Historical Accuracy in Steampunk

Historical Accuracy in Steampunk: A Guide For Steaming Up Traditional Victorian Wear (via http://doctorfantastiques.com)

Upcoming Interviews with Abney Park

Captain Roberts has graciously agreed to an interview about their new members, their new RPG based on their back stories, their new album, the album coming up, and whatever other skullduggery they have been up to. Of course he still patently denies being a pirate, and airship pirate, or any type of pre-wreckage salvage and re-distribution agent.

(Yea...like we believe that, and those aren't really Queen Victoria's Knickers I saw him wearing when last we met either. Oh I know he told me I had misheard what he was discussing with his crew, and that they really belonged to Chrissy, but honestly, she has much better taste than that!)

He did mention that trying to get more than one of his crew to actually sit down and answer questions at the same time might be so much like herding cats that it might be the next decade before this got written if I really wanted input from more than one or two, so I agreed to simply interview whichever were available and keep after it until I got round to each.

I know I'm curious about the new Guitarist as well as the new violinist. Aren't you? I'll also ask Jody for permission to share some of the utterly charming, but off the record conversation I had with her right after joining Abney Park back at Green Steam Circus in Austin, Texas in 2010 and how things have changed for her in the band since then. I will be contacting them again right away, but may need to catch them between.... er uh...you know salvage and re-distribution runs and such, so I can't exactly predict the actual date of the article.  It is actually more likely this will turn into a series of articles focusing on each separate member that is interested in sharing their story or point of view.  I'm sure you Abney Park fans wouldn't mind that too much would you?

If you have any specific suggestions of questions you would really like to see included, things you are just dying to know about them, send me the question.  If it is totally tasteless, I may ask it anyway, (we are a bunch of pirates after all here, Ms. Trent excepted of course) but definitely only after much rum and will probably not include it in the article.  If it is an interesting and somewhat dignified, well OK, lets say at least not particularly obscene question, then I'll try to include it in the format of the article if it seems to fit with the otherwise dignified format of this Blog.  Thanks

You should send such suggestions to my personal email at:  covenantofthekraken(at)yahoo.com

Dickens on the Strand 2011

Dickens on the Strand in Galveston, Tx Dec 3-4 Fashion Review (via http://doctorfantastiques.com)

New Blogger Joins the Artofsteampunk Team!!!

I am thrilled to announce that a new writer has been selected, invited, and accepted a position of a contributing staff writer for the Artofsteampunk Blog.

Her name is Cheryl Trent, a regular in the Texas and Oklahoma Steampunk Community and a writer that impressed me with her insight and tact when dealing with topics ranging from Steampunk Fashion well done to conventions gone wild.

Her first article will be a repost with permission from another excellent blog that she writes for and anything handled that way will be clearly labeled as such.  She will debut here this Wednesday coming up!

Please Welcome Cheryl to our team!

Psyche Corporation in the News

Doctor Fantastique's Show of Wonders is easily one of the most interesting blogger contributions to our steampunk community. On their blog they recently published an article about one of my favorite Steampunk/CyberpunkDarkwave Bands Psyche corporation. Take a look:

Article about new video by Psyche Corp 

Thank You Olivia

Thank you Olivia for performing at our convention and entertaining so many with your readings.

Thank you for being understanding when the hotel gave away your room and bearing with us while I got the event organizer to embarrass them into giving you another one.

Thank you for being a charming guest and being understanding of growing pains.

Thank you for being appreciative that we actually thought to stock vegetarian food for you in the Green Room.

Thank you most of all for this truly insightful and well written article about the trials with so many new events and realistic considerations needed so we all pull together to make this a good experience for everyone!.



Below is an recent article written by Olivia Grey, author of Avalon Revisited, who is a regular performer at
 
The Difference Engine Steampunk Convention.


Steampunk Chronicle article about difficulties at conventions.

A Walk Through Steampunk History - Steampunk Convivials

I recently asked a new friend from England, Ben Henderson, about a new "Steampunk Convivial" that he is putting on near New Malden, UK.  New Malden is a small town and shopping centre in the south-western London suburbs, mostly within the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames and partly in the London Borough of Merton, and is situated 9.4 miles (15.1 km) from Charing Cross.

Ben gave me the following information about his new event:

I am putting on this event that spans three boroughs and four venues pretty much single handed in an attempt to "steampunk a bus route" (that's my hidden agenda). I am attempting to bring local pubs, and community organisations together in order to promote local trade, historical literature, and create an excuse for a steampunk procession through the three boroughs and start spreading politeness and Very Silly Fun throughout the land.  [the three boroughs are EPSOM, SUTTON & KINGSTON-UPON-THAMES, UK]

Ben also asked me to tell my readers that The Wimbledon Guardian recently said the following about it:

If you’re looking for something a little different, then look no further than the annual Steampunk Convivial later this month. A corseted collection of ‘steampunk’ enthusiasts are set to descend for a day of events celebrating ‘steampunk’, a movement based loosely around science fiction of the Victorian period by authors such as Jules Verne and HG Wells.

Steampunk enthusiasts are expected to gather from across Sutton, Kingston and Epsom dressed in corsets, top hats, waistcoats and goggles typical of their style this Saturday, February 25.

The day will start at 10 am with a history walk through The Avenue in Worcester Park, Epsom which is the road that HG Wells lived in when he wrote The Time Machine, hosted by local historian Clive Popkins.

The group will then move to the HG Wells pub in North Cheam at 11am for food, drink and a chat.

An afternoon event will take place at The Royal Oak in New Malden from 2pm with a mini market full of handmade steampunk items for sale, a shadow puppet workshop, tea-dueling (a traditional steampunk sport), and snail racing (snails permitting).

Steampunk artists Tom Slatter and Moth with eclectic all girl band Smiling Knife and Dick Philpot will finish the day at The Royal Oak with music from 7 to 12pm.

Tickets for the whole event are £5.

Meet at The Avenue Worcester Park; 10am; for the HG Wells history walk.
Then. it's lunch at the HG Wells Pub, Cheam Common Road, Worcester Park; from noon.

Then head to The Royal Oak, Coombe Rd, New Malden; from 2pm to Midnight

For more information and tickets visit www.harpsfest.com

Steampunk Convivial; The Avenue Worcester Park; 10am; HG Wells Pub, Cheam Common Road, Worcester Park; 11am; The Royal Oak, Coombe Rd, New Malden; 2 to 12pm; Saturday, February 25; £5; harpsfest.com