NARC. #197 out now!

The August issue of NARC. magazine is out now, available in print from outlets across the North East, and digitally via our website.

This month, our cover star is DJ, producer and all-round creative Man Power. Jonathan Coll talks to Geoff Kirkwood about his distinguished career, his role of consultant music curator for Novum Festival and giving something back to his community. Exclusive images courtesy of Amelia Read.

In the Previews section, we check out live shows from Deerhoof, Future Islands, ‘68, Opus Kink, Russian Circles, Joilette, Mclusky, Johnny Marr, Fortitude Valley, Swans, Carl Eaton and more, plus Newcastle Jazz Festival, Veritas Festival and Queer As Fest. There’s also a new novel from Teesside writer and musician J W Horner; controversial and comedic drama at Laurel’s; Stockton International Riverside Festival returns to the town; Billingham International Folklore Festival of World Dance brings a kaleidoscope of colour and vibrancy to Teesside; plus ARC welcomes All The Women We Could Have Been, an exhibition of work by disabled female artists.

Interview-wise, Sarah Storer talks to event curator Nick Hodgson about brand new North Shields festival Two Divided By Zero which hopes to shine a light on the area’s venues; Michael O’Neill finds out about the wealth of talent helping Alphabetti to celebrate their 10^th anniversary; ahead of the release of their new EP, Leigh Venus talks to Newcastle metal band Rituals about their phenomenal year, from Kerrang! to Download, via sleep deprivation and crowd adoration; Cameron Wright finds out about the importance behind connections and community as the celebrated Saltburn Folk Festival returns; Jake Anderson talks to intriguing Durham-based quintet Serrum about tales of love and death on their new EP; Kate Relton talks to Susan French and Eliza Lee about CrewGal, their mission to encourage women and marginalised communities to build a career in music tech; Cameron Wright chats with dynamic rock duo The Vessel about the creation of their boundary pushing album; Michael O’Neill dives into the massive line-up on offer at the iconic Lindisfarne Festival; Matt Young talks to South Shields band The Union Choir about their new EP; Laura Doyle gets a look behind the scenes at the newly renovated Gosforth Civic Theatre, and discovers a wealth of opportunity, connectivity and accessibility for all; Damian Robinson talks to County Durham band Holiday In Tokyo about realising their dreams on their debut album release; ahead of September’s festival, Kate Relton talks to Rob and Sarah from Darlington collective Tracks about the talent-packed Last Train Home Festival; and musician and writer J W Horner reveals some of his favourite tracks to write to in the Mixtape feature.

In the review section, we report from live performances by Kerrin Tatman, Phoxjaw, Laura Cantrell, Anna Hughes, Youth Sector, L Divine, The Darts, Viia, Me Lost Me, Collapsed Lung and more; there’s reviews of local singles and EPs from Rapasa Nyatrapasa Otieno, DAWKS, Decrepit Youths, Stock Image, Slowlight Quartet, JENALI, Carl Green In Particular, Alex James Band, Thrones, Wingz of the Monkey, The Folding Desert and Max Gavins; demo reviews of Dinky Bossetti, Swindled, Peony, Trunk and Brick; plus coverage of new releases from Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy, OSEES, Movements, The Hives, Buck Meek, Art School Girlfriend, Holy Wave, Small Town Clock, Hemi Hemingway, My Ugly Clementine, Annie Hart and more.

Enjoy!