Factory Records: Communications 1978-92 is now available to buy in the USA. The 4CD set features Joy Division, New Order, Cabaret Voltaire, and Happy Mondays. It also includes a 38-page booklet containing rare photos, and in-depth liner notes.

Sample tracks via the special Listening Party available in Quicktime, WMA (1), WMA (2) and Real formats.

Listening Party Tracklist

1. Joy Division - Digital
2. Joy Division - She's Lost Control
3. New Order - Ceremony (original version)
4. New Order - Temptation
5. Happy Mondays - Step On
6. Happy Mondays - Sunshine And Love (Lionrock Remix)

Factory Records: Communications 1978-92 is available to buy now on Rhino via iTunes (US).

Labels: Cabaret_Voltaire, Factory_Records, Happy_Mondays, Joy_Division, New_Order

Happy Mondays are confirmed for the Splendour In The Grass festival which is held in Byron Bay, New South Wales, Australia on 25/26 July 2009. This will be the only Australian performance for Happy Mondays.

The Festival also features Doves, Bloc Party, MGMT, The Flaming Lips, The Specials and Janes Addiction.

Meanwhile, Happy Mondays has also confirmed an extensive North American tour with The Psychedelic Furs for autumn 2009. The unusual pairing play all over the USA and a couple of Canadian cities as follows:

September

08 / CHICAGO, IL / House of Blues
09 / MILWAUKEE, WI / Pabst Theatre
11 / BOULDER, CO / Boulder Theater
12 / SALT LAKE CITY, UT / In The Venue
14 / SEATTLE, WA / Moore Theatre
15 / PORTLAND, OR / Crystal Ballroom
17 / SAN FRANCISCO, CA / Grand Ballroom
18 / LOS ANGELES, CA / Club Nokia
19 / ANAHEIM, CA / House of Blues
20 / SAN DIEGO, CA / House of Blues
22 / LAS VEGAS, NV / House of Blues
24 / AUSTIN, TX / Stubb's
25 / DALLAS, TX / House of Blues
26 / HOUSTON, TX / House of Blues
28 / ST PETERSBURG, FL / Ritz
29 / FT LAUDERDALE, FL / Revolution
30 / ORLANDO, FL / House of Blues

October

02 / ATLANTA, GA / Masquerade
03 / CHARLOTTE, NC / Amos' Southend
04 / NORFOLK, VA / NorVa
06 / WASHINGTON, DC / 9:30 Club
07 / PHILADELPHIA, PA / Trocadero
09 / NEW YORK, NY / Roseland Ballroom
10 / BOSTON, MA / House of Blues
12 / COLUMBUS, OH / Newport Music Hall
13 / DETROIT, MI / Royal Oak Music Theatre
14 / TORONTO, ON / Koolhaus
15 / MONTREAL, QU / Olympia de Montreal

More info at burneddowndays.com

Labels: Happy_Mondays

On Wednesday 23 September 2009 two blue plaques will be unveiled in the Borough of Rochdale to commemorate and recognise two uniquely important recording venues/music buildings that influenced rock and pop music locally, nationally and internationally.

From 1974-1990 some of the most influential and celebrated recording artists of the era recorded or bought equipment at Kenion St in Rochdale (Tractor Music/Cargo Studios, then later Suite 16) and Tractor Sound Studios in Heywood. These include Joy Division, New Order, Inspiral Carpets, The Stone Roses, Happy Mondays, The Chameleons, The Charlatans, The Fall, The Mock Turtles, The Teardrop Explodes and Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark.

Less famous, but no less influential local bands such as John Peel's 70s favourites Tractor also recorded in the studios, and all were intrinsically linked to the local and regional live music scene and to a world-wide audience. Technicians, engineers, managers, roadies, journalists and fans of note also passed through the doors of Tractor Music, Tractor Sound Studios, Cargo Studios and Suite 16 Studios. Equipment for the Haçienda sound system and Peter Hook's Joy Division and New Order bass set-ups were designed and built in that little building in Rochdale. He still uses the equipment today.

The event on the 23rd will consist of the two unveilings: the first in Heywood at Tractor Sound Studios, Dawson St / Market St (a studio financed by John Peel), followed by a music exhibition at Heywood Library featuring the pop music history of Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale, then on to Cargo / Suite16 / Tractor Music in Rochdale. Guests will travel between the two towns and studios, finally heading to the Backdoor Music Project for a reception and live performance from bands - including young musicians from the town. A number of high profile guests from the music industry, many of whom are linked directly to the studios' past, have already confirmed their attendance. The guests will also include journalists that will be in Rochdale to cover the story. Plans are being made to improve the immediate environment (planter boxes and general tidy up of the area) around the studios and a large outdoor mobile video screen will be playing footage of the studios and the bands that recorded within.
During the reception at the Backdoor project there will be an opportunity for young local musicians involved in the project to meet guests from the music industry, promote the Backdoor project and perform to agents, managers and the national media.

Most of the unique musical heritage of the borough may come as a surprise to local people and indeed to the local authorities. Tractor Music, Cargo / Suite 16 and the Deeply Vale Festivals attracted attention from far and wide and hugely influenced the now world famous Manchester music scene. Factory Records was intrinsically linked to the Cargo/Suite16 studio and both studios were supported and aired by John Peel on Radio 1. The studio was used for location shots during the filming of the movie 24 Hour Party People.

The obvious links between what is happening in the borough today and this rich vein of heritage are already being drawn together. The Back Door Music Project has submitted a bid to Heritage Lottery Fund for £25,000 for their young people to undertake a year long research project into the musical heritage of the borough. The Blue Plaque project has been the inspiration and start for the young people and it is this initial investment that will make the application extremely favourable and attractive to the HLF.

This will produce an exhibition at Heywood Library and Touchstones; music workshops for young people; activities and training for those taking part; an oral history project recording memories and stories of the time and some high profile public events in the town centre. The project will also produce a musical heritage trail around the borough that will encourage people to visit and share in the borough’s unique cultural heritage. In terms of project beneficiaries the HLF project (working title "Rockin’ Roots") will engage up to 25 young people in directly running the project, some 50 or so members of the community involved as interviewees, volunteers and workers and ultimately around 250 different young people in activities, workshops and performances. The final number of beneficiaries is hard to estimate as it will be the sum total of website users, visitors to tourist information, Rochdale residents and musical tourists who explore, experience and learn about the fantastic musical heritage Rochdale Borough has to offer.

The exhibition at Heywood Library, commencing 1 September 2009 which is currently being researched by Chris Hewitt, will cover the history of Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale pop music - including the history of The Seven Stars as a 60s and 70s live music venue; Alan Duffy and the now defunct Hopwood based label Imaginary Records (that even received an application letter from an unknown Kurt Cobain of Nirvana), Tractor Sound Studios Heywood, Deeply Vale, Machine Gun Feedback /The Space Monkeys, and the history of Wigwam - the church youth club / music venue that developed into local music employer and international sound specialists company Wigwam Acoustics. The exhibition will also cover lots of other Heywood and Rochdale pop music connections. Lots of Joy Division and Martin Hannett related items will also feature in the exhibition.

Labels: Factory_Records, Happy_Mondays, Joy_Division, New_Order, Peter_Hook, Space_Monkeys

Listening Party & Summer Fundraiser @ HARVESTWORKS, NYC

19 June 2009
5-8 pm Eastern Time

Harvestworks presents nowTHENafter, a surround-sound DVD compilation of new experimental works by composers from the post-No Wave electronic, acoustic and underground scene. Inspired by the turn of the century and produced by Ike Yard founder and post-punk legend Stuart Argabright, the project includes Mark C, duos/collaborations with Ikue Mori and DJ Olive, David Linton and Charles Cohen, Stuart Argabright and Judy Nylon in addition to turntablist Marina Rosenfeld, hybrid artist Ray Sweeten and 8-bit Construction Set. These artists continue to add their distinctive musical sensiibilities to New York City

Founded as a not-for-profit organization by artists in 1977, Harvestworks has helped a generation of artists create new works using technology. Our mission is to support the creation and presentation of art, works achieved through the use of new and evolving technologies and to bring together innovative practitioners from all branches of the arts collaborating in the use of electronic media.

Proceeds from the Harvestworks event will foster innovative explorations in art and technology by contemporary artists.

--

HARVESTWORKS
596 Broadway Suite 602
New York, NY 10012
212-431-1130

F, V, D, B to Broadway/Lafayette
R, W to Prince Street
6 to Bleecker Street

Labels: Ike_Yard, Stuart_Argabright

This was going to be a belated piece directing Cerysmatic readers to the latest hilarious entry in Hooky's SpyMace blog, whereby H posted - in its entirety - a solicitor's libel report raising concerns over specific extracts from his upcoming book Haçienda: How Not To Run A Club.

Unfortunately Hooky has taken it down, "after", he told Cerysmatic, "I got a solicitors bollocking".

Fortunately, someone else had already reposted it.

Shhh!

Labels: books

A small but enthuastic crowd braved storms of biblical proportions to watch A Certain Ratio's gig last night at Dingwalls in Camden. As part of the Beat Happening series there was a short Q&A session with Martin Moscrop and Jez Kerr before the band took the stage. Clearly enjoying themselves, playing out of their skins and even engaging in fan-banter, the band took us through a revamped setlist which featured a well-balanced mix of the old and the new.

Good to see the other JC, David Cooper, Al Jarvis, Agent King, Iain and Bunny, Andy, Will from Reorder and Ceri Evans (ex-Swamp Children).

Photos to come but here's the setlist (with thanks to David Cooper on the Cerysmatic Factory Message Board).

Choir
Waterline
Do The Du
Mickey Way
Wild Party
Flight
Mind Made Up
Forced Laugh
Way To Escape
I Feel Light
Heart & Soul
Wonder Y
Be What You Wanna Be
Shack Up
--
Knife Slits Water (w/Dojo on bass)
Si Firmi (w/Derek Johnson on bass)

Labels: A_Certain_Ratio, New_Order, Swamp_Children

The paper copy of last night's Manchester Evening News reported (under the above headline) that former Warsaw drummer Stephen Brotherdale "was found guilty of three counts of breaching a restraining order taken out by his former wife [and] has been jailed for four months."

Labels: New_Order

A Certain Ratio play The Beat Happening Sessions @ Dingwalls in London on Monday 15 June. Support comes from Chik Budo, Romance (DJ) and Phil Adams (DJ). Doors open 19:30 BST. Tickets are still available priced 12.00 GBP.

--

Dingwalls
Camden Lock Place
London NW1 8AB

www.beathappening.co.uk
acrmcr.com
acrmcr @ wordpress

Labels: A_Certain_Ratio

Many apologies for the delayed hangover from the recent malware attack which affected the whole of the site and continued to effect the Message Board beyond the original all-clear date of 19 May.

I can fully assure everyone that the whole of the site is now completely free of malware and that appropriate extra security measures have been put in place to prevent a repeat of these unfortunate events.

Thank you for your continued forebearance and remember to keep it FAC.

Labels: Cerysmatic_Factory

This year's Tony Wilson Experience - Reification event has been cancelled reports the Manchester Evening News. Apparently it took so long to set up the company to run the event there was not enough time left to actual do the event-running. The pragmatic view being taken seems to be that it might perhaps be better to run the event every two years, in between the Manchester International Festival.

Peter Saville, whose idea it all was in the first place, is quoted as saying "What's happened is an indication of just how much effort and commitment and work it takes to do something like that. This hasn't been anybody's job, its all extra curricular. I think it was a lot to put together in a relatively short time. If the city was able to do it every two years it would be fine."

Labels: Tony_Wilson

An alert to our NYC friends about the first Manhattan performance by Outpost a new group featuring Stuart Argabright (Ike Yard), Mark C (Live Skull) and Kent Heine (Holy Ghost). They're playing with two cool bands, including Joe Lally of Fugazi.

Thursday 11 June 2009
Cake Shop
152 Ludlow (btwn Stanton and Rivington)
New York
NY 10002

Tel: 212 253 0036
8.00 USD

8pm - Doors
9pm – Outpost
10pm - Glory-Tellers (Geoff Farina/ex-Karate)
11pm - Joe Lally (Fugazi)

Labels: Ike_Yard, Stuart_Argabright

According to MDMA Archive:

"Manchester International Festival is urgently looking for fans of World of Twist and Happy Mondays to work on the Jeremy Deller commission 'Procession' on the 5th July."

"MIF want fans to hold and walk with one of two banners which say 'I miss the World of Twist' and 'Your rendering thats scaffolding dangerous (sic)'."

'Fans' are invited to email procession@mif.co.uk, either to take part or to tell them who Shaun Ryder was actually quoting...

Labels: Happy_Mondays

- - - -

08.03 | 09.03 | 10.03 | 11.03 | 12.03 | 01.04 | 02.04 | 03.04 | 04.04 | 05.04 | 06.04 | 07.04 | 08.04 | 09.04 | 10.04 | 11.04 | 12.04 | 01.05 | 02.05 | 03.05 | 04.05 | 05.05 | 06.05 | 07.05 | 08.05 | 09.05 | 10.05 | 11.05 | 12.05 | 01.06 | 02.06 | 03.06 | 04.06 | 05.06 | 06.06 | 07.06 | 08.06 | 09.06 | 10.06 | 11.06 | 12.06 | 01.07 | 02.07 | 03.07 | 04.07 | 05.07 | 06.07 | 07.07 | 08.07 | 09.07 | 10.07 | 11.07 | 12.07 | 01.08 | 02.08 | 03.08 | 04.08 | 05.08 | 06.08 | 07.08 | 08.08 | 09.08 | 10.08 | 11.08 | 12.08 | 01.09 | 02.09 | 03.09 | 04.09 | 05.09 | 06.09 | 07.09 | 08.09 | 09.09 | 10.09 | 11.09 | 12.09 | 01.10 | 02.10 | 03.10 | 04.10 | 05.10 | 06.10 | 07.10 | 08.10 | 09.10 | 10.10 | 11.10 | 12.10 | 01.11 | 02.11 | 03.11 | 04.11 | 05.11 | 06.11 | 07.11 | 08.11 | 09.11 | 10.11 | 11.11 | 12.11 | 01.12 | 02.12 | 03.12 | 04.12 | 05.12 | 06.12 | 07.12 | 08.12 | 09.12 | 10.12 | 11.12 | 12.12 | 01.13 | 02.13 | 03.13 | 04.13 | 05.13 | 06.13 | 07.13 | 08.13 | 09.13 | 10.13 | 11.13 | 12.13 | 01.14 | 02.14 | 03.14 | 04.14 | 05.14 | 06.14 | 07.14 | 08.14 | 09.14 | 10.14 | 11.14 | 12.14 | 01.15 | 02.15 | 03.15 | 04.15 | 05.17 | 06.17 | 07.17 | 08.17 | 09.17 | 10.17 | 11.17 | 05.18 | 12.18 | 01.19 | 08.19 | 09.19 | 10.19 | 11.19 | 12.19 | 03.20 |

- - - -