Lots of things to tell you about, particularly if you like photos of RM Hubbert and Aidan Moffat, Blue Rose Code and M. G. Boulter, Drowned in Sound, Mass Movement, Thrash Hits – and this…
So, let’s get to it…
- NEW NEWS: Starting this week, I’ll be writing a monthly column for alternative culture mag Mass Movement magazine. It’s called Ruth Writes – although she doesn’t this time. Since I’ve been a bit busy, my agent kindly stepped in at the last minute. With interesting results…
http://massmovement.co.uk/ruth-writes-0-unexpected-phone-call/
- NOT-SO NEW NEWS: Drowned In Sound have also taken me on as a photographer. Here’s links to the two shows I’ve shot for them so far, and a couple of taster shots.
(Part of the Lau-land festival at the Sage, Gateshead. Finally getting to hear ‘Car Song’ live = priceless.)
http://drownedinsound.com/in_depth/4147889-in-photos–rm-hubbart-amp-aidan-moffat-sage-2-gateshead
Blue Rose Code w/ M. G. Boulter
(Ross Wilson’s band for this gig also featured the excellent Samantha Whates and the amazing John Parker of Nizlopi)
http://drownedinsound.com/in_depth/4147827-in-photos–blue-rose-code-the-cluny-newcastle
- OTHER PHOTOS, SORT OF NEWS: In case you missed it, there’s also shots from this month’s Escape Velocity show (Uniforms, Good Terms, Skull Puppies and Tissue Culture) at this here link here here.
- EDINBURGH HALF MARATHON UPDATE: I’ve not had time to do a longer post on this yet, but I didn’t want to blog without giving you an update on the fundraising. Because, bloody hell, are you lot a bit special. Together we’ve raised a grand total of £430 for the wonderful Mind charity! Once again, thank you so much folks for your kind donations and running playlist suggestions. Once again, if you’d like to donate, the link is at
http://www.justgiving.com/ruthruns-edinburgh/
- UPCOMING: I’ve just sent in my review of the new Monuments record to Thrash Hits – that’s the djent supergroup that features John Browne (Fellsilent), Josh Travis (Tony Danza Tap Dance Extravaganza) and new vocalist Chris Barreto (ex-Periphery). So that should be going online at some point. On the fiction side, for now, all I can say is Fox Spirit‘s Girl At The End Of The World Mega-Anthology should be with you in the next few months. That’s got an older story of mine called ‘Blueprint for Red Wings’ in it.
- In the meantime, it’s worth picking up Lightspeed Magazine’s ‘Women Destroy SF‘ special issue – with stories by Amal El-Mohtar and more, it really is a lovely piece of work. Also, take a gander at Stephen Thom‘s story ‘It is All Little Marbles in our Ears‘ here – it’s one of my favourite discoveries of this last month.
- And there’s some great gigs coming up – The Lake Poets at the Mining Insitute (sold out – soz like). The Durham Brass Festival takes place in – surprise, surprise, Durham – next month, and will include the debut outing of British Sea Power‘s new project Sea of Brass, as well as an interesting collaboration between Lanterns on the Lake, Jo Hamilton and Durham County Youth Big Band at the Cathedral. Meanwhile, By Toutatis are back in July for three dates (4th w/ Eliza Carthy in Saltburn,
18th at Sowerby Bridge-cancelled-, and 28th July at the Stockton Weekender w/ Public Enemy. Yes.). And if you like the heavier stuff, Möngöl Hörde are still doing the rounds of Britain with Palehorse and Oxygen Thief. So lots to get out there and see, even if it is festival season. Oh, and there’s that other thing on… You know… It’ll come to me…
So there you are. Told you I’d been busy. In the spirit of the World Cup, I’ll leave you with this shot of the Niall Quinn’s Disco Pants Tribute Owl (via Simon Marshall-Jones and The Rainforest Site):
Ikimasho, Samurai Blues!