Industry news & advice blog

On Saturday 4th September, the Discovery Museum, Newcastle will host a spectacular day of music from the North East’s rising stars, as part of SPEAR:Transmission which looks at the past, present and future of music broadcasting.

Following the success of last year’s North East Beat Unsigned event in the museum’s stunning Great Hall, Generator are pleased to announce another all-ages afternoon event in this unique venue. More than 75 acts submitted their music to Generator to be considered for the event and the final lineup includes Polarsets, Chased by Wolves, Vinyl Jacket, Matadors, Toyger, Ajimal and Cult Image.

The chosen acts will perform for a specially invited panel including Tom Robinson (BBC 6 Music, The Tom Robinson Band), Bob Fischer (BBC Tees) and Kingsley Chapman (The Chapman Family) and an all ages crowd.

Last year’s event saw 7 emerging artists, including Brilliant Mind and Let’s Buy Happiness playing to fans and a panel of industry professionals including Peter Brewis (Field Music), Claire Dupree (NARC.) and Tom Robinson (BBC 6 Music).

Tom Robinson was so impressed that he’s jumped at the opportunity to hear and advise the NEw wave or North East talent this time round. Each band from last year has been played on Tom’s BBC Introducing shows and he has been championing new music from the region ever since.

Tom said: “I was really pleased to be invited to sit on the panel for the last event and it was excellent to listen to the bands that played that day and I’ve stayed in touch with Generator, who have continued to recommend music for my show on BBC 6 Music.”

“Tyne & Wear is one of three BBC regions that doesn’t have a specialist BBC Introducing show, so it’s even more important to give profile to undiscovered artists in the area.

“It’s not as if there’s a shortage of new musical talent in the area. Forget the big names such as The Animals, Sting and Maxïmo Park. In the last two years we’ve been deluged on my BBC 6 Music show with fine new music from the region and I’m looking forward to discovering more.”

Of last year’s acts, Black Cab Casino went on to play a session for Tom, many of the bands have played other high profile shows for Generator including Evolution Emerging and UMT Emerging, Brilliant Mind have gone to release singles with Fierce Panda and Let’s Buy Happiness have filmed sessions for BBC Maida Vale and are playing the John Peel Stage at Glastonbury this year.

Kingsley Chapman is lead singer and guitarist with Stockton band The Chapman Family who have played at 2008’s Glastonbury Festival and been tipped by NME as one to watch. NME also chose to showcase them at the SxSW music industry conference in Austin, Texas earlier this year.

Kingsley aims to pass on some of the advice he’s picked up to young bands from the region. He said: “Of course I'm really excited to be involved as a panelist! I'm really looking forward to trying my luck as an Indie version of Simon Cowell - without the high waisted trousers though.

“I've always tried to be supportive of the great scene we have in the North East of England and I'll do anything I can to help out other bands from up here, as long as they're not rubbish of course.”

Bob Fischer is a presenter on BBC Radio Tees who do have a specialist BBC Introducing show, he said: “I’m passionate about new music, and the biggest thrill of my job is giving that first bit of exposure and radio play to bands and artists that are just starting out.

“I’m delighted to be invited to Transmission, and hope my ramblings on the day can help out a few local musicians in one way or another!”

Panellists will also take part in a short discussion on the impact of regional broadcasting on new music and the North East’s history as an important hub for music broadcasting and its recent decline.

The event is part of a series of Transmission events which run throughout 2010-11 and are supported by Heritage Lottery Fund. They will explore the history of popular music broadcasting in the North East and compare them with formats as they exist now. Alongside developing a new body of research, SPEAR:Transmission will offer new opportunities to musicians, film makers and other young people. 

Polarsets
www.myspace.com/polarsets
Credible indie-dance tracks that come laced with euphoric melodic hooks and anthemic choruses, all hammered home on the back of trance rhythms.

Chased by Wolves
www.myspace.com/followthewoods
Beautiful alt folk pours out of this band with an emotional intensity that draws you in and keeps you firmly rooted to the spot. The plaintive, yearning dual vocals and bittersweet lyrics search for answers against the playful yet melancholic instrumentation.

Vinyl Jacket
www.myspace.com/vinyljacketuk
These note tapping, chord chopping youngsters provide an excitable Paul Simon acerbity, with infectious riffs and bright sing along melodies backed by perfect harmonies. This is indie pop with a whimsical spring-like jolt that’s powered by a joyous mentality.

Matadors
www.myspace.com/thematadorsnewcastle
"The Heaton-based four-piece display a genuine gift for melody that puts many of their more experienced contemporaries to shame" Toonwaves

Toyger
www.myspace.com/toygerband
Taking influences from bands such as Colour, Toe and Bombay Bicycle Club, Toyger concentrate on maintaining a unique but accessible sound, integrating technical guitar riffs with disco-esque drum beats.

Ajimal
www.myspace.com/franohanlon
An Edinburgh/Newcastle dynamic-shifting-collaborative-in-ear project that write about their love of the way that medicine, science, art, language and music overlap.

Cult Image
www.myspace.com/ignoranceinthunorf
"The future looks bright indeed as their wonderful audio juxtapose of 'clanging... Post Punk' meets 'chiming C86 style Indie Pop' begins to ring out across Tyneside" Jukebox
 

Related Links

http://www.generator.org.uk/transmission

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Tags

generator, music business, unsigned bands, unsigned artists, transmission, tom robinson, bbc introducing, band showcase