The full line-up featuring three (count 'em) ex-Factory Records bands has finally been confirmed for this special Record Store Day event to be held on 19 April 2014 at the Ruby Lounge in Manchester.

Minny Pops will now join Section 25 and Crispy Ambulance (plus DJ Fac Col) for a night of Factoryesque fun.

Tickets are on sale now priced 10.00 GBP over the counter (no booking fee) via Vinyl Revival, Hilton St, Manchester and online via Ticketline (plus booking fee).

More info at minnypops.com, section25.com and crispyambulance.com

Labels: Crispy_Ambulance, gigs, Minny_Pops, Record_Store_Day, Section_25, Vinyl_Revival

Section 25's From The Hip 30th anniversary edition will be released by Factory Benelux on 5 May 2014. The album which was originally released as FACT 90 in 1984 and which marked a turn towards pioneering electronica for the Blackpool band. Produced by New Order's Bernard Sumner and replete with Peter Saville's iconic coded imagery and Trevor Key's photography it is a landmark of the Factory Records history.

The new FBN edition is a digipack which presents the full album, remixes including the seminal Looking From A Hilltop (Megamix), a BBC radio session, b-sides, demos and a new recording of Reflection by the current line-up. Rounding it all of are liner notes to which Vin Cassidy and Jon Savage contribute.

More info and ordering details via factorybenelux.com.

Tracklisting

Disc 1

1. The Process
2. Looking From A Hilltop
3. Reflection
4. Prepare To Live
5. Program For Light
6. Desert
7. Beneath the Blade
8. Inspiration
9. Looking From A Hilltop (Restructure)
10. Looking From A Hilltop (Megamix)
11. Dirty Disco II
12. Dirty Disco II (Pre-Mix)
13. Beating Heart (12" Remix)
14. Back to Wonder (12" Version)
15. Beating Heart (12" Version)

Disc 2

1. Looking From A Hilltop (1984 BBC session)
2. Reflection (1984 BBC session)
3. Warhead (1984 BBC session)
4. The Process (1983 demo)
5. Looking From A Hilltop (1983 demo)
6. Prepare To Live (1983 demo)
7. Reflection (1983 demo)
8. Desert (1983 demo)
9. Program For Light (1984 vocal mix)
10. Another Hilltop (Stephen Morris Remix)
11. Reflection (Young Image)

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Artist: Section 25
Title: From The Hip
Format: 2CD / Digital download
Catalogue number: FBN 33 CD
Label: Factory Benelux
Release date: 5 May 2014

Labels: album, Bernard_Sumner, Factory_Benelux, Jon_Savage, Peter_Saville, Section_25

"Paris Invites The World" forms part of the Fête du Graphisme (Festival of Graphic Design) being held in Paris during January and February 2014. Peter Saville is one the graphic designers who has been asked to contribute three posters which showcase the best of their work in the world of music graphics.

The featured posters are Unknown Pleasures, Halluçienda and Movement. I was fortunate enough to help out with supplying the last of these thanks in turn to the kindness of a fellow Factory fan a few years ago who gave it to me.

Fête du Graphisme opens on 29 January and more information is available (in French only) at fetedugraphisme.org.

Labels: design, graphic_design, Peter Saville, poster

Northside play a homecoming show in Manchester at the Club Academy on Saturday 3 May 2014 as part of their reunion tour. Tickets priced 15.00 GBP (+ booking fee) in advance available now via Seetickets, Ticketline and by phoning the Box Office on 0161 832 1111.

The full tour itinerary is:

April

12 - Brixton Jamm, London [Buy tickets]
17 - Brudenell Social Club, Leeds [Buy tickets]
18 - The Venue, Derby [Buy tickets]
19 - The Cross, Birmingham [Buy tickets]
24 - The Classic Grand, Glasgow [Buy tickets]

May

3 - Club Academy, Manchester [Buy tickets]

Labels: gigs, Northside

Those Crispy Ambulance 2014 live dates in full:

The Ruby Lounge, Manchester with Section 25 - Saturday 19 April 2014 (Record Store Day)
The Belgrave, Leeds - Saturday 26 April 2014 [Buy tickets]
The Met, Bury - Monday 25 August 2014 (Bank Holiday)

[N.B Tickets aren't yet on sale for Manchester or Bury.]

A note on crispyambulance.com states: "It's worth noting that the sets for the April appearances will consist largely of older material, while the August set will feature material from the band's Darla Records period with, perhaps, a couple of older numbers thrown in for good measure."

Labels: Crispy_Ambulance, gigs

Stephen 'Mal' Mallinder's (ex-Cabaret Voltaire) new group Wrangler play a live session for Marc Riley's 6Music show this Tuesday 21 January from 19:00 GMT.

Labels: Cabaret_Voltaire, Marc_Riley, radio, Stephen_Mallinder

Ben Kelly, the designer behind FAC 51 The Hacienda, FAC 201 Dry and FAC 251 The Factory HQ, appears in conversation with fellow designer Andrew Stevens in Selfridges Manchester Exchange Square as part of the Festival of Imagination on Wednesday 22 January 2014 from 6-8pm.

The pair will explore creative collaboration and how it can benefit a design project.

Tickets priced £10 (including refreshments) are available by calling 0161 838 0610.

More info on the Festival of Imagination at selfridges.com

Labels: architecture, Ben_Kelly, design, graphic_design, interview, talk

Julia Kneale's book Moods, Memories and other Manoeuvres which contains plenty about the times when she was Andy McCluskey's girlfriend and a member of The Id (one of the forerunners of OMD) as well as the Merseyside music scene at the advent of post-punk in mid to late Seventies, is out on 24 January 2014.

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Title: Moods, Memories and other Manoeuvres
Author: Julia Kneale
Paperback: 147 pages
Published by: Acorn Independent Press
Publication date: 24 January 2014
ISBN-13: 978-1909121546

Available via Amazon.co.uk and other booksellers.

Labels: book, OMD

More MDMArchive action, this time it's Richard Boon live onstage in conversation with Dave Haslam at Gorilla, Manchester on Thursday 13 February 2014.

Richard Boon isn't just an important eye-witness to Manchester's music scene, but also a major player and an influential figure, with the inside story of one of the most glorious eras of Manchester music.

He was the Buzzcocks' manager who founded New Hormones, the UK's first punk / post-punk independent record label and helped run the Beach Club.

New Hormones was an inspiration to later labels like Factory Records, and released records by artists including Biting Tongues, Dislocation Dance, Ludus and Eric Random.

The New Hormones office at 50 Newton St was also the home of gig promoters Wise Moves and 'City Fun' fanzine.

This is a free event, with an audience Q&A included. It's a great opportunity to hear Richard Boon describing and discussing early Sex Pistols gigs; working with Malcolm McLaren, Buzzcocks, and Linder Sterling; and plotting and planning with Mark E Smith, Jon Savage and Morrissey.

Admission is free but spaces are limited. Please register for guest list places by emailing: info@mdmarchive.co.uk with 'Richard Boon Event' in the subject field. Each guest should email us individually.

THIS EVENT IS FUNDED BY HERITAGE LOTTERY FUND.

More info at the Facebook Event and mdmarchive.co.uk.

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Thursday 13 February 2014
6.45pm for 7.30pm

Gorilla
54-56 Whitworth St West
Manchester M1 5WW

Labels: Dave_Haslam, interview, Manchester_District_Music_Archive, New_Hormones, Richard_Boon, talk

Manchester District Music Archive present 'Musical Adventures in Manchester' featuring The Prospectors with Graham Massey live at the Band on The Wall, Manchester on Monday 24 February 2014.

Doors open at 6.45pm and admission is free (but see note at end about guest list).

The Prospectors are a 12-strong band of disabled musicians who have been playing and gigging in and around Manchester for over eight years. Led by Drake Music's Fil Hill and Andy Boothman, the group uses a complex combination of Soundbeam, iPads, Ableton and live instrumentation to create experimental reworks of pop and dance classics. For one night only The Prospectors will be joined by Manchester rave pioneer Graham Massey (Biting Tongues / 808 State / Massonix / Toolshed) for a set of tracks inspired by music from our fair city.

Nice Touch are a collective of young disabled musicians from Bolton who have been making music with collaborator Kenton Mann (Music Unlimited) since June of last year. The band work on original material and aim to spread joy wherever they go. Tonight will be their Manchester debut.

Bernie Shaw is the artistic leader of legendary Swinton ukele collective Strummers & Grinners.Tonight he presents four spin-off ukele ensembles: Cool Hand Uke, Jo Bangles, Ladies In Red, Banjojo for a right royal knees-up, Salford-style.

Compere Longfella is one of the UK's most renowned performance poets and an all-round Manchester hero.

DJ support on the night comes from All FM's Vicky Richardson and MDMArchive's Abigail Ward.

This event is supported by Stockport Cerebral Palsy Society - a charity that promotes independence for children and adults with physical and/or learning disabilities, Drake Music - a charity that removes disabling barriers to music and Manchester College.

Admission is free. Please register for guest list places by emailing: info@mdmarchive.co.uk with 'Musical Adventures' in the subject field (PLEASE USE EXACT WORDS).

More info at the Facebook Event and mdmarchive.co.uk.

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Band on the Wall
25 Swan Street
Manchester M4 5JZ

Monday 24th February
Doors: 6.45pm
Admission: FREE
Bands: The Prospectors feat: Graham Massey, Nice Touch, Bernie Shaw, Cool Hand Uke, Jo Bangles, Ladies In Red, Banjojo
Compere: Longfella (Tony Wals)

DJs: Abigail Ward (MDMArchive), Vicky Richardson (ALL FM)
Visuals: Mathew Norman (Soup Collective)

Labels: gigs, Graham_Massey, Manchester_District_Music_Archive

On 17 March 2014 Factory Benelux release a new 2CD edition of Sparks In A Dark Room, the second studio album by Minny Pops, originally released by Factory Benelux in May 1982. The album on the first disc is augmented by bonus tracks include the non-album singles Time and Een Kus, plus demos and an EP by instrumental splinter project Smalts.

The second disc features an entire live performance recorded at Amsterdam Melkweg on 7 April 2012 on their 30th anniversary tour, with original members Wally Van Middendorp, Wim Dekker and Pieter Mulder and new guitarist Mark Ritsema.

Tracklisting

Disc 1

1. Mountain
2. A Feeling
3. Tracking
4. Crack
5. Vital
6. Blue Roses
7. Wong
8. Experience
9. Dream
10. Night Visit
11. Trance
12. Time
13. Lights
14. Een Kus
15. Son
16. Secret Story (demo)
17. Schitterende Ogen (demo)
18. Time (demo)
20. Werktitel #7
21. Werktitel #5
22. Werktitel #1
23. Werktitel #8

Disc 2 (live)

1. Kogel
2. Blue Roses
3. Tracking
4. Vital
5. Goddess
6. Dolphins Spurt
7. Wong
8. Night Visit
9. Secret Story
10. Time
11. Trance
12. Mental
13. Son

More info and ordering details via factorybenelux.com.

Labels: Factory_Benelux, Minny_Pops

Les Disques du Crépuscule release a limited edition clear vinyl 12-inch single by Marnie (the lead singer of Ladytron) for Record Store Day 2014 featuring remixes by New Order's Stephen Morris, Mark Reeder (ex-Shark Vegas) and Roman Nose.

Tracklisting

Side 1

1. The Hunter (Album Version)
2. The Hunter (Remixed by Roman Nose)

Side 2

1. The Hunter (Remixed by Stephen Morris)
2. Sugarland (Remixed by Mark Reeder)

More info via lesdisquesducrepuscule.com

Labels: Les_Disques_du_Crepuscule, Mark_Reeder, Marnie, release, remix, Stephen_Morris

The Northside Reunion Tour Spring 2014 featuring the original line-up has been announced and thus far includes dates in London, Leeds, Derby, Birmingham, Glasgow and Manchester. More dates are set to be added.

April

12 - Brixton Jamm, London [Buy tickets]
17 - Brudenell Social Club, Leeds [Buy tickets]
18 - The Venue, Derby [Buy tickets]
19 - The Cross, Birmingham [Buy tickets]
24 - The Classic Grand, Glasgow [Buy tickets]

May

3 - Club Academy, Manchester [Buy tickets]

Labels: gigs, Northside

Kevin Hewick plays The Criterion in Leicester on Thursday 16 January. This will be a full-length 2-hours-and-then-some set and the first since the release of his new album 'The Heat of Molten Diamonds' which is out now via Pinkbox.

More info via the Facebook event and kevinhewick.co.uk.

Labels: gigs, Kevin_Hewick

It's another Record Store Day limited edition vinyl single release for Section 25 in the form of Reflection (Young Image) which will be released on 19 April 2014 via Factory Benelux (on the same day the band play The Ruby Lounge with Crispy Ambulance).

There will be only 500 copies on orange vinyl complete with exclusive b-side Change. The a-side is taken from the forthcoming release From The Hip (30th Anniversary Edition) and is a reworking of the track from side one of the original 1984 album.

SXXV's Beth Cassidy says: "On first listening Reflection is a whimsical yet heartfelt expression of true love," says Beth Cassidy. "But strip this back and we discover an inner core which explores the surreal nature of life itself. Even after 30 years there are layers to this song that conceal its true meaning."

Art direction is based on Peter Saville's original designs for classic 1984 club single Looking From A Hilltop (FAC 108).

Record Store Day 2014 will be the 7th annual celebration of independent record shops in the UK.

Labels: Factory_Benelux, From_The_Hip, Record_Store_Day, Section_25

Events New Order Factory Benelux design Section 25 The Durutti Column graphic design books DJ FAC51 The Hacienda Factory Records Peter Saville Peter Hook Joy Division Happy Mondays The Wake A Certain Ratio Cabaret Voltaire

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