INCOMING

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…

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Attention bands! (And solo artists!)
One of the key dates in the north-east musical calendar is the Evolution festival and one of the key components of that is Evolution Emerging which will build on the success of last year’s Evolution Unsigned (stay with me). The gist is, local bands (and solo artists) are being invited to play Evolution Emerging and grab the chance to play alongside some of the region’s biggest names. Take it away Generator (north-east music development agency) director Jim Mawdsley: “Evolution Emerging is the biggest event for emerging north-east music, giving newer acts the chance to shine alongside some of the best talent the region has to offer.”

For a chance to play Evolution Emerging send you music digitally via www.generator.org.uk/evolutionemerging or send physical copies (along with a biog and pic) to Joe Frankland, Generator, Cluny Annex, 36 Lime Street, Ouseburn Valley, Newcastle, NE1 2PQ. Deadline is February 26.

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Mariza. Not at all uninteresting.
As the headline above hints at, Mariza is a very interesting proposition indeed. She is the leading Portuguese Fado singer of her generation, but, like Edith Piaf, Elis Regina, Billie Holiday and Judy Garland before her, she’s transcended her chosen genre to become a world star in her own right. Her methods? Take a powerful blend of traditional and contemporary song forms; add in her awesome singing voice and charismatic stage presence; seduce the world. Brilliant.

Mariza, Tuesday February 9, The Sage Gateshead, 7.30pm, £10-£25. www.thesagegateshead.org

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Get Carpark!
The Gateshead car park is famed for its roll in seminal 70s thriller, Get Carter. After appearing in that Michael Caine classic it managed to bag a few parts in lesser films (including a walk on cameo in disaster flick Earthquake) before falling into semi-retirement. Today, it’s the inspiration behind Parking Prohibited. This is a six-week long exhibition from Hatch Arts in which some of the region’s newest artistic talent have responded to the iconic building. Expect a multi-disciplined extravaganza concerning this multi-story monument to brutalism. Cool.

Parking Prohibited, until March 7, The Biscuit Factory, Newcastle. www.thebiscuitfactory.com

 

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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

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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…

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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  

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That was 2009
Let’s take a peek over our shoulders and shudder at the worst that 2009 had to offer. Your host: Robert Meddes.       click  >>>

...and the best of 2009 Films and Television >>>

 

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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 >>>

 

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Avatar film review
Our cavalier of the cinematic, David Willoughby, checks out Avatar, purportedly the most expensive film ever made. Is it a case of “let’s Av it” or “no ‘tar”…?

Click for Avatar film review…

 

 

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Attention bands! (And solo artists!)
Never mind faffing around and topping up the Christmas cake with yet more brandy, you need to get onto this. Live and Unsigned is now in its third year and has become the UK’s biggest original music competition. Each act will be asked to audition in front of a judging panel (no demos!) and all genres are encouraged to enter. Those who make it through the audition stage will get to perform to industry judges, A&R associates and celebrity guests in some of the UK’s most prestigious venues. Auditions begin in January and acts are now being urged to enter as places are in high demand and auditions are limited. Get to it.

For information on how to secure your live audition for 2010 go to: www.LiveandUnsigned.uk.com

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That was 2000-2009
Here’s our favourite things culled from the last 10 years. Dishonourable mentions go to Big Brother, Geri Halliwell, Gok Wan and the new Star Wars
films, none of which came anywhere near making the lists.

Films & Television >>>>
Albums & Singles >>>>

Text: Robert Meddes (films choices: David Willoughby).

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Film review: Where the Wild Things Are
Our film funster, David Willoughby, casts an eye over the latest picture from Spike Jones - Where The Wild Things Are - based on the 1963 children’s fantasy book of the same name. But does it drive him wild with delight or fury…?

Where The Wild Things Are film review here…

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How are you off for your photography and digital needs?
Still looking for that one-off, unusual Christmas pressie? Can we point you in the direction of www.chill-art.com, a website run by a local chap who has all manner of funky prints for sale that take in everything from off-beat views of the region to mods to boxing to extreme sports to pop art to the Durham miner’s gala.

Seek: www.chill-art.com

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Paranormal Activity film review
"Our film medium David Willoughby investigates 'Paranormal Activity'. One knock for mildy scary, two for bicycle clip time."

Click here >>>>

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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 >>

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Interview: Staff Benda Bilili
Have you ever seen anything like Staff Benda Bilili before? (Answer: no. Not unless you’ve seen Staff Benda Bilili before.) Led by street musicians from the Congo, and backed by a younger, all-acoustic rhythm section, they make music of astonishing power and beauty. Want to read what they’ve got to say for themselves? Clicky below.

Click here >>> Staff Benda Bilili interview this way…

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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

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Stop what you’re doing and read this
In the forthcoming, November edition of The Crack magazine (a local listings publication – well worth a punt we hear) they’ve given Newcastle-based band, Little Comets, their (quite) coveted, Single Of The Month slot for their single ‘Adultery’. A cursory glance at the review will throw up phrases such as “snappy guitars”,“mutant funk” and “the upfront rhythms of Black Kids and the storytelling know-how of Art Brut”. In short: it’s brilliant and so are they and we predict Little Comets will soon be going stellar.

www.littlecomets.com

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Attention club promoters!
This is good. Smirnoff have just launched this thing called Smirnoff Creative Grants and the general gist is this: come up with an idea for one-of-a-kind club night and you can nab £5,000. There are four of these grants up for grabs and all you have to do to apply is go to their facebook page for your chance to impress the panel of judges including Rob da Bank and the Queens of Noize. Win and you could turn your dream night into a reality. Blimey.

Seek: www.facebook.com/SmirnoffGB

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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>>>

 

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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 >>>>>

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Poetry. It’s back.
Who would have thought that in the age of Xboxes, Lady Gaga and Cadbury Clusters people would still want to read words laid out in poetic form? Baring this in mind can we tell you about the independent cultural organisation, Arcadea, who promote the cultural equality of disabled people. They’ve just launched their Hidden Poetry project with ‘the bell ringer’ by Ann Torde having the distinction of being broken up and hidden across the websites of a host of local arts organisations’ websites. Intrigued? Check out the website below for a heads up.

Seek: www.arcadea.org

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Follow us on twitter >>>

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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>

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ON TOUR...