fades in gently

At a time when some of our best British bands, return to the...

Tue, 12 Apr 2011 06:15:00 -0400

At a time when some of our best British bands, return to the fold with brilliant new singles, I feel proud to know I am in the North East writing about North East music.

I mean, sure I am loving the grunge of Arctic Monkey’s new single ‘Don’t Sit Down Cause I’ve Moved Your Chair’, and I have been desperado to get my ears on the new Foals track ‘Glaciers’. But us up North are putting out some decent releases right now, that are taking over radio time down South and ensuring our bands head off on tours of the UK and Europe to take on the summer crowds with some belters in their sets.

Some of the best to have been released in the last few months include:

Ambershift- Russian Doll

Athletes In Paris- Borrowed Time

Coal Train- Carry You On My Shoulders

Vinyl Jacket- Painting Stations

Pilots- White Knuckle Tight Grip

Mausi- Follow Me Home

Grandfather Birds- Higher Bridges

Viva City- Western Front

One of my most eagerly anticipated releases of the year so far, comes from indie-electro funsters Polarsets. Their new single ‘Sunshine Eyes’ is a popping summer track, hitting it’s release button at just the right time. I have found it impossible not to dance to anything I have heard from this band in the past, but this release is a corker. It is fitting that the launch night will be down at The Cluny because this is a factor 30, sprinkler-soaking, festival-anthem, sunshine of a track that can only be bettered by sitting on Ouseburn’s famous steps with a pint of Cider ready to refresh your ‘dancing shoes’. The launch night will be happening on Friday April 22nd, so get your summer started in the right way ‘you sexy little swines’.

Spark Announcement- Vinyl Jacket

Sun, 10 Apr 2011 10:36:53 -0400

Make sure you are listening to the Local Music show at 4 today to be in with a chance of winning tickets to Vinyl Jacket’s secret gig in Sunderland on the 17th of April.

We will be giving away 5 pairs to the first 5 people who text into the studio when we play their new single ‘Painting Stations’. Good Luck….this isn’t one your going to want to miss.

“The world may not have heard of them yet but, take it from me, Vinyl Jacket are a band at the very top of their game. One memorable radio record is all it needs and they’ll be all over the 6 Music playlist like a rash.”
Tom Robinson, BBC6 Music

Vinyl Jacket- BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!!!!!! One of the North...

Sat, 09 Apr 2011 06:37:00 -0400

Vinyl Jacket- BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!!!!!!

One of the North East’s biggest bands heads back to the region as part of their UK Tour of single Painting Stations. Ben, Sam, Jack Andrew and David will be announcing a SECRET GIG as part of the tour in a very random, very special location in Sunderland.

Check out their facebook at 12 to enter and win one of only a few pairs of tickets up for grabs!

CLICK ON THE PHOTO AND YOU WILL BE TAKEN TO THEIR FACEBOOK PAGE

Donnie Darko channel one now, one of them films, you know one of...

Fri, 08 Apr 2011 19:22:21 -0400

Donnie Darko channel one now, one of them films, you know one of them! Fucking amazing soundtrack too

watch the @vinyljacketuk space, gonna be a big announcement for the North East fans soon!

Fri, 08 Apr 2011 03:52:20 -0400

watch the @vinyljacketuk space, gonna be a big announcement for the North East fans soon!

Home and Away is getting so depressing

Thu, 07 Apr 2011 12:45:17 -0400

Home and Away is getting so depressing

off to this bad boy tonight, should be a good’n specially...

Thu, 07 Apr 2011 12:20:03 -0400

off to this bad boy tonight, should be a good’n specially with this weather. The Cluny in the summer is delish

New Unsigned Blog- Evo Emerging

Thu, 07 Apr 2011 07:54:47 -0400

New Unsigned Blog- Evo Emerging

Classic Album- Pulp 'A Different Class'

Wed, 06 Apr 2011 08:29:26 -0400

Classic Album- Pulp 'A Different Class'

RT @Glastonbury_RT: Balance paid on Glastonbury tickets. Roll on June : Balance paid on Glastonbury...

Wed, 06 Apr 2011 04:56:07 -0400

RT @Glastonbury_RT: Balance paid on Glastonbury tickets. Roll on June : Balance paid on Glastonbury tickets. Roll on June  http://bit. …

not enough tea bags in the world

Tue, 05 Apr 2011 13:03:40 -0400

not enough tea bags in the world

New Spark Blog

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 12:14:31 -0400

New Spark Blog

went to see the virginmarys last night, they blew my mind and my eardrums, fucking fantastic!

Sat, 02 Apr 2011 13:32:38 -0400

went to see the virginmarys last night, they blew my mind and my eardrums, fucking fantastic!

just uploaded 234 new tunes to the bob pod….the most important object in my world. is that...

Thu, 31 Mar 2011 03:29:07 -0400

just uploaded 234 new tunes to the bob pod….the most important object in my world. is that sad?

dribbling nose and snotty throat. LUSH!

Wed, 30 Mar 2011 12:48:55 -0400

dribbling nose and snotty throat. LUSH!

"I’ve only been on love with a beer bottle and a mirror"

Fri, 25 Mar 2011 11:24:59 -0400

“I’ve only been on love with a beer bottle and a mirror”

- Sid Vicious

Nadine Shah

Sun, 20 Mar 2011 16:59:50 -0400

About two weeks ago I received an email from Bob ‘God’ Allan down at Generator with a list of up and coming bands/artists in the North East that I should be looking out for. The list introduced me to a couple of pretty interesting newcomers, but non of which have hit me as hard as the fantastic Nadine Shah.

Its a pretty small world with this bird only living up the road from me, you would think my rather A-tuned ears would have picked up her distinctive sound from behind the waves of Whitburn’s coast. But no! Now that I have found a new talent that has me more excited than anything I have heard since working in Local Music, I can’t wait to hear more from this local lass.

A disarmingly disturbing alternative pop sound with lyrical and vocal flashes of brilliance, trust me this girl is special.Down at Spark FM we have added Nadines track ‘Aching Bones’ to the 6-6 playlist to be played out everyday on air. It’s worth your time to tune in and listen all seven days this week even if it’s just for this track. Either that or check Miss Shah out on her facebook and myspace pages were you can hear some more of her enthralling piano based gems.

I could go on, but all I will say is Polly Harvey watch your haunting, genius ass!

Local Music Blog Spark FM

Wed, 16 Mar 2011 10:06:13 -0400

Local Music Blog Spark FM

RT @EvoEmerging: Stay tuned for tomorrow’s announcement- 24 emerging artists,3 guest...

Mon, 14 Mar 2011 16:09:57 -0400

RT @EvoEmerging: Stay tuned for tomorrow’s announcement- 24 emerging artists,3 guest headliners,new staggered timing and an Official Aft …

check it ooot, totally free to see the best of the North Easts...

Mon, 14 Mar 2011 14:23:11 -0400

check it ooot, totally free to see the best of the North Easts bands