This week...

Greetings fellow humanistas!

There have been a fair few new addresses added to this list recently, so as well as the normal information about Unity and other events going on this week I've included a more general update on developments on a few exciting things locally.

So, what's on in this busy week?

Wednesday

There's a new (nearly) weekly punk promotion starting at the Fidds tomorrow. There is a four band line-up comprising Radicus, Portman, Short Warning (all the way from London) and Citizen Zero. Doors open at 7:30 and entrance is open to anyone aged 16+ with ID. Tax on the door is £4.

Thursday

This week's Unity at Fidds will see acoustic performances from Nick Thompson and the magnificent Irene Rae, as well as a one-off special instrumental show from the amazing Soulflower. Lewis Slack will be joining the usual line-up on saxophone and they will be performing their usual material in an instrumental style as well as treating us to Soulflower style live funk jams. On the decks throughout the night will be Playskool's own Instinct, and Shaggy if you have any energy left by that time of night Shaggy will finish the night with his dirty bassline breakbeat. Entrance is free before 9:15, £3 after.

Friday

On Friday Wake are travelling all the way up to Doncaster to play a 9pm slot at The Leopard. If you fancy a mission give them your support.

The Synergy Project is also on in London's SEOne club, check out http://synergyproject.org.uk for more information on this very special event. There is quite a rake of us going down for it, so if you're up for a different night out get in touch.

Saturday

This Saturday our good friends System Abuse are taking over the Limit (formerly known as the Starlight Suite) for a night of filthy drum & bass. This is an opportunity to hear and feel the 20K SA rig rocking it all at once for the first time since the Verve days! The party is a hook-up with producer Raiden's new label Offkey Recordings, who have just signed one of SA's own - Khanage. From 8pm till 10pm is a special hip-hop showcase featuring Dj Roldier (Speed of Sound) with the super-talented MC Xidus Pain.

If sleazy indie is more your thing the Indigo club night is on at Fidds. Entrance is £2 before 10pm and £4 after.

Or if you would like to see something live Wake are a bit closer to home, at The Crown on Lincoln Road. Always a good night.


Update on local developments

Muddy Promotions (the group behind the Grassroots events) are to be incorporated as a Community Interest Company within the next few weeks. This is like a limited company but means that the assets of the business belong to the community, so if the company is ever dissolved the assets must be passed to another Community group or sold and the money given to charity.

The Muddy website is up and running now too: http://muddypromotions.org.uk The form you need to complete for Muddy membership is available for download on the site and the forum will soon be fully operational.

The organisation of the Grassroots Festival is well under way with only around 20 weeks to go till the party goes boom! The necessary paperwork and legalities are now nearing their completion. Due to the kind of licence being obtained for this first year only 500 people including artists and crew will be allowed on site for the weekend, and those spaces are going to volunteers first. So if you would like to be there for the big party complete the membership form and be sure to tick the volunteer box.

The festival will have a main stage for bands, electronic live acts and DJ's of all styles and genres, and a separate village comprising a second music space (Hope Street's acoustic area in the day and Muddy's chillout at night) as well as food stalls, a cinema, awareness raising, and a central social area.

There is another all day Grassroots event taking place at Lisboa on Lincoln Road on Saturday 25th March. This will be an all-day and most of the night event with bands, DJ's,. acoustic acts, electronic live PA's, awareness raising and spoken word performances. Decor will be provided by the Muddy Arts collective. Tickets will be available soon.

If you need a little dose of Muddy magic before then there is a Muddy Promotions event taking place at the Brewery Tap on Saturday 4th March. Decor will be provided by the Muddy Arts heads and the line-up is a double bill of Opaque (launching their new album The Last Moustache) and Point of Origin (launching their new EP).

In other Muddy waters the Muddy Onion Community Centre is becoming fully functional as of 4th February. The rehearsal space is already being heavily used by bands and the building will eventually hold art studios, workshops, recording studios, a cafe accessible to Muddy members and the Muddy Promotions office. Funding applications are being made now to get the building heated and insulated properly and to purchase the equipment that users of the centre will need.

If you are interested in volunteering at the centre, have ideas for more things to do with/at the centre, or would like to make use of the rehearsal spaces/studios or whatever get in touch for more info.

Farewell till next time

Have a good week bredren.

Peace love and unity.

This Weeks Student Radio Chart

1. [1] Arctic Monkeys - When the Sun Goes Down (Domino)
2. [2] Editors - Munich (SonyBMG/Kitchenware)
3. [NE] Goldfrapp - Ride a White Horse (EMI/Mute)
4. [16] Maximo Park - I Want You to Stay (Warp)
5. [22] Fall Out Boy - Sugar We're Going Down (Universal/Mercury)
6. [29] Kubb - Grow (Universal/Mercury)
7. [3] The Kooks - You Don't Love Me (EMI/Virgin)
8. [8] Richard Ashcroft - Break the Night With Colour (EMI/Parlophone)
9. [26] The Magic Numbers - I See You, You See Me (EMI/Heavenly)
10. [NE] Belle & Sebastian - Funny Little Frog (Rough Trade)
11. [20] Corinne Bailey Rae - Put Your Records On (EMI)
12. [NE] Saucy Monky - I Touch Myself (Measured Records)
13. [10] Hard-Fi - Hard-Fi (Warner/Necessary)
14. [NE] El Presidente - Turn This Thing Around (SonyBMG)
15. [NE] The Crimea - Lottery Winners On Acid (Warner)
16. [11] Coldplay - Talk (EMI)
17. [19] The Go! Team - Ladyflash (Memphis Industries)
18. [17] The Strokes - Juicebox (Rough Trade)
19. [NE] Starsailor - This Time (EMI)
20. [NE] Test Icicles - What's Your Damage (Domino)
21. [NE] Dilated Peoples - Back Again (EMI/Parlophone)
22. [4] Madonna - Hung Up (Warner/Maverick)
23. [NE] Tinnka - Best of Me
24. [14] Mystery Jets - The Boy Who Ran Away (679)
25. [NE] Moby - Slipping Away (EMI/Mute)
26. [NE] Living Things - Bom Bom Bom (SonyBMG)
27. [RE] Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - Is This Love (Wichita)
28. [NE] Bon Jovi - Welcome to Wherever You Are (Universal/Mercury)
29. [RE] Sigur Ros - Hippipolla (EMI)
30. [NE] Ashlee Simpson - Boyfriend (Universal/Geffen)

Piper night

Saturday night at the Fidds was "Piper Night" entertaining the people with his keyboard skills, meanwhile down at The Beehive, Sacred Heart (bottom row of photo montage) were playing, they've promised to play at Unity sometime soon, so watch out for them. 

NME Readers poll

NME has just published it's top 100 albums of all time and wouldn't you know it it's yet another reason why this sort of poll is a nonsense.
Here's the top ten:
1. The Stone Roses - The Stone Roses
2. The Smiths - The Queen Is Dead
3. Oasis - Definitely Maybe
4. Sex Pistols - Never Mind The Bollocks
5. Arctic Monkeys - Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not
6. Blur - Modern Life Is Rubbish
7. Pulp - Different Class
8. The Clash - London Calling
9. The Beatles - Revolver
10. The Libertines - Up The Bracket

So we have in 5th place The Arctic Monkeys. How can an Album that was only released like last week be classed as the greatest album of all time? Surely a bit of water has to go under the bridge before a decision as crucial as this is made.
So take it for what it is, a bit of entertainment. If you want to look at the complete list it's in the NME which I believe is available at your newsagents.
Meanwhile Pete Doherty, Ex Libertines now Babyshambles, when he isn't in pokey, has been arrested yet again on drugs charges. It seems he saw flashing blue lights in his rear view and pulled over. The police were stopping the guy behind him and sauntered over to tell him he could go, but then thought better of it and nicked him anyway. Meanwhile due to Petes court appearences and other drug related activities Babyshambles is now effectively a three piece band. Especially as they've also lost a guitarist. Bit of a Shambles really.

Rock on Dudes

26th January 2006

What another great night at Unity, nearly a full house. This is "Cell 69", featuring Tommo on lead guitar and Vocals, Sven on Bass and Ifan on drums.
This montage is Columbian Necktie, and yes, they like a bit of the old columbian occasionally, featuring Neil Saunders on lead guitar and Vocals, Tom Seymour on Drums and Vocals, and Ben Hackney on Bass.
...and what you've been waiting for, the audience, featuring on lead vocals, my good friend, Trevor from Hooker, specially flown in for the event. Dee on lead inflateable guitar. And many more really nice people who didn't tell me their names. Or I forgot. Mea culpa.
Let me know if you prefer this new format or you'd like me to go back to the old one. If there's anything you'd like to see on the website let me know. Someone who shall remain nameless suggested naked people. I said only if there's volounteers. I don't mind taking the photos. It's Art OK?

Rock on mes dudes et bien tot

Pixie Skins

Emma who organised the evening at the Solstice. A night of art music and er... more music.
Here's some of the art on display.
And here's the people who performed on the night,well most of them, apologies to who ever I've missed out, sorry James.

The Synergy Project

hello:)

we are going who else is?:)

anyone considering going to synergy should get their tickets pre bought to avoid the long queue, buy them direct from synergy @

http://www.thesynergyproject.org

next event section i tink..

also train wise WAGN are doing a 4 for 2 offer and GNER are doing a deal where if u buy singles it is much cheaper. Myself n shaggy have been quoted £39.40 for both us. Anyone who is interested in coming let me know n we'll try n organize mass mash up:)

peace n light

tasha

The Coming Week

Greetings energy vortices within the multi-verse!

It's been a strange few days for the community. Urb smashed the 84 hour world record for longest DJ mix to smithereens and was still managing to smile at us by time he fell out the doors of Fidds and hobbled home. A huge congratulations to the man himself and a thanks on his behalf to everyone who turned up and showed there support during the many days that he stood tiredly at the decks.


So, what's next?

Unity

This week's Unity has a huuuuuge line-up!

Our acoustic act is Chris Barrie, returning to the Unity stage after his debut appearance a few months back. Original material and covers in a melodic indie styling.

We have two bands - Cell 69 (quality rock band - not too light - not too heavy) and Columbian Necktie (I really don't know what to expect from these guys....but I have a feeling they're gonna be fun).

Our DJ for the night is Jim from Growsystems who'll be laying down reggae/funk/hip-hop grooves to swing your asses to.

Our electronic act has unfortunately been forced to cancel but will be replaced with a special guest.....

As always the night will begin with the now famous Unity Jam, it'll be free before 9:15, £3 after and will be full of happy people grinning and larking about p*ss-headedly.

See you there.

Other events

Wednesday sees the first night for a new promotion at the Solstice called Pixie Skin. It's a Jazz/World focused night with an international art exhibition incorporated into it. There will be live music and DJ's and lots of friendly bods, so come and show your support for a new night doing something different. Entrance is by voluntary donation to a Age Concern.

On Thursday James Chadwick is playing at the Met Lounge on the acoustic night - always a treat. It's a shame it clashes with Unity or else I'd be there.

Friday you're just spoilt for choice as well:

Circus are playing in Bogarts which is bound to be a good'un. Probably their last gig before a little break too.

Meanwhile (and afterwards) The Modal Monks, Point Seven Pistols and Yo Yeti are playing at Fidds, with Urb resuming his position on the decks (as if he hasn't played long enough.....pure hardcore that boy!)

On Saturday Playskool return to the Fidds for a night of cutting edge underground beats and breaks to make you jump about, dance and grin alot.

Also on Saturday Opaque and Jam is hitting Bogarts again.

So - a busy one all round.

Till next time - peace love and unity.

www.play-skool.org.uk
www.systemabuse.co.uk
www.boro-bands.co.uk

Saturday Night/Sunday morning

DJ Urb still rocking the joint as he prepares to break the world record for Club DJ mixing. 84 hours. Yes folks, this is the man after 3 days without sleep and still laying down the grooves. This photo taken 10:00pm Saturday night. Our man intends to keep going until Sunday midday to smash the record.

World Record Club DJ Mix

DJ Urb 35 hours into his world record breaking attempt at Club DJ mixing.
Fellow DJ Martin Porter, who is staying for the duration, recording every track played. To be a valid world record claim, everything must be witnessed and recorded. Klayr, DJ Urbs sister, was taking witness statements from the audience and the whole event is being recorded on video.
Meanwhile the Unity crowd were enjoying every minute. But who's going to stay up until stupid o'clock to keep on dancing. Part of the rules is that at any one time at least one person MUST be dancing. So if you've got your dancing shoes on get down to The Fiddlers Elbow we need your support. You can be part of this world record.

Ian Carey, our sound Engineer, who after work commitments, will be there 24/7 until the end. Which will be sometime Saturday, so get down there, show your support. keep our boy encouraged. A world record is not down to just one person. It can't happen without your encouragement and support. We need you to be part of this.

...and here you are...
Rock on dudes until next week.

World Record Club DJ mix

Greetings bodkins!

It's a different one all round this week!

Unity regular Urb is attempting the world record for the longest club Dj mix, which currently stands at 84 hours!! He is making his attempt at Fidds and this will run through the Unity time slot. During the Unity night Urb will play a long session of what you will have heard him play in his previous slots, and there will be keyboards and hand percussion to allow people to jam with him - keping it live and keeping it free as you'd expect.

Urb started at 11am this morning and will go through the record late on Saturday night. You can keep up with his progress at http://systemabuse.co.uk/worldrecord

Fidds is open 11am till 2am every day for as long as he is still going. Entrance will be free until 9pm and then it will be £3 after. A portion of this money and the sponsorship Urb has gathered will be going towards the very worthwhile cause of St Theresa's homeless shelter.

Please come along during the Unity timeslot and any other time you can to support this mean feat! All the unity crew wish Urb much luck in this undertaking.

Next week we are back to a more normal Unity with a huge line-up! But i'll tell you about that later in the week....

That's all I know of for this weekend - but there's some exciting stuff going on next week. Again, more details to follow.....

For now that's all folks.

Peace love and unity.

Muddy Promotions Announcements

To each and every one of you, thank you for your support.

(am I laying it on a bit thick?)



2005 saw the growth of the Peterborough music scene almost beyond recognition. With the setting up of Muddy Promotions and the cohesion and collaboration of groups such as Unity (every Thursday nights at The Fiddlers Elbow), System Abuse (Wed 18th – Sat 21st DJ Urb will be going for the world record attempt at the longest continuous DJ set. Please Go and show your support), Drip-Dry Productions and many others.



The success of nights such as Unity and Opaque&Jam brought musicians closer together. Bands like Point Of Origin, Circus, James Chadwick, Julian Stone and too many more that I shouldn’t of started this, started jamming together. It also began the fusion of electronic music nights with rock and reggae and funk and folk, and saw some of the best alternative nights I’ve ever seen in Peterborough. The last twelve months saw Opaque record our debut studio album, “The Last Moustache”, which will be set for release in February through Drip-Dry Productions. Having built up close ties with groups such as The Secret Garden Festival, Earth Heart and Synergie, 2006 promises to be an amazing year.



GrassRoots Festival, June 23rd –25th 2006

We at Muddy Promotions (www.muddypromotions.org.uk) are putting on a three day alternative music and arts festival on June 23rd - 25th of next year. The festival is to be called The GrassRoots Festival and will be a located on a farm just outside of stamford (exact location to be kept secret untill closer to the event).

.

Due to the type of license we are applying for this year the numbers are restricted to 500 people. It is more than likely due to the popular nature of the event that it will only be opened to Muddy Promotions members, you have been warned. The festival is organised by the people for the people so do get involved. It is not publically funded and is a non profit making organisation. We will need as much help as you can give us. All performers will be asked to help out with stewarding etc. We will at present also have to charge everyone an intial £5 membership and £20 for a ticket.



If you'd like to join Muddy Promotions either as a performer or a member, or would like to come to next years festival then please send this Application form along with £5 to Muddy Promotions, 21 Henry St, Peterborough, PE1 2QG. By filling out the application but not paying the fee you will become an associate member and will receive updates but will not be entitled to the privalages of muddy membership (inc discounted events entry and festival participation/entry). Please contact me for more info..


Opaque Gigs in January

Unsigned Showcase 2005 Semi final – Sat 21st Jan

The fountain – 125 West Green Road, London N15.

On Stage 9pm. £5 Adm. P’boro return minibus £5.



Opaque&Jam (open mic) – Sat 28th Jan.

Bogarts – North St, P’boro.

8pm til 11pm, Free Adm.

More Pics from 12th Jan

Thursday 12th January 2006

Oh boy! I'm mucking this one up tonight. This is not how I usually do the photos on this site so be patient with me it's been a long day. The pictures are in no particular order. I'm sorry. But what a great night. Culminating in an Ad Hoc supergroup comprising Moonie, Vince, James Chadwick and others; an event not to be missed.

Thursday 12th January 2006