Saturday, 31 March 2012


Generator & The Sage Gateshead proudly present
EVOLUTION EMERGED
Vinyl Jacket @ Evolution Festival 2011

Generator, the UK’s leading music development agency, celebrate 4 years of Evolution Emerging by teaming up with The Sage Gateshead for the first time for the launch ofEvolution Emerged on Friday 1st June.


Featuring 4 of the biggest names in North East music right now – Hyde & BeastVinyl JacketShields and The Union Choir - Evolution Emerged  is an exciting addition to the Evolution Weekender, with artists who have gone on to gain national success coming together since playing previous Emerging events.

Joe Frankland, Musician Support & Artist Development Manager at Generator says:
 “
With a number of artists from previous Evolution Emerging events deservedly gaining national recognition and the attention of the UK’s music industry, we feel the time is right to celebrate our success in style with what we feel is a vital addition to the Evolution Weekender. And we’re excited to work alongside The Sage Gateshead – we can think of no better venue for such a celebration.”
Sue Collier, Freelance Popular and Contemporary Music Programmer at The Sage Gateshead adds:“One of our main artistic priorities here at The Sage Gateshead is to support and stage artists from the region within the walls of our performances spaces and beyond.  We are therefore delighted to be working in conjunction with Generator and Evolution Festival this year to present for the first time ever Evolution Emerged where we can celebrate such a wealth of talent that hails from this area.”
Headliners Hyde & Beast performed one of their first ever shows headlining last year’s Evolution Emerging and feature Dave Hyde (The Futureheads’ drummer), Neil Bassett(ex-Golden Virgins drummer) and an array of special guests.

Album ‘Slow Down’ is a “sprawling, gentle psychedelic mess” and received plaudits far and wide from the likes of the NME, Drowned in Sound and The Fly. And they’re firm favourites at BBC 6Music and Amazing Radio.

Vinyl Jacket have had a massive 12-months since performing at Evolution Emerging 2012 and on the main stage at Evolution Festival. A succession of singles have been played on BBC Radio 1, 6Music, Amazing Radio, XFM and pretty much every great radio station in the UK. Vinyl Jacket have also performed at Glastonbury Festival and have toured the UK to become one of the nation’s favourite emerging indie-pop bands.

Since performing under the moniker of Pilots at last year’s Emerging event, Shields stunned the North East music scene in 2011 with a set of future-classics to go with their brand spanking new name. Industry interest soon followed and the band are firm favourites of the nation’s biggest DJs such as Huw Stephens and Zane Lowe. Catch them at The Sage before they play a multitude of festivals this summer!

And to complete the bill is a South Shields band who played Evolution Emerging way back in 2010 – The Union Choir who specialise in dark yet witty double-entendre pop and boast more members than the Harlem Globetrotters. The Union Choir are a firm favourite of Tom Robinson (BBC 6Music) and Drowned in Sound and are more than ready for the next level.

Evolution Emerged
Friday 1st June
The Sage Gateshead – Hall Two
Doors 8.30pm
Ticket price £8.00 advance / £10 on the door
Tickets on sale now through The Sage Gateshead  0191 443 4661 and www.thesagegateshead.org

Tuesday, 20 March 2012






EVOLUTION FESTIVAL
Diamond Jubilee Bank Holiday Weekend
Sunday 3rd and Monday 4th June
NewcastleGateshead Quayside

Evolution Festival announce Gateshead Evolution events with Jumpin’ Hot Club

Terry Reid, The Toy Hearts, Justin Currie, Hillfolk Noir and more announced for Jubilee Bank Holiday Weekend

Dizzee Rascal, Deadmau5, Maximo Park, Noah & The Whale, Rizzle Kicks, Miles Kane and more already confirmed for the North East music spectacular

No work on Tuesday (thanks Queen) so…
the perfect weekend to party

The biggest bargain of the summer’ NME

‘The UK’s model City Festival’ Clash


Evolution festival confirms the programme for the Jumpin’ Hot shows that will take place as a prelude to the North East’s musical extravaganza.  Having already announced a killer line up that includes performances from the likes of Dizzee Rascal, Deadmau5, special guests Maximo Park, Noah and the Whale, Rizzle Kicks, Miles Kane and many more, Evolution are proud to continue their longstanding relationship with Jumpin’ Hot, a collective on a mission to promote the best country, blues, rock n’ roll, reggae and ska throughout the UK.

Jumpin Hot have programmed some exceptional talent across two venues on the days preceding Evolution and have secured some very special acts to appear in Gateshead.

Terry Reid has been described at the most soulful British vocalist ever by The Independent and his legendary heartbreaking vocals and guitar playing has made him a revered character on the live circuit for over four decades. 

Blues tinged retro Americana comes courtesy of The Toy Hearts whose music is steeped in the soul of the deep south.  Support on this show comes from folk legend Bridie Jackson.

These acts appear on Friday 1st June and on Saturday 2nd June another incredible line up sees a rare performance from Del Amitri founder Justin Currie.  Justin’s music is dominated by strong imagery and storytelling, powerful yet understated vocals and a sound that, whilst firmly rooted in nineties pop-rock, translates beautifully into modern, urban ballads.  

Idaho foursome Hillfolk Noir’s sound has been filtered through half a century of folk, country and rock n’ roll and fed by family history and an affinity for acoustic mountain music.  Just back from a successful US tour, Buffalo Skinners the zydefolk & roll band from Scarborough bring their Felice Bros like music to Gateshead.

Evolution festival continues to bring the best artists to the North East to perform in front of the UK’s most rapturous festival audience.  At £25 for a day ticket or £35 for the weekend, Evolution continues its tradition of providing an amazing show for an unbeatable price.

Alongside hosting some of the biggest acts on the planet Evolution will once again introduce the crowd to a wealth of emerging local talent on the third stage - partnered with Generator the UK’s leading Music Development Agency this stage gives local talent a chance to get their foot on the ladder and play to the biggest crowd of their careers to date


For Hi Res Artist Pics / Biogs / Logos please visit: http://www.wearesoundproof.com/press.html

To buy tickets for Evolution Festival go to
Day Tickets £25 / Weekend Tickets £35
Gateshead Evolution Festival – Jumpin Hot presents

Friday 1st June  – 
Terry Reid @ GOTH Doors 8.30pm- on stage 9.30pm – 11.30pm curfew
The Toy Hearts + Bridie Jackson & Arbour @ Gateshead Central –  Doors 6pm -support 6.30pm - main act on stage - 7.30pm: 9pm curfew

Round robin tickets - £20

Saturday 2nd June – 
Justin Currie @ GOTH  Doors 8.30pm – - on stage 9.30pm – 11.30pm curfew 

Hillfolk Noir (Boise, Idaho USA ) + Buffalo Skinners @ Gateshead Central -Doors 6pm support 6.30pm - main act on stage - 7.30pm: 9pm

Round robin tickets - £20
 
EVOLUTION FESTIVAL FULL LINE UP
Sunday 3 June
Spillers Wharf 
Dizzee Rascal
Plus very special guests
Maximo Park
Miles Kane
Devlin
Benjamin Francis Leftwich
Dog Is Dead
Lulu James
Theme Park
The Lake Poets


Ballast Hills
Turbulence & Metropolis present
DJ sets from...
DJ Fresh
Jack Beats
Shy FX
Friction
Toddla T
Dot Rotten
Citizen
Codename:Tyrone

Monday 4 June
Spillers Wharf
Deadmau5
Noah & The Whale
Rizzle Kicks
Band Of Skulls
Here We Go Magic
Spector
Jessie Ware
The Milk
Mausi

Ballast Hills
Wax:On presents
DJ sets from...
SBTRKT
Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs (live)
Maya Jane Coles
Eats Everything
Jackmaster
People Get Real
Mike Jones

EVOLUTION FESTIVAL Online Links:

Thursday, 16 February 2012

Evolution Festival announces 2012 line up

After a gallon of coffee and a serious amount of bacon rolls the Evolution Festival line up was announced today at the Town Wall hostelry in Newcastle. So if you can't face the Diamond Jubilee celebrations then you're in luck as the Evolution Festival returns to the Quayside in Newcastle on 3rd-4th June. The line up this year is possibly one of the best yet!


Photo GIngercatpictures

Headlining the main stage on Sunday is every festival goers fave and Hip-hop mystro Dizzee Rascal not only does he send your spell checker into a frenzy but with his baggy jeans full of hits including Dance Wiv Me, Bonkers, and Dirtee Disco it's going to be one to remember.


Photo Evolution Press

If you are looking for cheese the this is not the place for you as Deadmau5 knocks your eyes out with a with audio visual spectacular which could possibly be seen (and maybe heard) from outer space. What a finale to the Evo weekend!

Photo Evolution Press



Keeping it local and sporting globe trotting tans Maximo Park will be playing on home turf as Dizzee's special guests. Ear plugs will be a definite when they appear on stage as the Evo crowd let rip and give them a massive well deserved home town welcome.


Photo Gingercatpictures

With a hugely successful album and tour behind them Noah and the Wale will be demonstrating why their UK gigs have been massive sellouts. As master musicians they seem to have  toes in a multitude of musical pigeon holes that have huge appeal to their fans.


Coming out of the blue this year Rizzle Kicks will be sure to feature large in 2012. Its good to see an act having so much fun on stage. But watch out! its infectious however no antibiotics will be required for this outbreak.

With an impeccable musical career Miles Cane musician and Songwriter is linked to bands such as the Little flames, The Rascals and the Last Shadow Puppets. Miles is still going strong as a solo artist with his 2011 album Colour of the Trap receiving rave reviews. It will be great to see him at the Evo.

With artist such as Devlin, Benjamin Francis Letfwich, Band Of Skulls, Spector and Jessie Ware amongst other confirmations on the main stage, Evolution 2012’s line up takes on monstrous proportions.

The Ballast Hills this year will be home of some of the most pioneering electronic music and all tastes are catered for with a truly amazing and eclectic bill across both days.  DJ sets from DJ Fresh, SBTRKT, Jack Beats, Toddla T, Maya Jane Coles and a live set from Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs are certain to have the Evolution crowd partying into the night.



Alongside hosting some of the biggest acts on the planet Evolution will once again introduce the crowd to a wealth of emerging local talent on the third stage - partnered with Generator the UK’s leading Music Development Agency this stage gives local talent a chance to get their foot on the ladder and play to the biggest crowd of their careers to date.


In Support of WaterAid


FULL LINE UP


Sunday 3 June
Spillers Wharf 
Dizzee Rascal
Plus very special guests
Maximo Park
Miles Kane
Devlin
Benjamin Francis Leftwich
Dog Is Dead
Lulu James
Theme Park
The Lake Poets

Ballast Hills
Turbulence & Metropolis present
DJ sets from...
DJ Fresh
Jack Beats
Shy FX
Friction
Toddla T
Dot Rotten
Citizen
Codename:Tyrone


Monday 4 June
Spillers Wharf
Deadmau5
Noah & The Whale
Rizzle Kicks
Band Of Skulls
Here We Go Magic
Spector
Jessie Ware
The Milk
Mausi

Ballast Hills
Wax:On presents
DJ sets from...
SBTRKT
Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs (live)
Maya Jane Coles
Eats Everything
Jackmaster
People Get Real
Mike Jones

Wednesday, 1 February 2012

Nikon1, V1 plus FT-1 lens adapter, Nikon 1000mm Reflex lens

I have seen quite a few posts with various lenses attached to the Nikon 1-V1 camera via The FT-1 Lens adapter.
So I thought I would have a shot at attaching my Nikon 1000mm f11 Reflex lens on to my Nikon1 V1 camera via the FT-1 adapter. Giving me in the region of 3000mm shot.


So from the top of Blackford Hill in Edinburgh I shot across the City to St Giles Cathedral Spire which is pretty much in the centre of Edinburgh which was a distance of 1.8 miles,  measurements courtesy of  Google earth.


So here are a couple of pics the first was shot with a D700 and 70-200mm f2.8 at maximum zoom. I have indicated the approximate Nikon V1 shot with a red rectangle.


The second shot is with the Nikon V1 with the Nikon 1000mm f11 reflex. Given that the Nikon 1000mm reflex is a decidedly soft lens I was quite impressed with the results anyhow I did apply some sharpening  and some contrast. I was also very pleased to have caught a guy scrambling about on the roof, what where the chances of that. 





Monday, 16 January 2012

Nikon V1 with the FT-1 lens Adapter

Just back from Tenerife after a week in the sun. Just before I left the UK the Nikon FT-1 Lens Adapter for my Nikon V1 arrived. Not having had time to try it out before I left took with me a DX 18-55mm and 28-300mm FX lenses. F-mount lenses mounted on the FT-1 have a crop factor of 2.7×.
I was not expecting a too much from using FT-1 and F-mount lenses with the V1 so I was very pleasantly surprised with the results. First off the the 28-300mm lens when attached to the V1 comes in at a bonkers 75-800mm with the sensor crop and the 18-55mm is a more realistic 48-148mm. 
The 28-300mm is a big lump of glass and the V1 lens adepter looked very small and delicate compared to it so I did not think the lens adapter would be able to cope with shoving all that glass around when focusing. However the FT-1  worked absolutly fine, although not blisteringly fast focusing was quite up to the mark. Focusing with the 18-55mm lens was a lot quicker and felt more natural. 
As for the results here are a few shots. I have made some showing the amount of zoom achieved with a rough cropping rectangle and the actual shot underneath. To sum up the Nikon V1 FT-1 with the attached F mount lenses was a  very positive experience and he images where much better than I imagined they would be. Shots were well saturated and surprisingly sharp with the lenses I used.  
Although I think the battery life was shortened by having to work harder with the the f mount lenses the battery was still going after 400 shots. My usual travel set Camera set up would be a D7000, 18-55mm and 28-300mm but for future traveling the V1 plus FT-1 mount is the equivalent taking a huge tele lens with you which can be quite useful on occasions.The down side of using the FT-1 are the recycling times between shots is somewhat slow and manual adjustments are limited, but still, having the possibility of an 800mm in your pocket is still quite exciting.



















Sunday, 1 January 2012

Edinburgh Welcomes in 2012 with an Impressive Display

With the rain easing off we headed off to Napier's University Craighouse Campus with has a panoramic view of Edinburgh and perfect viewing position for the Hogmanay Fireworks. When the bells struck 12 fellow revellers on the hill broke into a spontaneous "happy new year" quickly followed by the detonation of the fireworks at the castle.
Despite the dismal economic outlook it was good to see there was no cost cutting at the Edniburgh firework dept. as it was fine display lasting a good 6 mins with a breathtaking finale.
Then as if on cue the rain started again........time to head home for a large whisky or three.