Drummers in motion

Anna talked to drummers of all ages, from Basel and the UK, and gathered a kaleidoscope of experiences and emotions of what it's like to be a part of that 72-hour marathon we call Fasnacht. You can hear the full report here. Huge thanks go out to interviewees Alessio Ferrara, Bethli Roth, Donald Ospel, Fynn von Planta, Jakob Stammler, Oliver Schürmann, Paul Quarry and Zoë Meier.

It can't be over the top - it's Burlesque!Christi talked to Natashia of Auntie SAM Presents, who stopped in to promote an upcoming evening of Booze and Boudoir. On Feb 25, at 8pm, the Sud will unleash an evening of Burlesque, Absinthe Tastings (and a cooking-with-Absinthe demonstration). There's a pianist, Electro Swing DJs and a 1 a.m. Surprise Guest! Natashia tells us about the origins of Burlesque, and why she respects the culture. See a video of one witty woman Burlesque show here.

It'll be full of fun and frills, and if you come dressed in 20s or 30s clothes, not only will you really enter into the swing of things as you dance and laugh the night away, but you also get 10 francs off the cover price! Details of the event can be found here.

All this, plus of course our regular features with the news, cultural events, sports and music.

If you missed the show, download or stream it by clicking on one of the links below.

...but who goes first?In a special interview this week, Jake Dixon talks to the actress and singer Nina Meier Bradlin about a theatre treat running next week at Basel's Gymnasium am Munsterplatz. This unique English-language production of ‘And Then There Were None,’ originally written in 1939 by the doyenne of detective fiction, Agatha Christie, features a young cast and comes complete with specially scripted live musical accompaniment. And if you want to find out whodunnit, book your seat now for the production playing, 15-17 of February.

Alexia GardnerAnna saw jazz singer Alexia Gardner at the Bird's Eye Jazz Club in Basel recently and was so taken with her voice, style and music that she immediately begged her to come into our studio for a chat. Luckily for us, she said yes. Alexia hails from Birmingham, has performed all over the world and is now living in Liestal, near Basel. She talked to us about the jazz scene in Switzerland and her new album A Little Closer, which was recorded live at the Bird's Eye Jazz Club. You can buy it on her website - along with her three previous albums. Listen to the interview again here.

Your cinema update with Rob StuartWe always look forward to Rob Stuart’s monthly visits to the Show. This is the time to get an update on what’s going on in the world of the big screen. Most important, he gives us a rundown of the latest films to hit the many, many cinemas dotted throughout the region. This week, he digs into the current awards season: the British Baftas, the Golden Globes and ending with the all-important Oscars later this month. His tips for film-goers include Descendants, a family drama with George Clooney, and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, a dark cold war spy thriller, originally written by John le Carré and starring Gary Oldman and John Hurt.

Kathrin BichselMany expats moving into Switzerland are surprised to realise that when it comes to housing, many more people rent rather than buy. If you’re one of them, you should be aware that tenants rights’ associations cover most regions served by The English Show. This week, Kathrin Bichsel of the Mieter(Innen)verband Basel came in to talk to Ciaran about some of the do’s and don’t’s in your dealings with a landlord, and what to do if things get a bit sticky.

And, as always, if you missed the show, you can always stream it download directly to your computer simply by clicking one of the links below.

Rob Grantham and Kristin Jones with a little help from the Basel Cub Pack

And, of course, you can find all of our regular features, including Cultural Calendars from Basel and Over the Borders in Germany and France. There's news from Basel and the Swiss Wrap, looking at developments throughout the country, and the Sports Report.

COMPETITION TIME

Don't forget, you can win a FREE 4-week German language course if you send us the answer to the following question: What does "Bebbisagg" mean? Write to info@theenglishshow.com with your name, address and telephone number - good luck! We will draw the winner on February 7th.

No need to panic if you missed the show. Download or stream it by clicking on one of the links below.

Dr Axel Rowedder - the doctor is in the houseOur aim at the English Show is to contribute to the quality of life of our listeners, especially the large and diverse expatriate community for whom Basel is home, even if only for a time. So, what do we have? Well, there’s music, a bit of chat, plus news reviews. But it’s also tips and information about other services in the area, such as medicine and healthcare. Did you know that we have our very own clinic, right in the centre of Basel that’s open 15 hours a day, every day of the year? This week our guest is Dr. Axel Rowedder of Medix Toujours, and he tells Kiwi Jon you don’t even need an appointment to speak to one of their doctors in English.

And naturally we couldn’t leave you without an update on what’s going on in the area with the Basel and Over the Borders Cultural Calendars. And there’s more: Sports Report with Jake Dixon, plus of course, Basel News with Andrew Craven and a Wrap of what’s been happening in Switzerland with Andrew Brown. What more could you ask for (ideas requested here!)? The English Show – we’re probably all you need.

COMPETITION TIME

We have TWO competitions this week:

The English Show has 2 FREE TICKETS to The Dubliners show on the 2nd February 2012 at the Stadt-Casino. Just answer this simple question: Name any member of band (dead or alive). To win the tickets, send an email with your answer to info@theenglishshow.com.

And don't forget, you can win a FREE 4-week German language course if you send us the answer to the following question: What does "Bebbisagg" mean? Write to info@theenglishshow.com with your name, address and telephone number - good luck! We will draw the winner on February 7th.

Missed the show? Catch up here by clicking on the stream or download links below.

On the news front, we have our regulars: Basel News, the Sports Report with Jake Dixon, and the Swiss Wrap, prepared and presented as always by Andrew Brown.

Oh, and don't forget Over the Borders, The English Show's very own Cultural Calendar.

But for our first guest on tonight's show we welcome back...

Fantastic fondues, courtesy of Sue Style...Sue Style, with tips on preparing Switzerland’s own favourite seasonal item - fondue. She tells us how to avoid all the things that turn a convivial winter meal with guests into a table-top disaster. For more details and a step-by-step guide on how you can prepare your own masterpiece, check out Sue’s own recipe here.

Ursula Niederberger from the Benedict SchoolLanguage Learning. Ursula Niederberger from Benedict Language School in Basel joined Kiwi Jon in the studios next. She explained the value of learning German for Expats living here. Ursula was born in Peru, grew up in the USA and came to Switzerland not knowing a single German word. You can find out more about the Benedict Language school by visiting their website www.Benedict-Basel.ch

COMPETITION TIME

Don't forget, you can win a FREE 4-week German language course if you send us the answer to the following question: What does "Bebbisagg" mean? Write to info@theenglishshow.com with your name, address and telephone number - good luck! We will draw the winner on February 7th.

Missed this week's Show? Never mind, you can catch up here. All you have to do is click the stream or download links below.

DJ Proteus at workFirst up, Anna talked to DJ Proteus on New Year's Eve in Basel, just minutes after his midnight set. Proteus hails from Finland and is one of the world’s best-known Hardstyle DJs. He told us about the Hardstyle music genre, how to deconstruct a track, and the perils of 6-hour DJ sets. You can listen to the report here.

Proteus will certainly be back in Basel at some point, so if you like to dance to this kind of music - and you really should - then don't miss his set.

HE Sarah Gillett - looking after Britain's interests in Switzerland, including its citizens.Britain's Ambassador to Switzerland (and Liechtenstein!) paid a visit to Basel this evening. HE Sarah Gillett was guest of honour at a New Year reception organised by the British-Swiss Chamber of Commerce.

Suitably camouflaged as a captain of industry, reporter Andrew Craven slipped in before proceedings got under way. After welcoming the Ambassador to Basel and for her maiden appearance on The English Show, he asked her what we can look forward to in 2012. Click here to hear the interview.

Rob StuartAnd finally, Rob Stuart came into the studio to tell us what's happening at a cinema near you. From Sherlock Holmes to Mission Impossible, from George Clooney to Kate Winslet, they're all featured in another in-depth look at current films.

Missed this week's show? Click to listen or download the show below.