Month: November 2023

MUSIC FOR LIFE NOT JUST FOR CHRISTMAS

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A handful of releases this year by North East bands include the Godfathers of Thrash, Raven, who unchained their latest album All Hell’s Breaking Loose, John Gallagher (bass/vocals) explained…

”We released the album on 30th June and are really proud of the way this one came out and came together. Basically between the three of us we did everything except the mix. Wrote, arranged, performed, produced and Mike recorded it! We’re looking forward to playing a lot more of the songs live starting in Blighty in February”.

Go to> All Hell’s Breaking Loose by Raven: Amazon.co.uk: CDs & Vinyl

Punk band The Fauves put out Resistance 22, Bri (bass) said…

”Since our album ‘Resistance 22’ was released on 1st July 2023 we’ve had some fantastic reviews. We sold out the first batch of CDs in the first two months, selling them in the UK and abroad. We’ve also released a live album recorded at The Bunker in March this year”.

Go to> https://thefauves1.bandcamp.com/

Durham duo Lowefeye released Northern Crown in October. Songwriter & vocalist Carol Nichol explained…

“I suppose it’s a celebration of the working class featuring the great kitchen sink actor Albert Finney. There is grit in some tracks but there is always the cinematic feel and storytelling all done DIY”.

Go to>  https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/lowfeye1/northern-crown-2

Memphis Calling is the latest release (27 October) from R&B singer & songwriter Emma Wilson.

“From Teesside I travelled to Memphis, got into a cab and asked to go to 639 Madison Avenue…the home of the iconic ‘Sam Phillips Recording Studios” explained Emma.

“The great Sam Phillips built the studio in 1960. I was invited to record my album there and it truly was a magical experience”.

“Memphis influenced this album, the musicians of the HI Rhythm Section, the producer – Scott Bomar, the wonderful STAX console. I was the English girl obsessed with Rhythm & Blues music who got to sing there and make a beautiful record. I hope you enjoy listening to it” .

Go to>  https://propermusic.com/products/emmawilson-memphiscalling (Best for UK or Europe)

https://selectohits.com/index.php?main_page=product_music_info&cPath=1_2&products_id=38220&fbclid=IwAR2i0KjWX4AYG5DbgBwCoZgGEQlbI2pQ5YKmAL3YJWfG5-klj103RjfOsoo (Best for USA)

Downloads here>

https://EmmaWilson.lnk.to/MemphisCallingFB

Mythra released Temples of Madness on Classic Metal Records in April. John Roach (guitarist) explained…

“The album was written and recorded pre-pandemic so mixing and mastering was delayed due to Covid lockdowns in 2020, but strangely relevant to today. After recommendation from Satan guitarist Russ Tippin, who we shared stages with, it was finally mixed by David Curle at First Avenue Studio in Newcastle”.

“Also available is a limited number of 500 numbered copies of a double CD album of ‘Death & Destiny’ and a live recording of our reunion gig at Brofest 2015”.

Go to>  www.mythra.bigcartel.com

Alikivi   November 2023

A GEORDIE EVENING with Ray Laidlaw, Carol Malia & Ed Waugh

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Ray Laidlaw, Carol Malia & Ed Waugh.

Marden High school in North Shields will host an evening of stories told by three Geordie voices. Founding member of Lindisfarne, Ray Laidlaw, BBC local news reader Carol Malia and international playwright Ed Waugh. Each have a connection to Monkhouse Primary, North Shields, so it’s fitting that all proceeds from the event go to the school.

As well as finding international fame with Lindisfarne, North Shields lad Ray Laidlaw is producer of Geordie institutions Sunday for Sammy and Christmas in the Cathedral. Ray was recently part of the creative team that won a Royal Television Society Award for the brilliant BBC 4 documentary, The Alan Hull Story.

Born in Tynemouth, Carol was a former Marden High school pupil. A regular on our TV screens since 1997, Carol has lots of funny stories to tell, a real Geordie institution.

Ed Waugh has produced 21 professional plays including Dirty Dusting (co-written with Trevor Wood). In January it’ll be performed at Whitley Bay Playhouse and his self-penned play Wor Bella will grace London and Newcastle Theatre Royal in April. Ed also writes comedy sketches for Sunday for Sammy and Christmas at the Cathedral.

Ed Waugh said “In April 2022 my lovely daughter in law Rachelle died aged 34. The school has been brilliantly supportive of my two grandchildren who have attended Monkhouse Primary. It’s an excellent school which thrives on developing the children and giving them new experiences either via extra-curricular activities like football, gardening and archery to name just a few examples, or encouraging them in school time to be active in the arts. I just wanted to do something as a thank you. Both Ray and Carol immediately said yes, which was brilliant of them. It’ll be a great night.”

The event will be held on Wednesday, February 28, 2024 @ 7.30pm at Marden High School, Hartington Road, North Shields, NE30 3RZ.

Tickets are only £10 and available from >

Register on Eventbrite

Alikivi   November 2023

TO THE MOON with L.A. composer/producer Richard E

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“I’ve been living in Los Angeles since 2010 after marrying my LA woman, Sheila. I was born in Yorkshire but from the age of 10 grew up in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham. Then went to art college in Newcastle where I spent a good portion of my grant on seeing as many bands as I could at the City Hall”.

Richard E, Newcastle City Hall tickets.

“1979 was a great year for me. Finally getting out of small town Newton Aycliffe to live in Newcastle for a year doing a foundation course in art and design. I just dived right into the music scene and saw as many bands as I could”. 

“Penetration I loved, Pauline was my punk crush! And they were local heroes who lived in a town 5 miles down the road. Roxy Music were supported by a band called The Tourists featuring a certain Dave Stewart and Annie Lennox! “

“The Jam were the only band to force security to let the kids actually dance in the aisles. They were usually very strict at the City Hall, but Weller took them on, mid set, and somehow made it happen”. 

“I wish Punilux had done more. I bought Puppet Life when it came out. I included it in one of my recent radio shows, it still sounds so fresh. I also got to be at an epic concert that year that wasn’t in Newcastle. Led Zeppelin at Knebworth!”

Richard is composer/producer for award winning band Annabel (lee), which he created with his American wife, singer, lyricist and composer Sheila Ellis.

Their debut album released in 2015 on Ninja Tune Records won the UK’s Dead Albatross Music Prize, chosen from over 700 releases in the UK and Eire.

“During lockdown I had the time to record my first solo album harking back to my roots fronting a post punk, indie rock band in London in the late 80s” said Richard. 

Hoochmongers press shot 1990.

“I was moved to start writing my own songs again to express my discontent with world events over the past few years, encompassing rock, post punk, electronic and psychedelic influences”.

“The album features bass guitar on four tracks by David J ex- Bauhaus / Love & Rockets who became a friend after hearing a track by Annabel (lee) on LA’s independent radio station KCRW. I was also lucky enough to get David Bowie’s pianist Mike Garson to play on The Great Showing.”

Richard added “The video for my debut solo single was officially released on November 17th. Some people have said it has a Floydian vibe, and I felt myself once it was finished it made me think of George Harrison jamming with the Floyd”.

“ Jon Dalton, who you have previously interviewed on this site plays on the track and will be in my live band. I’m also producing his new album. Jon can be seen in the video playing his spacey guitar part in a very interesting way!”

Richard E – To The Moon 

Contact >

https://annabel-lee.bandcamp.com/album/if-music-presents-by-the-sea-and-other-solitary-places

Alikivi    November 2023

THE SOUND OF A LANDSCAPE with author MiE Fielding

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‘The Sound of a Landscape’ is a new book by artist, author and sound recordist Mie Fielding, who co-authored ‘Closest Thing to Heaven’ about the Newcastle music scene, which featured on this site in December 2020.

CLOSEST THING TO HEAVEN – New Book on ’70s-’80s Newcastle Music Scene | ALIKIVI UK : NORTH EAST CULTURE (garyalikivi.com)

In ‘Sound of a Landscape’ Fielding pictures the Northumberland coast in all its wild splendour. His unique artwork is complimented by Cullercoats poet Harry Gallagher.

“I got to know Harry as he played the late Tom Hadaway (My wife’s uncle) in a theatre production. As I’ve recorded bird sounds and produced avant-garde music for over 30 years, it was a natural idea to put these artistic elements together” explained Mie Fielding.

MiE Fielding

The book is further enhanced with sound recordings by scanning the accompanying QR code, bringing ‘The Sound of a landscape’.

“The book also gave me a chance to produce two specially written pieces of sound art. One portraying Storm Arwen and the other lamenting the demise of a way of life, once a common sight along the Northumberland coast – the Cullercoats Ghosts” added Fielding.

“As for the sounds in the book, they took nearly a year to capture using an ‘Ambisonic, microphone and other technical equipment”. 

An exhibition about the book featuring its poetry, art and sound is held at Newcastle Central Library from 14 -20 December 2023.

Alikivi   November 2023

YOU NEED TO SAY SORRY –  new play by writer, actor & theatre producer Alison Stanley

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“This play looks at domestic violence, coercive relationships and the perils of on-line dating in older people. When computers are relatively new to you it can be difficult to negotiate the etiquette of ‘facey’ (Facebook) and ‘the gram’ (Instagram)” explained Alison.  

Alison Stanley

“We live in a digital age where meeting and talking on-line is the norm. Everyone seems to have an on-line presence due to the explosion of social media. We talk to people virtually every day and this can be good in combatting social isolation but do we really know who we are talking to on-line and should we be taking information on social media as gospel?”

Alison got the idea to write the play after listening to a group of older ladies…

“They were talking about chatting to people they had never spoke to for donkey’s years – maybe there’s actually a good reason for that! I found it fascinating how they took everything at face value. This produced some great comedic results but also got me thinking about how dangerous this could actually be”. 

More research revealed that older people will put up with unacceptable behaviour much longer than their younger counterparts….

“Sometimes they never complain as they have come from a ‘you make your bed, you lie in it’ era and don’t want to be seen as a failure. The production has comedic moments and that sounds quite odd given the subject matter”.

“The play starts where two main characters are having their first meeting after a spell of on-line flirtation. Their chat revolving around family and virtual situations is funny and relatable. This is in direct contrast to the darker moments we see as their relationship develops”.

Rod Glen

”The roles are being played by myself and Rod Glenn (American Assassin, Emmerdale). I’m really excited about it and Rod will do an amazing job of bringing his character to life”.

‘You Need to Say Sorry’ is on at Laurels, Whitley Bay 7.30pm 14-25 November 2023.

“Laurels is a fantastic little gem of a theatre. It’s an amazing fringe venue that brings theatre into the heart of the community and gives a platform to underrepresented voices”.

Contact the official website for tickets:

THEATRE | Laurels Whitley Bay

Alikivi    October 2023