John Metcalfe's long-awaited new album 'A Darker Sunset' will definitely be out later this year on The Big Chill Recordings. In the meantime here's a quick rundown of what John and also The Duke Quartet are up to this Summer.

John is composing a new 10-minute piece for guitarist Tom Kurstens and his G+ ensemble for performance at the South Bank Centre in July.

On 6 June 2008, John will be composing live with Simon Hale, The Bays and members of Norway's Bit20 ensemble in Birmingham's Custard Factory as part of the Integra Festival, a 3-year project led by the Birmingham Conservatoire in the UK and part financed by Culture 2000. Show starts at 7.30.

The Duke Quartet will be in residence at the Dartington Summer School from 9-16 August 2008.

The Dukes will be closing Brighton's Soundwaves Festival performing Bartok String Quartet No 6, Part Fratres, Philip Venables String Quartet and a new work by Rolf Hind. The concert takes place in the Pavilion Theatre on Sunday 29 June 2008 at 7.30pm.

Labels: John_Metcalfe

Section 25 and Peter Hook of Joy Division/New Order have announced the first of a series of joint live concerts, at the Ancienne Belgique venue in Brussels (Belgium) on Friday 7 November 2008. Further dates in France and Germany will be confirmed shortly.

Their combined set will include highlights from the combined catalogues of Joy Division, Section 25, New Order and Monaco, as well as a sprinkling of new material. Songs will include 'Transmission', 'Temptation', 'Looking From A Hilltop', 'Shadowplay', 'Dreams Never End', 'What Do You Want From Me?', 'Dirty Disco', 'Love Will Tear Us Apart' and 'Blue Monday'. Section 25 will also perform a separate opening set.

Section 25 and Peter first gigged together in 1979, during the heyday of Factory Records, when Section 25 often supported Joy Division in London and the North-West. After a gap of two decades, Section 25 again performed as guests of New Order in Blackpool in October 2006, while Peter performed the classic Temptation with SXXV at A Factory Night (Once Again), the sold-out live event staged at Plan K in Brussels on 15 December 2007.

"I'm scared to death, but it'll be great to do a full gig. I’ve missed playing too much!" (Peter Hook)

"It's a privilege to perform these songs with Hooky and the band. There will be power and passion." (Larry and Vin Cassidy)

Labels: Factory_Records, Joy_Division, Larry_Cassidy, Monaco, New_Order, Peter_Hook, Section_25

A Certain Ratio have just announced a gig at The Voodoo Rooms in Edinburgh on Saturday 14 June 2008 with DJ Martin Brew (Fat City).

From 9pm in The Ballroom. ACR on stage 10.30pm. Advance tickets 14.00 GBP + booking fee from Tickets Scotland, Ripping, Underground Solushun, The Voodoo Rooms, online at www.ticketweb.co.uk or by phone on 0132 220 3234.

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The Voodoo Rooms
19a West Register St
Edinburgh
EH2 2AA

Tel: 0131 556 7060

Labels: A_Certain_Ratio

In The City 2008 will take place on 5-7 October, at The Midland hotel in Manchester, England and at venues across the city.

Full details of the bands, keynotes and panels that make up this year's event will be released over the coming weeks, but already it's clear this year's ITC will feature more bands and more showcases than ever before. As well as the best-unsigned bands in the world, ITC will be showcasing new, just-signed talent from across the globe and holding special events by some well-known established acts – giving Manchester a true city-based festival of music and much more.

Demo submissions now open

ITC have announced that demo submissions are now open. Bands who wish to submit a demo for consideration can either send a demo (minimum of three tracks), biog and photo to the ITC office, or alternatively visit the ITC website – www.inthecity.co.uk - and use the new online submission system.

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In The City
5-7 October 2008
Manchester, England

Labels: A_Certain_Ratio

'Sunlight To Blue... Blue To Blackness', the new album by The Durutti Column is now on limited internet presale via www.kookydisc.co.uk for 11.00 GBP inc p+p (Paypal only).

The album is formally released on 23 June 2008.

Labels: The_Durutti_Column

Not got your copy of Scream City 4 yet!? This most excellent fanzine is still on sale, priced 2.00 GBP + p&p via eBay (Paypal only).

SC4 is the FAC-2 special and comes in glorious black & white with brand new interviews with Peter Hook (Joy Division), Vini Reilly (The Durutti Column), Stephen Mallinder (Cabaret Voltaire) and John Dowie (erm, John Dowie) and much more.

Labels: Cabaret_Voltaire, John_Dowie, Joy_Division, Peter_Hook, The_Durutti_Column

Section 25 + Special Guests Tunnelvision Plus DJ set from Martin Moscrop of A Certain Ratio play at the Beat Club (22 Corporation Street, Blackpool) on Friday 20 June 2008 in celebration of the 30th Anniversary of SXXV.

9pm - 2am
Admission 5.00 GBP

XXV=XXX

Labels: A_Certain_Ratio, Section_25, Tunnelvision

Sam Carroll (the son of Pat Carroll and Karen Jackson) and Ian Green are Some Other Guy.

Shaun Ryder contributes vocals on two tracks which can be heard at myspace.com/someotherguymusic.

The tracks are on a limited edition 7" single "someotherguy vol.1". The artwork has been designed by Central Station which is out soon.

Labels: Central_Station_Design

The new single by German trance act Blank and Jones, 'Miracle Cure'‚ features Bernard Sumner on vocals and is out worldwide on 30 May 2008. The track is taken from the new album 'The Logic of Pleasure' which is out 6 June 2008 via Amazon.de.

The cast list for Reification - the Tony Wilson Experience is getting bigger with more names just added to the line-up, including celebrity scientist, broadcaster and writer Professor Brian Cox, musicians Stephen Morris and Gillian Gilbert, and writer Paul Morley.

They join writer and musician John Robb and Caroline Elleray, Head of A&R for Universal Music Publishing in the 24 hour event being held in Manchester on 21 and 22 June in memory of broadcaster, entrepreneur and creative champion, Anthony H Wilson.

Together with Peter Saville, Steve Coogan, Mark Radcliffe, Liam Spencer, Peter Hook, Ben Kelly, Alan McGee, Kevin Cummins, Sue Woodward, Stuart Maconie, Grant Gee, and Matt Greenhalgh, they are the latest to agree to take part in Manchester's longest ever intelligent conversation, debating, engaging and challenging each nonstop for 24 hours.

Up to 200 talented individuals are to be selected to take part in the event from the many submissions that have already been made through the event website. Entries are being judged by a panel including designer Peter Saville, former Director of Factory Records with Tony Wilson and currently Creative Director of Manchester City Council, and others from a wide range of creative disciplines, who are all supporting the event.

Submissions remain open until next Monday 26 May for any talented young individuals who want to be part of the event, through the event website:

www.tonywilsonexperience.com

The experienced creatives taking part in the event, are all giving their time freely to share their experience for the benefit of the young people taking part.

Stephen Morris said: "Tony played a big part in giving Joy Division and all the Factory bands the chance we needed to play, perform, and to record our music. The support, enthusiasm and the belief in our early abilities that he and other people like our manager Rob Gretton had in us was probably more important to us than any of us realised at the time.

"If what we did as musicians, and what Tony himself did can inspire young people today to be creative, then that has to be a good thing. I'm very much looking forward to the event and meeting some of the young creative talent chosen to take part."

In addition to the talented 200 chosen to take part in the event there will also be opportunities for members of the general public to get involved in and get a taste of the full event during its 24 hour run.

With its Ben Kelly designed marquee interior and a host of other creative talent at the disposal of the event organisers to make certain the event looks as good as it sounds, there will be plenty of things to interest members of the public with an eye for the creative arts.

Vicky Rosin, Assistant Chief Executive Culture, Manchester City Council, said: "Whilst we are gearing up our experienced speakers to inspire and engage with what we hope is the next generation of creative talent invited to be part of the event, we very much hope that the wider public will come down and have a look and get a taste of the Experience themselves.

"Tony Wilson inspired a lot of people in lots of different ways and I am sure what's on offer during the 24 hours is going to be of interest to them also. It promises to be both fascinating and forward thinking."

Labels: A_Certain_Ratio, Ben_Kelly, Factory_Records, Joy_Division, Kevin_Cummins, Oliver_Wilson, Peter_Hook, Tony_Wilson

A few photos from Thursday's Central Station Design launch party are now available. Highlights include a jovial Shaun Ryder and a nearly-but-not-quite reunion of The Stone Roses.

Labels: Central_Station_Design

A fortuitous warehouse find means that 5 copies of last year's third edition of Scream City are now on sale on eBay priced 2.00 GBP + p&p (PayPal only).

Scream City 3 contents:

* Bernard Sumner by David Nolan
* A Field Trip to the Factory Archives by Andrew James
* Electronic: Message Received by Matthew Robertson
* Ghosts of the Haçienda by Michael Eastwood
* Unknown Pleasures: What's in the Factory Collection at MoSI by Jan Hargreaves
* A Kick Up The Nipsie (Alan Hempsall of Crispy Ambulance interview) by David Nolan
* A Cock and Balls Story by John Cooper

Plus the cover is an original illustration by Matt Carroll of Central Station Design.

More copies of Scream City 4 (the latest issue) will go on sale on Monday.

Labels: Central_Station_Design, Crispy_Ambulance, Electronic

Manchester's finest turned out for the party to celebrate the launch of the long-awaited Central Station Design Retrospective 'Faç Off' at Richard Goodall's new gallery space at the top end of High Street in the Northern Quarter last night.

Those coming out to play included Shaun Ryder, Paul Ryder, Bez, Mani, John Squire, Cressa, Terry Hall, Bruce Mitchell, Trevor Johnson, Dave Haslam and John Thomson. Central Station's Karen Jackson and Pat & Matt Carroll must have been very proud to see their work on display in such fine surroundings and in such good company.

When the drinks ran out we decamped to Matt & Phred's on Tib Street to continue the party with top notch sounds courtesy of Sam Carroll and his mate.

Big Cerysmatic shouts out to moist, Slim, Russ, Colin, Bruce, Alison, Dom Morrison, Nat, Stephen @ Salford Star, Adam, Sam, Karen, Pat and Matt.

Faç Off: A Central Station Design Retrospective continues until 21 June. Limited edition fine art prints are available to buy from Richard Goodall Gallery.

Labels: Central_Station_Design, Dave_Haslam

A full range of Central Station Design Limited Edition Prints is now available and not just the Carlos and Bummed.

Visit the Central Station Design online store at richardgoodallgallery.com.

Labels: Central_Station_Design

Limited edition fine art silkscreen prints of the Carlos and Bummed art works of Central Station Design are now available buy online.

Faç Off: A Central Station Design Retrospective starts on Friday 16 May and runs until 21 June at the to Richard Goodall Gallery in Manchester (where the prints will also be on sale).

Labels: Central_Station_Design

Temperance Club at South
Friday 23 May 2008 for one night only
10:00pm
DJ Dave Haslam

"In the late 1980s the Temperance Club was hosted every Thursday night at the Haçienda by DJ Dave Haslam; you'd hear pre-release copies Stone Roses singles alongside Public Enemy; Detroit techno next to classic rock; and New Order, the Stooges, the Beastie Boys, the Pixies, and 'Sympathy for the Devil' every week.

From the first 'Temperance Club' night at the Haçienda on May 1st 1986, the eclectic mix of rock, hip-hop, indie and house broke down musical barriers; and played a key role in fuelling the indie-dance crossover that became a feature of the Madchester era. According to a reviewer in the 'NME' writing in May 1990 "In the hands of DJ Dave Haslam, Thursday night at the Haçienda has become, simply, the best night out in Britain."

The first 'Temperance Club' special at South's 'Another Planet' night in August 2007 was part of South's tribute to the late Tony Wilson. On the occasion of this second 'Temperance Club' special, once again proceeds from this night will be donated to the Christie Hospital in Manchester in Tony's honour.

** 1986 DRINKS PRICES FROM 10PM-11PM **"

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South Nightclub
4a South King Street
Manchester

Labels: Dave_Haslam, New_Order, Tony_Wilson

Friday 23 May 2008 sees The Ritz on Whitworth Street, Manchester play host to a very special event Thanks, Pranks and Party Pants. This is a party hosted by Versus Cancer's Andy Rourke and Nova Rehman to show their appreciation for everyone who has contributed to the success of Versus Cancer since its launch in 2006, with all proceeds from night going to Versus Cancer.

By happy coincidence the bank holiday weekend is also Nova Rehman's birthday and the line up ensures that this is one birthday celebration that will be talked about for a long time to come.

The party sees sets from local bands Frazer King and Our Fold, upcoming Manchester band Rambo and Leroy and legendary bass player Jah Wobble (ex PIL and Invaders Of The Heart), performing ahead of his Chinese Dub tour. Badly Drawn Boy will perform with Andy Rourke.

The Sun and the Moon featuring ex-Chameleons Mark Burgess and John Lever will be playing twenty years on from their first gig as The Sun and the Moon in the same venue DJs Dermo (Northside) and Tin Tin will be on hand to provide the tunes between sets. Both The Sun & The Moon and Jah Wobble will be appearing on Dermo's 'Lethal Dancehall'.

TSATM - Wed 14th May from 7pm
Jah Wobble - Tues 20th May from 7pm

Versus Cancer is known for its unique collaborations and this event is no different with some exciting collaborations planned as birthday surprises to include Aziz Ibrahim, from Ian Brown’s band.

Ian McCulloch of Echo and the Bunnymen is rumoured to complete the line up and in keeping with the theme of the evening he celebrates thirty years of The Bunnymen this year.

Tickets are on sale now via seetickets.com priced at 12.00 GBP.

Labels: Northside

Following on from the Ian Curtis Great Lives programme the other day, another great Radio 4 programme with a Manchester music theme.

Bespoken Word features Paul Morley talking about (and, a bit more oddly, talking like) John Cooper Clarke. The show, available via Listen Again for a limited period also features Mark E Smith, Pete Shelley, CP Lee and Don Letts.

A reminder that Section 25 celebrate the release of their Best Of album Dirty Disco (out now on LTM) by playing the North Bar in Blackburn on 30 May 2008.

Support comes from Kevin Hewick.

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30 May 2008
North Bar
Town Hall St
Blackburn
Lancashire
BB2 1AG

Tel: 01254 682670

Labels: Kevin_Hewick, Section_25

From LTM Central:

LTM is pleased to present an archive CD of recordings made in for the legendary Factory Records label by cult band Blurt, the unclassifiable punk-jazz trio led by Ted Milton.

Formed in Stroud in 1979, Blurt consisted of Ted Milton (sax, vocals), brother Jake Milton (drums) and guitarist Pete Creese. Ted had already attracted the attention of Factory founder Tony Wilson as a puppeteer (!), and were invited to join the label. Blurt performed at several Factory showcase gigs in London between April and August 1980, and recorded one side of the double compilation album A Factory Quartet (FACT 24).

Although their anarchic shows and music drew rave reviews, Blurt were frustrated by delays in releasing their Factory recording, and the last minute loss of a Factory tour of Europe in October. A live album, Live In Berlin, was recorded in December 1980 and scheduled for release as a 10" on Factory Benelux, but cancelled after Blurt annoyed Wilson by comparing the Factory label to lifestyle boutique Habitat. The set was subsequently released as In Berlin on Armageddon, its memorable cover featuring a photograph of a pile of pink rubbish sacks.

Digitally remastered, LTMCD 2526 The Factory Recordings combines all tracks from A Factory Quartet and In Berlin, including Blurt favourites My Mother Was a Friend of an Enemy of the People, Ubu, Puppeteers of the World Unite and Cherry Blossom Polish. The booklet features archive images and detailed sleevenotes.

Labels: Blurt, Factory_Benelux, Factory_Records, labels

BBC Radio 4's Great Lives today saw poet Simon Armitage and Peter Hook join Matthew Parris to discuss the all-too-brief life of Ian Curtis.

While mainly from Simon Armitage's viewpoint, Hook's insights, even after all of these years, are among the most interesting and forthright he's given.

It also features part of a previously unreleased (& unheard) Malcolm McLaren-project version of Love Will Tear Us Apart, with just Ian's vocals accompanied by a piano. The track appears 11m 44s in.

And there's a snippet of an archive Radio 1 interview with Steve Morris and Ian.

The programme is available to Listen Again and is also downloadable as a podcast.

With thanks to Neil for spotting.

Labels: Peter_Hook

A special article by William Shaw on Madchester appears in the new edition of Q Magazine (#263).

Features anecdotes from Tony Wilson, Phil Saxe, Matt Carroll, Ian Brown, Mani, Mike Pickering, Paul Ryder, Steve Morris, Hooky, Pete Walsh, Jeff Barrett, Shaun Ryder, Gaz Whelan, Dave Haslam, Rowetta, John Robb and Nick Kent.

Oh, and some guys called John Cooper and Michael Eastwood squeeze a word in.

Labels: Dave_Haslam, Tony_Wilson

Clash Music, the online and print music magazine, celebrates Factory Records with a whole week of features and interviews. Highlights include new interviews with Peter Saville, Section 25, Jon Savage and Peter Hook.

Labels: Factory_Records, Peter_Hook, Section_25

Joy Division, the film documentary directed by Grant Gee, is released in selected UK cinemas from today.

Labels: Joy_Division

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