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The April issue of NARC. magazine is out now, here’s what you can expect…
The April issue of NARC. magazine is out now, available in print from outlets across the North East, and digitally via Issuu.
This month’s cover stars are Teesside racket makers Benefits, who are set to release their highly anticipated debut album Nails. Ali Welford catches up with frontman and punk poet Kingsley Hall to discuss the album and the sorry state of the UK.
Also this month, we celebrate our 17th birthday and offer up the annual NARC. compilation album featuring some of the artists we’ve loved listening to over the last year. Download the album for free from Bandcamp, and check out the article to find out who’s featured!
The Spring season brings a wealth of live music, exhibitions, theatre, comedy, film and more… We preview live shows from Big Thief, DMA’s, Larkins, Brooke Combe, Mary Lattimore, Halina Rice, Aldous Harding, Dutch Uncles, Hockey Dad, Unthank:Smith, Ponyland, Steve Mason and more; plus theatre shows Tomatoes Tried To Kill Me But Banjos Saved My Life at various venues, Am I Alone In This? and World’s Apart at Northern Stage, and Fran Lebowitz at Tyne Theatre & Opera House; there’s comedy courtesy of Jayde Adams, Mike Wozniak and Gearoid Farrelly at The Stand; arty goodness at Biscuit Factory from Olga Prinku and Samson Tudor, Chris Killip at BALTIC, the opening of Farrell Centre for urban design and architecture and Hexham Book Festival returns, plus much more!
Interview-wise, Mera Royale talks to co-founder of Moving Parts Arts and Newcastle Puppetry Festival organiser Kerrin Tatman about puppetry as an art form and some of the wonderful things taking place at this year’s event; Cameron Wright chats with Teesside bedroom-pop artist Cosial about songwriting and the upcoming EP; Ali Welford chats to Bristol’s much-lauded post-punk solo artist Billy Nomates ahead of her Newcastle show; David Saunders finds out about the origins of Teesside metal outfit motions and the inspirations behind their upcoming album; Matt Young talks music and mental health with South Shields-born solo artist Eve Simpson who is set to release her new EP, All Her Strange; Jonathan Coll finds out about Newcastle-based producer collective Distorted Goods ahead of their debut EP; Steve Spithray talks to razor-sharp comedian Bethany Black about her philosophical approach to her new stand-up show, Always Bet On Beth; David Saunders talks to Cardiff psych rock collective CVC about their West Coast-inspired sound; Laura Doyle talks to playwright Hannah Lavery about her powerful new play, Protest, coming to Northern Stage; Damian Robinson catches up with Sunderland’s funk pop collective Picnic to discuss their new EP and about rebuilding momentum after a short hiatus; Adam Kennedy chats with Shonen Knife’s lead singer Naoko about touring with Nirvana, stage costumes and celebrating their 40th anniversary; Steve Spithray talks to Teesside folk trio The Young’Uns about their new album, Tiny Notes; plus Claire Dupree, Jason Jones and Steve Spithray offer up their takes on this year’s Stockton Calling line-up; and Kerrin Tatman from Newcastle Poetry Festival picks their favourite tracks in Mixtape.
In the Review section, there’s reports from the front row of Nova Twins, The Comet Is Coming, Self Esteem, Shame, Young Fathers, Napalm Death, Weathership, Father John Misty, Suede and more; there’s reviews of local singles and EPs from Simon Taylor, Jen Dixon, Tired of Fighting, Jody Bigfoot & John Dole, Maius Mollis, Marina Josephina, Callum Kewen, Borrelle, Timmy, Reservoirs, Bryan and Mike Hebden; demo reviews of tracks from The Beauty Pageant, Lewis Narey, Josh Bell, Kat Candace and Alex Douglas; and album reviews of new releases from Mark James Hammond & The Slender Blind, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Benefits, Xylouris White, The Young’Uns, Braids, Silver Moth, Fruit Bats, Teleman, Daughter, Tim Hecker, Josephine Foster, Petite Noir and more.
Enjoy!
