Mick Jones Opens Library; Releases Limited Edition Instrumental Album

Mick Jones of The Clash, one of the most established and respected figures in British pop music, has opened his Rock and Roll Public Library as part of the 56th Venice Biannale releasing a very limited edition of up tempo instrumentals called 'Ex Libris'.

 

His archive of popular culture is available to visit in Venice until November this year; it's an extraordinary collection and offers a rare insight into the life and times of Mick Jones as he grew up in post-war Britain.

Mick Jones' Rock and Roll Public Library
56th Venice Biannale 
14 May 2015

The Rock and Roll Public Library Instituto Santa Maria Della Pieta, Venice

Stream Mick Jones' New Album 'Ex Libris' here:
http://www.thevinylfactory.com/vinyl-factory-news/the-clashs-mick-jones-releases-new-album-as-limited-edition-vinyl-stream-it-in-full-now/


BACKSTAGE PAST: The High Times of Legendary Rock Promoter Barry Fey



A treasure trove of popular culture has washed up on the banks of Venice's grand waterways this month following the opening of The Rock and Roll Public Library during the 56th Venice Biannale. A site-specific installation exploring the notion of archive as art, the library is an impressive collection taken from the impressive archive of iconic musician and producer Mick Jones of The Clash collected over the past forty plus years.

Housed across four huge stores in West London, the archive is an Aladdin's Cave of popular culture brought together by Jones. Comics and cartoons from his childhood sit alongside American icons gracing the covers of Time Magazine, newspaper clippings, music magazines, punk fanzines, trashy pulp fictions, record covers and posters, an epic cacophony of the past lining dusty warehouse shelves.

The paraphernelia of performance and merchandising materials from Jones' bands - including customised stage clothes, instruments, bright pink flight cases, recording gear, posters, photographs and song lyrics, all vie for attention with the countless first edition books, home taped VHS cassettes, boxes of correspondence, ephemera, toys and games that mark out his life and times.

These relics of the last century, capturing a significant slice of British music history as told through Jones' eyes and experience, trace a spark of imagination in service to the idea of continual creativity. "It's a personal, cultural and social history of our times" says Jones, "and through that it extends beyond the local to the global". The library stands as a testament to pop music and pop art, to the importance of finding that spot "in the gap between art and life" to employ the celebrated Robert Rauschenberg phrase.

The Rock and Roll Public Library is situated at Instituto Santa Maria Della Pieta, Venice a short walk from the Arsenale venue for the Biannale and next to the Hotel Metropole until November 22nd. The instituto is a charitable cultural centre that will also be hosting the National Taiwanese Pavilion amongst other collateral events.

Curated collectively by Jones himself, James Putnam and Lauren Jones (Alteria Art), the library represents just the tip of the iceberg of The Clash songwriter's full archive. Spread over three rooms the exhibition features wall mounted installations of books, comics and other printed matter, as well as a 1970s listening booth allowing visitors to listen to music from the period. Display cases decorated with vibrant collagesof visual material torn from the archives house more valuable items, whilst vinyl records, stage outfits and other punk-era garments hang from the ceiling.

The final room is an installation that recreates Jones' living room, offering an insight into how the archive itself has materialised. Visitors are able to interact with the archive from its collector's perspective, sit in his chair, touch and pick up items, read and relax - as if in the home of a good friend.This physical interaction with the materials evokes memories and recollections, personal emotions and unique attachements in each visitor.

This personal relationship with the library is explored by celebrated British artists Tim Noble and Sue Webster, who will make their own curated selection of items from Jones' archive, a personal edit of objects that speak to them and will be displayed within the exhibition.

In collaboration with The Vinyl Factory Mick Jones released a limited edition record coinciding with the opening in Venice on May 8th. The vinyl, called 'Ex Libris' features all new tracks written and recorded by Jones in his studio at the start of 2015. Artwork has also been produced by Jones and features a booklet of images.

This edition of The Rock and Roll Public Library is supported by Dr. Martens, with additional backing from Les Inrockuptibles and London College of Fashion, UAL. The launch event, featuring performances from Sugarmen, Tom Bright and Mick himself was kindly supported byThe Hard Rock Cafe, Venice.

The library is open Tuesday to Sunday 10:00 - 18:00

Mick Jones is a celebrated musician and producer, a bona fide cultural icon as guitarist, vocalist and songwriter of seminal punk band The Clash.

Widely referred to as 'the only band that matters', The Clash carried punk's revolutionary zeal to the world with pop art sensibilities matching politicized lyrics and music cross-cultural experimentation. Mick's formidable songwriting partnership with bandmate Joe Strummer produced some of the most influential songs of its era, including 'London Calling', 'Lost in the Supermarket', 'Spanish Bombs' and many more.  

He was producer on The Libertines first two records 'Up The Bracket' and 'The Libertines' and the debut of Pete Doherty's Babyshambles 'Down in Albion'. Most recently he has produced Kitty, Daisy and Lewis: The Third and Sugarmen.

Assisting in curation, James Putnam is an independent curator and writer. He has curated a host of exhibitions and collateral events in Venice. James founded the British Museum's Contemporary Arts and Cultures Program in 1999 which relates to the philosophically rigorous role of museums: to examine and re-examine history, art and artefacts in the light of current cultural-related issues. 

He is also a writer, having published both on ancient and contemporary art, including 'Art and Artifact – the Museum as Medium' (Thames & Hudson, 2001) which offers an extensive survey of the relationship between the artist and museum, a subject on which he also lectures. He is currently Senior Research Fellow, Exhibitions at the London College of Fashion, University of the Arts, London. www.jamesputnam.org.uk

Co-founder of Alteria Art and Art Barter, Lauren is an independent curator and project manager. She works around the globe to bring outsider and emerging talent together with established names across creative disciplines with a focus on contemporary art and music.

www.alteriaart.com, www.artbarter.co.uk
 

To stream or download these materials, follow this link:
https://bluesoapmusic.haulix.com/Media/Link?h=dIEVfV0/abN6q62havOTl3qFqwd3vPcsNIBvqjvwplo=

STREET PARTY IN SOHO

At the other end of the musical spectrum we have a band at the very start of what promises to be a hugely exciting career.  Already praised by the likes of The Guardian and XFM, Street Party in Soho release their new single on June 29th, the infectious and energetic '17'.

Street Party in Soho
17 29 June 2015
"Cooler than anything at the Mercury Awards" - THE GUARDIAN
"Single of the week. We love this. Big things to come" - XFM

Street Party in Soho are back with a new single '17' that captures their infectiously catchy 'Liquid Candy Shop Afro-Pop' perfectly.

The Newcastle four piece released their critically acclaimed debut single 'Take Your Time' in 2012 gaining XFM's Single of The Week and airplay on BAFTA award winning reality TV show Made in Chelsea. This coverage generated industry attention from the likes of Kessinger Publishing, EMI Records, Columbia Records and Virgin Records along with major producers Alan Smyth (Arctic Monkeys/Pulp/Reverend and the Makers) and Gordon Raphael (The Strokes).
 
In the summer of 2013, Street Party in Soho played Brighton's Great Escape Festival sharing a bill with the likes of The 1975 and Bastille as well as supporting Toploader at Corbridge Festival later that year before touring with King Charles early in 2014.
 
With three members who are eighteen years old and a drummer who is just seventeen, Street Party in Soho personify teenage energy but possess a talent for songwriting and musicianship that belies their youth, channeling influences like The Maccabees, Glass Animals and Bombay Bicycle Club.


Paul McCartney's LIPA Channels the Spirit of John Peel in Weekly New Music Event



Street Party in Soho  have been chosen by hundreds of tastemakers across the UK to perform and sub-headline the Retreat stage at this year's Evolution Emerging Festival on 23rd May 2015 in Newcastle Upon Tyne with more dates to be announced.
 
The Band:
Ryan Young - Lead Vocals / Guitar
Jackson Vert - Guitar / Backing vocals
Harry Webb - Bass / Sample Pad
Nathan Hogg - Drums
 
 
"Excellent. 100%. Very impressed" - GORDON RAPHAEL (Producer of THE STROKES)
 
"Probably the most talented band of 16 year olds in the country right now..." - LOUDER THAN WAR
 
"Unexpectedly romantic, unexpectedly heartfelt and unexpectedly genius" - AAA MUSIC
 
"A Great Song" - GARY CROWLEY (BBC Radio)
 
''Brilliant" - JIM GELLATLY (Amazing Radio)
 
"If they can handle the tsunami of hype that is inevitably going to hit them very soon, it seems a foregone conclusion that Street Party in Soho will be pretty massive this time next year"
MUSICOHM
 
"Unforgettable. One of the most promising bands on Tyneside"  - VINYL PUPPET
 
"Already making waves, Ready to go global" - POP STEREO
 
"Street Party In Soho are the future" - LIVE4EVER
 
"A gripping song with a pop sensitive undertone" - WEAR ON THE PULSE

Social Links:
Soundcloud link to '17' https://soundcloud.com/streetpartyinsoho/17a
Website: www.streetpartyinsoho.com
FB: www.facebook.com/partyinsoho
Twitter: www.twitter.com/partyinsoho @partyinsoho
Instagram: @streetpartyinsoho


If you have any questions, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Haute Tease