March

g2009 / FREE

The futureheads / ice caps / blind visionaries the chapman family / live listings / top fiveS

zero

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join sunderland’s metal frenzy

independant - edit star shape

------------------------------------------------------------March Yowzer. To coin a phrase from Joe Strummer, it seems like “war is declared and battle come down”. Aye, you heard me right, Sonner are asking the music loving public of Sunderland what side their bread is buttered on. Are you a posing Libs wannabe fashion victim, a nerdy art rocker or a straight down the line meat and taties rock ’n’ roll star? The revolution’s coming, which side are you on? Me? I’m just a slut that loves it all. Happy Valentines Day, everyone.

-Jarvis

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10The Warms

16oxjam bash15sonner

14Music and technology

news

top tracks + minifesto quiz

five minutes with....

BREAKING BANDS

ten questions with Mattie Vant

Reviews

top fives

listings

letters

‘Give me the horn’

disclaimer The articles in this magazine do not necessarily reflect the views of the editor or the Sunderland Music Forum.

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Contents

EDITORPhilip Jarvis

DESIGNCallum Brand

callumbrand@gmail.com

LISTINGS and newsChris Wake

WORDSNina Cowey, Daniel Clifford, Stephen

Gilbert, Alice Cohen, Kelly Horn

PHOTOGRAPHY Josh Cockroft, Ian West, Jazzy Lemon,

Amy Brammall, George Whittaker

MANIFESTO MAGAZINEc/o 29 STOCKTON ROAD

SUNDERLAND SR2 7AQTEL / FAX 0870 922 0336

EMAIL: manifestomagazine@ymail.comWWW. MYSPACE.COM/

SUNDERLANDMUSICFORUMWWW.SUNDERLANDMUSIC.COM

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News

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Sunderland Pianoforte Society Samantha WardIts time to tinkle the ivories once again as the Sunderland Pianoforte Society presents yet another of its many talented members. This time up we have 26 year old English pianist Samantha Ward. Having worked with Senior Professor Joan Havill of the Guildhall School, Samantha has a busy schedule in recitals, concerto work as well as in her other love - chamber music. She often ac-companies singers and plays in a Quintet, Trios & duos. Plus she has made a number of T.V. and Radio appearances – not bad eh? Her Programme features: Beethoven - Six Bagatelles Op.126/ Chopin - Nocturnes Op.48/Polonaise in a flat Op.53/Schumann - “Papillons” Op.2/Prokofiev - Sonata No.2 in D minor Op.14/Allegro ma non troppo/Scherzo/Andante/Vivace. So if you fancy some quality music in tropical surroundings then head down to the Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens on Tuesday 3rd Feb at 7:15pm.

Admission is £10 & £3.00 for Students & Claimants.For further info please ring 0191 553 2323 or visit www.twmuseums.org.uk/sunderland

News

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mIcecaps - Interrobang

Formerly known as Show Off Summer, the young Cramlington three-piece have brewed up a post-punk masterpiece with this little gem. Think At the Drive In funking it up with Vam-pire Weekend and Gang of Four. Absolutely splendid.

The Squares - Miles Away

Possibly the best thing the sensible but soulful sand-dancers have ever produced. Definitely a departure from their usual sound, this is low key, wistful and absolutely tremendous.

Sword Attack Klang Klan - Shall We Meal

Another seemingly At The Drive In influenced number. Choppy guitars and stop/start vocal harmonies along with a stuttery beat make this one unique, interesting and downright weird. We love it though.

Cheap Antiques - Death by Telephone Wire

The catchiest track of the month has got to be this short but sweet (2 min 30 secs) genre defying, hooky gem. The Durham trio are rumoured to be next month’s Manifesto cover stars. Roll on April.

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HERE’S WHAT WE’VE BEEN LISTENING TO AT MANIFESTO THIS

MONTH!!

manifesto quiz

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Answer this collection of brain destroying nuggets correctly to be in with a chance of winning a year’s subscription of Manifesto delivered to your door. Answers, along with your name

and address, to manifestomagazine@ymail.com before Feb 28th.

1. Which oddball artist owns a tea shop in New York that sells 80 differ-ent types of tea?

2. If The Beatles = Liverpool and The Smiths = Manchester, what do Belle and Sebastian =?

3. Complete the line up of this classic 70s band: Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, John Bonham, _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _.

4. In which year did This Ain’t Vegas release their debut album The Black Lung Captain?

5. The Last Shadow Puppets’ Miles Kane is a member of which other band?

6. On which record label to Franz Ferdi-nand relase their music?

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This month I’ll be mainly…Jonjo McNeilDELTASOUND SINGER

Iain KirkBY ROYAL APOINTMENT DJ

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listening to... Really digging Yusek, a relatively new French electro producer. Joe and Will Ask? are an English live electro duo who are really making waves n set to be huge. Been think-ing of booking them soon for our second B.R.A. Live event @ Independent.

Watching...Went to see ‘The Wrestler’ tutha week and must say loved it. Really raw, hardly any music, dramatic. Darren Aronofsky shows his class and style again. Check out his other highly acclaimed films ‘Pi’ (the symbol) and ‘Requiem For A Dream’

reading...I don’t read many books. Only stuff I do read is websites about music, either artists or releases and I religiously read Mixmag & DJmag.

going to... I’ll be busy, busy, busy in March. It’s a big one for B.R.A. it’s our 2nd Birthday Friday 20th March and we have booked Rui Da Silva for it!!! It’s gonna be huge!. .

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listening to... Just now I’m listening to the new Prodigy album, which for legal reasons I can’t listen to. So keep it to yourself. It’s not quite the return to form we were promised but ‘Take Me To The Hospital’ and ‘Warrior’s Dance’ are amongst their finest moments.

Watching...The last film I saw was a French horror called ‘Frontiere(s)’. Like Hostel if it wasn’t shit, it follows a group of youths in a near-future right wing France who stumble upon a dingy hotel and proceed to be torn apart by the neo-Nazi cannibal family who own the hole. Grim, nerve-shredding and totally amazing. Worth seeing for the buzz saw through head death alone.

reading...I have just put down ‘Lunar Park’ by Bret Easton Ellis, a razor sharp horror in the style of Steven King, but with all the wit and bile of Ellis’ other work. The story focuses on a fictionalised version of the author. The problem for me being I knew nothing about the book until I picked it up and so didn’t realise it was fictionalised until near the end. Which is ridiculous, as characters from ‘American Psycho’ appear throughout. And a toy bird possesses his dog. In hindsight I should’ve spotted that.

going to...March will be busy - Working For A Nuclear Free City are playing in Newcastle. I’ve wanted to see them for over a year and Deltasound are coming out of hiding for the occasion. Speaking of which, Andy and I have recently started work on an album under the name Empty Speech Act so we’ll be in recording vocals for that most of the month. If I get a chance to have a night off I wouldn’t mind catching The Chapman Fam-ily at some point, they’re doing a few charity gigs and the line-ups are excellent.

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This month I’ll be mainly… Pete Carmody STATIC FROMSTEREO

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Martin TrollopeSQUARESGUITARIST

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listening to... The past few months I have been grazing in an obscure pasture of music. I have been loving the local scene with the likes of Paper Street catching my ear with their filthy riffs and dodgy lyrics. I like the complexity of The Flytes’ melodies too. Nationally has also been exciting, I rarely buy albums but I got hooked by White Lies and the Kings of Leon, their records where purchased immediately

Watching...My taste of the watching capacity has all gone Pete Tong recently. NCIS has got me by the balls as well as Supernatural and the X Files, even though you can tell what the ending will be 5 minutes into the programme. My old faves also cannot been written off, such as Big Trouble in Little China and The Burbs.

reading...I do have a soft spot for reading it entertains me immensely for instance on the bus, train, ferry, plane, tram, taxi anywhere its sterling. My fave author is The Sun but the mirror is partial to better info on the football. Although I did get Jeremy Clarkson’s book last year and no matter how many times you read it, it does not get boring. Well worth a butchers.

going to...I do love live music so I cram as much as i can in. such as the buskers at the Smuggler’s on a Sunday to chill after mammoth sessions of the weekend gone at the White Room or Independent. Peter Doherty is up our way next month you may see me floating around the crowds. Not to mention Static From Stereo’s EP launch next month, as well as a few high profile gigs. A revolt has started from coal and fire, peace.

listening to... At the minute I’m mainly listening to Miles Davis’ “Bitches Brew”. I think a lot of people would hate it because it’s a little bit strange but it’s honestly one of the best things I’ve ever heard. Particularly the bass riff a few minutes into the title track. Like the “National Anthem” by Radiohead but even better, believe it or not.

Watching... I woke up the other day after a particularly heavy night out and discovered (much to my delight) that I’d been watching “Spaced”, Simon Pegg’s debut thingy, when I’d returned home. It is literally one of the funniest things you will ever see (apart from “Jam”) ever. Also surprisingly emotional, with star turns from Nick Frost, Mark Heap, Kevin Eldon and Jessica Stevenson. Top stuff.

reading...I’ve almost finished Kerouac’s “On the road”. It’s probably one of the most inspiring books I’ve ever read. Just reading it gives you a taste for the world that becomes more and more insatiable with every word. It’s almost like touring America without having to bother meeting any Americans (no offence). Something well worth reading and something I fully intend on following the footsteps of at some point in my life.

going to...It’s pretty much my only month with nothing to do. Actually, I tell a lie. I think me and Ben (from ‘Our Imaginary Friends’) are going to go and see ‘Howling Bells’ at the Cluny. Haven’t a clue who they are to be honest but he says they’re pretty good and he seems to have decent enough taste in music.

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Blind Visionaries

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Breaking Bands

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atlanta hopeThis section is dedicated to giving new

bands the chance to tell us all about themselves in their own words.

Blind Visionaries

www.myspace.com/atouchofblindvisionary

Atlanta Hope are a trio of affable, multi-talented, multi-influenced teenagers from Sunderland. We formed in the summer of 2008 and quickly started putting together a setlist that encompasses a number of different genres, from the blues, 50s jazz, freakbeat and northern soul to early 80s post-punk and goth, c90s guitar pop and 100s of other strange and exotic types of music. Our aims are simple: we want to make the best, most inventive music we can and have a shit load of good times while we’re doing it. If we can manage to put out a few Eps, and maybe tour once or twice, we’ll be able to hang our instruments up in a couple of years time safe in the knowledge that we achieved everything we set out to. Look out for us on the local circuit soon.

Blind Visionaries were originally formed around the song writing partnership of James Bell and James Berry in September 2007.A rare match who shared a love of poetic lyrics and weird visions of the universe and our place in it. Over the course of a year they had written hundreds of songs and after much searching found the perfect line up. With Laurence Haugh on keys, Jonathan Wall on bass joined by Vincent Haugh on Drums the band was ready to explore outer space. The Visionaries’ unearthly sound ranges from erupting Martian volcanoes to floating through time and space with subterranean homesick aliens. An abstract sound described by others as Alternative Apocalyptic Space Rock. With themes as diverse as the apocalypse and modern society the Visionaries take a great pride in their refreshing lyrics. Their influ-ences range from Muse to Rachmaninov, from Dylan to H. G. Wells, and from Chopin to Rage Against the Machine, producing a thoroughly wonderful circus of sound. Their plans for the immediate future include putting on knockout gigs and recording their first album. Their plans further into the future are nothing short of becoming the best live band on Earth and Mars.

www.myspace.com/atlantahope

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10 Questions with . . .

Ice caps

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10 Questions with . . .

advert-w h e a t c h e i f

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Over the past few months hordes of metal fans have been gathering at “The Upstairs Basement” metal night at Independent, to see the brutal talent of the local bands. Risen Prophecy, Vomicide, Ashes of Iron, A Thousand Lies, Zero, Death In Blood, are only some of the bands who have been making a name for themselves over the past few months.

With Scumstock Festival only around the corner, bringing huge names such as Aker-cocke, Lazarus Blackstar, Theoktony, and many more, Sunderland seems to have metal fever. The next Sunderland Metal event is taking place FRIDAY 13TH MARCH.

This will be the CD launch for the long awaited follow up to Zero’s “Darker Days” (2006.) The new EP titled “Rape, Pillage and Burn” coming out via SMS Records, will be given away free to all who attend the gig.

Playing along side Zero on March 13th, will be local thrash gods Death In Blood and Edinburgh’s finest upcoming metal band Flat Iron. Its 3 pound entry and doors open at 8pm. See you all in the pit. Stay Metal.

SUNDERLANDMETALSCENE ONTHE RISE!

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The Futureheads can never be accused forgetting their roots. Sunderland is ever present in their lyrics their accents and the way they conduct themselves whether it be in Dubai or Marley Potts. Well they are back to play Sunderland for the first time in a long time. That’s right The Futureheads will play at Sunderland’s Independent on Saturday March 21st as part of the Three Night Stand fundraising events. The event is a fund raiser and all proceeds will be donated to the Marfan Trust who are the countries leading authority on research into Marfan syndrome. If you have no idea what that is, well, look it up, that’s how I found out and that’s why this show is happening. It’s more than just an amazing gig, its proof that if you’re passionate/horrified/motivated enough about something then you make things like this become a reality.Of course The Futureheads in this intimate setting will be amazing but the support line up for those of us in the know would provide a Stirling evening in its own right. Also appearing are local sqwaaaaak rawwwwwk from B>E>A>K, Sunderland’s most undervalued gems The Bub-ble Project and Wearsides top tank toppers Frankie & The Heartstrings. Tickets are priced at £10 and are available at www.seetickets.com , Hot Rats (Sunderland) and RPM (Newcastle).

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The English Patients

Formed in October 2008, The English Patients have improved rapidly, and to produce a half-decent demo in such a relatively small amount of time is no mean feat. A lot of bands try too hard to produce something ‘unique’, and fail in every sense of the word – luckily, the English Patients, for the time be-ing, stick to the tried and tested formula of well-thought out vocal melodies and chord progressions. Pleasant enough, but nothing that hasn’t been heard before – however, with time the band can only improve.

The Zombie Headhunters

With a name like Zombie Headhunters, you kind of know what to expect. And yet, you end up being wrong – somehow. Hard to classify as just “punk” or even whatever the Americans call it now (some sort of sub genre like with words like post and neo in there somewhere), you forget about that sort of thing and just listen to the music. A constant, never diminishing energy runs through the entire EP and the listener can’t help but feel pumped up. The biggest compliment I can pay this band is that I am not the biggest fan of any punk genre, but these tracks, especially number three “World War 2” struck a chord with me. Forget your inhibitions, or pre conceived stereotypes, and give this lot a few minutes of your time.

White Heat- 2 Track Demo

There’s a menacing sound to this demo. The two tracks are crammed full with spiky guitars, nagging basslines and vocals that are powerful yet, for the most part, whispered by the female vocalist. Twister is an absolutely magnificent beast of a song. Coming it 1 minute 56 seconds, is short but so, so , so sweet. Leave Now is maudlin one minute, bouncing with happiness the next. The lyrics on both songs are some of the best I’ve heard in ages too.IB

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The Flytes

The title track of this EP, “Waiting”, is as good a start as any of the demos this month – a tight, slick performance of uplifting chords and vocals. This song really is great, and doesn’t disappoint in any department. However, after this attention-catching start, the band and their tracks suffer from a lack of identity. The second track “Always on the run”, for instance, is a huge departure from the contemporary beat of the title track and sounds like it should be played over the closing credits of an American teen drama. “She’ll be mine” is just one chorus away from a really memorable tune, and the final two tracks tail off when they should really be providing a rousing finale. All the aspects of a great band are here, and I’m sure the live performances are fantastic – the overall “sound” just needs to be more refined and consistent.

Sonner - 3 Track Demo

This music is four to the floor, no holds barred rock ‘n’ roll the way it should be played. The Real World opens up with a killer guitar riff and nasty Stooges style snare beats, before kicking off into a verse, chorus, riff structure that Oasis might have written 15 years ago. Let Me Save Me sounds like Chuck Berry or a 60s Brit invasion classic. Rogue Town is a straight forward indie romp, complete with racing rhythm guitar and big chorus. This is a great demo, slightly let down by the poor production. Get your next demo recorded somewhere else, lads.IB

Sword Attack Klang Klan- 3 Track Demo

Recorded and produced at Sunderland’s Room 3 studio by ex-Golden Virgin Neil Bassett, this three track demo is a remarkable debut effort. Fused with, what seems like, hundreds of influences, SAKK kick up a right storm on Shall We Meal, a song that contains more ideas than most bands’ whole careers. Slinky has lovely melodies and a very 2009 feel. Get in the Kitchen, You is, for me at least, the weakest of the three tracks. Slightly pedestrian and lacking in dynamics, it doesn’t really seem to get going. That aside, I’m really looking forward to seeing how these young’uns’ careers develop.IB

------------------------------------------------------------ReviewsWords by

Nina Cowey

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------------------------------------------------------------Reviews

LIVE Sonner, Sunday Best, The Discord @ The Manifesto Bar 20/02/09

By ??????

please send any live reviews to info@sunderlandmusic.com

The Chapman Family@ The White Room 11/02/09By Alice Cohen

Taking to the improvised stage first were The Discord, a snappy four piece from Durham. Their angular, Brit rock tunes got the considerably large audience warmed up nicely. Tight, with well structured songs, skilful musicianship and bags of stage presence and charisma, these lads have been around for a

couple of years but, surprisingly, have failed to make any real impact on the Northeast scene. Maybe more gigs and some type of management or guidance will see their star ascend.Sunday Best were next up and really seemed to get the crowd going. Their blend of catchy, sing along, Britpop flecked song-writing, this reviewer suspects, was one of the main reasons for the good turnout. With a little tightening up of some sloppy musi-cianship and a little bit more ruthlessness from band leader Rob McBride, and this rabble could be a heavyweight contender.Sonner, the great white hope, topped the night off. These cats seem to have everything: great songs, a front man with an amazingly powerful voice, a great backline of talented musicians, but… (this being the third time I’ve seen them live) they never quite seem to gel. Don’t get me wrong, they put on a great show, but one day something will click and they’ll be unbelievably good. The night finished with some good old rock n roll instrument smashing, which is always nice to see.LS

The hype surrounding The Chapman Family reached epic proportions early this year when they were included in NME’s top ten picks for 2009. On tonight’s evidence, that hype is totally unfounded. The Stockton based Chapmans seem to have sacrificed substance for style in an attempt to find their Holy Grail. Their bass player was himself a cheap gimmick, a walking cliché of angsty, punky, teenage rebellion, acting like an attention starved middle child. The only problem with that is he looked as if he was about 35. I’d been really excited to witness The Chapman Family experience, but their set was an anti climax. When NME tips a band for greatness you expect something that come close to the complete package, but this lot had no real, definitive sound, no hooks in their songs and they didn’t look particularly good. If not for the outstand-ing performances of the three support bands from Sunderland, Widows, Billy Bloodaxe and The Anglo Form, I would have left feeling completely ripped off.AC

Sonner

The Chapman Family

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Russell’s Top 5 Sports Related Injuries

1. Tennis Elbow2. Athlete’s Foot3. Jockey’s Knackers4. Bowler’s Ankle5. Dartitis

Kieron’s Top 5 Mitchells

1. Peggy2. Billy3. Grant4. Warren5. Willie

Jamie’s Top 5 Killers

1. Dr Harold Shipman2. Charles Manson3. Fred West4. Adamski’s5. Brandon Flowers

Andrew’s Top 5 Celebrity Birds

1. Proffessor Yaffle2. Woody Woodpecker3. Emu4. Orville5. Tweety Pie

Charlie and Oliver’s Top 5 Brothers

1. Us! 2. Chemical Brothers 3. Bobby and Jack kennedy4. Sean and Mook Ward 5. Brothers Karamazov

Suzanne’s Top 5 Dancers

1. The Mackem Mover2. Pan’s People3. Rudolph Nuryev4. Hot Gossip5. Dave the Rave

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TOP FIVES

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Marc’s Top 5 Cheap Antiques

1. The Toilets in The White Room2. Everything in The Bunker3. Jarv’s PA4. Ronnie’s Sarnies5. Sunderland City Councill

Steph’s Top 5 Wu Tang Clan Members

1. Ghostface2. ODB3. RZA4. GZA5. Inspectah Dek

James’s Top 5 Browns

1. Light Brown2. Dark Brown3. Jackie Brown4. Ian Brown5. The Brown Clown

D’s Top 5 Terrorist Organisations

1. IRA2. ETA3. Al Quaeda4. Michigan Militia5. Israel

Matty & Steve’s top 5 robots

1. Jonny 52. Alpha -power rangers3. R2D24. Kryten5. Dave the Rave

Mick’s Top 5 Scousers

1. Jimmy Corkhill2. Scully3. Yozzer Hughes4. Sammy Lee5. Ringo Starr

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Marchgigs in Sunderland, at 7pm & free unless otherwise stated.

01/03/2009Sergeant@ The White Rooms, 29 Holmeside 5pm | £tbcThe Strobes@ Luma, Derwent St 8pmBrassneck @ Borough, Vine Pl 9pm Chris Haldane + Guests @ Smugglers Bar, Roker 9pm

04/03/2009The Week That Was / Frankie & The Heartstrings@ The White Rooms, 29 Holmeside 8pm, £3

07/03/2009BBC Big Band - Great North Big Band Jazz Festival@ Campus (Manor Quay), Charles St 7:30pm £15/£12

08/03/2009Small Weller @ Lord Clyde, Western Approach, S.Shields 8pmScratch The Surface@ Luma, Derwent St 8pmThe Poorboys @ Borough,Vine Pl 9pm Terry Slesser@ Robin Hood, Primrose Hill, Jarrow 9pm

12/03/2009Dangerous Nuns@ Voodoo Room, Bar Pure, 8pmApoptygma Berzerk @ Independent, HolmesideScratch The Surface@ The Grange, Newcastle Rd 8pm

13/03/2009EDIT presents Rebekah@ Independent, Holmeside 8pmPoorboys @ Smugglers Bar, Roker 9pm

14/03/2009Sour Mash Trio @ Whitburn Lodge, Whitburn 9pmPhatplastic@ Independent, Holmeside 10:30pm (£3)The Moobs @ Robin Hood, Jarrow 9pmThe Fibbers @ Smugglers Bar, Roker 9pm

15/03/2009Shieild Your Eyes, Pneu, Widows, Show Off Summer @The White Room, Holmeside6pm, £3

17/03/2009Traditional Irish Music Festival @ Paddy Whacks Irish Bar,1pmSt Patricks Day Party@ Campus, Manor Quay,Jeffree Star @ Independent, HolmesideSt. Patricks Night with Mick Ewing @ Smugglers Bar, Roker 9pmLeonard Brown- Irish Accordionist/

18/03/2009The Bicycle Thieves@The White Rooms, Holmeside 8pm

20/03/2009Dave Ridley & Helen Cleary @ TJ Doyles, Deptford 8:30pmPowerage @ Houghton Buffalos, Houghton le Spring 8:30pm (£5)Off The Wall @ Smugglers Bar, Roker 9pm

21/03/2009

Longsands @ Whitburn Lodge, Whitburn 9pmThe Futureheads Acoustic Set@ Independent, Holmeside 8pm (£10)Junco Partners @ The Barnes, Durham Rd 9pm The Monologues @ Smugglers Bar, Roker 9pm

22/03/2009Paul Liddell & Delphians@ The Royalty, Chester Rd 8pmBig River @ Central, 32 Bridge St 8:30pm FM @ Borough, Vine Pl 9pmRuss Tippins @ Robin Hood, Primrose Hill, Jarrow 9pmRattlesnakes@ Luma, Derwent St 8pm 27/03/2009Broken Spoke @ Lord Clyde, Western Approach, S.Shields 9pmAdy Ferguson @ Whitburn Lodge, Mill Ln, Whit-burn 9pmThe Rives @ Smugglers Bar, Roker 9pmBierkellar Night with German Oompah Band@ Robin Hood, Primrose Hill, Jarrow 9pm (£3)

28/03/2009Paul Liddell@ Victoria Gardens, China St 8pm.Red Box@ The Maltings, Claypath Ln, S.Shields 9pmAladdin Sane - Bowie Tribute @ Smugglers Bar, Roker 9pm

29/03/2009Harvest Moon - Neil Young Tribute Band @ Robin Hood, Primrose Hill, Jarrow 9pmFishburn Mafia@ Borough Vine Pl 9pmBullet@ Luma, Derwent St 8pm

Live gigsListings

Busker nights

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Mondays

Amp & Dek Karaoke@ Steels Club, Peacock St, 8pm Buskers Night@ Blue Bell, Fulwell Road, 9pmBuskers Night@ Greens, Low Row 8pmMusos Corner @ Smugglers Bar, Roker 9pm Indie & Rock Night with DJ Wayne G@ P.U.R.E, Olive St 9pmBuskers Night@ Golden Lion, S.Hylton Tom Le Moosh & Steves Open Mic @ Smugglers Bar, Roker 9pm Steve yer Irish Busker@ Shamrock, North Bridge St 7:30pm

Tuesdays

Busk ‘til Dusk@ SubstanceBuskers Night @ Borough Vine Pl 9pmBuskers Night@ BoAB Bar & Grill, 9pmBuskers Night@ 7even, Derwent St

Wednesdays

Buskers Night@ P.U.R.E, Olive St 8pmPoulette Sur Ket@ 7even, Derwent St 8pmScott Keirs Electric Jam @ Smugglers Bar, Roker, 9pm

Thursdays

Resistance Rock & Metal Night @ Borough Vine Pl 9pmPete Dodds & Guests @ Smugglers Bar, Roker 9pmMusician And Buskers Night -By Paul Jackson @ Royal Marine, Sea Rd, Fullwell 8:30pmOpen Decks Night@ 7even, Derwent StBuskers Night@ Paddy Whacks, Green TerBand Night@ The Porterfield, Crowtree Rd Acoustic Night@ Luma, Park Ln The Crash Club@ Independent, Holmeside 10pm

Fridays

RagnaRock @ Borough Vine Pl 9pmRock Bands Night@ Paddy Whacks, Green Ter

Saturday

Ammunition @ Borough Vine Pl 9pm

Sundays

Bullet@ Luma, Derwent St 8pmAcoustic, Blues & Folk Night @ Smugglers Bar, Roker 9pmLive Band Night@ Masters, Low Row Acoustic Night@ The Porterfield, Crowtree Rd Come Together (DJs)@ The White Room, The Ivy House, Substance, 2:30pm

+ weekly gigs

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club nightsMondays

Street 5 Student Night@ White Room, Holmeside 9pmInterested?@ SubstanceWonderland@ Union, The Point 11pm (£3/£2)Selfish Ways@ 7even 8pmInsanity Rock Night@ The Quayside Exchange £3Student High School Disco@ New Privilege 10pm £3

Tuesdays

Play@ Blu Bambu, Albion Place 10pm (£1)Classic Plastic@ 7even, Derwent St 10pmHonky Tonk Gay Club Scene @ Liquid-Diva, Green Ter 10pmCrisco Disco Gay Night with Trixie and DJ Teapot@ Ttonic, 7:30pmCrisco Disco 2 with DJ Big Daddy Anth@ Glass Spider 12:00am

Wednesday

Audio?@7even, Derwent St, 9pmSalt@ Substance Juicy Wednesdays@ Campus, Manor Quay 10pm (£2 NUS/£3

Thursdays

Souljacker@ 7even 8pmThe Crash Club@ Independent, 10pmSummer Madness@ Liquid Diva, 10:30pm (£2 entry b4 12 – 80p drinks)Student Night@ New Privilege NightclubDecadence@ Union, The Point. (first Thursday of the month)

Fridays

Come Together - with Jarvis and Ju-lea @ Substance, 8pmThe Love Inn@ 7even 8pmBPM@ Independent, Holmeside 10pm (£5 before 12 / £7 after)Route 69@ Campus, 10pm (£2 NUS/£3)Skint@ Liquid Diva, Green Ter 10:30pm (£1 b4 12, £2 after)The Local with Ward 10 DJs@ The White Room 9pmFriday Nights@ Union, The Point, 10:30pm £4 (Ladies free before midnight)Chart and Party@ Liquid-Diva, Green Ter £5

Saturdays

Sounds of Substance@ SubstanceGenerator & Mod and Beyond@ 7even 9pmKlubland@ Campus, 10pm (£3 b4 11:30pm / £4 after)Music for Misfits@ Independent 10pmThe Big One@ Liquid Diva, Green Ter 10pmDivine Wind with DJ Emmie@The White Room, 9pmSoul Deep - Adrian Dickinson@ 200 High St, 8pmHunger@ Point,10pm £5

Sundays

Gold Soundz@ SubstancePepper@ 7even 8pmSoul Power@ Bud Biggalows, Low St 7pmFundamental Sunday Sessions@ The Voodoo Room, Olive St 8pmSundays Expect Xtra@ Privilege Nightclub, Crowtree Rd 10pm £2Liquid- The R ‘n’ B Hip Hop Show@ Liquid-Diva, Green Ter £3

+ weekly gigs

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BLU BAMBU

LETTERSmyspace comments

LETTERSLETTERS

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>>>>> > >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>> >>> >>>>>>

Leave a comment at www.myspace.com/sunderlandmusicforum

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“A Requiem for Saturday nights”-Kelly Horn

Give Me The Horn!

Hands up all those who are still mourning the dismal demise of dear old Ku Club? Ah, as I survey the sea of digits that once grasped lukewarm cans of Miller’s finest, I can’t help but feel sadness that Sat-urday nights in Sunderland have indeed slumped. Gone are the days when you sauntered in a rather tipsy fashion down the high street, ready to brave the mountainous flights of stairs whilst side-stepping past the gathering of gormless charvs and their blasts of white noise music. Pushing open those double doors to grace the tobacco-smoke brit-pop atmosphere under the watchful gaze of Jim Morrison and Shaun Ryder immortalised on canvas are now mere misty watercolour memories. Apologies, I shall stifle my sobs and continue.From the age of being able to look older than I actually was, Ku was indefinitely my “Cheers”- the place where everybody knows your name and, I daresay, this was the same for the majority of Satur-day night punters. The only thing missing was the docile Woody Harrelson serving you at the sticky bar. Toilet trips were never mundane for the female of the species with the legendary Margie sitting on the sinks, smoking a fag and giving you toilet roll along with obscenity-doused yet endearing conversation. The predictability of the resident DJ was commonly despaired of, (waltzing in moments before midnight armed with your Cinderella pass, ladies, you’d bet your life Debbie Harry would be warbling ‘Heart of Glass’) yet was rather comfortable like a pair of broken-in shoes. And you knew that the end of a marvellous night was leaving the Ku establishment at five in the morning, blinking at the early morning sun like a squinty-eyed mole whilst dodging the haphazard street sweeper-mobile performing its weekly exorcism of vomit and WKD bottles. Classic.So what went wrong? One minute, Ku was filled with the drunken activity of shaggy haired lads pulling shapes like monkeys (God knows why) and girls dancing around a pile of handbags; and the next minute, the place sells hot dogs, bar staff outnumber clientele and your handbag acrobatics are being severely stunted by the tumbleweeds blowing across the dance floor. Answers on a postcard please; enquiring minds want to know. What I do know, however, is that the closure of Ku Club was a damn shame and as I stand in compensatory pubs and clubs holding lager that is not in a can on a Saturday night, I can’t help but reminisce on the better time I would be having whinging to Margie about that bloody DJ who won’t play my sodding song.