Shipyard Songwriters is bringing Un-Convention to the North East for the first time. Spread over two days the festival will occupy unconventional spaces around the High Level Bridge in Newcastle and Gateshead for a weekend of new works, talks and performances by some of the best emerging and established songwriters around.
HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:
*AIDAN MOFFAT + TREV GIBB
SATURDAY 11TH JUNE, 8PM, THE CENTRAL, GATESHEAD
Whether Aidan Moffat is being ex-frontman of Arab Strap or L. Pierre, architect of ambient soundscapes, the man from Falkirk seems to excel in whatever musical or literary projects he turns his hand to. He has always been recognised for his remarkable way with a candid (and often lurid) lyric and with the release of his solo albums he has shown just what a gifted and observant writer he is.
*ADRIAN CROWLEY + THE HORSE LOOM,
SUNDAY 12TH JUNE, 9PM, MORDEN TOWER, NEWCASTLE
His music has been described as 'a heartbroken steam engine whistling Tennyson’s ‘In Memoriam’ as set to music by Leonard Cohen'. Subtle poignant beauty from Dublin’s fair city.
*SONGS WITHOUT END, AMEN - JEZ LOWE, PETE SCOTT AND BRENDA HESLOP (RIBBON ROAD)
SATURDAY 11TH JUNE, 7PM, THE MINING INSTITUTE, NEWCASTLE
A discussion and performance on North East songwriting, looking at how the writers of the past such as Joe Wilson and Tommy Armstrong influence them as song-writers today and what of their way of writing can we carry forward into the 21st century?
*STORIES IN THE WALLS: A HAPPENING IN THE TOWER
SUNDAY 12TH JUNE, 6PM, MORDEN TOWER, NEWCASTLE
Shipyard are delighted to work with Liverpool based Almanac to create a theatre production written especially for Un-Convention Tyneside. Playwrights Susan Mulholland, Lizzie Nunnery, Lindsay Rodden and Jeff Young are joined by some of Newcastle's finest music experimenters: Claude Werner on clarinet and double bass, songwriter Martin Heslop, percussion from Christian Alderson and Vidar Norheim on vibraphone. Responding to memories and stories of Morden Tower, the ghosts of the city walls, and the poetry that has breathed life into this extraordinary place, the company are delighted to be able to incorporate into the show the fabulous poetry of Tom Pickard, who pioneered the underground poetry movement in the city.
*TALKS: SONGWRITERS ON SONGWRITING
SUNDAY 12TH JUNE, 1PM, MORDEN TOWER
A series of talks on songwriting from veteran North East songwriters including Pete Dale (Slampt Records), Nev Clay and Ross Millard (The Futureheads)
*ARTHUR 2 STROKE WITH WM7 & THE BIG BLACK BOMB + SHRUG
SUNDAY 12TH JUNE, 8PM, THE CENTRAL, GATESHEAD
Arthur 2 Stroke (and his organisation Anti Pop) was a leading light in Newcastle's late seventies punk/new wave scene. Chris Donald, inventor of Viz Comic and a life- long fan, cites Arthur as a key inspirational influence, and the first ever Viz Comic featured Arthur 2 Stroke and was sold at the Gosforth Hotel.
In 2007 Arthur and his longstanding side kick WM7 got together with popular local band The Pioneers of Mediocrity. Further collaboration quickly ensued, and in 2009 Arthur 2 Stroke’s Big Black Bomb was created, performing material from Arthur’s original back catalogue of Punk, Ska and Northern Soul delights, including his cover of the Hawaii 5 0 theme tune, a cult hit in Tyneside in 1981.
*The Head of Steam - Official Festival Pub (open until 3am Saturday and 2am Sunday) Read less
