Gimme the f****** venue!

Yay!

So I heard the other day that after four years of running this social business we call SPACE Blackpool CIC we will, in the next four weeks, have received our first major financial input other than from Aishling (my long suffering wife) and myself. I will say who and what brings us this cash once the paperwork is done and I will thank them and all the others who helped make this happen properly then too.

It is around £35,000 and it will allow us to do so much but this money will be used strictly in a sustainable way.

Zee plans

We will, in February, be getting our current building made fit for the new purpose with a ton of exciting projects to follow. SPACE Music (a new kind of label), gigs, rehearsal studios, events, journalism and a proper venue so that what we do now can grow into something that can change many more lives than we currently do.

Here’s our ethos: To ensure the sustainability of all our projects through the enterprise of the young people we work with.

Four years of social business

I will, when our new website is done, – www.spacemusic.org.uk – post a ton more about how this is all going to work.

I watched When Harvey Met Bob in full last night (the dramatisation of the Live Aid story) and I now take my lead from Sir Bob. So if the council or any other public body have a building they are not using and we can show them we can use for a good social purposes then I will be saying “gimme the f****** building… now!

I have spent four years tip toeing around a council that as a corporate body does not get what social business is. But no more.

No more Mr Nice Guy…

So public bodies of Blackpool – Gimme the f****** venue. You have loads of buildings, stop trying to hide them and flog them off and tell us about your plans. Share what you are doing and get me a building in the town centre in which I can change young people’s lives for the better and make Blackpool a cool place for musicians to come and play.

If you as a council care about the services that young people can access in Blackpool (and because you are about to lay waste to the ones you up to now have delivered) how about some real engagement here?

Talk is cheap

Not doing meetings and enjoying nice chats but actually giving us something real. SPACE doesn’t need or want the council’s money (we never have) but we want the f****** buildings you waste, the f****** equipment sat in storage and the f****** contracts you will no doubt soon be dishing out to people who used to work at the council but will soon not.

I have been the very definition of Mr Nice Guy for 4 years… now I expect answers or I blame, shame and name the people who are in my way.

So I take my lead from Sir Bob Geldof and say in no uncertain terms: get out of my f****** way and let me have a building for that young people’s venue that we need so badly in this town.

After that we’ll talk about how we can help older people while we deliver young people’s services.

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Posted in New music, Social Enterprise | 4 Comments »

BBC Introducing Lancashire 28th October 2010

LISTEN AGAIN HERE

Idol Minds play live On this week’s BBC Introducing we had new live music in the studio from two Lancashire bands, and new music to open from Danny (Byrd is the word) Byrd.

First up we heard live music from Idol Minds. Originally from Morecambe (now all based in Preston) they gave an energetic performance and have a unique sound.

They chatted about their unique sound and how they’re hoping to fit into the new music scene, their upcoming gigs and recordings, and the mysterious man who is the elected water-boy. They play live next on the 2nd December at the legendary Blue Room in Blackpool.

Furtive Forty

Sean played a new track (which will feature in Sean’s Furtive Forty – the best 40 tunes from Lancashire which you’ll hear over Christmas) from the mysterious Zauwie Beamhead who is going to be hugely popular, check him out on youtube too.

On the phone tonight was Matt the front man from local band Sampras who got talking about the band’s festival appearances over the summer, the benefits of playing smaller, local gigs, and the recording that they’ve been doing recently. Matt told Sean about Liverpool’s lively music scene and their new song ‘Look Around’ which is going to be featured on a brand new EP.

Accrington collective Phrenic came down to the studio with their chaos pad, keyboards, mixers and a bucket of leads. We agreed that the lighting in the studio wasn’t quite ambient enough to be in keeping with their set, or live production as they call it.

After we turned the lights to mellow lighting and Phrenic played another of their musical mashups. They talked about their mis-spent youth in clubs, their time spent in too many bands, and their collective musical background. They finished off the show with their subliminal, minimal, ambient sound… the track was Penguin.

Listen again to hear more from this unique musical collective.

Playlist

High Contrast – In a Gadda Da Vida
Danny Byrd – Failsafe
Danny Byrd – Hot Fuzz
Revolter – Fades To Grey
Idol Minds – My World (Live In Studio)
Dinousaur Pile Up – Traynor
Idol Minds – Summers Gone (Live In Studio)
Rae Morris – Day One
Idol Minds – These Vibrations (Live In Studio)
DeerstoneCounty- Little Lady
Zauwie Beamhead – Storm By The Vegetables
Superkings – Never Say Never
Rae Morris – Grounded
Rozkrypz – Concrete Crumble
Middle Finger Salute – Point The Blame
My Chemical Romance – Nanana
(After a phone calling pleading for it to be taken off we dumped it.)
Invisible Elephant – Wish
Phrenic – Sinatra (Live In Studio)
Japanese Pop Stars – Lets Go
Phrenic – Silence (Live In Studio)
Gorrillaz – Doncamatic
Phrenic – Penguin (Live In Studio)

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Tags: BBC Introducing, DJ, new music, Sean McGinty
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The BBC Introducing Lancashire Furtive Forty

Yes… the time has come to consider the best new music of 2010 and with the unabashed and possibly shameless borrowing of an idea (see previous missive) I will present to you at Christmas Time the Furtive Forty. This will found at BBC Lancashire on the BBC Introducing programme with me Sean McGinty.

F.A.Q.

Why call it that? – Because we will play Forty songs in a furtive manner on the 23rd and 30th of December.

What, a great idea

Yes it is.

How do we get involved? – don’t know yet. I’ll think of something.

For now send your suggestions for the BBC Introducing Lancashire Furtive Forty on a postcard or via electronic means .

That’s great

You got it.

New music

Here is some from a young man from Lancashire.

I think he could be big on the hit parade and meet Jimmy Saville.

I present to you…

Oh and this…

And… in from coastal settlement

http://listn.to/EscapeArtist

Like it’s…

Heat vs Light

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Posted in Funny things, New music, Radio, Social Enterprise, Zauwie Beamhead | 2 Comments »

My birthday, John Peel and his memory

Today is my 46th birthday… it is also the day 6 years ago we lost John Peel.

In his latter years I enjoyed John Peel more for his radio 4 outings and the lovely random, “I don’t give a shit that this is tele” broadcasts too. The way he undermined Top of the Pops and the cheesy DJ’s he worked with.

Cliche

I could cliche this and wax lyrical about what his radio programme did for generations of young musos and creative types but every man and his dog does that.

But since his parting the world of new music has lacked a voice. A detached. Uncommercial. “I’m not trying to make a career for myself, I just like the music” type voice.

The reason John Peel was a legend is that not only did he pick up on some pretty good music in his time but the way he went about it was such a good example to all of us involved in whatever way in new music. You don’t like bands because it could be good for your career. You don’t hurl yourself at passing bandwagons in the hope of some reflected glory. Or book acts because it improves relations with a record company or manager you want voice over work from.

BBC Website for John Peel

So I look for BBC website stuff on John Peel… (click on heading above to see the site) how do we celebrate the man that brought this whole concept to the BBC?

The site that is his home (I think) hasn’t been updated since 2007… there is other stuff from BBC Introducing programmes, sessions, BBC 6Music etc around the BBC but the site really looks uncared for and this is a shame.

So wouldn’t it be lovely (as some of us think of him today) if he had a proper home that celebrates his life fully on the BBC website?

Also, I’d really like it if all people who work with new music would take a look at what John Peel was and understand it’s not about them and their career path it’s about the bands and the music.

Too many journos, presenters, wannabes and DJs now look at new music as a vehicle for them. Like it’s a staging post to a career on ITV 4.

It’s about the music… man

The music and the bands are the thing. It was for Peel and it should be for you if you are lucky enough (as I am) to get sent new music and have the privilege to play it on the radio.

So come on new music practitioners. All of you. Cut the crap and remember the opportunity here is for the artist not you.

Just press the buttons, support the music and occasionally talk some crap in between.

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Tags: BBC Introducing, Blog, DJ, John Peel, new music, Sean McGinty
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BBC Introducing

Heat vs Light

From August 2010.

Sometimes people arrive at the studios with the boxes with round windows.

Miracle

They see things and can remember.

Warning this film contains extreme baldness.

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Tags: BBC Introducing, Blog, Lancashire, new music, Sean McGinty
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