Chris Gibson

Throughout the world, the number of festivals has grown exponentially in the last two decades, as people celebrate local and regional cultures, but perhaps more importantly as local councils and other groups seek to use festivals both to promote tourism and to stimulate rural development. However, most studies of festivals have tended to focus almost exclusively on the cultural and symbolic aspects, or on narrow modelling of economic multiplier impacts, rather than examining their long-term implications for rural change. This book therefore has an original focus. It is structured in two parts: the first discusses broad issues affecting music festivals globally, especially in the context of rural revitalisation. The second part looks in more detail at a range of types of festivals commonly found throughout North America, Europe and Australasia, such as country music, jazz, opera and alternative music festivals. The authors draw on in-depth research undertaken over the past five years in a range of Australian places, which traces the overall growth of festivals of various kinds, examines four of the more important and distinctive music festivals, and makes clear conclusions on their significance for rural and regional change.

In August 1945 RAF Transport Command found itself with almost 2000 C-47 Dakotas acquired under Lend-Lease that had to be returned, destroyed or paid for. This left the RAF with converted bombers such as the York and Halifax C. VIII or, in the Far East, interned Japanese aircraft including the Ki.48 Lily, Post war, Britain's aircraft industry embarked on equipping RAF with the full range of transport aircraft which could carry troops and cargo to the Far East and Australia. On Atlas' Shoulders describes how the lessons of WWII were absorbed and design studies and aircraft projects including the Beverley, Vickers' V.1000 and Type 799, the Argosy and HS.681 V/STOL transport or the Britannia, HP.111, VC10 and Belfast. On Atlas' Shoulders also explains how the RAF developed their transport force from the late Sixties to today's precision delivery of equipment to forward operating bases in Afghanistan and beyond. The Mounting Base strategy followed with proposals for long-range transports such as the HP.135, Jet Belfast and VC10 developments whilst at the opposite end of the scale, liaison and observation aircraft such as the Pioneer were soon overtaken by the helicopter, culminating in the Wessex, Puma and Chinook. Illustrated throughout with photographs, drawings and specially commissioned artwork, On Atlas' Shoulders is a unique reference to the aircraft and technologies developed for logistics support of the British armed forces since 1945.

Chris Gibson examines the post-war genesis of the RAF's maritime patrol aircraft, a process that led to Nimrod.

Contrary to the common rhetoric that being green is 'easy', household sustainability is rife with contradiction and uncertainty. Households attempting to respond to the challenge to become more sustainable in everyday life face dilemmas on a daily basis when trying to make sustainable decisions. Various aspects of life such as cars, computers, food, phones and even birth and death, may all provoke uncertainty regarding the most sustainable course of action. Drawing on international scientific and cultural research, as well as innovative ethnographies, this timely book probes these wide-ranging sustainability dilemmas, assessing the avenues open to households trying to improve their sustainability. The authors engage critically, and constructively, with the proposition that households are a key scale of action on climate change. They confront dilemmas of practice and circumstance, and cultural norms of lifestyle and consumerism that are linked to troublesome environmental problems - and question whether they can be easily unsettled. The work also illuminates the informal and often unheralded work by households - frequently the poorest - in reducing their environmental burden. This important book is critical to understanding both the barriers to household sustainability and the 'unsung' sustainability work carried out by householders. Containing a unique combination of science and cultural research, this fascinating book will appeal to researchers and students of environmental science, environmental studies, sustainability studies, climate change adaptation, geography, sociology, cultural studies, science and technology studies, as well as energy studies and housing research. Policy-makers in various levels of government working through sustainability problems, environmental educators, social planners and sustainability officers working for governments, will also find much to interest them in this unique book.

Contrary to the common rhetoric that being green is 'easy', household sustainability is rife with contradiction and uncertainty. Households attempting to respond to the challenge to become more sustainable in everyday life face dilemmas on a daily basis when trying to make sustainable decisions. Various aspects of life such as cars, computers, food, phones and even birth and death, may all provoke uncertainty regarding the most sustainable course of action. Drawing on international scientific and cultural research, as well as innovative ethnographies, this timely book probes these wide-ranging sustainability dilemmas, assessing the avenues open to households trying to improve their sustainability. The authors engage critically, and constructively, with the proposition that households are a key scale of action on climate change. They confront dilemmas of practice and circumstance, and cultural norms of lifestyle and consumerism that are linked to troublesome environmental problems - and question whether they can be easily unsettled. The work also illuminates the informal and often unheralded work by households - frequently the poorest - in reducing their environmental burden. This important book is critical to understanding both the barriers to household sustainability and the 'unsung' sustainability work carried out by householders. Containing a unique combination of science and cultural research, this fascinating book will appeal to researchers and students of environmental science, environmental studies, sustainability studies, climate change adaptation, geography, sociology, cultural studies, science and technology studies, as well as energy studies and housing research. Policy-makers in various levels of government working through sustainability problems, environmental educators, social planners and sustainability officers working for governments, will also find much to interest them in this unique book.

Following on from the hit satirical eBook and paperback, 'Fifty Shades of Nagging', 'Life of Pie' is three times longer and is packed with more analysis of the tongue in cheek nonsense that men and women engage in, while attempting to communicate. The never ending saga that starts when a daughter learns the art of 'nagging' at a tender age and then, as a grown woman, a refinement of her skills with a natural talent embedded in her DNA this perfected over the course of her life. Each chapter considers the specific 'nagging' that happens at a particular time of life, from teenage years, finding a partner, marriage, homemaking, mid life and eventually to the silver surf nagging phase of life as a grandmother. Also, back by popular demand is a section about ageing mothers. There are also chapters on break up's and a new condition dreamt up by the author, 'post traumatic nag disorder', is considered as well as the impact of mobile phones and social media and a look at how a vacation can generate some lovely little comments. In this second book Chris Gibson also looks at the funny side from a woman's perspective and has even included a final chapter that considers the obvious shortcomings of the male species, in what is more like a 'Life of Bragging'.

Throughout the world, the number of festivals has grown exponentially in the last two decades, as people celebrate local and regional cultures, but perhaps more importantly as local councils and other groups seek to use festivals both to promote tourism and to stimulate rural development. However, most studies of festivals have tended to focus almost exclusively on the cultural and symbolic aspects, or on narrow modelling of economic multiplier impacts, rather than examining their long-term implications for rural change. This book therefore has an original focus. It is structured in two parts: the first discusses broad issues affecting music festivals globally, especially in the context of rural revitalisation. The second part looks in more detail at a range of types of festivals commonly found throughout North America, Europe and Australasia, such as country music, jazz, opera and alternative music festivals. The authors draw on in-depth research undertaken over the past five years in a range of Australian places, which traces the overall growth of festivals of various kinds, examines four of the more important and distinctive music festivals, and makes clear conclusions on their significance for rural and regional change.

Following the end of WWII the United Kingdom embarked on an audacious program of aircraft and weapons development to maintain its position as a world power. This led ultimately to the V-bombers; Valiant, Victor, and Vulcan, that carried the British nuclear deterrent from the mid 1950s until replaced by Polaris in the late 1960s. Prior to the V-bombers, the British aviation industry examined a number of schemes to deliver that deterrent, such as Blue Moon, while their intended replacements, the supersonic Avro 730 and English Electric P.10, could have been the most advanced aircraft in the world in 1960. As political and military circumstances changed, the V-force adopted new concepts, specifically the American Skybolt and the patrol missile carriers: the Pofflers. Running in parallel with aircraft development were a number of programs to advance V-bomber weaponry. In addition to free-fall bombs, the UK aviation industry undertook development of missiles and the associated propulsion and guidance systems, and in Blue Steel, created the most complex vehicle ever produced in the UK. As well as arming the Victor and Vulcan, Blue Steel was to form the basis of a range of weapons for TSR.2 and Mirage IV, test vehicles and satellite launchers. Illustrated with more than 200 photographs and drawings plus new color artwork, Vulcan's Hammer presents the story of an alternative V-force and its armament providing a wealth of fascinating information for historians and modelers alike.

Music and Tourism is the first book to comprehensively examine the links between travel and music. It combines contemporary and historical analysis of the economic and social impact of music tourism, with discussions of the cultural politics of authenticity and identity. Music tourism evokes nostalgia and meaning, and celebrates both heritage and hedonism. It is a product of commercialisation that can create community, but that also often demands artistic compromise. Diverse case studies, from the USA and UK to Australia, Jamaica and Vanuatu, illustrate the global extent of music tourism, its contradictions and pleasures.

Music and Tourism is the first book to comprehensively examine the links between travel and music. It combines contemporary and historical analysis of the economic and social impact of music tourism, with discussions of the cultural politics of authenticity and identity. Music tourism evokes nostalgia and meaning, and celebrates both heritage and hedonism. It is a product of commercialisation that can create community, but that also often demands artistic compromise. Diverse case studies, from the USA and UK to Australia, Jamaica and Vanuatu, illustrate the global extent of music tourism, its contradictions and pleasures.

This is the first comprehensive book on contemporary Aboriginal music in Australia. The names of many well-known Aboriginal artists are scattered through the book's pages, including such household names as Ernie Bridge, Kev Carmody, Troy Cassar-Daley, Coloured Stone, Jimmy Little, Archie Roach, the Warumpi Band and, of course, Yothu Yindi. The book includes a Discography of the artists featured in the book.

Sound Tracks is the first comprehensive book on the new geography of popular music, examining the complex links between places, music and cultural identities. It provides an interdisciplinary perspective on local, national and global scenes, from the 'Mersey' and 'Icelandic' sounds to 'world music', and explores the diverse meanings of music in a range of regional contexts. In a world of intensified globalisation, links between space, music and identity are increasingly tenuous, yet places give credibility to music, not least in the 'country', and music is commonly linked to place, as a stake to originality, a claim to tradition and as a marketing device. This book develops new perspectives on these relationships and how they are situated within cultural and geographical thought.

Sound Tracks is the first comprehensive book on the new geography of popular music, examining the complex links between places, music and cultural identities. It provides an interdisciplinary perspective on local, national and global scenes, from the 'Mersey' and 'Icelandic' sounds to 'world music', and explores the diverse meanings of music in a range of regional contexts. In a world of intensified globalisation, links between space, music and identity are increasingly tenuous, yet places give credibility to music, not least in the 'country', and music is commonly linked to place, as a stake to originality, a claim to tradition and as a marketing device. This book develops new perspectives on these relationships and how they are situated within cultural and geographical thought.

From medieval times, with its legendary kings and queens through to the dawn of the new millennium, Tamworth has remained one of the most fascinating towns of central England. With its famous sons including Sir Robert Peel, one of Britain's most respected prime ministers, and Sir Thomas Guy, founder of Guy's Hospital in London, the town has produced a number of famous figures. But it is not just its famous figures that have made this bustling market town the success that it is today as this collection of over 200 fascinating photographs shows. Whether it be the market square with its traders selling their goods from all over the empire or the beautiful churches and surrounding villages, the photographs here give a unique insight into everyday life during the early part of the twentieth century. No collection of pictures of Tamworth would be complete without looking at the historical castle, its grounds and the many grand manor houses that once stood in the surrounding area. Canwell Hall, Hints Hall and of course Drayton Manor are shown here in all their grandeur, allowing the reader a peep inside these exclusive and sadly lost great houses. This selection of photographs brings Tamworth's past to life and gives the reader a wonderful glimpse into every aspect of a bygone age.