大象传媒

Rounding off highlights from Tyne and Wear with The Fall and Wire at the 2015 大象传媒 Radio 6 Music Festival, presented by Mark Radcliffe and Stuart Maconie, with a short guide to the conversations, comedy, film and music from around the fringe.

The line up might regularly change, but The Fall remain an iconic Manchester band with the lynchpin of Mark E Smith constantly at the helm. Famous for their chaotic guitar sound, repeated melodies and obscure lyrics, they count The Velvet Underground and The Stooges amongst their influences. Having released a colossal thirty studio albums, they have a faithful cult audience, including the legendary John Peel who called them his favourite band.

One of the most experimental acts to have emerged during the punk Era, Wire were formed by Colin Newman at Watford Art College in 1976. Their 1977 debut Pink Flag comprised 21 tracks averaging just 90 seconds each - and was hailed as an abstract and angular triumph. Splitting abbruptly in 1980, they reformed in the late 80s adopting a more electronic sound until splitting again in the early 90s. Since reuniting again in 1999 they have been cited as a major influence by acts as diverse as REM, Black Flag, Blur and Sonic Youth.

Mark Radcliffe and Stuart Maconie are the Morecambe and Wise/Ant and Dec/Hinge and Bracket of 大象传媒 Radio 6 Music's alternative spirit - catch them Monday to Friday 1.00pm-4.00pm.