INCOMING

Something for the weekend
So my friend is telling me that she lives an extraordinarily healthy lifestyle and part of that is drinking a grape smoothie every night. But I’m thinking, hang on… a grape smoothie? A drink made from crushed grapes? SHE’S JUST DOWNING A BOTTLE OF FRIGGIN’ WINE EVERY NIGHT - GET OUT OF IT. Anyway. Here are four fireworks for your weekend ahead.

Daryl Sherman with the Digby Fairweather Trio
Daryl is a woman. Yes, you heard right – a woman. What’s more, she’s one of the USA’s top jazz vocalists and she’ll be bringing her Great American Songbook to the region this weekend. More than able support comes from Digby Fairweather (trumpet). A man. And Dominic Ashworth (guitar) and Len Skeat (bass). Also men.
Friday March 12, Saville Exchange, Howard Street, North Shields, 8pm, £10/£11. 0191 643 7093.

Saint and the Cynics
This on-the-up band from Newcastle (pictured) knock out the kind of indie-pop that is threatening to give indie-pop a good name. Hook laden and swooping and soaring in all the right places they’re about to launch their new EP. Be there at the birth.
Friday March 12, Cluny 2, Ouseburn, Newcaslte, 7.30pm, £5.

Radgepacket 4 Launch
Radgepacket is a book (remember them?) and it’s currently on its fourth brilliant incarnation. This latest edition (published by lovely local types, Byker Books) is ram-a-jam with twenty-two short stories featuring madness, murder and mayhem. This launch event will feature drink, nibbles and many of the contributors in attendance. Write on.
Saturday March 13, The Back Page, St. Andrews Street, Newcastle, 3-5pm.
www.bykerbooks.co.uk    www.backpagenewcastle.com

Soul Technique
Soul Technique’s mission is to spread the funk. Simple. October 2009 saw the band go into the studio for the first time after two years of relentless gigging in the region. What they came out with was ‘The S.T. EP’ a collection of three sparkling tracks driven by fat bass licks, soulful vocals courtesy of lead singer Ruth Silversides (previously of Groovenik and Smoove collaborations) and the supreme rhyming talents of rapper ABSORB (also of ABSORB VS Sequel). To celebrate the launch of their new EP, the band are holding a big old fashioned knees-up, aptly titled ‘The Soul Technique EP Launch Party!’. As well as the band playing a special set, the club will be jumping all night with the north’s slickest DJs plus support. A mere £4 gets you entry to World Headquarters all night (normally £7) and a free EP to take away! Can’t say fairer than that.
Saturday March 13, World Headquarters, Carliol Square, Newcastle, 8pm, £4 (plus free EP) www.welovewhq.com        www.myspace.com/soultechniqueofficial

---

Attention artists!
If you’re an artist then check this out: the lovely Magpie Swop in Whitley Bay (a very cool and supremely affordable clothing boutique) are currently using one of their windows to display work from artists from around the region. February saw some textiles and silk printed pieces by Sheelagh Peace while March sees Sam Goodlet displaying some photographs based on Water Aid Day (which is on March 26). April’s slot is still free and that’s where you can stick your clog in the door. If you’d like to know more then drop them a line at the address below.

www.magpieswop.com          Email: susie@magpieswop.com

---

Attention local bands (in need of some free artwork)
Hey get this: Fabulous local designer Christopher Brown is currently doing his final major work at the end of his graphic design course. The project he is doing is using album art from indie labels in the late 70s as a base and, well, here’s what he’s after: “What I’m asking for is permission from the band to use their name and their music on a piece of work, as well as some reliable, weekly feedback from the direction the art is taking from members of the band. I may need them for a photography session sometime too, but that can be settled between them. In return I’m offering a piece of album art designed completely free, and I’ll give them all the copyrights completely free too.”
In the meantime here’s a pic of our very favourite 70s album artwork to put you in the mood.

Get in touch with Christopher: c.brown274@hotmail.co.uk

---

Who is Emily Portman? What is The Glamoury?
Emily Portman is a north-east based folky type of some note. She weaves beguiling tales tinged by darkness and mythology and operates on a plane that is at once beautiful, but with chilling depths. You don’t get that with The Courteeners. In short: she’s pretty amazing and is just about to unveil her new album The Glamoury with a special event at St. Ann’s Church this week. Our advice: There’s a fuss. See what it’s all about.

Emily Portman, Thursday March 11, St. Ann’s Church, Gisburn Street, Newcastle, 7.30pm www.emilyportman.co.uk

---

Poetry. In the Pink.
The Pink Lane poetry group (very brilliant) are launching their first book with an event at – where else - the Jazz Café on Pink Lane. Artists featured in the publication will be reading (and performing, if you will) and books will be available on the night. There’ll also be some special treats thrown in for good measure… (And here’s a nice picture of Michael Caine - on Pink Lane as seen in Get Carter - as a special treat from us.)

Pink Lane: Poetry & Performance, Thursday March 11, The Jazz Café, Pink Lane, 7pm-late, £3.

---

Win Willowman Festival Tickets
I tell you what we’re really loving the look of: The Willowman Festival. The first one is taking place in June and is being held at Lenthor Farm in Brompton, North Yorkshire; a site which boasts some fantastic panoramic views. Acts so far confirmed veer towards those artists who are known for putting on storming live performances and include the likes of The Blockheads (pictured), Dreadzone, Space RitualNik Turner and Terry Ollis, ex-members of Hawkwind) and Crack office faves, The Beat. You can also expect to catch the brilliant Martin Stephenson and the Daintees, ex-Inspiral Carpets frontman Tom Hingley, Vice Squad and Eat Static. (Keep checking their website for more headline acts being confirmed). There will also be an acoustic stage, comedy tent, reggae sound system and family entertainment, including a fun-fair. Cool. (featuring

WIN: We’ve got two pairs of tickets up for grabs for the three day festival and you could win a couple if you can tell us who hit the big time fronting up The Blockheads. Send your answer and contact details to: comps@thecrackmagazine.com

Willowman Festival, June 18-20, Lenthor Farm, Brompton, North Yorkshire. www.willowmanfestival.co.uk

---

Win BaaFest tickets
I know what you’re thinking? What the hell is BaaFest? It’s this: A two-day extravaganza also going by the name ‘Bellingham All Acoustic Music Festival’. They’ve got a great line-up for their first event including the likes of Chris Sherburn & Denny Bartley (pictured), Megson (2009 BBC Folk Award nominees), festival faves Whapweasel, and legendary north-east types, The Caffreys. It’s all taking place in the decidedly picturesque grounds of the Riverdale Hall Hotel and looks set to be a real doozy.

WIN: We’ve got a pair of tickets for this lovely event and you can put your name to them if you can tell us on which river the Riverdale Hall Hotel stands (you can find a clue (i.e. the answer) if you check out the website below. Send your answer and contact details to: comps@thecrackmagazine.com

BaaFest, May 1-2, Bellingham. £35 (children 10-16 £17.50, under 10 free). 01434 221 235. www.baafest.co.uk

---

New gallery alert!
Hang onto your hats! Kitch-en Gallery is back back back in a re-launch overload of goodness! They’ve a new website, new artists (as well as some old faves) and a heart-warming sense of civic pride.

Kitch-en Gallery, 18-20 Ridley Place, Newcastle. www.kitch-engallery.co.uk

 

---

New gallery update
There’s a plethora of new gallery spaces springing up across the north-east in empty shops (thank you recession) and the latest is Gallery Blow-Up. It’s situated on High Bridge (above Best Vintage and opposite the Waygood site) and their first exhibition is curated by Hayley Hare and is entitled ‘OVA’. What’s it all about? This: The show cuts across all it is to be female… politics, sexuality and mindset. Blimey.

Gallery Blow-Up, above Best Vintage, High Bridge, Newcastle (open 10am-5pm, Tuesday-Saturday).

---

Interview: Jean-Pierre Jeunet
The director of Delicatessen and Amelie is back with his latest film Micmacs and we’ve got a few words from the man himself on the inspirations behind it.

Click for interview…

---

Look at this lovely bag. Want to win it?
Isn’t it about time that you stopped fiddling about with your mundane life and joined the Jet Set? It’s all martinis at 30,000 feet this, and “if it’s Tuesday it must be Paris” that. It’s also about having some of the nattiest retro flight bags around. And although the likes of B.O.A.C, Pam Am and T.W.A have long since plunged into the murky depths, their glorious bags live on. Hooray.

WIN: This superb T.W.A. bag could be yours if you can tell us what T.W.A. actually stands for. Email your answer and contact details to: comps@thecrackmagazine.com

Seek: www.retro-jet.com

---

Interview: Tim Burton (plus Alice in Wonderland review)
We get to hear what Tim Burton has to say for himself regarding his latest film, Alice in Wonderland. Plus: David Willoughby gives his definitive review. A wonder or a blunder?

Click for Tim Burton interview and film review…

---

 

Ok. Here's the story in brief:
Richard William Wheater: “I'm originally from Yorkshire but studied glass at Sunderland, and started teaching myself how to hot glass sculpt birds of correct scale dimensions and colour. Fast forward a few years, I've finally finished a project that involved building a mobile glass furnace, taking it all over England and blowing glass birds relevant in species to that location, before setting them free. Sadly none took to the skies too well despite my own breath being used to inflate their bellies. It was a comment on man playing god, and our attempts at re-creating nature. I also wanted to highlight the throwing away of skill, in particular the glass industry that has almost disappeared in the UK due to foreign cheaper imports.”

Richard William Wheater: Them and Us, until April 4, Sandford Goudie Gallery, The Customs House, South Shields. www.customshouse.co.uk

---

 

Film review: The Wolfman
David Willoughby gets his incisors into new horror flick The Wolfman. But is it a howling success or merely just a howler? Click below for the whole tooth.
The Wolfman film review here >>>>

---

Film review: The Princess And The Frog
Our cinematic connoisseur, David Willoughby, takes in the latest animated offering from Disney. But is it a princess or is it a frog?

Click for the full review…

---

 

Love and skate
You’d think some folk would be glad that the ice has finally shifted from the pavements, but Durham is having none of it as they’ve only went and installed their own chunk of ice in the form of a 20 x 30 metre outdoor ice-rink which is now standing in the shadow of the city’s former Riverside Rink building. Public skating sessions will be in the offing every day from 10am-10pm and both Learn To Skate and Learn To Play Ice-Hockey lessons will be available weekend mornings. Oh, and we hear rumours of Friday night discos…

Durham Ice Rink will be open until the end of March, Freeman’s Place, Durham. £7.50 adults/children & concessions £5.50. www.durhamicerink.co.uk

---

Interview: Jacques Audiard and Abdel Raouf Dari
Ahead of its cinematic release David Willoughby caught up with French director Jacques Audiard (pictured) and screenwriter Abdel Raouf Dari (Mesrine) to chat about their excellent new film, A Prophet.

Click for the full interview…

---

 

Attention those wanting to get into the music biz
Following December’s successful Compact Music Business workshops in Newcastle, Generator and Transmit Consulting are pleased to announce three new workshops for Sunderland, Gateshead and Middlesbrough focusing on setting up a DIY record label, placing music in films, games & TV and on digital music marketing & distribution. Guest speakers at these events will include industry experts from Atlantic Records, Games company Ubisoft Reflections and music synchronization agent Woodwork Music.

The next workshop is March 16. Check their website for full details: www.generator.org.uk  

---

 

Warhol Banned
Shot decades ago, documentaries by photographer David Bailey still pack a punch and examine three of the most influential 20th century artists in their field: Andy Warhol, Cecil Beaton and Luchino Visconti. All three are being released on one DVD in January.  Click here for more >>>

 

---

The Pilots: interview & session
We’re more than enamoured with Newcastle-based band, The Pilots. They’re a three-piece and I suppose you may like to lob words such as “indie” and “rock” in their direction; but they’ve got a certain chutzpah that lifts them clear of the murk and shoots them towards the stars. They have a confidence in their songwriting ability and that’s very evident with their melodic know-how which is straight out of the top drawer. Check ‘em out.

Interview and session recording with The Pilots: listen to it Here >>

---

One of our fave festivals is now sorting early bird tickets
It is The Magic Loungeabout Festival who are next year moving to the stunning surrounds of Broughton Hall in the lovely, lovely Yorkshire Dales. And their next bash will be taking place over two days which by our reckoning is a 100% increase on this year’s do which means another full day of being enchanted, enriched and charmed. Cool. Check out their website below for all the latest info and get the chance to buy tickets at a reduced price.

The Magic Loungeabout will take place over the last weekend in July 2010. www.themagicloungeabout.net

---

Quentin Tarantino interview
"I have no bones to pick with film critics at all..."
Our own resident film critic, David Willoughby, catches up with Quentin Tarantino as his new film, ‘Inglourious Basterds’, hits the big screens this month.

 

Click for the full interview>>>

 

---

 

Do you think you’ll ever be able to dance to lindy jazz?
No, neither did Rachael Twist until she checked out a local class for absolute novices and found that – hey – look, I’m dancing, I’m dancing. How did that happen?

Your first steps to lindy jazz this way >>>>>

 

---

Follow us on twitter >>>

---

Crackcast
This month's Crackcast features twenty minutes of top class music from our favourite bands who just happen to be living on our doorstep - Pilots, Oh Messy Life, Dot to Dots, Moleck and Beyond the Valley.

Listen here>

---

ON TOUR...