This weeks column...

This weeks column...

follows a similar theme to a past thread and is fairly concise due to space. Could rant in detail about this for weeks...



Ok, it’s time to be brutally honest. Newcastle has no real music scene and in all fairness never really has. True, it has nurtured some fine and highly successful artists, but you’ll be hard pushed at naming any who’ve gone on to have widespread success and stayed put in the city.

I don’t think I’m alone in suggesting that the loss of both The Mayfair and The Riverside – as a live music venue – have devastated any chance that supporting new music on a broad plain may have had. The only real alternatives now for performers are either on an extreme scale (too big or too small) or fall under the umbrella of the Universities, which can often alienate broader audiences.

On an initial level you might argue that there’s currently an aversion for Geordies to utilise their pioneering spirit, since no one has really moved in and created a new venue – despite their being a whole host of empty yet highly suitable locations spread across the centre of town. Dig a little deeper though and it’s little wonder anyone has stepped into the breach.

Despite efforts to improve things, the powers that be in the city still refuse to help implement fundamental changes that could turn things around in months - take club licensing for example. Across the UK, major cities award their clubs with 6am licences and beyond. On a basic level it enables them to support local talent alongside international artists as well as attract tourists on a far grander scale than ever before.
In Newcastle the best we have is 4am, which is rarely used for fear of residential complaints. Now despite the fact that if you move next door to a nightclub, you should accept the consequences, this fundamental aversion to allowing venues to open on better terms for their own business is killing a huge slice of the city’s culture. It’s a sad fact but our talented DJ’s, musicians, artists and producers still have very little choice but to move south if they want to break ground in the music industry.

Done right and with the ongoing developments across the city and beyond, we could quite easily find ourselves as the central focus of the music industry as London, Liverpool and Manchester all formerly have. At the current pace, however, we could wind up in a city that’s all style and no substance.

Simon Stuart

Letters: djsimonstuart@hotmail.com

*claps* well put

So what the fuck are the council playing at?

IMO cancelling the Love Parade was hitting home one of the nails on the coffin lid as well...

That's a great idea mate. we need to try and come up with some solid ideas of what the city really needs before starting on letters petitions etc.

everyone put them down in this thread. If we can come up with some solid arguments for supporting us they'll have a harder time avoiding the issue. I still feel that one of the big problems with the fallout from the love parade was that:

1. the club and music communities of the city didn't come together in a particularly unified way, so maybe it appeared to cause little harm.
2. there doesn't appear to be a solid body within the council to voice our opinions towards.

there isnt much of a 'club culture' in newcastle anyway....is there?

if clubs were allowed to open till 6, would it make a HUGE difference?
would they stay full till 6?


i would like to see place open till 6, but im just wondering....?

I still think that on a basic level and especially with clubs like Promise, being able to open later would make them much more competitive across the UK as a whole. I know I'd be far more reluctant to travel too far if the clubs opening hours were limited. So many people get little free time as it is, they want to make the most of what they've got.

Later licence is a must!! The grainger town arts project have been quite helpfull to RE ( the electronica nite) they gave them the funding for the Castle keep gig???? we need more organisations like this to provide funding for people with original idea's??????:spangled:

i can see that point, as ive got mates from around the county who are reluctant to travel up, to say promise, as it finished early, and it doesnt seem worth the effort.....but having a few extra people travel up for promise, shindig, would that make a huge difference?

i think its a whole culture problem (obviously). bar/pub culture....people dont look up here for clubbing. (apart maye from promise + the dig....)

but when promise has been open till 6 (2nd b'day), there was only about 50 of us there @ the end

i would like to see it happen tho....im just thinking of if it would make a huge difference?



could promise not open till 6 again if they wanted mark? u did it for the bday?

that's because it was a one off. even if it's only small amounts at first, the word of mouth would spread the clubs reputation further afield making it's future more secure.

true true....

so is there no way anybody can get a 6am licence? how did promise get one for the bday?

Who would we have to write to??

I don't think there's a major problem with getting a licence in itself, it's the lack of support from the authorities which should be the bigger concern. Eg. the club has a 4am licence but is very reluctant to use it. It's all quite complicated but even with more audible support from on top, the difference made would be pretty dramatic. I'm not saying that the council should be more involved, just more aware of our requirements and needs. We're part of the city too.

I've got a few names and addys to start with. Maybe I should draft up a letter or something with a petition enclosed, just as a starter?

Would the answer not be to get all of the promoters of successfull nights together for a meeting with the council?? Surely if they all voiced their concerns about the state of the local scene the council will listen???

You could have the people who promote the smaller nights in places like WHQ and other local smaller venues and contrast thier worries for the scence with the bigger scale promoters i.e. Stonelove, Bulletproof, shindig!!!

P.s. we lost traveller the only real world music nite in Newcastle last year because of poor turn out's and lack of intrest!!!! I was thier for Maurice Faulton and there was about 50 people??!! he didnt play because of this!!! its fustrating!!!

definitely, but they also need to hear OUR opinions too. It affects us all just as much after all.

I'll sign this petition

24HR City

People will struggle to get longer licenceses as long they try to meet criteria set by PUBLIC SERVENTS!

It is not what you can do for Public servants it what they can do for YOU, ME & EVERYONE !!

i blame old people

Can anyone name Newcastles last all night club?