Alex James - The Big Feastival 2013 feature

It's nearly spring, which means that it's time to get buzzing about summer music festivals. Combine great music and delightful, good food, and you get Alex James and celebrity chef Jamie Oliver's annual food-slash-music concert, The Big Feastival, which will be held for four days from 30th August to 2nd September 2013.

The venue is Alex's 200-acre farm in England. Special guests and musicians lined up for the big event include The Feeling, KT Tunstall, Basement Jaxx, Rizzle Kicks and Norman Jay. And who knows - perhaps members of Blur with children, namely Damon Albarn and Graham Coxon, will turn up to the farm to enjoy the music, food and sunshine.

Jamie Oliver and Alex James co-host The Big Feastival

The exclusive interview (read it all here) talks about Alex's farm in Cotswolds, his fascination with cheese, more cheese chat and even mentions a special type of "desert island cheese". Proceeds will be donated to the charity The Better Food Foundation, which aims to promote and educate children about the importance of fresh and healthy produce.

"I’m very excited to have such great foodies and musicians back on the farm. The whole weekend was so enjoyable last year and Jamie and I are working to make it even better for 2013," said James.

Jamie Oliver also said: "Last year the atmosphere was incredible and it really was fun for all ages."

Food and Wine Magazine also interviewed Alex James at the Coachella festival from last week, and talked about his second life as a father, cheese-maker, foodie expert and most recently, a festival thrower. Stream Alex Jame's podcast for free on iTunes or listen to the episode below:



For more news on Alex James's Big Feastival, follow them on Twitter.

 To purchase tickets (£30.00- £130.00 for adults) for the Big Feastival, visit the official website by clicking here.


Blur Tour 2013 - Full dates and rundown  HERE
Blur @ Coachella- video and image gallery HERE 

Blur confirmed for Mexico HERE

Blur Europe Tour News  HERE

Order the new Blur: Parklife (Live at Hyde Park CD / DVD) HERE

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Alex James' Big Feastival - Music and fine foods galore

Alex James has been continuing with his various, multicoloured side projects since Blur finished their Hyde Park gig (with Damon Albarn saying there are no plans to continue yet).

For those in the UK and are free on September 1st - 2rd, master chef Jamie Oliver is presenting The Big Feastival with Alex James, a colourful two-day celebration of music, food and fun for all the family, set on Alex James’s very own Oxfordshire farm. 

As mentioned on the website, you can "enjoy music from top acts, tuck into top chef demos in the Big Kitchen and have your fill from The Menu, which brings together pop-ups from top restaurants and the cream of the UK’s street food crop."

Browse the Artisan Food Market for more edible enjoyment from a stunning selection of small producers and food businesses, and between eating, drinking and dancing, join a cookery session, dig a herb garden, raid the dressing-up box or take a spin around the on-site funfair. 

Keep big and little kids happy in the fun-filled Little Dudes Den, where Peppa Pig herself will be among the all-day entertainment highlights – or put them to work in Mini Masterchef and turn them into little Jamies. Go for the day, go camping, or style it out with our glamping options provided by The Pop-Up Hotel – there really is something for everyone.

So, if you want to meet Alex James, or enjoy the music, remember to visit the site for full details of where it is, what’s on and why you mustn’t miss out on the Feastival. Buy tickets here.

Order the new Blur: Parklife (Live at Hyde Park CD / DVD) HERE

Order the new Blur boxset HERE
Blur first ever 2012 gig-  Maida Vale gig full coverage HERE

Blur Exhibition review and photos HERE

Margate Gig (2012) review and pictures HERE

Rumours: Blur still play live after Hyde Park? HERE

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Alex James blurs cheese, farming and being a rockstar in new book

Alex James is set to release a new memoir following his book Bit of a Blur, titled All Cheeses Great and Small. 

The second volume of his autibiographical work describes the Blur bassist's journey into becoming a farmer, starting from his purchase of a farm in the Cotswolds, to marrying his wife and raising kids, making cheese and being generally cheesy. 

After Blur's last album in 2003, Alex has been making a name for himself in the cheese world. He has made his cheese and established a reputation for appearing on various media shows.

He currently lives in a house, a very big house in the country.

He also spoke about Blur at the Brits very recently in an article from The Sun (click to read source article). He talked about how "amazing" it was to win a Brit Award after so many years away from the music scene.

The article goes on to reiterate what Alex has already said in numerous older articles- how "Pulling the band back together is like reassembling the A-Team for one last job. I'm a cheesemaker now." He stressed that Damon, Graham and Dave have gone and done their own thing in the well-needed hiatus.

Alex then becomes a bit pessimistic - "There is always a feeling that this may be Blur's last bow, which I suppose makes it all the more exciting." Last bow ? We hope not- fans want more songs, more stage appearances! Alex then concludes that it's "the effect that picking up one of those gongs has around the rest of the world that matters." 

There was no new information about any future plans or Blur albums. The article did have some very nice images that are rather nice, including Blur at the Brits in 1995 looking young and lovely. There also was an image of Blur in their early Leisure era, complete with the bowl-cuts and dazed expressions. 

Graham Coxon has Instagram on his iphone - follow him @tinhat 

Check out his feature article on the Daily Mail which promotes his new book. The article is titled "'My wife married a rockstar but ended up with a floundering farmer': Alex James on why he prefers mucking out to being in Blur". As usual, it's kind of funny, kind of entertaining and kind of cool.

On a more sweeter note, here's something to cheer fans up - Graham Coxon tweeted in his twitter page (click to follow him) that there were Blur chocolates at the Brits. A pleasant surprise - we want some too Graham! Bet he ate them all up the next day. 

Order Alex's new book from Amazon (also available for Kindle) HERE. 

What's up with Alex James after Blur ? Interview August 2011

Alex James

The musician and cheese maker talks about his family

• Interview by Nick McGrath
• The Guardian, Saturday 6 August 2011
• 
  
• 

My uncle was a jazz pianist and my granny's sisters were on the stage. My grandma was part of a glamorous dance troupe called the Dolly Sisters, so music was in my blood. My dad taught me how to play the piano, but that was the only musical training I had. Mum and dad would have much rather I'd been an accountant – until Blur started getting written about, by which point they were very pleased to tell all their friends.

My family dealt with me becoming a public figure remarkably well. I think they all liked it. My mum got doorstepped a bit by journalists when I first got famous but everyone has just enjoyed the benefits and didn't make a fuss about the negatives. My mum and dad came on tour with Blur at the height of Britpop and loved it.

My grandfather was a chef and because of that my dad never cooked a blooming thing. It can go two ways when your dad's a chef; you're, like, "What's going on here, how do I do that?" but my dad was, like, "Ooh, thefood here is really good", so he never cooked anything in his life. But he had a very developed palate so we discovered food together and food is absolutely the focus of family life for me.

I'm protective of my sister, Deborah. She's two years younger and we've always been close but are very different. She's really good at painting and drawing; she's got visual acuity. She's a glass artist and has made a few pieces for Damien Hirst.

Meeting my wife Claire happened at the same time that Blur sort of stopped, so it felt like a new part of my life was starting. I think when you get married that it's the end of rock'n'roll. When you start having kids something does change. It's been amazing, though. When I was 18 I thought I was going to have to kill myself when I hit 40. I thought it would be all over, but it keeps getting better and better as you evolve. What you want out of life changes, and my idea of heaven now is good food with my family. It's pretty simple but it's about as good as it gets.

I've got five children and people say, "are you busy?" and it's like, before I even go to work, I'm busy. I've got five kids. I need a spreadsheet to keep track of them. No one ever regrets having children. To be honest, I don't know how people do it with less than five.

I thought I was getting the hang of parenting and then our first girl came along. She is two now and she amazes me: "What? You'll just sit there colouring and you're happy to do that? Really?" The boys need constant attention – they want you to fight, play football or make Lego with them. It's all about doing things.

I live on a farm now, which is a natural environment for an ageing rock gentleman. There's a reason I wanted to put down some roots after all those years living out of suitcases. You can't be more grounded than on a farm. so I've built my life around my family. They're my main source of pleasure, and of pain too, but it's worth fighting for. It takes absolutely every ounce of your strength to keep the ship sailing straight, but fucking hell, it's worth it.

Alex James is an ambassador for MasterCard's Big Lunch campaign, which encourages people to embrace community spirit. For more details visit www.thebiglunch.com

Blur's Alex James to sort out Libya crisis - and his crazy career

Another episode of the Alex James sequel, of the strange things he's been up to since the Blur hiatus and their last album...read on to find out...the suspense! 


***


Blur bass player, Alex James, has confirmed that the UN has asked him to take a lead role in searching for a 'just, peaceful and ultimately cool' solution to the crisis engulfing Libya.


Alex James, cheese-maker, classical musician, newspaper columnist, panel show host and fete-opening radio-presenting former bassist with Blur, has confirmed that the UN has asked him to take a lead role in searching for a ‘just, peaceful and ultimately cool’ solution to the crisis engulfing Libya.

James, who reportedly did a GCSE history project on Rommel’s North Africa Korps, caught the eye of Ban Ki Moon when he came second to David Platt from Coronation Street on the BBC reality show ‘Diplomat’ last year in the challenge to reunite Korea.

‘His agent gave us a good deal,’ said Moon. ‘All he needs to do is keep talking to Gaddafi until he capitulates. And he’s free to write about it in the Telegraph, publish a book, write a song – whatever.  

After all, as he told me, Jesus himself said ‘Blessed are the cheesemakers’.’

***

Well, well well, looks like Alex James has been, er, expanding his career! Now he's to save Libya by being totally Mr. Alex James himself. Great. 

Lets recap on all the things he's been up to since 2003:

Cheese making Alex

Breast milk with Gordon

Bit of a Blur - letting us into the world of Blur

Raising kids, animals and his wife

Hosting food shows

Getting ridiculous haircuts

Modeling 

Cocaine Diaries series

Glastonbury 2010 with Blur

Blur reunion ! 

Advertising corned beef

And of course, much more involving beautiful women, celebrities, money making, more cheese making, farming, vegetables and all things natural. Not to mention, the occasional jamming with his bass guitars and the rare award show appearance. Radio shows, music, blogging, writing on his weekly column and even plans for a 2nd Blur book. 

I leave you, dear readers, with Alex James on the joys of cauliflower. 

What do you think of Alex's "career" ? Have I left out a significant thing he's been involved with since the last Blur album?