UN-CONVENTION TYNESIDE – SONGWRITING FESTIVAL

11^th – 12^th June 2011

The Mining Institute, Morden Tower, The Central and The Bridge Hotel

+Official Festival Pub at The Head of Steam

Tickets and information from www.shipyardsongwriters.com

Shipyard Songwriters is bringing Un-Convention to the North East for the first time. Spread over two days the festival will combine a series of events looking at the art and creative processes behind songwriting. Unconventional spaces around the High Level Bridge in Newcastle and Gateshead will be occupied for a weekend of new works, talks and performances by some of the best emerging and established songwriters around.

We are delighted to welcome two of Chemikal Underground’s finest songwriters Aidan Moffat and Adrian Crowley to round up each night of the festival. Representing song-writing from the nations of Scotland and Ireland respectively, they will give us their own unique modern slant on the human condition.

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’s music has been described as a heartbroken steam engine whistling Tennyson’s ‘In Memoriam’ as set to music by Leonard Cohen. Bringing us subtle poignant beauty from Dublin’s fair city.

On Saturday night at the Mining Institute, three highly regarded local songwriters – Jez Lowe, Pete Scott and Brenda Heslop (from Ribbon Road) will discuss 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? The discussion will be followed by a concert with the writers who will illustrate their points in performance.

Launching the festival on the Saturday afternoon at The Mining Institute and The Bridge will be an opportunity for North East based songwriters to show their song-writing wares, with sets from Richard Dawson, Cath and Phil Tyler, O’ Messy Life, The Winter Hill Transmission, John Egdell, Ian Hunter and Paul Campbell and much more to be confirmed, plus a special appearance from Liverpool-based award winning playwright and songwriter Lizzie Nunnery to round off the afternoon.

Lizzie will also be performing on the Sunday afternoon at Morden Tower as Shipyard are delighted to work with Liverpool based Almanac to create a theatre production written especially for Un-Convention Tyneside. Commissioning some of the most exciting local and national songwriters, musicians and writers – ‘Stories in the Walls – A Happening in the Tower’ will create a piece of real collaborative theatre, where the songs and music are an integral part of the performance. Expect the souls and spirits, the waifs and wanderers within the city walls, coming out to tell you their story, waiting to perform, all the living and all the dead.

Add to this, talks on song-writing by (amongst others) veteran North East songwriters Pete Dale and Nev Clay, an official ‘songwriters pub’ at The Head of Steam acting as a meeting place for artists and audience to have a drink together and other artists still to be confirmed and it’s a canny nice festival for the North East.

For more information contact: Jill Heslop (t) 07791 289124 (e) http://[email protected]

What is Un-Convention?

Un-Convention is a global grassroots music and creative community – that meets physically and virtually to share ideas; discuss and debate cutting edge issues around music, technology and creativity; and facilitates members engagement with their peers.

Un-Convention has happened 17 times around the globe in 2 years and has another 20 events planned for 2011. Un-Convention happens in 5 continents and in cities from Swansea to Sao Paulo. Un-Convention involves 1,500 artists and bands, 16,400 participants, 36,000 gig goers and 140,000 people online per year. 40% of people attending Un-Convention are from disadvantaged backgrounds. It happens in some of the most amazing spaces including The Roundhouse and The Southbank Centre.

Visit http://www.unconventionhub.org for more details

What is Shipyard Songwriters?

 Shipyard Songwriters was set up to bring songwriters and musicians and other artists together through a series of events, talks and projects.

It was set up by a group of people who believe that there is not the right level of representation for quality songwriting; that it is subject mainly to the decisions made by the main stream music business and its needs, rather than either the needs of the songwriter or the audience.

Visit http://www.shipyardsongwriters.com for more details

What is Almanac?

 Almanac are inventors and curators of out of the ordinary nights of theatre and music. Concocting collaborations from artists of distinct creative backgrounds, they work with musicians, composers, writers, visual artists, theatre makers and other adventurists, and we are delighted that they are here in Newcastle for one sorcerous night to curate a show with some of the most exciting local and national musicians and writers.

Visit http://www.almanac-live.com for more details.

By peter on May 15, 2011