Arts News for The Cultural Thing - December 10
Saturday 11 December 2010
Fans Stunned by Hughton's Departure
NEWCASTLE fans reacted with disbelief after manager Chris Hughton was dismissed today - just weeks after his side walloped arch-rivals Sunderland 5-1.
Baffled and upset fans gathered outside St James's Park after the news broke.
And as sacked Hughton left the stadium, looking thoroughly dejected, he was given a round of applause by Toon supporters.
Hughton took Newcastle back to the Premiership in one season under his 18-month spell as manager, but left St James's Park with his bags packed.
Lifelong Newcastle fans Tom Stephens and Joe Benns thanked Hughton and shook his hand before he was driven away in a black Lexus saloon.
Tom, 19, said: "Thank you Chris, I'll never forget you."
Hughton replied with a simple "Thank you."
As the dejected manager was driven away, the two fans clapped.
Wearing a Newcastle top, Tom, a student from Jesmond, said: "I was nearly in tears. It's horrible isn't it?
"To do this to someone who's stuck by the club and kept with the boys, got the boys back up.
"He should have been given another two years. What's he done wrong? He's lost a few games in a season that's been mental and horrible for everyone.
"It's disgusting of the club – when will we start to learn? We've done this so many times before - we did it with Keegan and we got relegated.
"Are we going to get relegated again? How many chances do you want? It's just ridiculous.
"Ashley has to go – no one likes him – I don't know why he's staying, what's the point? Just sell the club, get out of here, no one likes you.
"People absolutely hate him – there's no reason why he should stay, he thinks he's the big Godfather of the club.
"But the fans are the most important people and they wanted Hughton to stay, it's horrible."
Benns, 20, also a student from Jesmond, said: "We were just coming to Shearer's bar to try and spend our vouchers and we got a text saying Hughton's being sacked, so we came down here.
"I like the fact that we got to see him and got a chance to say goodbye because he's been the best manager that I've seen here."
Alan Curbishley has emerged as a bookies' favourite to take the vacant spot - but fans slammed the idea of appointing the former West Ham United boss.
Stephens added: "What's Curbishley gonna do that Hughton can't? The only reason I can just about see this happening is if a decent manager is coming in, but not Alan Curbishley. What's he ever done?"
John Shearer, 49, a full-time carer from Byker, who claims to be a cousin of Toon legend Alan Shearer, said: "He did the big job, he beat Sunderland didn't he? Any manager who did the big job shouldn't be sacked.
"I would've kept him. But you can't go and beat the big clubs then lose against the little ones like West Brom. These supporters won't put up with it."
Supporter Stephen Denison, 38, from Fenham, Newcastle, said: "I cannot believe it - he brought us back up and we were beating Chelsea and Arsenal, then all of a sudden you play West Brom and get beat and you're out.
"It's not fair - you have to give him a chance. He's done well in the Premier League, it's not his fault, he's on coppers really. He's got no money to spend, he just had to get on with it."
And as sacked Hughton left the stadium, looking thoroughly dejected, he was given a round of applause by Toon supporters.
Hughton took Newcastle back to the Premiership in one season under his 18-month spell as manager, but left St James's Park with his bags packed.
Lifelong Newcastle fans Tom Stephens and Joe Benns thanked Hughton and shook his hand before he was driven away in a black Lexus saloon.
Tom, 19, said: "Thank you Chris, I'll never forget you."
Hughton replied with a simple "Thank you."
As the dejected manager was driven away, the two fans clapped.
Wearing a Newcastle top, Tom, a student from Jesmond, said: "I was nearly in tears. It's horrible isn't it?
"To do this to someone who's stuck by the club and kept with the boys, got the boys back up.
"He should have been given another two years. What's he done wrong? He's lost a few games in a season that's been mental and horrible for everyone.
"It's disgusting of the club – when will we start to learn? We've done this so many times before - we did it with Keegan and we got relegated.
"Are we going to get relegated again? How many chances do you want? It's just ridiculous.
"Ashley has to go – no one likes him – I don't know why he's staying, what's the point? Just sell the club, get out of here, no one likes you.
"People absolutely hate him – there's no reason why he should stay, he thinks he's the big Godfather of the club.
"But the fans are the most important people and they wanted Hughton to stay, it's horrible."
Benns, 20, also a student from Jesmond, said: "We were just coming to Shearer's bar to try and spend our vouchers and we got a text saying Hughton's being sacked, so we came down here.
"I like the fact that we got to see him and got a chance to say goodbye because he's been the best manager that I've seen here."
Alan Curbishley has emerged as a bookies' favourite to take the vacant spot - but fans slammed the idea of appointing the former West Ham United boss.
Stephens added: "What's Curbishley gonna do that Hughton can't? The only reason I can just about see this happening is if a decent manager is coming in, but not Alan Curbishley. What's he ever done?"
John Shearer, 49, a full-time carer from Byker, who claims to be a cousin of Toon legend Alan Shearer, said: "He did the big job, he beat Sunderland didn't he? Any manager who did the big job shouldn't be sacked.
"I would've kept him. But you can't go and beat the big clubs then lose against the little ones like West Brom. These supporters won't put up with it."
Supporter Stephen Denison, 38, from Fenham, Newcastle, said: "I cannot believe it - he brought us back up and we were beating Chelsea and Arsenal, then all of a sudden you play West Brom and get beat and you're out.
"It's not fair - you have to give him a chance. He's done well in the Premier League, it's not his fault, he's on coppers really. He's got no money to spend, he just had to get on with it."
Monday 22 November 2010
North East Film Gets Edgy
For The Cultural Thing
Ryan Pilot
Explicitly erotic underground film brilliantlove made its North East debut this week.
Produced by Newcastle-based Pinball Films and directed by one third of the organisation, James Horner, it premiered in June at New York's Tribeca Film Festival and also played this year's Edinburgh Film Festival.
But it came home to play at the Tyneside Cinema in Newcastle last Tuesday and also played Thursday.
Set in a remote Teesside town, the Northern Film and Media funded film follows young lovers, Manchester and Noon as they spend most of the first half of the film naked and blissfully having sex.
But their relationship is put to the test when naïve Manchester gets caught up in a world of art and pornography.
Speaking after the first screening, the film's writer, Sean Conway said: “I discovered the word erotology, which is the study of sexual love and love making and thought 'shit, I wish I'd have done that at A-level!'
“So one of ideas was that and the other idea was a pastiche of the art world, which was called 'Fuck Art' initially until brilliantlove became a fusion, an amalgamation of both.
“But obviously as a writer you should write about what you know and I don't know a great deal about the art world but sex and being in love is my specialist subject.”
Ryan Pilot
Explicitly erotic underground film brilliantlove made its North East debut this week.
Produced by Newcastle-based Pinball Films and directed by one third of the organisation, James Horner, it premiered in June at New York's Tribeca Film Festival and also played this year's Edinburgh Film Festival.
But it came home to play at the Tyneside Cinema in Newcastle last Tuesday and also played Thursday.
Set in a remote Teesside town, the Northern Film and Media funded film follows young lovers, Manchester and Noon as they spend most of the first half of the film naked and blissfully having sex.
But their relationship is put to the test when naïve Manchester gets caught up in a world of art and pornography.
Speaking after the first screening, the film's writer, Sean Conway said: “I discovered the word erotology, which is the study of sexual love and love making and thought 'shit, I wish I'd have done that at A-level!'
“So one of ideas was that and the other idea was a pastiche of the art world, which was called 'Fuck Art' initially until brilliantlove became a fusion, an amalgamation of both.
“But obviously as a writer you should write about what you know and I don't know a great deal about the art world but sex and being in love is my specialist subject.”
Historical Staging Of Pitmen Painters: Your Chance To Star
For The Cultural Thing
By Ryan Pilot
The People’s Theatre in Newcastle has secured the exclusive rights to stage the first ever amateur production of the Pitmen Painters as part of its centenary celebrations next year.
The play, based on the true story of a group of Ashington miners who become the toast of the art world recently played Broadway and was penned by Billy Elliot writer, Lee Hall.
People’s Theatre venue manager, Steve Robertson explained how to get involved.
He said: “You do two pieces in front of the production committee and the director of any show can go up and watch.
“We have what we call a new members night where people come along – next one’s the first of December.
“I would say that if you’re joining the theatre just because of Pitmen Painters – not a great way to go about it because we have roughly a 350 membership.
“But if you want to join to be part of the People’s Theatre that’s great.
“And if you want to get a part in Pitmen Painters, go for it – but there will be a lot of people going for six parts.”
Technical staff, such as stage designers, sound engineers and security staff are also encouraged to get involved. See www.ptag.org.uk for more details.
The Pitmen Painters will play June 13 to June 18 next year.
By Ryan Pilot
The People’s Theatre in Newcastle has secured the exclusive rights to stage the first ever amateur production of the Pitmen Painters as part of its centenary celebrations next year.
The play, based on the true story of a group of Ashington miners who become the toast of the art world recently played Broadway and was penned by Billy Elliot writer, Lee Hall.
People’s Theatre venue manager, Steve Robertson explained how to get involved.
He said: “You do two pieces in front of the production committee and the director of any show can go up and watch.
“We have what we call a new members night where people come along – next one’s the first of December.
“I would say that if you’re joining the theatre just because of Pitmen Painters – not a great way to go about it because we have roughly a 350 membership.
“But if you want to join to be part of the People’s Theatre that’s great.
“And if you want to get a part in Pitmen Painters, go for it – but there will be a lot of people going for six parts.”
Technical staff, such as stage designers, sound engineers and security staff are also encouraged to get involved. See www.ptag.org.uk for more details.
The Pitmen Painters will play June 13 to June 18 next year.
New Creative Hub For North East
For The Cultural Thing
Exclusive by Ryan Pilot
A New creative hub is set to open in central Newcastle.
The building will primarily be used by Sustained Theatre North East, a black and ethnic theatre group.
But it will be open to everyone - with the man behind it, Oscar Watson of North East Intercultural Arts keen to include as manny people as possible, not just a creative élite.
He said: “There is a discussion at the moment about a building which will be about development of performance art.
“But I am very keen if that does happen is what we create is a creative community hub.
“The last government talked about creative hubs as spaces like schools for example, so I wanted to build on that – using the resources that came from Sustained Theatre to buy and open a building.
“But to make the resources of that building available to schools, and colleges and wide groups of people.
“There is a particular building that we have in mind and we're very close in the way to possibly getting it.
“But there are problems. It's a significant amount of money that's being brought into the region.
“It's £750,000 but we may not be able to get hold of it for the want of £10,000.”
Exclusive by Ryan Pilot
A New creative hub is set to open in central Newcastle.
The building will primarily be used by Sustained Theatre North East, a black and ethnic theatre group.
But it will be open to everyone - with the man behind it, Oscar Watson of North East Intercultural Arts keen to include as manny people as possible, not just a creative élite.
He said: “There is a discussion at the moment about a building which will be about development of performance art.
“But I am very keen if that does happen is what we create is a creative community hub.
“The last government talked about creative hubs as spaces like schools for example, so I wanted to build on that – using the resources that came from Sustained Theatre to buy and open a building.
“But to make the resources of that building available to schools, and colleges and wide groups of people.
“There is a particular building that we have in mind and we're very close in the way to possibly getting it.
“But there are problems. It's a significant amount of money that's being brought into the region.
“It's £750,000 but we may not be able to get hold of it for the want of £10,000.”
Sunday 21 November 2010
Helictite Feature
A feature on the North East's finest free-noise collective and their recording in an underground waterfall chamber for The Cultural Thing.
Monday 1 November 2010
All on Board at Walk Bus Man Honour
For the Wear Valley Mercury (Oct 29)
By Ryan Pilot
A CARING dad has been awarded a medal for his services to Durham's longest running walking bus.
Michael Walker set up the walking bus six years ago when his daughter Danielle asked him.
He said: "I used to walk her to school anyway, so I said yeah, I would do it. I went to a meeting at school and it all went from there."
Danielle, 12, has since left Woodhouse Community Primary School in Bishop Auckland. But dedicated Michael, 25, has continued with the scheme. He said: "I enjoy it and to be honest I don't want it to fold. I enjoy doing it and I want it to keep going for the school itself."
Durham County Council chairman Mac Williams gave Michael the Chairman's medal last Friday at a school assembly. It now has pride of place in his living room.
He said: "I'm very proud of it. They recognise the work that I've done for the school." A group of six adults run two walking buses, with one running morning and evening.
Michael, a parent governor, takes about 10 children to school every morning. His wife, Emma, 30, who is a supervising assistant at the school, is also involved.
Handing over the award Coun Williams said: "Michael is a perfect example of why the Chairman's Medal was launched. Michael's work has been outstanding and it's a credit to his sterling efforts that the Walking Bus Scheme is so successful at Woodhouse Primary School."
Danielle missed her dad's award ceremony as she was at school, but is very proud nonetheless.
Saturday 30 October 2010
Fruit Of Labours
For the Wear Valley Mercury (Oct 29)
Otterly brilliant: Volunteers install an otter holt
By Ryan Pilot
A WEAR Valley group has bagged an award for transforming their nature reserve into a haven for wildlife and visitors.
Hedleyhope Community Association was given the Green Heroes Northern Community Group of the Year award for regenerating the Hedleyhill Colliery Wood and Meadow.
The hardworking group regimented a traditional woodland management programme to whip it into shape and win the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers' prize.
Volunteers built bridges, created footpaths and installed bird boxes, bat boxes and otter holts and a variety of species have blossomed in the reserve's meadows.
Chair of the Environment Group Clare Ross said: "It's a fantastic achievement for the members who have worked so hard to improve this land for people and wildlife."
The association leased the 13 hectare plot in 2005 with a grant from the Big Lottery Fund. It is built on the site of two collieries, which makes the soil nutrient-poor.
But conditions have proven perfect for the brightly coloured waxcap mushroom - and many varieties have popped up in the reserve's meadows this year.
The meadows provide the rare environment required to create the "waxcap grasslands" that the funghi require - thanks to the sheep that graze there during winter.
Waxy Wonder: A waxcap mushroom
The association is the only community group in the North East receiving grants from the Forestry Commission, who provided 50 bird boxes. They are about to provide a grant for the nurturing of at-risk birds like the Willow Tit and the Spotted Fly Catcher.
The small group have improved the reserve for people as well as wildlife, providing guided walks and hosting children's groups. Artistic carved benches are currently being added and paths are maintained to the highest quality.
Mrs Ross said: "It has improved the biodiversity in the meadow, but we have also improved it for people."
Tree-mendous effort: Youngsters plant a sapling
Remarkably, the reserve's woodland grows flowers usually found in ancient woodland - such as blue bell and dog's mercury - despite being felled and naturally regenerated years ago.
The Hedleyhopers are hoping for more volunteers as groupds like theirs face hardship as grants dry up following Government budget cuts.
Urging others to get involved Ms Ross said: "It's good for your mental health - you can meet new people, learn new skills and do something positive to help the environment and wildlife."
Already a Local Wildlife Site, Durham County Council have promised to dedicate the land as aLocal Nature Reserve - to recognise its educational services - but the group are still waiting for the confirmation that will secure its future.
Date Anger Lead to Crash
For the Wear Valley Mercury (Oct 29)
A HEARTBROKEN businessman crashed while chasing the mother of his child as she snook off with an internet date.
Ian McDonald received a call from his hysterical teenage daughter informing him that her mother, Mary McGregor, had gone on a date with a man she had found online, a court heard.
Mr McDonald, 39, raced hom to Becket Close in Ehterley Dene from Leeds afer hearing the man had been let into the house he still shared with ex-partner Ms McGregor and their 16-year-old daughter, magistrates were told.
He followed Ms McGregor as she went to meet John Allen at 8pm - causing her to panic and go straight to the police station.
He pursued her again at 9pm in a Vauxhall Vectra down Woodhouse Lane as she travelled in Mr Allen's Audi A3.
It was stated to the court that Mr McDonald hit the back of the Audi as he drove carelessly - causing more than £2,000 worth of damage.
Not realising he had hit the car, Mr McDonald didn't stop. He later discovered minor damage to his front bumper, but failed to notify police of the accident.
Speaking at Bishop Auckland Magistrates Court, defence solicitor Clive Booth described Mr McDonald as driving in "very sad and distressing circumstances."
He explained to the court how Mr McDonald had suspected Ms McGregor to be looking for men on dating websites before they split a year ago.
But he still went "out of his way to do his utmost to maintain the relationship" - even paying for cosmetic surgery for Ms McGregor's nose.
Ms McGregor continued to seek internet love after her relationship with Mr McDonald broke down.
Their daughter now refuses to speak to her mum after finding obscene messages on her computer. A top student, her school work has suffered as a result of the stress brought on by what happened, the court heard.
Mr McDonald pleaded guilty to harassment, careless driving and failing to report an accident. He received five penalty points on his driving licence and was fined a total of £445 - which included compensation for Mr Allen.
Ms McGregor did not wish to pursue the harassment charge - which usually results in a restraining order - due to their living together. They also share a mortgage, a taxi business and a corner shop.
Friday 29 October 2010
Thorn In Paw Slows Lion Rae
For the Wear Valley Mercury (Oct 29)
Grin and bear it: Rachel smiles through the pain 20 miles in.
By Ryan Pilot
Pain shot from her hip after six miles - she knew what had happened - but Rachel also knew she had to limp 20 more to commemorate her three late relatives.
Rachel Glendenning fundraised and trained for the Kielder Marathon for months, planning to run in memory of three relatives who died of cancer. The Mercury first reported on her plans in August.
But she was ordered not to do any long distance running just a week before the race by her doctor after being diagnosed with a join condition.
Ignoring advice, the headstrong 22-year-old from Willington - now living in Stanley Crook - took part anyway.
Rachel said: "My hip gave out at about six miles, which meant I limped up to twenty miles. Then I couldn't pull my right leg any further than straight - so I was pulling myself along with my left leg. So it was a bit traumatic!
"I'm quite stubborn. There was no chance I wasn't going to finish. No matter how much it hurt, I was gonna be finishing.
"I'd raised just in excess of £2,000 and there just wasn't a chance that I wasn't going to be earning that money.
"I would've felt like a bit of a con - people sponsored us to do it and if I hadn't have finished, I wouldn't have felt like I'd earned it.
"A big thank you to all who sponsored me. I never thought I'd raise this much."
Rachel was one of only 240 females to finish out of 934 runners.
It took her nearly six hours as her hip got gradually worse as the gruelling, off-road course went on.
She has hypermobility, which causes her joints to move further than they should. Her condition is mild, but caused agony as each mile took its toll.
At each checkpoint Rachel was asked if she was OK, but insisted she was fine.
Tachel was spurred on by the memory of her aunt Tracy Alderson, gran Pat Alderson and great aunt Judith Matthews, nee Alderson, who all recently died within nine months of each other from cancer.
She said: "If I wasn't running for Cancer Research I wouldn't given in.
"The fact that it was the memory of them and for that cause was definitely on my mind."
Rachel's mum and step dad Julie and Stephen Staples walked the last mile with her, and - although concerned by the state she was in - knew she wouldn't stop.
Rachel said: "They were supportive, obviously, they knew my mindset - that there wasn't an option that I wasn't going to do it and they were really proud."
Despite the remarkable achievement of finishing, Rachel was disappointed by her time of five hours and 50 minutes at the end of the race.
She said: "The first thing I asked for were painkillers, I didn't celebrate or anything, I was really dissappointed with how long it took me.
"Because if my hip hadn't given out I could have done it a lot quicker - finished." Exhaused and hurting, Rachel visited her doctor after the long drive to Wear Valley then headed home to rest ahead of work the next day.
Rachel limped around Durham Sixth Form College, where she is a student support assistant, until las Thursday and craved junk food after her "nightmare" ordeal.
She laughed: "On Monday afternoon I had to go and get dinner, because I hadn't taken any, and I thought 'I just need a Burger King, I need something really fatty and calorific!'
"So I had to toddle off into town and that was quite uncomfortable, I must say."
Rachel supports students with special educational needs, such as those with dyslexia or ADHD and received the full support of her colleagues. She said: "They were very pleased that I was OK and very proud that I'd finished."
Surprisingly, Rachel insists she enjoyed the experience. She said: "IT was just a nightmare quite honestly. I enjoyed it, as much as it was a nightmare, I enjoyed it."
Her doctor has insisted that she does not run again, but stubborn as ever, Rachel is thinking about returning to Kielder to ru the whole thing properly.
She said: "I've been advised I shouldn't do anymore running, but I would quite like to run it. I'm not going to rule it out entirely."
For more information on how to donate, log on to www.runningsponsorme.org/rae.
Red Left For Dead
For the Wear Valley Mercury (Oct 29)
Pics of red squirrels at Killhope by Phil Curtis.
Decision is nuts: A Killhope red squirrel
By Ryan Pilot
WEAR Valley's last bastion for red squirrels will receive no help from a North East body as the county is surrendered to the invasive greys.
The war on the grey is long fought in the North East, but the Durham front is to be abandoned as new funding focuses on Northumberland, Cumbria and North Yorkshire.
Save Our Squirrels (SOS) received £50,000 this month from the Heritage Lottery Fund to help North East Reds - but will not be spending it on County Durham due to its lack of red strongholds.
An SOS spokesperson said: "Northumberland, Cumbria and the tip of Yorkshire have red squirrel strongholds. Lots of places like Durham - there are red squirrels but they have smaller pockets."
There are 17 strongholds in the North East - none of them in County Durham which is over-run by the squirrel pox-carrying greys. The pox does not affect the American grey, but is deadly to the red.
Durham Wildlife Trust director Jim Corkhill said: "The national strategy to conserving red squirrels is to protect areas where there are still reasonable populations. We don't have any significant large populations left in County Durham."
But Killhope Lead Mining Museum is continuing the fight for the Durham reds singlehandedly. Their population diminished after last year's harsh winter and the removal of nearby Forestry Commission woodland - but is quickly recovering.
Visitor services officer Shelagh Connor said: "Towards the end of the summer we have seen them returning - they're nothing like the number we have seen in the past - but where there's two there'll soon be more if you know what I mean!"
Young Hope: A baby squirrel brings optimism for Durham reds
Staff feed squirrels with a buffet of nuts daily and provide traps for nearby residents who spot greys to catch and kill them - maintaining a grey-free zone.
Disappointed with the SOS decision, Ms Connor added: "I don't know how significant our red squirrel population is nationally. But any red population should be helped really, so they should help us, give us their money!"
Despite visitors coming from far and wide to see Killhope's reds, it is not viewed as an area of significance by SOS.
Ms Connor added: "I don't know what qualifies to put us on the map. We don't have help from outside organisations - it's the staff mainly. We're pretty much on our own."
Monday 18 October 2010
Security guard hurt in Washington bank raid
For the Newcastle Journal (Oct 13)
Horror scene: Lloyds TSB Bank in Concord, Washington
By Joanne Butcher and Ryan Pilot
“The staff locked the doors, but after the men went the security guard started hammering to be let in, that was the worst thing.
“Everyone was in a panic, I was shouting to let him in, but we were worried the attackers were still there. Everyone was looking for somewhere to hide.
“The guard was seven shades of pale, he was so shook up. He had cuts on his face but I think he had been shielding himself with his case, otherwise he could have been killed.”
Another witness, who did not wish to be named, told how the gang beat the guard in an effort to get away with the money.
“I saw two assailants assaulting the security guard, really laying into him,” he said.
“I just hope they catch them. That poor man was going about his job and he doesn’t deserve something like that.”
A doctor from the nearby Victoria Road Health Centre is believed to have treated the guard’s facial injuries before an ambulance arrived.
He was then taken to hospital, where he remained last night, but was not believed to be in a life-threatening condition.
Yesterday, the bank was closed and a cordon was thrown around it as police forensic teams combed the scene for evidence.
A force spokesman said: “Police are appealing for witnesses following a robbery in Blue House Lane, Washington.
“It happened at around 9.15am when three men in a Land Rover Defender approached security guards in a G4S van and stole an amount of money. Police are currently carrying out a number of inquiries into this robbery.”
A G4S spokesman added: “The crew of one of our vehicles was attacked during a violent incident in Blue House Lane, Washington. We can confirm that one of our couriers suffered minor injuries.
“We take any attack on our staff very seriously and are committed to maintaining their safety and that of the general public.
“G4S Cash Solutions (UK) continues to work closely with trade unions, the police, the Government and local communities to develop initiatives that will curtail the growing number of violent attacks taking place on the cash-in-transit industry.”
Lloyds TSB confirmed there had been “an incident” but refused to comment further.
Anyone who was in the area of Blue House Lane at the time of the incident should call police on 0345 604 3043 ext 69191, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
Sunday 17 October 2010
He's Gok What It Takes
For the Newcastle Evening Chronicle (Oct 13)
BY Ryan Pilot
TV fashionista Gok Wan dropped into Newcastle to recruit Tynesiders for a charity programme.
Vodafone's World of Difference scheme is offering 500 people paid two-month placements with a charity of their choice.
Gok chatted to Newcastle's participants from last year on the Millennium Bridge, where he commented on the "gorgeous" quayside. It is not the fashion guru's first visit to the city - he has brought his travelling catwalk roadshow here twice for TV Gok's Fashion Fix.
Newcastle produced 22 applicants last year, but Gok is hoping for a lot more this time.
Gok Makes The World Of Difference
For the Newcastle Journal (Oct 13)
BY Ryan Pilot
Vodafone's World of Difference programme is offering 500 people a paid two-month placement with a charity of their choice.
Urging the region to get involved, Gok said: "Apply, absolutely, go out there, be proactive about it. You can absolutely 100% make a difference - it's really important." It is not the presenter's first visit to the city - he has brought his travelling catwalk roadshow here twice for TV show Gok's Fashion Fix.
"Everyone's really accommodating," he said. "And in fact, when we did the travelling catwalk to search for the country's most stylish person we had lots of really good entries here."
Jen Pharaoh did a two-month placement with local charity Coco last year as part of the World of Difference scheme. She worked with youngsters at Regent Farm First School in Gosforth, Newcastle.
Jen, 23 said: "I can highly recommend anyone apply because there's something for everyone to do."
Anyone who wants to apply should go to www.vodafone.co.uk/worldofdifference
The Big Picture
For the Newcastle Evening Chronicle (Oct 14)
By Ryan Pilot
TALENTED youngsters drew on their artistic abilities to make their mark on a giant collage.
Tyneside kids added to a huge image of Mr Grumpy's Motor Car to celebrate the launch of an exhibition about children's writer John Burningham.
The event was held at Ouseburn's Seven Stories in the Creation Station and included children of all ages and abilities.
It was part of The Big Draw 2010 - an international initiative to get the world drawing. It is held over five continents throughout October.
Paul Black, from Seven Stories, said: "Children and families love joining us with these events, it has a big community feel and the finished pieces of artwork are always fantastic."
The finished colourful picture can be viewed at the Artist's Attic at Seven Stories, which is under Byker Bridge.
It can also be seen at the Seven Stories Facebook group, where there are more photos of the little artists at work.
Last year children from across the region came together to create a massive tiger with children's illustrator Catherine Rayner at Seven Stories.
The Big Draw 2010 hits the Bailiffgate Museum in Alnwick, Northumberland, on October 23, where youngsters will be asked to draw the future.
Kids can let their imaginations go wild as they draw the crazy inventions of the next 100 years - with prizes for the best.
The event will last one week and information can be found atwww.bailiffgatemuseum.co.uk or by calling 01665 605847.
Guard cut & beaten in bank terror raid
For the Newcastle Evening Chronicle (Oct 13)
Shaken witnesses: Sonia Lyburd and Thelma Jasper
By Joanne Butcher and Ryan Pilot
MASKED raiders were on the run today after a terrifying attack at a bank.
The three-man gang swooped on a G4S security guard as he delivered cash to Lloyds TSB in Blue House Lane, Concorde, Washington, yesterday morning.
Horrified witnesses told how armed attackers rained down blows on the man at around 9.15am.
Sonia Lyburd, 42, from Albany, Washington, was in a car outside the bank with her daughter Shannon, eight.
"I was terrified," she said. "The men went up to the van where the security guard was and got him on the deck.
"I couldn't get Shannon out of the back door of the car because they were right outside it. I dragged her into the front and we ran into the bank.
"I was screaming, 'There's a robbery, they're killing him'."
Sonia believes the men were armed with machete-type knives. Though police could not confirm this, they said a firearm may have been brandished but not fired.
Thelma Jasper, also from Albany, was inside the bank.
"The staff locked the doors and called the police," the 56-year-old said. "After the men went, the security guard started hammering to be let in.
"Everyone was in a panic. I was shouting to let the him in, but we were worried the attackers were still there. Everyone was looking for somewhere to hide.
"The guard was seven shades of pale, he was so shook up. He had cuts on his face, but I think he had been shielding himself with his case otherwise he could have been killed. It was well planned and professional. They knew what they were doing.
"I just hope anyone who saw anything comes forward to the police. They shouldn't be allowed to get away with it."
Thursday 7 October 2010
BOOK REVIEW: The Kill Zone by Chris Ryan
For the News of the World
By Ryan Pilot
THIS is a no-holds barred action thriller that smacks of authenticity.
The bare-knuckly ride drags us from a Belfast junkie hovel to the fontline in Afghanistan - then on to the lawless streets of Somalia.
Crack SAS captain Jack Harker is leading a team to retrieve three stolen Stinger missiles. Meanwhile, in Belfast surveillance agent Siobham Byrne is investigatin an ex-IRA drug baron who keeps his cronies in check with random knee-cappings.
With the US president visiting London, Harker and Byrne's paths collide and they uncover a Taliban terror plot.
As an ex-SAS soldier, Ryan knows the bloody details of these dog-eat-dog worlds and he scores another hit here.
Rovers Hot Pot
For the News of the World (Oct 3)
Heavenly Helen: Star stuns onlookers in skimpy bikini
By Tom Latchem and Ryan Pilot
SEXY Corrie star Helen Flanagan serves up a new dish for Rovers fans - herself in a Lancashire hotspot bikini.
Helen, who plays minx Rosie Webster, is about to start a steamy on-screen affair where we see a lot more than just her Rosie cheeks.
And she has revealed exactly how she gets in the mood for what promise to be the Street's sexiest scenes ever - by fantasising about her real-life footballer boyfriend.
So it sounds like ex-Chelsea star Scott Sinclair, 21, will be on her mind a lot! And these exclusive first pics of her flaunting her curves on a beach in Mallorca show viewers are in for a treat.
In the show she romps with Ryan Thomas, 26, who plays builder Jason Grimshaw, after he's persuaded to help her on a saucy photo-shoot.
Helen, 20, who has Swansea City player Scott's name tattooed on her thigh, said: "I've got three underwear scenes coming up.
"But it's all fun, it's just my character. I am in love off-screen and I will be able to put that into my role.
"If you've had those experiences and can feel those emotions you can convey them into the character."
In the show, saucy Rosie has often shocked viewers with her revealing undies.
Her latest sizzling sex scenes could give elderly Street fans a Corrie-nary.
Tuesday 29 June 2010
Tobacco - Maniac Meat Album Review
By Ryan Pilot
Meat is the word. This record is thickly layered with meaty, big, dirty synth sounds. Deep, distorted, motorised whirrings grate across the entire album like speeding cars, driven by big, gritty hip-hop beats.
‘Maniac Meat’ follows Tobacco’s 2006 debut album Fucked Up Friends and it grinds straight into life in fifth gear, with ‘Constellation Dirtbike Headache.’ Rumbling, distorted rock ‘n’ roll bass and a synthesised motor melt into modulated, laid back vocals over trashy drums and you are instantly seduced by the lead synth hook. You can hear the dirtbike revving throughout, which somehow comes out of a human mouth midway through.
Guest vocalist Beck reels through imagery on ‘Fresh Hex,’ like experimental Jewish hip-hoppers Clouddead. He flows over hip-hop beats and synth bleeps that wouldn’t sound out of place on one of electronica twiddler Clarke’s records.
‘Mexican Icecream’ offers a creepy juxtaposition between angelic, childlike “do do dos” and Ladytronesque harmonised, male vocals worshipping the Sabbath, singing, “You are the favourite day / I’ll bring the sun to you,” over an electro beat. ‘Sweatmother,’ a sparser affair than the rest, refreshes the ears with high pitched high hats, 90s power-rock drums and whispered vocals to a Robot Rock-style guitar riff.
‘Unholy Demon Rhythms’ pumps some life back into the album, after a brief lull, with a drum fill. The bass drum rumbles like the Devil’s stomach ache while the tom-tom whips like the Devil’s spitting as deep detuned synths claw their way upwards from hell.
On ‘TV All Greasy,’ the rushed, clumsy kick drum beats like an irregular heartbeat, laced with stressed out synths. ‘Creepy Phone Calls’ concludes the album, a ghostly hook drops in unexpected and demands you pay attention. A real stand-out track, it sounds like The Stone Roses being playfully abused by a bored digital demon-kitten.
Tobacco has created a creepy, catchy, glitchy, filthy violent attack of a record which delights and stimulates the ear and confuses the pulse.
Wednesday 16 June 2010
Mystery Jets - Dreaming of Another World review
By Ryan Pilot
Frontman Blaine Harrison thrashed away on kitchen utensils, looking like some mad scientist with his wild white hair, when Mystery Jets first appeared on the scene supporting Arctic Monkeys in 2006.
His dad was in the band then, fifty-five-years-old, he stood at the back and let them all live at his home on Eel Pie Island, the location for the Rolling Stones' first gig and former hippy haven, in the Thames.
They've recently streamlined and ditched the eccentricities. Where once they played strange experimental sets they now produce three-minute pop nuggets. They have a slicker image and dad Henry Harrison no longer plays with them.
Latest single 'Dreaming of Another World' is no different. From its sweet guitar intro through its whirling synth hooks and uplifting key changes, it's a catchy, heartwarming slice of pop right through.
They continue to show aptitude for writing perfect, simple rhyming couplets like "Spend my days in a dreamy haze," and their obvious, sincere and deep love for pop music beams through to keep them head-and-shoulders above cynical indie-pop throwaways like The Hoosiers and The Kooks.
There's loads in this song. It's thickly layered with hooks, like a catchy Cure hit. It is crafted with the sort of care and nurturing that has allowed Mystery Jets to develop from their talented but diverse and unsure beginnings into an exciting and accomplished pop act.
Tuesday 15 June 2010
Klaxons - Flashover single review
By Ryan Pilot
Glow-in-the dark indie mystics Klaxons are back after three years in outer space to enlighten us with their latest audial offering.
New single ‘Flashover’ screeches and scrapes into life as a thickly layered industrial pounding, with sparse guitars warning of approaching peril. The rolling drums and clean guitars have something of The Arctic Monkeys’ latest work while the keys rise to bring the sound of the Horrors into the mix.
The single sounds like an indie version of War of the Worlds as singer Jamie Reynolds reports “Myriads of signals” that “have been noticed on the drifts,” and speaks of a flash “from our new neighbour,” over Cooper Temple Clause-inspired electro-indie beats.
So far so good, it’s urgent and exciting. Then from nowhere comes some piano plonking straight out of Bohemian Rhapsody. Over this West End interlude Reynolds warns, in a voice not too far from Jason Donovan’s Joseph on Lloyd-Webber’s ‘Close Every Door to Me,’ that “dimensions of time have come undone, now we have become so un-alone.”
It’s either a flash of humour or the band taking themselves too seriously as inter-galactic prophets. The problem with the Klaxons is that you can never tell if they’re taking the piss.
All-in-all the pioneers of “Nu-Rave” have created a dramatic, glorious noise underpinned by driving beats. Flashover remains catchy and delivers the mystical warnings that we love them for. Though you can’t help wondering if the real warning is that the world’s first indie-rock opera is on the horizon.
Thursday 27 May 2010
Sound It Out Records' Vinyl Revival
For BBC Tees.
Spinning strong: Sound it Out Records
By Ryan Pilot
The UK music charts were shook up in 2007 when the rules were changed to remove the entry requirement of a physical format.
But Tom Butchart is a devout vinyl worshipper, he also owns and runs Teesside's sole surviving independent record shop, Sound It Out.
The shop is just off the High Street in Stockton and Tom says he's witnessing a vinyl revival:
"There's a backlash against MP3s, now the charts don't mean anything."
With bands now choosing to put out their singles exclusively as MP3 downloads, the download market is booming, and physical sales are said to be dying out.
As Billy Bragg put it earlier this year in a Times interview, "The record industry is in trouble... but the music industry is thriving."
But Tom's shop Sound It Out is noticing a movement in the other direction:
"Ten year-olds are coming in and then sixty year-olds - both to buy vinyl."
"We celebrated Record Store Day recently with a live band in the shop.
It was one of the biggest days I've ever had, people were stood outside, in the porch watching the bands."
Keep it independent
"HMV's fine if you know exactly what you want. If you want to come in and browse and look and talk about music and find out new bands, you should go see independents."Vinyl junkies always cite the warmth of vinyl's sound, its artwork and the satisfaction of having something 'real' when arguing for its superiority over the CD and MP3 and Tom's no different:
"CDs are rubbish. Vinyl's got the better sound… if I buy music it has to be on vinyl."
British vinyl and cassette album sales jumped 5.2% last year as CD sales fell, suggesting that the old formats are making a comeback.
The increase does not factor in independent shops such as Sound it Out and so the increase is likely to be even greater.
Many indie labels are releasing singles on vinyl only, some on cassette and a lot of vinyl releases now have CDs inside.
Tom has adapted his business as times have changed by branching out into online retail.
But it is his underground, specialist records and encyclopaedic knowledge of popular music that will always draw in customers from Teesside and beyond:
"I'm forever getting new customers. People come and go 'how long you been here?' and then you go 'well in March it's been fourteen years' and they're quite stunned."
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