NARC. Magazine have announced details of their now legendary Stars In Their Eyes Xmas Party this year.

Taking place on Friday 18th December at The Cluny in Newcastle, the event will feature:

Peter Brewis (Field Music) & Jennie Redmond (The Cornshed Sisters) + Friends as Fleetwood Mac
Mansions Of Glory as Rocket From The Crypt
The Pilots & Mick Rolfe as The Pixies
The Illustrators as The Clash

+ Compere: The Claw of TRUTH!

Entry is a mere bah humbug £2 with presents and cake thrown in and doors are at 8pm. Hey ho ho ho ho!

Spotlight Extras and deleted scenes!

A couple of new North East bands to seek out:

France and The Habsburgs
Soundtracks for a B Movie

Some essential LIVE ACTION from around the region over the Christmas period:

04/12: The Longsands / Bruce Foxton’s From the Jam @ O2 Academy
05/12: Karoshi Brothers / Let’s Buy Happiness / The Runwells @ Hyem (free)
06/12: Vic Godard & The Subway Sect and France and the Habsburgs @ Cluny
07/12: Malcolm Middleton’s “Long Dark Night” @ Cluny 2
08/12: John Bramwell (I Am Kloot) @ Cluny 2
09/12: Brilliant Mind/All The Damn Kids/Honest Thief @ The End
11/12: Ryoga, Karoshi & Mammal Club @ Arts Centre Washington
12/12: Mushi Mushi farewell gig with The Guessmen and The Bubble Project @ Cluny 2
12/12: Generator SPEAR:LIVE - Dirty Weekend, Mammal Club & Pretty Hickeys @ Middlesbrough Town Hall Crypt
13/12: Bombay Bicycle Club @ Academy
14/12: Fruit Bats + O’Messy Life + Puzzle Muteson @ The Cluny
17/12: Detroit Social Club Christmas gig @ WHQ.
22/12: Gallows (pictured above) @ Legends.

With 2010 already shaping up to be a premier year for North East pop music, The Gen are very excited about Field Music’s imminent return, with a new double album and live shows confirmed.

The band have effectively been on hiatus since 2007, with core songwriters Peter and David Brewis focusing on The Week that Was and School of Language projects respectively.

Due out on 15th February next year on the Memphis Industries label in the UK, ‘Field Music (Measure)’ will feature 20 new tracks from the Wearside pop outfit.

There are two new tracks available for free download at their brand spanking new website.

The band are set to debut new tracks at some forthcoming live shows in Britain and the US before the end of the year, including two shows at The Cluny in Newcastle on 27th and 28th November. The new live line-up of Field Music also includes Ian Black and Kevin Dosdale of Razmataz Lorry Excitement .

For all live dates and album info, go to their Myspace.

The complete track listing for ‘Field Music (Measure)’ is:

In The Mirror
Them That Do Nothing
Each Time is a New Time
Measure
Effortlessly
Clear Water
Lights Up
All You’d Ever Need to Say
Let’s Write a Book
You and I
The Rest is Noise
Curves of the Needle
Choosing Numbers
The Wheels are in Place
First Come the Wish
Precious Plans
See You Later
Something Familiar
Share the Words
It’s About Time

SPEAR: at Middlesbrough Town Hall Crypt

SPEAR: has been created to offer support to young people, music students, musicians and small music businesses by furthering their careers by means of advice-based information and gig opportunities at one of the finest venues in Teesside.

SPEAR: is a two-tiered programme produced by Generator
and funded by Working Neighourhoods Fund, Middlesbrough through Middlesbrough Town Hall.
• SPEAR:TALK - a seminar series using music industry professionals to help fast-track the careers of your career.
• SPEAR:LIVE - a monthly live event, featuring the most talked about bands from the region.

SPEAR:TALK

Thursday 19th November
Middlesbrough Town Hall Crypt

Management Seminar

This seminar will look at the multiple roles of an artist manager – they are hired to help with determining decisions related to career moves, bookings, promotion, business deals, recording contracts etc and the assembled panelists will speak about their experiences and the crucial part they have to play in an artist’s career.

Stuart Green – manager of Patrick Wolf
Bruce Craigie – manager of Idlewild
Dave Wallace – Wildlife Entertainment / Glasvegas

FREE Entry / 6-8pm
Middlesbrough Town Hall Crypt, Albert Road, Middlesbrough, TS1 1EP

SPEAR:LIVE

Friday 20th November, 2009
Middlesbrough Town Hall Crypt

Jimmy & The Sounds
Like the Gaslight Anthem with a distinctively North Eastern twist, Jimmy & The Sounds play heartfelt Indie rock and create a whirlwind of melody

O’Messy Life
True believers of the DIY ethic, O’Messy Life have self-released two highly acclaimed EPs this year. Their intense and passionate live shows demonstrate why they have quickly become one of Newcastle’s most talked about bands.

Wheretoland?
Comparisons to early Bright Eyes are not far off - These Stockton alt: Rockers share the same mix of fragile innocense and sense of urgency to keep the listener guessing

FREE Entry / Doors: 8.00pm / 18+
Middlesbrough Town Hall Crypt, Albert Road, Middlesbrough, TS1 1EP

Get Involved: Generator is looking for people to assist with this programme on a voluntary basis; if you are interested in getting a foot-hold in the industry, please use the contact information below to make enquiries.
Get a slot at SPEAR:LIVE Generator will be looking for bands and musicians from the area to book into its live shows at The Crypt – either send in CDs to the address below, or contact Generator.
Admission is FREE but seminar spaces are limited and subject to advance booking through Generator.

Generator
2nd Floor Black Swan Court
69 Westgate Road
Newcastle
NE1 1SG
Joe Frankland: 0191 245 0099 ext.4,

North East Beat Unsigned is a celebration of North East music presented by Generator in association with Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums on Saturday 14th November in the Great Hall of The Discovery Museum, Newcastle upon Tyne

Entry is FREE and the event is open to ALL AGES from 12.00 - 5.00pm

Featuring two of the best new bands in the region:

Brilliant Mind

Let’s Buy Happiness

and introducing five emerging bands and solo artists from the North East, showcasing to a panel of music industry professionals and fans:

Black Cab Casino
The Anglo Form
Vacation Pioneers
Pink Lane
Illustrators

Tom Robinson will be taking a break from his influencial BBC 6Music radio show to be one of the industry guests offering advice to the bands.

Peter Brewis of massively influential Sunderland band Field Music will be joining him, along with Claire Dupree, editor of the region’s best monthly, music magazine NARC. All are well placed to advise the array of talent performing.

North East Beat Unsigned coincides with the final weeks of museum’s North East Beat exhibition, an exploration of the North East’s popular music scene from the 1940s to the present day.

Museum entry is free and we encourage everyone to check out items of memorabilia from the likes of The Animals, The Police, Maximo Park, The Futureheads, Field Music, and legendary music show The Tube.

Discovery Museum, Blandford Square, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 4JA

Tel: 0191 232 6789

More band and panellist details will be announced in mid-October.

For more information on North East Beat Unsigned please contact Joe.

Image credit: Andy Martin

Lucas Renney, former frontman of ace, XL signed Sunderland pop band The Golden Virgins has recently released a solo LP on Brille records, home to The Knife and Envelopes amongst others.

‘Strange Glory’ (album artwork pictured above) was released on Monday 12th October on CD and all digital formats. The album was produced by former Cocteau Twin and now Bella Union boss Simon Raymonde and features various members of Midlake alongside Stephanie Dosen on backing vocals and orchestral arrangements by Fiona Brice.

The songs have a wonderfully poetic and reflective, autumnal feel to them and the album is comparable to a classic from Will Oldham or Leonard Cohen. It is very melodic, memorable and beautifully arranged.

To listen to some tracks and find out about forthcoming live shows, go to Lucas’s Myspace.

To order the album go to Rough Trade Shops.

Spotlight Extras and deleted scenes!

A couple of new North East bands to look out for:

Jimmy and the Sounds

Coal Train

Unmissable live action from around the region over the next few weeks:

20/10: The Twilight Sad at The Cluny
21/10: Dananananaykroyd & Dinosaur Pile Up at The Cluny
25/10: DJ Vadim at The Cluny
28/10: Little Comets at The O2 Academy 2
31/10: The Brute Chorus, Youves & Shapes at Uncle Alberts, Middlesbrough
31/10: Blk Jks (pictured above) & B>E>A>K & Ever Since the Lake Caught Fire at The Cluny
05/11: Portions for Foxes presents Daniel Johnston & Laura Marling at The Sage
07/11: Our Beat is Correct presents: Manila Chapter, B>E>A>K, Seamonster, Small Screen Light Show & Brilliant Mind.

Yes, its time for our virtual mix-tape again. This time there is no particular theme but it begins with a nod to some of our biggest music news stories of the month and then takes in some spooky Halloween fun before settling into an autumnal, modern alt. country journey with North East twists and turns and then rounding off with some alternative classics! What more do you want?

Let us know what you think.

We’ll be compiling our tracks of the year for 2009 in the second November edition of the blog so send us some Spotify suggestions now!

If you haven’t already, you’ll need to download the Spotify software for free and then simply listen to The Gen Spotify choice for October:

Remember- If you now have Spotify for your iphone with a premium account, you can save play-lists offline and enjoy anytime you like!

Twitterati.

Five to follow this month. Stay in the loop with the most entertaining and informative sites from around the North East on Twitter.

Follow Generator
The band Lets Buy Happiness

Gig promoters Portions for Foxes

Durham book festival

Clubnight Born Snapped

Can you recommend anymore for next month? Post your links below e-mail your Twitter suggestions.

International Music Conference In the City (ITC) recently announced the finalised line-up for their unsigned band showcases this year.

The organisers of the event, which is taking place throughout Manchester between 18th-20th October this year have published the complete list with links to all artists on their website here.

Artists announced include North East based singer Nadine Shah. Watch some footage of her performing the song Dreary Town on Youtube.

£20 wristbands for all live events are available from the website, with full delegate registration costing £350 + VAT.

An ITC Unsigned Album 2009 featuring all artists will soon be available on iTunes and various other digital retailers.

Generator has an illustrious history with In the City. As part of our Spearhead live music project in the past we’ve programmed an event at ITC for the past seven years, featuring the best six unsigned bands from the North East region and including key performances from Maximo Park, Beth Jeans Houghton and The Chapman Family (pictured above).

For a complete line-up of the panels, live shows and events taking place this year go to their website.

SPEAR: at Middlesbrough Town Hall Crypt

Generator is pleased to announce a new programme of work in Middlesbrough.

SPEAR: has been created to offer support to young people, music students, musicians and small music businesses by furthering their careers by means of advice-based information and gig opportunities at one of the finest venues in Teesside.

SPEAR: is a two-tiered programme produced by Generator
and funded by Working Neighourhoods Fund, Middlesbrough through Middlesbrough Town Hall.
• SPEAR:TALK - a seminar series using music industry professionals to help fast-track the careers of your career.
• SPEAR:LIVE - a monthly live event, featuring the most talked about bands from the region.

SPEAR:TALK

Thursday 22nd October
Middlesbrough Town Hall Crypt

A&R Seminar

Faced with shrinking profits, record labels are adopting a new approach, so do bands and artists now need do the same? How do artists generate interest from record and publishing companies, to begin with? What are the terms of a deal likely to be these days? This panel will discuss what record and publishing companies will want in return for their investment. An ever-evolving media requires that bands keep ahead of the game – this seminar will look at the holistic approach to artist development.

James Endeacott – 1965 Records.
Ollie Jacob – Memphis Industries
Matthew Rumbold – Freelance music consultant (formerly at EMI)

If your music requires attention, bring a CD for direct/individual feedback – get there early, spaces are limited
FREE Entry / 6-8pm
Middlesbrough Town Hall Crypt, Albert Road, Middlesbrough, TS1 1EP

SPEAR:LIVE

Friday 23rd October, 2009
Middlesbrough Town Hall Crypt
Our Secret Sins
With their brooding pop underpinned by a real sense of urgency, they’re the alternative soundtrack to an Irvine Welsh novel; lines about casual sex, violence and feverish drug consumption are lovingly offset with wit, warmth and a feeling of youthful naivety.
B>E>A>K
Sunderland supergroup featuring bird-masked members of This Ain’t Vegas, Field Music and Written From Negative. Intelligent instrumental fun from the North East’s finest party band.
Be Quiet. Shout Loud!
“Middlesbrough’s answer to The Rapture, The Music or The Infadels will take you by the scruff of your neck and shake you around like ragdolls.” Ten Feet Tall

FREE Entry / Doors: 8.00pm / 18+
Middlesbrough Town Hall Crypt, Albert Road, Middlesbrough, TS1 1EP

Get Involved: Generator is looking for people to assist with this programme on a voluntary basis; if you are interested in getting a foot-hold in the industry, please use the contact information below to make enquiries.
Get a slot at SPEAR:LIVE Generator will be looking for bands and musicians from the area to book into its live shows at The Crypt – either send in CDs to the address below, or contact Generator.
Admission is FREE but seminar spaces are limited and subject to advance booking through Generator.

Generator
2nd Floor Black Swan Court
69 Westgate Road
Newcastle
NE1 1SG
Joe Frankland: 0191 245 0099 ext.4,

Throughout the UK this October, regional Oxjam volunteers are organising their own mini-festivals to raise money for their cause.

Oxjam is a UK wide music event organised by the charity Oxfam, which took place for the first time in Belfast 2004.

There is an all-day event in Newcastle on Saturday 10th October and wristbands are £6 from RPM Music, Beatdown Records and Alt. Vinyl record stores.

Their regional team are still looking for more volunteers so if you’re interested please contact them here.

The events include an all-day show at The Ouseburn Boathouse from 2-11pm featuring Minotaurs (pictured above), Ever Since The Lake Caught Fire, Brilliant Mind, O Messy Life, Black Cab Casino, Acrobatic Society, Ryoga, Runwells, Squares and Pioneers of Mediocrity.

For information on all of the events happening please go to their Myspace and Oxjam website.

Newcastle based music podcast Our Beat Is Correct are promoting a fantastic all day live event at The Cluny on Saturday November 7th.

The line-up is as follows:

Manila Chapter
B>E>AK>
Mammal Club
Seamonster
The Small Screen Light Show
Penny Century
Brilliant Mind (pictured above)

Doors are at 4pm, £5 entry or £4 with a special password that you can get by listening to any episode of the podcast in October.

They have plans to record all of the sets on the evening and play highlights in a
special series of podcasts in November.

To listen to the podcast go here.
Their Myspace is here.