Two new Cynic Guru tracks are exclusively available at the Fat Northerner download store.

Visit http://fat-northerner.ithinkmusic.com/my-store/index.php to check them out!

A music conference aimed specifically at the grass roots of the industry, the goal of Un-convention is to bring together like minded individuals to discuss and shape the future of Independent music.

From DIY labels, and self releasing bands, to promoters and agents, entrepreneurs and innovators, Un-convention is looking to the future of music, and how it will develop and flourish in the technological age.

There’s more information about the who’s, where’s and why’s of Un-convention on the Un-convention site – www.unconvention.wordpress.com.

A major part of Un-convention is that it is an inclusive and interactive debate. To that end we have included a Discussion area on this site, so that anyone and everyone can ask questions, or answer them. This is central to the ethos of Un-convention. The music industry is changing dramatically, there are new problems, and new opportunities every day. We have to think differently about what we do, and why we do it. The solutions aren’t going to come from those in ivory towers, they will come from you.

So get involved. Start the debate. And join us at Un-convention.

Un-convention is taking place at the Sacred Trinity Church, Chapel Street, in Salford from the 5th until the 7th of October. To buy tickets click on the Register button below (we’ve kept it as cheap as possible!). There are full tickets which will get you into all of the events and music showcases (yes, there will be some top bands playing too), or you can buy tickets for just the conference (which will run during the day on Monday 6th and Tuesday 7th, and will include panel discussions, networking events and acoustic showcases), or just for individual music showcases. For the full line up of events and bands click here.

People think that banging on about Tony Wilson or Peter Saville or the Hacienda will sell stories, culture, buildings, tours, exhibitions, websites and music. But they are wrong. Well, it might temporarily, but banging on about the past gives no room for the new generation. The people who are actively doing the sort of thing that Tony didn’t do, because they are doing it now. In a different climate, where the digital format makes doing what Tony did and having the cultural impact he had a whole lot harder.

Switchflicker discovered and released the Ting Tings debut single – now one of the UKs biggest bands, Switchflicker remain relatively unknown and unmentioned. Humble Soul Records released Liz Green’s debut single and EP, Liz Green has received critical acclaim from the broadsheets and played SXSW, Glastonbury plus many more this year. Humble who? I hear you mumble. Fat Northerner have had bands playing at SXSW for two consecutive years and have put out more niche releases than you can shake a stick at. Red Deer Club invest in alternative folk bands discovered at the Red Deer club night. What about Blowout one of the greatest club nights for discovering new bands in the UK?

But who writes about these things.

Would Tony have wanted this? I doubt it. Tony tried to reinvent Factory four times – he wanted to carry on, discover and nurture NEW talent. Giving recognition, encouragement and space to what is happening now is crucial to the development of Manchester culturally in the future.

At music industry events it seems easier to wheel out the old Hacienda crew to speak, than speak to the people who are now actually doing it. Who would rather hear a DJ talk about what they saw at a club in 1994 than hear about the challenges facing people actually running small labels in 2008 and addressing issues like digital, live, money, piracy, exposure, online.

Step aside and let the new creatives show you what they can do.

In the words of Mark E Smith, ‘don’t believe all the crap you read about Manchester, it’s all fantasy’.

By Ruth Daniel, Fat Northerner Records

This Years Model are a Manc-London group consisting of top electro-techno producers dncn, marc ashken and tommy walker III alongside vocals from Lois Winstone. They play Glasto this week. Check it here: http://www.myspace.com/thisyearsmodelmcr

Tells us what you’ve seen, and we’ll check it out

The Ironweed Project have announced two more shows, at Blowout in Chorlton, Manchester on 11th July, and also at The Windmill at Stretford Arndale on the 4th August.

Also check out news of the guys visit to Texas:

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/business/s/1055301_nw_act_a_big_hit_in_texas

The wonderful Bone-box, performing Dragging Wires.

Welcome to Fat Northerner’s Web Blog feel free to post interesting and wonderful things.