INCOMING

Something for the weekend
Seeing as it’s summer have you noticed that it’s nearly impossible to NOT say the word “punnet” without saying the word “strawberries” in the same sentence. WELL HAVE YOU? Anyway. Here’s a pack of four for the weekend ahead.

Darren Styles & Ultrabeat
You’ll have heard some of Darren Styles and Ultrabeat’s oeuvre blasting out of that car window parked by Greggs on Shields Road. Yep, this is commercial dance in all its live glory which will no doubt feature ‘Pretty Green Eyes’, ‘Feelin’ Fine’ and ‘Discolights’ at some point in the proceedings.

Friday July 3, o2 Academy, Newcastle, 6.30pm, £19.50 www.darrenstyles.co.uk www.o2academynewcastle.co.uk

Malcolm Middleton + The Pictish Trail
Here’s a double bill of rare quality. Former Arab Strap type, Middleton (pictured), brings considerable charm, intelligence and warmth to the table. Dining with him (i.e. playing some songs before he comes on) is The Pictish Trail who will no doubt be dishing up some stirringly subversive stuff courtesy of the fab Fence Collective. Don’t miss this one (we MEAN it).

Saturday July 4, The Cluny, Ouseburn, Newcastle, 7pm, £10 www.myspace.com/thecluny

Hoo Har
And here’s a club night going from strength to strength (and another: to strength). Spinning a vinyl only (ask your dad. No granddad) mix of Motown, vintage funk, northern soul, old skool hip-hop, get-up-and-get-down ska and reggae along with indie and rock and roll twisters, this is the kind of night which forces you to get the metaphorical bunting out.

Saturday July 4, The Cooperage, The Quayside, Newcastle, 9pm £3

Northern Soul night
The Trojan Rooms down at Whitley Bay is a super venue and storming – yes, storming – it tonight will be DJs Dave Evisson and Vaughan Evans who’ll be putting on a Northern Sou/Wigan Casino disco kind of affair. Excitement ensues.

Saturday July 4, The Trojan Rooms, Whitely Bay, 8pm, £7 www.thetrojanrooms.co.uk

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Public Enemies film review
Is Michael Mann's new gangster flick 'Public Enemies' an offer you can't refuse or does it deserve a grapefruit in the face?  David Willoughby spills the beans'
Click Here >>>>>

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Here’s a near naked women of some note
And it is, of course, Zara Ann, who is one of the slinkiest burlesque performers in the UK. She’s set to appear with the equally slinksome Frankii Wilde in an event which pundits are calling ‘a burlesque event’. Blimey. In association with top local fashion label, Glamour Bunny, the show – entitled ‘The Headline Honeys’ will feature Frankii and Zara along with Fanny Devine (not her real name) and New York based Misty Lux (possibly her real name. She’s from the US).

The Headline Honeys, Spensleys Emporium, Middlesbrough, July 3, 9.30pm, £1. www.glamourbunny.co.uk

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Fancy a bit of Brinky stuff?
The Brinkburn Music Festival is one of the true, sophisticated – yes, sophisticated – delights of the summer music season. Check it: the most glorious classical music; set in the historic twelfth century Brinkburn Priory; and the chance of a picnic. Sorted. Running over two weekends this year’s highlight include stars of the international opera world - baritone Sir Thomas Allen and tenor Mark Padmore – as well as leading British Baroque group, Red Priest, the dynamic Anglo-Irish Carducci Quartet and Brinkburn favourites, Gabrieli Consort and Players – providing a sneak preview of Haydn’s The Creation ahead of The Proms. Rumours of The Happy Mondays dropping by to play a little light Stockhausen remain unconfirmed (and blatantly untrue).

Brinkburn Music Festival, July 3-5 and July 10-12. Seek: www.brinkburnmusic.org

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What’s the difference between Newcastle United and a pantomime?
A pantomime doesn’t have four managers over a season; it doesn’t pay its staff over 50 grand a week - each; it doesn’t get rid of its star turns only to replace them with Kevin Nolan; it doesn’t insult its audience on a weekly basis; and it doesn’t employ Dennis Wise in any capacity whatsoever (unless they’re doing Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs). Anyway. You Really Couldn’t Make It Up is the latest fantastic play from Michael & Tom Chaplin who have captured the extraordinary events of the past season which saw United slide out of top flight football for the first time in 16 years. It’s tragic, it’s farcical, it’s funnier than a ‘Get Yourself In Peak Condition With Mark Viduka’ DVD and, sadly, it’s very much based on a true story…

You Really Couldn’t Make It Up, Thursday June 25-Friday July 10, Live Theatre, Newcastle, £10-£14. www.live.org.uk

 

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WIN! Wickerman Festival!
The Magic Numbers, Idlewild, Candi Staton, Billy Bragg, dance tents until 5am, bouncy castles and firewalking....it's the Wickerman Festival and we've got 2 pairs of tickets if you can tell us the year that the original cult horror film of the same name was released. Send your answer, name, and phone number to: comps@thecrackmagazine.com  

The Wickerman Festival, July 24th&25th, www.thewickermanfestival.co.uk

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WIN! NE-YO After Party Performance!!
Chart-topping American R’n’B artist, NE-YO is heading to Sunderland's Campus Nightclub for an official aftershow party performance following his show at Newcastle's Metro Radio Arena on July 18. We have 3 pairs of tickets going out to the first to email us the name of the Grammy nominated album that NE-Yo is promoting on this tour. Click here with your answer, name and telephone number - comps@thecrackmagazine.com

For NE-Yo interview click>>>>

Campus, Charles Street, Sunderland,  www.campussunderland.co.uk

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Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen film review
Our film fancier, David Willoughby, has been to see the new Transformers film. Is it an ironic masterpiece undermining the very nature of the Hollywood franchise, or is it the equivalent of being stuck inside the migraine of an attention deficient robot (what do you think…?)

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen film review here >>>

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Poetry. It’s back.
Who would have thought that in the age of Xboxes, Lady Gaga and Cadbury Clusters people would still want to read words laid out in poetic form? Baring this in mind can we tell you about the independent cultural organisation, Arcadea, who promote the cultural equality of disabled people. They’ve just launched their Hidden Poetry project with ‘the bell ringer’ by Ann Torde having the distinction of being broken up and hidden across the websites of a host of local arts organisations’ websites. Intrigued? Check out the website below for a heads up.

Seek: www.arcadea.org

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Looking For Eric film review
Our resident film critic, David Willoughby, runs the rule over Ken Loach’s latest, Looking For Eric, which stars former Manchester United playmaker, Eric Cantona. Does it claim a late European spot or is it set for an early bath…?

Click for Looking For Eric film review>>>>>

 

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Attention football fans.
Here’s a short message from Fans’ Paliament that we think you should read. Fans' Parliament is the FSF's annual get together where we debate the big issues of the day – it’s entirely free of charge and open to everyone. Come and see what we're about. This year it takes place at the Live Theatre in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne on Saturday, June 20 (10am-5.30pm). There’s much more to the weekend than the event itself though with a weekend of pub crawls, ex-pros vs journos quiz and a five-a-side tournament (entries welcome!).
If you feel angry with the way our game is going - whether it's Gam£ 39, ticket pricing, club debts, or the lack of safe standing areas - you really should come along. Strength comes in numbers - get involved and join the FSF.

More info and registration (required): http://www.fsf.org.uk/fans-parliament/2009/index.php or info@fsf.org.uk
 

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What the hell is this?
It is in fact a Movie Booth Kiosk, one of the first of its kind in the north-east. “But what does it do?” we hear you bleat. Well, it’s a vending machine of a sort, offering you the chance to rent hundreds of films with a quick wave of your debit card. Very quick, easy to use and you’ve got 21-days to the return the movie, this could revolutionize the way you watch the latest big screen blockbusters.

The new Movie Booth Kiosk can be found at Nisa, 46 Station Raod, Forest Hall and will be up and running from Saturday June 6.

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Dizzee Rascal interview
He’s sitting comfortably at the top of the charts with Bonkers; he’s sitting comfortably in his luxury hotel; and sitting next to him asking the questions is our own Sam Parker. Check out what Dizzee Rascal has to say for himself.

Clicky to read Dizzee Rascal revelations…

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Terminator Salvation film review
Our celluloid centrefold, David Willoughby, checks out the latest in the big budget franchise. Is it a case of robot wars or robot bores? Clicky for his definitive review.

Film review this way…

 

 

 

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Hey Mary! You’ve won an award!

We kind of love Mary Ann Rogers’ watercolours of cockerels, hounds, hares and other animals and so do the judges at the Art & Framing Industry awards who have just given her a nice trophy (or something) for being the Best Selling Published Artist joining the likes of previous winners, Jack Vettriano, Beryl Cook, David Shepherd and Mackenzie Thorpe. A hearty slap on the back is called for.

Check her out: www.marogers.com

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What the hell is this?
There’s a very interesting debate to be had regarding language and consciousness; the brain and the mind; and the gap that exists between our feelings and our thoughts. We only mention this because we’re intrigued by what kind of neural connections are being employed when someone has the thought that can loosely be transcribed into the words: “I really must buy that velvet picture of convicted killer, Phil Spector.”

Seek: www.velvetpaintings.com 

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Crackcast
This month's  Crackcast features twenty minutes of top class music from our favourite bands who just happen to be living on our doorstep - Pilots, Oh Messy Life, Dot to Dots, Moleck and Beyond the Valley.

Listen here>

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ON TOUR...