and reconnect with passions and practice being open to saying ‘yes’.

Currently his yes list is;

⁃ playing music with a number of bands - Naggin Eejits, Black Velvet Collective, The 852…

⁃ Creating music, writing, recording and composing

⁃ Running musical showcases under the banner What The Folk

⁃ Developing a ‘self help’ group for original artists and working to raise awareness of local talent through radio, media and general introductions

⁃ Currently planning for a World Music and Dance festival plus a St Patrick’s festival 2024

⁃ He Owns with his daughter an Embody Pilates and yoga studio

⁃ Foster parenting with Mothers Choice

⁃ Drop in support for a number of disadvantaged communities

⁃ Mentoring a number of businesses

⁃ Assisting on experiential learning camps with students

⁃ Helping his wife with her passion for the craft of Indonesian Batik ⁃ Operating a small private kitchen focused on regional Indonesian cuisine (planning a podcast for this 😂)

⁃ Getting ready for a number of expedition ‘races’

⁃ Developing a number of concepts around ‘project Do’…

10 Questions….

1. Favourite book or authors? Tends to read books inspired by current interests...

2. Favourite musical artists? Ska music and Genesis early influences and any music that makes you want to do something

3. Favourite films? Godfather 1 & 2, The Lord of The Rings

4. Preferred drink? Tea. Real Ale

5. Life motto? Life, adventures and successes begin with the word 'can'

6. Favourite HK walk? Daily walk is Brick Hill near home in Aberdeen

7. Favourite HK restaurant? Bace Turkish Restaurant in Mui Wo - now closed and my wife’s kitchen!

8. Best advice you were given? Don't be worried, be concerned, but don't worry…

9. Finish this sentence… I live in Hong Kong because… Where else can an old man like me do so many things, so easily!?

10. Favourite area of Hong Kong? My roof!

Tails of Jack and Milly - Episode 2 - ’What’s in a name?’

Tails of Jack & Milly is 10-minute series about the adventures of 4 talking rescued pets that live with their human parents on a beautiful green hilly island in the South China Sea.

If only our pets had voices, what would they say? Would they be poets, rappers or philosophers, or just like, well… family…

Jack is a 3 year-old beige village dog who looks like a cross between a wolf and a teddy bear. Milly is a 2 year-old petite black village dog. They have 2 younger siblings: Eeva, a low-slung, wired hair Jack Russell and O’Malley, a ginger tomcat, who are both 1 year old.

Written & Produced by Gary Brightman

Narrated by Stefan Gannon

Featuring

Dr. Esslin Terrighena as Milly

Gary Brightman as Jack

Stef Le Gall as Eeva

Cary Shakeshaft-Nicolson as O'Malley

Music by Celestial

Aesop's Fable: 'The dog and his reflection'

Recorded at Studio 114 - soundstudio114@gmail.com

The pets in ‘Tales of Jack & Milly’ were adopted from TAILS (Team for Animals in Lantau South) a Hong Kong registered charity.

For further information you can visit their website at https://www.tailslantau.org/ Or facebook at tailslantau or instagram at tails.lantau

These stories of which this is the first in the series are about 3 dogs and a cat. They had nothing going for them and no hope for a secure and happy future, until they were given a home by a human family.

Tails of Jack and Milly - Episode 1 - ’The Tortoise & the Hare’

Tails of Jack & Milly is 10-minute series about the adventures of 4 rescued pets that live with their human parents on a beautiful green hilly island in the South China Sea.

If only our pets had voices, what would they say?

Would they be poets, rappers or philosophers, or just like, well… family… Jack is a 3 year-old beige village dog who looks like a cross between a wolf and a teddy bear. Milly is a 2 year-old petite black village dog. They have 2 younger siblings: Eeva, a low-slung, wired hair Jack Russell and O’Malley, a ginger tomcat, who are both 1 year old.

Written & Produced by Gary Brightman

Narrated by Stefan Gannon

Featuring

Dr. Esslin Terrighena as Milly

Gary Brightman as Jack

Stef Le Gall as Eeva

Cary Shakeshaft-Nicolson as O'Malley

Music by Celestial

Aesop's Fable: 'The Tortoise and the Hare'

Recorded at Studio 114 - soundstudio114@gmail.com

The pets in ‘Tales of Jack & Milly’ were adopted from TAILS (Team for Animals in Lantau South) a Hong Kong registered charity. For further information you can visit their website at https://www.tailslantau.org/ Or facebook at tailslantau or instagram at tails.lantau These stories of which this is the first in the series are about 3 dogs and a cat. They had nothing going for them and no hope for a secure and happy future, until they were given a home by a human family.